Assuming this is the correct version of the feature
"You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you."
How else would you even interpret this?
It says explicitly that "you know the local messengers". There's nothing conditional about this.
It would have been conditional if (haha) it say "IF you know the local messengers" but no it is explicit. You do know them. Otherwise the feature is null and void. What point is there in a feature that says "If you know the local messengers you can use them to send messages"?
That's like having a ability that read something like "If you know the local blacksmiths you can purchase their services"