Capturing Heroines as a Fatso young Duke?!

Chapter 33: Information

The morning sun rises again through the windows of the dormitory hall as Sevi stepped out of his room, all refreshed.

'I hope Cedric already gathered enough information by now..'

His mind, however, was still preoccupied with Cedric's promise of answers and the mysteries surrounding Carla and Noemi.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed someone rushing down the hallway.

Thud!

Sevi collided with a smaller figure, jolting him back to reality. He looked down to find a timid-looking boy scrambling to pick himself up.

"Ah, my bad—" Sevi began, but before he could finish, the boy muttered a hurried apology and darted away, almost tripping over his own feet in the process.

Sevi blinked in confusion, staring after him. 

"What's with the rush?" he muttered.

Something shiny on the floor caught his eye. He bent down and picked up what appeared to be an identification card. The neatly engraved name on it made his breath hitch.

__________________________

Prince Carion Everheart

---Scholar's Class---

_________________________

"Speaking of the devil..." Sevi muttered, his eyes lingered on the name etched into the ID card. It had been months since he'd last seen or interacted with the original protagonist of the story.

'It's strange how the supposed to be hero of this game is still in such state.' Sevi thought as he remembered the earlier look of Prince Carion.

'Not to mention, Scholar's class?' Sevi thought, his brow furrowing. 

'I don't think the instructor's mentioned an academy class with that name.'

The idea of a Scholar's Class was a new thing for Sevi. The academy offered many disciplines, but none that Sevi had heard of bore that specific title.

He sighed, pocketing the ID card. 

"He'll probably be looking for this soon. It's practically a lifeline in this academy—can't get into the library, dorms, or even the dining hall without it."

Still, Sevi couldn't help but wonder what had Carion in such a hurry. While it wasn't out of character for the prince to shy away from prolonged interactions, his frantic dash seemed more than just his usual timidity.

Maybe something's bothering him, Sevi thought, glancing down the hallway where Carion had disappeared.

"Well, I'll run into him again eventually," he said to himself, continuing on his way. "No need to go chasing after him now. Besides, there's still Cedric's report to worry about."

Suddenly, Sevi felt a subtle buzz from his pocket. His hand instinctively reached for it, pulling out the crystal ball. The orb was softly glowing, signaling an incoming message.

'Cedric's report already?' Sevi thought, glancing around the hallway before heading back toward his room.

Once inside his room, he placed the orb on the desk, and with a focused thought, the crystal flickered to life. Sir Cedric's familiar image appeared, his face slightly more serious than usual.

"Ah, young master, I've gathered the information you requested regarding Carla," Cedric said, "It seems there's more to her than meets the eye."

 "Go on." Sevi said as he raised an eyebrow.

Cedric nodded, his expression grim. "Carla is from a well-established family, though her connections to Noemi remain peculiar. She's enrolled in the academy under a false name. Her real identity is that of a member of the Red Crescent, an organization with ties to the shadowy corners of the kingdom. I suspect her interest in Noemi is not as innocent as it seems."

"What exactly is the Red Crescent, and how does it compare to Vehemos, Kane's dark guild?"

Sevi's question clearly took Cedric by surprise. His brow furrowed for a moment as if unsure whether he had heard correctly. "The Red Crescent? Young master, I'm surprised you don't know of them—both the Red Crescent and Vehemos are widely known throughout the kingdom."

Sevi blinked, taken aback. "They are?" 

'These dark guilds weren't mentioned in the game tho... Oh well, I haven't even played it,' Sevi lightly smirked as he remembered how he got inside this game without even playing it.

Cedric, noticing Sevi's confusion, nodded gravely. "Yes. The Red Crescent is one of the most influential factions, though they operate behind the scene. They've been involved in countless dealings with high-ranking nobles, merchants, and even royalty. Their members are often seen in positions of power, though their activities are rarely public knowledge."

Sevi leaned forward, still processing. "And how is that different from Vehemos?"

Cedric sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Vehemos is more overt in its actions. They deal in darker things—forbidden magic, curses, and dark artifacts. Their power comes from fear and influence in underground circles."

Sevi's thoughts shifted as he considered another important point.

"Then, what do dark guilds like Red Crescent do to half-beastmen or full beastmen? I know there's a lot of discrimination against them in human society, especially half-beastmen... Do they sell them as slaves?"

Cedric's face remained grim as he continued. "Yes, young master. The Red Crescent has a particular interest in half-beastmen, especially due to their innate abilities and, often, their physical appearance. Their unique traits, strength, agility, and even the beauty that comes with their mixed heritage make them highly sought after by certain people. The Red Crescent doesn't just target them; they auction them off, selling them for a high price to nobles."

'The Red Crescent wasn't just a dark guild, it's an organization that trafficked innocent people, and treated them like objects to be bought and sold.' Sevi's stomach churned at the thought.

Sevi felt a cold rage rise within him as he remembered his half-beastman friend, Noemi.

'Noemi could easily be caught up in this if she wasn't careful.' Sevi clenched his fists tightly, his mind racing. 

"But Carla... if she's really involved with this, she could be the key to stopping it or causing even more harm."

Cedric's gaze softened, and he gave a subtle nod. "Be careful, young master. Carla may be a pawn in something much bigger."

"I'll figure it out," Sevi said, his voice filled with resolve. "I need to find out how deep her ties go and what she really wants with Noemi. But this isn't something I can do alone."

Cedric nodded once more. "I'll continue gathering information. Keep your eyes open, young master. There's more going on here than we realize."

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