With a serene smile, Shartia rested her hand on the teacup and spoke in a low voice.

"There was a fire at the academy."

"Ah, you mean the one in the Alchemy Laboratory? It's quite famous. If I recall correctly, they never caught the arsonist."

"…"

Shartia gave a bitter smile but remained silent. In front of the guildmaster, someone who traded in information, she had to be careful with her words. A single slip of the tongue could spread rumors across the Empire, something Shartia wanted to avoid at all costs.

Noticing her guarded response, the guildmaster laughed heartily, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"Ah, not taking the bait, I see. I thought I might leave here with a bit of juicy information."