The Water Magician

Three people were unaware that they were being watched by the hungry swordsman duo.

Captain Gorick and his crew members Nan and Nin.

The three of them were following the instructions given by the Sujay Kingdom Embassy, visiting several locations.

Their job was to deliver letters handed to them by the embassy.

This in itself was, of course, not an illegal activity.

It wasn't an activity at all, but...

"Still being watched, huh?"

"Yes. They have been following us since we left the embassy."

"Just as we were told at the embassy."

In response to Captain Gorick's confirmation, Nan and Nin nodded slightly.

Yes, the three of them were being tailed.

In a way, it wasn't a problem since it was part of their role.

The issue was who was tailing them.

It would be fine if it was the intelligence agency of the Free City of Kubevasa.

"The Kubevasa intelligence agency... what was it called again?"

"It's the Special Defense Agency. It's said that they blend into the city to the point where their movements go unnoticed."

"Right. If the ones following us are noticeable even to us..."

"Then it's not the Special Defense Agency?"

In response to Captain Gorick's remark, Nan answered with a slight frown.

Nin, silent, similarly frowned.

By the way, Nan and Nin were siblings, and since they had good eyesight, they often climbed to the top of the mast on the Rondark to carry out surveillance duties.

Yes, they were the ones who shouted reports to Captain Gorick.

Of course, they were currently whispering as they conversed.

That day, the three of them delivered letters to the fourth recipient.

The contents of the letter were an invitation to a garden party that would be held at the Sujay Kingdom Embassy a week later.

So if it were to be taken away or opened before that, it wouldn't be particularly problematic.

"Still being watched..."

"Yes."

Captain Gorick murmured, and Nan nodded.

"Alright, let's take a break and observe the situation."

Saying this, Captain Gorick led the two into a tea house facing the square.

Half of the seats were filled.

They proceeded to the farthest seat in the back.

From there, they could have a full view of the shop.

While it was difficult to see the entire square, they had a clear line of sight to half of it.

It was a good place for counter-surveillance.

"Captain, look over there..."

Nin pointed without moving his finger or jaw, merely drawing attention with words.

It was two people seated by the shop’s window.

A swordsman and a mage.

"Is that Mr. Abel and Ryo-san?"

Even Gorick recognized them at a glance.

The two seemed unaware of the three.

They were looking towards the square instead of at the three.

It was unimaginable that Ryo and Abel were consciously avoiding looking in their direction, thinking they shouldn’t disrupt the three’s work.

"Let’s hope they don’t notice us."

When Captain Gorick said this, Nan and Nin nodded in agreement.

The three of them were being watched.

If they were to make contact with those three, Ryo and Abel might also become targets of surveillance.

The two were guests aboard the Rondark and had been instructed by Queen Iliriaja to deliver something to this Free City.

They couldn't involve them in operations or actions in this Free City.

After the three entered the tea house, a woman came into the shop.

She sat at the counter, facing away from the three.

"They’re different from the two who are following us."

Captain Gorick nodded at Nan's words.

No matter who was following them, they were merely observing.

It was unlikely that they would take any action against the three.

The embassy had said as much, and Gorick and the others were aware of that.

However, being watched continuously was not a pleasant feeling.

About twenty minutes later, Gorick, Nan, and Nin left the tea house.

They were seen from the corner of Ryo and Abel's eyes.

"Do you think the captain and the others had lunch?"

"Who knows? They probably haven't eaten as much as we have."

"They're still moving around, that's for sure."

Both Abel and Ryo were still sluggish.

Though they had refreshed a bit by sipping green tea and taking it slow, they wanted to stay that way for a little longer.