Chapter 656: 513 looks quite unfamiliar_2
"I didn’t borrow money to squander it carelessly; it was all spent where it was necessary,"
"Take, for example, this outfit I’m wearing."
Alberon pointed to the pure white, feather-like dress he adorned.
"This is undeniably high-end merchandise, you couldn’t find three such pieces throughout the entire Fairy Country of Britain. Wearing this attire allows me to move about freely. Whether it’s the grand cathedral of Salisbury or the auction in Gloucester, the moment the gatekeepers lay eyes on my ensemble, they immediately think I am a high-ranking fairy. They dare not obstruct me, permitting me to investigate with dignity in places ordinary people cannot access, and to gather intel others are not privy to."
"Furthermore, the powder just now, when sprinkled on oneself, even fairies with an outstanding sense of smell wouldn’t be able to detect our scent. Whether used for escape or to cloak one’s tracks, it makes it effortless."
"Additionally, when I need to pry information from someone, I also have to buy them a drink, right? When attending social events of high society, I even have to tip the doormen!"
"And I must sponsor others as well; each of these things requires money!"
At this point, Alberon even became agitated.
"As an informant who has done much hard work, the fact that I haven’t asked for activity funds is already quite remarkable, and yet you slander me?"
"It’s too much!"
"It’s downright outrageous!"
The sight of the Fairy King cursing vehemently not only failed to garner sympathy from those present but actually drew scornful glances.
It’s true what he said, and the circumstances were precisely as described, but why did it seem so suspect coming from Alberon’s mouth?
"You didn’t spend the borrowed money at a brothel, did you?"
Reiger asked bluntly.
The first to react to this remark wasn’t Altoria or Alberon, but Matthew, who stood beside Reiger.
"A brothel?"
The girl gazed at Alberon with eyes filled with surprise and astonishment, looking just like someone who had caught a villain in the act.
"I did not!" Alberon roared, his face turning red and his neck bulging as he clamored, "I have a lover!"
"A fictitious lover, huh." Altoria added with biting irony, "I get it."
"...Don’t make it sound as if I’ve been single for so long that I’ve conjured up an imaginary girlfriend, okay?"
Alberon nearly dropped to his knees on the spot.
In order to avoid having his good name smeared, the Fairy King hastily changed the subject.
"Alright, this is the Chaldea member you rescued, right?"
Alberon awkwardly shifted the conversation, directing the focus to Matthew.
"Hello, you two."
Matthew, the honest fellow, immediately fell for it, greeting Altoria and Alberon with a nervous and restrained bow.
"My name is Matthew Kililet, I look forward to your guidance."
This utterance surprised not only Alberon but also Altoria.
"You know your own name?"
Altoria asked.
"You haven’t lost your memory?"
Alberon looked equally astonished.
Seeing their reactions, Reiger became contemplative.
"Since you both say so, that indicates you already know the current situation of the people from Chaldea, right?"
To Reiger’s words, Altoria and Alberon both nodded in confirmation.
"They’ve woken up?"
Reiger caught on and asked directly.
"Correct," Alberon nodded and affirmed Reiger’s guess, saying, "The three people from Chaldea that we rescued are all awake now."
Reiger immediately looked towards Matthew.
"Chaldea..."
Matthew murmured as if in a trance, seemingly understanding that the beings Reiger and the others had just referred to were her companions from before her memory loss.
"Let’s go," Reiger said, "We’ll take a look inside."
The group nodded and walked into the cave together.
...
The cave, which wasn’t very spacious, had a thin layer of dry grass on the ground serving as makeshift beds.
On the beds of dry grass sat three people who were either whispering to each other or sitting in silence staring blankly, clearly in an abnormal state.
Reiger was the first to enter and immediately noticed these three individuals.
They were three distinctly dressed individuals, each with a unique appearance, and in all respects possessing great individuality.
The one sitting on the left was dressed like a minstrel, with a harp by his side and fiery red hair, exceedingly handsome but with eyes perpetually closed.
This beautiful man exuded a melancholic air, his face etched with a frown, suggesting a weathered life; those who stayed close to him would possibly be affected by this aura, engulfed in melancholy as well, right?
On the right sat a girl who appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen, even younger than Altoria by a few years.
She wore a little dress and carried a small backpack, and surprisingly, she was sporting a pair of roller skates. With her delicate features, it was clear she was a beauty in the making with a promising future.
The person in the middle was a boy around the same age as Reiger.
He was dressed in black combat gear; not particularly handsome but exuding a boy-next-door vibe. His presence wasn’t very striking, the type that grows on you over time, but quite ordinary at first glance.
The most eye-catching feature about him was the back of one of his hands.
On that hand was etched a bright red pattern.
Thus, these three vivid and distinctive individuals sat together on the pile of dry grass, and when Reiger and the others entered, all eyes uniformly shifted in their direction.
Then, two of the three showed bewildered expressions, while the third seemed to freeze, furrowing his brows.
"Who are you...?"
The melancholic man on the left was the first to speak.
Though his eyes remained closed, he seemed to sense the arrival of Reiger and the others and the presence of unfamiliar faces, prompting his questioning tone.
Compared to him, the other two—one seemed uneasy, the other silent and still—quietly waited for someone from Reiger’s group to speak.
"It looks like you’ve adjusted well," Alberon stepped forward, smiled at the three, and said, "Good, that’ll make talking easier."
"First, let me introduce two from our side," Alberon pointed to Reiger and said, "This is our companion who just went out to rescue your friends and was the one who arrived at the scene in record time to save you all. If not for him, you might have indeed died under the Curse of Moors."
Having said that, Alberon then gestured towards Matthew.
"This one here is your companion."
Upon hearing this, the group fell into an eerie silence.
Matthew gazed at the three individuals sitting on the dry grass.
The three individuals on the dry grass looked back at Matthew.
The four of them exchanged glances, as though uncertain what to make of each other.
"...Seems like you aren’t familiar, huh?"
Altoria muttered softly, shifting the silent atmosphere towards a subtle awkwardness.
"I’m sorry," Matthew apologized first, lowering his eyes as he said, "I don’t remember anything, so I’m not sure how to react."
At these words, the trio on the dry grass were all taken aback.
"You don’t remember anything either?"
The boy in the middle exclaimed in surprise.
"That’s right," Matthew replied truthfully, "If Mr. Reiger hadn’t told me my name, I wouldn’t even know my own name."
This time, it was Altoria and Alberon who were stunned.
"You still know her name?"
Alberon turned his head to look at Reiger.
"Something like that,"
Reiger replied noncommittally, then looked at the three seated on the dry grass and suddenly smiled.
"I also know your three names, would you like me to tell you?"