[145] Interested in the problem

Ren slept soundly on a simple bed in an inn in the city of Eks, while elsewhere, hundreds of kilometers away, Kiriya Asano was walking through the elegant courtyard of a noble's estate in the Viscount Vermount region. The air there was cool, spring flowers blooming along the iron fence adorned with carved swans, and their footsteps muffled by the white coral stones lining the path.

Beside him, Wendy—the cheerful, light-brown-haired adventurer girl—was leading the way as usual. She still wore her adventuring outfit: a light leather jacket, knife belt, and a short skirt with protective leggings. Kiriya himself had opted for a dark casual outfit that made him look like a mid-tier assassin—a long coat, half-hood, and black gloves.

"So…" Kiriya muttered, eyeing the grandeur of the mansion they were approaching, "This Madam Elanor… she's the sponsor for your pizza restaurant?"