Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt (2)
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Anyone seeing Cedric Walker, the boss of the Black Snake, for the first time would think of a pig.
But after a little time passed, they would realize.
Cedric Walker was a cunning wolf in a pig's disguise.
“Hahaha! Thanks to you, Boss Cedric, we're living it up today.”
The high-end tavern 'Silk Cat', located in the heart of Landwalk City.
This place, where one night’s stay cost a fortune, was completely empty today.
Because Cedric Walker had rented out the entire establishment.
“I've heard about Silk Cat's reputation often, but it was too pricey for me to even dream of coming... This exceeds all expectations.”
A man with a goatee beard said this while wrapping his arm around the waist of the beauty sitting next to him.
The beauty didn't show any sign of displeasure; instead, she smiled seductively.
“Impressive indeed. All these foreign silks gathered in one place.”
Sitting next to the goatee man was a muscular, burly man.
The muscular man seemed interested only in the booze. He didn't even have a woman beside him and just kept emptying his glass.
“It's an honor that the two of you are enjoying yourselves.”
Cedric Walker didn't sit at the table. He stood instead.
Not only that, he poured drinks and served snacks, behaving no differently than a servant.
“Renting out the whole Silk Cat must have cost a pretty penny.”
“Exactly. We're having fun, but I'm worried about your wallet.”
At the two men's words, Cedric Walker flashed a sly smile.
“When I have the chance to serve the two of you, money is no object.”
“Ahem, is that so?”
“In fact, I'd be grateful if you visited often.”
The two men's faces lit up at Cedric Walker's words.
“Thanks for saying that, Boss Cedric.”
“Ahem, shall we enjoy a bit more then?”
The two dove back into their indulgences. The goatee man with the woman, the muscular man with the booze.
Cedric Walker's eyes gleamed coldly as he watched them.
‘Useless trash.’
If anyone who knew their true identities heard that, they would have laughed in disbelief.
The goatee man was Landwalk City's governor, and the muscular man was the city's guardian knight.
But in Cedric Walker's eyes, they were nothing more than trash who had lucked into their positions through circumstance and connections, with no real personal ability.
‘In the end, that governor is just a figurehead puppet set up by the guild leaders. And that knight is a brainless brute who only knows how to swing a sword.’
Landwalk City was a place where merchants and artisans held great influence, so it naturally bent to the will of the guilds they formed.
The guilds installed governors who suited their tastes to protect their interests.
The knight was no different.
He was a formal knight, but one drowning in debts from gambling and drinking, cheaply hired by the city.
Even so, Cedric Walker was investing heavily in these two.
They were impressive-looking invalids, but those impressions were worth a fortune.
“By the way, Boss Cedric. About those business establishments other organizations were holding... I think it's fine for the Black Snake to take them all over.”
For example, they did things like this that benefited the Black Snake.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. Let the Black Snake manage all the entertainment districts in the city.”
“I'm thrilled, but won't others object?”
“That's nothing. I can squash that with my authority.”
The governor pounded his chest confidently.
It didn't look particularly cool with the scraggly goatee sticking out.
“Governor! Thank you!”
Cedric Walker bowed his head as if about to smash it into the ground.
“No need for thanks. This is all thanks to your hard work, Boss Cedric.”
“I feel bad I can't do much in return.”
The guardian knight said this as he set down his empty glass.
Cedric Walker made a fuss as if that was nonsense.
“Knight, just protecting this city is more than enough to be grateful for!”
“That's just my duty, isn't it?”
“Duty? Maintaining order in a huge city like Landwalk is no easy task! I know you're humble, but if you belittle yourself too much, others will feel ashamed.”
“Ahem, is that so?”
The guardian knight reacted with satisfaction to Cedric Walker's flattery.
“Still, if you need anything, just say the word. I'll do my best to help.”
“Thank you.”
Cedric Walker bowed his head again.
The two couldn't see it, but his eyes remained ice-cold.
‘Bowing my head to trash like this won't last much longer.’
Cedric Walker's goal was to rise to a position where he could control the city.
His plan was progressing steadily even now.
Soon, the governor and knight would be the ones bowing to him.
“Is there anything else you need? Just say the word, and I'll bring it right away.”
That was when Cedric Walker said this.
One of his underlings approached and whispered in his ear.
Cedric Walker's expression hardened instantly.
“...I'm truly sorry, but I must step out for a moment.”
“Looks like something urgent came up.”
“Go handle your business. Don't worry about us.”
The two, already deep in their women and booze, didn't care whether Cedric Walker left or not.
Once out of the VIP room of Silk Cat, Cedric Walker grabbed his underling by the collar.
“What did you just say? Demian Haksen is attacking our guys?”
“Y-Yes.”
“What the hell is that black mage bastard doing that Demian Haksen is rampaging here?!”
“I-I don't know the details...”
Cedric Walker let out a deep sigh.
“Damn it, he must've just taken the money and run. That's why you can't trust half-assed nobodies.”
Thinking of the employment fee he'd handed over to the black mage made his blood boil.
Cedric Walker suppressed his anger and gave orders to his underling.
“At this point, I need to handle Demian Haksen myself to vent this rage. Capture that bastard alive. Got it?”
With that, Cedric Walker turned to go back and entertain the governor and knight.
His underling urgently grabbed him.
“Boss! You can't just go back in! Give us orders!”
“I just did. Capture that bastard alive.”
“N-No, that won't work.”
“What?”
“We can't capture Demian Haksen with our abilities!”
At those words, Cedric Walker kicked his underling in the shin.
The underling screamed and clutched his leg.
“I'm busy as hell, and you're spouting bullshit. Do you know how much money I've poured into you lot? Why the hell can't you catch him?!”
After Demian Haksen wrecked the tavern, Cedric Walker had thoroughly armed his organization members.
He gave them armor made from monster hides and weapons crafted by skilled artisans.
That wasn't all. He even distributed magical artifacts to the executives for emergencies.
It had cost a massive amount of money, but Cedric Walker didn't care at all.
In this business, if you let yourself get looked down on, you're done.
He'd already been humiliated by one Demian Haksen, so he had to accept this level of loss.
“With just a magical artifact, that guy would be reduced to ashes. How can you not handle one man?”
At that, the gang member said with trembling eyes.
“I-It's true! P-Please believe me!”
“This fucker keeps bullshitting.”
Cedric Walker raised his fist. At that moment, someone came running desperately.
“B-Boss!”
So urgent that the underling tripped and fell flat on the floor.
But he quickly got up and reached Cedric Walker.
“D-Demian Haksen! The southern branch got smashed by that guy!”
At those words, Cedric Walker's mind went blank.
What the hell is this guy saying right now?
“Boss! Boss!”
Before his head could start working again, another underling came running.
The underling shouted before even reaching Cedric Walker.
“The eastern branch was wiped out by Demian Haksen!”
* * *
Landwalk City's northern district.
An area famous for its residential neighborhoods and tranquility, yet unusually rowdy today.
“Kill him! Kill that bastard!”
No, could this even be called rowdy?
Dozens of Black Snake gang members were gathering in the northern district's square.
“Rush him all at once! Stab him anywhere, just do it!”
Surprisingly, they were facing off against just one person.
A young man stood in the center of the square, confronting the Black Snake.
The young man's weapon was merely a worn longsword.
In contrast, the enemies wielded spears and shields, crossbows, and even wore armor made from monster hides.
Whether in numbers or equipment, the Black Snake had the overwhelming advantage.
“Kuaaaak!”
Yet the side being pushed back was the Black Snake.
Every time the young man swung his longsword, gang members' limbs flew off. Some lost their heads.
Neither the monster hide armor nor the shields helped at all.
“Don't get scared! He's human too! He'll tire soon! Keep charging until then!”
A man who seemed to be an executive encouraged the gang members.
But no matter how much time passed, the young man showed no signs of fatigue.
“Aaak!”
“Kuaaaak!”
Instead, his sword strikes grew even more precise and vicious. The Black Snake's casualties only mounted.
“T-This bastard...!”
Finally unable to endure, the executive pulled something from his bosom.
A red cylinder covered in dense, strange runes.
“Let's see if you can survive this!”
A fireball erupted from inside the cylinder.
The fireball flew straight toward the young man.
The young man glanced at the fireball and swung his longsword horizontally.
The fireball followed the trajectory of the longsword.
It was like a leaf drifting along a stream.
“W-What the...”
Horror appeared on the executive's face.
He'd often heard that masters could naturally deflect enemy attacks.
But he'd never heard of pulling off such a feat against magic.
“Uh, uhhh?”
The young man swung his longsword, spinning his body once.
Then he pointed the blade's tip at the executive.
The spinning fireball flew toward the executive.
“W-Wait!”
The fireball that shot in like an arrow exploded.
A massive blaze engulfed the executive and the gang members.
“What kind of thugs use magical artifacts?”
End times, end times.
Demian Haksen clicked his tongue and sighed.
“But thanks to that, it ended cleanly.”
Magic seemed better than swordplay for dealing with crowds.
“Now, let's see... Where to next?”
Demian Haksen unfolded a city map.
He scanned it and decided on his next destination.
“Guess I'll head there.”
* * *
“Boss! The northwest branch was massacred!”
“B-B-Boss! Word from the western branch! Only one survivor!”
Cedric Walker clutched his head as underlings kept rushing in.
It was unbelievable, but he had to believe it.
The organization he'd painstakingly built was being annihilated by a single man.
Even experiencing it firsthand, it was hard to accept.
He even suspected his underlings were all lying in unison.
“Boss... W-What do we do?”
“Shut up and wait.”
It was clear the organization's own forces couldn't stop Demian Haksen.
He needed outside help.
“Damn... This isn't what I spent all that money for.”
Cedric Walker looked up.
In his line of sight, the governor and knight were enjoying their revelry.
“You guys, go tell the others to hold Demian Haksen off as long as possible.”
“Yes! Got it.”
After sending off the underlings, Cedric Walker entered the VIP room.
The governor and knight welcomed Cedric Walker warmly.
“Oh, Boss Cedric. What took you so long? Come, have a drink.”
The governor held out a glass.
But Cedric Walker didn't take it.
Instead, he dropped to his knees on the floor.
“Forgive my impudence, but I have a favor to ask the two of you!”