Ch#145
Nordics nodded readily.
‘As expected…….’
In truth, he hadn't been entirely convinced until now.
Even if they luckily secured a tutorial hall in Flint Cove, getting Tie there every day without drawing eyes would be no easy task.
But the Clan Leader's plan was solid.
“How is the underground passage operated?”
“Extremely closed-off. Even entering is difficult without being a Flint Cove resident. We've already confirmed even informants can't come and go freely.”
“I understand what you're saying. But there's no guarantee those people will let Tie in, is there?”
Alexander, who had been listening, stepped forward.
“No need to worry about that. I have some connections with the people there.”
Alexander continued with a gentle smile.
“I've performed some officially prohibited medical treatments inside Flint Cove a few times.”
The squad members and Tie gazed at Alexander with curious faces.
Alexander reminisced about the past as he spoke.
“A year ago, a severe coughing illness spread inside Flint Cove.”
The disease was highly contagious.
Just being in the same space could spread it, and it was quite fatal to young children or the elderly.
The Emperor immediately quarantined Flint Cove.
And began providing them only basic food and water.
But Alexander thought differently from the Emperor.
‘We can't leave it like this. It's too dangerous. Water and food aren't a fundamental solution to the disease.’
He believed Flint Cove needed medical personnel to treat the illness.
The problem was that the Emperor had zero interest in the people of Flint Cove.
The Emperor only dispatched medical personnel to nobles inside the ancient gods' borders.
In the end, Alexander made a risky decision.
He decided to divert medical supplies from the Holy Knight Order and sneak them into Flint Cove.
Officially pretending to be quarantined with the coughing illness himself, he slipped into Flint Cove.
And began treating the severe cases one by one.
Valentis secretly supported him from behind.
As a result, they saved countless lives in Flint Cove.
“That's when I got acquainted with the zone chief. Sure enough, when I explained the situation, he agreed to let Miss Tie come and go freely.”
Tie swallowed hard.
‘So, it's a place Tie originally couldn't go to.’
But she could thanks to Alexander's connections?
Her heart pounded with excitement.
‘Tutorial hall, I wanted to go so bad……!’
Hanging up her coat and bag on the shelf after drop-off.
Then free play time greeting friends!
Singing songs, weather talks, storytime, crafting, and more!
“Tie can play with friends again……?”
Veil stroked Tie's head.
“Yeah. Your schedule will get busier, though.”
Tie nodded vigorously with a mushy face.
“Busy is fine too!”
Going to tutorial hall by day and sieging Mana Stones by night!
“Tie can do it!”
The squad members burst into laughter at her determined look.
Valentis and the three young lords watched warmly too.
* * *
And so, a few days later, one morning.
“Aigoo, our Tie's princess dress fits so perfectly. So pretty.”
Tie was dressed in the princess outfit Marshal had put on her, with a pin in her hair too.
Afterward, she put on Agavert's squad uniform over it, then pressed her cheeks in front of the mirror.
Lucarion reminded her from the side.
“……Like I said earlier, scream if anything dangerous happens. We'll be watching nearby.”
Tie nodded bravely.
“Okay!”
With Ppuppue on her shoulder, she went out of the room, where Basto was waiting.
“Let's go! To the pub!”
Veil, coming up the stairs, said.
“It's pub, not 'pub'.”
“Same thing! Both for drinking, Veil bro.”
Sassing him fresh, Tie hummed down the stairs.
The squad members had already gathered on the first floor.
“Do well, Tie.”
Nordics patted Tie's back,
“Squad Leader! Fighting!”
Raoul and Enzo, who had learned 'fighting' from Tie, pumped their fists.
Tie nodded solemnly, then opened the front door and went out.
“Nice weather.”
Basto said in a soft voice.
Tie giggled hehe, glanced once at the empty house next door to Dad's, then passed through the gate.
Walking along the neat brick road, the imperial palace roofs loomed large in the distance.
“About 15 minutes on foot every day. Cross the shopping district, and the pub building is at the end. I'll always escort you.”
Tie nodded instead of replying to Basto.
She could already feel the informants trailing behind in droves.
Interest from informants about Tie had spiked even more since Agavert entered the top 7 rankings.
“Life as a celebrity is so tiring…….”
Shaking her head, Tie stepped forward vigorously.
How long had they walked?
They finally arrived at the bustling shopping district full of people from morning.
“Lady, take a look at this. New brew from Camor Brewery, the flavor is out of this world!”
“Check out the outfits! Special price just for today!”
Tie dodged through the crowds holding Basto's hand nimbly.
A few recognized her and eyed her curiously.
“There.”
Basto pointed somewhere.
End of the alley.
A round plaza and the gateway to Flint Cove.
A massive six-story building stood tall with a sign.
Tie glanced around.
Then deliberately raised her voice.
“Ahem. Craving something strong from morning!”
It was a line she and Veil had researched to sound like a drinker.
Sure enough, people watching her exchanged glances.
Faces convinced the Necromancer King wasn't a child but a hard liquor fan.
“Let's go in.”
Basto said upon reaching the tavern.
Tie waved one hand grandly before entering.
The tavern was huge.
The first floor already buzzed with crowds.
But Tie's destination was elsewhere.
“Ahem! Craving something strong from morning……!”
Repeating the line just in case, the child stood at the far back, before the stairs to the basement.
The two men guarding the stairs recognized Tie and quietly stepped aside.
As she descended, murmurs came from behind.
“Wasn't that the Necromancer King? Hot mercenary these days.”
“Yes, sir.”
“……Guess the rumors of raking in money are true. Even giving up the basement of Tavern.”
“Because of the VIP room in the basement?”
“Yeah. They never show it, wondered who the VIP was. Who knew they'd open it for lowly commoner mercenaries.”
Of course, the VIP room was a lie the tavern made up to hide the underground passage to Flint Cove, but the nobles believed it.
“They ignored me every time I asked to be escorted there!”
A few haughty nobles glared at Tie.
But they hurriedly averted their eyes upon seeing the giant Basto behind her.
Meanwhile, Tie descended the endless stairs, passed a cluttered warehouse,
went down another long flight of stairs, and opened an iron door.
“Egg money…… from Tavern…… wait till everyone's down……”
In the complex, massive underground passage patched with rusted iron and wood.
Dozens of eyes fixed on Tie.
Elderly folks gathered at small stalls along the edges.
“Child, how old are you……? How'd you get here?”
Tie gaped at the elders for a moment.
Basto, arriving behind, watched her worriedly.
Concerned she might be scared of them.
But that was a huge mistake.
“Grandma, hello! I'm Tie!”
Tie dashed over amiably, bowed deeply, and plopped down right among the elders.
“Tie's four years old! How old's Grandma? What do you do here?”
