Volume 2 Chapter 16-2 The Information Broker
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”What’s wrong?”
”I see someone familiar.”
Following Lifia’s gaze, I spotted that suspicious man from the first day in the dungeon.
He wore a gray robe and slouched, lurking in the shadows of the building.
His appearance and movements reminded me of a rat.
The man noticed our stare and approached with a creepy smile.
”Well, well, good to see you again, Mister!”
His raspy voice reached my ears.
He gave a slight bow and pulled down his gray hood a bit.
”What do you want?”
He still seemed shady as ever.
”I’m Quigg, a humble information broker.”
”An information broker, huh…”
”Yes, I might have something useful for you.”
Quigg, the man, moved restlessly, his eyes sharp and alert.
He didn’t seem trustworthy, but the idea of an information broker intrigued me.
”Did you come to sell something?”
”You got it! I have some juicy info for you!”
I pulled out a gold coin worth 10,000 Aurum from my pocket and tossed it lightly to him.
”I don’t know the going rate, but will this get me some info?”
Quigg caught the coin skillfully with one hand.
He spun the coin between his fingers and grinned.
”You say you don’t know the rate, yet you give this much to someone you don’t trust… Quite bold, aren’t you?”
He chuckled, tucking the coin away, his actions giving off a creepy vibe.
”So, do you have any useful information?”
I frowned, waiting for his next words.
Quigg narrowed his eyes and glanced around.
”Well, what’s important for you is probably about yourself.”
I stayed alert, not easing my guard at his sly smile.
Lifia was also watching him closely by my side.
”For example, it wouldn’t hurt to know what rumors are going around about you among adventurers.”
Quigg grinned and took a step closer, watching my reaction.
My reputation, huh?
I had a rough idea, but I didn’t know the details.
His words piqued my interest.
”That’s not all. I’ve also heard some whispers about people thinking ill of you.”
When I heard that, I frowned.
I don’t care about rumors, but if it’s about someone thinking bad stuff, that’s different.
To avoid trouble, I should check it out.
”Mind if I hear it?”
Quigg grins and starts to speak when I ask him.
”Well then, I’ll tell you. Rumors about mister doing well in the dungeon have spread among quick-eared adventurers. Especially, the story about you killing the sword deer on the Iron Rank is really big.”
”I weren’t supposedly hunting on the second floor, and no one saw me do that.”
”Exactly. But, didn’t mister leave the deer corpse behind? A normal adventurer would take all usable parts.”
Certainly, we only took the parts we needed and left the rest.
Maybe that’s why.
”There are multiple sword deer carcasses with all the materials still there, and at the same time a mysterious newbie entered just before. Connecting these two is natural.”
I see.
Usually, there’s no way to waste materials.
Only people not short on money would leave stuff behind.
”It’s not just that. The story that a new Iron Rank adventurer is close to Guild staff, like Ms. Tifi, also stands out and draws attention.”
Tifi’s beauty surely makes her noticeable.
I doubt there are any foolish adventurers trying to hit on guild staff, but standing out is unavoidable.
Tifi seems to understand that, so she’s probably staying home more often.
”So, what exactly are these bad guys thinking?”
When I pressed for the core of the story, Quigg lowered his voice a little, looked around, and then continued.
”It seems there are people planning to trick you, Mister. Specifically, they’re spreading rumors about attacking you under the guise of an accident inside the dungeon.”
”What kind of people?”
I asked sharply, and Quigg held out his palm.
Extra fee, huh?
”For info on people who might actually act, 5 gold coins will do.”
His eyes gleam as if he’s testing my reaction.
I thought for a moment, took out 5 gold coins, and handed them over.
”You’re good customers. Alright, I’ll tell you.”
While skillfully rolling the gold coins between his fingers, Quigg opened his mouth.
”I think you might remember, but it’s about the guys who tangled with you in the last room of the first floor.”
Quigg told me about a party called ‘Fang of Lead’.
They are a small group made up of 2 swordsmen and an archer, named Zuck, Seg, and Saq.
”They have a bad reputation. Especially in the dungeon, there are rumors they attack newcomers. They don’t hesitate to use poison or sneak attacks. However, outside the dungeon, they behave themselves, so they don’t get punished.”
They commit crimes in the dungeon while acting innocent outside.
They are a troublesome bunch.
”So, it seems they were left waiting by you guys? Apparently, they didn’t like that. There are whispers they plan to target you out of spite.”
”It’s ridiculous to be angry after getting what they deserve.”
But I guess common sense doesn’t apply to them.
”If they act, they’ll likely ambush you in the last room of the first floor, then track you to the second floor and attack when the time is right.”
Quigg continues with a thin smile.
”Incidents in the dungeon are literally a one-way ticket to the dungeon. No matter what happens, you won’t be held accountable.”
”I see. Thanks for the info.”
I pull out another gold coin and hand it to him.
”Oh, what’s this?”
”A tip. I’ll need your help in the future.”
Quigg grins and bows his head.
”Well then, take care, Mister. We can’t have our good customers dying on us.”
Quigg disappears into the dim alley.
Watching his back, I start to think.
”Lifia, how much can we trust that informant’s words?”
Lifia can read emotions and personalities to some extent with Spirit Magic.
If Quigg plans to trap us, she should sense some sign of it.
”At least, he wasn’t lying. I didn’t feel any malice from him.”
Lifia answers firmly.
I see.
Regardless of the truth of the information, it seems we don’t need to be wary of Quigg himself.
So, the ones we should be careful of are the 3 from the ‘Fang of Lead.’
”Master…”
Lifia looks up at me with a worried voice.
Seeing her expression, I gently pat her head.
”It’s okay. If we know they will attack, we can handle it.”
For the next dungeon exploration, we just need to be the first to strike and outsmart them.
If they want to mess with us, they’ll pay the price.
The enemies in the dungeon are not just monsters.
Just knowing that is a good start.
We took a step forward toward the dungeon, where new dangers and unknown threats awaited us.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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