‘Is this not the surface?’

The secret organization of the Free Upper Tier was actually located deep underground.

It’s difficult to determine the exact location with magic when you’re deep underground, unlike on the surface.

‘Damn it!’

Just then, a telepathic message from Prodia came through.

[Have we arrived? Where are we?] […Sorry, I can’t track the location.] [What? Why?]

Irtis muttered in annoyance.

[We’re not on the surface; we’re underground.]

Underground?!

But there was no time to be surprised.

The three had to follow the masked leader down an unfamiliar path.

The road ahead was not visible, let alone being underground.

Prodia’s steps were slower than usual.

Even without saying it, Irtis could feel her unease.

[Worried?] [A little.] [Don’t worry, I’m here. You won’t get hurt.] [Will you also save Luca?] [Why should I? He brought this upon himself; he can figure it out.]

Anyway, it seemed the two had grown a little closer.

Conversing with Irtis made Prodia a bit more relaxed.

Just then,

Suddenly, someone approached Prodia and grabbed her hand.

“…?!”

“It’s me, sis.”

It was Luca.

Startled, Prodia tried to shake off his hand.

But it was tightly gripped and not easy to remove.

Quietly, Prodia whispered to Luca,

“Let go of this now.”

“I’ll hold it until we arrive. You might trip over if you can’t see.”

“How did you know where I was without seeing?”

“That’s the power of love.”

“Let go when I ask nicely.”

“I will when we arrive.”

Just then, Luca suddenly let out a scream and released Prodia’s hand.

“Ouch! Are you really a wizard!”

“What are you talking about?”

“You just used magic on my hand, didn’t you?”

“Talking nonsense to a blindfolded person?”

But Prodia knew.

It was Irtis’s doing.

I usually don’t like colleagues fighting, but this time it’s an exception. Good job, my contractor.

Then Irtis’s voice came through again.

[Prodia? Hide behind me for a moment.]

Saying this, Irtis stretched out his arm toward her.

Relying on his arm, Prodia slowly moved backward.

At the same time, Irtis swiftly moved next to Luca.

Meanwhile, Luca was frantically searching for the vanished Prodia.

Stretching out his arms in all directions, he earnestly looked for her.

“Sis? Where are you?”
After groping around for a while, Luca finally felt someone’s skin touch his hand.

He excitedly grabbed it again.

“Sister! You were here…!”

However, the touch was completely different from before.

Big, warm, and with thick knuckles, this was…

Immediately afterward, he realized that the owner of the hand was Ertys.

Luca shook off his hand, screaming.

“Ew! Disgusting!”

“Keep it down, will you.”

“Why are you here! Where’s my sister?”

Meanwhile, Prodia Duser Yeongae had clung to Ertys’s clothes and was hiding behind him.

She sent him telepathy.

[Thank you. I owe you my life.] […You might trip, so keep holding on.] [Okay.]

All the while, Luca’s voice, still searching for Prodia, could be heard.

“Where did my sister go?”

“Ah, just walk for now. Do you want us to all fall over?”

In the end, Luca gave up on finding Prodia and walked grumblingly.

Prodia was quite pleased.

‘Ertys is really useful.’

They continued to be guided by the masked leader for quite some time.

After passing through a complex maze-like place, light finally began to pour in from beyond the blindfold.

Had they reached their destination?

Just then, a voice rang out.

“Hm? I was certain I said I wouldn’t take any more guests.”

It was a low baritone, with a refined way of speaking.

The masked leader’s voice followed.

“I apologize. Red-eyed Luca has come to visit.”

“Luca…?”

Upon hearing that name, the unfamiliar man quickly instructed the masked leader.

“Untie them at once.”

As he spoke, the black cloth that had been covering the eyes of the three was swiftly removed.

Their eyes squinted in the sudden burst of light.

As soon as the blindfold was removed, luxurious yet exotic interior decorations came into view.

The masked leader had discreetly moved aside, and in front of them stood only an unfamiliar man.

Dark greyish-silver hair, pumpkin-colored eyes, round glasses framed in gold, and a slender, tall physique.

Although he was strikingly handsome, the slight upward curve of his lips gave off a somewhat sinister impression.

He grinned at Luca.

“Well, well, who do we have here? It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“Have you been well?”

Exchanging casual greetings with Luca, the silver-haired man briefly glanced at the other two.

Then he greeted them with exaggerated gestures.

“Welcome. I sincerely greet the Archmage of Matop and the Master of the Empire.”

Prodia and Ertys were a little surprised to have been so easily identified.

‘So this is the leader of a secret organization; the information is definitely different.’

He then added, lifting his head.

“My name is Ed Prihi. As you might already know, I am the head of this secret information organization.”

He was smiling, but for some reason, it didn’t seem like he was genuinely happy.