Where people and money congregate, there will naturally be entertainment districts for people to enjoy after work.
　The population of Royal Capital Gran is about 300,000. When that many people are drinking and tasting alcohol, the scale of the entertainment district is considerable.

　The entertainment district in the north of the new town of the capital is off the main road, but it is bustling with more than a hundred bars of various sizes.
　Most of them are also businesses, and many of them are also inns and eateries near the main street. It is no secret to those who live in the capital that the closer one gets to the back streets, the more the bars with s*x and gambling establishments as their back business increase.

　The bars on the back streets were only open at night, but some of the bars near the main street were open during the day.
　Many of them are open from lunchtime when they serve as cafeterias, and bars that serve as inns are open all day long.

　Most of the people who would roll a kudzu in such a tavern in the middle of the day would be bastards.
　The seemingly serious-looking bastard who skips work to drink.
　The mercenary bastard who spends a lot of money because he's feeling a little warm in his pocket.
　Bastards who are soaked in booze from last night that they look like alcoholics instead of hungover.

　Yasa Otoko, looking around the bar full of these bastards, is another bastard.
　The only thing that sets him apart from the other bastards is that waiting in the bar is part of his job.

'Oh, Cesare. Thanks for the good news the other day.

　At that moment, a figure came down from upstairs and spoke to the Yuu-man, who was sitting at the counter, chomping on the fruit water.

　The man, called Cesare, stopped moving at a distance where his mouth might or might not touch the glass, and returned the words without turning around.

'I told you.　They said it was a small price to pay for three silver coins.

Yeah, you got some good information for this one. This time.

　The voice says with emphasis that this time.
　He cites that Cesare had been "wasted" on information that he had sold before.

　In Cesare's opinion, that was just plain wrong.
　Freshness is the key to information. It's faster than the small fish in the harbor, let alone the meat and vegetables.
　Information that was valuable a few hours ago can become worthless in a matter of seconds.

　The information that Cesare provided to him was certainly worth the price of the information.
　The reason why he didn't make use of it is because he acted too late. It's not right to take a bite out of Cesare.

　However, it would be impossible to ask a mere mercenary to understand that.
　They are all about results. If they make a profit as a result of the information they get, it's good information, and if they don't make any money, it's bad information.

　To tell the truth, it would be foolish to deal with them, but mercenaries are not only valuable providers of information, but also buyers of important information.
　He couldn't take an outright attitude.

''If you have any more good information, I'll ask you for it.

　The mercenary man said that and walked out.

　In contrast, Cesare's one didn't call out to him and quietly tipped his glass.
　He doesn't have any affection to sprinkle on anyone but the paying customers.

　At this time of day, hardly anyone comes in until lunchtime.
　And there are only a few people who talk to Cesare, who sits at the counter.
　If there are any, they are either "former customers" or "future customers," as I mentioned earlier.

　The people who have business with Cesare in the daytime are those who want to buy information.
　Cesare himself was dedicated to selling information at this time of day.

　It was only when the night widened that he would stock up on information.
　He would make small talk with the light-tongued mercenaries and peddlers in the tavern and cleverly extract information from them.
　He would integrate the information he obtained, analyze it, and sell it to those who needed it at a price.

　Cesare was one of a race of people known as informants.

　However, he did not sell information to anyone.
　The word "information" could put one's self in danger, depending on the content of the information.

　That's why they don't act outwardly, but rather through people to get customers.
　The roots for this are all over the place.
　The master who runs this bar was one of them.

　There are many people who come to the tavern in search of information.
　If it's not enough to rely on an informer, they are turned into an extra income for the master in the form of tips.
　When someone comes looking for information that cannot be obtained with a tip, an informant like Cesare comes into play.

'Cesare, you have a visitor.

　The master inside the counter called out to me.

　Cesare's head moves his head as if he is annoyed.
　A boy dressed like a mercenary is standing in front of the master across the counter.
　He is about fourteen or five years old. He has a violet-colored cloth wrapped around his forehead and is dressed in a wisteria-colored robe.
　He has dark eyes, black hair, and a youthful face that is probably just coming of age, but his standing has the dignity of a skilled mercenary.

''You're an informant?''

Yes,

　Upon receiving the affirmation, the boy takes one seat away from Cesare and sits down.
　When the master placed the fruit wine in front of the boy, even though he hadn't ordered it, the boy took three copper coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter.

　Heh, it doesn't seem to be as run-of-the-mill as it looks, Cesare decided.
　With a satisfied look on his face, the master pocketed the coppers and took his distance from Cesare and the others. This would mean that the mediation to the informant was done correctly.

　After confirming this, Cesare opens his mouth.

'I am Cesare the informer.

......

...... Oh my goodness. Didn't we teach you that when people call you by your name, it's polite to call them back?

You want to know my name?

Trust is only built when we identify ourselves to each other, right?

"If you want to know my name, I'll tell you, but ......, how much are you willing to pay for it?

　Cesare's eyes narrowed in a swoop.
　It had been a long time since a mercenary had tried to put a price on his name.

''So, what information would you like to share with me?''

　He starts talking about business as if nothing had happened.

'It's about a woman who is said to haunt the streets near Trier.

'Oh, that one: ....... I'd say two silver coins, but I'll take five coppers.

　The information the boy wants to know seems to be about a mysterious female mercenary who has been appearing in Tria for a while now.

'It's going to be a lot cheaper, isn't it?'

'That's because it used to be worth two silver coins. But now it's not worth that much, that's all.

　Perhaps the boy was planning to challenge the female mercenaries, Cesare decided.

　But according to the information Cesare had obtained, the female mercenaries should have already disappeared.
　There was no information that the female mercenaries had appeared on the streets since they were invited to Marquis Tria's mansion.

Okay, I'll take it.

　Tucking the copper coin the boy had placed on the counter in his pocket, Cesare spoke up with information about the female mercenary.
　Where and when the female mercenaries appear, and when they first appeared. Her appearance, her fighting style, and her record of unbeatenness on the streets, information about the people she has challenged so far. What no one knows about the woman's purpose. Numerous rumors that speculated on the woman's identity.

　Until a month or so ago, it was information she sold to a bunch of mercenaries.
　However, all of them were already dead information since the woman had disappeared from sight.
　Now, Cesare thinks it's not worth a single silver coin.

'After all, they say that she has not been seen for a month or so, patting herself on the back.

　When he finished speaking, Cesare felt uncomfortable with the boy's expression.
　I thought that he would be disappointed that he had paid a useless information fee, but he looked unconcerned.
　In fact, he even looked disinterested.
　However, it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't be interested in the information they heard after paying for it themselves.

''Can't you get a hold of the woman after that?

　The boy asked for further information.

'There's an extra charge from here on out,'

How much is it?

'Yes, ......, five silver coins.'

　Apparently, the boy's obsession with female mercenaries is different from other mercenaries.
　Feeling that, Cesare bullishly offers an additional information fee.

　Without moving a single eyebrow when he hears the amount, the boy takes out a silver coin from his pocket and places it on the counter.

'About half a month ago, I heard there was a disturbance of grinders appearing in the grasslands west of Trier. Have you heard of the ...... grinder?

Yeah, I know.

''I see. As for that grinder, the territorial army promptly dispatched a strike force, and it was quickly eliminated. And it is said that a female mercenary participated in that defeating party. Moreover, I heard that she made quite a great achievement.

　The boy nudges the conversation with just a glance.

'I've only just gotten the information from here, and the other informants don't know it yet either.

　Cesare smiles and hides his voice.

''Apparently, that female mercenary. It seems that she had a dispute with a Tria guard about five days ago and has disappeared since that day.'

Don't you know where they went?

It's still ....... To begin with, the nature of the dispute raises questions about the credibility of the--

　Cesare was suspicious as he was about to say it.
　Normally, after listening to what he had just said, he would be interested in 'what is the nature of the struggle'.
　Maybe the only thing that matters to the boy is the whereabouts of the woman, and he is not interested in the events that took place in the meantime.

　Indeed, even if he was asked to know the details of the dispute, Cesare didn't have that much information in his hands either.
　What is known is that the Marquis had ordered the capture of the woman, the reason for her capture was for the alleged injury to the soldiers of the territory's army and the kidnapping of an infant, the capture failed and the woman was missing, the black-haired, black-eyed boy who was constantly working with her before and after that. --.

　He gasped slightly as the thought came to that point.

　Cesare closed his eyes so as not to reveal his inner turmoil. As if to hide it from the dark-eyed, black-haired boy in front of him.

'What's wrong?'

　The boy asks Cesare, who is at a loss for words.

'...... No, I'd like to check a few pieces of information before I tell you, so would you give me a day's time?'

I don't need you to go that far.

'That's not how it works. I'll make sure it works for five silver coins. I'm sure we'll be done with the confirmation by tomorrow morning.

All right. I'll wait here before lunch tomorrow.

　With that, the boy goes up the stairs, and when he reappears a few minutes later, he says to his master

'I'll be out till night.'

I'll wait. Dinner will be served after the evening bell. It's fine until the date changes, but after that it's an extra charge.

Okay.

　Lightly holding up one hand, the boy left the tavern.

'Is that guest staying in the room upstairs?'

　Everyone knows that the second floor of this tavern is an inn.

'Oh, what about it?'

What's your name?

　Naturally, the boy's name is listed in the inn book.

　If it were up to the task, it would be an act of faith for the person who runs the inn to leak it to an unrelated person.
　But Cesare knew that this master is a person who is vicious about money.

'...... one silver coin.'

　After a short silence, the master of the tavern tells him how much he wants.

''Isn't that too high?''

'It's a name my informant would go out of his way to want. It's worth it, isn't it?

''Oh dear, it's not good for amateurs to get greedy. Six copper coins.

'Who helped you get a client today?　Eight copper coins.

''I'm weak when you say that. Why don't you play your hand for seven copper coins?

All right.

　Taking the copper from Cesare, the master gingerly thrust it into his pocket.

'Well?　What is his name?

Wait for me. ......

　The Master pulled out his inn book and opened the page he had filled out this morning.
　After rubbing his eyes, which were getting a little old, he pointed to the name of the dark-haired boy when he checked in and mouthed it.

'Err, ....... Theoris, apparently.