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Women with heavy makeup and bold outfits surrounded me in an instant.

They clung to me with flirtatious smiles.

“Wow, aren’t you just too handsome? I’ve never seen someone so good-looking while working!”

“So, someone like you comes to a brothel too. Oh my, look at those muscular arms! Are you perhaps an adventurer?”

“Oh my, look at her. All men are the same. Even a handsome gentleman must have some secret hobby he can’t confess!”

The women around burst into a fit of giggles at one of their comments.

In the midst of that, with hands trying to touch me here and there, I shrugged them off lightly and said,

“Sorry, but I’m here to find someone.”

Then, a red-haired woman, boldly showing off her cleavage, smiled sweetly. She was the one who had made the women laugh just moments ago.

“Gentlemen who come here always say that. What kind of woman are you looking for? Do you prefer a mature and sophisticated lady?”

The red-haired woman emphasized her voluptuous chest, giving an enticing smile. But when I seemed uninterested, she grabbed the shoulder of another woman beside her and introduced her to me.

“Or do you prefer small and petite types? Or maybe a pure and delicate lady like a noble? Don’t be shy, just tell us. Even if it’s a secret preference, we can cater to it!”

“……”

Honestly, I’d rather fight the Demon King’s Army.

“Enough.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Where is Silvia?”

“Hmm? Silvia…? I’m sorry, sir, but there’s no one by that name here.”

“No, she should be.”

My confident tone made all the women shut their mouths in unison.

Their expressions changed from looking at a desirable guest to surprise and wariness towards a stranger.

The red-haired woman, contrasting with moments ago, opened her mouth with a colder gaze.

“…Sir. I don’t know where you heard that name, but it’s one that shouldn’t be mentioned carelessly. If another guest had brought it up, we would have called security immediately, but because you’re quite good-looking, we’re giving you another chance. If you admit you misspoke now, we’ll treat you as a guest. Otherwise…”

“I heard correctly.”

I replied in a calm tone.

“Please call Silvia.”

“Haa…”

The red-haired woman swept her bangs up and let out a deep sigh.

“Hey boys? This gentleman is looking for his sister. Do bring her to him.”

At those words, the men stationed around the brothel immediately swarmed around me.

They weren’t armed, but judging by their muscular build and the ease with which they took positions, they looked like former soldiers or mercenaries.

About ten of those men surrounded me.

Among them, a man with tattoos on his shoulder spoke up as the representative.

“Who the hell are you looking for, and why?”

“I’m looking for someone because I have business to attend to.”

I responded to his casual language with equal casualness, and the atmosphere around us grew tense.

They glared at me with murderous looks that could probably kill a regular person, but I returned their stares nonchalantly.

“I’m here to see Ion Graham.”

“Your sister doesn’t meet with anyone. Just scram if you don’t want to get hurt.”

“……”

This is gonna be tough.

It wouldn’t be hard to overpower them all right now, but since I had already used my fists enough to get this far, and considering the purpose of my visit, it was best to avoid overly aggressive actions.

So, instead of throwing punches, I crossed my arms and emanated a dark aura.

And I spoke with a cold tone.

“You’ll regret this.”

“Gulp!”

As my murderous intent overshadowed their threatening demeanor, the air around us became heavy.

Some men held their breath, their bodies stiffening with tension. They looked at me with a mix of fear in their eyes.

After a silent standoff, the tattooed man could no longer hold back and spoke.

“Alright! I get it! I’ll go ask her!”

“Hmm…”

As I withdrew my killing intent, the men around me hurriedly gasped for air.

The tattooed man clicked his tongue while looking at his subordinates and then went inside the brothel.

A moment later, the person who emerged from the building was not the tattooed man but a petite girl with braided brown hair and a face full of freckles.

Despite the incongruity of her playful smile in this environment, the freckled girl lifted her skirt hem and politely greeted me.

“Miss Silvia said she’ll see you. I’ll take you to her room.”

I nodded slightly, and the shocked gazes of the red-haired woman and those around her turned to me.

Following the girl inside the brothel, the place was noisy with alcohol, music, laughter, and mingling of men and women.

Even though it was an inappropriate environment for a little girl, the freckled girl seemed unfazed, as if she was already accustomed to the brothel’s scenery.

I deliberately didn’t look around and followed the girl to the designated location. After walking through a long hallway and climbing some stairs, we arrived at an opulent and luxurious bedroom situated on the top floor of the building.

Seeing a bed large enough for five people to roll around on, it was easy to guess what this room was used for.

I looked back at the girl with a questioning gaze, and the freckled girl responded with a hint of anticipation in her eyes and a beaming smile.

“She said to wait here. So, sir, I’ll take my leave now.”

When I showed no reaction, the girl looked a bit disappointed at first but then turned around with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

I called out to her back as she left the room.

“Silvia, how long are you planning to stay like that?”

At my words, the girl froze in her tracks.

Once she turned around, she wore a smile that was deadly and enchanting, quite unlike the face of a freckled country girl.

“So, you knew all along?”

The innocent smile of the country girl had vanished.

In her place was the former member of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, a highly skilled assassin who once aimed for my life, now known as the queen of the dark alley.

“When did you find out? Hmm, no, wait. Of course, you would know from the beginning, Ion. I wanted to see your surprised face, but your expression hasn’t changed at all.”

After asking herself a question, Silvia maintained the appearance of the freckled girl, sitting playfully on the edge of the bed.

Without any chairs or sofas in this spacious room other than the bed, I leaned against the wall and responded nonchalantly.

“You’re still as mischievous as ever.”

“I just wanted to verify something. The fact that you recognized my disguise right away means you really are Ion, aren’t you?”

“Did you suspect me?”

“Of course. You know my situation well enough, don’t you? The higher the position, the more cautious I need to be. Transforming into familiar faces to catch people off guard is the assassination technique I excel at.”

Silvia sat on the bed, hugging one leg to her chest, and spoke with a captivating smile.

“I always find it fascinating. How do you manage to see through my disguises?”

Instead of explaining how I noticed the exaggerated reaction from everyone around her when she first revealed herself, how I couldn’t hear any footsteps of her walking like an assassin, and the unique, subtle habits I had picked up over the time knowing her, I simply replied nonchalantly.

“Instinct.”

“Is that so? Your instincts are still on point.”

Silvia’s eyes narrowed in delight as she chuckled softly.

“You wouldn’t come all this way just to see me without a reason… You must have a favor to ask?”

I nodded slightly.

“Don’t ask why, just help me find a person.”

“A person? Who?”

I paused for a moment, contemplating whether discussing Ella with Silvia was the right choice.

However, whether I introduced an informant through her or talked directly with Silvia, it would eventually reach her ears that I was looking for Ella. After all, Silvia was a major player in this dark alley.

So, I began to recount Ella’s details. Blonde hair, blue eyes, left the village twenty years ago with a mercenary group, and although she said she was heading to the capital, it’s possible she was actually heading to the Ionia Kingdom.

At that, Silvia could not hide her intrigued expression and let out a meaningful smile.

“You’re looking for a woman? Hmm, who could it be? Don’t tell me the Faceless Hero had a first love?”

“I told you not to ask why.”

“…Oh my, that’s scary. You really are frightening; can you stop looking at me like that?”

Silvia let out a light laugh, shaking her head as she showed a look of discontent.

“Twenty years ago, and in the Ionia Kingdom, too… You know there’s nothing left of that place, right?”

“I have no one else to trust with this. Is it impossible?”

“It’s not impossible, but…”

“Then that’s fine. I’ll pay whatever you need.”

Silvia lowered her head and briefly fell silent.

Then, after deep contemplation, she spoke cautiously.

“I don’t need money; could you do me a small favor instead?”

 

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