"Is this how you sneak into the investigation?" the thief 'François' asked helplessly, looking at his big companion in front of him, "at night he went directly to someone's house, tied them to a chair or bed, and then questioned them with a sword?"

"Yes. The Nord man named 'Barrett' across from him nodded his head naturally, "But Baron Richard, I stopped him on the road first, and did not enter the baron's house. However, I was a little worried that the baron didn't tell the truth, so I went back to his house to make sure, and thankfully I did. ”

"Didn't we say we wanted to blend in first?" François sighed helplessly, touching his forehead. He didn't really want to come to this strange city and complete this task with the tall Nord man in front of him, but it was only because he had the handle in Julian's hands that he had to obey the order.

Blame yourself for being too greedy to take the damn gamble - the thieves of the 'Shadow Dagger' thought that stealing in the city-state of Muya was not an easy task, and stealing seven times a day in a week was something that no one could do.

François, who was very confident in his skills, jumped out to take the bet, and he really wanted the item in the bet - one of the ten treasures within the 'Shadow Dagger' organization - the sealed wine bottle. It is said that if the seal is broken, the surface of the bottle will magically map the treasure map.

Unfortunately, he was caught stealing for the fifth time, so he had to become a lackey under the mage's chain.

"I'm already fitting in well. "I'm a waitress in this tavern, and sometimes a part-time cook, and I'm pretty good at my craft, and I've received much appreciation," said his Nord companion, pointing to his apron. ”

"But......" François was about to say more, but was interrupted by his big companion.

"I know it's a bit reckless, but isn't it the quickest way?" said the Nord righteously, "I have investigated five nobles in only ten days, and have found some suspicions in one of them. ”

Well, it was indeed much faster than investigating it himself, and François had to admit it. He himself is still serving as a sidefoot and bodyguard for Viscount Palm's twelve-year-old son, and he has only fully investigated Viscount Palm, while the Viscount's good son-in-law, Count Guise, is still in progress.

The position of follower was also obtained by François with a lot of effort, and many shady means were used. Not only did he forge the documents and other supporting materials of the local adventurers' association, but he also poisoned the innocent young henchman with poison.

Although the poison based on rotting leaves is not fatal, it is certainly not avoidable if the poisoned person is weak for a few weeks.

"However, this reckless way of yours has caused some turmoil in the city, and the nobles have stepped up their guards. François frowned, "The City Watch is also more dutiful than ever, and maybe one day they will find you." ”

"It's just a little uneasy for the people at the top, and the people at the bottom don't care about it. The Nord retorted, "If you inquire carefully, you will definitely find that many people applaud it." What's more, I actually did it on purpose, deliberately making the noise a little bigger. ”

"Deliberately?"

"As the proverb goes, 'chaos is easier to profit', and when we muddy the waters of the pond of San Nino, it is easier for the nobles who collude with the devil to show their flaws. The Nord man said calmly,

Oh? There was some truth to that, François had to admit it.

He looked at his companion in surprise, "You came up with it yourself?" I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything else, it's just that it doesn't quite match the impression you give people." ”

"It's nothing. The expression of the Nord people was quite indifferent, but the smugness between the eyebrows was inevitably revealed, "Everyone has a side that is not known to outsiders." You know, 'the most subtle wisdom is often found in the muscles.'" ”

Where's this proverb, why haven't I heard it?, François shook his head, and turned the subject to the point, "So, there is something wrong with Baron Richard?"

"Yes. "When I kidnapped him for the first time, I felt that his reaction was a little special. Baron Richard was rather alarmed......"

"Isn't that normal?" asked François, puzzled, "and anyone who is kidnapped will be terrified." ”

But when I asked Baron Richard the first question, he somehow relaxed a little, and when I asked him the second question, he became nervous again. "Although I had my back to the baron and could not see his expression, I could feel his muscles very clearly as I held him tightly from the back of my arms. ”

"What question did you ask him?"

"I first asked him why he was so rich. "Baron Richard is not the kind of nobleman who comes from a well-to-do family, who does not have much income on the surface, and who employs many servants, but who often gives generous rewards in the opera house," said his companion who paced back and forth in front of François. ”

"How did he answer?"

Baron Richard hesitated, but at the slightest threat, he immediately told me the answer. "The Baron says he is secretly in the business of smuggling. The price of the finest spices shipped from the Four-City Alliance was one-third of the price within the territory of the Holy Araso Kingdom. He had an entire caravan that could cross the border between the two countries through a passage in the Shadows to bring in spices for distribution. Although the journey underground is somewhat dangerous, the profits are extremely lucrative. ”

"Did he tell you just that?" François thought as he looked down.

"Yes, this suggests that this matter should not be a secret, and may even be deliberately exposed. While the common people certainly won't know about it, the other aristocrats are likely to know about it, and maybe even get involved in it. ”

It seems that this guy is not as simple-minded as he seems, "And what's the second question you ask?"

"Then I asked him, 'That's all your secret?' and when I asked the question, the baron's body tensed up a little and his heart began to beat faster, and when I added, 'Is this all the secret of how much money you make?' The baron relaxed again and told me, 'Yes, that's all,' and then he asked me if I would be interested in joining in, his caravan was still short of men. ”

This shows that Baron Richard has other secrets that cannot be told. ”

"That's what I thought!" nodded to his fellow Nord, "and I followed him for another four days." I don't know how to stealth like you, but the night adds a lot of protection to my color. On the fourth day I found the Baron alone in the middle of the night, with his make-up and a set of servants' ragged clothes, but my perception was so high that I recognized him by the Baron's figure. ”

"Where did he go at night?" asked François curiously.

"Another building not too far from his residence. "Though the building looks unremarkable, I haven't found a way to get in, except through a broken door." But I guess it's not time to do that yet, so I'll have to be patient. When the baron came out of the building, there was a man beside him who said something, and that it was close to the full moon that night, and the moonlight was still bright, and my eyesight in the darkness was good. I saw that the man's neck was inadvertently exposed, with such a mark. ”

Nord and his companion picked up a book on the table next to him, and François cooperated with the pen and handed it over. The Nords, after making a few strokes on the cover of the book, handed it to the thieves.

François took the book, entitled "Memoirs of Detective Baird—Guilt Will Be Judged", and in the margin on the left side of the book cover, a standard 'heart' was drawn, and on the two protrusions above the heart, a pair of long horns curved inward.

This pattern François had seen, "Sect of Saline?" he said in a deep voice.

......