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"In the Grafson family knight's room? How could he have gone there?" Ian continued to press.
"I don't know, my lord," Jenny answered, shaking her head.
"What about the knight?"
"He's gone, and his page boy too." Jenny added, "I followed your instructions and knocked on the door. The first time I knocked, there was no response, so I left. I stayed in the hall for a while and then knocked again. Still no response. I was confused, so I pushed the door and found it wasn't locked."
"Then you saw Black Falcon's body?" Ian asked.
"Yes."
"Did you see the cause of death clearly?"
"What?" Jenny asked, confused.
"What wounds did Black Falcon have?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I was so scared when I found the body that I screamed. Some mercenaries rushed in to check. When they realized their boss was dead, all hell broke loose. I couldn't stay there any longer, so I came up here as fast as I could to report to you."
"Damn it." Ian sighed. She was the first to find the body, and then she ran straight to him. It only made him look more suspicious.
"Wear armor and prepare for a fight," Ian ordered.
Rohr immediately started barricading the door with tables and chairs, while the three of them helped each other quickly get their armor on.
Listening to the sounds outside the door, Ian hoped that when Black Falcon's mercenaries came up, Denzel would side with him as promised.
But after a long wait, the sounds downstairs gradually faded away instead of the anticipated knocking from Black Falcon's men.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Sir Lucien, Jenny, are you in there?"
"It's Aunt's voice," Jenny whispered.
"Martha?" Ian asked aloud, recognizing the voice.
"Yes, it's me, Sir Lucien," came Martha's voice.
"And us," added Denzel's voice.
"How's the situation outside?" Ian asked.
"Most of Boss Morgan's mercenaries have left. Only four are still in the room with his body," Martha answered.
"Open the door." Ian took a step back and commanded.
"Could it be a trap?" Rohr asked, frowning.
"It's most likely not. If it were, this door wouldn't stop anyone," Ian replied. He knew that if Denzel and his mercenaries were on the other side, he would stand no chance.
Rohr nodded, moving the table away from the door and pulling the bolt.
Standing outside were only three people: Martha, Denzel, and Sir Grantham. Ian had feared a larger group of mercenaries, but this was not the case.
"Sir Lucien," they all greeted, bowing their heads.
"Has the murderer been caught?" Ian asked.
"No," Denzel replied.
"Then why did they leave?"
"Catching the murderer is far less important than fighting for the position of the new boss," Grantham said, his voice casual. "Except for Dorian, Boss Morgan's adopted son, who saw Morgan as a father. He stayed with a few others, vowing to avenge him. The rest left in a hurry."
"Then why are you still here?" Ian asked with a smile.
"I'm not," Grantham replied, though he seemed to hesitate. "You're sharp, Sir Lucien. I am, in fact, a member of the Black Falcon mercenary group. I didn't leave because I didn't think I had the capital to compete for the leader's position. Plus, I realized working with you would be more profitable than becoming the new leader of the mercenary group."
"But I'm curious—how did you figure out that I belong to the Black Falcon Mercenary Group?" Grand son asked.
"Two reasons," Ian replied calmly. "The first is your attitude toward the Blackfire Treasure."
"My attitude?" Grand son asked, confused.
"You seemed sure from the start that I hired you for something dangerous. I think at that point, you must have assumed I was here for the Blackfire Treasure, right?"
"Ah? Did you guess it?" Grand son was surprised, then admitted, "Yes, I did."
"So you didn't shy away from talking about the Blackfire Treasure at first," Ian continued. "Back then, you were trying to gauge how much I knew. But when you realized I didn't know anything about it, you quickly changed your attitude and became more cautious, not wanting another competitor in the search."
Grand son shifted uncomfortably.
"Had you been, as you say, excluded from the hunt for the White Wall City Ghost Bandits like Denzel, you'd have welcomed me as a new competitor. After all, the more competitors, the more chances to claim a piece of the treasure for yourself. But if you didn't do that, it means you're either a member of the local wealthy knights' alliance or the Black Falcon mercenaries."
Grantham swallowed, his throat dry.
"The second point is how you refer to Black Falcon," Ian continued.
"Everyone calls him Boss Morgan. He doesn't like being called Black Falcon, because the title 'Black Falcon' is reserved for the leader of the mercenary group, not for him," Grand son immediately explained, realizing something.
"I know that. For example, Martha and Jenny have always called him 'Boss Morgan,' but they're just innkeepers. You, on the other hand, are a knight. If Denzel, like me, calls him 'Black Falcon,' why would you, a knight, call another man 'boss'?"
Grand son was momentarily speechless.
"So, you already guessed I'm from Black Falcon's mercenary group?" Ian asked. "Then why did you choose to work for me?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Ian smirked. "I'm not interested in the Blackfire Treasure. Since I have no conflict of interest with Black Falcon, what does it matter to me if you work for him? In fact, my original plan was to use many of his men. But now that plan is ruined. By the way, you're still going to serve me, right?"
"I apologize for my deception earlier, Sir Lucien," Grand son said quickly, lowering his head. "If you'll forgive me, my sword is yours."
"You have my forgiveness," Ian replied, "but don't deceive me again."
He then turned to Denzel.
"Oh? I've never deceived you, ser," Denzel said quickly, raising his hand. "I swear it, in the name of Queen Nymeria."
Nymeria, the warrior queen of the Rhoynar, had led her people across the seas to escape the Valyrians, eventually marrying Mors Martell and uniting Dorne. To this day, she held a revered place in the hearts of the Dornish people, even ensuring equal inheritance rights for men and women.
"I know you're not lying, my friend," Ian said with a nod, before turning to Martha. "When will the inn return to normal business?"
"Black Falcon's mercenaries destroyed a lot downstairs, scaring off almost all the customers. However, there are still spare tables in the warehouse. Business will return to normal soon, but we'll have to deal with how to handle those mercenaries seeking revenge for Boss Morgan."
"I can try to persuade them to leave," Grantham offered, ready to step in.
"Why let them leave?" Ian raised an eyebrow. "They're mercenaries too, aren't they?"
"They're focused on avenging Boss Morgan now," Grand son explained. "They won't be hired by you."
"But now," Ian's eyes narrowed slightly, "I've become interested in the so-called Blackfire Treasure."