Chapter 173
Chapter 173
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Shadows of the Underworld
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A humid day after the rain.
A night when the moon had narrowed to a fingernail's edge.
Even in the empire's capital, said to shine brilliantly for a millennium, its darkest corner.
In a small clearing nestled between wet woods stood nothing but log chairs roughly hewn from damp timber and a single modest campfire, a kettle brimming with water slung over it as it pierced the thick gloom.
The outskirts of the outskirts. Into that murky fringe stepped a figure.
"Not too late, I hope."
"Right on time."
"Or what, you called us here to reminisce? In a backwater like this."
Black robes concealed faces and races alike, but six men and women settled around the campfire on the logs.
The acrid scent of smoke mingled at the nostrils with the damp forest aroma after rain and the woody fragrance unique to split timber, wafting sweetly through the air.
"Some of us know each other here, some have never met. But you all know why we're gathered tonight."
"This is off to a grim start."
"Who could've guessed? That these six were the ones who once ruled the empire's nights."
"Watch your words. Not ruled— we were trying to rule."
They each tossed in a quip, then chuckled softly. Until recently, these were the ones who had gripped the empire's back alleys, either allied with powerful nobles or by their own might.
No matter how mighty a nation, it can't shine light everywhere.
Indeed, the brighter the light, the deeper the shadows it casts—and so the vast empire of Taitria cast shadows just as profound on its underbelly.
Slave trading went without saying, alongside narcotics for pleasure and illegal arenas for greater thrills. Dangerous monsters, elegant hobbies for certain nobles, had evolved from taxidermied specimens into a full-fledged market breeding mid-sized beasts.
Who could flaunt such filthy dealings openly? Naturally, discreet hands were needed, and these figures had claimed them all, their influence swelling day by day.
Some commanded more troops than a mere viscount's private guard, with more aura users to boot.
But that was only until recently.
"Still don't know who it is?"
"The heads of the biggest faction all lost their necks overnight. At first, everyone suspected each other, but now we all know."
A new group had emerged.
The central figures of the largest faction vanished in a blink, plunging the capital's back alleys into lawless chaos.
They fought, killed, assassinated one another to scoop up the scraps and claim supremacy—until, biding its time, one hidden faction seized limbs and devoured them whole, ballooning in power.
"Lapis, was it? That group's name."
"All we know for sure is some guy named Rajuli's the boss."
Lapis-blue hair and eyes. A faint woody scent clinging to the body, they say.
A man in his twenties at most, with no rumors even hinting at his abilities.
Richer than noble-backed outfits, boasting surer powerhouses than those prizing individual might—this upstart faction.
Lapis had swallowed nearly all of Taitria's underbelly in an instant. Somehow privy to their drug farms and slave trade routes, it seized them by force.
"Those bastards wouldn't bite on bribes. No clue what they're after."
"Didn't seem like brainwashing or threats either. You can tell from their eyes."
Someone tossed another log onto the crackling campfire, sending sparks dancing into the air.
"Chilly after the rain. Have a cup each."
The one who added the log lifted the kettle bubbling atop it from its wooden hook, tossed in handfuls of herbs, and began pouring into wooden cups, passing them around.
They each sipped the hot tea, the chill of the damp night air sharpening as it deepened, then spoke again.
"Look at us now. We who commanded dozens, hundreds across Taitria, dreaming of dominion everywhere— and in under half a year, we're on the brink of ruin."
Not entirely crumbled. No matter Lapis's unfathomable wealth and force, among them were crews who'd ruled the back alleys for over a century.
Their foundations wouldn't uproot in a night.
But sit idle, and Lapis would devour it all—inevitable.
"That's why we're here, isn't it? Better to crush an upstart with unknown roots than bow our heads."
Unite their remnants against Lapis.
Even absorbed, former bosses like them were dead men walking—why bolster its bulk?
Mutual destruction would be a fine sight.
"Easiest would be finding Rajuli's hideout and striking."
"Rumors say the bastard's gone to ground, issuing orders via sirens, scared of us."
"He'll have to show eventually once his limbs are hacked off. I'll start by torching the drug herb farm they stole from me."
"They're using my old slave warehouse as-is. Dose it with poison, wipe 'em out in one go— that'll sting."
"We'll sweep confirmed Lapis branches clean. We've pinpointed the ones with just small fry."
"I'll burn the slums. No nobles nearby means no spirit mages dispatched for hours to douse it—perfect to raze their secret bases."
As they traded plans, one man rose slowly, tossing another log that scattered sparks.
"Not bad. But you've got a few things wrong."
At his words, four robed heads turned.
"What's that?"
"Wrong how?"
"What makes you so cocky? What're you planning?"
"Can't even guess who I am? Must be one of the smaller outfits among us. See, I—"
Mid-quips, the man slowly raised a hand and shed his robe.
Orange firelight flickered, but unmistakable lapis-blue hair and eyes.
A face so beautiful it could pass for a woman's. And as the hood fell, a breeze carried a faint woody scent.
After rain in the woods. Amid scattered fresh-cut logs—now they caught that alluring fragrance.
Those who recognized him twitched to attack—only for paralysis to seize them, movements sluggish and faltering.
"That... tea earlier?"
"Not the poison mix I knew!"
At the sight, he who stood lifted one finger, smiling languidly.
"First: Rajuli's not a man."
The man—no, the woman called Rajuli—smiled, extending a second finger.
"Second: I'm not Lapis's boss."
She raised a third, waggling all three with a wide grin.
"Third: I wasn't hiding out of fear."
Know what undercover duty is? Undercover duty?
Rajuli—no, Fayan—brushed back her short lapis-blue hair, gazing coldly at the black robes.
"Thanks for gathering so nicely. Die, all of you."
At Fayan's smiling words, the last silent robed figure didn't even crouch to rise—merely flicked forward, closing distance and swinging a blade.
"Crazy!"
"Thought you'd die alone!"
The strongest among them, who built his crew on raw force, somehow shook the paralysis and drew a dagger with chilling reflexes.
He plunged it into the robed figure's chest—just as his own throat was severed. The others sighed in relief—
—but the figure, dagger embedded, pressed on undeterred, aura-clad sword lopping the heads of those still paralyzed.
"Boss is amazing as always."
Fayan approached with a grin, slowly peeling back the robe and extracting the dagger from the figure's chest.
A girl whose clothes tore but spilled not a drop of blood.
Gazing at her expressionless face, Fayan spoke.
"Top-grade golem's sergeant, right? Isn't it, Riz?"
*'The Manager is always impressive.'*
The golem replied in fledgling sign language. Riz nodded at Fayan.
* * *
Pirates do have a rough edge, don't they? That lawless vibe.
Can't be helped. What you grow up around shapes you—and no matter how cool pirates seem, they're thieves at heart.
I worried a bit. None of my party looks thuggish, and averaging our ages puts us at least a few thousand, but we look mid-twenties tops.
Ascended to their realms, casual mana users would scan us as normies.
I really am a normie.
*Annoying.*
I figured one or two clashes might happen. But nope.
"Good sirs! Anything lacking?"
"We ate plenty. Right? Senior Kane, Lady Adelrian?"
"Ladies! Today's brew is Dragon's Breath!"
"Oh, I'm good at that one!"
I chuckled at the pirate's bafflement to Rachel's *You mean you're good drinkers?* and waved off, saying no more needs.
"More sea monsters than expected."
"True, but all below our level."
As we neared mermaid turf, assaults ramped up—but Kane, Luna, Zero, Leaf, Rachel, and others repelled them effortlessly. Eyes sparkling, the pirates fawned over us.
Fair enough. Even pirates struggle underwater sans mermaid blood, and mid-sized beasts demand mana cannons costing a fortune in cores.
Our party makes it safe, and we offload carcasses for their side income—profitable.
*I've got cash to spare; tossing a monster or two buys goodwill. Win-win.*
Anyone who's bossed folks knows—even in games, guilds. Orders without gain breed resentment.
Better share perks than hoard; boosts morale, cuts gossip.
Heck, escorting to mermaid seas for big pay is risky, Elis's order or not.
Pay's not upfront cash.
"Gonna grind that sea serpent pup's fangs into daggers!"
"Make grappling hooks from spares to chuck at other ships?"
"Nah, selling most; split the rest."
Watching them roast massive catches daily, I spoke up.
"Impressive."
The mansion-sized ship glided like a luxury ride.
Bigger hulls mean less sway, sure—but glance aside, waves churn fierce, reefs lurk in dark depths.
Yet it flowed like swimming.
"Thanks to Zero."
"Precisely Lady Alkaido's doing, no?"
True. I figured as much.
Loyal to House Kruger itself—not Kaiman, Gardiana, or me—he'd leverage the doppelgangers for max gain.
*Didn't expect him to outright devour a faction, though.*
No harm to me; only he, Kaiman, Gardiana know their truth. This bolsters me and the house.
Not the type to backstab; differing loyalties only. I'd play dumb—
—when the ship slowed.
"Here."
Curly violet hair, purple eyes. Elis pointed seaward.
Dozens of whirlpools came into view.
"The whirlpool zone."
Beyond them, on a tiny isle—our healer, Levina.