Javier made his way toward the Guild counter, his measured footsteps drawing the attention of several adventurers as he passed.
Behind the counter, an attendant was arranging a stack of documents when Javier stopped before him and spoke.
“Excuse me.” The attendant looked up and froze for a moment upon recognizing the blindfolded Crown Prince standing on the other side of the counter.
He immediately abandoned the documents, straightened his posture and lowered his head.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I wish to meet the Guild Master.”
The attendant’s eyes widened slightly.
He glanced toward the staircase leading to the upper floor before quickly returning his attention to Javier.
“Of course, Your Highness. Please follow me.” He stepped out from behind the counter and gestured toward the stairs before leading the way, with Javier following close behind and Alaric remaining several steps back.
Conversations throughout the hall gradually resumed as they crossed the guild, though many of the adventurers kept their voices noticeably lower than before.
Several continued watching the Crown Prince until he disappeared up the staircase.
The upper floor was considerably quieter than the crowded hall below.
The attendant guided them through a narrow corridor lined with several closed rooms before eventually stopping in front of a large wooden door.
“The Guild Master is inside, Your Highness.” Javier gave a slight nod and reached for the handle.
“Thank you.” The attendant bowed and stepped aside as Javier opened the door, with Alaric following him inside.
The Guild Master’s office was far removed from the noise below.
A large wooden desk occupied the center of the room, its surface crowded with maps, mission reports, ledgers and several letters bearing different seals.
Behind it sat a middle-aged man with dark brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
He had been examining a document when the door opened, but the moment he recognized Javier, he placed the paper aside and immediately rose from his chair.
“Crown Prince.” The man bowed respectfully.
“My name is Brian. I am the Guild Master of Srivi.”
“Brian.” Javier acknowledged him with a slight nod before walking toward the chair opposite the desk and taking his seat.
Alaric remained standing behind him, quietly observing the room.
Once Javier had settled, Brian returned to his own chair and folded his hands over the documents before him.
His expression remained polite, though the slight tension in his shoulders suggested that he was still trying to understand why the Crown Prince had personally come to the guild. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
“What brings Your Highness to the Adventurers’ Guild?”
“I wish to ask about something that may have come to the Guild’s attention.” Javier rested one hand against the armrest.
Brian’s attention sharpened immediately.
“What is it?”
“Vilon.”
The moment the name left Javier’s mouth, Brian’s fingers stopped moving.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the prince across the desk.
“That forbidden drug?” Javier gave a small nod.
“Yes. I want to know where the adventurers in Srome are getting it from.”
Brian leaned back slightly and released a quiet breath.
Whatever uncertainty he had felt about Javier’s visit seemed to disappear, replaced by something far more serious.
“As far as we know, they obtain it through a middleman, but no one knows who that person actually is.”
“Not even the Guild?”
“Not even us.” Brian shook his head.
“The person has never revealed their true face or used their real name when conducting business. Some adventurers claim the middleman wears a mask, but no one has been able to confirm whether that’s true.” Javier’s brow tightened slightly.
“So these adventurers are purchasing Vilon without even knowing who is selling it?”
“That’s right.” Brian reached for one of the reports on his desk and opened it.
“They’re only given a method of contacting the middleman whenever they want to purchase Vilon. After that, the middleman decides the time and place of the meeting. Everything is arranged on their terms.” His expression hardened slightly.
“Even experienced adventurers know better than to ask too many questions.”
Javier remained silent as he considered the information.
Whoever controlled the distribution had built the operation carefully.
The buyers knew how to obtain the drug but not enough to identify the person supplying it, which meant capturing ordinary customers would reveal very little about whoever stood behind the network.
After several moments, Javier lightly moved his fingers against the armrest.
“Then how can I meet them?”
Brian looked at him carefully before answering.
“If Your Highness wishes to meet the middleman, we’ll need someone who has dealt with them before. We could have one of those adventurers submit a request to purchase Vilon on your behalf. If the middleman accepts, they’ll choose where and when the meeting takes place.”
Brian’s eyebrows rose.
“Your Highness wishes to purchase Vilon?”
“I have no interest in the drug.” Javier rose from his chair and adjusted the sleeve of his coat.
“I only want to meet the person selling it.”
Brian stood as well, his earlier surprise giving way to understanding.
“Very well. I will contact an adventurer who has dealt with the middleman before and see if a meeting can be arranged.”
“Inform me as soon as you receive an answer.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Javier turned toward the door, but his hand stopped before reaching the handle.
“There is one more thing, Brian. I have another request.” He turned back toward the Guild Master and explained what he needed, deliberately lowering his voice until only Brian and Alaric could hear him.
Surprise briefly crossed Brian’s face as he listened, but it gradually disappeared as Javier continued explaining the details of his plan.
By the time the Crown Prince finished, Brian’s expression had become completely serious.
For several seconds, the Guild Master said nothing.
Then he gave a firm nod.
“Very well, Your Highness. I will carry out everything according to your plan.”
“Good.” Javier placed his hand upon the door, but before opening it, he turned his head slightly toward Brian.
“Do not tell anyone about my true purpose.”
Brian immediately understood the warning behind those words.
Whatever Javier intended to do, the plan would fail the moment the wrong person learned of it.
He lowered his head in a deep bow.
“Of course, Your Highness. Not a single person will hear it from me.”
Javier nodded and left the office with Alaric following closely behind.
Brian remained standing beside his desk as the door slowly closed, listening until their footsteps disappeared farther down the corridor.
Only then did he release the breath he had been holding.