Chapter 21: I'm Younger. (2)
Chapter 21: I'm Younger. (2)
“How did you know?”
“Who knows? I wonder how I knew.”
“…….”
“Why don’t you take a guess? I heard your information network was top-notch.”
At Patrick’s mocking words, the man’s eyebrows twitched. In that instant…
“Draw it, and you die.”
Patrick’s single sentence made the man freeze.
His hand, which had been reaching for a poisoned dagger hidden beneath his skirt, stopped dead in its tracks.
Seeing this, Patrick let out a low whistle.
“Kueee… Now, this is what I’m talking about.”
“…….”
Looking at his opponent, who was frozen stiff by his killing intent, Patrick spoke with a relaxed smile.
“As I thought, a high-class threat like this only works when the opponent actually knows a thing or two. Don’t you agree?”
“…You monster.”
The red-haired waitress—no, the man disguised as a waitress—gritted his teeth.
The moment Patrick said he would die, he felt as if his heart had stopped.
Because he possessed the skills of a 3-Star Knight, he knew.
He was already dead.
The moment he had leaked even a microscopic sliver of killing intent, a savage, unrestrained aura had surged forth, overwhelming him, biting into him, and tearing him to shreds.
In his mind, he saw a vivid, detailed image of his body being ripped into dozens of pieces.
An amateur wouldn't have realized it.
He had already died once, and at this very moment, he was as good as dead.
If that brat made up his mind, he would die instantly.
Resistance, counterattack, escape.
None of it mattered.
If that brat wanted him dead, he would die.
As cold sweat soaked his back, Patrick spoke to him.
“I think we’re finally in the mood for a conversation. What do you think?”
“…….”
“Why? Want to go a bit longer?”
The killing intent radiating from Patrick grew even denser.
Barely able to breathe, the red-haired man managed to squeeze out a reply.
“I’ll… pass.”
“Good. Then sit.”
It was time for a talk.
After they sat facing each other, Patrick was the first to speak.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Patrick Schneider.”
“Ho…”
“From the family of Baron Schneider. Since coming to this city to sell monster materials, you’ve put them up for auction and recorded unprecedented sales.”
Pass.
Patrick wasn't at all displeased that his information had been leaked.
He hadn't exactly hidden his tracks since entering the city; in fact, he had moved quite conspicuously.
If they had missed his movements despite that, Patrick wouldn't have had any use for them anyway.
“You know your stuff. So? What’s your name?”
“Red.”
“That’s probably not your real name. What is it?”
Patrick assumed 'Red' was just a public alias used within the Thieves’ Guild, but when he saw the man subtly avert his eyes, he spoke in disbelief.
“Is that actually your real name?”
“I was told I was given that name because my hair is red.”
“Didn't your parents put a bit too little effort into naming you?”
“I’d rather you just tell me your business for seeking me out.”
At Red’s irritable reaction, Patrick shrugged.
“It’s nothing much. As you know, our Schneider territory is such a remote backwater that it’s hard to keep track of how the world is turning.”
“And?”
“I want to establish a connection with a decent information organization. That’s it. What do you say?”
At Patrick’s words, Red gave a thin smile.
“What benefit is there for us to establish a connection and provide information to such a backwater?”
“There are two benefits.”
Patrick answered without a moment’s hesitation.
Red looked intrigued and said, “Go on. I’m listening.”
“First, how do I look to you?”
Patrick spread his arms, presenting himself.
Red stared at him blankly for a moment before speaking.
“…A monster.”
“I’d prefer a nicer term, like ‘genius.’”
“‘Genius’ isn't enough to describe you. You are a monster.”
Red usually considered himself a genius.
While being trained as the successor to the Thieves’ Guild, he realized the necessity of martial power and trained diligently. As a result, he had already reached the 3-Star Level in his mid-twenties.
Usually, even for knights who train hard, that’s a realm they only reach in their thirties or forties.
So, a genius was someone like him.
But Patrick…
I can’t even guess what star level he is.
Judging by how he overwhelmed him with just his presence, it was clear he was unimaginably strong.
And that was at an age where he looked like nothing more than a child.
Genius, my ass…
If he called that a genius, then what were the people who were previously considered geniuses? Insects?
It was better to just elevate him to the status of a monster.
Patrick nodded as if he understood roughly what Red was thinking.
“You know, in this world, sometimes a dragon rises from a small stream and shakes the entire world.”
“That’s not a common occurrence.”
“But it’s not impossible, is it?”
“…….”
That was true.
Occasionally, such individuals appeared—those with truly out-of-the-box talent and ability who shook the world.
Whether they chose the path of good or evil, they always left a massive footprint on history.
“As an information organization, wouldn't it be advantageous in many ways to discover such a being earlier than others and establish a connection?”
“I suppose so.”
It was a logical point.
In Red’s eyes, Patrick was someone who would eventually distinguish himself in the world.
If so, making a connection now would surely be useful in one way or another.
“You said there were two benefits. What’s the second?”
“Ah, the second one is simple. If the first proposal was made looking toward the future, the second is something that will benefit you right now.”
“That sounds tempting. Tell me.”
“If you take my hand here…”
Patrick gave a very bright smile.
“I won’t kill you.”
“…….”
“Really. Truly. I mean it.”
To put it another way…
He’s saying if I don’t take his hand now, he’ll kill me.
From the start, Red had no choice.
The former Master of the Thieves’ Guild—Red’s father—had once told him:
[Son. In our line of work, there are times when things are dirty and unfair, but you have no choice. Cases where you have to eat mustard while crying, so to speak.]
[What should I do then?]
[What else can you do? Eat it. But don’t eat it while crying; eat every bit of it with a big smile on your face.]
[…What kind of lesson is that?]
[However!]
[…….]
[Always demand a price from the other person. A price high enough that they feel, ‘Since you ate all that mustard I gave you, I guess I can do this much for you.’]
[You’re saying even if I’m going to die, don’t die for nothing.]
[Exactly. That is how we in the back alleys survive.]
Recalling the teachings he received from his father before his death, Red spoke with a beaming smile.
“Understood. I shall join hands with you, Young Master.”
Even Red’s way of speaking had changed.
Seeing his opponent make a decision faster than expected, Patrick laughed.
“Ho, you’ve got good decisiveness.”
“You said I’d die if I didn't. What choice do I have?”
“Hahaha. That’s true.”
You can actually laugh? You devilish bastard?
The words rose to Red’s throat, but he barely managed to swallow them. Instead, he intended to demand his share.
“However, I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. It’s something you must fulfill if you are to join hands with me, Young Master.”
“That’s a request in name only; it’s practically a condition, isn't it?”
“Well, you could look at it that way.”
“People testing the waters while setting conditions for me is the thirty-fourth thing I hate most.”
This brat sure hates a lot of things for his age.
Red cleared his throat to maintain his composure and continued.
“Please listen to me first. Once you hear it, you’ll understand, Young Master.”
“Well, I’ll listen for now.”
Patrick spoke with the attitude of a superior listening to a report from a subordinate, sitting with his legs crossed.
Red let out a sigh and began.
“First, I want to tell you that our guild’s current state isn't very good.”
“How is it not good? Keep it brief.”
“We are split in half and in the middle of an internal conflict.”
“That’s too brief.”
“…….”
You told me to keep it brief, you bastard.
He couldn't say that, of course.
Patrick let out a sigh.
“Weren't you the Master of the Thieves’ Guild in this city?”
“That’s correct. I am the Master. I am the legitimate successor who inherited it from my father.”
“You inherited something reeeeally great.”
“Ugh…”
“I mean, inheriting the position of a thief captain through blood? People really do pass down everything these days.”
“Ahem, regardless, I am the legitimate successor.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I see. But there are people who don’t accept that?”
“…How did you know?”
“How could I not? It’s obvious.”
Patrick began to grasp the situation.
Things like this were common in the Central Plains as well.
Whether in the Orthodox or Unorthodox factions, competition and secret feuds over a sect’s succession were frequent occurrences. In the case of the Unorthodox Faction, if it got severe enough, the sect would often end up split in two.
“Let me guess. Someone showed up claiming that skill is more important than bloodline and refused to acknowledge you, right?”
“That’s correct. Even…”
“And that person was probably your father’s right-hand man while he was alive?”
“…Did you hear this from somewhere?”
“At my age, how could I not have that much intuition? It’s obvious. Completely obvious.”
How many years have you even lived to be talking about your age?
Red thought this, but Patrick had actually experienced this sort of thing many times.
As the Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon had become a famous figure in the martial world and was often called upon as a mediator or a witness to duels to resolve internal sect disputes.
As long as they paid, he didn't care if they were Orthodox or Unorthodox, so he had participated in quite a few conflicts.
And whenever he arrived…
[I am the Master’s legitimate successor!]
[Don’t make me laugh. The Master entrusted the sect to me!]
[You unfilial wretch! I bet you’re the one behind the Master’s sudden death!]
[Don’t be ridiculous! You’re the one who…]
It was usually some variation of that.
Both sides were often so pathetic that he felt like beating them both up more than once.
Ah, actually, I did beat them up.
Well, what could he do?
Looking at the situation, he might not know who the bad guy was, but it was certain that one of them was.
In that case, if he beat them both, the bad guy would definitely get hit, so wasn't that a truly righteous judgment?
The other side’s grievance?
Eh, they should just suck it up as a sacrifice for the sake of justice.
Regardless, whenever Jincheon was called into such internal disputes, he tried his best to resolve the problem in his own way.
But why did no one call for me later on? Why?
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing, just thinking about the old days.”
“…….”
A mere ten-year-old brat is thinking about the ‘old days’?
What did ‘the old days’ even mean to this kid?
To the bewildered Red, Patrick cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem, anyway, I get the gist of the situation. The succession of a young heir and the rebellion of the second-in-command. It’s a classic. I bet there’s something suspicious about your father’s death too, right?”
“……?”
A look of genuine shock appeared on Red’s face.
“Looks like I’m mostly right.”
“You’re incredible. You’re right. In fact, signs of foul play were found on my father’s body.”
Red, purely impressed by Patrick’s insight, told him everything.
Red’s father, the former Master of the Thieves’ Guild, had died suddenly one day for mysterious reasons.
A perfectly healthy man, gone just like that.
Judging by how his tongue and the roof of his mouth had turned violet, it was clear he had been poisoned.
The culprit couldn't be identified, but the position of Guild Master couldn't be left vacant.
So, Red tried to ascend to the position of Master, but that was when a man named Billy, a close associate of the former Master, rose in rebellion.
[Just because he’s the son of the predecessor, that young brat thinks he can sit above me? I will never acknowledge him.]
Saying this, he rose up and formed a separate Thieves’ Guild with the subordinates who followed him.
As a result, there were now two Thieves’ Guilds in Parmas…
But the underworld was not a place where two groups could peacefully share a single city.
A mountain can have only one master.
The two guilds immediately entered a state of war, and as a result…