Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Colosseum (2)
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I quickly plastered a bright smile on my face.
“Thanks to you, Senior. Thank you for guiding this inadequate rookie onto the straight and narrow.”
“You’re always so good with words~.”
Ricardo smirked as he sauntered along.
I widened the smile tugging at my lips while watching his sharp grin.
Maybe it was because of that outfit, but he felt even more threatening than usual. Now that I was aware I was the same kind as Ray and Kyle, the fact that I was hiding my non-human nature from Ricardo made me uneasy.
Even after he’d gone so far as to reassure me that I was human.
In any case, I ignored the bitter feeling and kept flashing a sweet smile.
“And it was a compliment, Senior.”
“Well, well… Now you’re even lying to your sky-high senior~.”
“It’s true. Half-true, anyway. I was just so surprised to hear that name pop up for the first time.”
“Jason?”
Barbie blinked up at me.
“Why Jason?”
Why, you ask…
I hesitated for a moment, wondering how to explain. I didn’t like Jason Tvein, but not enough to badmouth him endlessly.
Ricardo chuckled in front of me, amused by my speechlessness.
Asil answered instead.
“He’s only nice to women.”
Ah.
“So it’s not weird that you don’t like him.”
That type, huh…
Not that that’s why I disliked him.
I walked along the desolate road without much surprise. Come to think of it, the guy who hated Ye-hyeon so much that he extended his dislike to Yoon and even me, Yoon’s deputy handler, treated Ami decently. It was just like him. Even though it was my first time hearing about it, it didn’t feel new at all—like something I’d always known.
If that guy knew my true identity, he’d probably gnash his teeth and go for my throat.
Well, no guarantee Ricardo or Ro would react any differently.
I headed toward the arena, thinking about the Earth that had changed so drastically because of Creatures and us.
Recalling the question Yoon had tossed at me when he took “From E” from me.
***
The arena was held on the 17th floor of a 20-story high-rise tower that was no longer in use.
The area around the tower was swarming with people. It felt like looking at an arena built in a deserted spot that only drew crowds on game days. Rich folks who looked loaded, people who seemed like they could barely afford their next meal. Average office workers and obvious gang members. The crowd was made up of the most unpredictable mix.
I stood there with my mouth agape for a while at the sudden sight after walking the ruined roads.
The seniors, who were regulars on this mission, weren’t fazed.
They pushed indifferently through the crowd to a food truck with dazzling string lights.
The pair of man and woman we were looking for were drinking beer at a standing table.
When we stopped beside the rowdy table, they turned their heads and spotted us.
The man reacted first.
“Ah! Our dear traitor.”
Me?
“You?”
“Pischer. Been well?”
“Craig.”
Asil nodded with a slightly stiffened expression.
“Long time no see. You too, Regina.”
Not me, then.
It was about Asil.
I felt a bit awkward, having nearly responded thoughtlessly, and watched the pair smiling at Asil.
Why’s he a traitor?
Asil ignored the odd greeting and got straight to the point.
“Tickets?”
“Don’t be so heartless. It’s been ages since we last met.”
I narrowed my eyes and watched the silver-haired senior converse with the man and woman I assumed were cops.
The male cop named Craig had bite to his words. From his expression and tone, it didn’t seem like “traitor” was an affectionate nickname.
The male cop roughly set his beer mug down on the table.
“You haven’t changed a bit since a few years ago. Like you swallowed preservatives. Oh, wait—you actually did, didn’t you?”
“If only you’d betrayed us a few years sooner.”
The woman gestured at Asil’s eyes with the hand holding her beer mug and laughed.
“Then it would’ve been a much closer match.”
“That’s why I feel bad for myself every time I look in your eyes. Guess you two can’t erase those crow’s feet, huh?”
“These bastards are looking rougher by the day~….”
Ricardo, who’d been standing beside the impassive Asil with a menacing smile, chimed in.
His mouth was smiling, but his green eyes weren’t. With both hands in his pockets and one eyebrow arched, his grin was chilling.
Barbie flicked an unlit cigar and added,
“Take better care of your hairline, mister.”
“Both of you, cut it out. Craig. The tickets—now….”
“I know this one.”
The female cop suddenly pointed at me.
Are you drunk?
I saw Asil frown sharply, though the cop called Regina, busy staring at me, didn’t notice.
“You’re the rookie, right?”
Ah, that knight business really has some reach.
I nodded curtly.
“Yes.”
“How’d you know?”
“No, she’s that kid. The one who went to assist Jonathan Kudo and luckily saved Porden.”
“Luckily?”
Ricardo’s voice bristled with chilling thorns.
“You guys think getting buried in a building is ‘lucky’?”
They said you’d be sensitive.
Everyone flinched at the anger pouring from his voice. Even Asil and Barbie glanced at Ricardo.
Irritated because it’s a criminal outfit’s arena? He’d usually mock them, but not blow up like this.
To keep the mood from souring further, I hurriedly jumped in.
“I survived luckily, and Chairman Porden was fine too. That’s what you mean, right? Even I think I was lucky in that regard.”
“Ah. Right, I remember. So you’re a rookie?”
The male cop suddenly scowled and glared at me.
“Ever run a mission inside?”
Boom boom boom.
The massive speakers by the food truck blared noisily. The growing crowd chattered loudly. Feeling the increasing clamor as the game time approached, I answered no—this was my first official mission inside a core.
Craig didn’t like my answer.
“How many humans are in there that you’re bringing in such a green rookie?”
He raised his voice, brows furrowed.
“Don’t you know how cramped it is in there? One slip in power control from this kid, and it’s a disaster! Sure, no sane person goes in there, but this is just reckless!”
“Hand over the tickets.”
Anger crept into Asil’s voice now too.
He extended his hand, face taut like he was barely holding back from grabbing his ex-colleague by the collar.
“Before we file a formal complaint with your superiors.”
“Huh? What? You sticking your hand out? Gonna touch me?”
“The moment you lay a finger on Craig, that’s our cue to tip off the press.”
Regina cackled, pointing at Asil’s finger.
I stared in disbelief as she propped her chin and grinned slyly.
“‘Badgers Assault Civilians!’ How’s that for a headline, Pischer? Haven’t been in the news in ages—don’t you miss the reporters?”
Kwaang!
One end of the table the two cops were leaning on collapsed.
I dropped my jaw and looked at the source of the noise.
Everyone else froze in place too. Asil and Craig with wide eyes, Regina.
Ricardo blinked, then flashed a long smile.
Barbie straightened from her crouch and brushed table debris off her elbow.
She looked at the cops with a composed face and said,
“Oh, sorry. My heels are too high—slipped.”
She smiled a little.
That’s how we got the tickets from the cops. Wondered if it was worth the hassle, but we got them.
Three tickets grudgingly handed over. Thanks to that, we could finally get away from these people who were either drunk or astonishingly rude—we couldn’t tell which.
***
Asil apologized to us the whole way to the building entrance.
Apparently, they harbored some grudge against him for a specific reason. It wasn’t just because he’d quit the force and joined the Badgers—they were overly sensitive for that.
Seemed related to why he left the police, but he didn’t explain that far.
Anyway, Ricardo waved off the apologetic Asil with his hand wrapped in a silver snake.
The senior rolled his green eyes.
“Cops hating on us isn’t new~?”
Yeah. Police and Black Badgers aren’t exactly buddies.
“Let’s wrap this up quick and head home~… Not sure those idiots will even start it properly, though….”
“The arena’s crappier than last time.”
Barbie grumbled, swallowed up in the crowd surging into the elevator.
“Who the hell thought putting an arena on a high floor of a building like this was a good idea?”
We got our tickets checked before boarding the elevator.
After inspection, we were crammed in. The elevator took on passengers right up to the warning alarm, then shot up to the arena at high speed. The buttons only worked for one floor.
The 17th, with a sticker labeling it the arena.
Light poured in.
The moment the doors opened, blinding light flooded out. Squeezed among the people into the arena, I faced the dazzling spectacle filling my view.
Wow.
They really built an arena this high up.
Surprisingly, it looked just like the arenas I’d imagine: the stage for the fights two or three floors below—must’ve gutted those levels—and slanted walls packed with seats.
Crowds filling them densely.
I eyed the iron bars surrounding the sunken arena.
“That’s where the Creatures and illegal implants come out.”
Asil followed my gaze and explained.
“We jump in the moment the cops give the signal and take down the Creatures.”
“Will they give a proper signal?”
Not holding my breath.
Asil smirked at my expression.
“They’ll be in a bind without our help. I’ll contact you from outside, so stand by.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“…Don’t take what those guys said to heart.”
The ex-cop hesitated, turned his head, and added with difficulty.
I watched the senior avoid my gaze, looking uncomfortable.
“They were mad at me and took it out on you. Sorry about that.”
“No. I wasn’t offended at all, so don’t worry.”
“Asil, we heading out soon?”
Barbie poked her head in beside me, holding caramel popcorn from who-knows-where, and sat down.
“Let us know right away when the cops contact you.”
Asil nodded, and Ricardo, standing beside Barbie, smoothly snatched her popcorn.
I looked at Barbie giggling at Ricardo, and the steadily filling seats around us.
The EDM blasting through the arena, the noise from countless people, the eye-searing lights and laser beams sweeping the stands—all tormented my senses. The hosts—clearly mafia—standing in corners of the arena weren’t a pleasant sight either.
Want to finish quick and get out. I thought, a bit fatigued.
Hoped the game would start soon, so I could witness the end of the fool who dared draw a blade on Colton, then face the Creature.
Creatures captured by the mafia in bizarre ways.
Creatures humans couldn’t tame, but which obeyed Titan will…
“High school girl?”
Asil’s voice suddenly snapped me from my thoughts.
“Why’s a high school girl here?”
The figure that halted the senior heading out.
The one that even startled the other seniors mid-popcorn—and had them opening their eyes wide.
She sat four seats away from me.
In a neat school uniform.
Holding an elegant opera glass.