Member Administration

"Excuse me, do you know where we can find Lieutenant Golmer?"

Locus and Genken were standing inside the Mastermind Guild member administration building, with Locus talking to a female receptionist in hopes of acquiring information about this Lieutenant Golmer.

Actually, Genken had told him what to say. Genken wanted the guild to think that Locus pulled the strings, which made sense. After all, Locus was the one who had brought up the idea of fighting the guild.

"May I ask what your relationship with Lieutenant Golmer is?"

"We have some business-related things to settle."

"I'm sorry, but you have to be more specific. Otherwise, I don't have permission to disclose any information regarding Lieutenant Golmer."

Locus handed her a card he got from Genken. It looked fancy with its mattblack body and some golden stripes.

There were golden letters on it that just said 'VIP+'.

The receptionist's eyes opened a little wider.

"Apologies, I'll see to it that you get your requested information as soon as possible."

She quickly searched for a book from the shelf behind her and searched for a certain page.

Genken inconspicuously took back his card.

"What the hell is this card? It's like she swapped with someone else."

"Depending on your field of work, you get certain authorities in the Mastermind Guild. Since I didn't officially quit, mine still work. Showing this card here basically means that every piece of information below a certain classification is accessible to me."

"That's one useful item you got there."

"This card is just the third out of six tiers for its type."

The receptionist turned around.

"I found it!"

She came back to the table that was separating them with the book in her hand.

"Lieutenant Golmer is currently not present. He's out on individual duty."

Genken whispered in Locus' ear.

"That means he's out on a mission he chose for himself."

"May I ask what this 'individual duty' is?"

"I'm sorry, but I do not have access to that information."

Genken whispered again.

"You don't always have to disclose what you're doing."

Locus thought for a second.

"Has he been to any small villages outside of the guild's territory lately?"

"I don't know about that. He has been on this individual mission for quite a while now. But he should be back tomorrow. I'll give you his address."

"Thank you very much for helping us out."

Locus and Genken left the counter after she handed them a little note.

"What do you make of this?"

"It certainly looks like this Lieutenant has destroyed this village without notifying the guild. Maybe that High Commander had done the same. That would certainly explain why he just showed up in another guild's territory."

"By the way, how do we want to 'make Lieutenant Golmer pay'?"

"I think this quest has found the right adventurer. After all, you know how our employer feels. Just imagine this Lieutenant as the High Commander who destroyed your village."

Genken pointed at the note in Locus' hand.

"How about we pay Lieutenant Golmer's home a little visit?"

Locus smiled.

"I'd like that."

"Oh, there is something else. What will you do if either the Lieutenant or the High Commander have a family?"

"What?"

The thought never occurred to Locus. But now that it did, he didn't like it.

"It doesn't matter. If they destroy other families, they have to be prepared to have their own destroyed as well. Of course, I'll only punish the wrongdoer."

Genken eyed Locus carefully.

"If you say so... But always remember: Death itself isn't painful. Losing someone you love hurts you more than being lost. Could you do this to their families?"

"I won't stop now. Not after coming this far."

"If your conscience can take it..."

"I don't care if it can. It will have to, whether it wants to or not."

"No! It must be able to keep up with what you do! Otherwise, your smile will die."

"My true smile died along with my family."

"No, it didn't. One's true smile can't be killed by anyone but oneself. And once it's dead, you'll never fully get it back."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"The longing for revenge can make you blind. On your way to salvation, you might fall down a cliff."

"If that is the shortest way, I'll be happy to jump down myself."

"Then you're not just blind but also a fool."

"I couldn't care less."

"And that's the danger of revenge. I hope you'll change your mind."