Honorable Person

Good morning, Pierrot.

Ah! Audrey, you beat me to the cafeteria again! Also, I was supposed to do the cleaning today. But I see you've already done it. Why?

I had some free time on my hand, so I thought why not help out a little. It wasn't much work anyway. Besides, you could use some rest.

You're always so thoughtful. Too thoughtful... Alright, I will be your sidekick in the kitchen today!

Hehe, that'd be great! Okay, I'm going to prepare the ingredients.

I think we're all set. Let's buck up and get ready to open for the day!

Good morning, beautiful ladies.

Mr. Charles, you haven't changed at all. What brings you by so early?

Hehe, Pierrot told me there would be a season-special menu available from today. So I thought I'd come early and secure a seat!

...PIERROT!? Why did you reveal the secret menu to customers after I specifically told you to keep it a secret!?

Uh, they were so excited about our new menu. I didn't want them to miss out...

T-They''? How many people have you told?

Well, uh... Haha... just a dozen regulars.

Hahaha, if you mean ''those guys'', then the whole town probably knows by now.

...Pierrot, look, I hate to do this, but you have to pay for your mistake... Therefore, you will be doing the cleaning today.

Whaaaa?!

So many customers today! Miss Audrey, looks like our new menu is very popular.

Turns out this is a blessing in disguise after all... Huh?

Hey! Why isn't this line moving?! Don't you people know my time is precious?!

Uh... Sorry, we have too many customers right now. To thank you all for your patience, we will offer you a free salad...

I don't need that crap! Get me my food right now! If you can't do that, then pay me for my lost time...

, How about we pay you 500 coins to get the hell out of here immediately?

...Uh, w-who are you?! 500 coins? What do you take me for, a beggar?!

(This guy acts like a hooligan looking for trouble, and yet he can't be appeased by a small amount of money... Did he come here just to give me a hard time?)

If you're not here to dine, then we can offer you only one kind of ''service''.

(Gotta keep your mouth shut so as not to spook our targets) This man came here looking for trouble. We will hand him over to the church.

Please be patient, everyone. We're going as fast as we can. Y'all will get your food soon.

(Alright, I'm going to contact Uncle Hunter. Looks like we've got a busy day ahead of us.)

Welcome. Ah, Gryph, it's you.

Sorry to disturb you. I know you're busy. Here's the letter from ''that lady.''

Oh, thank you. I will be waiting for her at the usual spot. As for the letter, I will get to it later.

Okay, I will let her know. By the way, I hear a hooligan came to your cafeteria looking for trouble this morning.

Oh, just a rat. We're still tracking down the rest of the horde.

...I noticed signs of rats gathering outside. Do you need our help?

I appreciate it, but no thanks. This is a noble house's family matter. It's best that you guys don't get involved.

Oh, and bring some food back with you. A decent cafeteria wouldn't let its customers leave empty-handed.

T-Thank you. (Quick change of emotion!) Appreciate it.

Miss Audrey? Are you busy right now?

Miss Vivi, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be hosting the prayer service today?

The patrolling priest said there was a disturbance over here. Need my help?

The troublemaker has been escorted away by the church. The cafeteria was not affected much. It was just a blip.

That's good to hear. For the safety of you and your staff, we should have the patrol team keep closer watch on the cafeteria.

(Looks like she hasn't noticed the rats nearby.)

Hmm... I don't think that's a good idea. The presence of church guards might put off customers.

You're right. I wasn't thinking straight. Alright, I'll be heading back now...

I can't have you come all the way here for nothing, can I? You're our honored guest, you deserve some hospitality.

Huh!? B-But that's not why I came...

My turf, my rules. No exception even for the Holy Lady herself.

Well, if you insist.

Please enjoy.

Mmm... delicious. Miss Audrey, you really are a good cook.

Hehe, glad you like it.

(Okay, with Vivi around, ''those guys'' won't dare to make a move. I should let Pierrot and the others get off work now.)

...Sir, we're closed for the day.

Oh! When did you...

Argh, please put that dangerous thing away. Or... we'll do it for you.

Damn it! Stealth operation abort! The target... is right here!

Calling for backup? But right now you're alone.

Aaaaaah...!

Alright, you just lie there. The other customers seem to have arrived.

Target spotted. Surround her and take her down...! Miss, if you don't want to get hurt, shut your mouth and come with us.

Is this all of you?

...Cut the crap or we'll...

Yes, this is all of you. Uncle Hunter, close the net.

Light magic?! No, it's a trap...! We're being ambushed... Arghhh!!!

...

You can open your eyes now, my lady.

Thank you, Uncle Hunter. Looks like we won.

Lady Audrey, we interrogated the man you brought in this morning. He put on a good disguise, but his accent gave him away.

Oh? So he is...?

It was an accent commonly heard in the southern part of the Empire, with an old-school touch. I'm guessing he's one of the refugees who moved here in the wake of the Calamity.

Makes sense. The Empire has long given up tracking me down in this way. Also, this place has mercs everywhere. I bet the man was sent by some noble house from outside the Empire.

Which is why it's dangerous for you to be out here on your own. You should get back to...

Uncle Hunter, if I return to my family, I will soon get mixed up in all kinds of power struggles. Trust me, I won't be any safer then.

So leave me be. I'd rather stay here and continue my life as a cafeteria owner.

Sorry, I overstepped my boundaries... Back to business. I understand your plan is to draw out your attackers. Should we take further action?

...The people pulling the strings are using refugees as a shield. Fighting them head-on will hurt the family's reputation. Maybe it's time to bring in the ''authorities''.

Sorry you had to come here at this hour.

Just doing my job. So, the person who ordered the attack on you is among those refugees?

Yes, no doubt about that. And they have noble backgrounds.

But there are so many refugees around here. Until the culprit is confirmed, forced arrest is not an option, not even for the church...

That's why I need you to put on a show with me, captain.

...Why haven't those idiots contacted me yet? They have trouble handling a mere cafeteria owner? Have I wasted my money hiring them?

(Luckily those mercs don't know my name. Even if they fail, I won't be implicated.)

...Who are you?! What are you doing sneaking around with a weapon...? What the heck are you up to?!

Let go of me! I told you already...! I'm not up to anything! I was just trying to get away from the city's... Anyway, just leave me be!

(...Huh?! That woman being caught, isn't she... What's going on here?)

Come on, fess up! You were going to attack this place, weren't you?

(She didn't bring anyone with her... Was she on the run?)

Please... I'm begging you. Let me go! They... they're almost here!

(Ha! I knew it! Those idiots are not that useless after all!... No, I can't let her get away just like that!)

Hey! You from the church! Let the girl stay. I don't think she means any harm!

Oh? Looks like we've found our target.

Target? What do you mean? I-I don't know what you're talking about...

You're the only one around here who would let an armed stranger in... Seems you know who I am.

...Damn it! You tricked me! Get her, you damn losers!

Uh...! L-Let us go, please! We got bewitched, that's all...

Who hired you?

S-She didn't tell us her name... We sent people after her, but they lost her in the city...

(...Another noble in the city? This makes it more difficult to find out who she really is.)

We've arrested pretty much all of them. Miss Audrey, is there anyone else who might be a threat to you?

Nice work, guys. You can call it a day.

Miss Audrey, your shoulder...

Mhmm? ... Oh, I got cut in the shoulder just now.

Well... Would you mind me treating your wound?

Whoa, how chivalrous of you. Please patch me up then.

Miss Guinevere, thank you for what you did tonight.

No worries. Here's the intel gathered by the God Eaters this week.

...Hmm, finished reading it. In exchange, here's the intel from the church and my own family.

Got it. Nice doing business with you. Oh, and Gryph told me you ran into a little trouble today.

Just a little unpleasantness between noble families. More specifically, a noble family used nobles from outside town to investigate me.

You mean those refugees? Calamity predictions are increasingly missing the mark. Refugee influx has become a serious problem for the Empire.

And that has led to subtle shifts in the balance of power within Augustine. Noble families of varying sizes are getting anxious. That's why I'm being investigated.

Tell me, Miss Guinevere, if the God Eaters overthrow the current order, how will you handle your relationship with the nobles?

If every noble was like you, we would be more than happy to collaborate with them. But that's not the case. This country has a shortage of smart people.

In other words, there's no guarantee... Or worse, maybe we're headed for a conflict?

Now you're joking. You're able to keep a good relationship with everyone around you, the church, us, the nobles, the commoners... I can never afford to make an enemy out of you.

Well, I'll take that as a promise... Just so you know, you have much to gain if you work with us.

Victoria's Pearl''... I wonder who came up with this deceptive moniker for you, the heir to the Victoria family.

Well, what girl doesn't enjoy being cherished and cared for? In this sense, I think this ''identity'' suits me fine.

...I promise in the name of the God Eaters that I will never do anything to harm the Victoria family. There, can we talk now?

The God Eaters' first sermon plan.

Sorry to disturb you, my lady.

Thank you for coming so early, Uncle Hunter. This notebook contains the recent moves by the God Eaters and my advice for the family.

Understood. I will bring them back to the elders... Are you heading to the cafeteria?

Yes, a lot of customers missed out on the seasonal special yesterday, so I thought I'd go there early in the morning and make plenty more of it so that it won't happen again.

Please be careful, my lady. Sorry for the nagging, but things are not peaceful these days. Even an old man like me can see that.

Hehe, you've been looking out for me since I was little, and I really appreciate it. The thing is, after I left our family, I found my true calling.

And now a storm of change is coming for this city and this country. If I don't stand in the forefront when it hits, our family will get swept into oblivion.

That's why I have to see and hear and reach as far out as I can. It's the only way I can prevent myself from getting lost in the flow.

It's been a while, Lady Audrey.

Yes, indeed, Al. If you want to catch up, let's go sit down in the shop. But I take it that's not why you came?

I came to apologize on behalf of several of my fellow nobles.

Oh? Which ones exactly?

The ones that attacked you and your staff. I'm afraid I can't give you their names.

...Those old foxes. If they sent you as their representative, then I suppose they have no wish to make us their enemy. Okay, let's hear the apology.

'The attack was ordered by us. It was a breach of the long-standing pact between Augustine's noble houses. It's only right that we compensate the Victoria family for the damage done.''

Mmhmm, go on.

Apart from cash compensation, we also offer Miss Audrey a piece of intel... regarding the 'rats' and 'eagles', which you have been chasing.''

(The God Eaters and the Church of Augustus? So other noble families have learned of my dealings with both of them... Well, as far as this matter is concerned, they're probably not that innocent either.)

As the old Eastrise saying goes, no discord, no concord. Why don't we take this opportunity to catch both the rats and eagles?''

Oh, you people sure have high hopes for me. (And they hope to win over both sides. Not sure if I should call them greedy or reckless.)

I'm just the messenger, Lady Audrey. Oh, and they also wanted me to tell you this: ''If you're still not satisfied, we can give you a list of names to whom you can do whatever you want.''

...Scapegoat...? Al, watch out!

...Huh?

Stop. Who are you?

...Get out of my way. I'm going to kill her!

I will not let you pass. The patrolling guards will be here in just a few minutes. You are done for.

If I'm going down, I'm dragging her with me! Otherwise...

She can't be reasoned with. Guess I have to stop her the hard way.

...Uh!

Quit resisting. That was advanced magic, practiced by the Church of Augustus. Are you alright, Al?

...I'm fine, thanks.

Who is she? Seems she had it in for you.

She's daughter of a small-time noble house... She and the rest of her family are on the list we were talking about.

...Looks like your itinerary was leaked. As long as those old foxes persist in their ways, the noble class will never get out of its mess.

Lady Audrey, maybe we nobles are destined to be that way.

I'm surprised to hear you say that.

Haha... I said it because my name is on that list too.

Miss Audrey, you contacted the church on such short notice. Is there any important message you want me to pass along?

Yes. I have a message for... Never mind. Just relay this message to the first church leader you see when you get back.

...The old-time nobles of the Empire are a lost cause. The Church is looking for a loyal supporter among the noble houses, right? The Victoria family is willing to play that role.

Huh?

Remember, this message is highly confidential and must be delivered without delay.

...Yes! I'm on it!

...Miss Nightingale.

Here.

I have made a statement to the church as Guinevere suggested. Will that satisfy you God Eaters?

I believe the pope will be convinced. And if so, our plan will be more feasible. Thanks to you.

...You mean the plan to change Augustine Empire? Then you need not only to change people's religion, but also to change their beliefs.

Lady Audrey, the camera you're looking for is over here.

The invisibility magic is still in effect... Good.

This will not be opened until your verification is complete.

The footage of us being attacked has been found. That's good leverage when dealing with those people.