Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 582 (Part 2)



582 (Part 2)

“[No I just arrived to confirm the traces. It’s strange that there were no significant traces so I’m reporting it.]

[There were no traces…?]

This means that no corpses were found.

It suggests a level of erasure so clean that even the most renowned individuals in the world could not detect it.

‘Who could it be?’

Who could it be or where could it be?

To be an assassin in Henan where there is a guild it would be impossible unless one were an extraordinary assassin.

I was a bit curious.

[Do you have any guesses?]

[I’m currently assessing it.]

Even though I hadn’t said anything they were already gathering information.

As expected they were the best assassins of the Central Plains.

[Please give me a hint when you find out.]

[Yes. I will definitely find out.]

There was no need to be so certain… Well good things are good.

I nodded without expressing any particular negativity.

After finishing the conversation with the informant I looked straight ahead.

In the distance the building of the Baekhwa Trading Company began to come into view.

Was it because we were talking while walking? It felt like we arrived too quickly.

Hmm what should I do? Should I stall for a bit before going? Just as I was pondering this.

“Wh-what should we do Young Master?”

Dang So-yeol’s voice trembled with a hint of anxiety.

What’s wrong with her?

“I-I haven’t bought the gift yet…!”

Huh?

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“What gift?”

“The gift for Madam….”

“Why are you preparing that?”

I asked in disbelief and Dang So-yeol looked at me as if she couldn’t understand why I didn’t get it.

“I couldn’t prepare it last time because it was sudden… but this time is different!”

“No I mean why are you preparing it at all?”

Sudden or not.

What’s the need to prepare a gift?

I couldn’t understand at all and just as I was about to ask Dang So-yeol for her reasoning.

She had suddenly disappeared from my side.

What? Where did she go?

Was it because she learned martial arts from the Shadow King? It was hard to sense her presence.

“Young Master!”

As I looked around Dang So-yeol reappeared.

“What’s going on?”

I had to widen my eyes at her.

She was holding something in her hand.

What is that?

“Flowers?”

A few bright flowers mixed with white and yellow.

I wondered where she had gotten those from and then I noticed a flower shop behind her.

A place that sells flowers for money Henan really has everything.

When you go to the mountains they just pile up. And here they sell them for money.

I thought it was a rather useless product.

“…Did you really buy that?”

“I-I thought I should at least give you this.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes.”

“What am I supposed to do with flowers? It’s not money.”

I couldn’t believe such a useless gift existed and as I said this Dang So-yeol’s expression changed oddly.

“Young Master… if you say that somewhere you’ll get hit on the back.”

“Who would hit me? I’d end up bending over.”

“…”

Would it just be bending over?

I could make it into the shape of a bird or a bear and it could look pretty too.

‘Well if she already bought it there’s nothing to be done.’

I felt a bit regretful about spending money on flowers but since it was Dang So-yeol’s money it didn’t matter.

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The problem was.

‘I don’t think Madam would like it very much.’

If the Madam I knew were to receive flowers she wouldn’t be the type to be pleased.

But my expectation was shattered.

“Oh my.”

Seeing Madam accept the flowers and smile it crumbled into pieces.

“…Oh my….”

Madam carefully accepted the flowers and smiled.

Yes she was smiling.

‘…Does Madam even smile?’

It wasn’t a bright smile but it was definitely a smile.

To smile like that just for receiving flowers was quite surprising.

I had simply handed over the flowers because Dang So-yeol was hesitating.

In a hurry I was about to say that it was from Dang So-yeol but then.

“I bought it together with the Young Master…!”

Dang So-yeol jumped in and interrupted.

What did we buy together?

‘When did I buy it?’

I had scolded her for even thinking of buying such a thing.

As I was about to correct her that Dang So-yeol had bought it alone.

Squeeze.

“…!?”

Dang So-yeol pinched my thigh with an invisible hand.

It didn’t hurt much but I could tell that this action was meant to silence me.

What’s going on?

I didn’t know what it was but I decided to keep my mouth shut for now.

If I opened my mouth here Dang So-yeol would probably make a ghostly expression.

“…Thank you….”

Madam who had been looking at the flowers fondly spoke.

I had never seen such a righteous look in her eyes before.

I had just given her flowers.

“…They’re really pretty….”

“I hope you like them.”

“Treasure them.”

Her words seemed to imply that she liked them and I scratched my cheek.

Seeing that Dang So-yeol looked at me.

Her gaze was filled with the words ‘See? I was right.’

‘Indeed.’

What’s so special about those flowers that she likes them so much?

I didn’t quite understand but I just nodded.

There must be a reason I didn’t know.

While Madam was gently touching the flowers.

I asked her.

“I heard you called for me for a reason.”

As I subtly tried to get to the point for some reason Dang So-yeol’s grip on me tightened.

What’s wrong?

I was starting to feel a bit of pain as her grip became more serious.

What could possibly be bothering her?

“Oh I see. I should talk about that.”

Madam nodded at my words.

Yet she still held onto the flowers.

“The reason I called you is quite simple.”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember when I said I would have a favor to ask of you?”

“I remember.”

It was when I came to Henan and visited the Baekhwa Trading Company.

Madam had told me that she would have a favor to ask of me soon.

‘Is this about that?’

I was curious about what kind of favor she wanted to ask but I was hearing it sooner than I expected.

As I listened attentively Madam continued.

“It’s about a job that has come to our Trading Company.”

“You mean a job for the Baekhwa Trading Company.”

“Yes. Originally it was a job that the Murim Alliance should handle. But they wanted to connect directly with our Trading Company.”

A job that the Murim Alliance should have handled?

‘So the Baekhwa Trading Company is taking it on.’

I didn’t quite understand.

Why would the Baekhwa Trading Company take on a job that the guild should have handled?

The tasks of the guild and the Trading Company rarely overlapped.

Moreover.

‘The fact that they could change it because the other party wanted it….’

Even if it was a job that the guild should have done.

The fact that the other party didn’t want it means they had the power to do so.

The guild wouldn’t have just accepted it without a fight.

“Where exactly…?”

As I asked with curiosity.

Madam still holding the flowers spoke to me.

“The North Sea Ice Palace.”

“…What?”

A somewhat unexpected yet familiar name popped up.

The North Sea Ice Palace…? Did I hear that wrong? Why did that suddenly come up?

“The North Sea Ice Palace?”

I asked Madam again filled with questions.

“Yes.”

Madam affirmed firmly.

Before I could even process the sudden word I had to frown at what she added next.

“It’s about the young lady from there.”

Something about it.

It looked like a troublesome matter at first glance.”