Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 135

A few days have passed, and thanks to Anne’s arrangements, the procedures for visiting the cardinal have been completed.

The visitors will be myself, Sara, Anne, and our bodyguard, Kiriku. Everyone is dressed to appear as elegant as possible.

I’m wearing the merchant outfit I bought previously. It might look inadequate, but it’s all I have. Sara also bought a new outfit for this visit. Although she was reluctant, I insisted she buy it, as such occasions are likely to arise again.

Among us all, Anne was the most enthusiastic. She had intricately braided her golden hair into a high updo, wore a dress primarily in red and black with plenty of fabric, and adorned herself with earrings, necklaces, and rings.

She had her neckline opened quite low, making her intentions obvious. It was almost as if she was trying to look provocative.

“You’re an idiot if you think I’d go like this,” she said, draping a cape over her shoulders.

The cape covered her exposed chest and made her appear more like a lady. Her strategy seemed to be to attract attention by initially revealing herself and then subtly redirecting it with the cape.

Since the incident with Roro, it’s been a while since we’ve entered the first-class district. It seems that many devout individuals are flocking to catch a glimpse of the cardinal, who is reportedly staying there.

However, the cathedral has designated open days several times a year, and usually, commoners are not allowed inside. Even so, the crowd is being pushed back by the guards.

Thanks to having the introduction letter and Anne’s additional arrangements, we managed to get through smoothly. However, it seems our trustworthiness is still low as all our weapons were confiscated.

Well, considering that we’ve dealt with a noble who was once disliked, it’s not surprising that we’re being treated this way. Plus, even if unarmed, I doubt there’s anyone in the First District who could best Kiriku.

We follow the guards as they lead us towards the cathedral. It’s heartwarming to see Sara, who is seeing the First District for the first time, wide-eyed and looking around curiously.

The streets are clean and meticulously paved, the gardens are beautifully manicured, and fountains spout pure water without any trace of the city’s usual sewage smells. Instead, you can even hear the chirping of birds and smell the fragrance of flowers. This is the world of the nobility and wealthy merchants. It’s a world I must navigate and confront.

I expected we would head straight to the main entrance of the cathedral, but instead, we were guided to the accommodation for clergy, a sort of annex to the cathedral. When I ask Anne, she confirms that we will be waiting here until the appointed time.

In essence, it’s the same as with Roro. Our contact for negotiations is likely waiting for us here. I was caught off guard last time, but this time I’m mentally prepared.

Inside the accommodation, the guidance is taken over by a cleric, and we are led to a waiting room.

The waiting room is unexpectedly stark, with stone walls and a large table surrounded by sofas. On one of the sofas sits a young man with a slim build and a pale complexion, his gray hair disheveled. He is stacking documents and diligently writing on parchment.

Without stopping his writing or looking up, the man says, “Enter.”

The voice is surprisingly young.

“Just sit down anywhere and wait for a while,” he said dismissively. He continued writing without acknowledging us further. Even Anne, usually so confident, missed her chance to make an impression, and we sat idly, unsure of what to do. By the time the tea poured by the cleric had gone cold, the man finally put down his quill, looked up, and spoke.

“I am Nicolo, a priest. I serve as an administrative officer under Cardinal Matthias. Are you Kenji?”

When he asked me that, I took a step forward to greet him.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I hear you were once an adventurer.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And you are said to make unusual shoes.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Seemingly frustrated by the standard responses, he picked up a thick booklet from the side and dropped it heavily in front of me.

“Did you write this report?”

The title on the luxurious, gold-edged report read “Regular Report on Adventurer Enterprises, Report No. 4.” I hadn’t noticed before because of its leather binding and gold trim, but it was Urbano’s report.

Why does he have it?