Third Rate Villain Survival Guide-Chapter 26: Conspiracy

It’s been a week since I infiltrated into academy city, becoming a completely different person thanks to artifacts provided by Elena.

Well technically not really different person, i use my appearance from earth, just a boring guy you can find anywhere.

Today when I just entered the tavern to work, Murn called me into his room, he then handed me a small red box but did not tell me the contents.

"Bring this to Block 7B in the Lower Veil District. You’ll find a tailor shop with a broken window display, don’t go through the front. There’s a side alley, knock three times on the iron door. A man named Jorren will answer. Give it to him, say nothing else, and leave"

He said, looked at me long and hard, as if daring me to ask questions. And yet, I didn’t

Honestly it’s surprised me, so just only one week he finally give me direct order huh? Did he do an identity check on me? Elena probably set up my identity to look really clean, I need to thank her later.

I didn’t say anything, just grabbed it then walked out towards the lower district, even though Academy City is technically a safe place, it’s doesn’t mean every place here is safe so i need to be extra careful.

And unlike one week ago, security in this place is not as tight as it befo e, the bounty hunters who roam here are also not as many as before they probably think I already left this city, well who knows.

Honestly I kinda curious about the contents of this box, i sense some kind of mana inside this box, faint but at the same time somehow feel really strong too.

Is this some kind of magic stone? I wonder, who order this kind of item in lower district?

It’s take about 15 minutes from the tavern to the destination, surprisingly close huh.

I knock the iron door 3 times as directed by Murn, an old blind man opens the iron door, he carries a wooden stick on his right hand, even though he is blind but I can feel he is a strong and dangerous person, well yeah i know him, from the game of course.

He one of the important npc, his name is Jared, he supposedly appears on second arc as wandering traveler who later become Lyria mentor, he a veteran who survived countless war.

So he actually live here huh?

In the end he didn’t say anything, he just give me small pouch then close the door again without saying anything at all.

So it really just a small errands huh?

Man whatever.

...

I returned to the tavern to report the results of my assignment then Murn threw a small leather pouch filled with money at me and told me to leave early today.

I decided to return to the place provided by Elena to report to her, that when I accidentally crossed paths with Lyria, from her direction it looked like she was heading to Jared’s place.

Eh? But why? She not supposed to know about him at this point of story.

I decide to follow Lyria carefully, curious about why she pergi kemana, an just as my guess, she really heading to Jared place.

Or so that what I intended at first, Crow, someone from Elena’s group who was assigned as my liaison with Elena, contacted me using telepathy to meet her at the northern boundary of Academy city.

With no other choice, I rushed over there, to the place where Elena was waiting for me.

Arriving there Elena was with Crow by her side, waiting with the same appearance as the first time when I met her while escaping from the guards.

"So? What happened?"

I ask, curious since she rarely call me unless there something urgent happens.

"Oh nothing, just thinking if you want to join our mission tonight ~"

"Mission?"

Now think about it, this is the first time she ask me to help her to complete her group missions, sometimes I wonder why she help me this much.

"Come to our base tonight then I will explain the missions"

...

"Ok listen!"

Beatrice who at that time reading book in the library looking at Cedric who suddenly barge in taking not so quietly, the results? sebuah buku tebal melayang tepat mengenai muka Cedric

Ignoring it Cedric come to Beatrice desk and bring some stuff there.

He bring a lot of stuff towards Beatrice and put it on the table, where Beatrice was reading a book.

"You have my attention"

Even though she said that, her eyes were still on the book about monsters she was reading.

"I managed to keep track of all of Professor Elric and Vallera schedules for the next week." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Beatrice stopped reading her book and gave Cedric her full attention.

"How did you manage to do that?"

"Why does it matter, sigh ok look"

Cedric opened a paper and on the table then pointed to a schedule that was today, exactly 11 pm.

"At 11 pm, both of them will be in the restricted section of the West Research Wing"

Cedric said, tapping the page.

"No assistants, no guards, just the two of them. And you know what that means"

Beatrice raised an eyebrow.

"It means they’re meeting in private. That’s hardly unusual"

"Not unusual if it’s about normal research"

Cedric leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"But both of them requested access to Artifact Storage Vault 3. At the same time. That’s never happened before."

Beatrice’s eyes narrowed. Vault 3 was infamous even among Academy City scholars, why? Because that place is the place where dangerous or unstable magical relics were kept under the strictest security.

"What do you think they’re after?"

Cedric grinned.

"That’s what we’re going to find out tonight"

She closed her book with a soft thud, finally giving him her full attention.

"You’re suggesting we spy on two of the most influential professors in the Academy. Do you realize how much trouble we’ll be in if we’re caught?"

"Of course I do"

Cedric replied without hesitation.

"But trouble’s what makes life exciting."

Beatrice sighed, rubbing her temples.

"You’re reckless"

"Reckless... and right"

He said, smirking.

"Besides, you’re the one smart enough to make this work"

Beatrice glanced at the schedule again, then at the odd assortment of items Cedric had dumped on her table, a folded cloak, two small vials of mana suppressant, and a strange metal device that hummed faintly.

"This isn’t going to be a simple ’follow and observe’ job, is it?"

Cedric’s smile widened.

"Oh no, obviously no. Tonight, we’re going to get inside Vault 3."