Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Children of the Desert (3)

“Boss, I look forward to working with you.”

Considering that Namir was a problem solver, or mercenary, the ease of recruitment was as expected. Nevertheless, the response was satisfying.

It was just like in the game. The way his speech changed immediately after receiving money was exactly the Namir I knew.

He values money, but doesn’t betray for it, which makes him trustworthy.

After some time, he’d be someone I could tell about my past without any issues.

I nodded with a deep smile.

“Alright.”

In a way, it’s fortunate.

I was worried he might be different from the Namir I knew, since I heard he was drinking due to heartbreak.

“Is the heartbreak not a problem?”

“It’s not that it’s not a problem, but what can I do? They said they’re happy together. I was just drinking because life felt empty.”

Indeed, he’s a person with common sense. He might be the most sensible one in our group.

Though he’d probably suggest killing anyone who becomes a problem for the organization. Namir watched me carefully.

“You don’t seem to be from the east. Will I be heading towards the center of the continent?”

“That’s right. We’re going to the Empire.”

“When do we leave?”

“Well…”

I couldn’t give a definite answer yet. It was because I was supposed to meet Haisen here.

Denif had contacted them before we crossed to the east.

Since we didn’t know how the situation would unfold, we set primary and secondary timings. We couldn’t contact each other from the east.

The Arachne matter was dealt with quickly, so we could arrive according to the primary timing.

We were a day late, but I had mentioned that we might be a few days late anyway.

So I thought Haisen’s side would arrive first and wait.

‘But Toun isn’t here.’

Considering the situation, Toun would likely be the contact again. It would be too dangerous for Duke Brusek to move.

But there was no one approaching us or observing us.

I wondered if an accident had occurred on their way.

The possibility was low, but you never know. The Empire would still be on edge and quite persistent even as time passed.

“We’ll probably be here for a few days. It might be longer. We just arrived in Sonora today.”

“I see.”

For a moment, a look of realization crossed Namir’s face.

“Boss.”

“What?”

“I have some business to take care of before I join.”

“Did you accept a request?”

“Yes. It’s more of a favor, but it’s still a request. I received it last week, but then this suddenly happened.”

I thought he might have heard the wedding news just as he was about to move.

“Seeing you here, it doesn’t seem urgent.”

Namir smiled sheepishly.

“It’s a favor for a close friend and it’s not urgent. I want to follow you right away, but I’m the type who keeps my promises.”

Right. He’s a man who keeps his word. That’s why I came all the way to the southeast to recruit him.

“What kind of request is it? I’ll help if I can.”

“Ah, it’s fine.”

“Time is money for me. It’s better if I help and we move on.”

Namir looked at me cautiously.

“If you’re busy, I can handle it and join you later. I’ll receive the payment you just gave me then too.”

Namir pushed the bundle of money I had given him earlier back to me. It seemed he had misunderstood my words.

I meant that I would help because time is money.

I trust Namir’s words. Even if I gave him this money now, he would join on his own.

The problem is that I can’t confirm how I’ll move forward.

I’m planning to create a base in Chenarus, but plans can change depending on the situation.

It’s better to move together than to risk misunderstandings.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying I’ll help because it’s better to move quickly. What’s the request?”

“It’s really nothing special… My brother asked me to get a desert scorpion’s tail.”

“A scorpion’s tail?”

“Yes. As you know, it’s the best aphrodisiac in the southeast, isn’t it?”

That’s something I’m hearing for the first time. The tail of a monstrous scorpion would surely be full of poison.

It’s famous as an aphrodisiac?

Well, on Earth people drink snake and hornet wine, so maybe it’s similar.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen any scorpions since we arrived.’

Is it some kind of popular product in the southeast? On Earth, they said that when something is rumored to be good for virility, it gets wiped out.

When I asked Namir, he confirmed it. He said that desert scorpions are hard to find even among monsters.

I guess people are the same everywhere. Namir scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed.

“Haha, my brother got married a bit late and they still don’t have a child…”

“I can help with that much.”

If it’s about finding something, it’s better for me to be there with my Winds skill than sending Namir alone.

“I just feel sorry for troubling you.”

“Don’t worry about that. Anyway, it’s also the business of my subordinate, and it’s more important for me that we move together.”

While it’s better to get to the Empire sooner, this is worth accommodating.

And in the game, it was always better to participate in such events when they occurred.

There might be unexpected opportunities.

Well, the only thing I can hope for right now is to maybe see the desert aurora if we stay a few more days.

“Ahem. Thank you.”

“I wasn’t planning to leave right away anyway, so let’s set a date to go looking for the scorpion.”

I had to meet Toun before leaving, as it would be a problem if he arrived after we left.

“Yes. Then, would you like to drink with me today? I plan to drink a lot and forget everything.”

I agreed. Although he didn’t show it much outwardly, he did seem a bit troubled.

After all, the Namir I knew had never been like this. He must have been deeply in love if he had been chasing her for years.

In this situation, just being beside him will be quite helpful.

Namir, as if trying to keep his word, emptied the bottles at a frightening speed.

I was mostly listening. I didn’t have much to say or any advice to give.

As the alcohol took effect, his talk became more pathetic.

“What’s so good about that slick, pretty boy? Don’t you think? For a man, strength is important! Strength!”

Namir, drunk and talking, suddenly seemed to realize something and glanced at me cautiously.

“Ah, I’m not insulting you, Boss. Of course, you’re handsome and pretty, but you’re much stronger than me…”

“…Right. Hang in there.”

I was just listening with one ear and letting it out the other. Unrequited love stories aren’t very interesting.

At that moment, someone entered the bar. It was a face I knew. Toun Zaha had come here.

Speak of the devil. Fortunately, he looked fine. It seems there were no problems on his way.

***

Namir didn’t drink to the point of completely losing his senses. Though Carlyn noticed he was more drunk than he had seen in the game.

Carlyn sent Namir home after promising to meet again for lunch tomorrow. Then he met Toun Zaha in a dark alley of Sonora.

“I’m a bit late. Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I just arrived today too. I hope nothing happened to you?”

“I encountered a small sandstorm in the desert and lost my way.”

“A sandstorm? It’s fortunate you arrived on time.”

Nodding, Toun Zaha took something out from his breast pocket. It was an old piece of paper that looked a bit worn.

Carlyn felt puzzled. The paper seemed too old to be a new order from the Duke. Besides, he’s the type to give orders verbally.

“I met with Denif earlier.”

The timing was slightly off. Toun Zaha had arrived while Carlyn was raiding the criminal organization and meeting Namir.

“Is that so?”

“First, let me relay the duke’s words.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“He said to do as you see fit, for a while.”

This was good news for Carlyn. Although he had expected it to some extent, it was a moment when all his small worries disappeared.

He had roamed far from the imperial palace.

Rather than focusing on scheming, it had been closer to a period of preparation for future tasks. And now, it was time to return to his main job.

“For a while?”

“Yes. He said to return to Haisen when the job is done.”

This was unavoidable since Carlyn couldn’t deny his affiliation with Haisen. Toun continued.

“The duke is considering you for the next Chief of Intelligence.”

“…Is that so?”

Even Carlyn couldn’t help but be a bit surprised by the following words. About seven years had passed since he joined under the duke.

It wasn’t enough time for the duke to designate the next Chief of Intelligence. Moreover, Carlyn was currently away from Haisen. Was this some kind of test?

Carlyn questioned it. But there was no reason to test him with something like this.

‘It seems he took the assassination of the Empress quite positively?’

That guess was correct. While Carlyn had done it for his own sake, the duke perceived it differently.

That incident allowed him to gain confidence in Carlyn, including his achievements so far.

“Denif will continue to move with you.”

“Yes.”

Denif’s joining. Carlyn was initially a bit negative about it, but he thought it wasn’t bad. It’s not easy to get such a powerful ally as Denif.

With Duke Brusek’s approval, there shouldn’t be any trouble.

Of course, there were doubts about the duke’s intentions.

It was a separate issue from the truthfulness of the statement about considering him for the next Chief of Intelligence.

He was wondering if leaving Denif behind was a way to monitor him.

The fact that Toun Zaha had met Denif in advance also suggested this.

But this was a mistaken idea. The reason the Chief of Intelligence left Denif behind was for Carlyn’s safety.

Toun had conveyed to Denif the order to prioritize Carlyn’s life no matter what happened. It was an order he had received in the past.

-I’ll do that. I owe him from before anyway.

Denif nodded without a moment’s hesitation. If it weren’t for Carlyn, he would have been caught and killed by the Empire long ago. The same was true for Orhen.

“What about you, Toun? Will you be traveling with us?”

“No. I have other business to attend to.”

Toun handed Carlyn the faded paper he was holding.

“What is this?”

“It’s from the duke. He gave it to me when he heard you were in the southeastern desert.”

Carlyn unfolded the paper. The faded paper was a map.

“We obtained it by chance recently. There might be something at the location indicated on the map, but it’s not certain.”

“Was it given by an archaeologist?”

Carlyn asked.

It was a natural assumption since the archaeologist traveling with Cedric was also working with Haisen.

“No. We obtained it during a separate mission.”

It was acquired by chance by Haisen agents who came to the southeastern desert while tracking the divine doctor. (+)[1]TLN: I think this part here is talking about divine doctor (신의). This happens because the past me is not making a note for this, so if this is a mistake, I am really sorry.

They didn’t obtain the map itself.

Typically, spies returning from distant regions bring back local specialties.

These are processed as official expenses because such specialties have value as gifts during espionage missions.

The agents brought back a pottery vessel. However, when it arrived at Haisen, it was slightly cracked. The map was found inside this cracked vessel.

“An archaeologist looked at it, but they said they weren’t sure what it was.”

“Is that so?”

“There’s a legend about a powerful desert kingdom in the southeastern desert before the founding emperor’s era… but they said the possibility is low since there are no historical records.”

This was a legend Carlyn was hearing for the first time. Indeed, it was a legend with no remaining historical records.

He hadn’t heard of it in the game either.

“It doesn’t seem to be a current map.”

The markings themselves were different from the present. Toun Zaha nodded at Carlyn’s words.

“That’s right. The duke said to take a look if you have time and are interested, since you’re here. We don’t have enough personnel to assign to this kind of task right now.”

Carlyn had to find the desert scorpion anyway. Although the map didn’t represent the present, it was worth looking at.

Hadn’t he already found the Sea of Ashes?

He wouldn’t move specifically for this, but you never know. Even if not exactly that, there could be hidden treasures or ruins.

“Then I must be going now.”

“Are you leaving right away?”

“The matter is urgent. I’ve already finished talking with Denif. I wish you good luck.”

“Yes. You too, Toun. See you again.”

Toun gave a deep smile and withdrew. Carlyn looked at the map in the darkness.

Huh?

And suddenly, something occurred to Carlyn.

Carlyn became certain that what was on this map actually existed.

It was because of Denif. The Denif in the game he knew had Mystic, after all.

1. TLN: I think this part here is talking about divine doctor (신의). This happens because the past me is not making a note for this, so if this is a mistake, I am really sorry.

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