Chapter 247: A Silver Coin

The meeting between Tauro and his party and Count Dareder was still ongoing.

“─ And at the end of the classified document, there was a sentence scribbled in non-encrypted text. It was Tauro’s name and a number, followed by an “X”. We have been investigating this ‘X’ for some time now. Our research had concluded that this “x” was an assassin. ……, but did Tauro-dono, ever have any assassins targeting him? If so, it is possible that he was targeted by an assassin, but it is also possible that he was mistakenly thought to be an assassin. ……”

Count Daredar asked Tauro, making a guess based on his troubled conclusion.

Depending on Tauro’s reply, it could mean that it was just a coincidence that the other coded sentences and numbers matched the ones they had checked out.

‘Yes, I have reported to the Adventurers’ Guild that there was an attempt to assassinate me the other day. I think the assassination guild thinks they have succeeded. But I’m sure they will soon find out, since they have someone who managed to escape this time.……”

“… I see, so, as expected, it’s as we read… huh?The assassination of Tauro-dono seems to have been carried out mainly by the assassination guild. The reason being is that the amount of money spent on Tauro-dono was so low that no assassination guild would normally accept it.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to say, but it’s ……, it’s just one silver coin. The amount’s so low that it doesn’t even cover expenses. At first I doubted that the confidential document itself was genuine, but if there had been an assassination attempt, the assassination guild would have had a reason to accept the low price. The scribble of Tauro’s name and forehead almost changed the value of the confidential documents. Oh, of course, it’s not that the value of the document is not worth it. It’s a matter of consistency. ……”

I understand what Count Daredar is trying to say.

Assassination guilds would not normally accept a job for just a single silver coin.

If the content scribbled in readable characters on a confidential document written in code is a single unconvincing sentence, then the coder’s conviction will be lost as well.

But isn’t one silver coin a terrible deal?

Tauro was a little hurt by his low value.

But perhaps, in the course of signing a big contract with Viscount Saissi’s side, they suggested that they would handle one of us as a bonus or service. And as a result of the proposal, the name that came out of Viscount Saissi’s mouth may have been me.

The assassination guild was likely to have been enthusiastic about the idea, since his own name, with which they had a close relationship, was mentioned.

It was such a large-scale assassination, there was almost no doubt about it.

“Have the texts written in …… ciphers been deciphered?”

Tauro confirmed.

“Yes. I don’t think it will take much time to solve it, but it’s still early days. Right now, my men are working day and night to crack the code. …… By the way, Tauro-dono. If the other side finds out that you are still alive, they may target you again. For the time being, I think it would be better for you to hide yourself somewhere where no one knows about you. ……”

“……, I’ll think about it.”

As for Tauro, he would have been fine if it were only about himself, but he had to be cautious because of the possibility of getting everyone else involved.

In fact, when I died from the “range instant death spell,” I could have involved my friends.

This was a problem I had to seriously consider.

“Tauro-dono, you saved my life, so I will do my best to help you. Feel free to ask me anything.”

Count Daredar  then promised Tauro and the other “ Black Golden Wings” free access to the castle, as well as support within the territory.

Tauro tried to refuse, but Count Daredar would not budge.

He was given a tag with the Daredar family crest on it, so that in the case of any emergency, he would be able to put his name forward to the person in charge of the town or village and ask for help.

Thus, the meeting with Count Daredar ended without incident.

This was the end of Count Daredar’s request.

After being taken by carriage to the inn, Aeris and Ragune came to the room where Tauro and Ankh were staying to discuss the future.

“So, what are you going to do, Tauro? I think it would be better to leave the village of Dansas until things cool down. Do you have someplace to go?”

Aeris asked for a concrete plan.

“Hmmm ……. There is one thing, but I wonder what you guys want to do first.”

“Huh? Us? I have no complaints about working with leader, you know?”

“I’m going to be working with you as one of your friends, okay? …You’re not going to tell me that you’re going to break up with me when we’ve just become friends, are you? ……Kill me……!”

Ragune said sharply, as usual, but without thinking.

Tauro was thinking of temporarily leaving the team himself as an idea.

“…Are you thinking of leaving the team alone and hiding yourself?”

Aeris, taking a hint from Ragune’s words, came up with an answer that Tauro might consider.

“… I don’t think so. Ah, but I’m going to a place that everyone knows about, so there’s no need to worry, right? I’ll be able to contact you soon.”

After saying that, Tauro began to talk about a place to escape from the assassin guild’s clutches.

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