Water Magician

Chapter 165: Cologne’s Bread

Chapter 165: Cologne’s Bread

Editor: Tseirp

Fifteen kilometers east of Jayclaire, the capital of the Handal Union.

There was a closed city known as Yeast.

It was under the direct control of the Union Government, and as the name “Closed City” suggests, it was a place where only those with special permissions could enter, not just the ordinary citizens, but even nobles.

Cohn was in such a city, where extremely strict controls were in place for both exiting and entering.

The Inbury Duchy, located in the south of the Handal Union.

As a result of the 『Great War』, the country achieved complete independence.

Cohn was a C-rank adventurer in the Inbury Duchy, and at the same time, he sometimes took on jobs as a spy for the Duchy.

After he and Ryo delivered His Highness Prince Willy, the eighth prince of the Kingdom of Ju to the Kingdom of Knightley, he received an order from the Inbury Duchy to infiltrate Jayclaire, the Capital of the Handal Union.

After infiltrating Jayclaire, and performing various intelligence activities, he obtained intel that a 『new weapon』 was being developed in the closed city, Yeast.

The new commission was to find out the details of this 『new weapon』.

The infiltration of the closed city, Yeast, was extremely difficult, but Cohn, with his wealth of experience, managed to infiltrate the city and was about to obtain information at the weapons workshop today.

There was one big question in Cohn’s mind.

In this world, 『weapons』 were often created through alchemy.

The Kingdom and Empire were big players when it came to alchemy...but, the alchemic attainments of the Handal Union was nothing to write home about, to say the least.

In the past, the alchemy of the Union was supported by the Inbury Duchy, which was a vassal state.

However, now that the Inbury Duchy had become completely independent due to the Great War and had become, if anything, an enemy of the Union, the level of alchemy in the Union couldn’t possibly have improved.

However, a 『new weapon』 was said to be under development.

And it was on the verge of being put into actual use.

Where the hell did such grand alchemic achievement come from?

Or, to put it more bluntly, how did they get hands on such a brilliant alchemist?

That was the question going around in Cohn’s mind.

“Guess I will find out once I sneak inside...huh.”

Muttering to himself, the wagon Cohn was driving arrived at the entrance of the weapons workshop.

Although it was called a 『weapons workshop』, it was a vast site, perhaps for the test firing of weapons.

At the entrance, the wagons were subjected to strict checks every time they entered.

“Yo. Cologne Bread here.”

“Oh, Cologne. You’re here again.”

‘Cologne’ was a pseudonym for Cohn.

“I am very grateful for your patronage. My sick father’s medical bills are quite high you see, so I need to earn as much as I can.”

With that, Cohn, as usual, opened up the entrance to the wagon to make it easier for the guards to inspect it.

Cohn does not bring in any strange tools for his undercover investigations.

So it didn’t matter how much the guards turn the wagon down during their inspections.

“All right, clear.”

For a full five minutes, two guards opened and examined the boxes and barrels.

“Hey Cologne, are you heading to the first loading dock again today?”

“No, I was told to bring it to the fifth loading dock today...”

As Cohn said this, the mood of the guards changed.

“The Fifth ... then I can’t let you go alone. You two, go with him. And I’m sure you don’t know the way there too right, Cologne?”

“That’s right, thank you. Yesterday, I was asked to go to the fifth, and since I don’t know where it is, I was wondering what to do.”

Of course, it was a lie.

He knew the location perfectly well.

But he had also researched the fact that outside vendors who enter the so-called 『Fifth Area』, commonly known as the fifth loading dock, were always accompanied by guards.

“Cologne’s bread is indeed delicious...and even so, for its reputation to have reached all the way to the 『Fifth』, that’s amazing.”

Having said that, the captain of the workshop guards laughed.

“Argh, I knew it...”

The captain muttered quietly.

(Could this perhaps be...an opportunity?)

Cohn was biding his time in anticipation.

“It can’t be helped. It’s the Doctor’s orders. I’ll take him. Two others, come along. Pastry guy, take the box and follow me.”

Cohn hurriedly followed the captain with the smaller box, a specially made box with alchemical tools to keep it warm, the only one of its kind in the whole of ‘Cologne’s Bread’.

(I guess my luck hasn’t run out yet.)

He muttered to himself.

The room to which Cohn was taken was a considerable distance from the loading entrance.

Above the door was a sign that read 『Fifth Maintenance Room』.

The double-opening door was quite large.

The guard captain knocked on that door and entered without waiting for an answer from inside.

Cohn, carrying the box, followed him in.

“Doctor, the pastry guy is here, and I’ve brought him with me. As you’re aware that outsiders are prohibited from coming in here, so I would like if you’d limit your requests within reasonable...”

“Oh, you’re finally here! Come on, over here.”

The elderly man, called the Doctor, interrupted the captain’s quibble and called for Cohn.

The captain, perhaps already used to this, simply sighed.

“I had the 『Special Cologne Bread』 at the director’s place yesterday, and I have to say, it was a masterpiece. That box is a heat-retaining alchemy box, right? Very good, just as I requested. Now, pass me one.”

The ‘Doctor’, who was probably in his mid-sixties, had long, unkempt white hair and an equally long white beard.

He was dressed in what the research institute called a white coat, but if he were to hold a wand, he would look like a grand mage.

Despite his age, he had a fierce gaze and an erect posture that gave a certain intimidating impression to those who come in contact with him.

But what surprised Cohn even more was the very person who was called the ‘Doctor’.

Even Cohn, who was from another country, knew his face and name.

In other words, he was somebody who had been closely related to the affairs of the country for a long time.

But at the same time, he was someone who should not be there.

That’s right, the ‘Doctor’ should be in the ‘Kingdom’, not the ‘Union’.

Not a weapons workshop, but an alchemy workshop, in the Magic University.

He was one of the two leading alchemists in the Kingdom of Knightley, and was also known by his nickname ‘Master Alchemist’.

That was the identity of the man in front of him, the genius alchemist Frank De Verde.

“Yes, this is it. Gosh, It really tastes good. I hope you have the three I ordered? Good, I’ll have the other two.”

Frank, the ‘Doctor’, accepted the two untouched loaves of his Special Cologne Bread and put them in the warming box provided in the room.

“Great, this should keep me going for a while. Um, pastry guy...Cologne, right? I would like to order more for tomo...”

“Nope, that won’t do, not everyday, Doctor.”

As Dr. Frank was about to order for tomorrow, the captain of the guard stopped him.

“Mhmm, what a cheapskate. I know all about the rules, but come on...fine, the day after tomorrow then. Three loaves, same as today.”

“G-Got it, order received.”

Cohn nodded his head in confirmation.

Then he looked suddenly to the side.

There, the front of the wall was a clear crystal window, and at the back of the room beyond the window was....

(Is that...)

“Hey, pastry guy, let’s go.”

“Uh, yes.”

Urged by the captain, Cohn left the room.

Burning the scene beyond the window into his memory.