“A familiar ceiling.”

“Your Highness, you are awake.”

Wilhelm looked to the side and saw Hendrick.

“Ah, Hendrick.”

“Yes, Your Highness, it's me. Are you okay?”

“I am.”

Wilhelm sat up as he said that and felt his muscles aching. Hendrick was surprised to see Wilhelm sit up all of a sudden and tried to help but Wilhelm stopped him.

“It’s fine. Nothing is hurting in my body.”

“But-”

Wilhelm stopped Hendrick with his hand. It was a signal not to pry anymore. Hendrick quieted down and Wilhelm continued.

“Can you prepare a warm bath for me?”

“...As you wish, Your Highness.”

Although Hendrick wanted to say more, he just bowed his head and left.

After the bath was ready, Wilhelm dipped his body inside the bathtub the size of a pool.

‘Money is the best.’

Wilhelm felt his aching muscles recovering.

‘If this wasn’t the [A Hero’s Tribulations] world perhaps I could just relax like this everyday.’

Unfortunately, he couldn’t. He leaned back in the bath and attempted to analyze the memory he got from the [Sword Fiend]. Yet, just thinking about it made his body tremble despite bathing in the hot water. His heartbeat quickened, and he took deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself and his rising nausea.

As a modern man, he had never been exposed to that level of hostility, much less having it. That overwhelming impulse that clouded the brain, as well as the pleasure gained that numbed the mind…It was terrifying. It felt like he was an entirely different person.

‘Ahhh, I don't want to experience it again.’

However, to survive in this world, strength is the utmost priority. Therefore, Wilhelm had no choice but to use it again, eventually.

‘This fucking world.’

Wilhelm clicked his tongue.

‘I need to find a way to master it first without being controlled, though.’

Wilhelm deducted that since the Sword Supreme wasn’t called Sword Psycho there must be a way to control it. Though he doesn't have a clue as to how to do it.

‘Well, it's my first time using it, no way am I going to know everything there is to it the first time. Fortunately, after getting knocked out, I confirmed that I am the one that wakes up, i could use that to my advantage and use the [Sword Fiend] many times to figure out how to control it.’

After thinking about the next plan, Wilhelm exited the bath, and the servants dressed him up. He didn't feel all that awkward thanks to Wilhelm’s memories.

As he exited the bathroom, he found Abraham waiting outside, guarding the door.

‘Perfect timing.’

Wilhelm was about to speak but Abraham bowed his head toward Wilhelm first.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“Hm, for what?”

“Back when the Fiend controlled you I had punched you to stop you.”

“Hm? Why are you apologizing for that? I ordered you to do that in the first place. Besides isn’t all of my body healed?”

“But still, I could've done that in a better way.”

Abraham's face was still expressionless, but his tone showed the guilt he was feeling.

Honestly, it was quite irritating for Wilhelm.

‘He did his job well so why is he apologizing?’

Wilhelm frowned.

“That’s stupid.”

Abraham’s eyes widened.

“Why are you apologizing when you don’t have a reason to? You are not god so you can’t do everything perfectly, and you already did good enough stopping me without any great injuries.”

“...I apologize, Your Highness. It seems like I’ve said some unnecessary things. I thank you for your consideration.” Abraham smiled lightly before returning to a stoic expression.

“Is there something you need me to do?” Abraham asked.

Perhaps he sensed that Wilhelm wanted to ask him to do something.

And indeed, he does have something for him to do.

“I will be going outside the palace. I want you to come with me.”

***

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Mosvol, the Capital of the Heinberg Empire, is widely known as the Heart of the Heinberg Empire. Because it is the core of everything that happens in the Empire, whether it's business, military, and everything else.

Because of this, the prosperity of the Capital far surpasses that of the other areas.

‘It's quite crowded.’

Perhaps because it was the trade district where various merchants and peddlers set up stores and sell things, it was very crowded, however, it was far from the level of cities such as Tokyo or Jakarta. Therefore, Wilhelm didn't really feel uncomfortable in such large crowds.

“Your Highness, may I ask where you are going?”

Wilhelm turned to the side and saw Abraham. He was wearing a big cloak that covered up his armor, and even his face was changed into an unassuming middle-aged man.

It was the [Disguise] magic that they used to walk around the city without being noticed. Of course, Wilhelm is also disguised as a decently handsome brown-haired man.

“We are going to the Information Guild.”

“Information Guild, you say?”

Abraham scowled.

It was the normal reaction for a proud Royal Knight.

The Information Guild, just like its name, is a guild that specializes in trading information with its people. However, they are a guild that doesn't have a good reputation.

‘It's obvious, no one would like to have their information being sold by strangers and bought by people who might be malicious to them.’

The reason they have not been eliminated until now is because they excel at not crossing the line. They are also acknowledged by the upper class, who do not want to waste their own personnel to gather some lower-level information so they rely on the guild. In the game, the Main Character could also go to the information guild to buy some information.

Ironically, for an Information Guild, they are also quite great at keeping secrets. Because if they cross the line just once, they will be eliminated instantly, and seeing as how they are still prospering, they are very great at keeping the line. But of course, that only extended to the influential. While commoners with no power get their vital information sold regularly, in fact, that’s where the primary income of the Information Guild comes from. It's one of the reasons why Wilhelm hated them.

‘It’s fine though, they will get destroyed in the future.’

Wilhelm will personally make sure it does.

Wilhelm walked through the streets, the crowds decreased the more Wilhelm moved, and eventually; he arrived at a building with the information guild symbol. It's the only Information Guild in the capital, and it's located on the edges of the trading district. The building looked somewhat shabby, and old but it was still functional.

Wilhelm opened the door and stepped inside. The wooden floor creaked with his every step and he scanned the inside of the building. Unlike the rowdy adventurer's guild, the Information Guild is silent. The building was dimly lit, and perhaps due to the building being made of darker wood, it was excluding a somewhat gloomy aura.

There were people who sat at a nearby table with weapons, Wilhelm presumed them to be guards and as soon as Abraham went inside, the guards put their hands on their weapons, perhaps to prepare in case of trouble. The tension in the air has increased but Wilhelm was relaxed.

Even if 100 of them were to attack, they wouldn’t be able to get through Abraham. Wilhelm walked toward the counter only to encounter the smell of smoke, Wilhelm frowned and clicked his tongue in disdain.

“Tsk!”

The atmosphere turned colder as some guards glared at him but Wilhelm didn’t care as he walked to the counter. The receptionist's eyes flickered with wariness as he welcomed Wilhelm.

“Welcome. What can I do for you?”

“I want to meet the highest-ranking person in your guild.”

“The boss? I’m sorry but-heuk!”

The man was about to refuse until Wilhelm flashed something from inside his cloak. It was the Imperial Insignia that only members of the Imperial Family have. Wilhelm flashed it in a way that the other guards couldn’t see and only the man in front of him could.

The man’s eyes widened, and he immediately bowed his head.

“M-my apologies, I shall lead you to the boss immediately.”

Wilhelm didn't respond, and the man started leading the way. Wilhelm looked at the guards who had begun avoiding his eyes after the receptionist’s reaction and turned around to follow the receptionist in satisfaction.

‘Man, I always wanted to try that out, forcing people to bow with authority. It feels great.’

The man led Wilhelm to the highest floor of the Information Guild; the guild has 4 floors, and the highest floor, though not super luxurious, still gives off antique-like vibes.

‘The owner has good tastes.’

“Here we are.”

Wilhelm stopped in front of a door, which was the room of the Mosvol Information Guild Branch Leader.

The man opened the door and inside was an old man, probably a bit older than Abraham, he had a muscular body, a scar on his right eye, groomed white hair, a white beard, and his eyes a distinctive blue, he was also wearing a suit. He looked like a classy old man, and it looked like he was currently signing documents.

In front of his worktable, there were 2 couches and another table between the couches. It was a place to talk with guests.

The man guiding Wilhelm made eye contact with the old man before bowing and leaving. The old man stopped writing and stood up. Abraham stepped forward, but he didn't draw his sword since the old man didn't have any killing intent. Instead, the old man kneeled on one leg and bowed his head.

“I greet the Future Sun of the Empire, the Crown Prince Wilhelm Von Heinberg.”

Wilhelm’s eyes widened a bit.

“You could see through the disguise.”

Wilhelm hadn’t even shown his insignia yet, and even if he knew he was a high-ranking person, he even got his name right.

“It is but a fluke, Your Highness.”

‘My ass it is.’

Although Wilhelm did not employ a high-ranking disguise spell, it’s not something ordinary people can see through. Even the current Wilhelm can’t see through it.

‘It means he is quite strong, though probably not as strong as Abraham.’

“Well, no matter. What’s your name?”

“The name’s Silas.”

“Silas, stand up. I came here for business”

Silas stood up and Wilhelm sat on the couch while Silas placed a tea set in front of Wilhelm. Abraham stood tall and proud behind Wilhelm with a sword on his hip.

“Though this tea would not be as good as the one served in your place, I hope you enjoy it, nevertheless.”

Wilhelm nodded. He hadn’t come here expecting great tea in the first place.

Silas eventually sat down face to face with Wilhelm, and he spoke.

“May I ask what business Your Highness has with our Information Guild?”

Wilhelm sipped his tea. It was better than he had expected. It seemed like the old man had a talent for making tea.

Currently, Wilhelm’s greatest strength is not his authority, nor his sword talent. Though both are great weapons, his best one is undoubtedly information.

Information about the future, and the various secrets of the world. That is, without a doubt, his greatest strength. However, there were some inevitable gaps in the information.

Like right now, the reason he came to the information guild is to find someone to recruit and yet since that character is only introduced far later in the game, he doesn't know where he is right now.

Since all that is written in that character’s backstory is what happened to him and not when and where.

He planned on filling in the gaps of information by having his information group, but since the Imperial Family’s information group was quite unreliable because they were not loyal to only Wilhelm but to the entire Imperial Family, he needed another group.

“Silas, I would like to make a partnership with your information group.”