Chapter 37: News Brought Back by Roxy, Hiring a Searcher, and a Wanted Bounty

Allen blinked, shaking off the daze brought on by Roxy’s intense gaze.

"H-how is this possible? How could you come back?!? This makes no sense... Mmph—"

Roxy immediately clamped her hand over Allen’s mouth, glancing around nervously before pressing a finger to her lips.

"Q-quiet! Everyone is still asleep."

Allen blinked, his eyes shifting down to Roxy’s hand. She met his gaze, blinked back, and then snatched her hand away at lightning speed. She subconsciously tugged at the stray locks of hair on her forehead and whispered, "I... I just came back to see if you were all right. It looks like you’re doing fine, and you’ve successfully joined the Greyrat household... Congratulations. Don’t shout; I’ll be leaving shortly."

Allen stared at Roxy’s face, still struggling to process the situation.

*Why? Why did Roxy suddenly return? Up until tonight, the plot was still within my control, but what is this? What does she mean by checking if we’re alright?*

"This... even if you just wanted to check on us, you didn't have to travel in the middle of the night... And if you're leaving as soon as you see me, what about Paul, Zenith, and Rudeus? Doesn't this contradict what you said?"

Roxy scratched her cheek, ignoring the fact that Allen had dropped the honorifics. After a moment of thought, she decided to share the information she had gathered, even though Allen seemed perfectly fine at the moment.

"I came here because I found this while passing through the Adventurers Guild in Ligart, in the Donati territory..."

She pulled a carefully folded, high-quality document from the pocket of her mage’s robe. Glancing at Allen’s expression, she handed it to him.

Allen frowned as he unfolded it, his expression shifting to one of astonishment.

It was a missing person notice. The paper was worn, clearly posted some time ago, and the tone of the writing was unmistakably aristocratic.

***

To all adventurers:

I am James Boreas Greyrat. My beloved son, Allen Boreas Greyrat, went missing without a trace near the Red Dragon’s Jaw while on his way to his studies. I am deeply distraught; all search parties sent thus far have failed to find any sign of him.

I am issuing this bounty for his recovery, hoping that adventurers may help me find my beloved son.

My son, Allen, is only nine years old, yet he already stands at the height of a grown woman. He is sturdy, with brown hair and gray eyes. He has slightly wavy hair, arched brows, and a sharp gaze. He usually styles his hair back, and when conversing, he has a habit of unconsciously arching his brows. He possesses a sharp edge, yet remains composed.

If you have seen such a person, please provide information to the Boreas estate in the Royal Capital.

If the information is verified, a reward of two hundred gold coins will be granted.

***

If you can bring my beloved son back to the estate, a reward of one thousand gold coins will be granted.

I apologize for the intrusion.

***

After squinting through the letter, Allen remained silent for a long while before looking up at Roxy and speaking carefully.

"I apologize. When I suddenly ran into you, I... subconsciously hid some things from you, mostly out of a desire to keep my movements concealed."

Seeing Allen’s habit of raising his eyebrows, Roxy blinked, feeling a bit embarrassed herself.

"Well... that... I can understand an adventurer not telling the whole truth... Actually, you did tell the truth; you just never said what kind of trouble you were in... I just guessed in a strange direction. Um... I’m sorry."

Allen watched Roxy, still deeply suspicious, and decided to probe further.

"But... even so, you didn't need to come all the way back here just to confront me about this. A letter would have sufficed... So, there must be more, right?"

Roxy hesitated for a heartbeat before pulling another piece of paper from her robes—this one with frayed edges and coarse material—and handed it over.

Allen took it and unfolded it, his expression turning grim.

It was a bounty notice. The wording was blunt and crude, standing in stark contrast to James’s missing person notice.

***

Night Lion Thieves’ Guild Bounty:

Target: Allen Boreas Greyrat.

Features: Brown hair, gray eyes, a face that makes people want to punch it.

Bounty: One thousand gold coins.

The target is a Water God Style swordsman of the Advanced level. He killed nine of my subordinates at the Red Dragon’s Jaw. If interested, it is recommended to organize a targeted 'hunt.'

Special Note: Corpses only.

Contact the local Night Lion branch once successful. Payment upon delivery.

This bounty is valid indefinitely.

Night Lion.

***

Allen narrowed his eyes as he looked at it for a long time, then a cold, mirthless smile curled his lips.

*So that’s it... No wonder Roxy rushed back. A one-thousand gold coin bounty from a thieves’ guild... Tsk, tsk. James, oh James, you never fail to disappoint when it comes to being disappointing. Killing someone is obviously faster than bringing them back to the capital, isn't it? Such a blatant wanted notice... But why hasn't Paul mentioned it? Philip asked him to keep an ear out for news...*

Allen looked up at the visibly flustered Roxy.

"Did you find this wanted notice at the Adventurers Guild as well? Honestly, Uncle Paul has been helping me look into things in secret, but it seems he hasn't even heard that I’ve been put on a wanted list."

On her way back, Roxy had read these two conflicting notices many times. She had realized that this was certainly orchestrated by the Boreas family in the capital. Putting the missing person notice and the bounty together, it was clear that James wanted Allen dead, and the "missing beloved son" act was merely a veneer of aristocratic decency. The fact that his own family had ordered his execution left her at a loss for how to speak to him.

After all, she had left her own village because she was ostracized for not understanding telepathy, but she had only faced social coldness. Allen, however, was being hunted by his own father.

*He’s only nine years old... I don't know what kind of trouble he caused in the capital. Murder? Arson? He doesn't look like that kind of person... No wonder he was so cautious and fearful along the way. He likely anticipated the future he was facing, and yet, even then, he gave me the only money he had...*

She took a deep breath and replied.

"Actually, this was when I was on my way to Ligart... I was stopped by three thieves who jumped out of the woods, and I got it from them. This bounty is likely only circulating in the gray market. I only found the missing person notice at the Adventurers Guild; I didn't hear anything else... Come to think of it, the Adventurers Guild in the Asura Kingdom is really empty... There are barely any requests, which is why I noticed it immediately."

Allen’s brow twitched violently.

"On the road to Ligart, thieves jumped out of the forest?? Could they have been searching for me?"

Roxy nodded.

"According to them, it seems a group of thieves is searching for your trail eastward along the forest at the base of the Red Dragon’s Jaw."

Allen’s face darkened at the news.

"...This... this shouldn't be... The trail I left points toward the north. Why would anyone be searching at the southern foothills of the Red Dragon mountains?"