Chapter 75
“You didn’t even know that, did you?!”
I was losing it. Seriously.
What kind of bomb did this man just drop on me?!
Wait… he was already the head of the underworld at that point?
With a schedule that tight, even a normal visit to the underworld would’ve been impossible. So how on earth did he manage to conquer the criminal world—rumored to be the abyss of the empire—at that time?
“Hold on. So you knew I requested that intel on Rio?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.
The woman rolled her eyes cautiously from side to side before confessing, “I actually compiled the information you received, Miss.”
“Ah, that makes sense! The intel I got from the underworld was all too flattering. I mean, you’re paid for this work, right? Shouldn’t there be some distinction between personal bias and professional truth?”
I suspected their boss had intentionally left out the negative details and only included praise. The woman jumped in protest.
“Well… I might have exaggerated the compliments a bit… but I didn’t lie,” she said.
“Right. Though the part about him being the head of the underworld? That was conveniently left out.”
“Sorry about that. But that’s top-secret, even within the underworld itself,” she admitted, scratching her head half-hidden by the curtain.
“Honestly, I’m a little surprised. Even if he didn’t say it directly, the fact that he gave you the flute is basically a confession. And he’s never done that before…”
“Well, I am his fiancée. It makes sense there would be no secrets from the person who’s going to be his wife,” I said.
Of course, it would’ve been nice if he had told me personally. But leaving just the flute behind, instead of a long explanation, was so typical of him.
So he trusted me with information he’d never shared with anyone else… and yet he wonders if I like him or not?
I took a deep breath to calm the pride swelling in my chest and asked casually, “Do you like chocolate?”
“I do, but if you’re offering, it’s fine. You don’t have to give me any,” she replied.
“Oh… really?”
And yet, she sat at the table like a kid eagerly waiting for a snack. She looked older than me, but her behavior was so cute it made me want to tease her—but I held back.
I placed a bowl of chocolates in front of her.
“Here. Help yourself.”
“Well… I could refuse, but that would be rude. I’ll just have one,” she said, though her hands already gripped a handful of chocolates.
I watched her devour the chocolate with gusto and asked in a friendly tone, “What’s your name?”
She swallowed the chocolate first, then answered, “Nyx.”
“Nyx? Can I call you that?”
“Yes. And speak freely. If I used formal language with the lady who will become our boss’s wife, I’d get in trouble.”
“Alright… I’ll do that.”
Nyx popped another chocolate into her mouth, and I waited for her to swallow before continuing.
“So, what do you usually do? Work in intelligence?”
“I do a little of everything, but lately I’ve been handling a lot of intelligence work,” she said.
“What kind of intelligence?”
“Well… I’ve done quite a few things…”
Nyx scratched her cheek as if struggling to remember, glancing at me for approval. She looked like it was hard to answer, so I was about to say it was fine if she didn’t want to, when she suddenly seemed to recall something.
“The Giant Wolf Claw. I investigated it recently under the boss’s orders.”
“The Giant Wolf Claw?” I blinked, then picked up a white object I had placed in the corner of the table.
“Is this what you mean?”
“Yes. That’s it. It’s said to have the effect of repelling monsters.”
“Repelling monsters?”
“Yes. Apparently, in ancient times, even giant wolves were classified as monsters. But a giant wolf wouldn’t attack first unless provoked…”
Nyx launched into a long explanation, eventually diverging into imperial history. I barely paid attention, focusing on the giant wolf’s claw in my hands.
“Actually, the fact that they descended from the mountains and settled in the empire…”
“Sorry to interrupt, but how does a single claw repel monsters? What’s the principle?”
“Oh. Giant wolves are apparently top predators among monsters. If you leave a giant wolf claw around, monsters assume a giant wolf lives nearby and run away.”
“So, theoretically… if we could create something like this artificially, we could completely block monsters from approaching?”
“I… don’t know. I’ve never thought about making one artificially,” Nyx admitted.
“Well, it’s worth trying.”
It’s a shame, though. One small claw won’t be enough for experiments.
“Even if it’s not a giant wolf, any part of a top predator should repel monsters, right?”
“Theoretically… yes, I believe so,” she said.
“Do you think we could get something like this in the empire?”
It might be possible to hunt a monster in the north to obtain it eventually.
“It’s not impossible. These are quite popular among collectors,” Nyx said.
“Good. So all we need is money?”
That was the simplest solution I had.
“You’re planning to buy it? It’ll probably be more expensive than most jewels, considering how scarce it is,” she warned.
“And if I don’t pay?”
“Then, of course… you’d have to steal it.”
She said “steal” so matter-of-factly. A true underworld professional.
“I might publish the results officially later, so we can’t get materials illegally. I’ll give you the money—just buy it properly, alright?”
“That’s not too hard… but it’ll be really expensive. Are you sure?”
I crossed my arms and one leg, giving her a confident smile.
“Why the hesitation? I’m Roheim.”
I flipped my hair over my shoulder for effect, and Nyx’s eyes sparkled.
“Awesome! Amazing!”
“Wait. I’ll write you a check—go to the bank and cash it.”
If it’s pricier than most jewels, a few expensive gems’ worth as advance payment should suffice. My allowance and magical tool earnings could cover it. If it’s still not enough, I’ll ask my mother for more.
“Here. Come back anytime if it’s not enough.”
“Yes, understood!”
“This is your travel expense.”
“Woohoo…!”
Nyx looked at me with complete loyalty.
“Anything else you need?”
“Nothing…”
Right as I was about to say that, a memory flashed through my mind. Perfect timing—this was exactly what I needed. I turned to Nyx.
“Can you investigate someone for me?”
“As long as it’s not royalty, I can handle it. What kind of information do you need?”
“Everything… from birth to present life. And if possible, info about their parents too.”
“Understood. Who is it?”
“The bishop of the central temple. Nicol… the one who grows the sacred herb.”
I hesitated, wondering if gathering information on clergy would be difficult. Nyx, however, seemed unfazed, taking out a small notebook and writing Nicol’s name.
“Anything else I should know?”
“This is uncertain… but that person might be an alchemist. The kind who could make powerful potions capable of controlling all clergy, even princes.”