Free City Colloum (3)
Free City Colloum (3)
Time passed quickly.
At the crack of dawn, Redin watched over Rebecca's room and reflected on the insight of the Sword Saint.
Then the morning came.
He ate a quick meal and slept until lunch. A few hours of sleep was enough for Redin, as he can also activate his blood points which are very recovery-enhancing.¹
When he woke up again, Redin went out for lunch.
He went to the no-weight class arena to see how others fought. He developed an eye for combat and made money by placing bets.
After that.
Redin made it to the arena in time for the match. It was a time to integrate what I had seen and felt.
"Bahad, you lunatic. You even beat a spirit-wielding elf." Came the greeting of the Arena 4 Betting Place attendant to him.
"Isn't this guy crazy?"
"Damn, I thought I was going to have to get a good sweep this time!" Shouted by a nearby bettor.
“Immortal, I only trusted you!”
Immortal Bahad.
A nickname that Bahad once earned.
There is no particular reason why it was given to Redin. This is because the opponents are all difficult to beat.
After the first match.
The arena organizers purposely brought in different racial groups to be matched. Werewolves, Lizardmen, Bearmen, etc.
They weren't easy opponents.
Speed, resistance, strength. Not only were they specialized in many ways, but they were basically strong.
Any other fighter would have died.
But there are no complaints whatsoever.
[Gained actual battle experience].
[Swords Saint's Enlightenment Rate 9.4%].
[Victory over someone stronger than you (8/10)]
The progression rate has been slower than he'd hoped, but with two more opponents to go, Redin's on his way to the pinnacle class.
As long as he gets the right opponent.
In two days, he will finally reach the peak.
Redin walked out of the arena in a good mood.
“You survived today too?”
In response to the betting attendant, Redin took his usual cut and tossed him a silver coin.
"This one was pretty tough."
“Crazy guy.”
After the duel, he's constantly on the lookout for new restaurants to eat at and enjoy.
Today though, there is a pre-arranged appointment.
He stepped into a ramshackle shop on the corner of a restaurant district. It's a local favorite, one that few outsiders know about.
“Hurrrr!”
The only man eating inside. Redin sits down across from him and orders a plate of noodles and meat.
"You're here."
When Redin looked up, he recognized the face.
The coachman Reto, whom he met while cleaning up a gang of slave traders. The face Redin saw for the first time in a long time looked very bright.
“I told you to order a lot and eat a lot.”
“This is my second bowl.”
"Add another bowl of noodles here, please."
The noodles and meat came out quickly.
There was very little conversation and they focused on eating.
By the time the bowl was empty.
Reto was the first to speak.
"I did everything as you said, and put the donation in the name of Bahad."
"What's the atmosphere like at the Sword Academy?"
"They gave me some weird looks, but after seeing the kids, they accepted."
There must have been some talented kids.
Leave it to the knights to make it work.
A debt of gratitude must always be repaid.
It'll come in handy later.
"What about the others?"
"I looked into the things you told me to look into... but there's no potion that heals wounds or boosts abilities." Reto says with a subdued voice for not properly completing the task given.
"Really?" came the confused gaze of Redin while staring at Reto's eyes.
"Yes. I also stopped by the Kingdom of Resha, which is said to be the home of potions, but all they had for sale was a health potion."
Has it not been developed yet?
There were no standard potions in the Bern Continent². As a result, item prices for healing and mana regen were high.
And then it happened.
The Potion series was launched alongside Burning Hell.
An elixir that grants full recovery.
Various doping potions that increase stats.
And so on.
These were key items that were needed to tackle many dungeons and bosses, and they weren't easy to come by.
It was only available from the special NPC Bordeaux.
The location and time of appearance were randomized, resulting in the activation of a dedicated open thread with a few select members of the community.
"Find a man named Bordeaux in the Kingdom of Resha."
He handed over five gold coins.
"Huh! I'll do my best."
"Find anyone regardless of what they look like, age, gender, or race."
The Bordeaux Redin knew was bald and hunchbacked, but that was five years in the future. There is no telling what he might look like today.
"I'll be sure to find him."
"okay."
If only he could find him and snatch him up.
With a monopoly on potions and Marek's business acumen, he could amass an unimaginable fortune.
Having the power to control a kingdom at will.
The power of money.
"With this money, I want you to buy a building, one floor for your family, and another level to be kept clean."
Redin handed over one of the sacks of money he had initially packed.
"Is this for Mr. Bahad?"
"No. There's someone I'm sending in a few months, and when you meet them, you'll give them the room and do what they tell you to do."
"Understood."
Redin really like that attitude.
Saying yes right off the bat.
“Then let’s go.”
Now it's time to part ways.
He walked out of the shop and started walking.
On the way back to the accommodation.
He saw Rebecca staggering away, looking quite exhausted, and beside her, a beastman slave was supporting her.
"You're almost there, hang in there."
The Beastman gave an encouraging cheer and the two entered their lodging. As they disappeared, He remembered Rebecca's face.
Deep dark circles.
Blurry eyes.
Her face was entirely different than it had been the morning before. It was obvious that the Beastman had played a trick on her.
He's showing his true colors.
At a distance, Redin slowly walk into the hostel. Rebecca was in the next room. He pressed his ear to the wall and focused on the sound.
"What the... why... ugh."
Rebecca's voice cracks. She seems to be resisting something, but it's definitely not easy.
"Why? I've always been this way."
The beastman giggled.
"ugh..."
"Don't be scared. You'll feel better in a minute. It's that new drug from Heatherlock you've been looking for.."
"What...?"
Hoh.
He never thought there'd be a point of connection.
Redin left his room and opened the door to the next room. It was locked and wouldn't open at once, so he broke the doorknob with his foot and got inside.
"Soon they're going to turn you into... what!"
The Beastman jumped to his feet and drew his dagger from his hip.
Rebecca behind the guy.
His face is flushed red and he's sweating profusely. By the look on his face, he was pretty shaken up.
"That's what you get for trusting anyone."
"What are you!"
"I didn't mean to overhear, but you're acquainted with Heatherlock?"
He used his movement skill to quickly approach, twisting the beastman's arm and grabbing him hard by the throat.
“Keuuuuuuu!”
"Do you mind if we have a serious talk?"
* * *
Free City Colloum.
The city is sustained by a vibrant marketplace, but nothing is known about its ruler.
This was information he couldn't have gotten when he was playing the game.
And the Beastman knew about it.
"Heatherlock... he's the ruler of this city."
"Is he distributing drugs, too?"
"'Heatherlock' is not an individual. It's an organization. An organization that rules this city."
If so, here's a question.
Why would an organization called Heatherlock create a colony, reach out to fighters, and supply them with drugs?
In order to make money.
There must have been many worthy fighters, but rumor has it that they lived and died in short order.
"What is their purpose?"
"I don't know."
Redin raised his hand slightly.
"I really have no idea!"
"And how do you know them?"
"All the natives of this city know, they just don't talk about it, because they'd die if they were found out."
There was nothing more to ask.
Not only because there is nothing to find out, but also because his trick is clearly visible.
Redin decapitated the Beastman.
Thud!
He dropped the fallen beastman and looked out the window. The night sky had darkened. He sharpened his senses.
thud, thud, thud
The tiniest sound of footsteps.
It is clear that the beastmen of Heatherlock, who were trying to hand over Rebecca earlier, are approaching.
He walked over to Rebecca.
He reached out and used Purifying Fire. A pure white light burst forth and flowed into Rebecca's body.
Rebecca's complexion returns quickly.
Rebecca took a deep breath and opened her eyes. At the same time, she shifted her body and drew her sword from the pillow.
He parried a desperate swing of the sword.
Lowering his cloak to show his face, he clamped one hand over Rebecca's mouth.
"...Gulp!"
"Shh."
Rebecca's eyebrows trembled.
Her breath settled into a calm as relief spread across her face, which had been marred by anger and fear.
The two communicated using hand signals.
Enemies are coming, so let's take care of them and have a conversation later.
Rebecca nodded.
Redin hid his face with his cloak once more and ducked behind the door. He left Rebecca by the window.
The sound of footsteps disappeared.
And
Thump!
Bam!
Windows shattered, doors smashed, and black-cloaked men rushed in. He dodged their swords and stabbed them straight through the heart.
“keuheog!”
* * *
Private Special Task Force 7th Division Hideout
Riena dragged her weary body into her room and sighed as she looked at the piles of papers on her desk.
"Haa...."
She wasn't even able to enjoy her short vacation, but she had to deal with an urgent mission.
There was still plenty of work to do.
Reina sat down at her desk and organized the pile of work. She checked off each task and attached the information she needed to fulfill it.
Then, she categorized the tasks to match the disposition of each unit.
Finally, she created a mission statement and used a specialized falcon to deliver the mission to members across each continent.
"Huuu..."
Just as Riena is about to turn back.
A dedicated falcon flew in and perched on her shoulder.
She pulled up the report on the falcon.
[Heatherlock is an organization, not an individual, that dominates the Free City Colloum].
"Wha..."
She wasn't expecting them to find it so quickly.
Reina thought it would be impossible to get information about Heatherlock out of the people in the Colloum.
Just rolling with it and being moderate.
The goal of the mission was to get some field experience, get scammed, and get chased by a Heatherlock.
But she also found out some unexpected things.
[The fighters who were supplied drugs by Heatherlock are disappearing, confirming that something is up].
[Permission to investigate further is requested].
"That's pretty good, huh?"
It was quite interesting.s
So far, no newcomers. She haven't seen a single successful mission by a kid who was just a month or so old.
Rather.
If they tried too hard, they died.
"Hmmm....."
That's why she's more worried about it.
When you're passionate about something, you're bound to make mistakes.
Riena returned to the base and wrote down what she already knew, the authorization for further investigation, and the direction of the mission.
To summarize in one line: it's dangerous, stand by.
Back outside, she tied it to the falcon's leg and sent it flying.
Come on!
It's a risky mission for two people. They still don't know who's behind the Heatherlock.
She needed someone to clean up the mess.
The members have been sent on another mission, so they're short on time, and Daylon has gone into Burning Hell to meet with the Warden.
The only one left is Riena herself.
"Just don't get in trouble."
Please...
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Redin has a total of 18 Blood Pressure Points, 6 acupuncture points that amplify his senses, 6 to stimulate his muscles, and 6 to boost his recovery.
2. Game is called Bern Chronicle, whereas the place Redin is at is called Bern Continent