Undercover (1)

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Kira said as she explained, and Ryan looked at her as he raised an eyebrow when he noticed something about her statement at the end.

"I thought you said she never worked with the other adventurers then?"

He asked her because he already knew this information that Scarlette never accepts any party invitation, no matter how much the others would beg or even tried to smooth their way to Scarlette but at the end, Scarlette never paid any attention to them, according to the rumors, they say.

And right now? Even Kira knew that Scarlette would never accept any party invitation since she is a native of this Empire and must have witnessed it with her own eyes.

'But what is she talking about right now? Is she already drunk?'

"Yes, it's true that Scarlette never accepts a party invitation and prefers to work alone but that was not that case when it comes to full-scale subjugation missions."

Ryan snapped from his thoughts when the woman speaks and then, he looked at her as he heard something familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.

"Subjugation missions?"

He asked her and Kira took another bite from the snacks that they had ordered for the second time before she continued.

"In Adventurers Guild, there are missions that are posted on the mission board and those requests are from the clients that want to hire someone to do a task for them and anyone can do that, be a party or solo, as long as their rank status is aligned on those what were on the mission board. You know at least about that, right?"

Kira explained and Ryan nodded as he understood what the woman was talking about.

"However, that is not that case in subjugation missions because these missions are issued by the guild and the rules here are strictly needs cooperation."

As she said that, Ryan thought about what Kira stated and it seems that something had click on his head, but he wanted to confirm first; "Then, this means that—"

He didn't continue his statement when Kira nodded at him as she speaks; "Meaning, whether you are a solo or not, you need to abide by the rules of the subjugation mission and Scarlette is not an exemption to this one."

After the woman explained this to him, Ryan held his chin and asked; "Even if she didn't want it but she had no choice but to abide that rule, is that right?"

Kira looked at Ryan as she raised an eyebrow at him and said to clarify something; "Don't make it sound like as if Scarlette is a narrow-minded woman, Ryan."

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath and continued; "What I mean is, Scarlette didn't take someone with her if she is going on a job mission but that is not the case in subjugation missions. Scarlette is willingly to join and cooperate with the other adventurers, especially if there are newcomers and she is tasked to lead them."

Kira explained and Ryan made a nervous laugh as he hurriedly replied; "Ah! Sorry that I misjudged. I never expected that she had that kind of character despite being cold and indifferent like when she speaks to me back at the guild."

After he clarified himself while explaining his side, he suddenly remembered something.

"But I thought her skills were unknown to everyone? So, it means during the subjugation missions are the only times that you guys can witness her strength? What does it feel like?"

Kira looked at him as she remembered the crimson-haired woman and nodded as she speaks; "Yes. Scarlette Overland is not just an SSS-Rank adventurer for nothing. She is really strong, and I can tell that by just a glance. However, it feels like she is hiding her real strength."

"What do you mean?" He frowned as he asked, and Kira took a bite once more as she continued.

"It would be better if you witnessed it by yourself and let you be the judge for that. Because whatever I'm trying to say wouldn't be that enough to evaluate Scarlette Overland's abilities."

She said and Ryan couldn't quite understand Kira's message to him but even so, he mentally takes note of that.

Ryan felt an incoming headache as he held his forehead, and it seems like he is quite drunk as he stopped drinking, and he looks at Kira on the opposite side.

He saw that the woman barely holds her tolerance to alcoholic drinks. Ryan looked outside of the window from the tavern, and he saw that it was already dark outside.

He didn't want to drink any further as he needed to meet Scarlette by tomorrow morning.

"Hey, Kira! It's already dark outside and we should get going now. I still have to wake up early in the morning to meet Scarlette."

Ryan said and the woman just nodded as she heard him, and she stood up and as Ryan was about to leave some money on the table when Kira stops him.

"Don't worry about it, bro! I already paid for the meals when we entered the tavern earlier, and it's my treat for you! Now, let's go!"

Kira said as she once again placed her arms around Ryan's shoulder and the man managed to catch her since she almost stumbled on the floor.

Since Ryan is still sober then, he assists Kira, and the woman just laughed at him as she speaks; "I… *hic! *hic! …. C-can handle *hic! *hic! …. Myself so no worries, bro! J-just… *hic! *hic! …. D-drop me off on the other side…. *hic! *hic! … o-of the streets and I can go home by myself!"

'Is this woman stupid or woman? What kind of man am I leaving a drunk woman at the other side of the streets?!'

Ryan thought as he looked at the pretty much wasted Kira since this woman has been drinking ever since they arrived in this tavern and Ryan's couldn't believe what he had saw when this woman almost finished up a full mug of beer earlier, as if the mug is just some plain water for her.

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