"Stop right there! Who goes there?"

Just as I approached the palace, the guard in charge of the gate shouted at me, his spear pointing towards me.

Really, do I look like a bad person?

Although I'm dressed in a black robe and cloak, with two short swords hanging from my waist, can't you see the purity in my eyes and my noble appearance?!

Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. A person as pure as I am would never attack the palace, kidnap the princess, or kill the king...well, except maybe the last one.

"Good evening, everyone. My name is Euryphyle, a mercenary from the Ais Empire. I passed by here and saw a mission posted by Her Highness the Princess at the Mercenary Guild, so I completed the task."

As I spoke, I took out the doll of the princess that she had given me.

"So, I came to collect the reward for delivering the princess doll."

"Is...is that so."

The guard hesitated as he saw the doll in my hand. After exchanging glances with another guard, the mercenary said.

"I'll inform our leader!"

The guard said that and then turned around and went inside the city walls.

What a hassle. It would have been fine if they just let me in casually. It's so troublesome without a fast travel option. What a waste of time.

After a while, a person in armor with a cloak and the guard came out. Probably their captain.

After giving me a glance, he took out a bag of something from his pocket and walked up to me, reaching out for the doll in my hand.

I swiftly stepped back, evading his hand.

"1000 gold coins, that's what the mission said, right?"

I looked at him and said.

"Isn't it only 1000 silver coins?"

"Hmph! What right does a lowly mercenary like you have to bargain! Hand over the doll quickly, then take the money and leave! Otherwise, I'll arrest you as the person who stole the princess doll!"

The captain said arrogantly.

Idiot, even your level 10 isn't worth my memory. How dare you be so arrogant, it really scares me~

This clearly presents two options in front of me~

First, hand over the doll, take the reward, and let someone else deal with the princess.

Second, kill this guy, bring the doll in and give it to the princess.

Personally, I dislike troublesome matters, so I usually choose the first one. And in games, too, I usually choose the first one, because choosing the second one feels like endlessly grinding against small monsters.

But now, I'm playing an exciting game. I can't let this scum who looks down on people go without teaching him a lesson.

"So, you plan to take the doll as your own achievement, huh, you scum?"

"Haha! You dare talk to me like that! You..."

"Hmph, don't forget the doll is still in my hand."

I shook the doll in my hand and laughed.

"....Then, how much do you want?"

"1000 gold coins is equal to 100,000 silver coins. You're trying to dismiss me with only 1000 silver coins? Are you kidding me?"

"Fine, fine! I'll give you 10,000 silver coins, is that enough?"

"It seems you can't do math, you bastard!"

I said arrogantly.

"If I give you the doll, you will receive a double reward of money and honor..."

"Ugh...dammit! 20,000! 20,000, will that do!"

"......"

"Damn it! You guys have no idea how hard we guards work. It's not easy to earn money!"

"Well, then be a guard and do your job properly. If you want to take shortcuts, there will be consequences."

"You're ruthless! Here's fifty thousand, and that's all!"

He threw something that looked like a card at me. I caught it and saw the word "银行" (bank) written on it.

Oh my god, can't we just play normally anymore? Now even the banks are here! And with cards too! Maybe I can top up and get a black card?

I looked at it, there was only a scan code, no name. Could it be a non-registered card?

"Don't bother looking! This is a card provided by the bank that recently opened in Imperial City. You can use it in high-end establishments!"

I don't know who's behind this brilliant idea of using cards in this world, but it seems like they know their economics. After all, it takes some creditworthiness to replace money with cards.

"Hey! Is it possible or not?"

"Okay, here you go."

I threw the puppet at him.

"Well... goodbye if we're meant to meet again~"

Before the puppet hit the ground, I used Shadow Stealth to teleport away to a distant spot on top of a tall building.

I had chosen this spot from the beginning so I could have a panoramic view of most of Imperial City and the entire palace.

And as for why I stayed here, it was of course to wait for the plot to unfold.

When I handed over the doll earlier, I also attached a crystal with a recording function around its neck.

Of course, I set it to play when touched by a girl under 20 years old.

Then, I silently took out the fruits I had packed earlier and started eating them slowly.

"Don't blame me for being heartless~"

I muttered to myself while eating.

"I already advised you to be a good guard... hmm?"

At this moment, I saw several people with the title (evil) following a family on the street below, seemingly tracking them.

...

Since I had the ability and could see it... why not help?

"Oh, let's just consider it killing time."

...

....................

............................

"Thank you, thank you very much."

"Oh, it was nothing."

Seeing the grateful look of that family towards me, I responded politely.

And when I handed those few guys over to the guards, one of them suddenly asked me.

"Excuse me, are you Yuri Felice?"

"Hmm? Yes, I am. What's the matter?"

"Well, as I thought! See, I told you! This Felice is definitely a good person. It's the captain, that idiot, who brought this upon himself."

"Oh, I didn't expect that. Although the captain is indeed a bit strange, he's not a bad person in general. Just too greedy."

As I watched the two guards chatting with each other, I interrupted.

"So, why are you looking for me..."

"Oh right, the princess is looking for you! She said it's about the doll. Please come with us."

"I see, okay."

I nodded.

"Then let's go quickly."