Chapter 237 Kill and Take -4
Chapter 237 Kill and Take -4
The meeting between Taigirl and Heinrich.
Jiha and Enril were watching, hidden among the surrounding crates.
Heinrich now recognized Jiha as a rival for Barjet.
If he knew Jiha was involved, he would realize it was a trap and become wary.
The reason for observing despite the risk was to confirm whether Taigirl was truly being cooperative.
"You came for the Bugra?"
Taigirl was curt.
Heinrich smiled as he greeted him.
"Taigirl, I have long admired your name and have always wished to meet you. It is an honor to be able to visit you today."
"I don't need flattery from a man. Especially from a decent-looking one."
Taigirl snorted.
"Men are all just rivals competing over a woman anyway."
"Hahaha, how can you say such a thing? I only ever seek to bring women greater pleasure..."
"Is that what you have to say after coming here for an aphrodisiac?"
Taigirl let out a scoffing laugh.
Unlike when he was openly spouting perverted nonsense, the gaze he fixed on Heinrich was solemn and full of dignity.
"I didn't make this because I liked it. No, it wasn't even for this purpose. It was initially meant to make sex with women more satisfying, to help women feel better. There are many species in Warsland, and even if hearts align, bodies may not."
"..."
"What if I fell in love with an Orc woman and our equipment didn't match? Not that I'd ever be the one not matching, of course! I'm stout! I can satisfy any woman!"
Heinrich was smiling, but his expression showed he had no idea how to respond.
"So I was developing it for those poor bastards and it ended up like this... then some scumbag started misusing it. They went berserk saying they'd kill me if I didn't make it, and now they order me to produce things like this. What are you going to demand I make next?"
"You seem to have many complaints about us... Is the compensation not sufficient?"
"You people don't understand craftsmen. You know nothing."
Even while showing his irritation, Taigirl took a medicine case from his coat and held it out.
"Take it and get lost."
"..."
Heinrich accepted the case and smiled smoothly.
"May I make you a proposal?"
"I don't listen to a man's words."
"If you wish, I could arrange a meeting with a woman."
"Sex is a different matter."
When Taigirl fell for it immediately, Heinrich gave a dry cough.
His face suggested Taigirl was so brazen that he didn't know how to handle him.
"I will soon become one of the Five Kings of Ouroboros. Once that happens, I could have you work in a much freer environment. What do you say? Will you join hands with me, rather than the organization?"
"You want me to make drugs just for you, not for Ouroboros?"
Taigirl's temper was eccentric, but his skill in making drugs was the best in Warsland.
"Money and women, I can provide as much as you desire."
"I want to sleep with Gashiel Remaker. Hand her over."
He meant Alex's older sister, the celestial Unique.
Heinrich's eyes narrowed.
It was to gauge Taigirl's real motive in specifically targeting Gashiel.
But Taigirl was stroking his stomach with a blissfully satisfied expression.
"Kuhah! A meal would go down in a flash with the greatest beauty of the Celestial Clan in the missionary position!"
"...I will consider it."
At Heinrich's answer, Taigirl's expression turned serious.
"But wouldn't Alex kill you for that?"
"..."
"Which is it? Are you lying to me, or do you intend to eliminate Alex?"
A look of having been caught off guard crossed Heinrich's face.
Taigirl had been acting so much like a complete lunatic that Heinrich had inadvertently shown his hand.
It was a calculated attitude; even if things went wrong, Enril and Jiha hiding in the corner of the shop wouldn't stand by.
'His words and deeds are crude, but he's not stupid.'
Jiha thought to himself as he watched.
Heinrich wore a subtle smile as he spoke.
"All things in the world change, don't they?"
"Answer me. Then I can decide too. Do you intend to eliminate Alex?"
"...Everyone must find their own way to survive."
Jiha inwardly rejoiced.
Alex had given Jiha permission to take Barjet (though Jiha didn't care whether that permission existed or not), and that was what had made Heinrich furious.
As the saying goes, the person trying to stop a fight often draws more hate than the one who started it.
He disliked Jiha too, but Heinrich had grown to hate his superior Alex, who had tolerated it, to his very core.
The two of them were now completely divided.
To the point where Heinrich was determined to eliminate Alex.
'It wasn't a group with strong solidarity from the beginning. Alex didn't know what Kamain knew... And Alex openly treated Heinrich as disposable.'
Heinrich had been enraged by that treatment and had decided to crush Alex and rise up himself.
Taigirl threw out a question.
"What reason do I have to bet on a mere underling like you, and not the organization Ouroboros?"
"Well... because if you don't, you will die."
Heinrich smiled, showing his white teeth.
"Right now, I'm the only one who knows about this place. Alex doesn't know either, you see. You've hidden your identity well, Taigirl Imphal."
"Are you threatening to kill me now?"
"I could, or I could just report to Ouroboros that it would be best not to keep you alive. Your life will hang in the balance on a single report from me."
What made things maddening for Taigirl was that if he didn't follow Heinrich, Ouroboros would try to eliminate him.
And even though Heinrich's proposal demanded personal loyalty to him rather than the organization, Taigirl had nowhere to appeal.
"If you want to live, you'll have to come under me, understand?"
"Just kill me."
"...I'm not joking."
"I'd hate to be killed by a man. If it comes to that, I'd prefer a stunningly beautiful assassin. I'll die content if a woman in skin-tight leather armor cuts my throat."
Taigirl spoke with gravity.
"Even if I rot, I'm a Dwarf. My soul was born from pebbles that trod rough ground, not boulders that command the world. Even if I'm a pebble worn down by scorching heat, bitter cold, rain, and waves, a stone is a stone. I may be chipped and broken, but I will remain myself to the very end."
"..."
Heinrich, who looked utterly uncomprehending, soon scoffed.
"I understand. In that case..."
As he started to reach for his weapon, Enril, who had been watching, shot Jiha a glance.
Jiha was trying to gauge her meaning when Enril suddenly stood up and stepped forward.
"That's enough."
"..."
Heinrich, who had never imagined someone—let alone a Unique—was hiding here, stiffened.
He looked flustered enough that his smiling mask slipped slightly, and he quickly retreated, tensing up.
"A Dark Elf Unique. It has truly been a long time. What brings you here?"
"Because that Dwarf requested protection."
"Ooh, what a stunning brown backside, ooh..."
As Taigirl exclaimed and drooled, Enril struck Taigirl's face with Shadow Hand.
Struck by a shadowy fist the size of a human torso, Taigirl screamed and tumbled away.
"Graaah!! A huge backside!!"
With a genuinely annoyed expression, Enril struck Taigirl's crotch with Shadow Hand.
Taigirl went limp with a pitiful scream and fainted.
Only when it finally became quiet did Enril click her tongue in irritation.
She was keeping him alive only because of Jiha's intentions; otherwise, she would have killed him several hundred times over already.
As Enril radiated intense killing intent, Heinrich, who was watching, spoke cautiously.
"...It seems less like you're protecting him and more like you're trying to kill him."
"If he's to be killed, I'll be the one to do it, so don't waste your time and get lost."
"..."
"Did you not understand, Rare? If you want to face me, go bring Barjet. Or would you like to try it right here?"
Without hesitation, Enril moved her hand to the sword at her waist.
She was an assassin, but that didn't mean she was lacking in direct confrontation. She could instead use all manner of cunning tactics to overwhelm her opponent.
But Heinrich didn't back down either.
"I'm afraid I can't simply back away..."
He seemed bothered by the name Ouroboros, and by the fact that Enril had overheard their conversation.
If Jiha stepped in, he could certainly resolve the situation, but that would ruin the plan.
More than anything, he wanted to watch how Enril would handle it, so Jiha decided to observe as long as possible.
Enril gave a scoffing laugh.
"Hah, I have no interest in your schemes. But I think Barjet might be interested?"
"..."
One look at Heinrich was enough to tell he was a black-hearted bastard.
Other Uniques, not just Jiha, were also baffled by his words.
He spouted equality theories completely disconnected from the reality of Warsland, but there was no way Uniques who shed blood and breathed dust on the front lines would fall for that.
Only Barjet was being deceived.
"Or should I relay what you were just about to do to Alex? He'd probably be quite interested too."
"...What is it you want?"
Heinrich realized she had him completely cornered.
He either had to eliminate Enril and Taigirl or comply with her demands.
Enril snorted.
"An Elf Unique went over to Barjet's side. After continuously acting pathetic, she eventually ran off crying about it."
"..."
"The aftermath is giving me a headache right now. We both have our nuisances, don't we?"
When Enril smiled coldly, Heinrich looked somewhat relieved.
"What specifically do you want?"
"I intend to get rid of her during this opportunity. But it'll be troublesome if traces are left behind. You understand?"
"..."
Enril was seeking his cooperation to secretly eliminate Leticia, proposing mutual assistance.
Enril spoke succinctly.
"That's all I need. I don't care what you do."
"...I see. So you're asking me to discreetly handle the disposal?"
"No, I'll kill her myself, so just clean up afterwards. And don't interfere."
Enril smiled like a black panther that had cornered its prey.
"Because I have to be the one to kill her. I need to watch her cry and beg for her life before I slowly, very slowly, stop her breathing for good."
"..."
Heinrich nodded shortly after.
"Understood. If that's the case, I will cooperate."
The antagonism between Dark Elves and Elves was known to all, and anyone could see that Enril and Leticia were on bad terms with each other.
The fact that they belonged to the same organization in the name of the Investigative Committee was also quite bizarre... so Heinrich didn't doubt Enril's words at all.
"Then get lost."
"..."
Heinrich slowly moved his steps.
Only after his footsteps could no longer be heard did Jiha emerge from his spot.
Enril, who had been dusting off her hands, looked at Jiha and hesitated.
"...I'm sorry for stepping in on my own."
"No, you handled it well."
Jiha was inwardly impressed.
Enril had perfectly deceived Heinrich.
But Enril, looking uneasy, quickly added.
"...Just so you know, everything I just said was purely to trick him. I'm not really planning to eliminate the Elf."
"Really?"
When Jiha teased her, Enril nodded.
"...I've never liked her, but she's part of your plan."
Enril knew that as long as Jiha was making use of Leticia, she couldn't act rashly.
She was deeply aware that she must not do anything beyond that trembling jealousy she'd felt just moments ago.
Even though no one had told her, she now understood this on her own, which was quite admirable.
Jiha smiled as he sorted out his thoughts.
'Leticia acts in concert from within, and Enril confuses Heinrich from the outside. Then we ignite the situation with Quority... and I step in to swallow everything whole.'
The ingredients were in place.
Now all that remained was to light the fire under the pot.
Jiha sensed someone's gaze and turned to find Enril quickly lowering her eyes.
She must have been quietly watching his smiling face.
"What is it?"
"...Ah, it's nothing."
Jiha reached out, took Enril's chin, and tilted it up.
Enril didn't resist his touch and obediently followed.
Though perhaps too shy to meet his eyes, she still kept her gaze downcast.
When Jiha silently pressed her for an answer, Enril confessed with genuine bashfulness.
"...Because I think it's the first time you've smiled because of me."
"..."
"I was a little happy."
How can she be this cute?
As if drawn by an invisible force, Jiha slowly leaned his face closer to Enril's.
Something deep in his chest felt sweet, a sensation different from mere sexual desire, moving him to act naturally.
"Mm..."
A short kiss. Enril's cheeks reddened further.
She yearned for more of his touch, her blue eyes now moist with affection looking up at him, and Jiha felt his own heart warm.
Smack.
They pressed closer, pulling each other's waists into an embrace.
Their lips overlapped.
"Mmmph."
"..."
Heated breath.
The thought of stripping off everything they wore and quickly becoming one passed between the two of them.
"Nngh."
At the sound of Taigirl, who had been knocked out cold, starting to stir, Jiha removed his hand from Enril's chin.
Enril looked extremely regretful, but she soon composed her expression.
"Alright, then..."
Jiha deliberately spoke aloud to steady himself.
The first phase of deceiving Heinrich was now complete. Next was the situation itself.
After extracting the information.
He would make Quority and Heinrich clash, and then he would step in to finish the situation himself.