Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Black-Haired Beast (3)
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Geon-ju turned his well-formed wrist under the suspicious gaze. His pale, long fingers covered the red mark on his wrist. Their eyes met—black pupils locking together.
"...What's your goal."
He certainly had backbone.
He didn't seem the type to get easily excited, and his perceptiveness appeared sharp enough. Judging that the first thing he'd ask about was the purpose, Sa-yoon shrugged with the nonchalant air of a slacker.
"Talent recruitment?"
"By kidnapping people? What, are you some mobster guild or something?"
His tone was soft with a dash of curtness. It could be taken as sarcasm if heard wrong, but Sa-yoon neither got angry nor excited.
The Night Rat wasn't all that different from a mobster guild, and Geon-ju's suspicion was justified.
Snatching someone from the Center, locking them up, and threatening to kill them if they didn't join— what normal place did that?
Chewing over his guild's nature anew, Sa-yoon recognized that the Geon-ju in front of him was normal.
None of the guild members he'd captured so far had ever asked anything like this. They'd only droned on about how many people they could kill, if they really wanted the Earth to perish, when they thought the world would end—obsessing solely over whether the Night Rat was truly "evil-aligned." Thinking back, he'd gathered only the essence of the madmen, to the point where he wondered if this was okay.
"You've got good instincts."
The praise made the corner of Geon-ju's eye twitch faintly. His expression looked like a failed attempt at sarcasm, so Sa-yoon pulled up the corner of his mouth.
Twenty-two, was it?
Young, perhaps. He seemed to be slithering like a snake, but to Sa-yoon, who had been through it all, Geon-ju looked like a newborn serpent. His wriggling was almost cute, so Sa-yoon glanced at Jong-sik. Placing the bearish Jong-sik next to the lean-muscled Geon-ju highlighted the contrast.
Pretty was good, but he looked too fragile. If he joined, they'd have to bulk him up first.
He looked like he'd snap if tapped. It was worrisome.
"You said if I don't join the guild, I die."
"Curious? Try refusing."
"...You look like at least A-rank. How could I refuse?"
Look at this guy.
It was a strange way of speaking. Like a rebuke or a lament. Sa-yoon stared intently at him, chuckling softly at the novel conversation style.
"Good eye for talent, too."
"I'll do it."
"What?"
"I don't know what kind of guild it is, but I'll join for now."
"......"
Sa-yoon was the surprised one at the immediate response with no hesitation.
"You know what kind of guild we are?"
"You said you'd kill me if I don't join."
"Even so."
Was this guy going to get scammed elsewhere? Had he kidnapped a pushover?
Agreeing to join without resistance or haggling. To Sa-yoon, who had dealt with dozens, hundreds of con artists, this was impossible.
Hadn't he learned not to follow even if a stranger said they'd save him? How could he bite without knowing what it was? Even if joining, shouldn't he ask a few more questions, gauge the person, then decide?
It had gone as desired, but the process felt too bland, unsatisfying. True Night Rat members would lunge at this chance to loosen up, do a hazing ritual, take a knife to the gut, and bond through it all. But he did nothing. No rebuttals or curses—he'd come to the guild meekly.
Things going too smoothly was the problem.
He'd hoped to check his skills.
If he charged like a madman, they could sort the hierarchy and test strength. But he didn't, so it felt like skipping a step in the usual process.
"...Don't blame me if you regret it."
"Will my regret pay for my life?"
In this situation, smiling wasn't easy, yet he answered with a faint smile—bold indeed. His courage seemed substantial. Watching him, Sa-yoon checked the quest window just in case.
'Current Relationship: Caution & Interest'
Hostility had cleanly vanished. Intrigued by that, Sa-yoon met Geon-ju's gaze. The deep black eyes looked relaxed, hard to believe they belonged to the same person who had been so tense and wary moments ago.
What had changed him so drastically?
There had to be a reason. The S-rank Adaptation skill alone didn't explain Geon-ju's shift in attitude within mere minutes.
"Why stare like that? It's embarrassing."
Lost in thought, Geon-ju spoke up abruptly. The others would be pulp by now after picking a fight, yet this was the first to speak intact.
He felt different.
Recalling the spirit in Geon-ju's eyes when they first met, Sa-yoon voiced his doubt slowly.
"...Are you the same person as before?"
"My life depends on joining the guild anyway. So I figured I should try to look good to you. Am I wrong? Is he the guild leader instead?"
He nodded toward Jong-sik. Shaking his head with a "what nonsense" expression, Geon-ju's eyes relaxed.
"Then we're good."
"What do you mean, so easy?"
"Guess easy ones aren't common."
If the earlier attitude was better, stick with that.
His calm addition was remarkably brazen. Like an actor taking feedback, Sa-yoon's eyebrow rose. Impossible to pin down.
Was this high-level acting, or his true nature?
"Jong-sik, bring it."
Whatever it was, get the contract signed before he changed his mind. Snapping his fingers, Jong-sik fetched a rolled brown paper from a drawer in the villa corner. Geon-ju flinched slightly upon receiving it.
"Not just any contract."
"Our guild is thorough."
Not a simple paper contract, but an S-rank one. Violating terms forced the collateral from both sides. Nothing better for certainty.
Geon-ju quieted upon holding it, and Sa-yoon chuckled.
"What, scared now that you see it?"
No take-backs on regrets now.
He looked cunning, but still naive. His hands seemed usable. Chuckling, Sa-yoon explained the terms.
The clauses were roughly: Don't let non-guild members know you're a Night Rat after joining. Don't leak guild info after leaving. Don't attack the guild directly after leaving. Don't disclose the contract terms.
That was it. Simple, but the consequences weren't.
This contract, favoring the stronger party, took a leg if broken. No potions healed contract violation injuries—instant lifelong disability. Waving it, Sa-yoon spoke softly.
"Follow the terms, and you'll live fine. We're not too strict, so joining elsewhere after leaving is free. We don't force you to stay."
Not you, though.
He swallowed the follow-up. No forcing? For others maybe, but Geon-ju would get an ankle chain to keep him.
For now, speak gently to build trust, then sneakily add clauses later. Hearing signing instructions from Jong-sik, Geon-ju pricked his finger with the needle and signed.
Sa-yoon's signature was already there. Watching silently, he frowned slightly.
"Signing without a second thought."
"Your conversation pattern's been the same. Should I fight you instead?"
Exactly.
Sa-yoon nearly jumped up: Yeah, that's it. Show me your skills. Suppressing the impulse—being seen as weird would just tire him out with relationship fixes.
"You're too relaxed, so I'm suspicious."
"Can't help it in a situation that forces relaxation."
"What do you mean?"
"No matter how I look, you won't kill me. Your eyes looked pretty desperate for someone threatening to."
Ah, Guild Leader now, is it?
Geon-ju added casually, chuckling lowly that he couldn't stay tense. Sa-yoon smirked at the fresh reaction.
His first thought: intriguing. If the system window showed emotions, it'd say "Intrigued." Tapping his shoe on the villa floor, Sa-yoon pondered.
Convinced I won't kill him, so he's at ease.
He'd heard of tension or fear from his presence, but ease? First time.
Is that why he seemed so relaxed?
"Amusing."
What tipped him off?
Eyes, as he said? Actions? Speech?
Pondering, Sa-yoon stood. Geon-ju flinched. Not fully at ease—subtle reactions to every move.
A bit more brains and experience, and he'd be sly without showing it.
Seemed mismatched for Night Rat, but perfect in this way. How had they missed recruiting him till now?
"Curious what made you judge that."
"Wasn't I what you needed?"
"You look barely B-rank. That confident?"
"You went through the hassle of kidnapping a mere B-rank to recruit. Isn't that why I'm confident?"
Not yielding a word, he curved his black eyes. Sa-yoon pondered two choices at the impudent expression.
Show dominance to the newbie who wouldn't back down, or play nice for smooth relations?
Either fine. As he mulled, a phone rang—Jong-sik's.
Flustered Jong-sik looked over awkwardly. Sa-yoon nodded to answer. Jong-sik went to the corner, then mouthed "Yongho Guild" to Sa-yoon.
The merger, meant to be gentlemanly by sending underlings, had fallen through.
As previously said, he'd go himself—gestured withdrawal. Jong-sik ended the call. Turning back to Geon-ju, who blinked curiously at their silent signals.
A mischievous urge struck.
More obedient than expected, no skill check. Perfect timing. Sa-yoon rose from the chair.
"If you think I spared you 'cause you're skilled, let's see it, pretty boy."
"...Pardon?"
"Confirm if your skills are really that good."
"......?"
"Get up. Time for hazing."
Dragging the chair, Geon-ju rose reluctantly, face screaming "this can't be right." Sa-yoon continued calmly.
"Oh, and."
"What else?"
"Not that. Congrats on joining Night Rat."
"......"
"Let's do well, newbie."
Adding with a chuckle, Geon-ju's eyes shook. His face paling at "Night Rat" was quite the sight.