Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Dogs and Wolves (4)
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“Stay still, you bastards!”
*Smack!*
A violent shout was followed by the sound of a young beastkin girl’s head snapping to the side.
The inside of her mouth must have split, as a trickle of blood ran down her cheek, which was already swelling and turning red.
“Don’t hit the face, you idiot. It’ll lower her value.”
“Ah, right, my apologies. She was just struggling so much.”
A beastkin with brown ears and a tail bowed to another who appeared to be the leader.
“Riru!”
A beastkin boy who had been watching the scene kicked out with a savage roar.
*Clank!*
The thick iron chains binding the boy’s body rattled.
“Ugh, ahhhhh!”
The boy thrashed his body with a harsh cry, but he couldn’t break free from the chains, which were as thick as a man’s forearm.
“Didn’t you hear me say to stay still… Aaargh!”
The beastkin who had been scowling and trying to gag the boy screamed, clutching his forearm.
Having bitten into the man’s arm with his sharp teeth, the boy glared fiercely at the hunters, his eyes wide.
*Spit.*
He spat out the piece of flesh he’d torn off, the light of fierce defiance still burning in his eyes.
“Hah. All these silver-maned bastards are like this.”
The one who seemed to be the leader scowled deeply and approached the boy.
“This goddamn little brat!”
*Thwack! Thud!*
The lead hunter kicked the boy savagely after knocking him to the ground.
“Haha! Boss, didn’t you say not to lay a hand on him?”
“Isn’t he going to be dragged to the fighting pits anyway? It’s better for him to get beaten a bit beforehand to toughen him up, right?”
“Heheheh. That’s true.”
The brown-furred beastkin cackled as if the sight of the boy being beaten was hilarious.
It was a scene of violence steeped in viscous malice.
Oh-jin and his companions, who had rushed over after hearing the screams, hid in the bushes and took in the sight.
“Those bastards…”
Ha-eun spat out a rough curse and started to rise.
“Wait, sis.”
Oh-jin grabbed the shoulder of Ha-eun, who looked ready to charge forward at any moment, and pushed her back down.
Ha-eun glared fiercely at him.
“You want me to just watch this and do nothing?”
“Just wait for now.”
Calming the hot-headed Ha-eun, Oh-jin narrowed his eyes.
Two young beastkin, abducted by the brown-furred ones.
‘So this is why they said silver was a no-go.’
The young beastkin bound in chains had silver ears and tails.
Oh-jin narrowed his eyes further, observing the brown-furred beastkin.
There were eight of them.
It wouldn’t be difficult to step in and subdue them right now, but…
‘I might be able to use this.’
It occurred to him that they could serve as useful guides for his party, who needed to infiltrate the Khan Kingdom.
“Sis, Isabella.”
“…What?”
“Yes, Mr. Oh-jin.”
“You two stand behind me and lower your heads slightly. Try to look as docile as possible.”
“…What are you planning now?”
What was he planning?
There was only one thing for him to do.
“You’ll see if you follow me.”
Oh-jin’s lips curled into a smirk as he turned his head toward Riark.
Riark was watching the young beastkin boy and girl with a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.
“Riark, you just stand quietly beside me and watch them.”
“……”
Instead of answering, Riark moved slightly to stand next to Oh-jin.
Oh-jin nodded lightly and rose from the bushes.
“Who’s there?!”
Did they hear the rustling?
One of the hunters quickly drew a mace from his belt.
Oh-jin paid him no mind and walked toward them.
“What do you think you’re doing here?”
His back was held ramrod straight.
His steps were confident.
His voice and gaze were dripping with arrogance.
“Who are you…”
“Are you questioning me? You dare?”
He scowled, glaring at them with fierce eyes.
The hunters glanced at each other and clamped their mouths shut.
“Answer.”
Oh-jin spoke curtly to the group as they exchanged wary glances.
He could feel the eyes of the hunters sizing him up.
What they saw was a young man with the black wolf ears and tail of a noble, looking down on them with arrogant eyes.
Behind him, two stunningly beautiful women stood with their heads bowed docilely, and beside him stood a large wolf, glaring as if ready to tear them to shreds at any moment.
Furthermore, one of the two women also had black ears and a tail, and the wolf who appeared to be a guard also had black fur.
From this, they could draw only one conclusion.
This person was a ‘noble,’ a high-ranking member of the Black Mane Tribe.
“Greetings to the noble of the Black Mane Tribe.”
The beastkin who appeared to be the leader of the hunters hastily bowed his head.
Oh-jin watched them bow like meek lambs and smiled faintly.
‘Just as the old master said, this place is no different from Earth.’
Obedience to authority.
It was an inevitable phenomenon in any society where a class system existed.
Regardless of the truth, if someone appeared to hold a high rank and position, others would naturally feel intimidated.
This was especially effective on bottom-feeders who made a living by kidnapping and trafficking young beastkin.
“We are from the Brown Mane Tribe…”
“I asked what you were doing here. Is there any reason I should know who the hell you are?”
“O-Of course not! You are absolutely right!”
The saying that you reap what you sow only applies between equals.
When there’s a clear hierarchy, the more demanding and impudent you act, the more polite the response you receive.
Respect is born from fear.
“So… well, that is.”
The hunters, sweating profusely, glanced at the boy and girl bound in chains.
Seeing them stammer, unable to form a proper sentence, Oh-jin clicked his tongue.
‘So, kidnapping members of the Silver Mane Tribe isn’t exactly legal, it seems.’
If buying and selling the Silver Mane Tribe were legal, there would be no reason for them to be sweating and looking so nervous.
Oh-jin turned to the captured boy and girl and frowned in displeasure.
“Did you catch these lowlifes to sell them?”
“…Ah.”
At Oh-jin’s next words, the hunters’ eyes lit up.
From that one passing remark, they concluded that Oh-jin was not some stickler for the law, but a high-ranking individual who belonged to their ‘prime customer’ base.
“Y-Yes, that’s right!”
“Hmm. Have you already decided who to sell them to?”
“The male has a buyer, but the female does not!”
The lead hunter replied with an obsequious smile.
Oh-jin folded his arms, his eyes glinting with interest.
“Who’s buying the male?”
“That is…”
The hunter trailed off, avoiding his gaze.
After a moment of thought, the lead hunter seemed to make up his mind and slowly shook his head.
“My apologies. I cannot tell you that.”
Buying and selling members of the Silver Wolf Mane Tribe was strictly illegal.
Revealing the identity of a buyer was the ultimate taboo among hunters.
“I see.”
Oh-jin grinned in satisfaction.
“That’s a relief.”
“Pardon?”
“If you had told me who was buying him, all of you would have died right here.”
The lead hunter’s shoulders flinched.
A cold sweat trickled down his spine.
“Ha, haha! Who could survive in this line of work with a loose tongue!”
“By the way.”
Oh-jin’s gaze shifted to the girl who had been called ‘Riru.’
His lips curled into a vile smirk.
“Did you say the female has no buyer?”
“That’s right!”
The lead hunter’s eyes gleamed as he approached.
With a smirk, he spoke in a suggestive tone.
“How about it? Care to acquire a new slave?”
“Hmm. Is there any reason for me to buy that lowly thing?”
“Haha! You must have never acquired a Silver Mane Tribe slave before!”
The hunter, thinking he had seized an opportunity, began to speak with the fluency of a salesman.
“The Silver Mane Tribe may be strong-willed, but once they’re tamed, they’re useful in many ways.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course! Their physical abilities are so superior that, with training, they can be used as guards or worked as servants!”
His tone was as vulgar as a home shopping network host.
“And also…”
The lead hunter wore a lewd smile and took another step closer to Oh-jin.
He glanced at the two women standing behind Oh-jin and continued.
“There aren’t many tribes as beautiful as the Silver Mane Tribe, are there?”
“……”
Oh-jin’s fists clenched tightly.
He had suspected it from the moment the hunter said not to touch her face.
The Silver Wolf Mane Tribe was being exploited for ‘that’ purpose.
“She’s just a young thing now, but later…”
A nauseating feeling twisted in his stomach.
Every word he uttered was laced with a foul, rotten stench.
*Sigh.*
A deep sigh escaped Oh-jin’s lips.
Once again, Baek Mu-gang’s words came to mind.
“It’s really… no different at all, goddammit.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing, keep talking.”
“Ah, ahem. Of course, I understand your reluctance to touch a lowborn.”
Did he sense Oh-jin’s lack of interest in the young girl?
The lead hunter cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject.
“Still, buying one would be useful in many ways! Look at that beautiful silver fur! You’re surely aware of how popular it is among noble ladies these days to make accessories from the sheared fur of the Silver Mane Tribe, aren’t you?”
The lead hunter’s gaze shifted to Ha-eun, standing behind Oh-jin.
“I’m sure your wife would also be pleased…”
“Oh-jin.”
Ha-eun, who had been standing with her head bowed behind Oh-jin, lifted her head.
Her eyes blazed as if they were on fire.
Ha-eun gritted her teeth and took a step forward.
“Sorry, I can’t take this anymore.”
“Wait a minute, sis.”
If she couldn’t hold back now, the lie he had so carefully constructed would be for nothing.
Of course, he could overpower them and force their cooperation, but without a skill like ‘Domination’ that could completely control their minds, the risk was too great.
“Just hold on a little longer…”
Just as Oh-jin was trying to stop the erupting Ha-eun.
*Crack!*
With the sound of shattering bone, the lead hunter’s body was sent flying as if hit by a large truck.
“Keuk! Cough! W-What?!”
The lead hunter sputtered blood in confusion.
“Huh?”
Ha-eun turned her head, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Grrrrrrrrrr.”
Riark was snarling savagely, baring his snow-white teeth.
He moved his legs, which had been standing firm as pillars, and slowly approached the fallen lead hunter.
The lead hunter crawled backward on the ground, his face pale with terror.
“Cough, ugh! W-Wait! W-Why all of a sudden… Keuk!”
*Crunch!*
Sharp fangs sank into the lead hunter’s neck.
Riark chewed and swallowed the flesh he’d torn off, then glanced back at Oh-jin.
“I know you have a plan, brat.”
This ridiculous act was all to make use of these hunters.
“I know it’s more efficient and that there’s more to be gained.”
But.
“There are times in this world… when you shouldn’t hold back.”
The wolf’s blazing eyes turned toward the hunters.