Protagonist Knows Everything

“Ms. Kasha.”

“Yeah?”

“Can we talk separately for a minute? In the conference room.”

Sain and Kasha face each other, giggled, then immediately nodded at the same time.

‘When did they get this close?’

For a few moments they looked like sisters to me.

Sain sat in a conference room chair and started speaking while smiling awkwardly.

“Did you know that Tay gets nervous quite easily whenever he attends meetings like this?”

“Is that so?”

Then Sain turned to me and asked while laughing, “What is it this time?”

I made my remarks with a casual tone.

“Hans is working with Dirk.”

“Ah yes. I See…”

“….What!?”

“Hans is working with Dirk.”

“I heard you the first time!”

Sain’s face right now was the same as the head of the business headquarters when he heard that the company’s core talent was scouted by a newcomer like me. Obviously, Hans wasn’t a key talent though.

“Is that true? Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t just say yes”

“I initially saw Dirk and Hans meet at night.”

Needless to say that was a lie. But it sounded more realistic than telling them that I saw this information on a floating hologram.

Sain’s face turned gloomy. She trusted my words, but she was still thinking about the consequences if I was wrong.

‘That’s why trust is necessary.’

On the contrary, she didn’t trust Hans much, she knew he was in it just for the money. Kasha’s response was much more profound than Sain.

“There’s something like that going on here as well?”

“Huh?”

“Things like this happened at my previous guild as well, on the front they acted like good people but all of them were doing shady things behind each other’s backs.”

‘Come to think of it, Kasha did mention something like that. Didn’t she say that you liked the Hagnut guild because the people here weren’t involved in shady business like that?’

“You must’ve thought that the Hagnut guild was the ideal guild. Sorry, but there is no such place in the human world.”

“Ideal things don’t exist.”

In the meantime, Sain touched his forehead and fell in thought.

After a while, she spoke, “Today I received some good and some bad news.”

“……”

“Mr. Hans, I will fire him. He won’t be allowed in this guild anymore.”

She regained her cool much faster than I expected. And her decisions are quick.

‘Good. I like it. Good to have you as my boss.’

I laughed on the inside but said, “It will be wasteful to just fire him.”

“What do you want to say?”

“Dirk doesn’t know that we noticed his relationship with Hans. It means that he will trust the information coming from Hans.”

“You’re going to feed him false information.”

I nodded.

Sain asked with her thoughtful face, “Do you have a plan already?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me please… No, wait. Is it related to the quest we received today?”

I nodded again. Suddenly Kasha who was quietly listening spoke up.

“A quest you received today?”

“…”

“Please tell me, why do you keep treating me like a kid?”

‘You are a kid.’ I ignored her words and patiently explained my plan. Sain and Kasha’s eyes gradually widened.

After a while Kasha said, “What are you saying now?”

“You can help us.”

“I heard you the first time, no need to repeat!”

‘Why is she talking like Sain?’

I changed my expression and asked, “Then why did you ask?”

“What are you looking at me like that for? Why…”

“Fix your aphasia.”

“Who is aphasia?”

“You are telling me to take part in the guild war.”

Skepticism crept onto Kasha’s face. Her cooperation was essential to the success of this operation. It was a cumbersome process to persuade her, but it was necessary.

“It’s actually quite good that you joined our guild.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, I was only thinking about the effectiveness of this operation. If it goes well, then we can deal quite a bit of damage to the Wyvern Guild. While doing that I didn’t think about our moral code.”

“……”

“I know about your circumstances, sorry for such an unreasonable request.”

Kasha’s eyes fluttered.

‘Got it!’

I was stroking her head as I said those words, “I’m sorry for the difficult request. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No. Idiot.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not so clean either. I know this is what the guild needs right now. I know I have to help out as an exclusive.”

She smiled quite nicely, “Did you think I was a nice little adventurer before as well?”

“That means…”

“I’ve also done my fair share of shady deals. Thanks. For seeing me as a good girl.”

‘Well. Good. Resolved.’

Sain said while looking a bit conflicted, “Sorry. Ms. Kasha.”

“No need. Still, it’s much better here.”

“Yeah?”

“Because in the past, if you signed a contract with us, of course, you are bound to help us.”

She dragged her feet on the floor for a few minutes then suddenly replied, “Ok I’ll help.”

“Huh?”

“I said I’ll help.”

I heard you the first time. I thought that executing the plan would take quite some time.

***

Honestly, I was a bit worried, but Sain was way more resourceful than I thought. She brought her staff together that evening and announced the news gracefully.

“Our guild may enter a long-term contract.”

The reason why adventurers become B-class or higher was to sign an exclusive contract with a fixed income. Likewise, the guilds entering long-term contracts guaranteed fixed income. Of course, a wave of happiness came over all of the staff.

“…”

“So…”

Sain was glaring at Hans, the way someone would at a patch of mould while she slowly explained our involvement with the Siris chamber.

‘Wouldn’t it be better if you manage your facial expression Hans?’

Despite the pleasing nature of the new his face was flaunting an ugly frown. In the meantime, Sain finished her explanation.

“Please try to keep discussions about the contract to the minimum.”

“…”

“There’s no problem with the contract, but there’s no need to start unnecessary rumours.

Together, the staff nodded their heads like children who listened to their mother. Hans also nodded. For now.

Sain subtly added, “This request will serve as a springboard for a long-term contract, so I will choose an adventurer myself.”

“Yes.”

“The deadline is until next Monday, but the quest itself will commence this Thursday. Just remember these details.”

This was a trap, but Hans’ eyes were shining. Of course mine shine even brighter. With that my claims were proven.

***

The next evening, right before my shift ended. The guild door opened. And a woman I’ve never seen before came in.

She ran fast, stood in front of me, and whispered.

“Ah..ugh.”

Correction. She was not whispering, but gasping.

“Calm down and speak.”

[Sigh.]

“Dirk just entered the adventurer’s bar.”

“I see…But who are you?”

“Really?”

The woman looked around. Because the shift was about to end, the receptionists were clearing their desks, and no adventurers were left in the guild. The woman who confirmed it swept her face. Her face with a very ordinary impression soon turned into that of a little girl, with red hair and sharp eyes.

“Oh it’s Ms. Kasha.”

“Of course it’s me. Why did you pretend to not know?”

“Why did you use transformation magic?”

“Just… I wanted to do it right cuz I decided to help.”

She scratched her head while she spoke. “I didn’t take any quests today and was spying on Dirk with that face.”

“Thank you for your concerns but it’ll be a problem if you got caught.”

“I won’t get caught. Even with Eris’s face, I went to the Wyvern Guild many times, but no one recognized me.”

She kept talking with her proud expression.

“Transformation magic is one of the most advanced magics, there’s not a single mage who can outdo me in that. At least in this city.”

“Okay.”

“Oh.”

“…”

“This is not the time for that!!!”

She struck the counter with both of her hands.

“I have to go quickly. Dirk and some adventurers are in a secret meeting! We have to go!!”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I still have 5 minutes left until the shift is over.”

Kasha tilts her head as if I had said something insignificant. I’ll have to educate this girl about the meaning of time and attendance.

“We should go now and get a glimpse of their scheme. That was the point of the operation in the first place.”

“……”

“If they see us then our whole plan will fall apart. Dirk is very tricky.”

Sain opened her mouth with an anxious expression and said, “Ms. Kasha is right. She should go.”

“They won’t discuss their plan like that.”

“Huh?”

“First, He’ll treat an adventurer with a meal to make it look natural and then he’ll get to the main point in the second round.”

‘Originally, all the shady dealings happened in those seats quietly without anyone suspecting anything.’

They didn’t seem to fully understand my words but they did get what I meant to say. Well, anyway, that was a superficial reason. The real reason is that… I didn’t need to go there to get the details.

I called up the personnel records. Soon the hologram window came up. There, I looked for Dirk’s recent events.

[Currently meeting with Burns Iai. Serving meals.]

“Hmm. Do you know someone named Burns? Burns Iai?”

At my question, Kasha suddenly tilted her head.

But Sain gave the answer, “I know him. He’s one of the Wyvern Guild’s A-class adventurers.”

This was a little surprising.

‘Is he trying to bring A-class adventurers into this fray? Is he really willing to do that?’

Well, I am not one to talk as someone who brought Kasha into this.

Then Kasha said, “Is it the man meeting with Dirk right now?”

Her guess was correct, but if I say yes here, she’ll ask how I knew that.

“Not likely. How would I know?”

“But you…”

“Ms. Kasha. You worked hard today for something we didn’t even ask for. Go back and relax.”

I spoke so softly that Kasha couldn’t even understand some of it.

“Yes yes. It wasn’t a big deal… Are you kidding me right now?”

Kasha lashed out. She unpacked the luggage from her back. And there she pulled out a really big hat.

‘That’s a big head.’

“I even bought a hat because I thought Tay would need to cover his face.”

“It’s bigger than a scarecrow hat.”

“Yeah that’s why I bought it.”

“……”

I scratched my head and reached out with my hand.

“I’m not going to their meeting, but as you bought it for me, I’ll gladly accept it.”

And before she could say anything, I tried to snatch the hat.

Then, Kasha turned and smiled as she said, “It matches you well, Tay.”

“What?”

At that time, for some reason, Sain coughed and asked, “Hmmm. Anyway, Mr. Tay. How are you going to find out if you’re not going to their meeting.”

“I have a separate idea.”

“Be careful.”

“Do not worry. I am not really fit for tough work anyway.”

“……”

Sain and Kasha looked at me with strange expressions.

‘Why?’

***

After work that day, I headed to a small restaurant at the end of the Kelk city. When I opened the door and entered, a hand came up from one of the tables.

“Mr. Taylor. Here.”

“Just call me Tay. It’s better that way.”

I sat across him. The man in front of me, Ron, the guild leader of the Northeastern branch of Siris, replied with an awkward smile.

“Ah…okay”

“……”

“I was surprised I received that letter. You want to meet me alone. Besides, in such a creepy looking restaurant.”

“If the owner hears you, you will be sorry.”

“I was nervous so I ordered some food.”

When the waiter came, Ron put his hands on the table and spoke in a deep sincere voice.

“I’ll be honest this time. There are not many people who can request an interview with me and have the meeting right away.”

“It’s an honor.”

“No, you don’t have to be humble. But I just want to know the answer. What the hell is going on?”

At that moment I could see the greed in his eyes. Ron smiled lightly and opened his mouth, “Do you suddenly want to become a merchant?”

“I’m sorry, but no.”

“Hmm. Then?”

“Shall we eat first. Actually, I’m a little hungry.”

It was true that I was hungry, but eating first was simply to save time. Ron showed off the features of being a big shot and waited, gracefully.

‘Are all big shots like this?’

The conversation we had while eating were extremely normal. Honestly, there were a lot of questions that I wanted to ask, so it was a bit gritty, but he managed to answer appropriately. Even so, I kept rummaging through the personnel records that I activated beforehand. And before long… Dirk’s personnel record was updated.

[Currently: Asked Burns Iai to burn the Frits gathering area tomorrow.]