The Diplomat’s Secrets

The Wind Mage pondered, “Could it be that little girl who pretended to be a half-cat?”

This was highly probable, as their strength was considerable, and they could completely disregard Arrow Frog’s mental magic.

The lanky man with jellyfish tentacles gingerly sat up, a pained expression on his face. “I severed one of her feet. Is she not recuperating from her injuries?”

He himself had taken a punch to the waist, and it still throbbed.

“Regardless of who it is, the situation is currently unfavorable for us,” Rhino Horn stated, his face grim.

The Wind Mage couldn’t help but ask, “Can we request Busius Sunhand to provide us with shelter?”

“If he could do that, he would have already used Saroyan’s forces to handle matters. Why would he need to borrow us from the Little Prince?” Arrow Frog scoffed coldly. “It’s precisely because he can’t be seen, because he can’t be implicated, that he requires our assistance.”

Silence fell among them all.

After a long pause, Arrow Frog made their arrangements. “First, we change our residence, then we await Busius Sunhand’s next instructions.”

****

Iordera entrusted the task of finding the person to “Gold Coin,” yet she remained equally busy.

Discovering the mastermind behind these events was merely one aspect. To truly resolve the issue, it was crucial to understand the full scope of the situation.

Only by understanding where Awang and her companions originated, and what experiments or plans they were involved in, could Iordera grasp the entire picture and devise the optimal solution.

Iordera gazed at the mind map she had drawn, contemplating it carefully.

Firstly, the group that attacked the workshop was likely the same one that had previously ambushed and killed the chieftain. This corroborated the suspicion that high-ranking Saroyan officials were involved, enabling them to accompany soldiers to the interception point and assassinate Dogget.

As for why the investigation into Dogget’s escape route, and the subsequent interception, were delegated to the Night Market instead of being handled directly by this group, it was likely due to their unfamiliarity with Saroyan. Indeed, Cat Head had also mentioned that the Night Market residents referred to them as ‘troublesome outsiders’.

This suggested they had only recently arrived in the city and had just begun collaborating with that high-ranking Saroyan official. Iordera had reason to believe these two incidents were, in fact, part of one larger scheme.

Thinking in reverse, Dogget had once served as a diplomat at the Saroyan Beastmen Consulate, wielding considerable influence among his kin. He was known for supplying numerous beastman resources to the higher echelons.

With this reverse deduction confirmed, Iordera tapped the words ‘Consulate’ with the tip of her pen, marking it as the location of her next crucial clue.

The Saroyan Beastmen Consulate was situated in the northwestern part of Saroyan’s Eastern District. It encompassed an expansive, plaza-like area where, in the center of an unobstructed plain, stood a remarkably majestic and towering spire, resembling a long sword plunged into the earth.

‘Lest you misunderstand,’ the consulate was merely the low-lying, square building adjacent to the spire. Iordera initially made this mistake, only to learn the truth after inquiring with locals.

“That spire,” an informant explained, “is the residence of Saroyan’s Sword Saint. He keeps watch over the area, ensuring those animal-headed folk wouldn’t dare cause trouble.”

“So that’s how it is,” Iordera mused. The situation was similar in other districts; for instance, the Elven Consulate in the Southern District stood right beside Saroyan’s Mage God’s magic tower. In the Western District, the Elven Consulate neighbored the Empire’s renowned God of War.

Thanking the passerby, Iordera ambled closer to the consulate.

The plaza was far from deserted, though most pedestrians were headed towards the Sword Saint’s Spire. In Saroyan’s Eastern District, the Sword Saint’s Spire was a renowned landmark, drawing many pilgrims who came to pay homage.

The Sword Saint, in essence, was the Martial Saint of this world, revered much like Guan Yu.

Iordera mingled with the crowd, occasionally glancing at the consulate. The guards stationed at its entrance were lax in their posture; some were even elderly, dozing off in the afternoon sun.

Half of them were human, the other half beastmen.

As most visitors came for the Sword Saint’s Spire and rarely sought the consulate, coupled with the Sword Saint’s presence, everyone assumed there would be no trouble. Consequently, the security level was rather relaxed.

With a plan forming in her mind, Iordera sauntered over, clutching her small bag.

“Little girl,” the elderly guard at the consulate’s side entrance squinted at her. “What brings you here?”

“Nothing much, I’m just asking about something,” Iordera replied, tilting her innocent face upwards. “Grandpa, have you always worked here?”

The old guard leaned against the wall, taking a drag from his pipe. “Of course! I’ve been stationed here for years; who around here doesn’t know me?”

“Then do you know others?” Iordera quickly inquired. “A few years ago, there was a temporary diplomat named Dogget. Do you recall him?”

The old guard straightened his posture slightly, coming to a more attentive stance. “I do recall him somewhat, but why are you asking about him?”

“Well, Grandpa, he was a diplomat, wasn’t he? He seemed like an official of some standing, so everyone trusted him. Once, during a meal, he borrowed a sum of money from my father, but he hasn’t returned it all this time.”

As Iordera spoke, her small face crumpled, and she rubbed her eyes with a wronged expression. “Recently, my father fell ill and is now confined to the hospital, but our family can barely afford the medical expenses. Now, I have no choice but to seek him out.”

The old guard, seeing the tear-streaked loli before him, couldn’t help but soften. After a moment’s thought, he muttered softly, “Dogget… he resigned a few months ago. How would us lowly guards know where he went specifically?”

“Does he have any friends, or anyone who can contact him?” Iordera asked anxiously.

The old guard thought for a moment, then shook his head. “We guards only had a superior-subordinate relationship with him; we didn’t usually interact much. However, I did hear that he often frequented the Adventurer’s Tavern in the city’s Western District for drinks.”

“That tavern, though, is quite a mixed bag, often prone to trouble. I don’t know why he was so fond of going there.”

“Thank you, Grandpa,” Iordera said, then inquired further, “Grandpa, do you happen to know if the Adventurer’s Tavern in the city’s Western District has any distinguishing marks?”

The old guard shook his head, chuckling. “No particular distinguishing marks. Once you’re there, just ask anyone, and they’ll tell you.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

Iordera offered her thanks once more before turning to leave.

****

‘Sympathy,’ Iordera thought.

The pained expression on her small face was truly convincing, absolutely devoid of pretense.

“Little girl, this old man genuinely wants to help you, but,” the old guard said awkwardly, “by consulate regulations, such matters are theoretically confidential.”

Iordera pulled a small bottle of liquor from her bag. “Grandpa, look how hard you’re working, standing here all afternoon. Have a little something in your free time. I specifically bought this from the Night Market last night; it’s quite potent.”

The old guard’s eyes widened, and he immediately stood upright. “Oh dear, little girl, please don’t. I can’t drink while on duty.”

He glanced left and right, then subtly took the bottle. “However, during my break between shifts, a small drink is permissible.”

After stashing the liquor, the old guard beckoned her, moving a few steps into the shadows near the side entrance.

“Theoretically, the diplomat’s affairs are confidential. But Dogget, you see, he wasn’t officially appointed; he was merely a temporary official during a transitional period. Moreover, he didn’t remain at the consulate after his resignation, so strictly speaking, it doesn’t fall under the scope of confidentiality.”

The old guard scratched the back of his head, recalling carefully for a moment.

“Dogget, that man, he was quite a character back then. Of course, don’t think I’m praising him; both sides actually disliked him quite a bit.”

Iordera blinked her innocent eyes. “How so?”

“He was a beastman entirely biased towards humans. What was that term, ‘spiritual human’!” the old guard said with disdain. “He always went out of his way to curry favor with humans when handling matters. At the consulate, his attitude towards us and his own people was completely different; it was simply repulsive.”

“The beastmen of Saroyan didn’t care for him, and we humans also regarded him as a joke.”