#Chapter 61
—
Arthur pulled out a scrapbook where he had stored the information he had gathered through newspapers and various sources.
“…”
Inside it were details of the prey he must kill in this lifetime.
Among them was information about those who operated with Arcane as their base of activity.
As Arthur looked over the faces and data of those he could never forget—and must never forget—he murmured to himself.
*‘Even if I know future knowledge, the future and the present are not the same.’*
Take, for example, Ares Arekis, whom he encountered a month ago.
That man too had changed in many ways.
So Arthur had begun to gather new information, and what he had compiled was this scrapbook.
*‘I had intended to collect it so I could hunt them when the time came… Perhaps now is that time?’*
It wasn’t a decision made on a whim.
The variable called Leon Madrid.
His growth rate, faster than expected.
Those various factors combined to form this judgment.
*‘I could wait until I’ve grown stronger, but… Leon Madrid as a variable weighs on my mind.’*
A man whose allegiance as ally or enemy he could not yet discern.
His ominous eyes alone were enough to unsettle him in many ways.
Thus, Arthur judged it might not be a bad idea to begin the hunt earlier than planned.
*‘There’s nothing to be gained by rushing blindly… but losing the chance by simply waiting would be just as foolish.’*
If Leon Madrid were aiming for Khan Madrid, then their prey could only overlap.
And Arthur did not want to yield his prey.
As he had once told Julie, revenge only carried meaning if done with his own hands.
*‘Hmm… then, if I were to start the hunt, who would be the right target?’*
With that thought, Arthur turned the first page.
After some consideration, he tapped his finger on the photo of a man.
“Slave trader Hamburg.”
One of the targets of revenge he had failed to kill in his previous life.
And the culprit who had driven the retainers of Bayern into ruin.
Arthur brushed his fingertips over the photo, the corners of his lips lifting.
“This piece of trash… seems the most fitting, doesn’t he?”
—
—
The man who drove the Bayern family to ruin was Count Dormund.
But the one who cast the Bayern family into despair was not Count Dormund.
*‘What tore the Bayern family apart… were the human garbage that followed him.’*
And among that garbage was the slave trader Hamburg.
The moment the Bayern name was shredded, he seized Bayern’s retainers and sold them at the slave market.
But he did not stop there—he even enslaved the inhabitants of Bayern’s territories.
Judging by his crimes alone, it would not be strange to say he rivaled Cain Dormund.
Thus, he was someone who had to die. But in the future, Arthur had failed to kill Hamburg.
*‘Hamburg was one of the financial pipelines that supplied Cain Dormund’s back funds, and he was under heavy protection.’*
Because of that, he slipped about here and there, and in the end, the Arthur of the future could not find him.
But Hamburg at this point in time was different.
As Arthur read through Hamburg’s information in the scrapbook, he let out a small laugh.
“Travel businessman? You’re up to some amusing things, aren’t you, you bastard….”
At present, Hamburg was known as a businessman running a travel company called <Lalalal>.
Of course, Arthur didn’t believe it.
“Arcane travel packages… Stria travel packages… Quite the effort for a cover, isn’t it?”
Officially, Arcane prohibited the slave trade.
But in a great city where enormous wealth gathered, such as Arcane, there was no way the slave market would not thrive.
*‘No doubt the company is a front for his real business….’*
Which made him an appropriate target.
Being a slave trader, Hamburg must already have accumulated enemies in many places.
If he were to die suddenly, it would not seem suspicious. Even if discovered, it would cause little trouble.
Of course, the assassination itself would not be easy.
*‘In the broad sense, he’s also one of the underworld figures of Arcane.’*
He was likely backed by many mercenaries or combat gangs, and if Arthur charged in unprepared, it could turn dangerous.
After thinking this far, Arthur stroked his chin.
*‘Hmm… then perhaps I should first check out this travel agency he supposedly runs?’*
Nodding, Arthur asked Anna to make a reservation with Hamburg’s company.
The next day, Anna returned with a slightly puzzled expression.
“They said it’s this Sunday, Young Master. But…”
“But?”
“They told us to bring a mask as part of the preparations….”
Arthur blinked.
“A mask?”
“Yes. A mask.”
“What mask?”
“W-well, that’s what I’d like to know. Why a mask?”
As Anna and Arthur blinked at each other, they both shrugged their shoulders.
“Shall I just get one that seems suitable?”
“Yes, do that.”
With that, Anna handed him a ticket.
It was a ticket for <Lalalal> Travel Agency.
Taking it, Arthur turned his gaze to the calendar.
“Sunday… So there’s still some time left.”
With that murmur, Arthur rose to his feet.
“I’ll need to prepare. My sword, my pistol, and my body.”
—
—
The next day.
Right after school, Arthur went to visit Willet’s office.
Willet, who had been cleaning his shop, sighed and muttered.
“…What is it this time?”
“I’d like to buy some information, Elder.”
“Information?”
“Yes. Information.”
Willet tilted his head.
“Found a request that caught your eye?”
“No, nothing like that. I just want to handle some personal matters.”
“Personal matters?”
“Yes. Do you happen to know anything about the slave market?”
Willet flinched in surprise.
“…Didn’t know you had a taste for that sort of thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Slaves, boy. Didn’t expect you to have an interest in that….”
Willet’s eyes narrowed.
Arthur blinked and quickly explained.
“Uh… I don’t know what you’re imagining, but it’s not that.”
“Not that, then why ask about the slave market?”
“I want to kill the man who runs it.”
“…”
“So I need information, and I thought you might know something.”
Willet muttered in bewilderment.
“You’d rather kill the man running the slave market than just buy a slave? Why?”
“Mm… I can’t tell you the details, but it’s personal vengeance.”
“You’d kill an underworld figure over vengeance?”
“Yes.”
Willet fell silent.
Staring at Arthur, he slowly shook his head.
“Every time I see you, you give me a headache.”
“Eh? Why?”
“Think about it yourself.”
With that, Willet rose from his seat and headed downstairs.
Arthur followed, and soon the tavern beneath revealed itself.
Willet walked straight into his office and sat down.
“There are usually two ways to pay for information. One is with equally valuable information, the other with money. And I’d prefer the first.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Uh… but I don’t have information Elder Willet would be interested in.”
“Why not? That Marshal Dust affair—how did you resolve it?”
“…?”
“Don’t play dumb. I already know everything.”
Arthur smirked.
“As expected of Elder Willet. Your reach is wide.”
“My reach is wide indeed.”
“Hmm… So what do you want to know?”
“First—did Marshal Dust really steal the Empire’s ‘secret’?”
Arthur hesitated.
*‘I don’t need to grow close to the prince, but I don’t need to make him an enemy either.’*
It would be best to answer selectively here.
After all, this man did hold some of his secrets.
After a moment’s thought, Arthur answered.
“Yes. I think he really did steal it.”
“And why do you think that?”
“Because the Black Cross moved. I even met Tacen and Mr. Carpe there.”
Willet took the pipe from his mouth.
It was an ordinary gesture, but Arthur read the subtle stir of unease within it.
*‘So, this is information he didn’t know. He doesn’t know everything after all.’*
Judging thus, Arthur continued filtering the information.
What to say, what not to say.
As he weighed it against Willet’s reactions, the old man asked again.
“Then it’s true that Marshal Dust was captured by the Black Cross?”
“Yes.”
“And how did *you* survive?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Willet’s eyes held suspicion as they fixed on Arthur.
“Over 130 mercenaries died there. Some were even B-rank. That wasn’t a battlefield one could survive by luck alone….”
As he spoke, Willet exhaled a plume of smoke.
Arthur hesitated, then replied.
“Maybe I survived… because I was worth surviving?”
“…More than a B-rank mercenary?”
“Yes. Would you like me to explain the whole process?”
At Arthur’s bold answer, Willet drummed his fingers on the desk.
With that rhythmic tapping, silence fell over the room.
Then, Willet spoke, having reached a decision.
“Well… fine. I’ve gotten a general sense of things.”
“Huh? You could ask more if you want.”
“Even if I did, you wouldn’t reveal the core, would you?”
“…”
“Then asking further is just a waste of time. Now, say what you want.”
Arthur inwardly marveled at him.
*‘Was that unease earlier an act too? Just how much does this man know?’*
He already knew Willet was an exceptional broker, but knowing the details of that day was frankly astonishing.
“…What? Why are you looking at me with such a burdensome gaze?”
“You just seem truly impressive, Elder Willet.”
“…All of a sudden?”
With a sour look, Willet waved his hand.
“Enough, just ask your question. And quit the flattery that doesn’t suit you.”
“I was being sincere.”
“No questions?”
Urged, Arthur stroked his chin and spoke.
“That travel company called <Lalalal>… I need information on the man pretending to run it—Hamburg.”
At this, Willet’s eyes widened.
“…Hamburg? Do you even know what kind of man he is?”
“Yes. Isn’t he a slave trader?”
At Arthur’s answer, Willet fell silent.
Like Arthur moments ago, he was genuinely surprised.
*‘As expected, Elder Willet knows.’*
Suppressing his anticipation, Arthur asked.
“I’d like to buy information on him. Is that possible?”
After a moment’s thought, Willet slowly replied.
“I’ll say this only once, so listen carefully and choose.”
His voice carried a chilling weight.
“I don’t know what grudge you hold against that man… but give it up. If you value your life.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Uh… give it up?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a reason?”
“There are more reasons than I can count. Shall I put it more bluntly?”
Willet’s gaze sank coldly.
“If you try to kill that man, it will be *you* who dies. And I’m not exaggerating….”
Trailing off, Willet spoke with grave sincerity.
“You’ll truly die. A death without exception, absolute and complete.”
—
