"From the looks of it, what they wanted was no small matter."
Dark pondered inwardly, then said, "Let's get straight to the point. Say what you came to say."
Upon hearing this, Aaron Rides could not help glancing once more at Aviva Julius.
The elderly half-fairy woman's expression was stiff; she was clearly extremely poor at asking others for favors.
Aaron Rides could only brace himself and speak up. "It's like this. Some members of our Cult encountered a unit led by a Valkyrie in the Royal Capital's West District. They were all arrested..."
"Wait, your Cult members were arrested? What does that have to do with me?" Dark interrupted halfway through.
Aaron Rides lowered his head, looking even more embarrassed. "But the one who arrested them was a Valkyrie-led..."
Dark smiled. "Elder Rides, you should know that the Valkyrie you usually refer to is Alvitr Saint Dimon—the kingdom's only duchess, one of the thirty-six councilors, and Minister of Kingdom Security—not specifically my mother. I have no authority to interfere with her administrative measures."
Aaron Rides's face instantly turned ashen.
But then Dark said, "Of course, I'm a tiny bit interested in why your Cult was arrested. If you're willing to reveal something, then I won't have treated you to tea tonight for nothing."
His voice was utterly even, with none of the so-called "interest" audible in it.
Nor did Aaron Rides truly believe that he was interested.
And he seemed to have caught the implication behind those words.
Aviva Julius beside him had clearly caught it as well, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
As a half-fairy hybrid, Aviva Julius was a born Fairy Type mage. Together with Aaron Rides, a veteran magister, she had confidence enough to rival most people.
But in this Duke's Mansion, they could