The group followed Blue Bird through the winding streets of Blue Feather.
The crowds gradually thinned.
The sounds of merchants haggling and wagons rumbling over the cobblestones slowly faded into the distance.
Before long—
only the echo of their footsteps remained.
The kobold's ears flicked impatiently.
"...Where the hell are we going?"
He folded his arms.
"And where's the intel we agreed on?"
Blue Bird didn't even glance back.
He continued walking at the same steady pace.
The archer narrowed her eyes.
"Now that I've actually seen this guy..."
She glanced toward the others.
"...should we really trust him?"
Blue Bird finally spoke.
His tone remained as flat as ever.
"Now that you've seen me..."
He paused briefly.
"...as if I care about something like that."
The group fell silent.
Blue Bird continued walking without slowing.
"If you're buying information through underhanded channels..."
"...you shouldn't expect trust."
The mage thoughtfully adjusted his glasses.
"...Fair enough."
No one argued.
After a few more moments—
Blue Bird turned into a narrow alley tucked between two weathered buildings.
The group followed behind him.
The alley was silent.
Empty.
A few broken wooden crates sat abandoned against the walls, while scattered rubbish littered the uneven cobblestones.
Blue Bird came to a stop.
"This is it."
The five adventurers looked around.
The human knight frowned.
"...It?"
Blue Bird gave a single nod.
"This is where the bodies were found."
Silence settled over the alley.
The kobold crouched, his sharp eyes carefully scanning the ground.
"What bodies?"
Blue Bird answered without emotion.
"Three victims."
A brief pause.
"All of them had bite marks."
The group's expressions subtly changed.
"Their bodies had been completely drained."
A cold breeze drifted through the narrow passage.
The atmosphere suddenly felt much heavier.
The lizardman's yellow eyes narrowed.
"...Drained of blood?"
Blue Bird nodded once.
"Every last drop."
The mage slowly adjusted his glasses again.
"...A vampire."
Blue Bird turned toward him.
"That's the current assumption."
No one spoke.
The alley looked painfully ordinary.
Yet now that they knew what had happened there—
it felt entirely different.
The archer rested a hand on the bow slung across her back.
"...And you're certain this happened here?"
Blue Bird looked toward the stained stone wall near the end of the alley.
"The town guard removed the bodies yesterday."
He paused.
"But..."
He pointed toward several dark stains that stubbornly remained between the cracks in the cobblestones.
"...they couldn't wash everything away."
The group followed his finger.
Faint patches of dried crimson still clung to the stone.
Barely noticeable.
Yet unmistakable.
Proof that whatever had happened here—
had been swift.
And brutally efficient.
The human knight folded his arms.
"So..."
His gaze slowly swept across the alley.
"You think this is the trail of the Dark One?"
The others turned toward him.
The kobold tilted his head.
"...The Dark One?"
The knight blinked.
"...What?"
The mage sighed as he adjusted his glasses once more.
"You haven't heard?"
The kobold shrugged.
"I slept through most of the trip on the train."
The mage gave a small nod.
"That's the new title people have started using."
His gaze drifted toward the dried bloodstains.
"The Demon King's son."
A brief silence followed.
"After the Battle of Blackwater yesterday..."
"...that's what everyone has begun calling him."
Silence settled over the alley once more.
Blue Bird glanced between the five adventurers before speaking again.
"...Well."
"I don't think it's a coincidence."
Everyone looked at him.
He continued calmly.
"Blackwater isn't far from Blue Feather."
"And now three bodies suddenly turn up completely drained of blood."
His eyes lingered on the dark stains.
"The timing is... suspicious."
The mage slowly nodded.
"...That's true."
He pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose.
"This could very well be his trail."
The kobold's ears twitched excitedly.
"If that's true..."
"...then we're close."
The archer remained silent.
Unlike the others—
she wasn't convinced.
Blue Bird clapped his hands together once.
"Well."
"I've done my part."
He extended one hand toward them.
"So pay up."
"A deal's a deal."
"I still have work to do."
The archer raised an eyebrow.
"...Work?"
Blue Bird nodded.
"I need to get back."
"And wait for my next customer."
She blinked.
"...Next customer?"
Blue Bird looked at her as though she'd asked the most obvious question imaginable.
"You didn't think you were the only ones buying information, did you?"
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"Half the continent is looking for the Dark One now."
"Guilds."
"Mercenary companies."
"Nobles."
"Information brokers."
"Treasure hunters."
"Everyone's chasing rumors."
He shrugged casually.
"You're just one group among many."
The lizardman reached into the pouch at his waist.
Without a word—
he flicked something through the air.
Blue Bird's hand shot out instantly.
**SNAP.**
He caught it effortlessly.
Opening his palm—
he looked down at the object resting there.
A single gold coin.
One eyebrow rose ever so slightly.
Without the slightest hesitation, he slipped it into his pocket.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
He gave them a lazy wave as he turned to leave.
"I'll be on my way now."
He had barely taken a few steps before speaking over his shoulder.
"And don't stay here too long."
The group frowned.
Blue Bird never looked back.
"If people see a bunch of armed adventurers snooping around this alley..."
"...it'll be bad for business."
With that—
he disappeared around the corner.
Leaving the five adventurers standing alone in the quiet alley.
The wind stirred once more.
The dried blood staining the cobblestones remained where it was.
Silent.
Waiting.