Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: We Were Lucky (1)
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It took no time at all to clean up the guys who were dead drunk.
Before I knew it, twelve men were on their knees before me, their eyes swollen shut like ping-pong balls.
I set a chair down in front of them and sat, crossing my legs.
Behind me stood Nederman, Allen, and Iriel.
I spoke.
“We’re with the Independence Army. We know everything you’ve been up to. If you want to live, answer my questions honestly.”
“Fuck off and drop dead! You think I’m gonna bow to scum like you Francia bastards?”
A guy with a fierce face shouted defiantly.
He’d rolled around in back alleys for so long that while he lacked skill, his personality was rough and savage like a wild animal.
I stood up.
“Do whatever you want.”
Without another word, I unleashed Bone Shattering Palm.
“Gaaah!”
The moment I struck his pressure points, he writhed in agony, screaming his lungs out.
And shortly after.
The wild ferocity was gone, and he was blubbering like a baby, begging.
“Waaah! Please, just ask me anything! I’ll tell you everything I know!”
Now he seemed ready to talk.
I nodded.
“I know you’ve been handling the people sent by the Wiruan Merchant Group. Bring me the records on them.”
“S-sorry, but we don’t keep separate records on that...”
I stared at the trembling rat of a man. Under my gaze, he protested as if wronged.
“It’s true! I swear on my parents!”
He seemed genuine.
I smacked him hard on the head without mercy.
Crack!
“Gaaah!”
He rolled on the floor, howling.
Insolent bastard.
Dragging his parents into it just to save his own skin.
Clicking my tongue, I changed the question.
“Then where did you send them?”
“...We don’t know that either.”
“I see.”
I stood up.
The man paled and waved his hands frantically.
“It’s true! We don’t know where they go! When someone comes from their side, we just hold the people and hand them over—that’s it!”
It didn’t seem like a lie, at least.
These guys were just middlemen.
“Who’s ‘their side’?”
“I don’t know the details. It’s true. We just hand them off to the Francia bastards when they show up.”
Crack!
“Gaaah!”
I spoke coldly to the writhing man.
“Say ‘Francia’ one more time in front of me. I’ll show you exactly what your tongue looks like.”
“Gasp!”
He clamped his mouth with both hands, nodding frantically.
“Then when do they come?”
“...They contact us separately each time. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet them in two days. This is around when the latest batch from the Wiruan Merchant Group’s conscription should arrive. They haven’t shown up yet, though.”
The situation made sense.
If I hadn’t wrecked the Wiruan Merchant Group, some of those conscripted would’ve reached here by now.
That’s why the timing was perfect.
“Good. Where do you meet them?”
“There’s a small dock below. We always meet there and hand over the people.”
“So they move by ship?”
“Not certain, but probably. They’ve asked about the inland situation sometimes.”
From the circumstances, they were taking the conscripted to an island for forced labor.
Which meant they likely hadn’t heard about the Wiruan Merchant Group.
The incident was too massive for such minor rumors to reach the island.
Right now, Francia was abuzz with news of the white lion beheading the governor-general.
Unless the real Harent stepped up to correct it, everyone would believe the governor-general was dead.
The Wiruan news got swept away in that tidal wave and never reached Porsen.
Even these guys trading with them were clueless about the disaster.
Probably because their leadership got wiped out in one go.
The survivors were too busy salvaging headquarters to bother with small fry like these.
Either way, it was a golden opportunity for us.
I said,
“We’ll take that ship.”
“...Pardon?”
The man blinked in confusion.
Allen whispered quietly from behind.
“But won’t they get suspicious if our numbers are too low?”
“Probably.”
We were just four.
Given our lineup, they wouldn’t buy it easily. I turned to the men kneeling before me.
“You’re all coming with us.”
Their eyes bulged in unison.
Now Nederman spoke up.
“What if they recognize their faces?”
“No need to worry. I’ll make sure they don’t.”
“Eek.”
The men gasped at my wise decision. One gathered his courage and cautiously raised his hand.
“Th-they don’t know our faces.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
They grinned like they’d been spared.
I issued their death sentence once more.
“Still, you never know.”
“...”
Their faces fell together.
Now they looked proper.
The guy I’d been talking to sidled up, bowing obsequiously.
“I need to talk to them, so my face should stay intact. I’ve always been the one handing people over.”
Obviously the leader here.
And here he was, scheming to save his own skin.
Tsk tsk.
“Fine. You’re right about that.”
As loathsome as he was, we needed him to hand us over, so his face had to be fine.
So.
“You get beaten up now.”
“Pardon?”
My fist eclipsed his questioning face.
Pow pow pow pow!
A barrage of punches like a rainstorm.
I focused on his face.
Not quite Dr. Jurha’s level, but I could manage this much.
“Grooo.”
When I pulled back, his face was puffy and swollen.
Even though we’d just talked, I wouldn’t have recognized him.
I nodded satisfied at my handiwork.
“How’s that? Unrecognizable now?”
I’d tested it, and it worked perfectly.
Allen nodded and gave a thumbs-up.
“They’d never know.”
“Hah, to alter a face this much. Impressive.”
Nederman whistled in admiration.
I smirked, satisfied, and spoke to the groaning man on the floor.
“In two days, the swelling will go down. I hit you just right for that. I’m an expert, so no worries.”
Just the skin and muscles.
As a low-grade mana user, he’d recover fast. I turned to the pale men behind him.
“The moment we disembark their ship, you’ll be sent back. But if you try anything funny en route, I’ll cut your throats. Want to live? Obey quietly.”
“...”
“Answer.”
“Yes! Understood!”
They chorused loudly, in perfect unison.
A few beatings, and discipline was instilled.
Riding with them would be a hassle, but it was the best way.
Torturing them for the main base’s location would be simplest, but if they came by ship separately for transport, security would be tight.
Unlikely to have seals like fake Harent’s, but variables like Bone Shattering Palm failing or suicide by poison could arise.
So deception was safest.
Save Bone Shattering Palm if it failed.
“Pretty tight security for slave transport.”
I nodded at Iriel’s words.
I suspected as much.
Things might go smoother than expected.
That’s why I chose the safer, if bothersome, path.
Just in case.
* * *
Fucking bastard.
Horugu gritted his teeth, rolling a raw egg over his bruised face.
Barging in the dead of night and leaving him like this.
Truly ruthless.
‘He’ll be dead soon enough, so endure.’
A shame he wouldn’t witness it, but it’d have to suffice.
Their plan was simple.
Pretend to help for now.
His underlings would go to the island with them.
He didn’t know details, but it was under the governor-general’s domain.
But their force was just four.
Strong, sure, but once inside, no coming back.
That’s why they played along.
No other choice.
Damn it.
But nothing to complain about.
They didn’t know it was their grave, thinking the men were genuinely cooperating.
Satisfaction enough to choke on.
“Kekeke.”
Laughter bubbled up, shoulders shaking. Horugu threw his head back and roared.
“Umhahaha!”
Just imagining them begging for mercy cleared his chest like a breath of fresh air.
Hence the hearty laugh.
“Why the creepy chuckle.”
“Gaaah!”
The sudden voice made Horugu jolt like he’d been struck by lightning, screaming.
To him, the owner was no different from the Grim Reaper.
He shot up and faced the ghostly arrived man.
“Y-you’re here.”
“Yeah. Fixed up the kids’ faces.”
Casual tone sent chills down his spine.
That damn bastard.
Smashing faces and bragging so shamelessly.
Devil incarnate.
Imagining his men mangled beyond recognition like him two days ago, Horugu felt the saying “better to get beaten first” keenly.
He shuddered.
Flashback to the horrific pain.
Jenes said,
“Preparations done?”
“Yes. Underlings’ faces are ready too—just say the word to depart.”
“Swelling’s gone down nicely.”
“Ah, all healed. Exactly two days, like you said. You’re amazing. Hehe.”
Horugu wagged his tail like a dog outwardly, inwardly cursing Jenes mercilessly.
Jenes smacked his head without mercy.
Crack!
“Gaaah!”
No reason needed.
* * *
Moonlit night, bright as day.
Over a dozen men stood in line under the dark shadows of the dock.
I watched from a distant rooftop.
Didn’t trust them, but even a rock for brains knew betraying now was suicide.
They’d obey until destination at least.
After that, betrayal didn’t matter.
We just needed to arrive.
“Moon’s full—perfect night for a con.”
Iriel drawled casually beside me.
“The marks’ faces didn’t look thrilled, though.”
“Pity. Oh well.”
Iriel shrugged and continued.
“But those two pulled off the disguises well.”
“Yeah.”
I pictured Nederman and Allen, disguised and mixed in.
Mussed hair, wretched looks—quite the sight.
They’d hated it, though.
Unlike them, we stayed normal, watching from afar.
Reason we split was simple.
I had no intention of disguising.
Iriel’s face screamed woman on close inspection.
So we trailed separately.
“Oh, did you see?”
The contacts hadn’t shown; bored wait.
Iriel killed time stargazing.
She loved that.
“Meteor shower! Make a wish.”
Iriel clasped hands, eyes shut. I watched her, then looked up.
Stars poured like a river. Done wishing, she opened her eyes.
“Sky’s extra pretty tonight. Without those guys, I’d watch till dawn. Love stargazing from rooftops.”
“I know.”
“Huh? How?”
I paused.
Come to think, she’d never mentioned liking stars.
Past life memory.
Memories sometimes blurred like this.
Feigning nonchalance despite fluster, I said,
“You told me.”
“Oh, did I?”
“Memory’s shot too—guess you hit your head.”
“Geez. Why always treat me like I’m concussed!”
“You’ve been off lately.”
“Have not!”
Iriel pouted, turning away sharply.
Temper intact. But her actions lately hinted at worries.
I figured it was about me.
Specifically, past life me.
Only worry that fit.
She must believe past me could still be alive.
Heading to Emotel Island might mean meeting him.
I was sure it was fake, but not her.
I ignored her turmoil.
My words wouldn’t help.
Then Iriel’s eyes gleamed, whispering,
“They’re here.”
I nodded.
I’d spotted them.
A black shadow approached the lined-up men.