I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 50

Chapter 26.1

“Magic ore? Do you need magic ores for your research?”

Lev, who was grumbling in response, blinked his eyes in confusion at Estieren’s unexpected question. It was only when Ban tapped his shoulder that he came to his senses and hastily answered.

“That’s generally the case for high-level magic like petrification magic. In particular, in the case of petrification magic, we can’t experiment on people since we know that its side effects can be fatal.”

“….”

“Therefore, we usually experiment on magic ores until the magic stabilizes, but even that isn’t easy. As you know, the trade of magic ores is monitored by the imperial family.”

“If magic ore is needed to eliminate side effects, why are you concerned about the imperial family’s surveillance?”

When Ban, who was listening to him, asked him back, Lev looked at him with a face that seemed to ask if he really didn’t know before he sighed deeply and answered.

“Are you seriously asking that question? Of course, it’s because of the rumors!”

“….”

“Just think about it. The imperial family monitors magic ores transactions. If it even gets rumored that it’s to solve a magical problem rather than for magical tools, who would buy magical tools sold by the magic tower?”

After hearing his indignant added words while smirking, Ban awkwardly averted his eyes.

As Lev said, it certainly made sense that Diel would ask him for the magic ores.

‘Then, the only thing left is those footprints in the forest.’

Although Neitzia was adjacent to the sea, it wasn’t a place where ships could dock because behind it was a sheer cliff. That meant they could only assume that those people had business to do there, not beyond Neitzia.

‘What could they get from Neitzia?’

Estieren, who was deep in thought with a furrowed brow, suddenly had a fleeting thought. While he had some doubts, it wouldn’t hurt to check.

“Uh, where are you going?”

“There’s something I need to check. You don’t have to follow me.”

Estieren left the office, leaving behind the two people who were staring at him questioningly.

Philoia.

It was one of the plants that only grew in Neitzia and had excellent pain-relieving effects. However, once the medicinal effect wore off, the pain would worsen, and some people experienced side effects. Therefore, for safety reasons, its cultivation and harvesting were banned in Arbonis.

The problem was that Philoia could only be found in Neitzia, which was part of Arbonis’s territory. As a result, foreigners would enter the country targeting it. They mainly sold the Philoia harvested in Neitzia on the black market.

‘It was sold on the black market a few days ago.’

The name of the person who sold Philoia was Grinner. Given the nature of the black market, it was likely that ‘Grinner’ was an alias. Estieren, who has been searching for someone using the alias Grinner under the emperor’s orders, has recently come across someone suspicious.

“I-I didn’t expect the Grand Duke to come and visit me.”

Allen Basilic, the Duke of the Duchy of Efren.

As the Duke, he led the Bonn Bairmun merchant community and enjoyed wealth comparable to that of the imperial family. Estieren believed that accumulating such wealth couldn’t have been achieved solely through legal means, especially considering that the date of his arrival in Arbonis coincided with Grinner’s activities.

Setting aside his growing suspicions, he smiled at him.

“I’ve come to seek some advice from the Duke.”

“…A-Advice?”

“Yes.”

Allen looked at him suspiciously, puzzled by his words.

Estieren added, looking at him directly.

“Since the Duke runs a merchant, I thought you might also know a lot about the black market.”

In response to his question, Allen replied with an embarrassed expression on his face.

“I-I don’t think I’m going to be of much help. Wh, what I know is only as much as other people know.”

Estieren stared at Allen, who didn’t even blink. He was adept at hiding his facial expressions as he was the owner of one of the largest merchant associations.

“Have you heard anything about Grinner?”

“G-Grinner?”

“Recently, it was said to be the name of a person who sells a medicinal herb called Philoia on the black market.”

“I, I’m not sure. I don’t know much about it.”

As Allen shook his head despite his added words, Estieren smirked at his reaction before he parted his lips.

“I see. Well, if you happen to learn anything about him later on, please inform me.”

“I, I’ll do that.”

Seeing that he rose from his seat after he finished speaking, Allen’s brows narrowed as he stood up without another word. At that moment, Estieren, who had been walking towards the door, looked back at him as if he had suddenly remembered something.

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