「H-How do you know all that?! My report only mentioned market prices!」

「You're too loud. Let's take this outside.」

Hikaru felt just a bit sorry for this naïve girl. He revealed himself because he was worried about her. It could be seen as being nosy, though.

They left the guild—Hikaru using his Stealth, of course—and went around the back where no one could see them. Hikaru still had his mask on.

「So to answer your question, you, a Quinbland spy, being here means the Empire is wary of Einbeast. You were checking up on prices of weapons and provisions. The sudden price jumps mean that Einbeast is preparing for war.」

「Ugh… Can't believe you got all that in no time at all.」she said with teary eyes.「I put a lot of time and effort into gathering intel, you know!」

「All right, I'll share some info. The princess and prince's delegates are negotiating a ceasefire in Bios. The arbitrators seem to favor the princess's side, so I think her proposals will get accepted.」

「Wait… Whaaaaat?! Where'd you get such valuable info?!」

Hikaru couldn't possibly tell her he was in Bios just yesterday. Incidentally, the prince ignoring the arbitrator's decision was highly unlikely. After all, they were the ones who called for an arbitration in the first place. What's more, the Pope himself imposed a difficult condition for the princess, delivering a letter in ten days, which the kingdom managed to pull off. The prince would've had an advantage if the princess's side failed on fulfilling this condition, but it didn't work out for them in the end. Ignoring the ruling would also mean besmirching Bios's name. Hikaru had nothing to worry about the arbitration for now.

And so Hikaru used Drake's power to travel through the Drakon Pa.s.sage and made it to Hopestadt. He wanted to know about Einbeast's movement. He didn't care about who ruled as long as the ceasefire continued and Pond was safe. But if Einbeast was raring to go to war, that would mean trouble.

If they attacked as soon as the Four Stars of the East were gone, the arbitration would be meaningless. In fact, the prince and his followers who were isolated in Leather Elka would get swallowed whole by Einbeast's army.

He wanted to know why the Four Stars were summoned to Einbeast. Fortunately, he got the information he needed right away. Feeling sorry for Alice, he gave her some intel in return.

「Uh… Wh-What are you doing here anyway?」Alice asked.

「Nothing much. Don't mind me.」

「Of course I mind! I haven't seen Master Unken ever since that night!」

「Hmm, yes. That's right.」

After asking Hikaru to deliver a letter to the Emperor, Unken went to a.s.sa.s.sinate the king of Ponsonia. He succeeded, but was killed afterwards. Only the Master Swordsman could possibly do that. Fortune wasn't on Unken's side. If only Lawrence was somewhere else that night, he would still be alive today.

「Unken is dead.」

「…Dead?」

「He was a crafty old man till the bitter end. But he cared deeply about Quinbland.」

「S-Stop joking around. It's not funny.」

「Do you see me laughing? Anyway, see you around.」

「Ah, wait!」

Alice chased after Hikaru, but when she turned around a corner, she couldn't believe her eyes. He was gone like the wind.

Hikaru walked the streets of Hopestadt, lost in his own thoughts. Unken did a splendid job. He killed the man responsible for the war between the kingdom and the empire. But that resulted into the prince and princess fighting. And now, even Einbeast was making a move. While Ponsonia's alliance with Quinbland was a good thing, it seemed as though the flames of war just kept spreading anyway.

There was no doubt, however, that Unken was the man behind these series of events. Fifty years ago, he a.s.sa.s.sinated Quinbland's tyrant and recently, the king of Ponsonia. He altered this world's history.

If killing is the only option for things to change, sparks will always remain, I suppose.

Hikaru's abilities were greatly suited for a.s.sa.s.sination as well. He even had a disturbing job cla.s.s called a.s.sa.s.sination G.o.d.

Relying on this power will only bring chaos to this world. Gotta think things through before making a move.

Hikaru made his way to the biggest Adventurers Guild in Hopestadt. He already knew that adventurers gathered there, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Four Stars of the East.

He removed his mask and hood and acted like a normal adventurer. After a thirty-minute ride on a carriage, the guild building came into view, a huge structure made of sandstones. Above the double door was a sword and axe crossed together. A symbol of power, perhaps.

Voices rolled through the open door. Unlike the quiet guild he was at a while ago, this one was booming with life.

「Hikaru!」

「Lavia? Why are you alone?」

Lavia came straight to him, hood over her head. Hikaru told her and Paula to come here to look for the Four Stars. Since the ladies were popular, the receptionist should be more accommodating to girls like them.

「I was just about to look for you.」

「Where's Paula?」

「Inside.」she said, pointing.

Hikaru followed Lavia's fingers.

「P-Please stand in line!」

「You rascals! You heard Paula! 」

「What?! You're the one who cut in line, you moron!」

「That's only a scratch! Just spit on it or something!」

A line formed in front of Paula. Well-built adventurers were glaring at each other.

「Uh… What's going on here exactly?」Hikaru asked.

「Hardly makes any sense, I know. Let me explain.」

Apparently, Paula was healing the men, and depending on the degree of the injury, the guild offered a reward. That part Hikaru could understand. But why on earth are there so many injured adventurers?

「Today's winner is Johann Kostenlos Jaeger, a member of the rank A party Polar Tiger!」

The people cheered. Apparently there was a knockout tournament going on the guild. Every day, at that. Whoever won earned the right to challenge Selyse of the Four Stars to a fight.

「Are they stupid?」Hikaru said.

「I thought all men were like that.」

「Well, not me.」

As a result, injuries kept on coming that the guild and even healers threw in the towel. That's where Paula came in. Apparently, she thought the men were involved in a large-scale battle against monsters, and introduced herself as a Healer. The only Healers around were old men and women, so the adventurers were excited to see a young girl.

「Did you give her permission?」Hikaru asked.

「Yup.」

「She's just too nice.」

While Hikaru told Paula to only use her magic for him, he also gave Lavia the authority to make decisions with regard to her abilities.

Hikaru sat on a chair and watched Paula as she healed a birdman. Lavia gave a smirk.

「What is it?」he asked.

「You like how she's too nice, though.」

Hikaru felt embarra.s.sed that Lavia saw right through him. Paula had something he didn't have: a pure heart.

「It's all part of the plan, of course.」Lavia said.「By making the guild owe us one, we might be able to talk to Selyse.」

「Exactly. Nice thinking. I don't mind her using healing magic.」

As they were talking, the adventurers that Paula healed started recruiting her to their parties.

「All right. Time to save our Healer.」

「I'm sure she'd be happy to see us.」

Sure enough, Paula's eyes brightened as soon as she spotted Hikaru.

「Hikaru-sama!」

Needless to say, Hikaru drew some fierce stares from the adventurers.