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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 98: Have Your Ears Gone Deaf?
“No, why do you come here so often? It hasn’t been many days since the last time?”
As soon as Zizek saw me, he asked with a face that was half reluctant and half welcoming.
“I came because it seems I need to be a bit cautious for the time being.”
“I think you said something similar last time too.”
“Shut up.”
I sat down on a chair and examined Zizek’s face.
“Your eyes have changed. Did you have an enlightenment?”
“I did. Quite a lot.”
Zizek swung an imaginary sword in the air. I estimated the invisible trajectory and nodded.
“That’s good.”
“Just by reviewing the duel with that you and trying to understand his techniques, I realized how much unnecessary movement there was in my fighting.”
“Is that so? Excellent.”
Zizek had become much stronger than when he first fought me. Compared to Mordecai, I’d say he’d become stronger from a three-second match to about a ten-second match.
“By the way, it’s perfect timing that you came. As you instructed, I killed Vincent and crushed Night Cloud Gate. I also absorbed their territory.”
“Huh?”
Because he said it so nonchalantly, I asked again to confirm.
“You’re saying you defeated that guy Vincent in such a short time?”
“Of course. The aftermath is bothersome, but he wasn’t a very difficult opponent.”
“Ho?”
“However, he hired a rather skilled swordsman. Thanks to that fool believing in that person and launching a preemptive attack first, both the justification and the battle went smoothly.”
At Zizek’s words, I clapped my hands and said.
“Good. A swordsman hiding his strength.”
“Yes?”
“Now that I see it, I underestimated you.”
“Vincent also ended up dying because of that to me.”
“Are you warning me now? Telling me to be careful too?”
“It’s not that.”
Zizek asked with his arms crossed.
“By the way, can I report this matter to the higher-ups as it is?”
It reminded me of the old days. If something happened, it was the way of the underworld to eventually go to the higher-up organization that provided backing and ask for mediation or approval. Young Karzan also entered under a man named Daikin in that way.
“Are you confident in your eloquence?”
“No problem.”
“Then that’s good.”
I permitted.
“Instead, present a well-organized justification that they can also outwardly present. And make a proposal that they have no reason to refuse.”
“I will.”
“In one word, make a proposal that both saves face and provides benefits.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t cower when you go. Only a man who is confident in himself can establish his authority in the underworld.”
“I will. Actually, those guys there are all idiots, so there’s no reason to cower.”
“If necessary, bring Vincent’s people to testify.”
“Ah, about that.”
Zizek clicked his tongue.
“Why?”
“There aren’t many survivors.”
“You killed them all?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the reason.”
At this point, Zizek replied through gritted teeth.
“It’s about Moritz.”
“Huh?.”
“That bastard had several children around his age imprisoned underground. He was trying to kidnap them and sell them off. He didn’t even give them food, and he beat them to a pulp and killed them. The children who were already sold are impossible to find now.”
“……Children?”
As I had expected, the kidnappers Moritz had mentioned were those guys.
“Yes. If you hadn’t brought him, those two would probably have suffered the same fate.”
I stared at Zizek as if glaring at him and said.
“You did well. You should have killed them all.”
“I asked the children directly. Who committed the atrocities, and who tried to help them in the meantime.”
“So there weren’t many you spared.”
I nodded at Zizek’s handling of the matter.
“Excellent. I would have done the same.”
I thought of Moritz, Peter, Colin, and Bridget. And I thought of Karzan in his childhood, and the pitiful guys who followed him around.
“They shouldn’t have touched children, those bastards.”
“That’s why I need to become stronger.”
Zizek sighed.
“If a strong person at your level commits such atrocities again somewhere, if they kidnap, sell, and persecute innocent people, I have no power to stop them.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded.
Long ago, Karzan killed such an evil man in a small port in Flanders, but the residents of the port dared not oppose him until I appeared.
“In the underworld, one must establish their own principles only with power.”
“At least in my territory, I’ll strive to prevent anyone from crossing the line recklessly.”
“You’ve definitely learned a lot.”
“Yes. I’ll keep trying to obtain spirit medicines and train the children further.”
“Tell me if you need my guidance.”
Zizek gave a short laugh.
“I think it’s time to worry and work hard on my own first. I’ll ask again when I’m stuck.”
“That’s a good attitude. That’s the right attitude for a warrior.”
In that sense.
“It just so happens that I also need to be careful for the time being. I’ve found a way to contact you even if I don’t come directly.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I lowered my voice.
“I can’t explain the details, but there are suspicious eyes watching Young Master Allenvert.”
“You’re saying there’s such a bastard? Who on earth—”
“It’s the Young Master’s brother.”
“Ah, I misspoke just now.”
I patted Zizek on the shoulder.
"Soon, I'll send someone to relay instructions through the young lord's attendant."
"The attendant? Oh, you mean that kid Peter?"
"Watch your mouth. He is the young lord's attendant."
Zizek covered his mouth with his hand.
"I've misspoken again."
"Be careful. There won't be a third time."
"I apologize."
"As you should."
To think I'd end up referring to Peter as 'he.' I almost punched myself in the mouth.
But suppressing my violent urges, I spoke solemnly..
“For the time being, focus on the aftermath, and hurry the opening of the pawnshop and the hiring of staff.”
“Yes.”
“And at the pawnshop, sell snacks that children like, and also lower-grade medicines that can moderately boost energy.”
This was also for Peter’s family. Of course, I had heard that there were already places to obtain herbs, but it was a side benefit.
“I really don’t know what my identity is becoming.”
“Then the child will come and go there, buying things, and convey my orders.”
Zizek exclaimed.
“Ah!”
“That’s quite ingenious.”
“Right?”
“But will it be alright? You’re saying you’ll use the Young Master’s attendant’s siblings as contact points.”
“That’s right.”
“Might it not be a bit dangerous?”
“It would be if we were found out.”
Therefore.
“While I’m away, it’s your responsibility to protect them, Zizek.”
At that, Zizek replied with a serious face.
“Of course. I won’t let the children suffer such a fate again in my territory.”
“Now that I see it, you’re the neighborhood watch, the children’s protector, the guardian of the night in this area.”
Zizek scratched his head.
“What excessive praise again.”
“Strive to improve until what I just said doesn’t sound like excessive praise.”
“Yes.”
Having finished talking, I rose from my seat.
“Are you leaving right away?”
“Yeah, I told you I’m busy.”
“……Huh. You really don’t sleep.”
It was awkward to say that I had come after sleeping and was going back to sleep.
So I vaguely changed the subject.
“Anyway, I’ll try to contact you that way next time. Work hard in the meantime.”
“Understood.”
***
“Wow, I’m busy.”
Only after confirming that the tracker was still asleep did I carefully return from Karzan to Peter, then slipped back between Colin and Bridget.
‘I’m completely out of my mind. Peter, then Allenvert, then Karzan.’
Bridget was also tired and was breathing softly in her sleep. That also meant that my infiltration had been stealthy.
“…….”
Dawn was gradually breaking. Staring into the dimness of the night, it felt as if monsters were wriggling in the corners of one's vision.
Feeling the breaths of those asleep and the restless turning of those who had forgotten sleep somewhere far away, I sank into the dark and deep world within me, like the night sky.
‘I wonder if Olivier is doing well.’
This was a trap to block Verdzig’s suspicion and pursuit, and also an opportunity to test the abilities of the three retainers: Olivier, Jeffrey, and Peter.
‘Zizek has passed for now.’
But Olivier and Jeffrey are also excellent men. They have received excellent education and possess outstanding qualities. I have no doubt that they will both become great men. Let’s take this opportunity to confirm their true worth.
Ah, what about Peter?
‘He’s just Peter.’
……I emerged from the long cavern of thought and sank into the world of sleep.
This cramped and smelly narrow room—
Was actually much more familiar and comfortable to me.
***
Dawn broke.
It was early morning when Allenvert, having finished a long day, was enjoying a short nap.
‘……Moving.’
The maid Gemini, having confirmed that Peter had stayed out overnight and not returned, finally took action.
‘If I can’t carry out the mission today either.’
Gemini thought, roughly rubbing her bloodshot eyes with her hand, having spent almost the entire night awake.
‘I’m finished.’
It would be troublesome to plant another spy like herself, so wouldn’t they give her one more chance?
……But the person she was dealing with was not someone who would allow such easygoing confidence. Verdzig was a man who kept his word.
‘At this time, Julia would have started her morning cleaning.’
Moreover, since the maid who cleaned with her was injured by her own handiwork and was resting, it was truly the perfect time.
‘I must confirm the existence of that mask by any means.’
The maid, standing at the crossroads of death or success, bit her lip hard. She would never choose death.
“Good morning, Julia.”
“Ah, yes. Good morning.”
Julia bowed her head, trying hard to hide her expression. There was no way for Gemini to notice her feelings.
“Where shall we start today?”
To that question, Julia gave a prepared answer.
“Ah, I was thinking of starting with the Butler’s office today.”
“Is that so?”
Could it be such a coincidence? Gemini followed Julia, wanting to shout with joy.
“Then I’ll mop the lower area.”
As the small-statured Julia went under the desk and bed to start mopping, Gemini realized that an extremely perfect opportunity had arrived.
‘Now is the time.’
Gemini took out a small glass bottle containing a spider from her pocket. If what was inside was a poisonous spider, it could have been a means of assassination that could have killed Allenvert without anyone knowing…
This was a familiar meticulously made for surveillance and eavesdropping.
Pop!
As the maid quickly opened the bottle, the familiar in the form of a spider hid in the gap of the room where sunlight did not reach.
‘Good.’
The next step was to confirm the vault.
Gemini quickly tried to take out the artifact for seeing through things…
Clang!
Having seen that, Julia quickly pushed and broke a water bottle.
That was the signal.
“What’s going on!”
The guards, who had been waiting only for Julia’s signal, immediately stormed into the office.
“……?!”
Gemini froze at the sight of the guards, who were armed and glaring at her with hardened faces.
The atmosphere was strange. While instinctively feeling an ominous premonition, she tried her best to make excuses.
“Ah, Julia spilled a bottle—”
“Gemini.”
What stopped the maid from making excuses was a strong pressure coming from beyond the wall.
“Why do you, who came to clean, have such a thing?”
“!”
When Olivier and even Jeffrey, with his hardened expression, simultaneously rushed in, Gemini finally realized that things had gone seriously wrong.
‘This is a disaster.’
Her appearance, standing near the vault holding a telescope-like artifact was suspicious to anyone who saw it.
“…….”
Gemini, her mind blank, pondered an answer, but Olivier didn’t give her time to think.
“Jeffrey.”
“Yes.”
Jeffrey, the warrior who resembled a wolf, approached Gemini and held out his hand.
“Maid. Hand over that telescope.”
“…….”
A series of events flowed smoothly like water.
Finally, she realized that she had been neatly caught in a trap.
‘How…?’
…Had she been discovered?
Since when had they been preparing this trap?
Had everything been in their hands?
“Gemini. Have your ears gone deaf?”
Gemini’s heart sank at Olivier’s cold voice, in which she felt suppressed anger.
“I told you to hand over that telescope.”
At the command filled with irresistible authority, Gemini’s knees buckled.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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