Chapter 123:

Chapter 123: Chapter 123:

Chapter 123:

Osborne, meanwhile, seemed completely unaware of the man’s inner struggle, or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

’If I can call on them anytime I wish, it would make keeping taps on the Roosevelts far easier... So long as the price is money, I think I’ll manage for the time being.’ The man didn’t know that what Osborne meant by affiliation was becoming a verified member and future client, not a personnel.

"As I am but a humble man, I’m afraid I don’t have the means to do so on my own. If Sir Albert lends me a hand, I shall be forever grateful."

Albert raised an eyebrow, his earlier frown slowly giving way to an expression of surprise.

"Oh? Is that all?"

He had expected Osborne to ask for a better price, a larger share of the profits, or perhaps some other benefit that would make their arrangement more favourable to the adventurer.

Instead, he went with this...

At first, the request seemed rather strange, but the more Albert thought about it, the more sense it began to make.

He had already guessed that Osborne wasn’t an ordinary adventurer, considering the quality and quantity of the Moonlight Grass he had managed to obtain, but there was no clear sign that the man belonged to any noble household or powerful organisation, despite his attire.

His armour concealed most of his appearance, and the name he had given them was clearly an alias, which suggested that he preferred to keep his identity hidden.

Perhaps he was a wandering knight who had left his lord’s service, or maybe he was simply someone who wanted to build a name for himself without relying on the connections he had been born with.

Whatever the truth might be, Albert believed that Osborne was unlikely to be a real knight serving a noble family.

If he were a knight acting on behalf of a lord, then the Moonlight Grass would most likely belong to that lord rather than to the man himself, and he would hardly need to seek connections through a merchant like Albert.

Nobles had their own networks, and their knights could usually rely on those connections whenever they needed to obtain information or arrange a meeting with someone important.

The fact that Osborne had come to him personally, negotiated over the price of the herbs, and now wanted assistance joining the information-gathering organisation suggested that he lacked such support.

’So he’s looking to build connections.’

Albert felt that he had finally found a reasonable explanation for the adventurer’s behaviour, and his smile returned as he considered the request.

There was nothing particularly strange about wanting to become affiliated with an information-gathering organisation, especially for someone who spent his time travelling between towns and hunting monsters.

Such an affiliation could provide access to useful information about the surrounding regions, including the locations of dangerous beasts, the movements of bandits, and the activities of people who might become troublesome to adventurers.

For someone like Osborne, who seemed to prefer working alone, such information could prove especially valuable.

Of course, Albert had no intention of explaining all of this to his guest, but he saw little reason to reject a request that would cost him almost nothing.

After all, he already had a working relationship with the organisation, and helping one more person become affiliated with the organisation wasn’t particularly difficult.

"Well, I guess it can’t be helped." Albert said before turning toward the azure knight.

"Have someone help him with the necessary procedures later on."

The azure knight bowed her head without a word, acknowledging the instruction before returning to her previous position beside her employer.

Osborne observed the exchange quietly, making a mental note of the bodyguard’s disciplined behaviour.

Although she had been quick to step forward when she thought he might threaten Albert, she hadn’t interrupted the conversation or questioned her employer’s decisions, which suggested that she understood her position well.

He still couldn’t gauge her strength, and the unpleasant feeling he experienced whenever he focused on her hadn’t disappeared, but at least she seemed capable of following instructions without creating unnecessary trouble.

That was more than he could say for some of the people he had encountered prior.

"Very well, then, I believe we’ve settled everything that needs to be discussed tonight." Albert said as he rose from the couch.

He adjusted the front of his nightgown before giving Osborne a polite smile, although the tired look in his eyes suggested that he was eager to return to bed.

"If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I need to return to my rest. Please feel free to see yourselves out."

Without waiting for a response, Albert turned around and began heading deeper into his home, with the azure knight following closely behind him.

Osborne watched them leave, remaining silent until their figures disappeared from sight before finally turning his attention toward the dark-clothed man standing nearby.

The man immediately stiffened when he noticed the helmet turning in his direction, and for a brief moment, he seemed to wonder whether the armored adventurer had another request that would make his night even more troublesome.

Fortunately for him, Osborne didn’t say anything, instead waiting patiently for someone to show them the way out.

A short while later, two staff members arrived and politely asked them to follow, leading Osborne and the dark-clothed man through the mansion and toward the entrance.

The staff members maintained a respectful distance throughout the walk, and although neither of them attempted to start a conversation, their behaviour suggested that they were properly trained.

Once they reached the entrance, one of the staff members opened the door while the other stepped aside, allowing the two visitors to leave the premises without further delay.

Osborne stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against his armour as he glanced briefly at the mansion behind him.

He had come here expecting to learn why someone had taken an interest in his Moonlight Grass, and although he had gained a business partner and an opportunity to join an information-gathering organisation, he still knew very little about the people he had just met.

Albert was clearly wealthy, and his bodyguard was dangerous enough to make Osborne cautious, but neither fact told him much about their true intentions.

For now, however, he had secured an arrangement that could prove useful in the future, and he had no intention of turning down an opportunity simply because he didn’t fully understand every detail.

Besides, he had other things to worry about, and spending the entire night thinking about a merchant’s motives would hardly help him make progress.

With that thought in mind, Osborne began making his way away from the mansion, already considering what he needed to do next.