After an early dinner.
As I tried to go out of the imperial palace, the guards stopped .
"His Highness Fernandez has ordered you to wait in the private residence."
"What the heck?"
They seed to be treating well, but apparently, the intention was to confine inside the private residence and make play around there.
I obediently returned to my room for the ti being.
Ashs life was all about making a scene, but there was no need to create chaos in this situation.
I have a quiet way out!
I pulled out a cloak that I had brought from Crossroad.
[Invisibility Cloak (SSR)]
When I put the cloak on my shoulders and looked in the mirror, it showed empty space. It was working properly.
I was worried that if I couldnt see myself, I might lose my balance, but fortunately, that didnt happen.
I could see my body translucently.
Good, then...
I closed the cloaks collar, and looked at the bright city lights through the private residence window.
Lets head out to town for a drink!
There were many reasons why I was brought to the capital, but one of them was to deal with matters that couldnt be handled outside the capital.
Ill et the architect, make contact with the top, and...
The rcenary Guild!
Ti to draw a hero!
***
The stealth provided by the [Invisibility Cloak] was level 3.
So it would be detected by detection magic of level 3 or higher. And this place was the heart of the empire, the imperial palace.
Detection magic would certainly be in place at the entrance, so there was a chance of getting caught right away.
But I was lucky. My accommodation was not in the main palace but in a distant private residence.
Naturally, the level of surveillance was much lower.
Crouching next to the wall, I stared intently at the private residences main gate, guarded by the sentries.
Perhaps due to my increased Intelligence and Magic Power stats, I could vaguely sense the magic cast around when I focused.
Theres surveillance magic, but its about level 1?
I didnt have to wait long before it was ti for the guards to change shifts.
For a brief mont, as the door opened and the soldiers passed by, I slipped through quietly.
Easy, too easy!
After that, everything went smoothly. Ashs private residence was located on the outermost part of the imperial palace, and the security network to be breached was correspondingly thin.
It didnt take long for to completely leave the imperial palace area and stand at the entrance to the city.
Making sure no one was watching, I removed the invisibility cloak and looked back at the imperial palace, whistling. Ill get so fresh air, Dad!
***
Walking the streets myself, the city seed much larger than it had appeared from the sky.
The streets, thoroughly cleaned around the imperial palace, beca dirtier as I headed south, but in return, they gained vibrancy.
Boisterous conversations echoed, and the slls of alcohol, fire, and bread wafted from mats and stalls scattered around.
I pulled my robes hood deep over my head and threaded my way through the bustling back alleys.
Having grown used to the quiet of Crossroad, the crowded place made my eyes spin.
I stopped in a quieter spot and took a deep breath, unfolding the map from my pocket.
Lets see, where to go...
Since the harbor was south of the imperial palace, comrcial facilities and guilds were naturally situated to the south.
The aristocratic houses and the salons, high-end cafeterias catering to them, seed to be to the north of the imperial palace.
I dont need to worry about the class distribution of this city.
Having confird my destination, I folded the map and put it away.
I had three places to visit in total.
The architect, needed for the Crossroad tourism city project; the top, necessary for taking over the magic stone distribution network; and the rcenary Guild, just to check if I could draw a hero.
The architects office was the closest among the three. I hurried, hoping to arrive before it got too late.
***
The architects office.
"Coming in~!"
BANG!
I kicked the door open and entered, startling the architect, who had been intently examining blueprints.
"Eek?! Wh-who are you?!"
"Who else but your sky-high custor."
I took off my hood and flashed a mischievous smile.
"You forgot about the letter, didnt you, friend?"
"The letter... the hotel construction in Crossroad? Gasp! Surely not, Prince Ash...?"
"Surely captures people."
I got you!
Approaching the architects desk, I took a seat in the chair before , crossed my legs, and rested my chin in my hand.
"Hey, you want to do a job with ?"
My attitude was casual, but I had every intention of treating the architect properly.
Crossroad was a dangerous place, far from the imperial roads and teeming with monsters.
Naturally, Id pay extra for a job in such a location.
However.
"Im truly sorry, Your Highness..."
No matter how much I begged and pleaded, the architect remained steadfast in refusal. I was genuinely puzzled.
"You wont do it, no matter how much I pay? Is there sothing that makes it impossible?"
"..."
"Why? Is there another reason?"
"I cant tell you that, sir. Just know that if you ask other architects in the imperial city, theyll give you the sa response."
There was sothing else going on.
Narrowing my eyes, I leaned closer to the architect and lowered my voice.
"Fine. Ill back off quietly without asking more. But tell this: Whats the reason? Did soone threaten you not to take my job?"
"Gulp!"
The architects shoulder twitched. It must be the right answer.
"Look, friend. Its odd for to say this, but Im Prince Ash."
Frowning, I grumbled nacingly.
"If you dont answer straight, who knows what might happen?"
"Please, have rcy!"
"ROAR!"
"Please, save !"
I had scared him enough to make him cry. Enough joking; I patted the architects shoulder.
"Its alright. Just tell this, and I wont bother you further. Who was it? Who told you not to take my job?"
"That would be..."
In the end, the architect told the plain truth.
"Big Hand has pressured not to take on any projects in Crossroad, no matter what..."
"...?"
I blinked in surprise.
"Big Hand? Whos Big Hand?"
"I, I cant say, Your Highness. Im truly sorry!"
With that, he fell to the ground, wailing. I couldnt press further and had to leave the architects office.
It was as the architect had said. People in other offices refused my requests, too, even going so far as to close up shop and run away, or take down their signs. Was all this really necessary?!
***
It was the sa with the rchants.
All the rchants I could have contacted to build a new distribution network in the ga refused to contract with .
After cajoling, begging, and threatening them, they all spat out the sa na.
Big Hand.
Big Hand had blocked all dealings with Crossroad.
I couldnt secure a contract with an architect or rchant, and I wandered the streets, lost in thought.
Who would go to such lengths to thwart ...?
The news that I was looking for an architect and rchant in Crossroad must have spread among industry insiders weeks ago.
And Big Hand had stepped in and ssed things up.
Who has enough influence to do this?
I am a prince. A rascal, perhaps, but still one of the emperors three sons.
And a commander of the southern front.
Even though its a ramshackle front operated solely with rcenaries, Im still a commander in charge of defending the empire.
I had personally requested these contracts, but the architects and rchants had refused , risking their lives.
This ant that Big Hand was a more frightening threat than .
Is it Fernandez? Or the Emperor?
The two who imdiately ca to mind. They are obviously above .
But it seed too... petty for them to have directly blocked .
All for a small city in the margraves territory, just for small work, with just an architect, just a rchant.
Its hard to imagine that the regent or the emperor would block such a minor matter.
Either of them could ss with far more efficiently.
So who on earth could it be...?
Lost in thought, I found myself standing in front of the rcenary guild. I swallowed dryly, looking up at the building.
Continental rcenary Guild, New Terra Headquarters.
Please let pull a cheat-level hero!
Of course, I knew it. There would be hardly any rcenaries here who were actually out in the field.
This was the capital of the empire. A city garrisoned by the royal standing army, and one of the safest places in the world.
It was far removed from strife and chaos. There was no way that rcenaries, the warhounds seeking battles, would be here.
This place rely acted as a headquarter overseeing various rcenary guilds scattered across the continent and dealing with administrative tasks.
It was unlikely to be a space for actually recruiting rcenaries. But still.
Ill at least be able to find out where the useful rcenaries are.
I ca here to find out where the SSR-grade friends were roaming around the continent.
As long as I could find their location, I could figure out how to scout them.
And who knows? Perhaps a high-grade hero character is waiting for inside? Theres always a possibility!
With that thought, I flung the doors of the rcenary guild wide open, without really expecting much.
But then.
Flash-!
...?
As soon as I opened the door, a dazzling golden light spilled out. What the heck?!
A woman was standing in front of the empty counter of the rcenary guild.
The gold-colored aura unique to SSR-grade characters was emanating from her.
She was a young woman with short, military blue hair, dressed in a plain black and white maids uniform. But what caught my eye the most was...
A coffin.
A massive black coffin that she carried on her back.
I was montarily overwheld by this utterly unbalanced, absurd visual, and my mouth fell open slightly.
SSR-grade characters often have unique appearances, but a maid with a coffin? Id never seen this character in the ga before.
Ah.
With her eyes, the sa military blue as her hair, she glanced at . It was a lifeless stare, like that of a dead fish.
She grabbed the hem of her skirt with a stiff, doll-like motion and bowed to .
...You have arrived, Your Highness.
Huh?
The architect, and your contact with the top brass, I knew you would co here, so I was waiting for you.
Her toneless voice had an unmistakable sharpness to it.
My master wishes to see you. Please... follow obediently.
I could instinctively sense that this womans master was the Big Hand who had manipulated the architects and top brass.
At the sa ti, I felt threatened.
A person who could manipulate the rchants in the capital, predict my movents, and even boldly summon a mber of the royal family like .
This was dangerous.
Whos your master to command to co? How dare you be insolent to the royalty?
At my words, the woman tilted her head.
Wont you co?
And what if I say no?
Then I have no choice.
Click-
The woman laid her hand on the enormous coffin on her back.
There was a short handle on top of the coffin, and she effortlessly picked it up with one hand, as if it were a club.
Ill have to take you by force.
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