When Lucen heard the entire story and Lysette's question, he started thinking. This was the kind of thing the hero should solve, not him.

'Now, how do I do this that makes Alexander and his group solve this problem. This feels like an event that is needed to help the hero grow in many ways.'

A hidden problem festering beneath the surface of the capital. A dangerous substance was spreading among the desperate.

There were missing people, and even children were being taken. This was exactly the sort of event that would temper a protagonist.

Lucen was quite torn. If this were a normal drug problem, he would have investigated a bit more and, using that time, pushed Alexander and his group to do it, using his being an instructor as an excuse.

Yet now there were missing children, and the school semester hadn't started yet. He couldn't wait too long as he had a few guesses what these b*stards were doing to those missing people.

'These f*cking b*stards! Not only are they kidnapping children, but now they're even messing with the scenario!' Lucen gnashing his teeth in irritation.

Seeing him react like that, both Lysette and Jay thought Lucen was deeply affected by the situation of the missing children. They were only half correct.

Lucen cared about the missing children; that part was true. Hearing that children were being taken would have been enough to make his blood run cold.

The other half, however, was only something a gamer like him would understand. This was exactly the kind of event that could shape a protagonist.

In the game, there was a similar event with the drugs Edrim Lysark sold, but now it was happening much earlier. Alexander hasn't even started school yet.

'Damn it! What should I do? There must be something I can do that will be able to satisfy all I want to happen.'

Lucen's finger started tapping against the table as the rhythm made his thoughts feel a bit clearer. It took him several minutes before he finally got an idea.

'I won't be able to find the location of the missing children just yet. Even with Lysette and Jay's help, it could take a few days to do. With what kind of organization we're dealing with, the fastest estimate to find their location should be around two to five days. That gives me enough time to meet with my younger brother, Cael, and tell him to contact his friends to ask for help. No, I'll just pick them all up... Well, I guess it would be difficult to get Nina Drexford to join; her Father does hate the ducal families... Whatever, I just need to do what I can, for now.'

Despite thinking of such a plan, Lucen did not truly like it. Those four or five days were something that could risk the lives of the missing children. But he knew he could not do anything right now, except for that.

Even if he did things without the help of Alexander's group, the time frame would remain the same. In fact, it might be better if Alexander did help, because of the high luck stats most protagonists have.

Once Lucen reached that conclusion, his tapping stopped. Lysette, who had been quietly observing him the entire time, noticed the change immediately.

"You seem to have reached a decision," Lysette said softly.

"Yeah, I need help from the two of you."

"It will be my honor to do anything for you, Sir Lucen," Jay responded without hesitation.

Lysette then showed a wonderful smile that would have charmed most. "Then tell me what you want of me, Lucen," she said.

"I want you to find out the exact location of where they're keeping the missing people. As for Jay, start a rumor about the pill having unwanted side effects. Tell anything like it will cause impotency, or you will die after more than five pills. That might slow down the selling for a while."

"I will do my best, Sir Lucen," Jay answered.

Lysette did not answer immediately. Instead, she lifted her cup and took a small sip of the now-lukewarm tea, her deep blue eyes never once leaving Lucen.

The faint smile on her lips did not disappear, but it changed slightly, becoming more thoughtful than merely charming.

"So that is the role you have chosen for me. If it were anyone else, I would not have done this without anything in return, but since it's you and the cause is righteous and honorable. I will treat this with the urgency it deserves."

"Thank you, we need to act fast. This afternoon, let us meet up again here in Jay's house." Lucen stood up from his seat and headed out. Robert was still there, dissecting the dead body on the ground.

"Robert, I need to borrow your airship."

At Lucen's words, he slowly lifted his head. His amber eyes were visible through the lenses of the bird beak mask.

"Hoh, are you about to do something interesting again?"

"I don't know if this is interesting for you, but I'm going to pick up my little brother and his friends to look for a few missing people."

"Well, I guess that's interesting enough. I will come with you."

After deciding that, Robert used telekinesis to carry Gared's dead body and place him inside his airship.

"I need to meet a few others first. Let's meet up in the airship docking area."

"... Fine, but don't go starting anything without me."

Once they were done talking, the two separated. Robert moved the airship to his personal docking area in Caelhart. Lucen, on the other hand, headed to the estate of House Veros to bring Ryan.

***

It didn't take much convincing to bring Ryan along. The second Count Veros heard that Lucen needed Ryan's help to do something, he did not even ask what kind of help was needed, and allowed his son to follow Lucen; it was more like he ordered his son to help Lucen.

Once the easy part was done, Lucen headed to the estate of Marquis Drexford to pick up Nina.

Unlike House Veros, where Count Veros had practically shoved Ryan toward Lucen the moment he heard that help was needed, the atmosphere around House Drexford was far colder.

The guards at the gate straightened the second they recognized Lucen, but even then, there was a stiffness to their expressions that made it clear his name alone was not enough to make them comfortable.

That was only natural. Marquis Drexford was not a man known for holding warm feelings toward the ducal families.

Still, Lucen had not come here to leave empty-handed. When he gave his name and stated that he wished to speak with Marquis Drexford regarding Nina, one of the guards immediately went inside to deliver the message.

Ryan stood behind Lucen, looking around, not feeling any discomfort in the atmosphere, but still, he initiated a conversation with Lucen since he was rather bored. "Are you sure about this, Sir Lucen?"

Lucen looked at Ryan, the happy-go-lucky member of the original party who somehow managed to remain cheerful even in front of a gate where the air itself felt stiff.

"About bringing Nina?" Lucen asked.

"Yeah," Ryan replied, rubbing the back of his head with a grin. "This place does not exactly feel welcoming. I know House Drexford is not fond of the ducal families. I don't know what you want with us, but do you really need to do this?"

"Yeah, I do," Lucen replied without hesitation. "Don't worry. I'll be able to convince the Marquis to let Nina come out and join us."

"I wasn't really worried or anything. Just curious why you need Nina and me for anything. You are THE Lucen Thornehart, the one who had gained the moniker Ever-victorious. What kind of problem do you need help with, from us who haven't even started their first class in the Royal Academy?"

Lucen looked at Ryan for a moment. It took him a while to think of an answer, but he was able to quickly think about one.

"I might be called the Ever-victorious, but that doesn't mean I can do everything by myself. This particular task is something I will need you and a few others to help me with. I will explain it in better detail later, once I gather everyone."

Ryan let out a small laugh when he heard that answer. "Well, when you put it like that, I guess I can wait."

Lucen gave a faint nod and turned his attention back toward the gate just as the guard who had gone inside returned.

"The Marquis will see you," the man said stiffly.

Without another word, the gates were opened, and Lucen entered with Ryan following a step behind him.

The estate of House Drexford was exactly as Lucen expected. It lacked the warmth or grandeur that some noble houses preferred to display. Instead, there was a stern kind of order to everything.

They were led into a reception room where they were asked to wait.

There were no excessive ornaments, no unnecessary displays of wealth, only polished furniture, several shelves of books, and weapons mounted on the wall with the same care one might show to family heirlooms.

A few moments later, Marquis Drexford entered.

He was a man whose very presence made the room feel firmer. His posture was straight, his expression stern, and his eyes sharp like a blade.

Lucen stood up from his seat and did a knight's salute. "It is an honor to meet you, Marquis Drexford." Ryan also stood up and did a rather clumsy knight's salute as well.

Marquis Drexford simply nodded his head in acknowledgment before speaking. "I heard you need something from my daughter, Thornehart heir."