CHAPTER 109……………………………..
Kyle had said he needed to find out why Duke Bacard was using that poison.
“Baron Akot, I enjoy reading history books, especially about the founding of the Empire.”
Baron Akot, his mouth full of food, nodded for Everett to continue.
“In those books, the names of the nobles who contributed to the Empire’s founding are listed—but I’ve never once seen Duke Bacard’s name.”
Akot swallowed his food and replied,
“Ah, that’s because that wasn’t his original name. His real name is quite difficult, so people just use his middle name as though it were his family name.”
“So Bacard isn’t his surname?”
“No. His full name is Juxen Bacard Lyqueltgard. Almost no one knows his true family name.”
“Lyqueltgard…”
Everett murmured the Duke’s name under her breath.
At that moment—
“My lady, I’ve brought it.”
When the study door opened, Baron Akot quickly turned to inspect the butler’s hands.
Seeing the two heavy-looking pouches, his mouth fell open in astonishment.
“Don’t put them down. Please load these, along with the others here, onto Baron Akot’s carriage.”
“You’re lending all three swords?”
“No. I’m giving them to you as gifts.”
Baron Akot’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Gi–gifts?”
“Yes. Consider it a token to celebrate meeting the right hand of Duke Bacard himself.”
Unable to hide his delight any longer, Akot’s lips curved into a broad smile.
“If you ever wish to know anything about Duke Bacard, feel free to ask. No one knows him better than I do.”
The amount of money Everett had given him was more than enough to send to an eastern noble.
A real source of money at last, Akot thought, leaving the viscount’s mansion with a satisfied grin.
When Everett returned home, she wrote down Duke Bacard’s full name on a slip of paper.
Night had long fallen, but she wanted to tell Kyle as soon as possible.
As she searched for an envelope, her eyes caught a letter from Madam Charlotte.
It was written in her elegant hand, using rune cipher text.
As Everett read the contents, her eyes widened.
Pacot is returning to the western mines early tomorrow morning. He’s having his final gathering tonight at the social club south of the plaza.
Everett shot to her feet.
“He’s leaving already? I heard he wasn’t departing for another month.”
The western mines—long exhausted of mana stones—had strangely continued their blasting operations.
Their owner, Pacot, had been staying in the capital for several months.
Everett had already shared his movements with Kyle, and they had planned to “accidentally” encounter him soon.
But now, the only chance to meet him was tonight.
Panic surged through her.
She put aside her notes and quickly began writing a letter to Kyle, then called for Ventus and explained the situation.
“It’s urgent. You have to deliver this to Lord Kyle immediately.”
Ventus promised to go straight to the club where Kyle and Pacot were and hurried toward the imperial palace.
Watching him disappear through the window, Everett hesitated.
Should I just wait here?
She was the only one who knew Pacot’s appearance.
In her rush, she hadn’t written down his description—could Kyle even recognize him easily?
“No… it’s better if I wait nearby and go in with him.”
More importantly, she needed to confirm through Arcana whether the man was telling the truth.
If she missed this night, who knew when she’d get another chance to investigate the mana stone mines?
Everett’s eyes hardened with resolve as she tightened her cloak.
There were several social clubs frequented by nobles in the capital.
The one Everett headed for, in the southern district, was known for hosting wealthy young aristocrats.
She hid herself in a narrow alley overlooking the club’s entrance, waiting for Kyle to arrive.
As time passed, the number of guests entering and leaving gradually dwindled.
Drunken nobles began to stagger out, loaded into their carriages.
Why is he taking so long? Ventus should have reached him by now…
Growing anxious, Everett glanced repeatedly between the plaza and the club’s doors.
It was almost midnight.
Since Pacot was leaving at dawn, he likely wouldn’t stay at the club much longer.
If I don’t act now, I’ll miss him entirely…
Ventus had said he would come with Kyle—or, if not possible, approach Pacot alone.
Everett stepped out of the alley.
She had never been to a noble’s club, but she had once run a tarot shop attached to a tavern.
At the very least, I can keep him occupied.
Taking a deep breath, Everett pushed open the door to the social club.
“Welcome.”
The moment she entered, a thick wave of cigar smoke and perfume hit her.
The interior was windowless, sealed off from the outside world.
Despite the word social, each table was curtained off for privacy, and richly dressed young men and women sat whispering together.
Everett wrinkled her nose at the suffocating scent.
“Is this your first time here?”
A waiter approached when she didn’t take a seat and looked around instead.
“I’m looking for someone I was supposed to meet.”
“I see. If you tell me their name, I’ll find them for you.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll find them myself.”
The waiter bowed and stepped aside.
Is this what all social clubs are like?
The dim, crimson-lit room felt oppressively hot and humid.
The thin curtains between tables swayed in the faint draft from the open door.
Everett slowly scanned the room, recalling Pacot’s appearance.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and faces became clearer.
It was stiflingly warm. She pushed back her hood and removed her cloak.
Her long, jet-black hair rippled down her shoulders like ink.
Everett Gronji—the striking beauty.
Instantly, every gaze in the room turned toward her.
Some whispered while sneaking glances; others stared openly.
One of the latter—a man—stood abruptly and strode toward her.
“Are you looking for someone, my lady? Or perhaps… for someone to talk to?”
It was Pacot.
Everett curved her lips into a faint smile.
“I’m not here with anyone. I just came because I heard there was someone I wanted to meet.”
Pacot made a show of looking around.
“And who might that be, that such a beautiful lady seeks him out? Perhaps I can help you find him.”
The stench of alcohol wafted thickly from him.
Perfect. He’s already drunk enough to talk freely.
Everett matched his exaggerated tone.
“Oh, thank you! I don’t know his name or face, only that he runs a mana stone mine.”
“A mana stone… mine?”
Pacot’s eyes gleamed slyly at her words.
“I’ve always been fascinated by magic, you see. When I heard the owner of a mana stone mine was in the capital, I simply had to meet him.”
“I’m surprised, my lady—interested in magic, are you?”
Pacot nearly swayed off balance but managed a drunken bow.
“……”
His breath reeked of liquor, making Everett want to turn away, but she clenched her teeth and endured it.
“My lady, it must be fate.”
“Pardon?”
“I—hic!—I am precisely the man you seek! The owner of the western mana stone mines, Pacot, at your service.”
Everett widened her eyes and covered her mouth in mock surprise.
“Oh my, I didn’t realize! How rude of me.”
“No, no, not at all! It’s quite understandable. I am Pacot.”
Inside, he was elated.
He had come to the club for one last night before returning to the dull western lands.
He’d drunk himself nearly senseless, yet still felt something missing—
until this beautiful lady walked in.
“My lady, why don’t we sit and talk properly?”
The room spun around him, but he fought to stay composed.
“So, my lovely student of magic, what would you like to know? Ask away! There’s nothing this Pacot doesn’t know about mana stones.”
He handed her a half-spilled glass of wine and grinned foolishly.
Looking into his unfocused eyes, Everett realized she had been right to come herself.
Kyle had two questions about the mines:
Why keep detonating the empty mines with costly blasting powder?
And if someone had ordered it, who that person was.
Feigning fascination, Everett gently humored his drunken rambling, steering the conversation toward the mines.
Pacot, boastful and talkative by nature, loosened completely—
and, before long, began to spill far more than he should have.
