Chapter 42: Joint Operation

Chapter 42: Joint Operation

Moon Emlyn unconsciously clasped his hands together, lifted his chin slightly, and looked toward Miss Magician diagonally opposite him.

“I have confirmed that the matter of the abandoned castle in Delaire Forest was a test directed at me from within the Sanguine. Very crucial information was concealed.”

Once he said this, it was as though a weight pressing down on his heart had been removed. He no longer seemed as hesitant, conflicted, or embarrassed as he had been over the past few days.

Following the momentum, he looked around, observing Madam Hermit and Mr. Hanged Man’s reactions. He discovered that they seemed to have expected it long ago and were not surprised in the slightest.

Looks like when Miss Magician said there was a problem with the intelligence last time, they already suspected something… Emlyn nodded inwardly and, before Magician Fors could respond, added two more sentences:

“I am very sorry. I will refund the three hundred pounds you paid for the intelligence. In addition, I will compensate you another three hundred pounds. Also, I will punish the Sanguine who deliberately provided incomplete information.”

Although Mr. Moon always appears arrogant, when facing a mistake, he is quite sincere and does not look for excuses to shirk responsibility… Still, I already obtained the ancient wraith’s cursed object and residual spirituality. The matter has also passed. He did not intentionally try to harm me and Xio. There is no need to demand excessive compensation… Magician Fors remembered Xio’s warning. Without meeting her gaze, she spoke on her own:

“This was only a mistake. There is no need for compensation. Refunding the intelligence fee is enough.”

The moment she finished, she suddenly thought of something: since the information about the abandoned castle had originated from a Sanguine test, had she and Xio been targeted by members of the Sanguine?

Fors finally could not help turning her head to glance at Xio. She saw Miss Judgement shake her head slightly, indicating that she had not discovered anyone monitoring the two of them.

This… Fors felt puzzled and found it difficult to understand.

Her thoughts then scattered as she recalled the situation back then.

“We waited quite some time before going to explore. Did the Sanguine lose patience and stop waiting?

“Did the innkeeper in the town know about the abandoned castle because he was a Sanguine in disguise? No. Quite a few people in the area knew about it. It’s just that the place is too remote, and nothing valuable remains there, so unless one happens to pass by while hunting or gathering, no one normally goes there.

“No, that abandoned castle is so dangerous. Why did the people who once took shelter from the rain there suffer no problems and merely say it was gloomy and a little frightening? Mm, do the Sanguine normally seal the path underground and only opened it in advance for the test? That means there really was monitoring…

“Uh, because the castle is too dangerous, the monitor was in the forest outside rather than inside? Xio and I got lost, circled around the monitor, and weren’t discovered?

“Mr. Fool gave no reminder, so there should not be any major problem… I’ll pay attention when I go back!”

While Fors’s thoughts raced, Moon Emlyn deliberated briefly before saying,

“…All right.”

He did not insist on doubling the compensation for the intelligence fee, because he believed the best compensation was to punish Ernest Boyar, not to give money.

Then he waited for Miss Magician to ask how he would punish the other party. He planned to use the opportunity to consult the other members of the Tarot Gathering and see whether he could obtain a decent suggestion.

Magician Fors, however, considered that this was an internal matter among the Sanguine. Although she was a victim, since Mr. Moon had not proactively offered a plan, she still had to take his dignity into account and not ask too many questions. She could…