Chapter 43: The man who can’t eat (1)

Rosa, upon boarding a carriage, adorned herself in the attire of a commoner girl and covered her head with a ragged shawl.

“Oh dear, my beauty is wasted in this get-up.”

“Miss, it’s not for leisure, you know.”

She was scolded by Helena.

Later, switching to a carriage without a family crest, they headed towards the Information Guild. Since they were going without informing her parents, a certain procedure was necessary.

And this was Hugh’s idea.

“To be so thorough.”

“We can’t afford to show any weaknesses to the guild.”

Hugh tightened his expression.

Soon, the road became bumpy. Though it was paved, the cobblestone path was uneven due to a lack of maintenance.

“Oh, I might bite my tongue if I talk.”

“Miss, in those times, it’s better to keep your mouth shut… ugh!”

Seeing Helena accidentally bite her tongue and writhe in pain in front of her, Rosa fell silent.

(Sorry, Helena. I’ll stay quiet.)

When they got off the carriage, Rosa and Helena were pale from motion sickness.

Only Hugh wore a refreshing expression.

“Even with all that shaking, you didn’t get sick?”

“On the frontier, that’s normal.”

“I see, the roads are rough at the frontier level. Why did they build the Information Guild in such a complex place?”

Rosa’s face wrinkles.

Helena massaged it from the side, saying, “It’ll make your skin wrinkle.”

“This location is close to the center of the capital and also near the lowest district of downtown. It’s conveniently accessible by foot or horse, not just by carriage. It’s a well-thought-out location.”

Hugh spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I see. Those who come to buy information may be wealthy, but those who come to sell are different.”

It seems the guild leader is a wise person. Without such wisdom, one wouldn’t survive in this kind of world.

Rosa nodded in agreement and turned her steps towards the three-story stone-built Information Guild.

In this area, it was a relatively splendid building.

In front of the door, like a bouncer, a menacing-looking man stood. Rosa loudly proclaimed the words she heard from Ethan.

“I want to meet Guild Master Marpin Ross.”

The man’s eyes gleamed.

As he assessed Rosa, she returned his gaze defiantly, and he leisurely opened the door.

Inside, the guild’s interior resembled a tavern. Perhaps they acquired the place without the owner’s knowledge.

Wooden round tables and chairs were arranged, and the back seemed to have turned into something like a bar counter.

There stood a lean man.

He had ordinary brown hair and an ordinary appearance.

However, his eyes were sharp.

A sly smile played on his lips, revealing that he was sizing them up.

“Do you have any business, Miss?”

“Who are you?”

Rosa approached with firm steps, with Hugh and Helena quickly standing in front of her as if to protect her.

“I’m the representative here.”

“Not you. I want to meet Marpin Ross.”

“That would be me.”

The man played it off casually.

“Hey there, do you put on this little act every time a new customer comes to this place?”

When Rosa reached out to Hugh, he pulled out a burlap sack from his pocket.

Rosa, taking it, almost staggered under its weight but held firm with her noble pride.

“I’ve heard from the introducer that Marpin Ross is an exceptionally good man. Is he in or out? Which is it?”

Saying this, Rosa slammed the burlap sack onto the counter, and as the mouth opened, gold coins peeked out. The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hehehe, consider this an advance payment. So, if you keep playing hard to get, you might miss out on a good deal, you know?”

As Rosa leaned over the counter, the man withdrew his smirk and went into the back.

Shortly after, a slender, handsome man with black hair appeared. As Ethan mentioned, his eyes were green, and there was a faint scar near his right eyebrow. He was undoubtedly the guild master.

“Apologies; our member here has been rude.”

Getting frustrated in this overly dramatic setting.

“You’re quite late for an entrance. Time is limited, you know?”

Rosa raised an eyebrow.

“My apologies. So, what is it that you seek?”

Ethan said it was about the money. Straightforward talk was preferred.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Find me a woman spreading malicious rumors about Rosa Croitzer in taverns and cafes.”

“Oh, the one who claimed to be kicked by a horse as a staged incident…”

Saying this, he rested his chin on his hand, pondering for a moment.

“Oh, you already knew. Can you investigate it right away? Just so you know, this money is an advance payment.”

Rosa smiled.

“Well, you see, we’re the ones who spread the rumors; there’s no need to investigate them.”

“Huh?”

In her anger, Rosa threw off the shawl that adorned her head.

“Hugh, when I give the signal, you have permission to cut this guy.”

As Rosa pointed at Marpin, Hugh simultaneously grasped the hilt of his sword with a firm click.