Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Kidnapping (1)
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"Already done?"
"Yeah."
Behind a tavern.
A muscular man examined the crudely glued-together documents. He was the owner of the place.
"Hmm... Was there a shop like this? Feels brand new."
"Illegal distilleries pop up in back alleys like mushrooms after rain."
"Ha... Thanks. Guess we should start dealing with them too."
"I'd prefer thanks in the form of cash."
Cant rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. The tavern owner smirked and pulled a wad of bills from his pocket.
Just as he was about to hand it over, he pulled it back and asked,
"How'd you pull this off so fast? Usually takes weeks for a job like this."
"Problem if it's quick?"
"No problem, just curious."
"You're asking for someone else's business info too easily. Just pay up."
The tavern owner locked eyes with Cant for a moment before extending the money again.
"Think you could do another one at this speed?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. You know we get all sorts here. Got a customer who needs your skills right now."
"Who's the client?"
"Fixer."
"Volume?"
"Hmm... Roughly forty pages?"
"Price?"
"Three big ones, assuming full recovery. Normally I'd charge a fee, but waived. One week deadline, though. My guy's in a rush."
Cant showed interest at the generous terms.
But he didn't accept right away. He glanced at Oliver.
Oliver nodded, and only then did Cant speak.
"...Alright. I'll take it."
"Good. Hold on."
The tavern owner fetched a sack of bundled trash, as if he'd been waiting.
It was pretty bulky, but Cant slung it over his shoulder effortlessly.
The man spoke in a warning tone.
"I'm telling my customer not to worry now. That means if you fail, I fail, and my rep takes a hit. Warning you—don't screw up. I value my reputation."
"You just make sure the money's ready. No more empty talk like last time."
"That was ages ago—still holding grudges?"
"Time doesn't matter. What matters is it happened."
"Grr... Never back down, do you? Get going."
The tavern owner slammed the back door shut as he said it.
Oliver asked Cant,
"What was that about?"
"Oh? Back when I worked here, he stiffed me on pay once. Caused a huge scene."
"Ah..."
"Nearly turned into a brawl, but it got sorted. No more deadbeats since."
"I see. Does that happen a lot? People not paying up?"
"Yeah, pretty often. If they think you're easy... That's why doing the job matters, but so does collecting. Bust your ass for nothing? Infuriating. Stay sharp. Can't let them take your cut."
"...Was it like that as a fixer too?"
"Huh? Yeah, something like that. Sometimes you lose more than money."
"Hmm..."
"Alright, my turn to ask. After the paladin saved your skin, what happened?"
To understand this conversation, you had to go back a few days.
The first time Oliver helped with the documents, he'd pretended to ask about moles but probed about Cant and the previous boss. Cant caught on.
Cant pulled Oliver aside and asked why he was asking.
Oliver figured he couldn't dodge it, so he admitted he was just curious.
Everyone knew about Cant and the old boss except him—it bugged him.
Cant stared silently, then put him back to sorting papers.
Oliver saw it as an opportunity and poured his all into it, finishing more and faster than everyone combined.
The moment Cant saw, he proposed:
'Keep helping, and I'll answer your questions. But you answer mine too.'
Thus, Oliver earned the right to formally question Cant.
Of course, he had to answer Cant's too. No big deal.
A few tweaks to the facts, and it passed muster.
For instance, he admitted meeting Joseph at the mine and getting dragged off, but skipped beating him.
Said he was to be sacrificed in some weird ritual—partial truth. Then the paladin hunting the black mage saved his life—another partial truth.
A few omissions made a perfect lie.
"Hmm... I ran away. Hid in a roadside truck, ended up here."
"Tch..."
Cant eyed Oliver suspiciously.
He didn't fully buy it but didn't press.
Oliver couldn't know why.
He read emotions, not thoughts.
One thing was clear: Cant found him suspicious but wasn't digging deeper.
Why? Because Oliver was making him money now?
Not quite—it felt insufficient.
Cant showed faint pity toward him.
Oliver wondered why.
He wanted to ask, but held back.
The emotion was too deep; questions wouldn't draw it out easily.
So he started with easier ones to coax Cant's willingness.
Cant asked again.
"One thing I don't get—why run alone instead of asking the paladin for help?"
"Uh... He was slaughtering black mages and thugs so brutally. Scared me."
"Ha... Must've been a zealot. Makes sense."
"Zealot?"
"Yeah, some paladins are reasonable, but plenty are fanatics... Well, these days it's the age of mages over gods."
Age of mages over gods... Intriguing phrase.
"Do you know much about paladins, Mr. Cant?"
"Huh? Nah, just stuff I saw or heard as a fixer back in the day. Not an expert."
"I see. Could you explain what they are?"
"Guardians of humanity, protecting the world from evil in service of the great god..."
Canned, boring spiel. Interest waned—until Cant continued.
"...But also the Pater Church's private army, a global powerhouse. Still, calling them humanity's guardians isn't wrong."
Humanity's guardians...
"In what sense?"
"Why so curious?"
"...I saw them fight. They butchered the black mage and thugs mercilessly, and most cheered it on. Why guardians?"
"Paladins and their servants are a bit unhinged... But they do protect humanity. Whenever crazy cultists try summoning demons, they lead the charge to stop it."
"Demon summoning?"
"Yeah... Sounds like legend these days."
Demon summoning... Not just pacts, but actual summons.
Nothing like that in Joseph's library. Oliver realized his ignorance growing.
Cant's turn.
"Makes sense getting to Landa, but how'd you end up in X District? Deep in, too?"
"Just fled in a panic, walked till I was there... Sorry for lying when we met. I know you hate lies."
"Eh... Whatever. Gotta lie to survive here."
"Thank you. One more question?"
"Lord almighty, you're full of questions."
"Ah, yes... Sorry."
"Sigh... What?"
"How'd you end up here, Mr. Cant? They say you're a top fixer, know everything."
Cant's emotions flickered.
He'd touched a nerve. Long silence, then:
"...If I have to answer, bad luck."
"Bad luck?"
"Yeah. Misfortune hit outta nowhere, rolled me here. Common story."
Cant spoke truth. But beneath the calm facade, deep sorrow gleamed.
Only a sliver of the truth.
Oliver wanted it all.
"...Still curious?"
"Yes."
"About me again?"
"Yes."
"Damn, why so interested? I don't swing that way."
"Swing that way...? Not sure what you mean."
"Good. Better off not knowing."
"......"
"......"
"Just curious."
"About what?"
"Everyone trusts you completely. You say it's not like that. Wonder how you earn it."
"Ha! I'm reliable, that's all. Impressive, huh?"
"Yes, very. First time I've seen it."
"?"
"Trust without beatings or threats... That's why."
Cant looked at Oliver pityingly.
"...Not that impressive. Just carrying on what the previous boss built. Maintaining it."
"Maintaining isn't easy either."
Cant stopped and looked down at Oliver.
"You're a weird kid."
"Am I?"
"Yeah."
Another question bubbled up to Oliver's lips.
Why keep him around despite the weirdness?
Most who sensed it got violent or wary.
Not Cant—no signs of it.
He even felt helpful, tinged with faint longing and regret.
Buried deep like buried treasure—that made Oliver crave it more.
Why help without agenda at first? Why still help despite suspicion?
Why protect fellow beggars over easy paths?
As Oliver mulled these silently, Cant said,
"Anyway, think you can finish this stack in a week? Looks like months' worth."
Oliver eyed the sack.
"Yes, should be fine."
"Good. Winter's coming—need cash to not freeze."
"Really?"
"Yeah, poorhouse costs too. Harder to beg in winter... Hey, what's that?"
Cant trailed off, spotting people milling confusedly at their home's entrance.
Fellow Family beggars, all bewildered.
Something was wrong.
"C-Cant...!"
Bad vibes. Cant dropped his usual playfulness.
"What? What's going on?"
"B-Big trouble... Harmonica's been kidnapped."
"What?"
"Harmonica was kidnapped! On the way back with Red Nose dodging patrols, they ambushed and took her!"