Volume 1 - CH 120

“Some.”

Abel answered the leader’s question in the guise of honesty.

“Where is it?”

“I’ve given it to a trusted companion. I’ve arranged for them to give it to a Home Affairs investigator if there is no regular contact from me.”

Upon hearing his words, the leader did not change his expression, but the entourage showed a surprised expression.

Home Affairs investigators were those who belong to the Ministry of Home Affairs and investigated the wrongdoings of officials.

In some cases, the decree of the King may even give them the authority to crack down on the aristocrats.

“That’s pretty interesting. Why are you trying to go to the Home Affairs investigator instead of the Knight-Captain?”

“That’s because it is for my self-protection.”

Abel answered the leader’s question with the air that the path for a snake is to be a snake.

He looked very much the part because he had been an adventurer for a long time.

(This leader has a different disposition compared to the others …. He would be the one if Abel was planning to defeat them and abduct someone. The remaining question would be how to deal with this situation?)

Internally, Abel was thinking about something dangerous.

Realistically, it was not a good idea to be surrounded by five men and have no weapons and hands tied up.

He had to reduce the number of people a little more …

“Hmm. I wonder if you could sell the evidence to us here. Of course, we could also resort to force …”

Then the leader looked at the fellow holding a knife next to him.

“No, I said I don’t like to be hurt either. If I could get a little money and escape abroad …”

“Okay. That’s a deal. Let’s talk about the contents of the evidence.”

Abel was in trouble.

Of course, because he didn’t have any evidence from the beginning.

“Ah, well, so to speak … Geho, Gehogeho.”

Abel suddenly began to cough. And he looked in pain.

“What? Hey, someone bring some water.”

When the leader gave instructions, one of the entourage left the room.

Abel continued to cough, eventually falling off his chair and rolling around the floor.

“What the hell? Hey, bring a priest.”

One more person left the room.

(I guess it’s time.)

Abel grabbed the leg of one of the men, who approached to check on his situation, with his hand from his lying position and pulled him down.

As he pulled the man down, he spun himself up and swung his right foot down on the head of the man on the ground and knocked him unconscious.

Then, he pulled out the knife that was on the man’s waist.

Seeing that, one of the last remaining captor rushed at him.

Abel held the knife with both hands still bound with string.

Dodging the charging captor’s swung fist, he tilted the knife sideways and stabbed it into the man’s armpit.

“Gugyaa.”

The stabbed man rolled around the floor, crying out pitifully.

The nerve endings were concentrated on that spot and some would faint from a stab to that point …

Abel, as a swordfighter, knew it from experience.

Finally, Abel was brought into a one-on-one situation with the leader.

“Weren’t you planning to get money and flee abroad …”

The leader was slowly retreating. He might have been thinking of running away through the back door.

“Sorry.”

Abel rushed towards the man.

He felt from the beginning that the leader wasn’t accustomed to fights.

“Geho …”

Sure enough, the man could not avoid Abel as his solar plexus was struck and he collapsed in agony.

Abel kicked the leader’s head and knocked him out too.

At last, Abel was able to cut the string that tied his hands with the knife.

Just at that moment, the door where Abel came in opened and people jump in.

They were the three others from 『Crimson Sword』 and Ilarion.

From the 『ball』 sewn on Abel’s clothes, they learned that Abel had finally taken action and hurriedly entered the building.

“Oh. Wasn’t there a room where adventurers were hanging out near the entrance? Didn’t they notice?”

Abel asked in an easygoing manner.

“It’s okay because I erased our presence with magic.”

“Sheesh! Abel, don’t make us worry!”

Ilarion replied with pride while Rihya clung to Abel.

“O-oh. I’m sorry.”

Abel apologized meekly.

“So, did you find any evidence? As far as I could hear from the voices, there wasn’t anything.”

“Yeah. First of all, this guy.”

In response to Ilarion’s question, Abel pointed at the fainted leader with his chin.

“This guy seems to know a lot so let’s take him. Warren, sorry but look for a bag that can fit this guy. And, they made a mistake and a barrel was brought into this room. These guys were pretty anxious when they saw it. I’m curious about that, so I want to find out.”

“Hmm. The thing they said to take to the innermost room. Abel and I … along with Rihya can go. Warren and Rin, take care of these guys.”

Then Abel, Ilarion, and Rihya went through the back door.

When they exited the door, there was a wide corridor.

The room where Abel was interrogated was at the end of the corridor, and for the time being, they continued down the corridor.

On the way, they knocked out the man who came back with water, the man who brought the priest, and the priest, and the three proceeded to the other end of the corridor.

“Is it here?”

They arrived in front of a double door.

He placed his ear on the door and listened, but there was no sound.

“Let me. Gather the heartbeat and existence of life and bring them to me, <Probe>”

Ilarion cast the <Probe> Wind-Attribute magic … but at a terrifying cast speed.

The entire chanting took only about a second.

“Whenever I hear it, you’re definitely saying whatever you please, gramps.”

Abel commented on his unbelievably quick chant.

“What are you talking about? This is the result of many years of training and diligent study. No one is inside.”

In response to Ilarion’s words, Abel opened the door and entered.

The interior was about twice as large as the room where Abel was interrogated earlier.

About fifty barrels were lined up in the back.

“Hmm.”

Ilarion tapped the barrel to listen.

“I’m sure it’s not wine.”

“Of course.”

Ilarion commented jokingly and Abel retorted exasperatedly.

Looking at some of the barrels, they found something like black sand on the lid, perhaps spilled from the contents.

“Black sand?”

“No way …”

Abel tilted his head in confusion while Ilarion touched the black sand, smelled it, and was at a loss for words.

“Abel … quickly leave.”

“O-okay.”

Ilarion, who was rarely anxious, recommended to do so with perspiration on his forehead and backed away with a stiff expression. Abel could tell that it was quite dangerous.

The group hurriedly returned to the interrogation room, joined Rin and Warren, who was carrying the leader in the bag, and came to the front of the door leaving the building.

“Wait a minute. I’ll let them know.”

Ilarion said, opening the door of the room where the adventurers hung out a little bit and chanted.

“Wind, deliver my whisper, <Whisper>” 『Hector, it’s Ilarion. Take the party members away from this building as soon as possible.』

After conveying that, the five left the building.