Chapter 2017 - 13: Surrounded by Impasses

Elisa stepped in right after the Hailin Commerce Guild people entered the largest trading post in Orlenze.

Except for the guards at the entrance giving her night attire a couple more glances, she didn't attract much attention from others—these days, everyone wears all sorts of strange outfits, especially the Holy Chosen.

Two years ago, the Kingdom of Osh mandated a uniform for adventurers on the grounds of public decency, but instead of reducing the number of bizarre outfits, it resulted in an increased defiance among the Chosen, wearing even more outlandish costumes.

Eventually, the decree became obsolete, turning into a dead letter, with the Osh People being ridiculed by various countries during casual conversations for a long time.

Following this, Stargate Port posted a notice advising the Chosen to at least dress decently during adventures, which became a joke among adventurers for a while.

Elisa quickly walked into the trading post's hall, watching from afar as people of the Descendants of Flor, with dark expressions, entered a passageway.

Earlier in the elevator, she recognized the badge on their chests.

"Is this matter just going to end like this?"

Arguments came from that side; in fact, Elisa had heard them arguing all along the way.

"...Fine with the pirates, but even a small dinghy dared to challenge us?"

Miss Nightingale found it secretly amusing; the Seven Seas Traveler was their Lord Captain's precious baby—it might have been small, but certainly not a mere dinghy.

If their counterpart were present, he'd probably be fuming to the point of exploding right there, she imagined her Lord Captain's furious look, feeling quite entertained by the thought.

She had already decided to repeat the exact words to see the other side's reaction.

However, being part of the Seven Seas Travel Group, she felt somewhat disapproval hearing these words.

This bunch of arrogant people, she thought.

Because of the Blood Oath Alliance, people from Rain Listener naturally held a grudge against the Descendants of Flor, compounded by past events, making it impossible for her to have a favorable view of these people now.

The previous scene at the port had only reinforced this impression.

She turned around, pretending to stand in front of a market blackboard, while actually eavesdropping on the fragmented voices coming from there:

"Why are you all bickering, don't you think there's already too much going on?" came a somewhat gruff voice, "The boss hasn't even spoken yet, what are you all getting worked up for here?"

"Well then L boss, you make the call."

"Boss L, what do you think those guys are worth!?"

"If not for..."

Elisa curiously turned her head to see the Descendants of Flor all directing their gaze towards one person. She had already recognized this man as the leader among them, for while everyone else was chattering, he alone remained particularly calm.

Though he wasn't the tallest among them, his presence was the most noteworthy.

"Focus on the issue at hand," he said very calmly, "think about how to resolve things after the mission failure, venting anger on those people will do us no good."

As soon as he spoke, the others immediately quieted down, though none of their expressions were pleasant.

The man with the letter L gave everyone a glance and continued, "I had Cys stop you to make it clear what really matters—we must find out who seized the goods first and foremost."

"I don't need to stress how important this mission is to the guild, do I?"

Everyone looked at each other.

He paused, "If you want to vent, just find someone to investigate their background; it's not worth our time."

Elisa watched as the Descendants of Flor nodded, evidently convinced by his words.

That man then singled someone out, exchanged a few words, but from too far away for her to hear clearly what was said.

She saw that person quickly separate from the group and hurried over, brushing past her.

Elisa swiftly turned back, pretending to study the recent trading prices on the blackboard, thankfully, no one paid her, a little unseen, any mind.

Once the person walked away, Miss Nightingale glanced back in that direction, but only saw the others' backs disappearing deeper into the corridor.

The conversation from that direction also gradually faded, leaving her straining her ears and only vaguely catching words like pirates, goods, and Empire.

Elisa glanced around, instinctively wanting to follow, but was stopped just as she lifted her foot.

Stopping her were the guards stationed at the entrance.

"Ahead is the guild's private area," the guard suspiciously looked at her dressed in Nightingale's attire, "Miss, please don't proceed any further."

Elisa feigned ignorance and came up with a few excuses, trying to bluff her way through, but the guards remained unmoved.

Left with no choice, to avoid arousing suspicion, she had to retreat.

Pirates and important goods...

Elisa pondered for a moment but couldn't quite figure out what exactly the Descendants of Flor were up to; they seemed to have had bad luck—something valuable seemed to have fallen into the hands of the Sky Sea Pirates (Sky Pirates).

Though she was a bit curious about the goods, she realized it was ultimately none of her business, so she indulged in a small bit of schadenfreude quietly.

She stepped back, glanced once more in that direction, then silently picked up the Communication Crystal.

Although the pirate matters didn't directly concern them, it seemed these Descendants of Flor weren't planning to let them off so easily.