Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Tavern Banter and Blackmail
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Minu headed early to the alleyway tavern he'd heard Gesen frequented often.
"Give me a beer here~"
He ordered a cool beer and some snacks, but more food and drinks than expected ended up on the table.
The tavern owner blushed as she looked at Minu.
"It's on the house...."
"Ooh, if you're giving extras, make it more booze instead of food."
The owner looked flustered at Minu's shameless request.
"More booze on the house.... He says he loves booze...."
When Minu batted his eyes pleadingly, the owner covered her mouth and placed a few more bottles on his table.
The thrilled Dun hugged the bottles, his body trembling slightly.
'Long live!'
As a forced loli, he hadn't been able to drink, but now that he could transform into an adult form, he could indulge in alcohol freely.
Truth be told, ever since turning into Minu, he didn't get drunk no matter how much he drank, but the habit of drowning his sorrows in booze whenever he felt down made him happy just seeing the bottles.
Minu sipped his beer and tossed a single gold coin to the generous owner as a tip.
"Dogpoop, wanna try some?"
He held out a glass toward Dogpoop, who was clinging invisibly to his wrist.
[Ung.... Ung....]
Minu secretly poured some booze onto his wrist so Dogpoop could drink.
Dogpoop absorbed the spilling alcohol into his body and quickly went invisible again.
"How's it taste? Pretty good, right?"
[This stuff.... weak poison.... Don't drink too much....]
"Don't worry. This body's immune to getting drunk."
[Ung.... Got it.... Gimme more....]
"Tasty, huh."
[When we drink together, you smile more.... I like it....]
"Pfft, you really say the cringiest stuff."
Minu chuckled as he handed Dogpoop another round. Dogpoop grinned brightly and slurped it up eagerly.
"One beer here."
While fooling around with Dogpoop, the voice he'd been waiting for suddenly came from behind.
It was Gesen.
"Dogpoop, shh now."
[Shhh....]
Minu tucked several bottles under his arms and around his waist, then sauntered over to Gesen's table.
He plopped down carelessly, draping one leg over the other without much effort, and cracked open a bottle.
"Ah~ if it isn't his lordship's right-hand man. Fancy running into you in a place like this. What a pleasant surprise."
"Are you here to pick a fight?"
"What? Pick a fight? My off-hours are my own time. I just saw a familiar face and got genuinely happy about it."
Gesen turned his head to look at Minu.
Chugging straight from the bottle, he looked every bit the mercenary.
From his investigations, plenty of mercenaries had flocked to the adventurer village, and this Minu guy was suspected to be one of them.
His vibe even matched that rough mercenary aura.
Watching him down the booze without a care—maybe he really just came over for casual chat?
Gesen took the glass Minu offered and started racking his brain.
This might be a chance to pry some key info on the adventurer village.
Gesen stared piercingly at Minu.
He looked utterly thoughtless. Minu refilled Gesen's glass and spoke up.
"You know, in a tavern, folks with gloomy faces always have a story. Suddenly got me curious about yours. Booze is on me. Check this out—I'm loaded with drinks."
Minu boasted as he lined up the bottles he'd brought in front of Gesen.
Gesen let out a hollow laugh at the display.
"Tch, you've complicated things for me, you know. But you're just following orders too, I bet. Bah, what a mess. Still, since you're buying, I'll chat with you till these are gone."
"Haha, perfect. See, I got a performance bonus from this job going well. Wanna taste this pricey stuff I bought with it?"
'This guy's got a knack for subtle jabs, and he's still needling me now.'
Gesen forced a smile and accepted the drink from Minu. The high-proof booze hit him hard, heat rising fast.
After that, Minu kept Gesen's glass full without pause.
"Yeah, yeah.... Tastes so good, probably 'cause it's soaked in my blood, sweat, and tears...."
When the slightly tipsy Gesen cracked a joke, Minu giggled along.
"That boss you serve, whatever his name is."
"Huh?"
"Can't remember. Oh, Altud Count, right?"
"Pffhaha! Not Altud—Altoid Count."
"Ah, right right. Nobles. Such complicated names~"
"Haha, they do pick flashy ones to sound classy. But hey, that's their world."
Dissing the count hard from the start could backfire.
Better to tease lightly like banter, draw him into gossip, then ease him into full emotional buy-in.
Dun slowly pieced it together from past memories.
He recalled how Seol Do-yun sweet-talked people into his pocket.
Then he thought of Min Ji-cheol, Secretary Min, who handled Kim Woo-sung's dirty work.
Gesen gave off the same vibe as Min Ji-cheol.
The type that latched onto the strong like a leech, handling tasks while scraping by.
Recruiting overseers to manage the kids, background checks—all Min Ji-cheol.
Abyss kids feared Min Ji-cheol big time.
He'd vent the association president's frustrations on them whenever he visited.
Lee Saemaeul didn't fear him, though—she pitied the fool.
One lesson from him: not everyone, but folks who deceive or enjoy others' pain often had deep inferiority complexes.
Kim Woo-sung trusted Min Ji-cheol, who accepted all his crap, and Min Ji-cheol followed the guy who brought him gains.
He rebuilt his crumbling self-worth by tormenting others.
Gesen reeked of Min Ji-cheol.
From what he'd gathered, Gesen tormented the territory folk worse than the count himself, probably dumping his stress on them.
Hurting others gave that fleeting superiority rush.
A way to vent inferiority from those untouchable higher-ups.
'Fucking loser.'
Minu smirked inwardly as he recalled Gesen's "achievements" for the count.
"Speaking of which, nobles and all—your count seems pretty sharp. Y'know, I rub elbows with noble types sometimes, hear plenty about his slave caravan. That unique Alttoid operation style? Impressive. Real smart cookie~"
Whoa, words flowing easy.
Maybe age mellowed him, or all the recent gains from loose lips—his chit-chat game had leveled up.
His thoughts jumped around, so he got nagged during reports, but this was solid.
Minu finished and stroked his chin in admiration.
The Alttoid slave caravan had a huge rep among nobles.
Their slaves were all above-average looks, obedient, fully accepting their lot.
Dun figured Gesen had a hand in what set Alttoid apart from others.
Gesen's influence on the Alttoid biz was massive.
He'd coordinated Mazia fruit details, picked black market spots.
Surely contributed to their brand image.
Booze in his system, pissed from the boss's slight, now his achievements about to be snatched by that hated rival.
Come on, bite.
"....Pff."
Gesen, listening, looked about to cry—then burst out laughing.
"Huh? Wasn't meant to be funny...."
"Pffhaha! Altoid Count is great?"
Minu held back his own laugh, feigning shock. But his lips twitched up; he covered with his hand.
"The count's achievements? Screw that—all me!!"
"Gasp! For real?"
"Damn right!"
"Wow~ You're the man~"
Minu admired half-heartedly.
Luckily, Gesen was already buzzed and missed the awkward acting.
"So, you handle the whole slave caravan thing~?"
"You bet."
"Damn, running a big outfit solo must be rough. That stuff like sweeping the yard?"
"Sweeping the yard?! You've been lowballing me this whole time. If you knew my impact on the Alttoid house biz, you'd be speechless."
"Oh? What do you handle?"
"Slave caravan site picks, slave management, village raids and captures...."
"Ahh~"
Dun snapped his fingers and openly sneered this time.
"Wow, scary big influence. Basically your caravan~ Count's just freeloading. What was his name again? Anyway, seems like all he's got is the title."
Gesen's guarded heart melted at Minu's words.
How'd he nail exactly what he wanted to hear?
"Hahaha! This guy's a riot."
"Huh.... Nah, if I wasn't stuck as some sub-sub-manager on the adventurer village gig, I'd follow you. Wrong side, my bad. Got cocky~"
"Tch, you think I'm average? Forgiven. When this wraps, come work for us. You seem competent."
"Aw shucks~ Too kind. Then, mind teaching me early? Like, next black market spot?"
"Huh? Can't just tell anyone.... Tch, wanna learn my ways? Fine, here."
"Sounds top secret, so scribble it here sneaky-like~"
Minu quickly shoved a pen and table napkin into Gesen's hand. Gesen, entranced, jotted the black market location.
"But you're drunk—how do I know it's right? You picking spots is bullshit, right?"
"Hey now! Hold up."
Gesen pulled a magic paper from his pocket. Same type he'd given the count.
"Fancy stuff. I've marked the exact spot. Check quick and give back."
Minu took the paper, verified it matched the napkin.
While checking, Gesen launched into his slave-training philosophy rant.
"The difference between Alttoid slaves and others...."
Blah blah blah.
Minu half-assed agreements to Gesen's expert slave-rearing TED Talk, then handed back the paper.
'Acquired napkin with black market spot in Gesen's handwriting.'
Tucking it into inventory, Minu grinned mockingly.
"Aw, fuck yeah, thanks~"
"Huh?"
"Thanks~"
Minu stood up.
Gesen wanted more talk, but Minu spun away. Even buzzed and distracted, he sensed something off and grabbed him.
"W-wait! I've got questions for you too...!"
Realizing too late he'd spilled, Gesen tried damage control.
"Questions? Shoot."
"You lot, damn it. What's your game? The adventurer village plan...."
Drunk, no filter—straight ball.
Minu nailed holding back the laugh this time, put on a grave face, and sighed.
"Ah, super classified, but truth is, we're your fanboy guardian angel squad, here undercover."
"Huh, knew it.... Guardian angels? Bullshit.... So how many?"
'No wonder it was easy—this guy's long gone.'
"300 heroes armed with ketchup shields and french fry swords built the adventurer village to protect you...! Shh, top secret—just for you. Spilled 'cause I'm grateful for your intel today~"
Gesen, thrilled with the "classified" scoop, nodded vigorously.
Felt like a solid info trade.
To not forget, he muttered, "Ketchup shields and french fry swords...."
"Got it!!! All memorized!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm buzzed, gotta bounce. Those drinks are on me. Take 'em all. I'll call a carriage your way too."
"Truly grateful...."
With the black market spot secured, Minu waved and left the tavern.
Suddenly, a small vibration on his wrist grew stronger.
Dogpoop had been quivering there awhile—what's up?
[This guy's.... hilarious....]
"Don't laugh, Kim Dogpoop."
Dun poked where Dogpoop clung on his wrist, narrowing his eyes.
"Anyway, sweet-talking wasn't my usual gig...."
Still, plotting to drag Altoid and Gesen to hell made the effort worthwhile.
Dun hummed as he pondered how to send them crashing down.