"What… my Rikko is…"
Lucille's question to Inako was as direct as it should be. She had met Rikko literally yesterday, and they hadn't talked about it yet, so what could she say? Would she continue to lie? Would she ask her friend and reveal his secret right there and then? There were more questions to ask than answers to give.
"Inako. You can tell me the truth. I don't care anymore." - Rikko said.
"Mr. Rikko? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am. I'd rather clear everything up here - not exactly everything - and get help to rescue your sister. Anyway, I don't know how far we would go lying to everyone."
"What do I tell them?"
"Just repeat what I say. I'll give you a quick summary."
"Okay."
A small and strange dialogue formed between the two in the presence of Lucille and the members of Coeur. No one could understand what was happening at that moment.
"Wait. Am I seeing things or is she talking to the animal?" - Jean said in a low voice, astonished.
"Man, you're not alone in this. Can someone explain it to us?" - Axel replied.
"I never thought I'd see a situation like this. In my years of study I've met many people who certainly weren't in their right minds, but something tells me that this girl isn't making things up." - Claire said.
'They seem... to be good friends." - Amélie said.
"Whatever it is, let's keep an open mind. After everything that happened, the least we can do is listen carefully and understand." - Henri said.
"Okay, if Mr. Rikko wants it that way, I'll tell them."
"Hold on, Inako." - Lucille intervened.
"Huh? But I was going to..."
"Exactly for that reason. We'll listen to everything you have to say, but it's better if it's upstairs. Until further notice, I'll treat your matter as confidential. Lilou?"
"Yes, Miss Allard?"
"You and the other girls go back to work as normal. The other adventurers should be returning soon, so ask them to bring the tables and chairs inside. And I want you to keep what you heard just now a secret, understood?"
"Yes! Understood!" - Lilou and her colleagues nodded immediately.
"Very well. Inako, come with me. And the five of you too."
The chosen place was Ferdinand's office. Inako sat in one of the armchairs with Rikko on her lap while Henri and the rest of his group settled as best they could in the remaining armchair and sofa. Jean preferred to stand behind the sofa because he was large. Lucille sat in Ferdinand's chair.
"Now that we're all settled, you can begin, Inako."
"Um, well... about Mr. Rikko... he's no ordinary rooster."
"After what he did, that's more than obvious!" - Jean interrupted.
"Silence, Jean!" - Henri ordered imperatively.
"Okay, okay, sorry! Sorry, young lady."
"As I was saying, Mr. Rikko is not an ordinary rooster. He has magical powers and can talk to me. We met in that forest yesterday morning. Sorry for lying down there, he is not my pet. He is my friend."
"There is nothing wrong with that, you are just trying to defend your friend, after all. Maybe more than a friend, since you refer to him as Mr. Rikko." - Lucille said.
"Yes, I have a lot of respect for him, because he appeared to me when I needed help the most."
"It seems like something very serious. Is it related to what happened to you when you were with Les Intrépides?" - Henri asked.
"Long before that. As I told Miss Allard before, I am from Sake, a country far from here, to the East. I ended up in Champagne looking for my half-sister Tenko, who was kidnapped by slave traders from this country. I left the temple where I lived with our father in a hurry to try to rescue her."
"Alone? That was very careless of you! Slave traders are very dangerous, you know?" - Claire said.
"I know. I am a complete idiot because of this, but I had to do something, they were getting further and further away. When I arrived at the port, their ship had already left and I knew they were on their way to Champagne. I had to stow away on another ship, but luckily for me, the captain was very kind and let me travel with them if I helped with the tasks."
"I-it must have been very difficult…" - Amélie said, clasping her hands together in anxiety.
"So when you got here, you met Les Intrépides and started traveling with them." - Henri said.
"Before that, I was doing small jobs here and there trying to find the trail of those men. Finding the adventurers was very lucky, I learned a lot from them. I didn't know what to do when they died, so I wandered through the forest alone until I found Mr. Rikko."
"If he talks to you, then it means he's intelligent and understands everything we say. Can you confirm that?" - Lucille asked.
"Yes! I was also scared when I realized he could talk to me, but according to him, ordinary humans can't understand what he says, only Hanjins can."
"Wait, what are Hanjins?" - Axel asked.
"That's what we half-humans are called in my country."
"Inako, can he tell you why he's a magical rooster? When I analyzed his feather, I discovered that he has two sources of mana, and that's not normal. As a student of magic, it's a subject I can't help but ask about." - Claire said.
"About that... he doesn't know either. He lived on a farm and ran away when he realized that it wasn't normal and would become food if he stayed there."
"Very well, it seems that regarding the origin of "Mr. Rikko" we are informed enough, for now." - Lucille said.
"He said that they can just call him Rikko."
"Okay. Rikko, then. But now I would like to return to the subject of this sister of yours, Tenko. I am positive in believing that her abduction is directly linked to the investigation that our superior is conducting. At this time he went to the city of Cognac exactly for that reason."
"Just a moment, Ms. Lucille. Mr. Ferdinand didn't tell us anything about that". - Henri said.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about later. Monsieur Ferdinand went to Cognac to recover Rémy's body."
"Whoa, wait a minute! Rémy died?" - Jean replied, astonished.
"Unfortunately, yes, sorry for being so abrupt about it. He was on duty investigating the slave trade when he was killed. Claude and Félix weren't with him at the time and reported what happened by message."
"Poor Rémy. May Phinita rest his soul." - Amélie said in a prayer.
"Rémy was our drinking buddy! There's no way this is going to stay that way!" - Axel said.
"You bet!" - Jean confirmed.
"Take it easy, both of you! Getting all hot-headed won't do us any good! Ms. Lucille, what do you know about these slave traders?" - Claire said.
"Unfortunately not much, Claire. Shortly before he died, Rémy informed us that a large auction would take place in Cognac on the first day of June, but as to the time and location, as well as the names of those responsible, it is still uncertain."
"You are talking about the Black Fair, aren't you?"
"How do you know that name, Inako?"
"Miss Lucille, I found out because of this. I got it from a drunk man in another city."
Inako took out a small folded paper and handed it to Lucille.
"But this is... Henri, come and see this."
After a brief moment of reading in silence, Henri gave his opinion:
"According to this paper, the fair will take place in Cognac, but not inside the city, it serves only as a meeting place. If I'm not mistaken, this Taverne du Crepúscule is located on the outskirts of the lower city. The late hours are certainly so that patrons can move around in the shadows."
"Dressed for the occasion... I imagine it's some kind of disguise, probably black hoods. Very appropriate for this filthy gang." - Claire said, after receiving Henri's draft.
"The real location was not specified and this "M" with the signature could be anything. A name, a nickname. But even so, it's more than we knew. Thank you, Inako, you were a great help." - Lucille thanked.
"Oh, I started saving money because I wanted to hire adventurers to help me rescue my sister. Please, I don't know if it's enough, but accept this money and save my sister, I promise to work and pay the difference!" - Inako begged, offering all the money she was carrying in her hands.
"Hey, calm down. Who said we want your money?" - Jean said.
"Huh? Why?"
"I hate to admit it, but the wall of flesh is right. Inako, no one here will accept your money for this." - Claire said, ignoring Jean's disgusted look.
"Exactly. As soon as Lord Ferdinand returns, we will draw up a plan to end this fair once and for all, you have my word." - Henri stated.
"But… but…"
"No buts, Inako. We have been trying to arrest those responsible for this fair for years, and in the name of Ferdinand Gautier, I assure you that your sister will return safe and sound. Keep your money, all expenses will be paid by the guild." - Lucille said.
Inako fell to her knees on the floor in tears and the coins rolled out of her hands. She was very happy.
"You… are very good people! Thank you very much! Thank you very much!"
Henri and the other members collected the coins scattered on the floor and one by one, handed them to Inako.
"You can count on us." - Henri said.
"You can trust me, I'll reduce those damned people to dust." - Claire said.
"Young lady, I'm really sorry for the mess we caused. Do you see those muscles? They'll be at your service from now on!" - Jean showed off.
"Shadows are my specialty, and as a specialist, it's my duty to punish those who use them for evil." - Axel said.
"I-I really want to meet your sister, okay? Please don't cry. Equidus, the God of Justice, will look after you." - Amélie said as she handed over the last coins.
"YES!"
"Well, it seems like everything is heading towards a good outcome. Now we just need to wait for Mr. Ferdinand to return. Your case is in good hands, Inako." - Lucille said.
"It's not over yet. They're forgetting about me."
"Huh? Mr. Rikko?"
"What is he saying?" Claire asked.
"Okay, I'll tell them. Mr. Rikko said he'll help too."
"I don't understand, how can he help us?" - Axel asked.
"It's better for him to stay out of this and let us resolve this fight." - Jean said.
"Have you two already forgotten about the beating you got? He has magical powers. I don't know exactly what he's capable of, but if he managed to sweep the floor with you, his help is more than welcome." - Claire said.
"No need to tear us apart like that! " - Jean and Axel responded in sync.
"Indeed. We have to take into account that we wouldn't have all the information Inako brought us and ignoring Rikko's strength would be a waste. Rikko, can we count on your help?" - Henri said, extending his hand.
"Look, he wants to shake the rooster's "hand"…" - Jean mocked.
"Well, I'm in!" - Rikko said, reaching out to shake Henri's hand.
"He said he'll accept!" - Inako said.
"And he really did!" - Axel said, in disbelief.
"I'm glad we can be friends." - Amélie said.
"Heh. It seems he's smarter than you two." - Claire said.
"Stop it, damn it!" - The duo replied.
A few reluctant laughs echoed from Jean and Axel, but it was up to Lucille to end the meeting.
"Very well, listen up everyone. Now that everything has been settled, we'll schedule a new meeting as soon as Mr. Ferdinand is present. I believe that will happen today, so you're free for the rest of the day until then. Got it?"
"Yes, Miss!" - The group replied.
"Very well, you may go. And as for you, Inako, do you still intend to register as an adventurer?"
"Yes! It's the best way to earn some money while I'm here and I'll need it when I go back to Sake with my sister."
"I'm going to register too."
"Oh, Mr. Rikko said he's going to register too!"
"Him? As an adventurer? Now anything goes, really." - Said Jean.
"Well, why not? If he passes the assessment like any other applicant, I don't see why I shouldn't try. You can register too, Rikko." - Said Lucille
"Hmm, I was going to go back to the inn, but I'm not going to miss this exam at all! I want to see it up close." - Said Claire.
"In that case, let's all go together. I'm also curious to see it." - Said Henri.
"Did you see that, Mr. Rikko? They want to see how strong you are!" - Inako said, hugging him.
"Heh, they're in for a nice surprise. I think." - Rikko said.