Chapter 12: The Strange Old Man (1)
Karok of the Travion Gang hadn't been in a good mood recently.
It was because he had been pushed out of the Commercial City Marzen.
Of course, it wasn't unimportant since it was a task to create a pretext for striking their rival, the Eddy Gang, but he still couldn't shake the feeling of being demoted.
‘The Boss did say he’d reward me handsomely if the plan succeeded, but…….’
Karok wasn't naive enough to believe that wholeheartedly.
It was highly likely that the real prime businesses would go to those who directly attacked the Eddy Gang.
What made him even more furious was that his damn subordinates couldn't even carry out simple orders properly.
Provoke Eddy's father, Carter.
If they continuously interfered with his business without crossing the line, the father would contact his son, and that simple-minded brute Eddy was highly likely to charge into the Travion Gang's territory without thinking.
If that happened, the rest would be easy.
Dealing with a wild boar charging into a trap in a frenzy would be incredibly easy for the cunning Boss.
“But now we can’t even get started! Because of these stupid bastards!”
Kwaaang!
Karok, the person in charge of Kuchen, slammed his fist on the table.
This was why ignorant bastards were useless.
What good was it if they were only good at beating people up?
Ultimately, you needed brains to make money.
These bastards couldn't even properly use their fists, the one thing they claimed to be good at.
Recalling the guys who came asking for reinforcements after getting beaten up by a customer at the Blue Pig made him feel like he might die from high blood pressure.
“Hoo, calm down. Calm down……”
Trimming his long fingernails, Karok tried to regain his composure.
Perhaps it could be a good opportunity.
Because that guy might not have been an ordinary customer, but a guard sent by Eddy.
In that case, things would become easier.
We could just claim that Eddy's side struck us first.
Capturing the guard and roughing him up a bit would secure a testimony in no time.
Of course, that was only if they managed to capture the customer fellow.
If his stupid subordinates failed even at this…….
Knock knock
“……Come in.”
As he was deep in thought, there was a knock on the door.
Speak of the devil, it seemed they had come to report.
Creak, watching the door open with an unpleasant sound, Karok thought. When are these lazy bastards planning to oil the hinges?
But…….
“……?”
No one was there.
Karok's eyes narrowed.
There was definitely a knock, and the door opened.
That meant someone was outside.
Yet, there was no one in sight.
This meant one thing.
One of his subordinates had lost his mind and was playing a prank on him.
‘Or, things went wrong.’
Just as Karok thought this and was about to stand up.
Ssk. Feeling something cold press against his neck, his body froze like ice.
“What’s your name?”
“……Karok.”
“I see. Karok, Karok…… Not Travion, then.”
He didn't dare think of turning his head.
It wasn't just because he had been caught from behind.
The movements were fast and stealthy, enough that he didn't even know when the person entered, but the blade touching his neck was the real problem.
Yes. This was the nail-trimming dagger he had been using just moments ago.
‘Not only did they infiltrate the room in an instant, but they took the object from my hand without me even noticing when!’
This was a powerhouse he couldn't possibly face, even if he died and came back to life.
Moreover, this person was like a professional assassin who didn't reveal their appearance or equipment at all.
Quickly grasping this, Karok decided to obediently answer the assailant's questions.
“Yes, yes. Travion is…… the Boss I serve. He’s in Marzen.”
“I see. Then was interfering with the Blue Pig’s business also his order?”
“Tha……t’s right. Really, I’m sorry……”
Ssk
“I wasn't asking for an apology, just answer the questions.”
“……Yes, yessir!”
Feeling the coldness of the blade pressing slightly harder, Karok swallowed dryly.
“I roughly understand the situation, but I don’t know how to resolve it.”
“What……?”
“A way for the Blue Pig to operate normally. A way for that fact not to reach the Eddy Gang, nor the higher-ups of the Travion Gang. A way for everything to go back to how it was…… and this is the most important part, a way that ensures I don’t have to deal with any more troublesome things.”
“…….”
“I have little experience and knowledge, so I don’t know, but I believe you, Mr. Karok, know well…… Correct?”
“……I will try my best. N-no! I will do it! I will absolutely do it!”
He felt stronger, much stronger pressure.
Feeling his own blood trickling down his neck, feeling the assailant's hand colder than the blade, Karok was desperately shouting.
Fwoosh-!
Just then, a strong gust of wind blew the curtains violently, and simultaneously, the unpleasant sensation of the blade vanished.
Thud!
“…….”
Karok, who had collapsed onto the table, only rolled his eyes to survey his surroundings.
After assessing the atmosphere like that for about 5 minutes, he carefully stood up and checked every corner of the room.
Then, a voice came from behind him.
“Don’t forget the promise.”
“Uwaaaaaaaaargh! Yes, yes!”
Karok hastily covered his head and slumped to the floor.
This time, it wasn't 5 minutes.
He remained frozen, unable to move even a finger, for much, much longer than that.
His legs grew numb.
He couldn't even breathe properly, frustration rising to the top of his head.
Despite all that, terrified that the assailant might still be watching him, terrified that the cold blade might be pressed against his neck again, he only cautiously stood up after a long hour had passed.
“Fuck……”
Karok, mentally weakened, put a tobacco pipe in his mouth.
But he lacked the strength to light it.
Tick, tick. The matches kept breaking, but he didn't even have the energy to get angry.
Finally giving up on the tobacco, he muttered in an empty voice.
“I don’t know who that fellow is, but isn't it cheating for someone like that to interfere in a Thugs' fight…….”
He didn't dare think of resisting.
A moment later, Karok diligently racked his brain to faithfully carry out the assailant's command.
* * *
“Ooh…… So this is Marzen.”
Four days after the commotion in Kuchen Village, Harang arrived at the south gate of the Commercial City Marzen and let out a voice full of admiration.
Everything was beyond imagination.
The sheer number of people, far more than everyone he had seen in Godok Village combined, was impressive.
And the scale of the city, large enough to accommodate so many people, was also astonishing.
Of course, he had heard various stories from Jack, Matthew, and Mr. Carter of the Blue Pig, but seeing it directly was as different as heaven and earth.
What he liked most was the atmosphere.
The free feeling, as if everyone was moving without hesitation or concern for others' eyes, busy with their own tasks!
‘So this is a city!’
Harang nodded.
Thinking he did really well coming to Marzen, he placed ‘City’ at the top of his ‘List of Things I Like’.
His subsequent actions were obvious.
“You say you have an introduction from Mr. Carter?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
“Hmm…… Well, alright. Don’t cause any trouble inside. Punishment is stricter for those carrying swords, you know.”
“Understood.”
Following Mr. Carter’s advice, he passed through the gate saying yes, yes.
“Mmm, it’s tasty, but not quite as good as what I had at the Blue Pig.”
“Hey there, young man, thanks for buying, but saying that right to my face is a bit……”
He filled his stomach, starved from the long journey.
“How much did you say?”
“2 Silver if you’re staying for half a day, 5 Silver for lodging. If you stay for a week or more, I’ll knock off 1 Silver, and if you want laundry and bathwater service, add 1 Silver per day.”
“I’ll stay for a week first. Please prepare the bathwater first.”
“Alright. Leave your laundry out, and it’ll be collected automatically.”
He secured lodging at an inn with the money obtained from the bandits.
It was such a surprisingly smooth flow of events that Harang felt inwardly proud.
“Doesn’t this totally give off the vibe of a veteran traveler?”
It really did.
He was the one called a troublemaker within the closed village.
At first, because he asked too many questions, and later, because he didn’t listen, the managers disliked him.
For reasons unknown, many of his peers disliked him too.
‘Even if they didn't dislike me, there were a few who were particularly obsessed with me…….’
Because of that, he had caused disturbances and been punished quite often.
But it wasn't like that now.
He passed through the gate without any trouble, even dealing with the guards said to be in charge of city security, and although he couldn't haggle, he showed a natural demeanor towards the innkeeper.
He got told off by the street vendor, but he thought that much was acceptable.
Recalling the day's events one by one filled him with considerable confidence.
The unfamiliar and awkward outside world felt within reach, making him feel even better than when he first saw the city.
However, that good mood peaked after finishing his bath and laundry, and began to decline when he started moving for Mr. Carter’s request.
It was because every city person he spoke to fled from him with a look of disgust.
“Excuse me, pardon me.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Do you happen to know someone named Eddy?”
“U-uwaaaaaaaargh!”
“……?”
This exact pattern of conversation repeated three consecutive times.
Harang briefly wondered if his way of speaking or appearance was strange, but after repeating the same situation twice more, he realized the name ‘Eddy’ was the problem.
‘Mr. Carter’s words weren’t entirely wrong. He said his son was famous in Marzen, so I could find out his residence by asking anyone passing by.’
Perhaps half of that statement was true.
People didn’t know Eddy. Rather, they reacted as if they knew him very well.
But the part about being able to get information from them was completely wrong.
Everyone who heard the name Eddy fled hastily as if they wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, leaving Harang understandably perplexed.
‘I can’t exactly grab someone who doesn’t want to talk and force them to speak.’
That was precisely the method of the village he hated most.
Harang was prepared to respect everyone, as long as they didn’t cross the line first.
Of course, such sentiment was entirely unhelpful in progressing the task.
Since there was no other clever method, all this novice troubleshooter could do was wander the city aimlessly.
Fortunately, apart from the request, sightseeing in the city was very enjoyable.
“Puhuuuuu-!”
“Wow! Dad! Fire is coming out of that person’s mouth!”
“Ooh, amazing!”
He clapped while watching a medicine seller showing off a fire-breathing trick.
“Now, look here! This isn't an everyday opportunity. Money makes money, just guess which of these three cups has the die……”
“Me! Let me try guessing!”
‘What is this? The left cup was definitely correct, so why did the die come out from the right?’
He made a puzzled face watching a shell game gambler, in reality, a con artist.
Thus, while wandering around watching all sorts of peculiar people, the thought of the request in Harang’s mind had almost been pushed completely aside.
It was then.
A presence shocking enough to completely banish the barely lingering thought of the request caught Harang’s eye as he passed through a plaza in the outer city district.
“What is that? That person……”
How could they be receiving money from others without doing anything?
It was strange.
Beyond strange, it felt astonishingly remarkable.
Through his experiences in the outside world, Harang had perceived three types of people.
First, those who preferred coercive relationships.
Second, those who preferred relationships based on contracts.
The last, the third type, were those who helped without expecting anything in return, but such people were truly hard to meet.
Therefore, Harang initially misunderstood.
He thought the person giving the money, not the one receiving it, was the special one, thinking he was witnessing something fortunate today.
However, the special one wasn't that person.
A moment later.
And again a moment later.
And after another brief moment, seeing the strange old man receiving money from different people, Harang reached a state where he couldn't contain his surging curiosity.
Step step
The black-haired young man stopped in front of the old man.
The old man’s gaze naturally turned towards the black-haired young man.
“How did you do that?”
“……?”
The one neither Jack, nor Matthew, nor Carter had explained.
In front of the incredibly strange existence known as a ‘beggar’, Harang asked an innocent question.