Humming to himself, Eleven walked along the bustling early morning street.
With each step, his red hair, tied in a single ponytail, swayed like a snake.
Narrowing his already slender eyes even further with a look of pure delight, Eleven quickened his pace towards his visible destination.
"Good morning!"
"You're here again today? You're surprisingly persistent for someone who looks like you."
"I was invited today. Since I'm so persistent, can I have some tea?"
Coming every single morning would naturally make him a familiar face.
Taking advantage of the fact that he was no longer being chased away, he boldly requested a drink.
With a good-natured smile and a cheeky attitude, the landlady, without hiding her exasperation, went into the dining room.
The glass she quickly brought back was filled with cold tea, and Eleven, without a shred of hesitation, downed it while leaning on the front counter.
Since many guests were leaving the inn at this time, the landlady was behind the counter.
"Is that person still sleeping?"
"I haven't heard that he's getting up early today, so I don't know when he'll wake up. You were invited, right?"
"I didn't ask what time."
Shoving Eleven, who was sprawled lazily on the counter, out of the way, the landlady dealt with a guest returning their key.
Incidentally, the reason he was able to show up at the inn every morning according to Lizel and Gils' schedules was because he received reports from his surveillance.
When they had early morning assignments, he would visit the inn early in the morning; on other days, he would visit at a more appropriate time, or meet them at the guild, always making contact at the perfect moment.
But this time, he had been invited from the start. He wouldn't need to deliberately time his visit to meet them.
Even so, he couldn't suppress his excitement, and despite being a late riser, he had arrived quite early. However, Lizel still seemed to be asleep.
When Eleven learned that Lizel was surprisingly not a morning person, he couldn't help but burst out laughing, completely forgetting his own similar tendencies.
He was just about to go and wake him up, idly gnawing on the rim of his empty glass, when the inn door suddenly opened.
While many people were leaving the inn at this time, it was unusual for someone to be arriving.
Seeing the person who entered, Eleven visibly frowned in displeasure.
"Oh, you again? Did you come to complain to Lizel again?"
"No, I wasn't exactly here to complain last time either... But I do have business with him, so I suppose it's the same in that respect."
The landlady, recognizing the figure of the military police chief, asked with a puzzled expression.
The military police chief, for his part, was aware that he had made a mistake the last time. He offered a brief apology and asked the landlady about Lizel's whereabouts.
The landlady's reply that Lizel was still asleep made the military police chief frown. As a military officer who lived a disciplined life, he probably couldn't understand why Lizel was still dreaming while everyone else was already up and about.
Eleven, whose eyebrow twitched at the mention of "Lizel," leaned against the counter, scrutinizing the man.
"I have a message for him this time. It's about the matter he asked me about the other day."
"Oh, well, I'll pass it on."
"No, I'd like to deliver it directly. It's a highly important matter."
Given that it was a message from Ray, the serious military police chief wouldn't entrust the message to anyone else.
Just as the landlady was about to suggest going to wake Lizel up, and the military police chief was about to nod, a sharp, heavy thud echoed from the entrance.
The landlady's eyes widened in surprise, and the military police chief looked puzzled. Eleven, the source of the sound, slowly lowered his shoe, which he had slammed against the counter, to the ground. While the landlady fumed about what would happen if something broke, Eleven waved his hand dismissively, offering a perfunctory apology, but his gaze was fixed on the man in front of him.
The military police chief's expression subtly shifted to one of caution as Eleven's lips curled into a sadistic grin.
"Hey, I think you heard, but that guy's still asleep."
"...And what of it?"
"If you don't want to go through a third party, then wait until he wakes up."
"He's the one who said he wanted it done as soon as possible."
"That's why I'm telling you to wait so you can tell him as soon as he wakes up. You're a hundred years too early to even think about interrupting his sleep, understand, you stupid little fish?"
The words and gaze directed at him were clearly meant to provoke, and Eleven was obviously experienced at it.
The military police chief hadn't risen to his position through mere luck; he had gained experience as a military policeman and was familiar with criminals involved in incidents within the country.
The alarm bells ringing in the back of his mind indicated that Eleven was of the same ilk as those individuals.
As if to playfully taunt his increasingly wary opponent, Eleven leaned back against the counter, resting his elbows on it. It was a posture of complete nonchalance, showing he didn't take his opponent seriously.
"If you know I'm a military policeman and are trying to obstruct my official duties, I will take appropriate measures."
"Oh, so you're going to flaunt your authority, huh? How pathetic. Besides, of course I know you're a military policeman, I hate military police!"
The air crackled with tension.
The military police chief reached for the sword at his waist, and Eleven, still leaning against the counter, slightly tilted his upper body and reached for his dagger.
Normally, the military police chief wouldn't draw his sword against a civilian, no matter how provoked, but he wouldn't hesitate in an emergency. He was certain that this was one of those rare emergencies. Seeing Eleven's smile deepen, he tightened his grip on his sword.
"Hey, Gil! Could you go wake up Mr Lizel for me?"
The powerful voice that echoed through the entrance hall immediately caused both of them to relax.
"Hey, landlady, did you hear what I just said?"
"Of course I heard! A sword fight in my inn's entrance hall is no joke! And you, why can't you just ignore what this child is saying? If it's official business, do your job more properly!"
"Th-that's... I'm sorry."
Eleven was yawning and looking away as if he hadn't heard anything, while the chief of the military police was desperately bowing his head.
The two, whose reactions to being yelled at by the landlady were completely opposite, clearly had fundamentally incompatible personalities.
Incidentally, Gil had been ignoring the bloodlust emanating from downstairs, but he stood up at the landlady's voice. He knew that if he pretended not to hear, the lecture would inevitably be directed at him.
Stepping into the corridor, he could faintly hear the landlady's voice from downstairs, and ignoring the clearly indignant tone, he opened Lizel's room door.
Since Lizel was probably asleep anyway, he skipped knocking, knowing it wouldn't be heard, and entered the room.
"The two people you called for are here."
Upon entering the room, he saw a stack of books on the side table and a single book lying by the pillow.
Since Lizel usually didn't get sleepy while reading, that one book probably wasn't there because he'd fallen asleep while reading. Seeing Lizel unresponsive to his call, Gil sighed, wondering if he'd been reading until dawn again, and reached for the book by the pillow. He didn't want to criticize Lizel's hobby, but he couldn't help but wonder about Lizel, who disliked napping, reading until dawn. He never even mentioned feeling slightly tired, and Gil noticed he seemed to be overexerting himself, so he wanted him to get enough sleep.
"Hey."
Gil stacked the books he had been reading on the side table and looked down at Lizel.
He wondered when it was that Lizel, who would usually wake up no matter how soundly he was sleeping when he called out to him, stopped waking up.
If it stemmed from trust, it would be a heartwarming story, but Lizel continued to sleep, even saving himself the trouble of responding, because he judged that there was no problem with him sleeping.
He would wake up if necessary, so Gil usually let him sleep, but that wouldn't be the case today.
He had heard everything about the recent events from Lizel. He also knew why those two were here today.
He reached out his hand to the bulge under the blanket as he called out to him.
The rise and fall of the bulge with his breathing confirmed that Lizel was indeed sleeping.
He slid his hand through his hair peeking out from under the blanket, and then slipped it under, tracing his skin. Lizel's eyelids trembled slightly.
He slid his fingers from his hair to his neck, watching him let out a small sigh and shrug his shoulders, then passed his hand along the nape of his neck and slipped his palm between the bed and Lizel's shoulder, as if stroking it.
"Wake up."
"...Isn't this too forceful?"
With his upper body being lifted up while his head remained asleep, Lizel slowly exhaled, thinking that the sensation of only his body being woken up while his head was still asleep was quite unpleasant.
As a form of protest, he leaned his entire weight against Gil's arm. Of course, it had no effect, and Gil calmly supported Lizel's weight with one arm.
With his head starting to clear, Lizel replayed Gil's words that he had heard in his half-asleep state.
The people who were calling him must be Eleven and the head of the military police.
"It seems like those two might not get along."
"Probably. They were practically glaring at each other and looked like they were about to fight."
"They're so energetic this morning... I have to apologize to the landlady."
Lizel moved away from Gil's hand, which had been supporting his shoulder, and got out of bed.
He quickly tidied himself up and, with a slightly hazy head compared to his usual state, went down the stairs.
The landlady's lecture was still ongoing. Her mouth was constantly moving, but the way she efficiently continued her work showed she was a true professional.
Eleven, who had been watching the military police chief with a mocking expression, seemingly not even listening to the landlady's every word, narrowed his eyes and showed his joy when Lizel appeared.
"Good morning! You're a bit early!"
"I didn't specify a time because I didn't know when it would be, but I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
Judging that there would be no more fighting now that Lizel had come down, the landlady laughed cheerfully at Lizel's apology and disappeared into the dining room. She was probably going to start cleaning up after breakfast.
The military police chief made a sour face at Eleven's sudden change from mocking him like a cat playing with a mouse to being as friendly as a dog wagging its tail at its master.
However, seeing Lizel smile and look at him, he returned his expression to a serious one.
"So, will we be able to meet?"
"Yes, that person said, 'Let's meet at two o'clock today.'"
"That's quite sudden."
It wasn't sudden at all; Ray was skipping a meeting he had scheduled for this afternoon to meet with Lizel.
Simply finding a gap in his schedule would take more time, but this way, there were no plans to worry about. The military police chief, knowing this, forced himself to suppress the twitching in his face. However, his pretense wouldn't work on Lizel, and the reason was easily discernible.
Lizel smiled, thinking, (I expected this, but it's still surprising.)
He didn't feel guilty. He thought it was better to hurry, and besides, Ray was the one who made the decision.
"They said they'll send someone to pick you up when the time comes."
"Thank you."
A carriage would probably come. He could walk, but there was no reason to refuse if they were offering a ride.
After delivering the message, the military police chief gave a crisp salute and left the inn.
(I keep telling you, I'm not your superior,) Lizel thought inwardly as he watched the chief's back disappear through the door.
"Goody-two-shoes are easy to handle, but they're the kind of people I don't want around," Eleven said.
"I thought I was a good boy," Lizel replied.
"Haha, even if that's true, you're an exception. And you have something to do, right?"
"Yes, but I have some free time until two o'clock."
Eleven's conviction deepened at Lizel's words, and he laughed gleefully.
He knew who was above that military officer, and he also knew that Lizel had a connection to that person.
From the sound of it, they would be taking him somewhere. Just imagining what kind of conversation Lizel would have with that nobleman sent shivers down his spine, and Eleven, deeply concealing his excitement, smiled broadly.
"Well then, you're free until two o'clock!"
"I'm still sleepy, so I'm going to sleep a little more."
"You're so bad at waking up early that it's practically a weakness, so you should get up early too."
"You must be tired too. Why don't you take another nap?"
"Huh? Then let's sleep together..."
"Gil won't be sleeping anymore, so the bed will be free. It's perfect."
Eleven's eyes lit up, but he was crushed by Lizel's next words.
He was probably quite sleepy, as Lizel smiled gently and went upstairs to find a bed. It was impossible to tell from his expression whether he hadn't noticed Eleven's unfinished sentence, or if he had noticed and simply ignored it.
If it were Studd, he would have forced his way into the same bed, and if it were Judge, he would have fidgeted so much that Gil, annoyed, would have thrown him into Lizel's bed.
Eleven is quite resourceful and good at teasing and coaxing others, but when he tries to express his true feelings and be affectionate, his shyness gets in the way.
He thinks that chasing after someone would seem too genuine and he doesn't like that, even though it's his true feelings. In a way, he's more normal than anyone else.
"...Lend me Single-Stroke-bro's bed."
"Go ahead?"
"Refuse me!"
If he had refused, he would have had a perfectly valid reason to sneak into the bed anyway.
Gil, who was looking down at Eleven with a snort, knew exactly what he was doing. It was definitely intentional.
He wondered if Lizel had also intentionally ignored him as he climbed the stairs. It would take a little more time for him to accept the situation and just sneak into the bed anyway.
Accustomed to being the one doing the manipulating, he didn't realize he was being manipulated himself, and he snuck into Gil's room and sulked in bed.
.
.
.
.
.
And so, at the appointed time, Lizel and the others boarded the carriage that had come to pick them up at the inn and headed towards Ray. The carriage wasn't a luxurious, noble-class carriage, but rather a smaller version of the shared carriages that traveled around the central district to the various regions in the east, west, north, and south.
However, the fact that the driver's seat and the carriage interior were completely separated, preventing any sound from leaking out, was typical of a carriage owned by a noble.
It was a four-seater carriage, and Lizel, sitting next to Gil, looked at Eleven, who was sitting opposite them.
When their eyes met, Eleven smiled, his expression unchanged from usual. The fact that he showed no signs of nervousness despite heading to a noble's residence suggested he was incredibly composed.
"I'll ask you now,"
Lizel's voice, though gentle, strangely resonated with a dignified tone in the carriage.
Eleven, still smiling, tilted his head as if trying to understand something.
"Do you still want to join my party?"
Eleven's eyebrows twitched slightly, and Lizel chuckled, finding it amusing.
The amusement seemed directed at Eleven, who was wondering what he was talking about.
The only sounds were the gentle rattling of the carriage and the horse's hooves in the quiet space.
Gil glanced at Lizel briefly, then returned his gaze to the window without saying anything.
"Of course,"
"Why?"
"Why? Well..."
He started to speak, then hesitated.
His hesitant smile and inner turmoil were directed not so much at Lizel's question, but at his own inability to answer.
At first, he thought it would be interesting. He applied to join the party with the intention of making contact.
Then, it was impulsive. In hindsight, it was probably an instinct he was compelled to follow. From the day after he cried his eyes out, his thoughts were entangled.
Gradually, it became enjoyable. His spirits were lifted to an extent that couldn't be explained by instinct alone.
And now...
"Just... together,"
There was no purpose. It wasn't instinct. He wasn't just seeking enjoyable things.
("I don't ask for anything, I don't desire anything; I simply feel the greatest joy in fulfilling his wishes.")
Suddenly, Eleven remembered what Studd had told him after Judge opposed him joining the party.
Of the many questions he'd asked, the only one he received an answer to was the question of why he acted for Lizel.
When Eleven teased him, asking if he was a believer, Studd replied that he shouldn't be lumped in with people who expected something in return, and then completely dropped the subject.
Even though Eleven was teasing, he deeply understood.
Eleven didn't realize that he had come to understand Studd's words, words he would have laughed at just a month ago. Or perhaps he didn't want to realize it.
The fact that he was so devoted to one person, to an extent that was no joke, was a difficult truth for Eleven, who didn't like to reveal his true feelings, to accept. It was a matter of self-awareness, and that's precisely what Judge had been concerned about.
"Together?"
At the gentle, encouraging voice, Eleven, who had been lost in thought, looked up and met Lizel's gaze.
In that instant, he understood. It was hopeless. There was no longer any room to hide his true feelings.
The softest smile he had ever seen, a captivating smile that he couldn't tear his eyes away from, was directed at him.
That alone gave Eleven a joy that easily surpassed the thrill he felt only when he was close to death.
Without even realizing that he wasn't smiling himself, Eleven stood up.
Without faltering on the slightly swaying vehicle, he slowly closed the distance of a few steps, his gaze still locked on the smiling face looking up at him, and naturally unclenched his fist.
"I want to be with you, right beside you. Let me stay."
With a quiet gesture, Eleven gently stroked the corner of Lizel's eye, where a smile was playing.
He chuckled softly, noticing that Lizel's narrowed gaze was still fixed on him, and felt relieved that his first touch wasn't rejected.
Lizel grasped the fingertips that were slowly caressing his cheek, as if enjoying the sensation, and tilted his head slightly.
He looked at Eleven, who was gazing down at him with a somewhat resigned smile, as if saying, "I gave you a chance to leave, but..."
The face, with its eyes narrowed in genuine happiness, looked strangely mature.
"Then, there are things you need to do, aren't there? I'll help you, so let's get them done."
"Understood!"
The smile that suddenly appeared on his face was back to its usual self, but there was no doubt about the joy he showed.
Seeing Eleven firmly gripping Lizel's hand, which was still wrapped around his fingers, and pressing his forehead against it, Gil wondered if that was a snake's way of showing affection.
He had no particular objection to Eleven joining the party. He wouldn't complain about someone Lizel chose, and he didn't think Eleven would be a hindrance.
Besides, he was a rare opponent for training.
"How many people are with you right now?"
"Two."
"Why is Single-Stroke-bro answering...?"
"Then, I'll have the carriage stopped in a little while, and then..."
Lizel spoke to Eleven, who was still clinging to his hand, in a slightly lower voice.
Although the internal voices wouldn't leak outside, it probably wasn't completely soundproof.
Eleven's lips curled into a sly smile at Lizel's words, and Gil sighed in exasperation, thinking how ruthless they were.
.
.
.
.
.
"Hello, Sir Lizel. It's unusual for you to want to meet me!"
"I apologize for bothering you when you're so busy."
"Not at all! I'm delighted by this unexpected visit; I'm not bothered in the slightest."
Lizel gave a wry smile, looking apologetic, as Ray welcomed him with open arms.
From the look of the military police chief, he seemed to have skipped some important business, but he showed no sign of it, maintaining a dignified demeanor. For Ray, prioritizing Lizel over a boring meeting was clearly the natural thing to do.
"Come in," he said, still guiding him into the room himself, as if they were equals or even that Lizel was of higher status.
Eleven glanced at Lizel, nodded as if to say, "Of course," and then smiled charmingly at the fleeting glance directed at him with a look of curiosity.
"By the way, there are some new faces?"
"They're related to the matter we'll be discussing. If it bothers you, I can have them wait outside..."
"If they're your family or companions, they're more than welcome."
It was said casually, but it implied that if they weren't family, they wouldn't be welcome.
Ray wasn't in his position as the top-ranking member of the Royal Guard without reason. It was a duty that this viscount family had held for generations, but it wasn't something that could be taken for granted.
The fact that he wasn't intimidated by nobles, and the fact that he didn't show the same respect to them as he did to Lizel, suggested that he was no ordinary person. Shadow, who was said to have a "keen nose," would surely understand this.
The reason he was inviting someone he would normally be wary of into his home was solely because they were related to Lizel.
Lizel smiled, understanding everything in the words spoken with an unchanging cheerful smile, and nodded in affirmation.
The subtle exchange was very much like the interactions between nobles. As they sat facing each other in the room they had been shown into, Gil let out a sigh, thinking what a troublesome person this was, and sat down next to Lizel.
Eleven wondered if he should remain standing and was about to move behind the sofa, but Lizel patted the seat next to him, inviting him to sit, so he happily took a seat beside him.
Facing him directly again, Eleven could understand why Ray had such a commanding presence; he was indeed a nobleman.
"Now, I'd like to enjoy a leisurely conversation with you, but let's get down to business first."
"Yes, please."
"It seems you have something you want to ask."
The viscount's eyes pierced straight through Lizel.
It was a gaze that could see through all lies and deception; it would be rare for anyone to maintain their composure under such scrutiny, but Lizel smiled calmly.
"I wanted to ask how much you know about the Forky gang."
"Stiff!"
"I'd like you to tell me what you know."
He was still the same. Ray nodded, seemingly satisfied with Lizel's revised statement.
Unaware of Eleven's thought, (Is he even manipulating this nobleman?), Lizel laughed amusedly. Incidentally, his stiff tone was intentional.
Knowing that Lizel had likely been attacked, Ray seemed to have anticipated that this visit was related to the bandits.
He didn't seem particularly surprised, but deepened his smile as if plotting something.
"Personally, I'd very much like to tell you, but I can't easily divulge the details of the investigation."
His words, tinged with a hint of expectation, were deliberately theatrical, like a child's game.
Lizel, also deliberately, said, "What should I do?", and reached into his pouch.
As he slowly took something out, Ray's golden eyes shone even brighter. The heavy box, adorned with ribbons, was wrapped with the same meticulous attention to detail as always, even including a flower, giving it a luxurious feel.
Receiving the box, Ray eagerly and carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
"I truly respect your choice! It's wonderful!"
Shining amidst the black cloth lining was a strategy guide for the "Crystal Ruins," a guide that was both transparent and reflective of light.
With only one copy per dungeon, it was undoubtedly a unique dungeon item, and highly rare.
Ray held up the strategy guide, admiring it for a while before calling a servant. It seemed he was still quick to display any dungeon items he acquired.
Lizel smiled, pleased that Ray was happy, and then took out another present.
"Today, I'm also including the scale of the underground dragon that I found in a new hidden room, which I discovered using that strategy guide!"
"I love you from the bottom of my heart!!"
The emerald-colored scale was housed in a thin glass case with beautiful intricate carvings on its surface.
Eleven, slightly taken aback by Ray's over-the-top enthusiasm, moved a few centimeters closer to Lizel, who seemed unfazed, as if this was a common occurrence.
The sight of a middle-aged man getting so excited was so frightening that if Ray weren't so handsome, Eleven would want to call the military police immediately. Though, ironically, Ray is the head of the military police. The world is truly coming to an end.
Of course, Ray had no idea that the bandit leader was thinking such things, and he continued to express his exaggerated joy until the summoned head butler calmed him down.
"With such generous treatment, I have no choice but to grant your wish. I'll answer anything you want to know!"
Ray, who had taken a sip of the tea that had been brought to him and finally calmed down, seemed to have settled down.
It was an obvious bribe, but it was just a typical exchange between Ray and Lizel.
Even without a gift, Ray would still give the information, and he was simply enjoying the interaction because Lizel was playing along. That level of enthusiasm, however, was genuine.
"Now then, it was information about the Forky Gang, wasn't it? I have a fair amount of information, but the troublesome part is that the people at the top are thoroughly hidden."
"The top, you mean?"
"I suppose you could say the founding members. Not the ones who joined later like hyenas trying to snatch up scraps after the gang had already established itself, but the members involved in its formation. The Forky Gang has a force that's too large for a bandit group, but honestly, I think the only real threat comes from that small group of top members. I believe the rest are just a bunch of nobodies who would be useless if there were no one to lead them."
"Exactly," Eleven muttered inwardly.
The top members Ray was referring to were the elite members that Eleven often used, and the lower-ranking members were basically disposable.
It would be troublesome if spies infiltrated the ever-changing ranks of the lower-ranking members, and Eleven didn't want to be recognized and exposed if he were spotted somewhere while also working as an adventurer, so Eleven usually didn't show himself to them.
When he did take a group with him, he wore a cloak, and for giving instructions, he left it to his elite members.
"So, what about information on the leader?"
"There's only one piece of information, and it's just a rumor,"
Ray smiled. "Just that he has red hair, that's all there is to it, right?"
He said this, but his gaze never turned towards Eleven.
Ray clearly understood who he should be facing.
Lizel smiled and slowly reached out, stroking Eleven's hair, which was coiled on the sofa.
Only then did Ray's gaze finally turn to Eleven.
"Is it this beautiful shade of red?"
"No, it's just that it's red; the exact shade isn't conveyed."
To Lizel, who asked as if genuinely curious, Ray shrugged in return.
Considering it was the only rumor circulating, the red hair was likely a strikingly vivid color, but the two of them dismissed these possibilities as mere possibilities. Red hair, with varying shades, could be found everywhere if you looked hard enough.
Ray turned his gaze back to Lizel and clasped his hands on his lap.
"You seem to be curious about the leader, do you have any leads?"
"More like, I've found him."
"Oh! As expected of Sir Lizel!"
Leaning forward, Ray asked who it was, his face showing genuine amusement.
Ray wasn't a fool. He knew that Lizel had been attacked, and he also knew that the attack seemed to be over.
He also knew about Eleven, who had contacted Lizel at a perfect time and had started traveling with him sometime afterward.
He wasn't actively monitoring them, but since Lizel's movements were often the subject of rumors, he actively gathered information about him.
Therefore, Ray couldn't possibly think of Eleven as just an ordinary adventurer.
That's why he was so expectant of what would come next after Lizel's statement about finding the leader.
"There was a problem at the Commercial Guild the other day, wasn't there?"
"Ah, yes, the misconduct of a loaned staff member."
"I heard the military police apprehended him. What's happening with him now?"
The conversation suddenly shifted, and Ray, feeling puzzled, answered the question.
He had just finished identifying the affected businesses and working with the Commercial Guild to resolve the situation the previous day.
While things weren't completely settled yet, the merchants seemed to be satisfied that the guild's cover-up would be prevented now that the staff member had been apprehended by the military police.
Of course, due to the unusually widespread rumors, the Commercial Guild was still in utter chaos, with its employees barely having time to go home.
"He's currently in our custody, but we'll need to discuss the disciplinary action with the Commercial Guild. We'll likely have to keep him a little longer until the guild settles down."
"It's safe if the military police are holding him, then."
Ray looked at Lizel, who had suddenly said this, trying to understand the meaning of his words.
"Did the Viscount see him directly? His hair is quite a bright reddish-brown."
Ray blinked at the sudden return to the main topic, and thoughtfully placed his hand on his chin.
His gestures were still theatrical, but they suited him without being offensive, so there was no problem.
Watching him, Lizel slowly added more to his statement.
"The adventurer who was colluding with him was actually a member of the Forky gang. The Adventurers' Guild was entrusted with their punishment, but when they were questioned rigorously, they apparently confessed that they were part of the gang and that the staff member was their leader."
"Hmm? I haven't received any such report."
"It seems to have happened just a little while ago. Studd told me about it secretly. He seemed worried because he knew I had been attacked."
"You were attacked?"
"On the way back from Marcade, I was attacked. I saw their faces, so I think it was probably to eliminate witnesses."
Was he mixing lies with the truth, or was he making lies into truth?
A report would surely come from the guild. The adventurers had confessed that they were part of a bandit gang and that the staff member was their leader.
Even if it wasn't actually true, they believed it to be true.
Because Eleven had manipulated them that way that night. Using powerful brainwashing and poison, Eleven's subordinates were probably already infiltrating the guild and further manipulating them.
Infiltrating the guild would be difficult due to the presence of a cold and powerful guardian, but it wouldn't be a problem. If he understood that it was Lizel's will, it would be easy enough for him to pretend not to notice.
By now, they would probably have heard the confession and reported it to the guild master.
The few minutes he stopped the carriage on the way to Ray, the manipulation was already complete.
The instructions he gave to the two of Eleven's subordinates who were following him would undoubtedly be carried out.
"Those two are busy flying around everywhere," Lizel said with a smile, sipping his now cooling tea.
"I see, in that case, it would be best to keep that staff member under our protection! However, if we do that, we don't know what the remaining bandit group will do. I'd like to strike first and capture them while they've lost their leadership."
"That's where he comes in."
Eleven straightened his slightly slumped posture as Lizel turned his palm, holding a cup of tea, towards him.
His friendly smile in response to Ray's gaze showed no trace of tension, as always. Eleven thought he should at least pretend to be nervous, but his pride wouldn't allow him to feign deference to a nobleman, even as a pretense.
"He's one of the higher-ups in the Forky gang, according to the Viscount."
"I'm Eleven. Right now, I'm all about this person, so I don't care about the bandit group."
"He knows all their bases, and you can definitely wipe out the Forky gang in one fell swoop."
Honestly, if people like Eleven were among the higher-ups, Ray didn't want to get involved.
As a nobleman and the head of the military police, his instincts told him to avoid confronting Eleven.
But if Lizel said he could do it, then he probably could. Or perhaps, he was "being prepared to do it." Ray felt that it wouldn't be surprising if Lizel could accomplish things the country hadn't been able to do before.
Then, Ray looked in Eleven's direction, and Lizel, who had silently placed his cup down, opened his mouth with a wry smile.
"During the attack, he was a good kid who warned me while pretending to investigate me. Could you let him go?"
"Hmm, so this is why there was a bonus in this trip's spoils! Do you think I would refuse your request?"
"Thank you."
With Lizel's gentle smile, Ray was certain that Eleven was now considered part of Lizel's inner circle.
Therefore, he couldn't mention it. That would be tantamount to making an enemy of Lizel. Through their several encounters, Ray had come to admire Lizel to a degree that even surprised himself. He felt almost presumptuous for even thinking he could "evaluate" him.
He even found it amusing that he could no longer pledge his loyalty to the king wholeheartedly.
Ray had extracted all the information about the Forky group's bases from Eleven.
In particular, the bases where they were scheduled to meet tomorrow were all suspiciously close to the capital city of Parteda, almost too conveniently located.
But Ray didn't question anything. He simply basked in the satisfaction of Lizel's gentle smile, which he considered more valuable than anything else.
"Have I lived up to your expectations?"
"I have no idea what you're referring to... But, yes. To borrow your words, I would say I love you from the bottom of my heart."
"That's the greatest honor!"
After finishing their conversation, instead of having a leisurely chat, they were rushed into preparations, and Ray, looking incredibly disappointed, saw them off at the entrance.
Lizel playfully conveyed those words to Ray, who had asked the question at the end.
With a radiant smile, Ray sent Lizel and the others off, as if nothing secretive had happened. And yet, they had discussed matters that could certainly be considered a secret meeting.
Despite this, the two parted ways calmly, without arousing any suspicion. Since they weren't the type of people to be suspected of such things, no one would notice.
Lizel and the others boarded the carriage that was to take them home.
A passing noblewoman blushed at Ray, who was smiling and waving.
Lizel also waved from inside the carriage and settled into his seat as the carriage began to move.
Next to him, Gil sighed and looked at him, while Eleven, across from him, glared with pursed lips.
"There's no way someone treated as a leader would die easily. You don't show mercy when your family is threatened."
"It's karma, they shouldn't do bad things."
"I don't want you to incur a debt for my sake."
"The Viscount doesn't consider it a debt. After all, being able to round up bandits that even knights hesitate to confront is a huge return for the Viscount's family."
Even if that staff member uttered words of denial, it would be meaningless.
The circumstances were so overwhelming that everyone would judge it as a lie to escape punishment.
Ray probably realized this. However, he didn't hesitate to designate him as the bandit leader. That would solve everything.
Someone who held that position would be properly educated by someone else.
Thus, there was nothing left to prevent Eleven from joining the party.
The bandits were gone, the leader would be executed, and the Forky gang would be completely annihilated.
All that remained was Eleven, a mere C-rank adventurer, and a few elite underworld operatives who followed him.
No one would care if an adventurer had connections with people in the underworld. They were roughnecks to begin with; the guild wouldn't make a fuss about such connections.
"Welcome to the party, Eleven."
"Y-yes... thank you... Leader...!"
Even though many of his former subordinates would likely be captured tomorrow, even though his so-called elite subordinates were currently running around frantically because of it,
Eleven, as if completely unaffected and without a second thought, covered his face, his entire body flushed red with joy at being called by name for the first time, completely immersed in the afterglow of the moment. The legs, which were flailing about as if in agony, were stepped on by Gil, who seemed annoyed by the noise, and it would only be a few more seconds before the person would tremble in pain.