Chapter 12
Seeing the man, Baeksan couldn’t help but close her mouth in surprise.
‘His name is golden.’
This was the first golden name she’d seen since Princess Bathilda.
‘Why? What’s the criteria?’
She couldn’t understand. There were still so many unknown aspects about her ability to read information.
But anyway, that wasn’t what was important right now.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Grand Duke Zahig, famous for his exceptional swordsmanship and striking appearance. Currently undercover to catch the illegal fighting ring gang.
‘Fighting ring!’
What mattered was that the exact person she needed had walked in of his own accord.
Though he wore a robe covering his face, he couldn’t deceive Baeksan’s eyes.
Baeksan quickly handed Agnes the honey water and said:
“Agnes. I’ll try to do something. Go home.”
“But Mine!”
“Agnes. We don’t have time to argue. Don’t ask questions, just do as I say.”
Agnes, who looked ready to protest, hesitated upon seeing Baeksan’s face. Then she bit her lip firmly.
“…Well, you are amazing, aren’t you, Mine? I actually know that even Elize treads carefully around you.”
“…”
“Alright. Then I’ll go lie down at the Security Force office.”
“Lie on the desk so you don’t dirty your clothes.”
“You can joke even at a time like this?”
Agnes laughed in disbelief, despite her tear-stained cheeks.
“Whatever you’re planning to do, be careful, Mine.”
She left the pub with a grave expression.
‘Good. That’s taken care of.’
Baeksan next looked at Grand Duke Zahig.
The Grand Duke was talking with the bartender. When he said something, the bartender handed him a bottle.
[Morge Corvot 413 (Fake)]
A cheap wine copying only the label of the legendary Morge Corvot 413, made by vintner Mandelin.
The drink was fine.
Baeksan focused her eyes more intently.
For the Grand Duke to come personally, there must be something more.
Soon, she spotted a purple ticket slightly visible beneath the wine glass.
Though it was barely visible, it was enough for Baeksan to extract information.
[Crisp Purple Ticket (Fake)]
A ticket for entering Ulm’s illegal fighting pit.
Though it looks real, it’s fake. Contains orders to kill the bearer.
The Grand Duke immediately headed for the door with it.
‘Can’t let him slip away.’
Baeksan downed her remaining beer in one go.
Then she strode over to him, blocked the doorway, and said:
“That’s fake.”
* * *
And so, facing Grand Duke Zahig again.
When Baeksan removed her robe, the Grand Duke likewise removed his.
“I need more explanation.”
And Baeksan realized why Zahig had the descriptor “striking appearance” when it hadn’t been attached to other handsome men.
He wasn’t just moderately good-looking.
‘Disgustingly handsome.’
His white hair, looking even whiter in the darkness, was beautiful rather than strange, softly reflecting colors like opal.
In contrast, his pitch-black eyes made it impossible to distinguish iris from pupil. This made his gaze feel more piercing than others’.
His face wasn’t rugged and sturdy, nor was it delicate like a young noble’s. Yet somehow he straddled all these charms.
The surprising thing was that despite all this, his appearance wasn’t even his greatest charm.
‘Now I get why everyone goes on about Grand Duke Zahig.’
Meeting his gaze, she understood.
You know how it is.
Once or twice in life, you meet someone like this.
Someone who seems like they must have grown up in a happy home with a complete education, always being told to be kind to everyone.
Grand Duke Zahig was such a person.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
One blessed by the Goddess of the Heights. Currently being kept in check by the emperor.
The information window changed its description to match Baeksan’s thoughts.
‘Divine blessing? That’s cheating.’
Grumbling internally, Baeksan said to the Grand Duke:
“I need help.”
“Help?”
“My friend was taken to the fighting pit. She’s a girl with blue twin-tails. We don’t know what might happen if we’re late. We need to raid it today. Do you have enough manpower?”
Concern flashed in Exarch’s black eyes, and he immediately released his grip on his sword hilt.
“I’m sorry.”
Though brief, his words carried genuine regret. It felt as if he, not Baeksan, had lost a companion.
But then Exarch let out a soft sigh and said:
“Even so, I can’t share details with civilians.”
Baeksan hesitated.
“Is that important right now? You haven’t pinpointed their base, right?”
Exarch’s eyes widened slightly.
Surprise. Behind it, lake-like calm vigilance.
Facing the silent Grand Duke, Baeksan said:
“I can help.”
“You?”
“I’m not involved, and I’m not a victim either. I just know the location.”
“While I understand your concern for your friend, I can’t involve civilians in dangerous situations.”
“That civilian is actively becoming endangered right now.”
“…”
“Take me with you. Don’t you want to catch the illegal fighting ring?”
Exarch looked down at Baeksan intently.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to the end of the alley.
‘…?’
Just before Baeksan could look in the same direction in confusion, Exarch let out a quiet sigh.
“Fine. But only until we reach the location.”
…He didn’t particularly seem to believe she actually knew the location.
Baeksan raised an eyebrow slightly.
‘He’ll see when we get there. That I’m right. Time is of the essence right now.’
She quickly put her robe back on.
“Then shall we mo—”
At that moment, looking absently toward the end of the alley, Baeksan spotted someone.
A man with fox-like features quickly turned his head away after looking in their direction and walked past.
Though brief, Baeksan was good at remembering faces.
‘Wasn’t he in the pub earlier?’
She realized the situation a beat later.
‘So there was a reason he immediately believed my words weren’t a trap.’
His subordinate must have overheard her conversation with Agnes.
Baeksan looked up at Exarch beside her.
He too pulled down his robe and looked down at her with clear eyes.
“Where do we need to go?”
“…”
He was certainly gentle, but not an easy person to deal with.
‘I like him.’
Baeksan smirked and pointed her finger skyward.
“Somewhere high.”
* * *
Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder guided the mysterious woman to Mordga Tower.
It was a tower in the center of the capital, built in ancient times. There could be no better place if one wanted to view the capital.
‘Somewhere high.’
Though Exarch couldn’t understand her words, he decided not to try.
She didn’t seem unintelligent. She must know the ripples her actions would cause.
‘Besides, we seem to have missed our chance today.’
Though the knights were on standby, they’d need to plan from scratch to chase the Magdala gang again.
Perhaps it was such fatigue that made him move based on the words of a woman whose name and identity he didn’t know.
‘Pink eyes… quite rare.’
While climbing the stairs with the woman, Exarch shifted his gaze to examine her appearance once more.
And found himself meeting those clear pink eyes.
Surprisingly, that simple experience was quite disconcerting.
Exarch always read something in people’s eyes.
Goodwill. Affection. Admiration.
Or hostility.
But he saw none of these in the woman before him.
Her pink glass-like eyes were clear, transparent, and even emotionless.
“…”
“Ah. End of the stairs.”
Even now, after maintaining eye contact for quite a while, she simply turned away without a word.
Quite different from those who showed interest in his face, wealth, or power.
As she opened the top floor door, Exarch found himself asking her retreating back:
“Your name?”
