Chapter 123

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 123

Chapter Title: Noble Quarter

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A quiet night.

The market, where darkness had coiled up thick, was slowly being dyed by the belated moonlight. And taking advantage of the pitch black, players began gathering in the market.

Sasasak—

Just like always, we moved stealthily to raid the alchemy shop.

"Huh? Min-jun, the door's open."

But the shop, which we'd never raided even once before, already had its door smashed, with only the hinges creaking.

As I glanced over, Isera nodded and vanished into the building. She soon returned, gesturing for us to come in.

"Hah? It's already been cleaned out?"

"We're a step late."

"Yeah. I was really looking forward to looting it thoroughly today."

Empty bookshelves and shelves gleamed starkly, and empty bottles that hadn't been grabbed in the rush rolled around the floor here and there, announcing their presence.

"Everyone, stand watch at the entrance. Sera, you hide in the alley and keep lookout. So-hee, you take command."

"Got it."

After assigning tasks, I grabbed a lantern and headed to the back of the alchemy shop.

'They really cleaned it out.'

Not just the shop, but the attached workshop too—anything of value had been taken. But the most important stuff? They'd left that behind.

I used telekinesis to shove aside the floor bricks and smiled at what lay inside.

'If you're gonna imitate, you gotta do it right. Half-assed attempts just scream amateur.'

They'd beaten us here but missed the real prize. Tsk tsk. Makes the whole raid pointless. And their sloppiness didn't end there.

"Alright, everyone come in. Time to graze."

"What? Thought it was cleaned out, but they left the grass?"

Indeed. They'd stripped potions, tools, even alchemy stones clean, but left all the herbs behind.

"Guess they figured it wasn't worth anything."

"Yeah, looks like it."

"Idiots. They have no clue what's valuable."

After gathering the herbs, we barricaded the back door with a bookshelf and sat in a circle in the middle of the shop, devouring the greens. Shin Seo-yeon let out a sigh of regret.

"Sigh, this was the last shop, right? Shame we can't keep this up."

"Yeah."

"Totally. I was just getting into it."

Complaining while munching poisonous weeds—what anyone else would call insane.

"So, was raiding all the alchemy shops worth it?"

At Han So-hee's question, the group turned to me.

I nodded.

'Hell yeah.'

There were only ten alchemy shops in Haran, and cleaning them out yielded solid results.

First, the useful finished items:

Of those, the one I wanted most, [Rebirth of the Word Sorcerer], netted us a whopping 71.

Sell them at a million points each to others, and that's 71,000,000 points—way more than you'd make in other trials.

Worth the trip alone.

Of course, we won't sell them. They'll be tools for our party to communicate fluently.

'Loaded up on Mythic-grade recipes too.'

And that's not all.

This gave a clue on how the Haran royal family controls Minotaurs.

But I liked something else more.

'Hah, scoring this here.'

A must-have for sea trials later.

Oceans in trials are brutal without aids like this—even big ships are just paper boats.

We grabbed plenty more, but nothing standout for now.

"We got a ton."

"Glad it paid off!"

"Yeah!"

While others scrapped for basic weapons at armories, we got poison resistance and cheat items galore. The party's trust in me shone in their eyes.

After finishing the herbs and rinsing with stray potions, we stepped back into the streets.

"So, where next? Hit an armory?"

Shin Seo-yeon looked hopeful, but I shook my head.

"Noble Quarter."

"Huh? For real?"

"Yeah. Can't train poison anymore, so time to move to the next area."

"It won't be dangerous, right?"

"Don't worry. Got a map from Varkus."

Not just the map—difficulty ratings per noble house, easiest spots marked.

"Same as always. Sneak in, steal, bail if caught... Yeah, no problem."

Glancing at Han So-hee, her face tightened a bit, but she trusted me and just smiled softly.

I gave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her butt a light smack and moved forward.

"Let's go."

The Noble Quarter sat at the city's upper end.

Market crosses Haran below, commoner housing under that, nobles above.

Area-wise, from market to port is bigger, but with under 100 noble houses, each mansion must be massive.

Even in the dark, their grandeur loomed huge.

"Hah, these are practically palaces? Walls like castle battlements."

Entering the alleys, the group looked daunted. Walls at least 15 meters high. Walking between felt like a giant maze.

"No patrol soldiers?"

"There are some. Just not many."

"Why?"

"Most guard inside the walls."

This maze-like layout was security itself. Nobles and guards knew it cold; newcomers struggled.

We'd be lost without the map.

'Left here.'

Spiderweb paths and guard posts detailed on the map—we headed to the easiest noble house.

'Right now.'

Turning right to the entry point, Isera ahead signaled stop.

Peeking around the corner, five soldiers smoked at the alley's dead end.

"...Patrol?"

"Tch, right on cue?"

But their talk was odd.

"When're those guys coming?"

"Dunno. Boss gave the map today, so today or tomorrow. We wait around, help when they show, then bounce."

I sent Isera to check their palms. She returned confirming.

"Just like you said, oppa. All have black anchor tattoos."

Our allies. Approaching, they grabbed spears at our noise, sized us up.

"You the ones? With the map from boss?"

I just showed the map. The leader-type checked it, nodded. Others relaxed.

"From the company?"

"Yeah. I'm Varkus's right hand. Arknon, exec handling this. Boss said assist your looting."

Varkus's connections and favor paid off like this.

"Ooh, assist how? Sneaking in with us?"

Arknon shook his head at Shin Seo-yeon.

"Literal assist. We don't enter."

"Hah? Useless then. We have the map already."

"Shh."

Arknon hushed, leaning into wall shadows. We followed. Soon...

Thud. Thud.

"Drinks before heading home tomorrow? Tyrion's?"

"Nah, wife's been horny lately, wants me home quick."

Ten-man patrol passed right to left. Arknon stepped out after.

"Map doesn't have patrol times or routes. We'll help you escape clean after."

"Ooh, useful."

"We can provide daily changes too. Good to coordinate if hitting the Quarter."

Makes sense.

"Follow. This way."

The company guys exited the dead end. I pointed at their smoking wall.

"Not going over there?"

Map marked it ideal.

"New heavy guard there today. Avoid unless you want dozens. Tonight's target is another house."

Han So-hee whispered relieved.

"Organic and fast. Spies in the army."

I nodded.

Spot on.

Varkus, ex-top commander with deep respect. Even after rebellion charges, many soldiers trusted him.

Easy for him to plant eyes and ears.

"So, payment for intel?"

Arknon eyed me flatly.

"No fee."

"Why?"

"Rather ask you. Heard you give most profits to us. True?"

Ah. I glanced at the group, nodded.

"Yes. Can't carry everything. Rest goes to you."

"...I see. Still, giving partners more ain't easy."

I grinned.

"Know what I learned surviving ten years in hell?"

"?"

"Greed ruins deals. If someone takes more than me, but team gains bigger than solo?"

Do it.

"Same here. You take 99%, but partnering nets me more. Good enough."

The group nodded along.

"True. Greed invites disaster."

"Agreed. Great mindset. Fits the man I approve of."

"Ten years in hell... You suffered, Min-jun."

"Yeah, Hel Joseon is hell."

All but one.

"Hah? What? We all bust ass together, get 1%? That's fair? Sucker! I don't approve! No way... Ow..."

Poke between her cheeks, Shin Seo-yeon clamped thighs, glared flushed.

Staring hot, I teased 'Again?' She grabbed my hand, pressed to her butt, huffed.

Arknon chuckled softly.

"Hope you succeed."

"Hmph, don't worry. We will."

"Honestly? Personally wish you'd head back to market now. Might be best for everyone."

"What?"

"How many think succeed here?"

Arknon stopped, turned. Shin Seo-yeon pondered, held up four fingers.

"About 400?"

Arknon smiled faintly.

"Zero successes so far. You'd be first."

"!!"

Shocking. Millions, maybe tens of millions passed through—none succeeded.

Frozen shock, but our Crimson Flame Witch grinned.

"Hey, no sweat. We're not like those losers."

"They all said that. Then died. Still going?"

"Of course!"

Shin Seo-yeon declared for all, brash confidence bursting. Arknon blinked, chuckled, nodded.

"Got it. One tip."

"?"

"About to get caught? Just kill yourself. Royals watch, but nobles collect you. Begging to die once caught. So, suicide if nabbed."

Solid advice. I handed Varkus's map as he extended hand.

"Sharp."

Obvious.

Map exposed, chaos. Alleys crawling with patrols. Quiet so far means prior challengers returned theirs.

"Map back after."

Arknon tapped nearby wall.

Looked up.

Five-story apartment-high wall soared.

Top: row of round, landscaped shrubs.

"What're those?"

"Sleepflower trees. Pine-like leaves inject paralyzing poison."

So sneaky—climb assuming decor, brush 'em?

Paralysis hits in 20 minutes, too late. Can't move in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠under a minute.

No climbing back, dawn comes gasping, captured. Nine in ten looters snag this way.

"You know Sleepflower trees?"

My precise name and info stunned them. Duh.

"Huh? One of the poison resistance herbs we ate?"

"Yes."

"!!"

Arknon's eyes bulged.

"...Prepared for that too?"

We just ate local weeds, but they thought full prep.

"Gets why boss picked you."

Awe gleaming.

"Hmph, resistance from herbs? Perfect. Just climb."

Shin Seo-yeon backed up to leap, but I waved her off.

"No need for noise."

"How then?"

I scooped the Saintess, floated up lightly. Eyes widened.

"Wha? How?!"

Telekinesis. On shoes, buoyant lift.

Psyche not much higher than cliff days, but light—no gear—easy with one person.

Over the wall, I set the group down one by one in garden shadows beyond.

"Incredible. Flying too."

Arknon's crew marveled.

"You five joining? I'll carry."

They declined.

"Nah, we're good. Wait outside."

Nod.

Offered, but glad no. Planning to cherry-pick best from vaults—partners or not, awkward.

Better apart.

'Alright, let's see how the rich live.'

Stepping from shadows to paved garden path...

"...Eerily quiet. No presences."

Dead silence.

No guards, most building lights out.

Ominous hush.

Chilling air prickled skin—we exchanged looks, moved to brighter fountain sounds.

"This is..."

But the wide plaza empty.

Instead, bloodstains everywhere—floor, walls.

Abandoned weapons scattered lonely, fountain water red, bubbling ominously.