After the Viona envoy walked quite far and disappeared into the hallway of the room, Aldes let out a sigh of relief.
He stood frozen in his place. His brain immediately spun fast analyzing the new information he had just obtained.
The Viona envoy is sending a letter? What for? Why does he not go home bringing that news himself? Why must it be through a letter? Why does he not go report it himself? Is that letter for the kingdom? For his family? For an ally? Or...
Aldes narrowed his eyes behind his mask.
Should I let it be? Is it too risky if I let it be? The fact that he is using an adventurer's service... using a stranger... when he can deliver it directly during his trip home.
Damn it. I must prevent the delivery of that letter. But how?
Aldes clenched his fists behind his cloak.
I will definitely die if I fight directly with the adventurer who took that secret delivery mission. My level is still too low. Wait. What is my level now? If I remember correctly, the original Aldes has never made an adventurer card.
Aldes turned his body. He looked toward Illfa who was still standing frozen.
The red-haired girl stared blankly ahead. Her left hand rubbed her right cheek which Aldes had just kissed.
"You are the first man to kiss me," Illfa muttered softly. Her voice sounded empty.
"Girlfriend... I am his girlfriend. Me? Me?" the girl continued with an unfocused gaze.
"My first kiss. A kiss."
"Snap out of it."
Aldes waved his hands right in front of Illfa's face.
The girl did not respond at all. Her eyes did not blink.
"Illfa."
Aldes raised his hands and held both shoulders of the knight. He shook Illfa's shoulders hard.
The hot chocolate drinks inside the two wooden glasses held by Illfa shook violently until they splashed into the air.
"Tch."
Aldes hissed.
He released his grip from Illfa's shoulders. He raised both his palms and then pressed them against both of Illfa's hot, reddened cheeks. Aldes patted the girl's cheeks slowly.
"Illfa," Aldes called with his deep voice.
Illfa jolted hard.
She gasped for air. She blinked her eyes repeatedly.
"Huh? Yes? Aldes?"
"Go. Find Klaus or other Guardian comrades. That Viona envoy is planning something," Aldes whispered quickly with a serious tone.
"Send someone to monitor the letter he is sending."
Illfa frowned. Her reddened face tensed up again.
"Huh? Why? Why so suddenly? What do you mean?" she asked in rapid succession.
"I am going to make an adventurer card for a moment," Aldes said. He removed his hands from the girl's cheeks.
Illfa stared straight at Aldes for a few seconds, trying to read the expression behind that porcelain mask.
She let out a long sigh before finally nodding slowly.
"I do not know what has gotten into you."
Aldes nodded.
"Act normal. Do not look in a hurry when leaving this place."
Illfa raised her wooden glass and drank all her remaining hot chocolate in one long gulp.
She placed the empty glass onto the nearest marble table, then turned around.
The girl walked out of the Adventurer's Association with the upright posture she usually used while on duty.
After Illfa disappeared behind the giant door, Aldes picked up his wooden glass on the table.
He drank a gulp of the hot chocolate liquid.
Aldes then turned his body and walked calmly toward the marble reception desk.
His footsteps clicked softly against the marble floor.
He arrived in front of the reception desk guarded by a young man in a dark blue uniform.
"Welcome, adventurer," the man greeted while bowing his head politely. "Is there anything we can help you with?"
"I want to make an adventurer card."
Aldes reached into his cloak.
He took out the Elfier Kingdom badge.
The badge was round-shaped, made of clear blue crystal that reflected the lantern light.
He placed the badge on the black marble, right next to the leather pouch filled with gold coins.
A soft clinking sound of metal and crystal was heard.
Seeing that blue crystal badge, the young receptionist's eyes widened instantly.
His body tensed up slightly.
He quickly looked around the room, making sure no other visitors were paying attention to their desk.
The man gave a quick wink to his coworker at the end of the desk.
After that, he immediately bowed his body very low in front of Aldes.
"Follow me, Sir."