Magic Life in the Empire-Chapter 116: Agent Role

"If anyone needs some cookies, they are here." Kenneth softly pushed a jar closer to the middle of the table.

Finished with this important reminder, he cleared his throat and started speaking. "Jack told you we are a mercenary group, but that's not exactly the truth."

Cyril wasn't surprised in the slightest, only taking a sip of the tea.

"We are a group funded by a particular trading giant to do certain things that can't usually be done in the open," he calmly explained.

Some objection could be seen erupting from Katherine and Gethyn.

"Are you sure about sharing this?" One of them exclaimed.

Kenneth raised his hand, motioning that it was fine, so they only shrugged and went back to tea and cookies.

"Recently, our 'boss' was a victim of a horrible theft. Three important magic items went missing. All three of them being that black stone I mentioned yesterday."

Cyril kept his face blank, wary of letting any suspicious emotions show through.

However, Rhamn, standing nearby, had no such concerns. She pumped her fist with excitement at finding gold.

"Yes! We must get more Black Tulip!" She said with an obsessive glint shining in her vibrant red eyes.

"The perpetrator wasn't identified; they knew what they were doing. Even we would struggle to do it as cleanly," Kenneth continued as normal.

"We had a few suspects over who could've done that, Lapis among them... but the words you said yesterday confused us a fair bit." Wearing a frown, he leaned into the sofa, his hands interlocked with each other.

"Why would they be searching for it as well? How do they know about it? Were they the culprits, but then someone else stole it from them? That seems a bit too comical to be the truth..."

Cyril calmly had a taste of the cookie. It was good.

After a thoughtful pause, Kenneth continued, "...But truth can be strange sometimes. This is a clue, and we should follow it, just in case. I propose we investigate in this direction today. Any objections?" He looked around to look at his companions.

Gethyn stoically nodded without a change in his expression.

"It's hard to imagine that such a harsh-looking man is actually an obsessed fanboy," Rhamn sneered in amusement.

Katherine waved her hand dismissively, her nose raised high. "Seems like a fine plan." She still wore that coquettish smile whenever looking at Cyril.

"The way she acts makes me want to puke. Does she have no shame?"

Jack wore a bored expression. "Yeah, I am fine with whatever. Your plans are usually quite solid."

"A lying rat who poisoned his own sister"

Cyril also nodded, indicating he had no objections.

To this Kenneth made a satisfied smile. "Then we'll begin right away. There is a place nearby we can try fishing for information about them..."

"The most normal among them so far, but I am sure he also has some filthy skeletons in his closet."

Having slandered every single member of this group, she crossed her hands and sighed with dissatisfaction. "What terrible company to keep..."

...

They didn't get up right away, instead finishing their tea first. They were not in a hurry. If nothing can be found today, they'll try another day.

It didn't seem like they had taken this competition too seriously.

Cyril was quite eager to start, but he forced himself to calm down in order not to give away anything suspicious.

Instead, he thought solemnly about what to do if they find their target.

He and Rhamn really wanted to get The Black Tulip, and that conflicted a little with this group's interests. Cyril doubted they would let him have it.

"We'll think of something on the spot, I am sure... But I have a little idea that could help in hiding it at least," Rhamn said while raising her index finger in the air.

Cyril took a sip of his tea and calmly listened to her proposal.

At that moment, Cyril almost spewed the tea but held himself back, only choking a little. The rest of the people at this table looked at him in confusion.

"Went down the wrong pipe," he explained like nothing is wrong.

Nobody minded it and soon ignored it.

What kind of an idea is that? Cyril asked, flabbergasted.

"It might not sound that good, but it's very effective. Don't worry, there will be no accident with the stone," Rhamn quickly defended herself.

Cyril stared at his reflection in the half-finished tea for a few seconds.

Then he resumed drinking it with a calm heart.

Fine. If it works, then it works.

...

"You are on your own, Thomas," said Kenneth on the way out of the bar.

The bartender only nodded and got back to wiping glasses with a longing expression.

Everyone briefly said goodbye to him and moved out onto the streets.

"Poor guy. I proposed some time ago to make us a proper signboard and everything. Try to make this place into a real bar, but I was denied..." Jack sighed with helplessness.

"We can't attract too much attention. This would be counterproductive to our business," explained Kenneth.

Then he turned towards Cyril and smiled politely. "Hidden Merit is by all accounts a fake bar. It's only here so that we can be counted as its employees and be paid officially."

Cyril nodded, indicating he understood, though, in reality, he didn't care.

For some reason, perhaps because of Cyril's noble background, Kenneth really tried to befriend him over this time, which was a bit of a hindrance.

Still, Cyril put up with it, silently following after this group and acting like he listened to their casual speech.

After all, he doubted they would be friends in the future. Once Cyril gets his hands on that stone, he will try to avoid them as much as possible.

...

In such a seemingly friendly atmosphere, the group walked down until the end of Coriander Street, turning down into one of the alleys.

There was nothing special here, only a door into some run-down apartment complex.

This was their destination, as Kenneth turned around at this place, looking towards the group.

"Based on what we've gathered in the past, on the third floor of this building lives a certain 35-year-old gentleman. On the surface he is a normal factory worker, using fire magic to bring back to the Empire."

He raised his index finger in a dramatic fashion. "However, he is actually a Lapis member, and, although he is not particularly powerful, might know something. Our plan would be to simply interrogate him over what he knows..."

Jack raised his hands as though a student, to which Kenneth cooperatively nodded at him.

"Are we going to use a forceful approach or a more sneaky kind?" Jack asked with enthusiasm.

Gethyn and Katherine nearby also indicated their curiosity.

As if expecting such a question, Kenneth smiled and pointed to Cyril. "How about we let our friend here try something?"

Cyril raised his brow and crossed his arms. "Why me? I am only here to serve as a tracker."

To him their actions looked like they were playing around. Frankly, he was beginning to see why Rhamn spoke so harshly of them.

"Don't dismiss this so soon. You were the one pursuing Lapis, right? Then this will be an opportunity for you to find out what you need. Besides, you don't have to worry about success or failure—we'll be there in case things get difficult; just activate this," said Kenneth and pulled out a small rectangle-shaped crystal.

That's true... Cyril got a little too focused on finding the Black Tulip, but he also needed to find out more about that magic-hating group.

Perhaps this 'opportunity' was part of their payment for his help. If so, then it was rather generous.

"Fine, you are the ones who proposed this; don't forget." He replied and grabbed the magic item.

Then Cyril entered the doors without any problems. This place didn't have anyone at the entrance.

The rest followed him in, on the way briefly explaining everything he needed to know about their target here.

His name was Jeff; he doesn't talk to his neighbors, is rather unfriendly to everyone he meets, and is frequently missing from his apartment, and other useless information about his life.

Cyril was surprised they knew so much. It seems they were long since ready for something like this.

The closer he approached the correct room, the more interested Cyril became. He started feeling a rather childish enjoyment of pretending to be a special agent.

Alright, we can try this. No harm done either way.

"I am certainly excited. I have some ideas on how to crack this human, though it's up to you, of course."

Soon the group told them they would be ready to cut in at any moment and went out of sight. Some went up another floor, and some stood in a secluded corner of the corridor.

Let's see how it goes...