Unbeknownst to Me, I’m Secretly Dating the Emperor — Chapter 6

...I ASKED IF YOU WERE REALLY HERE

JUST FOR COFFEE.

BECAUSE TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAME HERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.

...WAIT. HE FIGURED IT OUT ALREADY?

THIS FAST?

THE HEAD OF THE IMPERIAL INFORMATION GUILD REALLY IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL...!

...FOR EXAMPLE,

MAYBE YOU'RE HERE TO SELL SOMETHING?

OR PITCH SOME 'LUCRATIVE INVESTMENT'?

SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU DIDN'T COME FOR ANY OF THAT-

AND YOU'RE REALLY JUST HERE FOR COFFEE?!

...EXCUSE ME?

I MEAN... YES?

UNBELIEVABLE...!

Right this way, please!

I'll show you to your seat!

WHAT IS GOING ON...?

I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING.

WE DON’T USUALLY GET CUSTOMERS AT THIS HOUR.

ESPECIALLY NOT ONES WHO ACTUALLY COME JUST FOR COFFEE!

Please wait just a moment.

I’ll bring the menu right away.

YES... ALRIGHT...

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING... BUT AT LEAST I'M SAFE FOR NOW.

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE REALIZED MY REAL PURPOSE YET.

...BUT KYLUS ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE I EXPECTED.

THE NOVEL DESCRIBED HIM AS CALM AND INTELLECTUAL...

BUT HE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL.

I Guess The Original Story Wasn't Everything.

...NOW THEN, MY GUEST.

ONE CUP OF COFFEE, JUST AS ORDERED...

I MADE IT ESPECIALLY FOR YOU.

...WHY IS HE SO INTENSE ABOUT IT?

YES, THANK YOU. I'LL ENJOY IT...

...WHY IS HE STARING AT ME SO INTENSELY WHILE I DRINK?

THIS GUY IS SERIOUSLY WEIRD-

GASP?!

IT TASTES HORRIBLE!!!

UGH...

WHAT IS THIS? HOW CAN IT TASTE THIS BAD?

IS IT POISON? SHOULD I SPIT IT OUT?!

NO... HE WOULDN'T GO THAT FAR...!

I ASSUME...

IT'S NOT TO YOUR TASTE.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BEST BREW OF THE YEAR...

A SHAME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF.

I'LL SERVE IT TO THE OTHER CUSTOMERS INSTEAD.

...WAIT, OTHER CUSTOMERS...?!

...RIGHT, NOW I GET IT.

THIS WAS A TEST FROM THE GUILD...!

THEY SERVED ME THIS POISON-LIKE COFFEE ON PURPOSE TO TEST THE CLIENT'S PATIENCE.

MENTIONING 'OTHER CUSTOMERS' MEANS I FAILED THE TEST...!

IF THAT'S THE CASE,

NO MATTER HOW BAD THIS COFFEE TASTES...!

WAIT.

...I'M GOING TO DRINK MORE, SO JUST LEAVE IT.

I HAVE TO FINISH EVERY DROP.. FOR CONNIE'S SAKE.

...UGH!

!!

Incredible... you actually finished it?!

DON'T THROW UP...!

UGHHH...

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT...!

YOU'RE THE FIRST CUSTOMER SINCE WE OPENED TO FINISH EVERY DROP!

AS A CAFÉ OWNER, I'M TRULY MOVED!

AH...

WAIT. IF THE TEST IS OVER, THEN WHY..

WHY ISN'T HE MENTIONING THE GUILD...?

IS THE PASSWORD STILL REQUIRED?

I SHOULDN'T JUST SIT HERE, I NEED TO GET TO THE SERVICE...

UM... EXCUSE ME.

'THE BLUE HAWK SOARING THROUGH THE FIRMAMENT...'

'HAS GUIDED ME HERE.'

...PLEASE.

I HAVE TO PASS THIS PERFECTLY...!

...AH.

SO YOU'RE A CLIENT FROM THAT SIDE.

IN THAT CASE-

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE TODAY?

BUYER...

OR SELLER?

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

...THIS IS...

RECORDS CONCERNING DUKE CAMELOT AND HIS SUBORDINATE HOUSES.

IT CONTAINS PROOF OF THE RECENTLY RAISED ALLEGATIONS,

AND IT'S EVEN ORGANIZED VERY NEATLY AND IN DETAIL.

HOWEVER, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO OFFER A HIGH PRICE FOR THIS.

...AND WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE THE VALUE OF INFORMATION DEPENDS ON ITS SCARCITY.

THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED IS BASED ON OFFICIAL RECORDS FROM THE IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE,

SO IF THE AUDIT TEAM CONTINUES THEIR INVESTIGATION,

IT'S INFORMATION THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE UNCOVERED ANYWAY.

IT'S INFORMATION ANYONE CAN FIND IF THEY SPEND THE TIME,

...IF YOU REALLY THINK THAT,

YOU'RE ONLY SEEING HALF THE PICTURE.

JUST AS THE SCARCITY OF INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT,

ISN'T THE TIMING OF THE INFORMATION JUST AS IMPORTANT?

IF YOU OBTAIN THE RIGHT INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT TIME,

AND CAN UTILIZE IT QUICKLY...

I BELIEVE THAT IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN A QUICK DEAL, WELL...

IT CAN’T BE HELPED.

I SUSPECTED IT THE MOMENT YOU ARRIVED KNOWING OUR IDENTITY...

...JUST AS I THOUGHT.

YOU’RE NO ORDINARY GUEST.

...I CONCEDE.

YOU’RE QUITE GOOD AT NEGOTIATION.

...! THEN...

Does that mean the deal is on?!

WE'LL DECIDE AFTER I HEAR YOUR TERMS.

OH MY DID I JUST...

SUCCEED IN PERSUADING KYLE SEYMOUR?

I Can't Believe It.

BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WHY DID YOU THINK NOW WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THIS INFORMATION?

...BECAUSE I HEARD

HIS MAJESTY INTENDS TO PURGE DUKE CAMELOT.

IF HE PLANS TO ROOT OUT THE CORRUPT NOBILITY ONCE AND FOR ALL...

THEN BEFORE THEY ERASE ALL EVIDENCE IN THEIR ESTATES...

HE'LL LIKELY LAUNCH A SURPRISE RAID.

HE'LL NEED SOLID CHARGES TO JUSTIFY IT...

AND THESE RECORDS WOULD PROVIDE THEM.

...AND YOUR SOURCE?

COUNT LENKELS? LADY CAROLINA DIAZ?

...PARDON?

I NEVER INTRODUCED MYSELF...

HOW DOES HE KNOW MY NAME?

AND WHY MENTION COUNT LENKELS ALL OF A SUDDEN...?

IF IT WAS COUNT LENKELS, HE COULD’VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING...

THE GUILD’S LOCATION, THE PASSWORD, EVEN OUR IDENTITY.

IF NOT HIM... THEN HOW DID YOU-

KNOW THIS GUILD BELONGS TO THE EMPEROR?