A month passed since Adam arrived in Springdale.
In that time, his flatmates came and went without much explanation. Sometimes they were gone for a day. Sometimes for several. They never spoke about where they went, only returned tired.
Of course, Adam already knew that they were either on missions or carrying out their duties for the Brotherhood. On the surface, however, he appeared completely clueless.
Left on his own, more often than not, Kenny spent his days roaming the Trade Ward. He learned the layout of the streets, the rhythm of the markets, the busiest hours, and the quiet ones.
He listened to merchants argue, watched guards make their rounds, and memorized shortcuts through alleys and roads. Gradually, the district began to feel familiar and comfortable.
Yet, the feeling of being watched never left him.
No matter where he went, he sensed eyes on his back. Of course, he knew that the people of the Brotherhood were always observing him, seeing if he was going to be a good fit for the organization.
During this time, he made sure not to reveal any suspicions. He always wore Kennyâs face and behaved like a sixteen-year-old who had left the forest and settled in a bustling metropolis for the first time.
Kenny appeared slightly nervous and suspicious every time he felt he was being observed, but Adam was calm and patient. For he knew this was the vetting process he was going through.
In order to infiltrate the Brotherhood, he had to do so from the ground level, posing as a harmless Mana Foundation Magus.
And thatâs exactly what he had done.
Eventually, the day he was waiting for finally arrived...
The cityâs usual sounds filtered in through his bedroom window. It sounded muted and distant. Kenny was alone once again, the silence pressing in all around him.
On the surface, he appeared bored and even reminiscent of his home in the Sea of Green. But inwardly, he couldnât help but quietly complain:
Dragonshit!
Itâs been so many months since Iâve tasted a sip of wine. With these bastards constantly tracking my every move, I canât even enjoy alcohol.
But why do you have to spy on me even when Iâm in my room? Is there no sense of privacy for these people?
Suddenly...
Knock! Knock!
Kennyâs eyes gleamed with an excited light.
Finally,
he thought to himself as he quietly spread his senses outward.
He is here!
The boy exited his bedroom, walked across the tiny hallway, and finally opened the door. A moment later, he was startled.
"Magus Potts!" he exclaimed.
Lebu smiled warmly at the youth.
"Kenny, my boy," he greeted as he ruffled the boyâs hair. "How have you been?"
The boy intinctively recoiled, smoothed his hair back, and said with a bright smile. "Iâve been great! Just a little bored, maybe. Itâs lonely here, but I love visiting different places in this district. Itâs fun."
Lebu chuckled jovially as he sat at the dining table. "What else have you been up to?"
As if you donât know,
Adam sneered inwardly.
But Kenny said with a wide smile, "I try all kinds of food in the neighborhood. Theyâre so delicious. And apart from that... uhm, I like to look at the cityâs skyline at night. Itâs just like back home, except this is a forest of buildings."
"Forest of buildings," Lebu murmured with a smile. "Haha, I like the sound of that."
Kenny then shamelessly stretched out a hand and said, "Anyways, Iâve run out of money."
Lebuâs lips twitched.
Seeing that expression, Kenny let out an awkward laugh. "W-what I mean is... uhm, give me a job so I can earn money! Thatâs right!"
The Agent cleared his throat and said in a solemn voice, "Thatâs why Iâm here."
He paused, intently looking into Kennyâs brown eyes. "Iâm here to offer you a job."
"Really?" Kenny was excited. "What do I have to do? No, more importantly, howâs the pay?"
This kid sure loves money,
Lebu thought to himself in amusement.
"Before that," he began. "Let me confirm one more time... do you possess any spells?"
"No." Kenny innocently shook his head. "Never needed them."
"Good." Lebu nodded. "I have a job for you, and for that, you must not use any spells. Understood?"
Kenny couldnât help but show a light frown, his eyes flashing with light suspicion. "What kind of job is this? And..."
He paused for a moment before warily asking, "If you donât mind me asking... who do you work for, Magus Potts?"
Lebu smiled. "Youâre cautious," he said. "And that is a good trait to have."
He paused for a few moments, studying Kennyâs expression. At last, he began:
"I work with a small network that handles problems best solved quietly. We donât seek control, and we donât advertise what we do. When something minor starts to turn dangerous, we step in and nudge it back into place. You wonât need to know names or faces, only what needs doing."
He paused for a moment, then solemnly said, "If you decide this isnât for you, we part ways and forget this ever happened."
Kenny was dumbfounded.
"Magus Potts, you said absolutely nothing despite using so many words!"
Lebu found his eyelid twitching in frustration.
Well, thatâs all I can say without exposing knowledge about our organization,
he mused.
Just as he was about to reiterate, Kenny spoke up.
"We wonât be harming any innocents, right?" he asked, his voice uneasy.
Lebu was slightly taken aback before shaking his head with an approving smile. "That goes without saying."
Kenny sighed in relief. He then asked in a very serious voice, "And the pay is good, right?"
"...The pay is decent," Lebu replied after a brief pause. "We do not overpay novices, but we always pay on time. Besides, it will be enough to sustain yourself in the city."
"Alright, Iâm in!" Kenny readily agreed.
"...Donât you wish to hear about the job first?" Lebu felt a little flabbergasted by the youthâs love for money.
"Oh, yes." Kenny nodded, patting his forehead. "Sure, go ahead."
Is this kid serious?
Lebu thought incredulously.
His expression soon turned solemn, and he explained the initiation mission.
"Thereâs a minor noble Iâd like you to watch," he began.
"Nothing urgent. Follow him long enough to understand his routine, who he meets, where he goes, and how he conducts his affairs. If thereâs something improper, you document it. If there isnât, thatâs useful too. No confrontation. No interference. If youâre noticed, you walk away. The risk is low, and Iâd like you to keep it that way."
Lebu paused for a moment, then added with a smirk:
"Should you choose to accept this mission, you will begin tonight."