How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 232

“Please, speak comfortably, Count.”

He recognized me despite the change in my hair color.

Well, it’s only natural. To infiltrate the South, which is practically enemy territory, you’d need at least this much information and memorization skills.

More than that, I’ve been sensing a very suspicious presence under the table for a while now.

“Wasn’t it proven with the order?”

The type and grade of alcohol I ordered from the brewery, as well as the quantity, were part of the daily changing contact code.

“There’s always procedure.”

I sighed deeply and took out a black plaque engraved with a golden dragon from my pocket, displaying it. It was an identification *pai* [plaque] indicating I was a secret investigator directly under the royal family.

The man nodded only after seeing it.

“It’s confirmed.”

“Now that that’s settled, I’d appreciate it if you could remove that thing under the table.”

“Ha! Was I found out? As expected, it’s hard to escape the senses of knights.”

Swirling the raised dagger, the man laughed it off with a nonchalant attitude.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Peter Eile, an investigator gathering intelligence in the Southwest, focusing mainly on Malaga. Please, speak comfortably.”

*Eile*? It’s not funny. I mean, it’s probably an alias, but there’s no way he’d have the last name Eile while running a brewery, right?

Peter sat down in front of me and ordered alcohol from the waitress. Then, he took a sip and made a face as if he was coming back to life.

“It’s definitely better than what I make. Makes me feel inadequate.”

“Is the brewery just a cover?”

“For now, yes. I thought I could make it work somehow, but before I knew it, rumors had spread in a very strange way. I’ve spent so much public money on setting up the brewery that I can’t even back out now.”

Is this what investigators are like? I suddenly thought of Belom and his detachment, who worked with me in the East.

It doesn’t match at all.

“Anyway, Count, you must have come to me because you need something.”

I nodded at Peter’s question.

“I want to contact Capital [the Royal Capital, seat of the Royal Family and government].”

“Hmm, that’s not difficult. The contact is still maintained. What’s the message?”

“Do I have to tell you the message?”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. Strictly speaking, this place is enemy territory. So, we don’t leave any evidence of contact with Capital. The higher-ups’ instructions are to minimize variables as much as possible, since we’ve worked hard to establish ourselves. If you tell me your business, I’ll pass it on by word of mouth.”

Tight as iron. I can’t send a letter…

I licked my lips and looked around.

The bar was still noisy. I looked around for quite a while, but no one seemed to be paying us any attention.

I nodded and looked at Peter.

“I need support.”

“Hmm, I see. What kind of support do you need?”

Wait, isn’t he going to ask why I need support?

As if reading my question, Peter smiled.

“If you think I need to know to proceed, you can tell me. But I’ll say again, I’m just a messenger, not someone who questions things.”

“If that’s the case.”

I paused for a moment.

Marquis Irphe would probably immediately realize what I’m trying to do if I send news from the South. We’ve had a conversation about it.

When was it? Right, it was when I stayed at Rihas’s house during the Founding Day celebration.

“If those subversive guys are in the Southern Islands, wouldn’t it be impossible to catch them? That’s Rodkius’s territory.”

“No. There’s a simple solution.”

“A simple solution?”

“Find evidence that Rodkius and the subversive group are cooperating and punish them together.”

Punishing Rodkius. That plan, which I explained even in front of the King, was only half successful.

I succeeded in taking over the East and bringing it under the royal family’s control by using Flores. But I couldn’t find any evidence to reveal the connection between the Order and Rodkius.

Marquis Irphe, that sly old fox, must be anxious for news.

The time I spent traveling around the North to strengthen the barrier wasn’t short. Marquis Irphe probably thinks I’ve been searching for evidence all this time.

Moreover, considering the recent attack on Capital by the black-haired man, he won’t refuse this request for support.

So, there’s no need to add any stale explanations.

I nodded and opened my mouth.

“Two trustworthy knights. They need to be at least mid-level Experts.”

Two knights who are at least mid-level Experts.

Peter’s eyebrows twitched for a moment at my words, which requested unimaginable power.

“Two knights who are at least mid-level Experts… You must be planning something big?”

“Do I have to tell you?”

“No. That was just personal admiration. Don’t mind it.”

Peter nodded, remembering what I said.

“Anything else you need?”

“I want to send messages to the East and West as well.”

“If the recipient isn’t just Capital, you can send them by letter. Of course, it’ll be much faster than using ordinary peddlers.”

“Faster, you say? That’s good to hear.”

Hearing Peter’s words, I took out paper and a quill from my bag. Then, I quickly scribbled down the contents on the spot.

[Ruth, tell Ilia that I’m safe. And the new friends I’ve made… I think I’ll have to leave them with Kalandart in Mount Evil Spirit. They’re extra mouths to feed, but please take care of them for a while. I’ll repay the debt. Anyway, don’t worry about me, and Ilia should focus on the Knights, and you, Ruth, should focus on stabilizing and growing the East. Good luck.]

After finishing one sheet, I immediately took out a new one.

[Fleta, I want to send a letter to Glorian, the Elder of the Great Forest Elves. The Great Forest is under Bashrun’s jurisdiction, so I’m asking you. You’ll help, right? Huh? You’ll help? Thanks!]

Again, a new sheet of paper.

[Glorian. It’s me, Cain. We swore back then to find the culprit who oppressed the spirits and make them pay for their sins. I’ve found a clue. A Dark Elf was captured. I think I’ll need the help of another Elf to track them down. Besides, aren’t you curious about the details? If you’re willing to help, please contact me through Fleta Bashrun.]

I carefully folded the three completed letters. Then, I divided them into newly taken-out envelopes. Then, strangely enough, the envelopes containing the letters briefly glowed faintly.

Seeing this, Peter exclaimed in admiration.

“Letters with sealing magic. They’re so expensive that even the royal family doesn’t use them unless it’s extremely important. If you try to break the magic or don’t use the specified code, they’ll immediately burn.”

“You know it well?”

“It’s common sense.”

Peter, who received the three letters I handed over, nodded.

“So, where should I send them?”

“This one to the Red Castle.”

“The Red Castle, you mean the place recently reclaimed by the Flores family after being pardoned? What about the other two?”

“Bashruno.”

Bashruno, where the Bashrun family’s lord castle is located and is also known as the capital of the western continent. When I said to send the letters there, Peter whistled.

“This, I think this is the beginning of something great that will go down in history. Am I exaggerating?”

“Maybe.”

“Haha, I’ll send them safely.”

Peter smiled and put the letters into his pocket.

“Anything else you need?”

“I need a ship and a captain to sail it.”

“A ship and a captain?”

“I might need to travel around the Southern Islands. I’d like to have someone who’s familiar with the geography.”

At my request, Peter stroked his chin.

“Hmm, it wouldn’t be difficult to find a ship, but it’ll probably be hard to find a sailor who can keep his mouth shut.”

“Why?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if more than half of the sailors in the South have connections with pirates. They sell information. What a certain merchant ship is carrying, how many mercenaries they hired, things like that.”

“Our information could be leaked?”

“Yes. I don’t know what you’re planning to do, but if security is important, I wouldn’t recommend hiring a sailor locally.”

Come to think of it, when I sent Ruth to the South before, she said that piracy was deeply rooted and active there.

Ah, that’s right. Then maybe?

I snapped my fingers at the thought that came to mind.

“Looking around Malaga today, it doesn’t seem like a small port city.”

“It’s quite large for the Southwest.”

“Then quite a few trading ships must come and go.”

“The port is well-equipped.”

“Then I might be able to find a trustworthy crew and ship.”

After learning that I was the chairman of the Blue Wind Merchant Guild, Peter’s eyes widened.

“You’re the chairman of that famous merchant guild, Count? You’re extraordinary indeed.”

“Is that so?”

“If it’s the Blue Wind Merchant Guild, aren’t you sweeping up gold coins with a rake while using the Hrudden River duty-free?”

Ah, that’s right. When I mediated the Bashrun territory war, I obtained the right to use the Hrudden River duty-free for five years from Rodkius.

“Well, I’ve been busy with the war in the East and its aftermath, so I haven’t been here much, but Blue Wind Merchant Guild ships still come here occasionally.”

“I can use that. But even if I have a ship and crew, I also need someone who knows the geography well, including the Southern Islands, which aren’t trade routes…”

As I fell into thought, Peter immediately opened his mouth as if wondering why I was even worrying about such a thing.

“Just add a word to the message you’re sending to Capital.”

“Add?”

“That the active cooperation of the local investigator is needed.”

What? You?

Peter shrugged his shoulders at my questioning gaze.

“It’s also an investigator’s job to thoroughly investigate and be familiar with the area they’re in.”

“…Well, if that’s the case, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Great! If it’s a request from Count Cain, who is favored by Marquis Irphe, it will definitely be accepted. So, cooperation will start now. What should we start with?”

I sighed softly at Peter’s appearance, his eyes shining as if he had joined the hero’s party in an epic saga.

“We can’t just sit around until the requested support arrives. Let’s gather the necessary information on our own.”

Peter tilted his head at my words.

“If it’s about Malaga, I have information I’ve investigated myself. Would that be enough?”

“Well, the information I need is very different from your mission.”

“What is it that…”

“A list of pirate groups operating in the Southern Islands as their base. And their bases and respective leaders.”

Peter’s face turned grotesque at my words.

“Huh? You’re going to come all the way to the South to wipe out pirates?”

“That’s not the main purpose of my visit here, but.”

“You mean it’s a necessary process.”

“That’s right.”