I am the Enchantress!

Chapter 161 The Mysterious Employer

The Nomads' Association's real goal was to drive the investigation team away from Ironweave Town as soon as possible.

This is the conclusion Wilder reached.

"That's what I think too."

Joffrey nodded to him, his expression filled with sincere gratitude.

He figured it out on his way back.

The moment he understood, his steps immediately became lighter.

Wilder was right; the results of his inquiry did indeed surprise him and brought him a glimmer of hope.

"No way—what's going on?"

Gru didn't understand, but he keenly sensed the relaxation in Joffrey's words, so his tone became cheerful as well.

"Tell us about it!"

He grinned, taking a big gulp of chilled ale as he spoke, instantly dispelling the frustration he had felt earlier.

reunion----

It should be lively and festive!

The others also turned their gaze to Wilder and Joffrey, expecting an explanation from them.

"Wild, shall I explain?"

Joffrey reverted to his signature gentlemanly demeanor, looking at Wilder, "Listen to see if we agree."

.

"OK."

Wilder nodded.

Joffrey then offered an explanation for the conjecture that "the true purpose of the Wanderers is to drive away the investigation team": "First of all, the missions assigned by the Wanderers' Guild are often highly targeted. They usually do not assign intelligence-stealing missions to assassins, nor do they assign assassination missions to thieves."

Upon hearing this, the listeners unconsciously swallowed.

If I remember correctly, Joffrey specializes in being an assassin.

I wonder how many people he has killed —

Joffrey looked around at the others, puzzled, and continued, "For the same reason, the association usually doesn't assign its members tasks that are beyond their capabilities, such as having me assassinate Monk."

"So at first, I thought the association wanted to get rid of me for this reason."

Joffrey's voice was as gentlemanly as his appearance, and his voice was quite magnetic, making him sound very articulate: "Then, as you know, Wilder asked me to inquire about the other wanderers in the association, and I was surprised to find that their missions were almost the same as mine—to be members of the assassination investigation team."

"Most of them are only intermediate professionals, and one or two are even only beginners. They, like me, do not have the ability to assassinate advanced professionals."

"That's very strange. Does the association intend to eliminate more than two hundred members at the same time?"

"That's obviously impossible."

At this point, Joffrey turned to look at Wilder, as if seeking his opinion.

Wilder smiled and nodded; this was entirely in line with his thinking.

After receiving approval, Joffrey continued, "Besides that, there's another detail I didn't have time to mention. I also asked the only high-ranking wanderer I know, and guess what he said?"

Clearly, now that he was out of danger, he became increasingly relaxed, even adding questions to his sentences.

Everyone shook their heads.

"This superior, a wanderer friend, said he never received any orders to assassinate members of the investigation team!"

"The fact that higher-ranking wanderers are clearly more likely to succeed in assassinations, yet they weren't assigned to assassinate the investigation team, only confirms my suspicions!" Joffrey remarked.

"The association never intended to actually assassinate members of the investigation team."

"They deliberately assigned low-level professionals with insufficient skills to carry out the assassinations, simply to intimidate the investigation team, to make them fearful or exhausted by the constant assassinations, and finally—"

"Forcing them to leave Ironweave Town ahead of schedule!"

At this point, Joffrey concluded his speech, smiling as he looked at Wilder, who was sitting to the side.

"Just as I thought."

Wilder smiled.

"I see----"

Gru paused, then asked casually, "But even if you understand the association's purpose, don't you have to carry out the mission?"

Lyle sighed softly, glancing sideways at Gru, who was sitting on ten cushions just to reach the table: "I thought dwarves' height was determined by the reduction in their torso and lower limbs, but it turns out it's their brains!"

"What did you say? You obnoxious half-elf!"

Gru was indeed not as foolish as Lyle claimed, for at least he could tell that the half-elf was mocking him.

"In fact, I don't have to do anything at all."

Joffrey interrupted their argument, saying with a relaxed air, "From what I can tell, there are at least twenty wanderers who have been given the mission to assassinate Monk. If the mission itself is just to drive him away, they don't need me."

"I understand!"

Gru slammed his hand on the table. "You mean the law doesn't punish everyone?!"

"Joffrey means that after those people who got the same mission tried to assassinate Monk multiple times, that guy will probably leave Ironweave Town ahead of schedule."

Cyrion, unable to bear it any longer, stepped in to explain further, "At that point, Joffrey would be unable to complete the mission, and the association would most likely not pursue the matter further."

""

"oh----"

Gru nodded dazedly, gripped the glass, and took another big gulp.

Pretend to be drunk and that's why you haven't figured it out.

"Geoffrey, there's something else I need to ask you," Wilder suddenly said.

"Go ahead," he nodded.

"Are the tasks assigned to your association usually determined by the organization itself, or are they commissioned by employers?"

"Both possibilities exist."

Joffrey blinked and immediately understood what Wilder meant. "However, as far as I know, the Rogues' Guild and the Adventurers' Guild headquarters to which the Investigation Team belongs have no conflict."

"So it's most likely an employer-sponsored transaction?"

"That should be the case." Joffrey nodded. "In fact, more than 70% of the Association's missions are outsourced."

"Then—who commissioned it?"

Wilder asked softly, as if addressing the people at the table, or perhaps reflecting on his own thoughts.

He was very curious about who the client was.

In fact, Wilder was very grateful to him.

The fact that Monk's investigation team left Ironweave Town as soon as possible was undoubtedly a good thing for him, or rather for Talia.

This would end the investigation team's search for the Red Dragon.

Only when they leave Ironweave Town will Talia be truly safe.

but----

Was the mysterious employer who commissioned the Nomads Association to expel the investigation team truly there to rescue the Red Dragon?

Wilder felt that the possibility was very low.

Talia had no connections in Ironweave Town, and all her friends were at this table. As a friend in her Red Dragon form, she only had Wilder.

No one will spend money to help her.

So what exactly was the mysterious employer's motive?

The investigation team was dispatched to Ironweave Town, apparently for two purposes.

First, an investigation revealed three consecutive sightings of suspected dragon breath in the border forest.

Second—

Investigate the reasons for the frequent appearance of high-level monsters on the outskirts of the border forest.

Could it be that...?

Wilder's eyes lit up.