Sudden Quest -2-
Yellow Toad Gang.
A name meaning "yellow toad," and also a reference to their boss, 'Wei Hang.'
Their members are marked by frog- or toad-like tattoos on their bodies.
And they favor black vans with heavy tinting that blocks all visibility inside.
Those vans' license plates read 4885.
Even though it was little more than a beginner-level sudden quest, the number was frequently mentioned in the Abyss City community forums as aggro bait, so Rohan recognized it immediately.
Their main business is human trafficking and organ smuggling.
As a side hustle, they collect protection money outright, cultivating an ambiguously shady image to sow confusion.
They steadily built their power in the shadows through their primary trade, but now they've been pushed out of their territory after losing a turf war with another gang.
So why come to Academy City Elysium, sharpening their knives for revenge nearby?
He'd heard the city's security officers were ruthless and relentless, but that also meant plenty of high-value merchandise.
"They're targeting academy students with half-baked power who wander alone through deserted spots even at night, figuring it's a chance to restart their business on a bigger scale."
"…."
"What do you think? Correct me if I'm wrong anywhere. Or share your thoughts if something comes to mind."
"Cough…!"
"Man, my memory's sharper than I thought. Remembering details like this?"
Rohan's concise summary of the key points.
Even after getting pummeled and collapsing, the gang boss Wei Hang couldn't hide his rage.
Or maybe he just couldn't.
"…You little shit knows all that, but you don't know shit about business ethics, stirring up trouble in someone else's turf?"
Wei Hang tried to swing his massive hammer again with his shredded arm.
And attempted to haul his bulky body back up.
"Same crap as the first guy I met. Boring."
With that, Rohan pulled out the SMG he'd seized from one of the gang members.
Dr-r-r-r-!!!
Without warning, he emptied a full magazine into the bulging gut.
"Lose some weight. Bullets can't even penetrate properly."
"Grrgh…! Damn brat…."
Since the bullets carried no mana, they should've only left some red welts on the surface.
But Wei Hang was under Rohan's Weakness Infliction.
The rounds didn't fully pierce, but they burrowed right through the thick mana-layered belly without resistance.
Whether they reached the organs past the fat, who knows. But the discomfort hit home.
Veins bulged thick across his bald scalp, didn't they?
They'll be here soon.
Even in this hopelessly tilted fight, Wei Hang refused to lose his spirit.
Not because of guts or ironclad pride. He still had one card left to play.
Click!
Rohan smoothly swapped magazines, holstered the gun at his waist.
Then drew the machete—the second weapon he'd commandeered on the way— from its leather sheath.
No matter the length, it fit his hand like a true sword. It had shone in the duel with Wei Hang.
"Time to wrap this up."
As Rohan closed in, announcing it boldly.
Wei Hang, slumped against the wall, let his lips twitch upward ever so slightly.
At the same moment.
"Kuuuugh—!!!"
Wei Hang's throat ballooned like a inflating with mana as he prepped his skill.
The sight perfectly evoked the gang's name.
Seeing it in person, yeah, total toad.
With that impression, Rohan moved fast.
Not to decapitate before the skill fired—no point in that.
He spun, kicked the door open, and bolted from the room. No hesitation whatsoever.
In the game, killing it like that triggers an explosion for splash damage. Defense skyrockets too.
High power for its rank came with risks.
Rohan knew the skill couldn't be canceled mid-charge, and the user was immobilized.
"Guwaaack!!!"
After Rohan fled the room. Acidic liquid brewed from mana erupted from Wei Hang's mouth like a waterfall.
Melting the spot where Rohan had stood and the entire wall.
The blast radius and force made it clear—no makeshift block with tables or furniture would work.
"Ugly bastard, ugly skill."
"Guuh…."
Rohan strode back in, sword flashing.
Wei Hang stared in terror, dripping residual acid from his mouth.
"What happened to that 'I'll pickle your guts' glare? Why the long face?"
"…."
His last ace had failed spectacularly.
The hostility and killing intent evaporated from Wei Hang.
Thwack! Thwack!
Even as Rohan smacked his head with the flat of the blade to vent, Wei Hang didn't resist.
He just averted his eyes downward.
"I lost… What do you want?"
"Hm?"
Rohan raised an eyebrow at the deflated whisper, like a punctured balloon.
"Why hit this place? The money? Or did this turf already have an owner?"
"Money? Yeah, money's great. Gotta eat to live."
"…I'll pay my bounty in full."
"Give me cash and I'll let you go?"
Wei Hang nodded at Rohan's question, adding it'd be a satisfying sum.
But Rohan's response was firm.
No second thoughts.
"Nah."
"!?"
"Don't wanna start off shitting the bed like that. Letting you walk sets a bad example."
Would he let money sway him from the get-go with Clara?
As mana surged wildly from Rohan, Wei Hang's voice rose in panic.
"I-I'll give you everything! Just let me go—I'll hand over all my assets, abandon the merchandise too!"
"Shh."
Rohan silenced the bellowing plea with an annoyed look.
Wei Hang wisely shut up and waited.
"Piggy. You've got people tied up in the basement for organ harvesting, right? The ones upstairs are prepped for sale somewhere."
"Th…."
Rohan and Clara had already checked the basement.
One victim tied up, marked with pen lines on their body for dissection—value deemed too low, maybe.
Drugged unconscious, unresponsive to calls, surrounded by obvious surgical tools.
"They begged to live, same as that one. Over and over."
"…."
Familiar script. Wei Hang knew what came next.
Irrefutable.
"You never let any of them go."
"…."
"Money? Cut off your head, hand it to the security bureau—plenty'll come from that. Or at least buy a solid meal during the investigation."
"T-Taking me alive gets a higher bounty, I hear…!"
Last desperate flail?
Rohan grinned amusedly before replying.
"Sorry, but I've got no plans to change the story I've already scripted."
"…What?"
"Tried to take down the boss-looking guy, but he resisted too fiercely—had no choice. That's the gist I settled on."
"!"
Rohan had spared the ones he met on the way in for this exact reason—no witnesses to Clara. Just beaten enough to stay down.
Precious evidence material.
Can't be helped if it's a shame.
Clara said she'd leave the cleanup to Elysium security, and Rohan agreed it was fine.
But she freaked at the idea of giving statements to strangers.
He got it—the girl hated talking to outsiders.
"No more excuses, right?"
"Wai—!"
"Sleep."
Rohan's hand flashed, sword swinging clean.
Wei Hang's words cut off forever.
…
…
Descending the stairs, Rohan found the girl waiting.
A pile of corpses behind her.
"Oppa…!"
"Good work."
Spotting Rohan, Clara spun her balisong with flair before tucking it into her ribbon.
The pistol in her other hand vanished in an instant.
Up close, she scanned Rohan's body all over.
Tears welled up at the various wounds.
"Y-You're hurt bad!?"
"No major damage. But for reporting to security, we need some traces like this."
"Still…."
"You're not hurt anywhere, right Clara?"
Nod nod.
The girl bobbed her head, lips and eyes quivering like she might cry.
"Good. You did great."
Rohan approached the corpse pile she'd made.
And marveled.
No wonder I didn't hear a peep.
Bullets had pierced skulls clean through. Daggers stabbed only vitals, precise and fatal.
To erase Clara's traces, he'd need to call security first, then add sword wounds himself.
"If I'd gone up, oppa wouldn't have gotten hurt…."
"This isn't even an injury. It ended well. Right?"
"Uuung…."
Yeah, if Clara had gone solo, it'd have wrapped in seconds.
Wei Hang probably died none the wiser to his fate.
"I need to build experience and strength too."
"Waiting around like this so easy… it hurts my heart…."
Rohan reassured her it was fine, then urged her to head back before calling the officers. He forced some cash into her hand—buy something tasty.
As she turned to leave with an "okay," Clara glanced back.
Meeting his eyes, she asked timidly.
"Oppa… Did I do good today?"
"Felt it crystal clear today—I can't do without you, Clara. Without you, it wouldn't have ended with just these scratches."
Her lips rippled, hiding a blooming smile of joy.
She stepped shyly closer.
"Then… pat my head…."
Yeah, this girl needs love.
Rohan smiled, gently stroking her hair.
Material rewards later, for sure.
As he lowered his hand from her head, Clara tugged his collar.
Her downcast face hidden from view.
"Wh-When it's over… call me…?"
"Got it," Rohan said. Clara vanished soundlessly, face covered.
Alone in the empty space, Rohan pulled out his phone.
"Yes. As for the location—."
Swinging his Scorching Blade-wreathed sword to mark the corpses, he finished reporting to security.
Then hit call once more.
To report to his instructor, Juyeon.