"Orichalcum Rank Adventurer Alan, you have been summoned by Count Clesia."
Ever since the Cardinal was gone, there hadn't been any more assassins.
Feeling relieved, I stopped by the Adventurer's Guild in the Royal Capital to see if there were any quests available, and that's when the receptionist came trotting over to me on her own.
"I'm not sure what this is about, but..."
"Apparently, Count Clesia has been gathering fighting forces lately. You've been selected too — isn't that great!"
I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be good news.
That said, ignoring it would probably lead to even more trouble, so I decided to go check it out.
◇◇◇
At Count Clesia's residence, a bunch of tough-looking adventurers were milling about.
He really was gathering fighting forces, all right.
And then came the interview.
Believe it or not, the Count himself was conducting the interviews in person.
Was this going to be a stress interview?
Normally, when someone important gets involved, the best you'd expect is to be dealing with the butler or something.
"Oh, so you're Alan."
In the great hall I was led to, a middle-aged Count with blue hair was gazing at me with eyes brimming with magical power.
However, someone appeared to try and cut him off.
"My Lord, once again you've gone and done something without consulting me! Any further expenditure and the Count household's finances will—"
"Enough. What is your role as steward?! It is to assist me, is it not? Now leave this place!"
"But, My Lord…"
"This is the last time I'll ask. Leave this place. Your turn comes after this."
"…Ha, forgive my intrusion."
The steward withdrew.
"So, they say you single-handedly destroyed the Heidecker Band. I see great promise in your abilities. Won't you join my organization?"
The Count continued the conversation as though their earlier exchange had never happened, fixing him with eyes brimming with magical energy.
"You flatter me far too much—I'm afraid I must respectfully decline. I don't think I'd be able to live up to your expectations."
"No, surely you have grievances? With your current life, with the monarchy. Won't you join me and reshape this rotting world?"
The Count launched into an impassioned speech.
"I won't say I have *no* grievances…"
He did have one complaint: why was it that, despite not having the Detective skill or anything like it, trouble always found him wherever he went.
Where was he supposed to direct *that* frustration?
"Exactly! That's why you should join my organization. The only way to resolve your grievances is through force!"
"No, thank you. Saying you're dissatisfied with the monarchy—that's basically announcing your intent to commit terrorism. Not to mention, trying to recruit someone while actively using the Incite skill is genuinely terrifying."
Count Cleysia possessed the Incite skill.
Those who were successfully drawn in would end up in a brainwashed-like state, blindly obeying everything he said.
Of course, it didn't work on him.
Though, strangely, it hadn't worked on the steward earlier either.
The Count sighed with an air of exasperation.
"…Heh, foolish. You would have been happier just letting yourself be brainwashed. Come forth, my pawns."
Za-za-za — out they come, the vagrants. Or rather, so-called adventurers.
Every last one of them looked like trouble.
"Heh heh heh — Boss, we can mess this guy up, right?"
One of them — a mohawked man — licked his knife as he glared at me.
They looked like they'd throat-slash me even without being brainwashed... and honestly, were these clowns really okay?
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Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Fist God] [Spear God] [Scorching Magic] [Frost Magic] [Tempest Magic] [Stone-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Dark Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Thunder God Sword] [Gentleman Thief] [Ninja Master] [Seeker of Truth] [Supernatural Strength] [Pain Dampening] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Hyper Intuition] [Heaven's Gate] [Abyssal Contractor] [Magic Hand] [Treasure Search] [Temptation] [Eloquence] [Fortune's Favor] [Growth Speed ×10] [Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum
Thank you for reading!