As soon as Jin stepped out of the Darkan family estate, he didn’t hesitate.
A carriage awaited him, the door already opened by Sir Dolik, who accompanied him like a quiet shadow. Without a word, Jin climbed in, and the driver moved.
His destination? An information agency.
However, there was a slight pitch. It was that he didn’t know any information agencies. But with this ’Vacation’, he hoped to know and visit one.
As the carriage rolled along the paved roads of the capital, Jin sat back in silence, his gaze trailing out the window.
Outside, the city was alive. The side of the road teed with activity, rchants hollering prices, children darting between carts, and vendors hawking fragrant skewers of at. The world bustled with energy and chatter, yet none of it touched the solemn air surrounding him.
Despite the recent battle in the region, specifically in the second-largest city of Darkan, there was an eerie detachnt in the capital. It was as though the people had chosen ignorance, preserving their routines and laughter like fragile artifacts against the happenings around them.
However, he couldn’t feel the sa way. The source of his joy, pride, and happiness had been taken away from him.
The sound of a throat clearing jolted him back to the present.
"A letter for Sir Jin," the coachman said, extending a sealed parchnt.
"Hmm?" Jin arched a brow, sharing a glance with Sir Dolik, who looked equally surprised.
With a frown, Jin took the parchnt and broke the seal. The mont his eyes scanned the familiar handwriting, his frown softened.
[Hey Jin,
It’s been a while. I heard of your achievents at the Last Front. I wanted to send you a letter, but then I heard you’d moved into the Darkan family. There, I also heard about your achievents. It looks like you’re doing well. Now, I don’t know when you’ll receive this, but I also heard sothing, it said you were looking for soone, right?
Ask the Orion Assembly. Those guys would find who you are looking for. They are disguised as Harper hawks around where you are. when you find them, tell them I sent you.
I hope you find what you are looking for. Vole Malakar]
The letter crumbled into the wind as he finished reading it, the parchnt turning to dust in his fingers.
’He’s helping again,’ Jin thought, eyes closed.
He exhaled deeply, the ache in his chest tightening. Vole’s help was always a double-edged sword. It was comforting, but also a bitter reminder of everything he’d lost.
The mory of Uncle Kwon flashed through his mind again. The man he’d once trusted like family had turned on him, driving a dagger through both his flesh and trust. That betrayal was why Jin now kept his world distant, his ties severed or formal. Emotions, after all, could be fatal liabilities.
He then spoke to the coachman. "Take to Harper Hawks."
"Alright," the coachman replied without question.
Sir Dolik didn’t speak, but his eyes narrowed. ’Hm? So, he’s communicating with soone.’
Sir Dolik silently observed the situation, and they soon reached their destination.
Harper Hawks.
The na was well-known in the capital. A hub for the low to middle classes, those who toiled and survived without noble privilege. The building stood wide and tall, blending the old-world charm of brick and wood with the bustle of common trade. The ground floor operated as a bar and restaurant. The underground hosted a casino that attracted secretive gamblers and risk-lovers. The upper floors functioned as a motel, filled mostly with rchants, travelers, and rcenaries.
To the unknowing eye, it was just a busy, noisy social hub, but if one knew its layout, they would recognize it as a strategic nest, perfect for gathering information.
Inside, Jin and Sir Dolik found a space to sit. The place buzzed with conversation and clinking glasses. Steam rose from hot als, laughter echoed across tables, and a bard plucked tunes in the corner.
Jin didn’t wait. He stood and approached the bar after volunteering, which left Sir Dolik looking at him with a suspicious gaze.
The bartender was an older man with graying stubble and a quiet deanor, but the pressure he gave off wasn’t ordinary. Jin sensed it imdiately.
’A 5th-star... he’s strong,’ Jin observed.
Standing before him, Jin leaned in and spoke. "Vole Malakar sent ."
The bartender’s eyes flickered in surprise.
Whether it was because he didn’t expect the Malakar na or he knew Baines from his accomplishnts, it was unknown the source of his surprise.
Regardless, the man nodded. "Follow ."
He guided Jin to the back, where barrels of wine were stored. There, he pressed his palm against a large barrel. Runes briefly lit up beneath his skin before a subtle click echoed, and the barrel opened to reveal a hidden passageway.
"Go straight. You will be directed from there, and welco to the Orion Assembly, Sir Jin."
The man bowed slightly and returned to his work.
Jin said nothing, but a flicker of thought ran through him.
’So... he knew who I was.’
He hadn’t worn his trademark scarf today, trying to avoid unnecessary attention. Yet, they recognized him anyway.
A few minutes of walking through the passage led him to another chamber. The lighting was dim and calm. Masked figures lingered in corners, their presence quiet but undeniable. The air carried tension of secrets and awareness.
One of them then stepped forward.
"Sir Jin, please follow ," the voice was androgynous and firm.
Jin followed without resistance. The efficiency was unnerving but impressive. His presence had barely entered their domain, and it was like he was already expected.
’I should expect nothing less from an information agency.’
Soon, they stopped before a door.
"Please enter. Soone will attend to you shortly."
Jin stepped inside.
The room was small, austere. A single table divided by a thick wall with small, intricate holes, just enough to allow sound through.
A soft, feminine voice greeted him.
"Now, please, what information would Sir Jin like to purchase?"
There was curiosity in her tone, genuine and keen. The agency had long wondered about the quiet warrior making headlines. All they truly knew was that he was linked to Vole Malakar, wielded a shape-forming sword, employed a paralyzing dagger technique, and utilized rare plant-based weapons.
But nothing about his past.
Until now. So, it ca as a surprise when he ca to them first, and even with the Malakar na. That made his relationship with Vole Malakar stronger than normal, and then again, they should have expected it.
It wasn’t news that Jin was looking for soone or sothing at this point.
"I want two things," Jin said, his voice even. "But... I don’t have money. I was wondering if you’d accept one of my pills."
There was a pause.
Baines took the silence as not enough and was thinking what else to give, while the truth was, the woman was trembling in excitent.
How could they not know? The smoke pill that cripples mana and aura users.
The truth was, so many didn’t believe this story.
After hearing the whole story, they had concluded that it was the aftereffect of the experints the blood deplorable perford; however, the larger organizations like this thought otherwise
Was he offering that pill?
"Can I see it?" she asked.
Jin took out a small, paper-wrapped item and placed it on the table.
"Abysall Lotus. It nullifies mana within its range. It worked on a 7th-star magician. I’m not sure how far the radius goes, but it’s effective."
Another pause.
The silence lingered before she finally spoke again, voice more asured.
"What would you like to know?"
Jin’s jaw tightened. It was finally ti to know what actually happened during those years.
"What happened in the Free Principalities eleven years ago?"
There was a beat of silence, heavy and loaded.
Then she began.
"The Free Principalities... a neutral zone with no allegiance to any kingdom, making it perfect for rchants overseen by a council of elite trading families. Among them was the Baek family, who could be said to have the most influence in the neutral zones."
Jin’s hands tightened into fists.
’Eye’ activated behind his irises.
[RELEASING DEPRESSANTS]
He had to suppress the trembling rage building up.
"But suddenly, the Vodal Kingdom declared war on them. It wasn’t unexpected, as whoever claid the Free Principalities would control the rchant guilds, and by extension, the economic veins of multiple kingdoms. But... they failed."
Jin’s eyes widened at her words.
’Soone stopped them?’
"A mysterious group retaliated against the Vodal kingdom. However, it turned out it wasn’t only the Vodal kingdom aiming for the place. Another masked order bearing the insignia of a bleeding eye beneath a dagger: the Sable Masks also set eyes on that place."
Jin’s breath caught.
’They are the ones.’ Baines roared inside himself. He still rembered those masks, even in his dreams.
"In the end, there was only so much this group could do against the Sable masks who serve Nihilith, the god of assassins."
"That day... the family crumbled."
Silence.
Jin stared at the table, hollow and still.
The room was too quiet. He was doing his best to keep his composure, but unknowingly, he had long lost it.
On the other side, the informant’s thoughts raced. ’So... he’s tied to the Baek family event, huh?’ ’Looks like we would need to revisit that event.’
’So that was how we fell, due to greed?’ He looked up and hoped to anything that could hear him that they were still alive.
Because if they weren’t,
He didn’t finish his thoughts.
Then his voice ca, hoarse but firm.
"For the second thing... I need a map."
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