Three days after the community closed, as I spent the day looking for a boat to use on the sixth floor and a sailor to sail it, I received good news from Amelia.
«Schuitz, don't worry about the guild anymore».
«Don't worry?»
«I have found someone to take care of the matter».
"...¿Which?"
Amelia, as it turned out, had handled things in a very Amelia way. He apparently discovered a union official who had committed a crime that could ruin his life if caught, such as embezzlement or tax evasion or something. Using the evidence to threaten them, it seemed that he had managed to destroy all the information about Riehen Schuitz in the guild.
«It would have been much safer to edit the information so that it said what we wanted rather than destroying it, but that would have been too difficult».
«And what about the possibility that destroyed records could be a problem?».
«Normally, there are none. The loss or deterioration of administrative material is more common than you think».
Hmm,
I nodded, and Amelia added that not all documents on Riehen Schuitz had been destroyed and that the forms designating him as rank five remained. Simply put, I could keep my rank five.
«You seem vaguely unsatisfactory».
«I'm just worried that it may seem strange that my documents have suddenly disappeared, no matter how common that may be».
«But it's better than leaving them lying around».
Well, that was true. Although it might be difficult to dispel any suspicion that arose, at least now the physical evidence would not end up in the hands of the people who were after me.
«Good job... no thanks. Amelia.»
«...It is natural to do well at something you are good at.»
«Because it's more efficient that way, right?».
Amelia nodded and changed the subject. «How did it go for you? Did you read all the material I gave you?».
Ah, the list of ships. It was a document that neatly summarized the specifications and prices of ships on the market.
«If there isn't one you like, tell me as soon as possible so I can search for more».
«No, no need. As long as the listing is the same as the actual item, there is something fair». When I told her what boat I wanted, Amelia asked me why and I enthusiastically explained it to her. «It is the most expensive of the options, but in terms of profitability, you could say that it is cheap».
«Hmm ».
«Furthermore, as long as we avoid any special areas, it is more than enough to take us to the seventh floor in our current state. And if we add customizations later, we will be able to navigate to special areas without problems, which means we will not have to look for another boat.»
«I see», Amelia responded without emotion. I wondered why he had bothered to ask if he was going to react so blandly. «Well, I'm sure it's as good as you say. After all, it's what you do best».
I stammered involuntarily at those words. «Hey... is it?».
«We are already in the same boat and you are its captain».
Man, that was the kind of statement that could only make the person receiving it blush. But besides that, I also thought: «Is he doing it on purpose to boost my ego?». Well, lately he had been stuck at home constantly and asking for all those favors. Maybe she was being considered.
«So if you've decided on the boat, I'll leave. If I move now, maybe I can make an offer before the stock market closes».
I wanted to ask her if she was really serious, but I couldn't because Amelia put on her coat and walked out the door. Well, it didn't matter.
Anyway, with that we have a ship.
If we had had more budget, we could have gotten a better boat, but I wasn't particularly disappointed. The boat we got was pretty good.
The problem is the browser...
Since time immemorial, the problem has always been people, not things.
***
Toc, toc.
While I was reading some books in bed that I borrowed from the library, I heard a knock on the door.
Hmm, is it time to eat?
As soon as I gave permission, the door opened as if nothing had happened. As always, the visitor was Erwen. Amelia was in the middle of negotiating the boat with the seller.
«What is it about?» I asked, closing the book.
Erwen seemed a little upset. «There's a guest», he grumbled dryly.
I tilted my head. «A guest?
As soon as the question left my lips, a woman with bright blonde hair and blue eyes appeared at the door. «It's me». Unlike the last time we saw each other, Raven was wearing everyday clothes instead of the Magic Body uniform, and her hair was down instead of up.
He seems like a completely different person all of a sudden.
«Can I come in?»
«Ah, eh...»
Before he could respond, Raven entered the room and sat down. Erwen did the same, grabbed a chair and sat away from us.
«Why are you coming in, Erwen?».
«Can't I?»
No, I mean... I was just asking why... Well, it doesn't matter. It won't bother us from that distance.
«It's been a while, Raven.»
«Yeah. How have you been?»
«Good for now. But is it okay for you to come here like this?»
«Don't worry, I can be discreet».
«Oh, is that why you let your hair down and dressed like that?»
«...What other reason could there be?»
God, why is he so susceptible? I was just trying to ask if something was wrong. You should be careful the way I talk to you today.
Just as I was going to ask him why he had come, Raven spoke first. «Your book».
"¿What?"
«You were reading a book. Did you buy it?»
«No, it seems that nowadays they can be borrowed».
«Ah... I already found out. Now it's possible to release books for people whose identity is verified, right?»
«Officially, yes. But in reality, unless you are a nobleman or a high government official, they ask you to make a deposit.»
«Although you didn't have to, sir», Erwen suddenly jumped into the conversation.
Raven nodded, unfazed. «Well, with Miss Tersia's status, things like that should be possible».
«So why did you hide to come here? Something happened?» I was quick to ask why Raven was here before the conversation could take a strange turn.
Raven ended the talk and got to work. «Mr. Yandel... no, I'm sorry. I try to be careful but I can't get it to stick».
«Nothing happens».
«Anyway, I have something to tell you, Mr. Schuitz.»
So you weren't just visiting.
I had my hopes up because of how long the talk was going. «Tell me? Forward.» It didn't seem like it was going to be a light conversation, so I lowered my voice and gave it my full attention.
«The palace has launched an informal investigation into you».
«Informal research?»
«It usually happens when new figures appear. If an official investigation is carried out without justification, it would appear that the palace is trying to control and oppress the adventurers.»
Hmm, is this like a background investigation, then? This is a dictatorship anyway, why do they care what people think?
«Anyway, what?»
«The investigators came to me too, so I revealed a certain amount of information, as we had discussed. I chose only the things that couldn't be kept hidden, like the skills you showed that day».
«But if it's still an informal investigation, I guess that means there are no suspicions about my identity itself.».
«Yeah. If there were, they would have caught you a long time ago. Although it is informal, there are times when they do not investigate much, although sometimes it is the other way around».
After all, rumors that the palace was training secret special forces in the shadows were not actually rumors. The Order of the Rose was a good example of this.
«So what happened to you? To senior management, it would seem like you left things out in your report».
«That part is covered. I used the excuse that the Third Corps commander position was vacant at the time, which meant I couldn't submit a full report. I also told them that I submitted a separate report to my direct supervisor, Commander Pevrosk».
«So they won't catch you lying?»
«It's not a lie. I actually presented him with a report as soon as I got back to town. Of course it is partly invented».
«I see...» While it was reassuring that Raven was always on top of things, on the other hand, I felt a little guilty. «I'm sorry I got you into my business, Raven».
«...I thought we had already talked about this. I'm just paying off my past debts».
«I'll make sure to pay for this too.»
«Yes, you have to do it. Otherwise, I will have a big loss». The mood might have taken a solemn turn right then, but Raven responded with a joking tone that relieved him a little. It was time to move on to the next item on the agenda.
«Raven, have you heard anything about the National Incorporation bill?».
«National Incorporation Bill? What is that?»
«It is a proposal not to condemn evil spirits as enemies, but to embrace them and accept them as subjects. It was proposed once 150 years ago, but was removed from the agenda for several reasons.»
«Ah, I remember hearing about it a long time ago. But what's happening?»
«Apparently it was discussed at a real meeting recently».
When I explained why I brought it up, Raven looked surprised. «It's the first time I've heard about it. Mr. Schuitz, how did you know, considering you've been home most of the time...? Oh, of course, it was a full moon recently!».
One of Raven's strong points was that she didn't need long explanations. He still didn't stop to confirm or deny it. «Invest it, will you? Who brought up the topic at the meeting, and....».
«¿Y....?»
«If there really is no chance that the palace will accept that proposal».
This could become a turning point.
***
The days had been quite busy since Raven's visit. Well, to be more exact, they weren't busy for me at home, but they were busy for Amelia. Although we had invested all our money in buying the boat we had chosen, we had not yet found a sailor to sail it. Sailors were scarce in those days. Since everyone was taking military ships to head straight to the Dark Continent, he had assumed that there would be quite a few on the market.
«I guess finding one in less than a month was a bit of a stretch...»
«Be honest with yourself. You just can't find someone who fits your standards».
Hmm, that's true.
To be honest, there were sailors and sailors out there. The problem was that most of them were amateurs. If we wanted someone who could take us to Burrow Island, which was our next target, we needed navigation skills more than anything.
«Either you lower your standards or you give up. Not only are people as skilled as those snatched away as soon as they are put on the market, but none of them will want to join our team as mercenaries anytime soon.»
«Really? Then I will give up».
« easily…?»
«Well, what can I do? The maze opens in two days. I'll have to search again next month».
«So you're excluding Burrow Island from this expedition?»
«No, we're going to try it on our own this time. I don't know if we'll make it, but there's nothing to do on the lower floors anyway». Even if we didn't make it to Burrow Island, it wouldn't be a big loss considering he hadn't even collected all the XP available at the beginning of the sixth floor. But did my ad bother you?
«...You're not wrong, but this is annoying. If you had come to this conclusion sooner, I wouldn't have been so busy all month».
«I'm sorry about that»...
After giving Amelia a lackluster apology, I called Erwen to discuss our plans for the next search. It didn't take too long. I also prepared a plan B in case we didn't really find a navigator.
«Are we going to enter a Rift...?»
«Not for long, just briefly. Not that there's going to be a big difference if we get to the sixth floor a little late. We are also not trying to join the military this time. And from the looks of it, you guys haven't gotten any Rift XP, have you?»
«That's because the Rift isn't the kind of place you can walk into whenever you want...»
That was true. That's why I hadn't been able to openly share how to access the Rift with the Half Witty Team and the team I personally formed afterwards.
Exposing myself as an evil spirit is really convenient in that sense.
«Anyway, that's enough planning».
After sharing the plan, they each spent time on their self-care, and two more days passed.
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
Finally, it was the day of entry into the labyrinth.
«Sir, why are you smiling?»
«I'm just a little excited. Let's get to the second floor quickly».
This was going to feel like a real search for the first time in a long time.