The Reversed Raid
The new business establishment that Zhang Wei had supposedly set up was far larger in scale than I had imagined.
For someone like me who had pictured just a somewhat spacious office, it was impossible not to be a little surprised.
Its size already surpassed that of the Black Market, and in terms of extravagance, it even outshone it by a notch.
Still, for an underworld operation, was it really okay to be this flashy?
"…This is more than I expected. Is the Yamamoto expedition's place on this level too?"
"Yes, Master. It's less flashy, but similar in scale."
"…If we'd had just a bit more time, the Black Market wouldn't even be on our radar anymore."
With a black market of this magnitude, they could dominate the underworld on their own without any help from the Black Market.
In that sense, the timing was perfect.
We could nip it in the bud before it grew even bigger.
"I'll need to tweak the plan a bit. We should observe the situation here a little longer, then head to the Yamamoto side's establishment. You know the location, right?"
"Yes! I even know the hidden secret passages in detail! I'll guide you there!"
I gave a half-hearted nod to Toda's voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Even on second thought, it had been the right call not to join up with Jeong Soo-ah and to check this out myself.
Otherwise, we'd have learned about this massive operation too late.
"Shh—"
Suddenly, Rue flicked her tongue.
Poking her head out from my bosom, Rue stared intently off into the distance.
Over there was a group of hunters radiating quite an intense aura.
It seemed Rue had sensed their presence.
"I already know. Good job noticing it, though. Well done."
"Shh—"
Rue let out a pleased hiss at my light stroke on her head.
The feel of her soft, cool scales was different in many ways from stroking Suli or To Soon-i.
This, too, felt strangely addictive.
"The one in the lead is Ichijo the hunter. The two beside him are Takenouchi and Mayada from the same faction. All S-rank, like Ichijo."
Toda, who had only just spotted the hunters, hurriedly explained.
Only then did I properly take stock of the hunters at his words.
"Three S-ranks. Ten A-ranks. The rest all B-rank."
Roughly thirty in total.
At this level, they could operate without issue even in the labyrinth's lower floors.
For a mid-sized guild, this was overkill—they could wipe one out with just this group.
It was excessively powerful just to target a single business establishment.
If we didn't intervene, this fight would clearly end in the Japanese side's victory.
There likely weren't any forces here capable of opposing three S-ranks.
But letting it flow too one-sidedly isn't ideal… Should I thin their numbers a bit from our side?
It'd be best to reduce the S-rank forces somewhat.
Officially, only three S-rank hunters had entered with the Yamamoto brothers, but according to Toda, more had slipped in via illegal entry.
At least six, he said? Factoring in those even a low-level member like Toda couldn't track, around ten seems right.
One S-rank isn't much of a threat, but ten? Even I couldn't help but feel tense.
No opponents more dangerous than linked hunters.
Hadn't I struggled so much before against a raid team with just one S-rank?
Of course, if we fought again, I was confident it wouldn't be as hard—but ten was still a burdensome number.
As I pondered how best to reduce the Yamamoto expedition’s forces, the assault began, starting with the two S-rank hunters at the front.
"Avenge our comrades!"
"Kill them! Wipe them all out!"
"Waaah—!!!"
Chaos erupted in the once-quiet establishment.
The clueless customers scattered in panic from the hunters' sudden onslaught…
"…Hm?"
Something was off.
The reactions of those I thought were ordinary customers were strangely peculiar.
Normally, in a raid like this, they'd flee—but instead of running, they started fighting back against the attackers.
Pulling out their own weapons as if they'd been waiting for this.
"Die—!"
"Show these island monkeys a taste of hell!"
"…Ho?"
"What is this…?!"
A bewildered voice leaked from Toda, who couldn't comprehend the situation.
He looked thoroughly flustered.
Well, I was surprised too.
"I thought they were just customers, but clearly not."
Most who frequented black markets like this were hunters anyway, so it had taken me a moment to notice the oddity.
A closer look revealed the interior packed with hunters—no civilians in sight.
"They knew and were prepared?"
This was getting interesting.
I'd planned to cull some Japanese forces lightly and move on, but now I needed to watch a bit longer.
Ichijo was utterly bewildered.
Right up until they first set foot in Zhang Wei's establishment, he'd been absolutely certain this operation would succeed—yet once the raid began, things started twisting strangely.
The "ordinary customers" turning out to be Zhang Wei's hunters, others popping up as if they'd known all along.
For Ichijo, who had envisioned a smooth path ahead, this was cause for panic.
"Wh-what is this…?!"
"Ichijo—! Things are going sideways…! We need to retreat—!"
Takenouchi, the fellow S-rank hunter, shouted urgently at the bizarre turn, but he couldn't finish.
He was too busy blocking a suddenly appeared Chinese S-rank hunter.
"You…!"
"Filthy island monkeys! Who do you think you are, invading here?!"
Takenouchi rolled across the floor under the assault from "Yeomun," an S-rank hunter renowned in both Chinese and Japanese underworlds.
Seeing the sudden S-rank emergence, the Yamamoto expedition's other S-rank, Mayada, rushed to aid his comrade—but
"Your opponent is me!"
Another Chinese S-rank appeared, forcing him to halt abruptly.
"What…?! What the hell is going on?!"
Ichijo bellowed in fury at the utterly unforeseen development.
Scoffing at his shout, another figure stepped forward.
"What else? We've read you completely."
Thud, thud—from amid the Chinese hunters now filling the interior emerged a man Ichijo knew well.
If the Yamamoto brothers were the heads of Japanese hunters, this man led the Chinese ones.
"…Zhang Wei—!!!"
The moment he spotted Zhang Wei, a furious roar exploded from Ichijo's mouth.
Sneering at him, Zhang Wei spoke leisurely.
"Not just 'Zhang Wei'—it's Zhang Wei-nim. We're equals, you and your Yamamoto monkeys, so get the title right, you brainless ape."
"You… youuu…! You bastard!"
Enraged, Ichijo charged straight at Zhang Wei.
His movement was indeed S-rank swiftness, but Zhang Wei watching it didn't so much as twitch an eyelid.
Thud—Boom—!
Ichijo's body slammed into the floor as he lunged.
Two more S-rank hunters had appeared out of nowhere to subdue him.
"Urgh—! D-damn…!"
"What did I say about brainless apes? A little taunt and you come charging right in. Pathetic that the Yamamotos keep trash like you around."
"You bastaaard…!"
Thwack—!
A short striking sound rang out.
Zhang Wei, now right in Ichijo's face, backhanded him across the cheek.
"Gah—!"
"It's '-nim,' ape."
"Gr… grrr…! Damn you…! You hunting dog for that mad bastard!"
"Still haven't grasped your place, ape. How dare you refer to him that way."
Thump—A heavy impact echoed, followed by Ichijo's groan.
No one from his side came to his aid amid the pained cries.
By now, the Yamamoto expedition hunters—Mayada dead in combat aside—had all been subdued.
In the now-silent interior, only Ichijo's groans and the sounds of blows lingered quietly for a while.
"Gah—G-gah…."
"Got your place now, ape?"
Zhang Wei placed his foot on the twitching Ichijo's head.
His shoe heel ground mercilessly into Ichijo's crown.
"Tch. Ruined a good pair of shoes… Got it filthy."
Frowning at the blood splatter on his pristine white shoe, Zhang Wei glanced aside.
One waiting hunter rushed over to wipe it.
"Just rough it off. Not planning to wear them again. As long as they don't look too dirty."
"G-grrr…."
Ichijo groaned as the heel twisted this way and that.
Ignoring him entirely, Zhang Wei waited leisurely for the cleaning to finish.
Only after the blood was fully wiped did he lift his foot from Ichijo's head.
A low groan escaped the still-trembling Ichijo.
"Ape, ape. Brainless ape."
"Gr… grrr… Damn you…."
"Huh. Still got breath to talk. Problem is, I've got plenty left to beat a filthy ape like you."
Despite his words, Zhang Wei kicked Ichijo's head once more—thud.
Gah! Fresh blood splattered onto his shoe.
"Tch. Just cleaned, and it's dirty again?"
He quietly stopped another hunter who jumped to clean it.
"Looks like it'll get dirty a few more times. Might as well clean once at the end. Or switch to red shoes instead of white."
Zhang Wei quietly drew a thick cigar from his pocket.
A nearby hunter lit it naturally.
"So, brainless ape. You're dying to know how things ended up like this."
"……."
Truly S-rank, Ichijo glared at Zhang Wei with hate-filled eyes, still conscious despite the brutal beating.
Scoffing lightly at the fierce glare, Zhang Wei exhaled smoke with a "Fuu—."
"Stupid ape. Keep failing to know your place, and you get backstabbed like this."
"…What bullshit?"
"What else? You got betrayed."
Grinning, Zhang Wei squatted by Ichijo's head.
"Even I wouldn't have believed it. Betraying your own comrade? When I first got the contact, I thought it was a joke."
"…What… what bullshit—?!"
"How badly did you act for a trusted comrade to sell you out? Should've behaved better. Though looking at you now, I can guess."
Chucking softly, Zhang Wei blew smoke into Ichijo's face before standing leisurely.
Ichijo writhed furiously at the sight.
"I'm asking what bullshit this is, Zhang Wei—!"
"Still not getting it after hearing that? Or are you innocent? For someone who's rolled in the underworld so long… Tch."
Tsking shortly, Zhang Wei turned slightly.
"Yoshida… If you've got a brain, you get it without more words."
"…Impossible…! Even Yoshida wouldn't betray a comrade…! Don't spout nonsense, you! I won't fall for it!"
"Sigh… This brainless ape bastard."
Sighing softly, Zhang Wei shook his head.
"Believe it or not, your call. But if not from him, how'd we know about today? All thanks to your mole."
"…Damn yoooou—!!!"
Finally accepting the truth, Ichijo roared in rage.
"Damn…! Yoshid aaa—!! You fucking bastard! How… DARE YOOOU—!!!"
Ichijo thrashed wildly.
The hunters pinning him added more force, as if he might leap up and charge Yoshida any second.
"Tsk tsk. Brainless ape indeed. Knows one, blind to two."
"…What now?! What else do you know?!"
"Think Yoshida's the only betrayer?"
"…What?"
Zhang Wei grinned at the dazed Ichijo.
"Even for top forces like S-ranks—including you, three in total—think Yoshida could kill them alone? Think he's that dumb?"
"…What're you getting at?"
"No matter the secrecy, killing three S-ranks alone? Impossible. Must've had approval from higher up."
"……."
Ichijo clamped his mouth shut.
Unlike his earlier frenzy, an eerily quiet response.
Zhang Wei stared at him silently for a moment.
"…Why tell me this?"
"Hm. Pitiful for a dying man to go ignorant. Unlike you island apes, we great nation's hunters cherish our brothers."
"……."
Ichijo fell silent again.
Gazing at the silence, Zhang Wei quietly stubbed out his cigar.
"Not just pity, of course. I'm not that naive."
"……."
"We want one thing. Ichijo Masayuki. Take our hand. We'll give you revenge."
Squatting by his head again, Zhang Wei extended his hand.
Ichijo stared blankly at the proffered hand.
Silence flowed briefly.
"…Why?"
After a long pause, Ichijo spoke.
His calm voice—unlike his prior excitement—made Zhang Wei tilt his head.
"What?"
"Why recruit a 'brainless ape' like me? By your words, I'm useless."
"Hm. Misunderstanding. We're not recruiting you. Just using you."
"…Using?"
"Yes. We have enemies to crush, you have grudges to settle. I'm just exploiting that."
Ichijo shut his mouth again at the flat tone.
Gazing briefly, Zhang Wei asked quietly.
"So, your answer?"
"…Fine. I'll take your hand…! Use me!"
Ichijo glared at Zhang Wei with eyes burning hatred and vengeance.
But unlike before, not aimed at Zhang Wei.
Satisfied with the look, Zhang Wei smiled warmly.
Can't do anything with brainless apes.
Utterly hopeless.
A little lip service, and he folds right over.
Now I understood Yoshida's urge to eliminate him.
Well, gives us an extra card.
Zhang Wei gazed contentedly at Ichijo, still aflame with vengeful eyes.
And the snake, quietly observing the whole affair, let out a soft sigh.
Feels like watching a whole movie.
Entertaining, and informative in many ways.
Now to ponder how to use this new intel.
Nix stared at Ichijo, now freed from bonds and receiving healing.
How best to make use of that one?
Sorting through the scene in his mind, Nix pondered quietly.