Vernum City IV

At both sides of the raised platform was a door, and Benedict's office was behind the door on the left. The room was well-maintained, but sparsely decorated. It stretched from right to left, with the entrance being at the right end. There was a desk paired with a chair at the left end of the room, in front of a broken window patched by wooden planks, and a short table with two chairs at the center of the room. There was also a shelf with a few books and scrolls, mainly containing religious content. After inviting her inside, Benedict closed the door and walked towards the desk.

"My apologies for the poor reception. Donations are rather sparse, so I have to do odd jobs to make ends meet. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No, I couldn't bear to have you trouble yourself just for my sake."

"Actually, it wouldn't be too much trouble."

Benedict then pulled out a tray holding a teapot and two teacups from behind his desk.

"Would black tea be alright?"

"Ah, yes. Did you prepare it in advance?"

"Indeed. The Chief informed me of when you would leave the village, so I did a bit of investigation to estimate the time of your arrival. I should also apologize for not being able to aid you when you were attacked by those thieves on the road."

As he placed the tray on the table, Benedict mentioned the incident Carolyn had encountered on the way to Vernum City and motioned for her to take a seat before sitting across from her.

"How did you know?"

Carolyn remembered being on edge because of the encounter, but she hadn't sensed anyone else in the area at the time.

"I didn't get any first-hand information, but some had seen the thieves leaving soon after you did and then returning with injuries caused by an arrow. The Chief mentioned you were handy with a bow, so I simply assumed that it was your handiwork. Thank you for confirming."

"Oh no, even without my confirmation, you already had the right answer."

"That may be so, but you should be careful in the future. There are times when confirmation is more valuable than the truth. The Chief has informed me of your mission and while I will assist you as best as I can, there will be cases where you must take center stage, and in such cases, it is imperative that you only reveal as much information as is permissible. Do I have your understanding?"

"Yes. I'll be more careful in the future."

Though his expression and tone hadn't changed, Carolyn found herself straightening her posture and listening with the attentiveness of an eager student. Similar to her mother, Benedict seemed like the kind of teacher who would calmly demand you to repeat a task until it reached their standards, no matter how many times it took. If nothing else, she didn't think she could afford to slack off under his supervision.

"Good. I'm sure you're feeling parched, so let's enjoy the tea while it's hot."

Carolyn was worried about the temperature since the tea had been prepared in advance, but there was just the right amount of heat and sweetness. Sugar was cheaper in the Amber domain than the Walker domain as it was produced locally, but it was still somewhat of a luxury, so though Carolyn preferred her tea with a hint of sweetness, it was rare for her to indulge in that preference.

Once Carolyn had finished her cup of tea, Benedict moved on to the next topic.

"There is much for you to learn before you can officially begin your mission, but rushing won't solve anything. For the time being, you should focus on blending into the city. I will direct you to an inn you may stay at and your first task will be to become an employee there. There are no penalties for failure, however, it would be best to assume that the truth you seek will be at least a step further out of reach."

"I understand. Before I leave, would it be alright if I visited Derrick and his sister?"

"...It's earlier than planned, but since you've already met, I'll allow it. However, you may not spoil him. Such charity should be reserved for when you've earned your own money."

Carolyn showed some embarrassment from Benedict's reprimand, but she didn't take long to respond.

"Fair point. By the way, according to the soldiers at the gate, entry and exit taxes are being increased frequently. Do you know the reason for that?"

"I do, but it would be better if you didn't hear it from me."

It was an answer that reminded her of Hanson, but it was slightly different when said by Benedict. Rather than plain refusal, it sounded like a challenge. Considering the significant effects of the tax increases, it was likely that she could learn something even from common citizens. And as an outsider, it would also be more natural if she didn't know the truth yet. Carolyn wondered if there was another reason, but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"Hmm, so you mean to say that if I want to know more, I should look into it myself?"

"That is certainly a path you could take."

She would have preferred a more straightforward answer, but she didn't think she would be able to get that from him.

"Very well. Can you tell me the location of the inn you mentioned for my first task?"

"Certainly."

After responding, Benedict moved the tea set to the side and pulled out a rolled-up sheet of parchment from under the table. He then opened the parchment on the table, revealing a map of the city.

"I won't give this to you, so be sure to memorize the route. Of course, if you manage to complete your task, then I can hand you a copy."

"Really?"

"I have no reason to lie."

Carolyn couldn't read his thoughts, but she agreed that there was no reason for him to lie.

The map showed the main paths inside the city, but there were no notes written on it. Carolyn wasn't sure how long it would take her to find their current location herself, but fortunately, Benedict was here to assist.

"This church is located here, to the west of where you entered. The inn is also on the western side of the city, but more to the center. Right, here."

There were some turns involved, but the distance from the church to the inn didn't seem longer than the journey Carolyn took to reach the church.

"However, for your own safety, you should take the route that leads you back to the main road."

Recalling the sights on the way to the church with Derrick, Carolyn nodded solemnly. She didn't regret her decision, but the slums definitely wasn't a safe place. Even more so for children.

"Mr. Benedict, the children that live here-"

"I'll allow you to make contact with Derrick because it's already happened, but it's better you don't try to look anywhere else. Those hands of yours aren't enough to save everyone."

His words were like a stab to the chest, but Carolyn knew he was right. She wasn't sure how much she could help Derrick, much less the rest of them. But if there was something she could do to make their lives a little better, then she wanted to try.