Translator: Yang_Wenli Editor: Yang_Wenli
Inside the main hall of Hotel Black Dove.
The young dwarf Frostaxe dispatched to the hotel had fallen onto the ground and was sleeping. The only people still awake in the hotel were Pluk, his fostered children and the masked guest.
One of the Gray-cat Beastman crawled on the second floor’s railings to curiously look at the masked person below.
The masked individual raised their head and used the scarlet eyes beneath the mask to glance at the Gray-cat Beastman child. As those from the feline family were extremely perceptive of danger, the Gray-cat Beastman child immediately ran back to his room.
“Pest... I... never imagined for you to return.”
Pluk looked at the special coin that was placed on the counter. It was a coin imprinted with black dove.
Among the members of the underground intelligence network Black Dove, only those of the older generation knew what that coin represented. It signified the ‘founder’ and ‘absolute ruler’ of the Black Dove.
Unfortunately, the holder of that coin disappeared without a trace a long time ago. Because of that, Black Dove began to gradually fall apart. It was only after the dark elf Thousand Faces appeared in Norland and took control over Black Dove that the largest underground information network of Norland was reorganized.
Pluk was one of the founding members of Black Dove. Thus, he recognized the coin as well as the owner of that coin.
“I’m fed up with this city occupied by the humans. Living in the demon realm is much more comfortable for me. Being able to accompany Her Highness Cecily is my life’s greatest honor.”
The Black Dove was created to strengthen the position of the non-humans in Norland. Unfortunately, there were simply too many mages coming to Norland from all around to seek out knowledge. Because of that, the non-humans ended up being forced to a corner of Norland, a place that eventually became Squirrel Street.
Pluk sized up his friend that he had not met in countless years. Her attitude had made it clear what her identity was... a sentinel.
“What... would a sentinel from the Demon Realm’s Royal City want in this city?”
“Her Highness Cecily ordered me to bring her younger brother back to the Demon Realm.”
Pest took out a slender glass container. Scarlet liquid was in the glass tube. Merely by looking at the color of the liquid, one could tell that it was someone’s blood.
“You know that my race is capable of tracking a person’s location using their blood. But, perhaps due to the interference caused by Norland’s barrier, my sense of smell lost effectiveness after coming to Norland.”
What Pest told Pluk could be said to be confidential information for a sentinel’s mission. If this was to happen in the Demon Realm, both the sentinel who leaked the information and the people who heard the information will be severely punished.
But, Pest was not concerned about that. She was not worried that Pluk would leak the secret information she just told him either.
“I need your help. I do not wish to stay for an extended period of time in this human-filled city.”
As Pest spoke, Pluk could feel some of the blood within his body was starting to move strangely.
“What is the name of the person you’re seeking?”
Even though the person before him was holding his life through blood manipulation, Pluk continued to have an expressionless look on his face.
This Deceiver had guessed the reason why Pest came to Norland. But, as he was a Faceless Demon, a member belonging to a race of demons called Deceivers, Pluk was not planning to confess to Pest that easily.
“Joshua. Joshua Annerlaude. He’s also a Chaos Demon. Do you know where in the city he’s hiding in?”
At the same time Pest mentioned the name of his target, her scarlet eyes stared at the Deceiver. She was determining whether Pluk was lying to him through the beat of his heart.
“There’s no reason for you to hesitate. Once I completed this mission, I can guarantee that you will be able to return to the Demon Realm. Those cubs you’ve adopted will be able to return with you. I will provide you all with a shelter in the Demon Realm. It is definitely going to be much better than this place.”
Pest made a promise that she belived Pluk wouldn’t be able to refuse.
As she was the founder of the Black Dove, she knew very well how difficult it was for the non-humans to live in Norland’s Squirrel Street.
What she encountered on her arrival to hotel Black Dove also served to verify that. If it wasn’t for her prompt arrival, that human merchant might end up exposing his race’s crude and ignorant nature.
“My apologies, Pest. I am unable to answer you that question.”
At the beginning, Pluk was hesitant to tell this sentinel lady Joshua’s location.
But, after Pest made a promise that there would be a place for him in the Demon Realm, Pluk immediately changed his mind.
The recent business of hotel Black Dove has been the best since it was established!
There was no reason for Pluk to be worried about money at all. Even though one or two guests might start causing trouble, most of the guests were well-behaved.
There was no reason for him to leave Norland. And, all of this was given to him by Joshua.
While Pluk was a Deceiver, he was not a vile person.
The negotiation ended in a deadlock after Pluk said those words. But, the deadlock was soon destroyed by an owl that flew in through the window.
The owl immediately caught their attention.
Right after the owl flew into the hotel, before it could even descend, it suddenly started falling from the second floor. It landed directly on the sentinel Pest’s hand.
The owl started to flap its wings. It seemed like its consciousness was hazy.
Pest opened up the letter the owl was carrying. She glanced through the contents of the letter. She didn’t really understand what the letter was saying at all. But, she did notice the signature, Joshua. That was all that she needed.
“It would appear that Joshua Annerlaude is your employer. I can understand why you want to keep the matters of your employer confidential. But now... bring me to him.”
Now that Pest had found clues about Joshua, she was in no heart to continue chatting with her old friend.
She was not fond of this city and wanted to quickly complete her mission to return to the Royal City with Joshua.
There was no trace of threat present in this sentinel lady’s voice. But, the blood within Pluk’s body started to solidify. If he doesn’t make his decision quickly, he might die from a heart attack or blood clot.
Pluk began to regret his decision in transforming his outward appearance to a human, a creature so troublesome. If it was his original form, there wouldn’t be a need to worry about a heart at all.
Pest turned her vision upstairs. Her obvious movement destroyed Pluk’s final defensive barrier.
Upstairs were the two Half Dragons and Gray-cat Beastmen children.
“Follow me.” Pluk stood up and said to the sentinel.