"Welcome."
When they arrived at the place Carla had guided them to, the clerk greeted them with a friendly greeting.
'It's a more respectable store than I thought.'
Frondier looked around. He had imagined a somewhat gloomy atmosphere because they were selling masks, but it was just an ordinary store. It was just a little old.
'Come to think of it, I only asked Quinie to get me a mask, but I had no idea how she got it.'
Frondier looked around the store and wondered if Quinie had obtained the mask in this way.
Of course, the kind of mask he knew was nowhere to be seen on the shelves or displays.
It was only natural. The 'mask' had been used in many ways, but it was an illegal item. There was no way they would put it out in the open.
'Let's not stir up trouble and leave this to Carla.'
Carla also understood Frondier's intentions and approached the clerk.
"Hello, Colin. Long time no see."
"Headmaster of Atlas. You've come again."
The clerk, called Colin, bowed his head.
Carla looked around once. After confirming that there were no other customers except Frondier and his party.
"Colin, I need a favor."
Carla said in a more comfortable tone.
Colin frowned as he looked at the others, including Frondier, instead of Carla.
"Carla, this is difficult. I wouldn't mind if you came alone. But not with this many people."
"I'm sorry. But it's important. It'll help you in the future."
"Help me...?"
Colin sighed as if to say, "Of course it would."
Carla spoke in a stronger voice.
"Have you ever seen me lie?"
"No, I haven't. That's why this is difficult."
Colin said so and turned his back. He stood in front of a wall that was nothing special.
'Oh.'
Frondier's heart pounded.
Judging from the conversation, Carla had asked Colin for something secret. Something that shouldn't be seen by others.
And Colin, who went to the empty wall. What Frondier immediately thought of was a secret passage.
'Is there a hidden switch near here that, when pressed, or if you move the goods in order, the wall will slide open?'
Frondier was expecting it, and his expectations were half right.
Crack!
"....Huh?"
Frondier stared blankly at the sight.
He watched as Colin kicked the wall open to reveal the space behind it.
There was no special manipulation or anything. It was just strange that the wall, which he thought was stone, tore like paper.
Behind it, as Frondier had expected, a secret passage was revealed. It was a staircase leading underground.
Colin, who had torn down the wall with a nonchalant expression, turned his head again and looked at Frondier.
"Hey there, Jet-black Leader."
"....Yes?"
"I'll only allow you to accompany us. No one else."
Frondier blinked and then narrowed his eyes.
"How did you know I was the leader?"
A momentary heightened sense of alertness. Did this man, Colin, have the power to sense the strength or abilities of others? It was fine if he was simply sensing strength, but it would be troublesome if his abilities were exposed.
Colin said.
"Don't underestimate the intuition I've cultivated as a merchant."
"Intuition?"
"The people around you, they're all interested in your position and situation, even if they pretend not to be. You're always in the right place to stop a surprise attack."
At that, the others' eyes widened. It was exactly as Colin had said, but it wasn't something that was easily noticed.
Colin waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, that's that, so come on in, Leader."
"....Just curious, but what happens if I refuse? You've already shown me the secret passage."
"Then I'll tear down this store and die with you."
That was a scary thing to say.
He couldn't tell if it was a bluff or not because there was no inflection in his voice. Of course, it was probably a bluff, but he had a feeling that there was a 1% chance he might actually tear it down.
"Okay. Everyone wait here."
Basileo said.
"It's dangerous, Master."
"Who are you talking to?"
"Of course I'm talking to you. I'm in danger if you're not here."
"....See you later."
Frondier left behind a warning that wasn't a warning and walked over to Colin.
Frondier, Colin, and Carla walked down the underground stairs.
The stairs were quite long, contrary to his expectation that another place would appear soon.
"It's quite deep."
"Well, yes, it is."
"There's no way any architect could handle this kind of secret passage. And it's even more absurd to say that you dug it all by yourself."
"Well, yes, it is."
"You're not working alone."
"Well, yes, it is."
Colin's response was flat. He thought he had touched on something quite sensitive.
Frondier tilted his head.
"Was it common knowledge? I wasted my time trying to figure it out."
"No. It's information we'd rather not have leaked."
"....You're awfully calm about it."
"I'm very surprised."
Really?
His expression made it seem like he had just heard a story about the weather.
"By the way, Jet-black Leader."
"What's with the 'Jet-black Leader'?"
"Would you prefer 'Handsome Jet-black Leader'?"
"....No, that's not what I meant. Call me 'Frondier'."
"Understood."
Colin nodded.
"Master Frondier, what is your relationship with Miss Carla?"
It seems the title "Master" hasn't changed.
"We're colleagues."
The Headmaster of Atlas and a teacher. It wasn't wrong.
"Miss Carla wouldn't introduce me to you if you were just colleagues."
"We're working together for a common cause."
"....I see."
Colin didn't ask any further.
As they walked in silence, they saw a tightly closed door at the end of the stairs.
"It goes without saying, but this place is a secret to the public."
"Of course I know that."
Creak.
Colin opened the door.
It was a small room with an antique table and chairs, and the walls were lined with bookshelves.
As they stepped inside, they saw a sofa and chairs against the opposite wall, which seemed to be where guests sat.
'....It's small.'
That was Frondier's first impression when he entered.
In an ordinary house, he wouldn't care if it was small or large, but right now, Frondier had come down a considerable distance of underground stairs.
'Was it necessary to go this deep just to make such a small room?'
He wondered, but didn't show it.
Colin sat down on a chair at the table.
"You need a mask, right?"
"How did you know, oh, right."
"Yes. I have eyes, you know."
Colin also saw women like Carla and Elodie. Naturally, he knew what they needed in this situation.
"It's not difficult to give you a mask."
Colin rummaged under the table for something. And when his hand reappeared on the table, it was holding a mask. It was almost identical in shape to the one Frondier had seen on the Falind continent.
He instantly used his Workshop to analyze it and found it to be a good quality mask with no problems.
'I was worried that there might be low-quality masks, but this should be fine.'
....However.
Frondier smiled inwardly.
'How noisy.'
Then Colin said.
"Did you know? All merchants are also information brokers. The good ones, that is. In this day and age, there's no merchant who doesn't know that information is the most expensive commodity."
"....I see."
"So, if I give you the mask here at a fair price, the deal is done, but before that, there's something I want to ask."
"What?"
"You seem to be quite intelligent, Master Frondier."
Colin glanced at Carla for a moment. Carla tilted her head.
Colin looked back at Frondier.
"Master 'Frondier de Roach'."
"....!"
Colin called Frondier's full name.
He had recognized him as the owner of that full name when he heard the name Frondier.
"I'd like to make one more deal."
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