Warm sunlight poured down on the seats. Perhaps because it was mealtime, there were a few customers in the usually deserted restaurant.

Cantares’ secret restaurant outside of the palace had become a regular restaurant that one apprentice knight occasionally visited.

Arendt sipped the orange juice Lawrence had offered him, then picked up a piece of pre-sliced ​​steak with his fork and popped it into his mouth.

Yet his gaze remained fixed on the report he had brought.

‘It’s sorcery…’

After consulting the working principles of the artifact as stated by Arendt and the research results of Count Stadler, Priest Lumiel concluded that it was similar to the sorcery of the dark elf race.

During her youth, when she was wandering the empire in service, Priest Lumiel had the opportunity to converse with dark elves who had crossed the sea from the coast.

One of the members of the elf party got sick on the ship and was cured with divine power. While talking to the dark elves who were curious about divine power, they heard stories of sorcery.

A spell that transfers a patient’s injuries to someone else.

When there was a sick or injured patient, a death row inmate was brought in and the patient’s disease was passed on to the criminal.

The sinners take on the illnesses and injuries of the townspeople and die in their stead.

Perhaps it was an artifact that acted as the shaman.

Arendt drank the rest of the orange juice in one gulp and finished reading the report.

Elves who could become ‘sorcerers’ were born with a certain mark, and there were no specific standards for this. They were born into both upper-class families and poor families who barely managed to survive from day to day.

Also, since the ability to transmit illness and injury to others was something that only dark elves have, it seemed safe to assume that this power was a unique power that appears randomly to a small number of people.

‘Then…’

It would be natural to think that during the wars of the hero Khan era, a dark elf sorcerer sided with the evil god Chernion and created the artifact.

As he put the last of the steak in his mouth and closed the report, Lawrence, who had been watching from afar, approached him with a kind smile.

“Did you like the food?”

“Of course. I enjoyed the meal.”

Arendt placed the money for the meal in Lawrence’s hands and got up from his seat.

“Have a nice day. Please give my regards to Khan as well.”

“Yes, I will.”

That Khan is probably buried in his desk right now, racking his brain.

Arendt nodded his head in goodbye and strolled out of the restaurant.

Since he had finally escaped from the palace during his free time, he had to get as much work done as possible.

Arendt, who had come out onto the main road, immediately set out in a direction and began to walk briskly.

But that was only for a moment, as he felt something strangely catching his eye at the edge of his vision and his steps slowed down.

And then he took three steps back.

A man was seen crouching, leaning against the wall of the building.

The robe that covered his head was clearly not cheap, but it was tattered from having been rolled around outside for several days.

No matter how prosperous the Caerleon Empire was, homeless people were not rare. Arendt was not a person who would watch a homeless person he met on the street.

But the reason Arendt couldn’t help but stop was because the face revealed under the robe was familiar.

“What… what are you doing here?”

At Arendt’s words, blurted out in astonishment, Priest Declan also raised his head in surprise.

“Ah, ah, Lord Arendt?”

“What’s going on here… No. That’s enough. It wasn’t something I needed to ask again.”

Fortunately, Declan was spared from imprisonment, but he was also kicked out of the temple, and since he had no relatives, he must have had no choice but to live on the streets. It must have been difficult to shamelessly reach out to Priest Lumiel.

His already pale face was showing signs of having starved for several days.

“Do you have food?”

“…”

As Declan lowered his head in embarrassment, a loud growling sound was heard in response.

Arendt put his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.

“Please follow me.”

“Yes?”

“Oh, just follow me and shut up.”

Declan finally got up in a hurry after hearing the frustration in Arendt’s voice.

Arendt, who had been looking at him with a complicated expression, sighed once more.

And a few minutes later, the two were sitting side by side in the upper-floor reception room of the Neumann headquarters.

Neumann looked at Declan, who was looking around with his eyes wide open in a dazed manner, and Arendt, who was sitting next to him with a complicated expression on his face.

“Lord Arendt. I didn’t know it at first, but I’ve been feeling that lately… It’s quite strange…”

“So, are you dissatisfied?”

“No. Is that possible? Since he seems hungry, I will prepare a meal for him. Just follow the staff downstairs.”

The owner burst out laughing at the harsh answer that came right back and motioned for the employee. The quick-witted employee nodded and took Declan downstairs.

As the two figures completely disappeared beyond the stairs, Neumann opened his mouth.

“I can treat him to a meal anytime, but I’m a little worried about hiring him because he has a gambling record. But recently, our business has grown so much that we’re short on manpower…”

“I should come up with an offer that appeals to you, is that what you’re saying?”

When Arendt chuckled, Manager Neumann smiled broadly and nodded.

“As expected, you understand. There must be a reason why you suggested we meet today, right?”

“Anyway, I told you that I have a bad personality.”

As he said that, Arendt took something out of pocket and placed it on the table.

Neumann’s eyes widened as he followed the movement.

“Isn’t this… a chit?”

“I ripped it off from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Neumann couldn’t hide his surprise at Arendt’s bold declaration, but like a serious businessman, he quickly calmed down and asked.

“Are you talking about the casino incident? It seems there are other circumstances than what has been announced. I had some idea after hearing that the Third Knights led the suppression.”

“That’s about it, huh? Anyway, it’s not a lot of money, so don’t worry.”

Arendt paused for a moment after saying that, then blurted it out.

“What do you think about information stores?”

“Yes?”

“I’m not talking about those shady information stores in the back alleys. I’m talking about the ones that only provide safe and verified information.”

At first, Neumann was taken aback, but as Arendt’s story continued, his eyes gradually sparkled with interest.

“You are now making me a business proposition, Lord Arendt. Can you give me an example of safe and verified information?”

“What area is lacking in certain materials? If you start trading with those, you’ll hit the jackpot. Someone in your family is missing, and someone who looks like them has been seen somewhere… things like that.”

Arendt shrugged.

“Anyway, if you want to run a merchant company, information power is essential. Isn’t that right? We’re trying to commercialize that.”

“Certainly, the information mentioned above is something that all the merchants are very sensitive to. Even if they can’t enter directly, they can make a lot of profit just by selling that information to other merchants.”

Neumann rubbed his chin as if he was thinking about something.

“With branches spread throughout the empire, gathering information isn’t a difficult task. All you have to do is assign a few specialists and have them share information periodically with each branch. The headquarters will act as a central point where all information is gathered. However…”

The person who spoke up to that point continued speaking seriously.

“It’s not that there are no problems. First of all, people’s perception of the information is not very good.”

“Isn’t that something that can be resolved with the name of Neumann? It’s all about changing perception.”

“It will take a lot of effort to distinguish between information that can be sold and information that cannot be sold. That is also the reason why information trade has remained in the shadows so far.”

“I believe that even that would be possible if it were Lord Neumann.”

“Heh heh heh…”

When he responded with a natural, innocent expression, Manager Neumann let out an incredulous laugh. However, that didn’t mean he looked too offended.

“If you say so, does that mean that this business is also necessary for you, Lord Arendt?”

“I guess so.”

Arendt nodded.

“I will provide the starting capital. You may also use my stake tied up in the company.”

“Then even if the business fails, it won’t be a big hit to me.”

Bringing something from the shadows into the light was a huge gamble, but it was a business that could not fail if attempted. In fact, many large companies usually had information departments.

The basic principle of ascending is from certain information.

That was the basic principle that put anything on top.

In any case, if this were implemented, even the wealthy nobles would no longer have to secretly visit the information dealers in the back alleys, and if the Neumann merchant company provided information, the small merchant companies that lacked information would certainly welcome it with open arms.

After thinking for a while, Neumann curved his lips playfully.

“Okay, let’s try it. I’d rather jump into the fire myself than see this money flow to other bosses.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Arendt smiled and pushed the slip toward Neumann.

“Priest Declan… No, the cost of entrusting Mr. Declan to you should be enough, right? If the business goes well, Lord Neumann’s pockets will also burst with money.”

“For now, I’ll let him join as a temporary employee for three months. I think it would be better to have him join the new business as a junior employee. Can I decide later whether to hire him as a full-time employee?”

“If he does something stupid again, you can hand him over to the police or kick his butt and throw him out. That’s none of my business.”

Arendt added, firmly grasping Neumann’s outstretched hand.

“Oh, and one more thing. Please keep it a secret that I suggested it.”

“Of course. As a top merchant company, we are not happy with rumors spreading that we are easily swayed by the suggestions of apprentice knights.”

“It seems like you readily admit that you were manipulated?”

“If I don’t have that level of awareness, I’m disqualified as a businessman.”

The two people’s subtle gazes met in the air.