Again, it’s Layman?
Gauss murmured to himself, but his expression remained composed and unruffled.
"Originally, Governor Noah was supposed to approach you personally, but unfortunately, recently he’s been beset by trivial matters and can’t meet with you, so he asked me to convey his regards."
"Please also extend my regards to Lord Noah."
After some pleasantries,
The seated individuals finished exchanging names.
Only then did Pleos continue speaking.
"I wonder, Lord Gauss, what do you think of the Tiefling race? What is the relationship between Tieflings and humans?"
The question caught Gauss by surprise. Although he was curious about why it was asked in such a setting, it wasn’t a particularly difficult question.
"Since Tieflings are born from humans, they should also be considered part of humanity."
"One cannot choose their own birth."
Gauss said calmly.
This was also his true opinion, and he wasn’t saying this just because Pleos in front of him was a Tiefling.
To be precise, the Tiefling bloodline has now been integrated into the human gene pool.
It’s like a recessive gene, though the probability is small, ordinary human parents can also give birth to a Tiefling.
In other words, even if he were to have children in the future, the probability of them being a Tiefling isn’t zero.
"The wise Lord Nock thinks so too, having enacted many policies to ease the conflicts between Tieflings and ordinary residents."
"Thus, in recent years, the number of Tieflings in the city has unknowingly increased."
Gauss patiently listened to Pleos’ words.
He knew that the other party wasn’t likely to be discussing the status and social issues of Tieflings with an outsider without reason.
"However, while this infernal blood doesn’t affect our minds, it is inherently evil blood."
"Currently, there have been frequent incidents of Tiefling orphans disappearing in the city, likely due to some malicious individuals scheming behind the scenes."
Pleos’ voice remained steady, but deep within those red pupils, a cold and sharp light flickered momentarily.
"Lord Nock knows that you’re an expert at handling commissions, so he wants to hire you handsomely to investigate this matter."
After listening, Gauss fell silent for a moment.
Pleos was clear in his words, first testing Gauss’ views on Tieflings and then handing over the investigation of the missing Tiefling cases.
However... there were still some doubts in this matter.
He looked at Pleos.
"Forgive me, Lord Pleos, but with your abilities, wouldn’t you be the best choice to investigate this disappearance case? Even if you’re busy, surely in a large city like Flute Castle, there are more suitable Adventurers?"
He stared into Pleos’ eyes.
His skills are among the best in a normal town, but in a big city like this, finding a stronger Adventurer shouldn’t be difficult.
Moreover, this matter doesn’t even require outsiders; Pleos’ power is terrifying in his perception.
"I can’t conduct the investigation myself." Pleos showed a hint of bitterness on his face.
"Due to my Tiefling identity, the big shots in the city aren’t comfortable with me investigating this matter."
"Additionally, the capable Adventurers in the city aren’t interested in this commission."
"..."
"Not interested?" Gauss blinked.
Even as an outsider, he could sense there was an issue.
A lucrative commission from the governor should be quite attractive, so why are the local Adventurers uninterested?
"Well, they don’t want to get involved in this mess." Pleos sighed. "The underlying situation is complex."
"In short, someone is trying to thwart Lord Nock’s actions."
Pleos leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered.
"Using this incident to stir panic and exclusion against the Tiefling community, and even... to attack Lord Nock’s ’weak, indulgent to outsiders’ governance."
"..."
"What do you think, Lord Gauss?"
Gauss was silent for a moment, exchanging glances with his teammates and thinking it over.
Finally, he spoke.
"Lord Pleos, this matter is significant, please allow me to consider it further after I return."
Upon hearing Gauss’ response, a hint of disappointment flashed on Pleos’ face, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Of course, of course."
"Should you decide, please feel free to contact me anytime through the Golden Eagle family."
Pleos sighed, stood up.
"Then, my lords, I’ll take my leave."
He bowed slightly, then left the room.
After he left, Aaliyah sighed.
"He seems quite polite, but... sigh..."
Gauss’ further deliberation was essentially a subtle refusal.
But Aaliyah could understand why Gauss didn’t accept the commission.
They had no reason to get involved in Flute Castle’s political strife.
Although they sympathized with the Tieflings’ plight, their own safety remained their priority.
"Aaliyah, are you planning to find a place for Cultivation?"
Gauss looked at Aaliyah and asked.
Every time her level advanced, she needed to return to the wilderness to find a place rich with nature’s breath for seclusion and practice.
"Yes, I’ve already delayed several days."
Aaliyah nodded.
In fact, she had felt an urge to break through a few days ago.
But on the road, there wasn’t an appropriate time, so she held it back.
Now in the relatively stable Flute Castle, she no longer needed to suppress that instinctual urge.
"Alright, go Cultivate in peace, we’ll wait for you at Flute Castle."
"..."
Watching Aaliyah, Gauss suddenly twitched his eyelid.
"By the way, Aaliyah, once you’ve picked the place, let me know, so I have a sense of where you are."
"Sure."
Aaliyah made an OK gesture.
Then the group left the VIP room and returned to the streets.
Aaliyah left the team, setting off first to find a suitable place for her meditation.
While Gauss and the others rode their mounts back to the inn they rented last night.
York and Abby still needed to buy a property in the city, and he planned to give them the property commission list he had in hand for review.
Approaching the inn.
Gauss dismounted at an alley.
Leading his mount toward the inn.
"Kid, you must be starving, huh?"
"Auntie here has some bread, delicious and soft white bread, would you like some?"
Deep within the alley.
A plump lady, her hands on her knees, handed a palm-sized piece of bread from a basket to a Tiefling child slumped against the wall.
The child was so hungry that his lips had turned pale.
He scrutinized the bread in the woman’s hand, a wary look in his eyes.
"Gurgle—"
But he was simply too hungry.
His brain instinctively gave up thinking, all his attention drawn to that piece of white bread enlarging in his gaze.
It looked so fluffy, dotted with dried fruits, emitting a sweet aroma.
Upon closer inspection, it was still steaming slightly as if fresh from the oven, absolutely tantalizing.
"Gulp—"
He swallowed his saliva.
How could such sweet-smelling bread possibly be any problem?
"Tha... thank you, Auntie."
Raising his crimson hand, he tried to take the bread from the woman.
Suddenly.
"Snap."
A hand as white as jade firmly grasped the woman’s wrist, immobilizing her.
"Hold on."