Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Duncan (1)
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"Excuse me, may I come in, miss?"
Oliver asked from in front of a small tent.
A reply came back.
"Yes, of course."
The moment he heard the response, Oliver stepped inside the tent.
The interior couldn't even be called clean by the most generous standards—black mold was sprouting everywhere.
A sight that would make any well-bred person recoil in horror.
Yet, for some reason, Jane sat there calmly, not only unfazed but even savoring a bowl of the beggars' stew.
"...Everyone's been so kind. They even gave me food, thinking I might be hungry."
"I see. Does the food suit your taste?"
"Yes, it's pretty good. More importantly, this place... Captain?"
"We usually call him the Boss."
"...I'll just stick with Captain. Anyway, you know him?"
"Well, things just sort of ended up that way. I didn't expect to get help like this."
"Heh... Sounds like you've done favors for people everywhere."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, just something I learned as a kid. They taught us that to survive in the world, you have to spread favors around and never forget the ones you receive."
"From the Sisterhood?"
"......"
Jane fell silent, her emotions visibly stirring. But it was only for a moment before she spoke again, as if resigning herself a little.
"Ah... I've come a long way. I said too much because it made me uncomfortable... How did you know? That I was raised by the Sisterhood."
"I heard it just a little while ago."
"Really?"
"Yes. Surprisingly, the people here know a lot."
"That's unexpected... Or is it obvious? Anyone can become a king, but beggars are a dime a dozen."
Jane muttered something cryptic and giggled as if it amused her.
But behind her smiling facade, her emotions revealed sadness and resignation.
"...If it's all right with you, may I say something?"
"What is it?"
"Um... Sorry, but could you just speak casually?"
"Pardon?"
"No, I mean... You seem so stifled. Ever since we first met. Every time you talk, you're always overthinking, holding back your true feelings... You don't have to do that with me."
"...What do you mean?"
"Just what I said. It feels like you're doing it to win people's favor, but I don't really care. Plus... I have something to ask. It might be important, so I'd appreciate an honest answer."
"......"
Jane didn't respond. She simply closed her eyes, though it didn't seem like her heart was at peace.
Her emotions began churning like a boiling pot,
frustration, irritation, anger, anxiety clashing fiercely with hope and patience—like she could explode at any moment.
"-Fuck!!!"
Suddenly, Jane shouted at the top of her lungs.
"...Fuck! Fuck!! Goddamn fucking shit...!"
Shockingly, Jane jumped to her feet and unleashed a torrent of profanity for a full three minutes. Oliver could do nothing but listen quietly.
Her curses were so vivid and loud, one might think even the Pinkmen on the surface could hear them. When she finally ran out of steam, Jane panted heavily—"Hah... hah..."—and looked down at Oliver.
"...Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fuck, I feel refreshed. First time in my life... So, what do you want to ask?"
Jane plopped back down, asking the question.
Unlike her initial demure posture, she now sat with her legs splayed wide in a comfortable straddle.
"...You said the Sisterhood is where you'd seek help?"
"Yes. It's an organization for women."
Jane replied while eating the stew, pressing the bowl to her mouth and chowing down noisily.
"They said seeking help there might put you in a tough spot. Is that true?"
Jane chewed her food with her mouth full, then swallowed and spoke.
"Yes. Since you probably overheard some, I'll be straight. It's not the worst, but it's pretty bad. You'd owe the Sisterhood a huge debt. Basically, they'd have you on a leash."
"I see."
"Yes, small debts can be settled, but anything more... you can't pay off even in a lifetime... If I inherit my father's legacy without their help, I can settle the debt for raising me with one big investment. They don't demand more than that."
"Ah, got it."
"But don't misunderstand. It's not because they're kind. If they push too hard, people rebel or betray them. It's like an unspoken agreement. A line where both sides are satisfied... But if you rack up more debt here, things change."
"I'm not quite following."
"Call it a subtle pie game. Can't explain it neatly. Point is, seeking help here means not just money—you'd owe your life too. They'd hold that over you forever."
A subtle pie game...
Oliver nodded thoughtfully. At the very least, Jane wasn't lying now.
"...Just out of curiosity—what happens if you just ignore it? I mean, if you don't repay the favor."
"...Then my secrets would spread to the world."
"Secrets?"
"The Sisterhood has safeguards for that... I can't say more. I'm shameless, but not completely without shame."
He couldn't quite grasp it, but he didn't pry.
It wasn't that important, and Jane was genuinely distressed.
"...Sigh. Why are you asking?"
"I wanted to ask if there's a way to avoid their help."
"...You're joking, right?"
Jane asked earnestly, as if she couldn't believe it.
"Sorry. I'm bad at jokes. I was taught, but it's still hard."
"What is it?"
"Three men were playing poker in a bar. One Northman, one Kingdom man, and one Randa. These three—"
"-No. No. A way to avoid the Sisterhood's help. Do you have somewhere else to turn? With some muscle?"
"No. I'll just go up to the surface alone and take out the ones targeting you."
"...I said stop joking. It's pissing me off."
"This time it's not a joke. ...Hold on."
Oliver pulled something from his pocket. A newspaper from a few months ago.
"Want to read this article?"
"...We saw it together before the Northland mine suppression."
"Yes. You said Duncan was ex-Pinkman, right?"
"Yes......"
Jane furrowed her brow, as if faintly grasping something.
"Look at this."
Oliver showed her a new article. The headline read <Excessive Force Hearing!>.
"...It's about the hearing on the excessive force at the mine village. Makes sense—they killed too many in the initial suppression. Even a mother holding her child. But what's that got to do with anything?"
Oliver read the article aloud.
"I don't know much, but apparently, this hearing will lead to firing some suppression leaders."
"It's just for show. They pull them from the field, rehire as desk jobs, or give a few months off then bring them back. All performative."
"Wouldn't that still piss off the employees?"
"Well... yeah, probably."
Indeed. Kant had said especially the skilled ones, with strong pride, would see even that charade as humiliating.
"Just to check—did Duncan join Edith right after quitting the Pinkmen?"
"No, he started a private agency first. It failed, and that's when my father... Ah!"
Jane's face lit up with realization.
"With so many Pinkmen unemployed, seems Duncan wants to chase his old dreams."
Jane's expression and emotions were pure chaos.
"...Isn't speculating like that a bit much?"
"They say there's a bar Pinkmen frequent called Pink Thighs. Recently, some were drinking there, talking about job changes. To a speculator employing ex-Pinkmen."
"......"
"Better pay, and with noble backing as investor, they can break into new markets."
"Edith's husband. I've seen him once."
Jane smirked.
"How'd you find out?"
"Pieced it from newspapers, rumors, conversations. It's the poor brothers' biggest income here."
"Ha... I knew Randa was fun, but not this fun."
"Is it? Anyway, I think they're after you for investment-like gains. They'd be desperate too—if you survive, it all crumbles. So Duncan's likely out there. If I take him out then, we eliminate the threat."
"...Wouldn't that put you in danger?"
"This job's dangerous by nature. I know what I'm doing."
"Still, no reason to go this far."
"Really? I'm hired to protect you, so best way seems good. Plus... you've taught me things."
Jane hesitated before speaking.
"...I had to look good since I'm protected. Sisterhood taught me."
"I know. Help's help. More than that..."
"More than that? What?"
"I like you. You're pretty."
Oliver said her emotions were pretty, and at that, Jane's face turned beet red, speechless.
".....Did I say something wrong?"
"This way. He ran this way."
"He's gone. Where the hell—ugh!"
Dark night. Maze-like tangled back alleys.
The moment Oliver surfaced, he began a game of hide-and-seek with a bunch of Pinkmen.
Oliver was winning, and it wasn't hard.
After sunset, streets held only vagrants or Pinkmen chasing Jane, freeing his movements.
Enemies were many, but his eyes made tracking easy.
He'd flee through alleys, strike when right, fall back.
If pressed, 'Laser Exit' or 'Shade Cloak' hid him.
Once they lost him, strike again.
"Where... Gah!"
"Here!"
Dududududududududududu———!!!
But it wasn't all easy. Pinkmen's reactions sharpened; when one fell, they took cover and fired.
Muzzle flashes lit the world; Oliver blocked with Black Shield and fled again.
"Chase him! Don't let him go!"
'Good. Still plenty left.'
Oliver thought, eyeing the emotions in his pocket.
From Kant: if something happened to him, take Jane to Sisterhood instead. That's what he gave.
Replenished his emotions.
When asked how, Kant said he was once a fixer. Quite the guy.
Oliver cloaked in thin, dark mantle—deepest shadow.
Then loaded minions with Hate Bullets; soon, Pinkmen from both sides got hit.
They carried lanterns, visible afar; minion snuck blind spots, spat Hate Bullets.
Pyut-! Pyut-! Pyut-! Pyut-!
One bullet, one Pinkman down.
Unlike gangs, Pinkmen reacted fast; followers spotted minion, shot it.
Dudududu—! Boom! Kyaaak!!!
Minion screamed away.
Oliver prepared strike. Then—
"There!"
Two Pinkmen in goggles pointed at him, yelling.
Goggles hummed with mana—scanning gear.
Pinkmen fired wildly; Oliver deployed Black Shields both ways.
Tatatatatang——! Bang—! Bang—! Bangtatatatang———!
Lead drummed shields.
Single shots weak, but volume threatened; hard to move.
"Everyone, move!"
A Pinkman with odd shotgun pushed through.
Like shotgun, but loading handle had vial of mana-laced substance.
Unknown details, but Oliver sensed danger instinctively.
"Burn."
He fired; vial goo fed gun, massive fireball engulfed Oliver and around.
Solid tactic.
Pin with small arms, finish with heavy.
Pinkmen stopped, thinking done.
Oliver burst Black Marble and Shields, shockwave cleared flames, Shadow Tentacles lashed all around.
Area attack: quick stabs and slashes from shadow tentacles.
But effective; over a dozen Pinkmen down in blink.
Emotions spent plenty, but efficient yield. Even Duncan doable.
Then.
Something approached terrifyingly fast, wall-jumped at Oliver.
Duncan.
Pakang—————!!!
Mana-charged unique rod-shaped weapon smashed Oliver.
Shock flung him sideways.
Luckily, triple Black Shields took it—no damage, though two shattered badly.
As expected, Druid Scott level... no, stronger. Vast mana poured from him as he spoke.
"Not bad."
"Thanks. Fought Scott, decided to focus more on shields."
Oliver coated body and quarterstaff in Black Suit, replying.