Legendary potion

He handed Grisel's head to Malik, who agreed to redeem the bounty for him at City Hall.

After collecting the remaining eighty silver coins and 1,000 experience points, Renato once again politely declined Malik's invitation to join the Iron Fist Gang and left the Iron Wheat tavern.

Perly followed behind him. Normally, the little mage would have been beside herself with joy after getting so much money.

But now she seemed distracted and said nothing.

"Perly, don't worry about the job. Surely you know how strong I am?"

Renato's teasing brought Perly out of her daze. Her face was full of worry as she whispered:

"But, but, that's..."

"I know who we're going up against, and I know what it means." Renato paused. "It's like assassinating an imperial envoy in the Empire, or challenging a tower master in Spatia, right?"

Renato had exaggerated to frighten the little mage. This [quest] offered only 3,000 experience points, less than Lailas's "detective" commission. Judging by past experience, it certainly couldn't be a suicide mission.

Besides, the quest description explicitly stated that the old council speaker and the master assassin had reached some sort of understanding and were deliberately allowing people into the mansion.

Still, there were plenty of unknowns. Constructs, elemental creatures... it was bound to become a chaotic battle. Renato wasn't confident he could protect Perly in cramped rooms, and he had other considerations as well.

That legendary potion...

Renato suppressed the burning desire in his heart. Something like that couldn't be forced. Giving in to greed for something far beyond his strength would only cost him his life.

With that in mind, Renato continued:

"Perly, I know what will happen if I'm exposed taking on this sort of dirty work. You're already a fully fledged mage, with a secure place in the city. You don't need to risk your life with me..."

"I'm coming!" Perly snapped. "Don't even think about leaving me behind!"

"Why do you have to take such dangerous jobs on the side anyway, Renato? Don't we already have money? If you need more, just tell me. I'll lend it to you..."

Perly's complaints were perfectly reasonable, and Renato was momentarily at a loss for words.

He was a fugitive, a cultist marked by an evil god who couldn't afford to show his face, and the Harpers were hunting him. Now his pursuers had caught up, and he urgently needed to level up to grow stronger... how could he tell the little mage that?

And compared with the north, the Southern Principalities were riddled with the Harpers' informants. In some regions, they were even a legal organization with seats in parliament.

Even if he confessed, Perly, as a southerner, might well think a fugitive cultist like him was the one who deserved to die.

This world really is upside down, Renato sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Fried City was still reasonably sane. At least its City Council regarded the Harpers as terrorists.

Faced with the little mage's questions, Renato could only fob her off for now with vague talk of making a fortune.

That left Perly deeply dissatisfied. Scowling, she angrily kicked a pebble off the roadside.

Despite their many adventures together, Renato still couldn't stake his life on someone else's understanding.

Perhaps he couldn't truly trust anyone in this world.

His guilt toward Perly reminded him of Lailas. Perhaps that half-elf, like him, had troubles she couldn't put into words.

Kira and Renato had agreed to meet that day in a secluded alley off Old Alley Street.

At dusk, a noise came from atop the wall, and Renato knew the female thief had arrived.

"Your sense of time seems rather different from everyone else's, Kira," Renato said bluntly, watching the thief brush dirt off her trouser legs. "Does 'afternoon' mean after sunset to you?"

"Oh, come on. I went to pick some things up and got delayed a little. Here, I brought the gear you wanted."

Renato took the parcel and opened it on the spot. Inside were two metal masks, two black cloaks, one large and one small, and a small pot of paint.

Uniforms for the guild's outside contractors, free of charge.

Magical light rose from Perly's hands and enveloped the items. A moment later, she shook her head at Renato, indicating there was nothing wrong.

"And who is this lady mage?" Kira winked at Renato, apparently hoping for an introduction.

"You can call me Renata, thief."

That was the alias Perly had chosen out of spite: the feminine version of Renato's name. His mouth twitched, and he could only introduce her:

"My companion, a genuine mage. She'll be taking part in the operation with me."

Even after spending an entire day on it, Renato had failed to convince Perly to stay out of the operation.

Then we'll go together. Having her provide magical support from the rear won't hurt, Renato thought helplessly. He would just have to be careful not to use Shadow Shield in front of her.

He didn't want to reveal the forbidden knowledge he had learned to Perly, even though he knew it would come to light sooner or later.

"Tomorrow, a Tongue wants to meet you first and see what you're made of."

Kira handed over a sheet of parchment with a location marked on it.

"Brother, I'll just treat you as Grisel. After that little back-and-forth last night, we've got something of a connection, so I'll give you a bit of inside information." Kira leaned against the wall, looking hesitant. "Normally, anyone who wants to become one of the guild's 'cleaners'-an outsourced hire like you-has to pass one test after another and prove their loyalty."

"I thought for sure you'd get stuck at that stage, but this time the Tongues seem to have gone mad. They're taking anyone. I heard it's because the higher-ups are pushing them hard..." Kira lowered her voice. "Apparently, Master Echo himself is pushing this job forward. He's in a real hurry."

"It's so strange. You might not understand, but I've been in the guild for almost ten years, and aside from punishing traitors, I've never seen the master issue a commission."

"If something's strange, there's something fishy going on. And if something's fishy, there's danger."

Fortunately, Renato had already learned about the legendary potion and the deal from the [Adventurer's Guide]. Otherwise, he would have been just as baffled.

"Brother, I'm risking my neck telling you all this," Kira said, changing tack. "Every Quickhands has to take part in this job. If I get into trouble, remember to give a girl a hand."

"I will, Kira," Renato promised casually. "If you get into trouble, I'll get you out."

I'll get your corpse out and squeeze whatever value is left out of it.

Renato calculated inwardly. As it happened, the Adventurers' Guild had a quest to wipe out the Thieves' Guild. Bringing back a few dead people's heads would let him complete it along the way.

"Brother, I trust you."

Kira smiled brightly, then continued:

"When you meet the Tongue tomorrow, make absolutely sure you don't mention the Thieves' Guild."

After listening to their chatter for so long, Perly couldn't help asking:

"Why? We've already come this far. Is there still any need for secrecy?"

Kira gave the mage a strange look and asked in surprise:

"Secrecy? What are you talking about?"

"The Tongues and the master really hate the word 'thief,' because that's what outsiders call us. The guild's actual name is the Assassins' Guild."

"And especially don't call Master Echo a master thief to his face. He really will kill people for using that word!"

Perly stared at the parchment, suspicion showing on her face:

"Why does this location look so familiar? Wait, isn't this a general store in the outer city?" Cold light sprang from her fingertip as she pointed at the thief. "Are you trying to fool us?"

"Wait, wait, wait! I'm not lying!" Kira hurriedly raised her hands in surrender. "That's Petro the Tongue's shop. You might even know him."

When the mage lowered her hand, Kira breathed a sigh of relief and planted her hands on her hips, speechless.

"So you don't know anything about the guild? And you still dared to take a job from us?"

"The Tongues handle intelligence. They don't work on the front lines, and their hands are perfectly clean. All their businesses are legal. There's nothing they need to hide. What were you imagining?"