The carriage stopped in front of the Adventurers' Guild.
Higashino Makoto jumped off the carriage, stood in front of the guild, and looked up at the building.
The two-story stone building had white lime plaster on its exterior walls, but the plaster had peeled off, revealing the dark gray stones underneath.
The gate was made of wood, and the brass door knocker on it was rusted, giving it a dark green sheen.
A wooden sign hangs at the entrance, bearing the words "Ri Yestage Adventurers' Guild".
Illya stood beside him, her long, silvery-white hair swaying gently in the afternoon breeze, her purple dress standing out starkly against the dusty street.
"Big brother, is this the Adventurers' Guild?"
"Right."
"It looks so old."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto stepped forward and pushed open the door.
The guild hall appeared more spacious than the outside. A dozen or so tables were scattered throughout the hall, with a few adventurers sitting here and there.
Their equipment varied greatly; some wore leather armor, some wore chainmail, and some wore only a tattered cloth garment.
Their expressions varied; some were drinking, some were chatting, some were dozing off, and some were staring blankly at the task board on the wall.
The air was thick with the smells of ale, sweat, and leather, and the cacophony of voices echoed beneath the low ceiling, creating a buzzing white noise.
Higashino Makoto walked to the counter.
Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman with her hair tied up in a bun and a professional smile on her face. She wore a blue uniform with an Adventurers' Guild badge pinned to her chest.
"Sir, are you here to register as an adventurer or to accept a quest?"
"Accept the mission."
Higashino Makoto said.
The middle-aged woman took a thick booklet from under the counter, opened it, and placed it on the counter.
All the quests are here. You can choose a quest that suits your level.
Higashino Makoto didn't look at that booklet.
Are there any missions related to "Eight Fingers"?
The middle-aged woman's smile froze for a moment.
"Eight... Eight Fingers?"
"Yes, Eight Fingers."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
Eight Fingers is the criminal organization in the Re-Estize Kingdom.
It is said that the underworld, which dominates the Re-Estize Kingdom, controls everything in the Re-Estize Kingdom.
Nobles associated with this organization were numerous throughout the Re-Estize Kingdom, and the influence even extended to the royal family.
Of course, being easily destroyed by Ainz in the original work is nothing to Higashino Makoto.
I just wanted to take a look; after all, I hadn't seen anything like this in other countries before, so I was a little curious.
The middle-aged woman's expression changed.
"Sir... I don't quite understand what you're saying..."
"You don't understand?"
"I... I don't know..."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"Then could you ask someone who knows for me?"
He took out a steel plaque from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
Back in the Holy Kingdom, after defeating the demi-human army, Higashino Makoto easily obtained the identity badge, symbolizing the highest honor for adventurers, from the Adventurers' Guild there.
The middle-aged woman's eyes widened.
"This... this is..."
"You don't recognize the badge of a Steel-grade adventurer?"
Higashino Makoto said.
"Know."
The middle-aged woman's hands were trembling.
She picked up the sign, examined it carefully, then put it down and took a deep breath.
"Mr. Higashino... please wait a moment..."
She turned and went into the back room, the sound of the door closing echoing in the empty hall.
Illya stood next to Higashino Makoto, tilting her head as she looked at him.
Big brother, what is that "Eight Fingers"?
"A criminal organization."
What is a criminal organization?
It's like bad people getting together, helping and protecting each other.
"What bad thing did you do?"
"Smuggling, drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder—they do everything."
Illya blinked.
"Then what's the difference between them and Orc?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"The difference is that Orc eat people to fill their stomachs, while Eight Fingers harms people for money."
Illya tilted her head.
"Then who's worse?"
After thinking for a moment, Higashino Makoto came to a conclusion.
"They're all bad. But Orc are purely bad, Eight Fingers is disgustingly bad."
Illya nodded, as if she understood.
"So, big brother is going to deal with them?"
"Let's see how it goes."
Higashino Makoto leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
"Let's see just how bold they are."
Not long after, the middle-aged woman came out of the back room.
A man was following behind her.
He was in his fifties, with gray hair, a thin face, and a hint of weariness in his gray eyes.
He was wearing a gray robe with a gold badge pinned to his chest.
That's the insignia of the upper echelons of the Adventurers' Guild.
"Sir."
The middle-aged woman stepped aside to make room for her.
"This is our guild's vice president."
The vice president walked up to Higashino Makoto, stopped, and looked at him with his gray eyes.
"Sir, would you like to take on a mission related to Eight Fingers?"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
The vice president was silent for a moment.
"Sir, you know what Eight Fingers are, right?"
"Know."
"Then you should know that those who oppose Eight Fingers never have a good ending."
"Know."
Higashino Makoto was somewhat impatient, which was different from his "Silver Paladin" persona.
"I told you, I want to take on a mission."
Higashino Makoto interrupted him.
"Do you have it?"
The vice president stared at him for a long time.
Then he sighed.
"Have."
He took a document from under the counter and placed it on the counter.
"But this is no ordinary mission. This is a 'special quest.' Only adventurers of the Fine Steel rank are qualified to accept it."
Higashino Makoto picked up the document and opened it.
Several lines of text were written on it--
"Commission Content: Investigate the activities of the 'Eight Fingers' criminal organization in the Royal Capital, collect evidence, and assist the Re-Estize Kingdom in its crackdown."
Client: The Royal Family of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
Compensation: Negotiable.
Danger level: Unknown.
Note: This task may result in the client's death. Please consider carefully before accepting it.
Higashino Makoto closed the document.
"I'll take it."
The vice president looked at him, a complex light flashing in his gray eyes.
"Sir, wouldn't you like to think about it?"
"Unnecessary."
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and to the point.
After a moment's consideration, the vice president ultimately chose not to say anything more.
"Sir, I can give you the task, but I have one condition."
"Explain."
"If you encounter danger, retreat immediately and do not be reckless."
Higashino Makoto looked at him for two seconds.
"Good."
The vice president nodded, took out a piece of parchment from under the counter, wrote a few lines on it, stamped it with the company seal, and handed it to Higashino Makoto.
"This is a mission manual. With this, you can mobilize some resources from the adventurers' guilds in the Re-Estize Kingdom —intelligence, supplies... but there are limits, so don't abuse it."
Higashino Makoto took the mission assignment, folded it neatly, and put it in his pocket.
Thanks.
"You're welcome."
The vice president shook his head.
"Sir, I'll say one last thing. 'Eight Fingers' is no ordinary criminal organization. Their influence has infiltrated every corner of the Re-Estize Kingdom. You alone, I'm afraid..."
"I am not alone."
Higashino Makoto glanced at Illya.
She's with me.
The vice president looked at the little girl with long silver hair, a purple dress, and crimson eyes, and his lips twitched slightly.
"She... she..."
"She's very strong."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"He might even be a better fighter than your Re-Estize Kingdom's Warrior Captain."
The vice president's eyes widened.
What did you say?
I said she's a very good fighter.
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the door.
"Let's go, Illya."
"Here you are, big brother."
Illya lifted her skirt and followed.
The two walked out of the Adventurers' Guild, sunlight shining on them and casting their shadows on the stone path.
The vice president stood behind the counter, watching their backs, his gray eyes filled with confusion.
"That little girl... she's even stronger than the Warrior Captain?"
He shook his head.
"Impossible..."
But he didn't know that nothing is impossible in this world.
Especially when that dark-haired man appeared.
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Higashino Makoto walked ahead, with Illya beside him.
Her long, silvery-white hair swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, and her purple dress stood out starkly against the dusty street.
"Big brother."
"Um."
Where do we go next?
"Let's find a place to stay first, then we'll go sightseeing."
Where to go?
"The streets and alleys of the Royal Capital."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"Take a look at this city."
Illya tilted her head.
Higashino Makoto stopped and looked at the alleyway leading into the depths of the Royal Capital.
The alley was very narrow, only wide enough for two people to pass side by side. The walls on both sides were covered with moss, and the stone slabs on the ground were uneven, accumulating sewage and garbage.
An indescribable smell filled the air.
It smells like decay.
He stepped into the alley.
Illya followed behind him, her long, silvery-white hair gleaming faintly in the dim alley.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"What do you think is 'inside' this city like?"
Higashino Makoto paused for a moment, recalling the information that the Doppelganger and the Shadow Demon had given him.
"I'm not entirely sure, but based on the information I've received, it's terrible."
He said.
"It's dirty, it smells bad, it's disgusting."
Illya blinked.
"Why did the older brother go to see it?"
"Because--"
Higashino Makoto paused.
"Only by seeing what disease and pests the worst flowers in the Garden have can we better choose the treatment method."
He continued walking, his footsteps echoing in the narrow alley.
Illya followed behind him, her crimson eyes gleaming with a certain light in the dim light.
She didn't understand what her older brother was saying.
But she knew one thing—
Wherever her older brother went, she went too.
Even in the darkest, dirtiest, smelliest, and most disgusting places.
She went too.
Because the older brother was there.