Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: A Skewed Reunion
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'This is my chance!'
Aiden struggled to hide his glee at the arena owner's words.
Controlling every muscle in his face was tough, but the mask he'd donned to conceal his identity covered it perfectly.
"Drugs, huh? Every last one in a dump like this is pure trash."
"Hah hah ha! Can't argue with that! To your average riffraff, they're just consumables. But not you. You... you're from Blackout, aren't you?"
Aiden flinched inwardly but forced a cynical shrug, playing it cool.
Thanks to instinctively channeling Jun's vibe, he pulled it off.
"Who knows? Imagine what you want."
"Heh heh, tight-lipped as expected. Whatever, doesn't matter. We both get what we want, and that's that. Business, right?"
"Business. Spot on."
"We're the ones who need something, so I'll make the first offer. Here, take this."
He handed over a tattered paper scrawled with a rough map.
"...What's this?"
"The most famous apothecary in our market."
"First I've heard of it."
"That's 'cause the old man's the real deal. His name doesn't get tossed around lightly."
"And you're giving me that?"
"Think of it as my way of saying I hope we keep doing business."
"Hmph."
Aiden took the map with feigned disinterest and quickly memorized its contents.
"Got it. I'll hold onto it out of respect for your 'sincerity.'"
"Keh keh. Ditch your current agent and set up shop with me, and I'll make it worth your while. Keep my sincerity in mind."
With their brief exchange over, Aiden slipped out of the arena, scanning his surroundings discreetly as he headed in the designated direction.
It was the Black Guard Knight Order's makeshift headquarters.
"You're back."
"Took longer than expected."
"Nonsense. That said, you spent quite a while in the arena. What happened?"
"Well, actually..."
Aiden recounted his conversation with the arena owner and handed over the map.
"Impressive! I didn't expect you'd snag something like this so soon!"
Truth be told, he hadn't held out much hope, but Aiden had exceeded expectations.
The other knights hadn't fully established themselves in the black market yet.
"Thanks to you, we've got a solid lead. Appreciate it."
"N-no, sir. Captain."
"No need for modesty. Now I see why the White Whale Mercenary captain recommended you."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Right... Now we just follow this map. We'll move out once the others return."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and your captain wrapped up his end. I've already reached out, so expect him tonight."
"Really?"
Aiden's lips curled into a sly grin as he pondered how to brag about his exploits.
It was evening by then.
After finishing his meal separately, Aiden returned to find Jun dining with Terdin.
"Yo, Aiden."
"Senior!"
"Good work out there."
"Haha, no big deal. Staying here taught me a ton."
"Figured as much. Terdin mentioned you scored some valuable intel at the arena?"
"Y-yeah...? You heard already?"
Aiden shot Terdin a mock-pouty look, but the captain, naturally, missed the nuance entirely.
"We were just talking about it. Pull up a chair."
"Y-yes... Got it..."
Jun tilted his head at Aiden's deflated tone.
'Life here's wearing him out, huh?'
"By the way, where's Priestess Eleanor?"
"Oh, someone needed healing, so I sent her that way."
Childs's injuries weren't fully healed yet.
Reattaching a severed arm required a high priestess like Eleanor.
She'd grumbled about it but honored Jun's request anyway.
"And Maya?"
"That intel group I mentioned last time. She's got unfinished business there."
Mastering Basai's vision would take time, so Jun had assigned Maya to Childs in the meantime.
"Anyway... this map. From the arena owner, right?"
"Ah, yes. That's right."
"Hmm."
Jun stared at the map's location, lost in thought as he dredged up memories from his 'Lee Jung-jun' days.
Morvatty's black market had featured in the game to some extent, so he knew the lay of the land.
'But this guy's not ringing any bells.'
Unfortunately, Viscount Bedron's quest hadn't brought him here much.
"Captain Terdin, mind giving me a little time?"
"Hm? Got a hunch?"
"I recently acquired Viscount Bedron's ledger. As a slave trader, it might have leads on this apothecary..."
"Viscount Bedron? What the hell have you been up to...? Urgh. Anyway, you want to cross-reference it for this place."
"Exactly."
"Better safe than sorry, even if it takes extra steps. Just know our time here's limited."
"I'll check as fast as I can."
The count had probably combed through the ledger by now.
Jun sent a letter right away, and the reply arrived the next morning.
"...Quite the dangerous fellow."
"What'd you find?"
"He's been researching illegal drugs here for years. The ledger shows he bought several slaves from Bedron."
"Illegal drugs... Could be tied to the ones we're after."
The target was locked in.
The Black Guard could raid and nab him outright.
As a long-time operator here, he'd likely spill on the criminals they were hunting.
The scattered knights returned soon after.
They were stunned to learn the White Whale Mercs had beaten them to the intel.
"Th-this fast...?"
"...Should've taken the arena myself."
"No, we sent him 'cause it was a tough spot for us."
"Urgh..."
A few knights still eyed Jun and Aiden warily, but their numbers had noticeably dwindled.
"At least this wraps the mission quick."
"I'd rather hunt down crooks than this."
"True. Infiltration's boring and beneath our honor. Be grateful it's over fast."
Honor doesn't pay the bills—but most knights were just glad for the swift end.
With Jun and Aiden's help, they offered genuine thanks.
"Heard you earned the brutal moniker 'Gold Coin Demon Slaughter.'"
"Must've been one hell of a fight in that arena."
"Too bad we couldn't cheer you on."
"We acknowledge your honor."
Aiden beamed, basking in the knights' approval.
"Gold Coin Demon Slaughter...? What kinda savage nickname is that?"
"Ah! It's nothing!"
And so, the group's next operation took shape.
The heart of the black market.
Unlike the outskirts, the core reeked of gloom everywhere—and behind one massive building, a man eyed a dilapidated stable.
"Unique every time. Why build an underground lab under a stable when there's a perfectly good mansion?"
He was Veneto, the arena owner who'd urged Aiden to join him just yesterday.
No horses grazed inside the rundown stable.
Instead, shoving aside a pile of rotten hay revealed stairs descending underground.
Tsking briefly, he entered. The shabby stable vanished, replaced by a pristine subterranean passage.
From the entrance, sharp herbal scents mingled with the foul stench of corpses.
"Hmm... that smell. Veneto, is that you?"
A rumbling voice echoed from deeper in.
"Yes. Enverman."
"I've been waiting. Come in."
Veneto opened the door at the passage's center. An old man greeted him.
"It's been a while."
"You're still spry as ever, old timer."
"Heh heh. Can't chase immortality if I'm doddering."
The old man, whose white hair belied his robust build, wore a crisp suit, pristine surgical gloves stained red, and held a bloodied scalpel.
"Immortality, huh? Share the secret when you crack it."
"Why wait? It's possible now—halfway, anyway."
"Pass. Not grafting monster hide onto my body."
"Chasing eternal life but picky? Greedy hypocrite."
"Guilty. Gotta have some greed to get by. Hah hah ha!"
Mid-chat, he noticed someone on a nearby procedure table.
"Oh? Got a guest?"
"No need to mind. Just finished up."
"Heard you've been busy. This guy's the reason?"
"Partly. And some intriguing new material arrived recently."
"And that gentleman over there?"
"Asked for body enhancement."
"Looks like a heavy hitter..."
Veneto wondered if he could recruit him for the arena. A flicker of greed in his eyes drew a shake of the old man's head.
"Don't even try. Way out of your league."
"Fair enough. I know my limits. So, is that gentleman from Blackout?"
As the old man opened his mouth, the man on the table spoke first.
"Indeed, benefactor. Recent business brought me up."
The blood-soaked man sat up, answered curtly, then turned to the old man.
"Benefactor Enverman. You've earned much merit."
"From operating on you? Heh heh heh. Hardly. Your body fascinated me plenty."
"We've both benefited—surely his grace watches over us. Asura Salbarta."
The man, Butcher Monk, clutched heavy prayer beads and murmured, inspecting his body.
"That's all the procedures I can do. No foreign sensations at the nape?"
"Your masterful arts fixed it, benefactor."
"Masterful? Don't rely solely on me. It'll curb your killing intent, but push harder and it'll overwhelm you."
"If fate allows, he'll aid me. Always has."
"Good enough. Heard the Ghostly Hag got taken out. That why you're here?"
Enverman, the old man, asked. Butcher Monk nodded frankly.
"Ran into some strong ones. Training harder to prepare."
"I see. Didn't peg her for an early grave."
"Regret losing your disciple?"
"Disciple? Just extended her lifespan on a whim. Her body was fun to study, though. Rare curse warping the flesh like that."
"I see. Thanks anyway. I'll repay this favor someday."
"Let me experiment more on that body later. This round felt cut short."
"When I die, do as you like. Though that's far off. Asura Salbarta."
With that, Butcher Monk gave a light bow to the pair and departed the procedure room.
"Ahem. So, Veneto. Why're you here?"
"Ah, got caught up in that monk's aura. Lately, a fun prospect showed at my arena. Sent him your way—give him the VIP treatment."
"Oh? High praise from you? Could spice up my little hobby. My latest project's stalled anyway."
Enverman smiled contentedly, pleased to snag entertainment the monk couldn't provide.