Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Harmonious Casedic
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*He really is alive.*
Baron Pulpuchu let out a low groan as he watched Aron’s back, striding confidently into the arena.
*Not a single part of him is cut or broken. Does that mean he truly took down the Giant Darkness alone?*
The Giant Darkness…
He was a figure always mentioned when listing the strong in the eastern part of the Empire. A warlock who had made a pact with a demon yet had not lost his mind.
*To think he took on such a man alone…*
Considering the nature of black magic, which granted absolute superiority over those weaker than its user, it meant this man was at least on par with the Giant Darkness. Of course, seeing that all his limbs were intact, it seemed he was more than just on par.
Pulpuchu swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the man’s back.
*Just who could be chasing a man this powerful?*
Pulpuchu touched his neck, a chill running down his spine. If a warrior of this caliber had to hide in the frontier, the list of potential adversaries was not long.
The most likely among them…
*The Imperial Family.*
His mouth felt dry and gritty.
It was not a pleasant name to utter.
*If that's the case... Nova’s judgment was correct.*
If it truly was the Imperial Family, he had to grit his teeth and feign ignorance. The moment even the slightest connection was discovered, Casedic Castle would surely be wiped from existence, its very name forgotten.
*No, is it already too late?*
It had been two years since that man entered Casedic Castle, so it was far too late. And the Imperial Family was not an opponent that would accept excuses.
*To survive…*
Pulpuchu’s mind, clouded with dark thoughts, raced.
*I must grow stronger.*
Gazing at the man’s mountain-like back, Pulpuchu groaned again.
The man was too big. Far too big.
So big that trying to contain him would surely tear one apart.
So big that standing behind him would obscure everything in front.
*Anyway, to challenge that man to a Jojang duel. What kind of madman…*
Pulpuchu turned his gaze to see the face of the man who was about to die.
There, a man who looked like he was born to backstab people stood with his mouth agape, completely dazed.
*Was his name Dylan? That fellow’s face is really…*
He had the kind of face that should never be placed in a position of power.
Aron said something.
Then, the man named Dylan threw down his sword, took off his armor, and even stripped off the clothes underneath. It had taken him, without a doubt, less than five seconds to shed everything.
*What in the world is that?*
While Pulpuchu was flustered by the sudden nude show, the man didn't stop there. He lay down on the ground, exposed his belly, and with a broad grin, repeatedly called for his father.
Pulpuchu grimaced at the unsightly scene but couldn't help but feel a small sense of admiration.
*He induces a primal sense of disgust with his nudity, making one hesitant to lay a hand on him. Then, he exposes his belly in a submissive posture to declare a perfect surrender…*
Come to think of it, among the choices one could make when facing a ferocious beast like Aron one-on-one, this one had at least some potential.
*Even so, to do this in front of so many people… even with me, the Lord, watching, and without a moment’s hesitation.*
Pulpuchu nodded, taking note of the man’s survival tactics. No matter how many times he replayed it in his mind, it was the best option available.
When a grown man stripped naked and exposed his belly to show submission, one would naturally…
“Aaaaaargh!! Father! Father!”
*He hits him without hesitation.*
Watching Aron relentlessly kick the naked man, Pulpuchu was once again impressed.
The man named Dylan’s judgment was wise, but Aron paid it no mind whatsoever. There was absolutely no hesitation in his use of violence.
“Aaargh! Ugh! Aack! Fath—Ugh!”
A series of astonished screams erupted.
For the first time, Pulpuchu realized that a person's scream could be delicious. That Dylan fellow's scream was truly delicious.
Perhaps it was due to the man's appearance, but every time he screamed, it was cathartic.
Adding to that, the sounds of Aron’s fists and feet landing were just as satisfying, and the two combined in exquisite harmony to create something truly magnificent.
It was more vivid and thrilling than any play he had seen in the capital.
“Aaaaaargh! I was crazy! Brother! No, Faaatheer! I’ve repented! I’ve re-peeeented!!”
The screams were truly refreshing to hear.
Pulpuchu sipped the wine beside him, occasionally clapping.
The spectators were even more fervent than Pulpuchu.
They cheered and clapped until their throats were raw.
Some even handed over clubs, telling him to use them.
After a good while of beating, Aron looked around for something. He then raised his hand and called someone over; on closer inspection, it was the Abbot.
*Right, he was an honorary monk.*
Pulpuchu wondered why Aron had called the Abbot in the middle of a duel… no, a performance.
Aron said something to the Abbot, who nodded with a reluctant expression.
A moment later, the Abbot began to heal the already battered Dylan with a spray of bright light. The weasel, who had been flopping around like a caught fish, gradually quieted down.
*Is it over?*
Just as Pulpuchu was about to rise from his seat, trying to soothe his mild disappointment…
The Abbot stepped back.
And Aron, with a broad smile, approached Dylan.
*Hmm…*
This time, unlike before, no cheers erupted, only low groans.
Soon, a series of dull thuds echoed.
Dylan, who had been unconscious, seemed to regain his senses and began to babble endlessly about his sins, but the restarted performance did not stop.
Those who had been cheering now covered their mouths with their hands.
In front of the assembled crowd, Aron seemed to be making a declaration.
That he had returned.
It seemed it would be best not to face the man named Aron directly.
*Feign ignorance. Feign ignorance.*
Baron Pulpuchu discreetly turned his gaze and called for Nova.
Nova, with a peculiar expression, approached at the baron’s gesture.
In a low voice, Pulpuchu gave Nova various instructions.
Aaaaaargh!! Faaatheer!!
Nova added her own opinion, and Pulpuchu nodded without hesitation.
***
*What is this…*
I let out a groan as I looked at the massive statue erected in the middle of the square. It was so large it was twice my size, and so exquisitely crafted that it looked as if it might move at any moment.
*Kanna did this.*
There was no way anyone else in this frontier region possessed such sculpting skills. I had even assigned her a personal mage, but her talent as a sculptor seemed so exceptional it gave me a headache.
*How did she even carve stone?*
It hadn't been long since she was carving ice, and now she was sculpting stone… I couldn't even begin to guess what would be next.
*This is too much.*
My face was hidden by the bucket I was wearing, but the body was unmistakably mine, making my cheeks burn for no reason.
“Never seen your face around here.”
Just then, someone spoke to me from the side.
I turned my head to see a man wearing a bizarre helmet.
Looking closely, it resembled Dark Vader’s bucket helmet.
*Why is he wearing that in this heat?*
He was clearly a madman.
“You too have come, following the trail of the hero Deokgu.”
As I was about to leave, the words “hero Deokgu” stopped me in my tracks.
*Hero Deokgu? What’s that?*
The name felt awkward and unpleasant on the tongue.
“Hero Deokgu?”
“Yes, Deokgu… a true hero of our time. Were you not here during the recent incident?”
The man’s voice was strangely familiar.
I wracked my memory as I answered.
“I was busy with something.”
“I see. That’s why you don’t know about Hero Deokgu. Ahem… I see you carry a sword, so you must be a swordsman, yet you don’t know the story of Hero Deokgu… I cannot simply let this pass.”
*What is he talking about?*
The man’s excited voice made me frown instinctively. Judging by the iron he wore, he looked like a knight, but what on earth was a knight doing here…
*That armor looks familiar.*
I scratched my head, looking at his gray breastplate.
“Do you know of the Giant Darkness? One of the most renowned warriors in the East! A warlock, and the most impure being in history, who embraced a demon! A dangerous figure who even threatened the Empire! Such a man set his sights on this small frontier castle! The reason remains unknown, but who can fathom the mind of a sinister warlock!”
Clap!
The man suddenly clapped his hands together and raised his voice.
A faint madness emanated from his excited tone, which I found unsettling.
*He was strong, but… not the worst.*
As the man said, the Giant Darkness was a troublesome fellow worthy of being called strong, but he fell short of being the worst. And he was definitely not a threat to the Empire.
“Ah, such a living nightmare! The Giant Darkness extended his demonic grasp to this small frontier castle! Casedic was a candle in the wind! Like a male goblin before a female orc! But…!!”
The man must have done this a hundred times, as his story flowed smoothly without a single pause. He even added dramatic emphasis at just the right moments, drawing me in.
I listened attentively, as if hearing someone else’s story.
“Twenty-one knights, drawn by the pull of fate, along with inquisitors and monks who received an oracle. And so on and so forth! We did not give up!! We united under conviction and faith, but we were not enough to face the Giant Darkness… But then!!!”
*What pull of fate… they were just a bunch of guys after 40 gold…*
I was dumbfounded by his self-aggrandizement, but since his story was entertaining, I simply nodded along.
“Hero Deokgu appeared!! The undead and demons swarmed in like a tidal wave! In Casedic, which had turned into a living hell, Hero Deokgu displayed a brilliant ingenuity that no one else could have imagined!! Ah! The peerless strategist Deokgu unveiled his strategy!!”
*Crazy bastards.*
The man’s excessive fervor made my face flush.
Even worse, some of the things he was saying had come from my own mouth, which made my face burn even hotter.
*At the time, the situation was so urgent I had no choice.*
I inwardly made excuses, trying to cool my burning face.
“That peerless strategy was… none other than Stra.te.gic. Col.lab.o.ra.tion!”
He spoke with emphasis, enunciating each syllable as if he were a sage speaking a great truth.
*It’s strategic cooperation, you ignorant bastards.*
When I gave a vague nod, he excitedly continued with the rest of the story.
It was clearly a story laden with exaggeration, but as I listened, it almost started to sound plausible.
The genius strategist and peerless hero, ‘Dark Vader,’ ended up sacrificing his life in a mutual annihilation with the Giant Darkness.
It was all fine, but I didn't like the ending.
*Hey, why did you suddenly kill him off?*
A surge of anger made my fists itch, but I managed to restrain myself. Having finished his story, the man’s shoulders shook as if overcome with the emotion of that moment.
Only then did I remember who he was.
*It’s that guy. The one… Rudolf or something.*
The knight who had joined midway and had been more excited than anyone else to gang up on the enemy.
*But why is he here?*
The tournament was over, yet here was a knight wearing a bizarre helmet, telling stories to passersby. It didn't make any sense.
“So we decided to stay in Casedic to honor the hero Deokgu. The name of our group is ‘Namaiyard.’ The members are those who took part in the legendary march alongside Hero Deokgu…”
Truth be told, I didn't care whether ‘Dark Vader’ lived or died.
He was just a disposable mask anyway.
The problem was the prize money.
*My 40 gold coins…*
I stared blankly at the helmet resting on the statue.
To think that stupid-looking bucket helmet was worth 40 gold coins.
Perhaps my expression looked like one of hero worship, because the man spoke to me again.
“You seem to be moved by Hero Deokgu’s achievements as well. Hmm… now that I look at you, your build is similar to Hero Deokgu’s! Of course, Hero Deokgu was about twice your size… I’ll make a special exception and let you join our group. Since we’re in the early stages, the membership fee is…”
“Kuheu! Sir Adolgu!”
Just then, a woman with a familiar face appeared from the side.
The woman who had been captured by Kustang. The woman who told me Kustang’s secret was his left foot, now in full armor, saluted.
*What’s with ‘Kuheu’?*
The salute was exceedingly bizarre.
“Kuheu! Seigu. What is it?”
“They said they can supply us with small statues of Hero Deokgu. They’re 5 silver each.”
The woman, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, spoke in a voice full of spirit.
*…Small statues of Hero Deokgu?*
The words reeked of Hana and Kanna.
Kanna would just pick up a suitably sized rock and carve it, and they were charging 5 silver each? That’s ridiculous…
“That’s cheap! 5 silver! Order 100 immediately! I’ll cover the payment!”
“Kuheu! Understood!”
“Kuheu!!”
*Crazy bastards.*
It was hard to watch them salute each other, repeatedly shouting ‘Kuheu!’
I discreetly slipped away and headed for Nova.
The fanatical man and woman I had just encountered were shocking, but the 40 gold coins were more urgent.
*Wise and considerate Orange.*
I kept muttering the phrase to myself to make it sound natural.
When I reached the inner castle gate, the guards on duty opened it in a panic, as if they had seen a monster.
It seemed the public weasel-training session from earlier had left a bad impression. The weasel himself had given me a thumbs-up, satisfied that all the demons in his head had vanished.
*Anyway, I’ll need to discipline him periodically.*
The kid got sidetracked whenever he had a spare moment, so it was necessary to set a schedule and keep him in line.
Still, the gate check was much smoother, which was satisfying.
I passed through the inner castle and headed to Nova’s room.
Knock, knock.
“…Come in.”
I heard Nova’s voice, strangely downcast.
When I entered, I saw Nova in the same spot, in the same posture as always. I was slightly impressed by her very NPC-like consistency.
“Orange, I have something important to discuss.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
Nova asked in an uncharacteristically sweet tone, which gave me the chills.
“Act like you usually do, Orange.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lacking social skills due to a friendless adolescence, always grumbling, but deep down, you have a warm…”
“Alright, shut your mouth.”
I exaggeratedly sealed my lips into a straight line.
Nova’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
“So, why are you here?”
“Ahem… You might not have known this, Orange, but I was actually very close to the hero ‘Dark Vader.’”
“What? No, go on.”
Nova narrowed her eyes and stared at me, beckoning with her hand.
I cleared my throat with a loud cough. It was quite embarrassing to act so nonchalantly in front of Nova, who obviously knew the truth, but 40 gold was on the line. For that amount, I would have even handed the weasel over to the warlocks.
“Before the hero ‘Dark Vader’ went into battle…”
“I heard his name was Deokgu.”
“No, that’s just what some idiots misheard. The hero’s real name is ‘Dark Vader.’”
“Hmm… but the winner’s name is written as Deokgu. If it’s Dark Vader, things get a lot more complicated. To sort that out, he’d have to come in person…”
Nova, back to her usual insolent face, raised a corner of her mouth and tapped her quill pen.
“Come to think of it, I believe he said his prenatal name was Deokgu.”
“…Prenatal name?”
“That’s right. Anyway, that’s not important. Dark Vader… no, right, Deokgu, delegated all authority to me, but… unfortunately…”
I closed my eyes and held a moment of silence, as if I were truly honoring a hero. When I opened them again, Nova was staring at me as if I were a lunatic.
“After all that chaos you caused… do you really have no shame?”
“Ahem… As I was saying, Deokgu delegated all authority to me…”
“Do you know that kids have been running around shouting ‘Kuheu! Kuheu!’ lately?”
I was about to say it wasn't just kids but grown adults too, but I held my tongue at Nova’s pointed glare.
“The hero’s legacy is being carried on well.”
“…”
Nova scowled, glaring at me, the corners of her mouth twitching continuously.
“Anyway, as the one who was delegated full authority by Hero Deokgu…”
“Hmph—oh, is that so? Perfect timing.”
Before I could finish, Nova’s eyes glinted ominously. She pushed a stack of documents on her desk toward me and smirked.
“Our dear Hero Deokgu did quite a bit of smashing, you see. They say a hero forges his own path, and he must have been a truly great one. He created so many new roads here and there that we might have to redraw the map.”
I glanced at the thickness of the document stack Nova handed me and tried to recall my memories. I had been quite excited during the strategic cooperation, so I couldn't remember everything clearly, but…
*Did I really break that much?*
With a hesitant expression, I flipped through the papers, but the passionate memories that came flooding back with each line I read made me quickly shut the file.
“On second thought, it’s quite a burden for a mere Jojang like me to carry on a hero’s legacy. I believe everything I was entrusted with should be returned to society to honor the hero’s will…”
“…but! How could we possibly bill a hero for that? A hero who willingly sacrificed his life for Casedic.”
Nova cut me off, a playful look on her face that didn't suit her. I met her sparkling eyes for a moment, then quickly nodded.
“Exactly! If we were to bill a hero who sacrificed his life to protect Casedic, who would ever sacrifice themselves for Casedic again!”
“Wow—you’re truly shameless.”
“Thank you, Orange.”
I bowed my head in gratitude for Nova's sincere admiration.
“…That wasn't a compliment. Stop smiling. Anyway, I spoke to the Lord. Who am I? The Scribe, right?”
“Ooh! The well-written, clever, and beautiful Orange!”
“Such obvious flattery won’t work on me.”
“The well-written, clever, and beautiful, yet also considerate and flexible Orange!”
“It won’t… work, I said.”
Contrary to her words, the corners of Nova's mouth were twitching upwards, trembling. Her cheeks quivered before she took a deep breath and returned to her usual insolent expression.
“Of the 40 gold prize, 20 gold will be paid out immediately. The problem is the other 20 gold, which is to be paid over four months… The winner is supposed to spend four months in Casedic, you see? But what can we do? Deokgu is dead.”
“Oh dear, what a shame…”
I thought my response was quite natural, but Nova shot me a disgusted look.
“Hmph… It’s a real shame about that 20 gold. If only Deokgu had a brother with similar martial prowess…”
Nova’s voice trailed off as she fumbled for something under her desk. What she pulled out was a helmet similar to Dark Vader’s bucket, but this one was a deep, dark black.
It was black as pitch yet had a glossy sheen, its material clearly extraordinary. Though similar in design to the bucket helmet, it exuded a completely different aura.
It was the kind of helmet a final boss would wear. The kind that fulfilled every man’s secret fantasy of being a dark lord.
“Hmm… for example, someone like Takgu. It would have been great if he had a younger brother like that.”
Nova placed the helmet on the desk and smirked, beckoning with her finger.
“I see. Takgu… now that you mention it, I think Deokgu might have had a brother like that…”
“Really? That’s a relief. He wouldn’t have to do much, just stay in Casedic and act only when a situation we can’t handle arises, like this time. It wouldn’t be much of a burden, would it?”
Nova slid the helmet towards me with a deep smile.
For the first time, I saw Nova’s dimples.
I smiled back at her.
“Deokgu’s younger brother. Takgu, the true master of the underworld, a man of few words who doesn’t mingle with others. This sounds like just the job for him.”
The cool touch of the helmet clung to my hand.
“Already coming up with a backstory…”
I ignored Nova’s muttering and casually put on the helmet. The field of vision was much wider than the weasel’s stupid helmet. Plus, it felt cool and not hot at all.
*She must have paid a pretty penny for this.*
I tapped the helmet lightly, and it made a solid sound. Yet it was light, suggesting it wasn't made of simple iron.
“Does it fit? You tie it here like this.”
Nova came right up to me and adjusted the leather strap under the helmet.
“Rich Orange.”
The sweet scent she exuded was vaguely distracting, so I spoke up.
“Of course. You have no idea how much I’ve skimmed off the top here. You think I’m comparable to some waitress?”
I smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. Nova smirked back, showing off her uncharacteristic dimples.
After playing with my new helmet for a bit, Nova brought up other topics.
Most of it concerned the current state of Casedic Castle.
The topics ranged from how serious the current situation was, the Lord's decisions regarding it, and things like wall repairs and expansion projects.
Nova subtly pointed out areas where money could be made, and I nodded, committing them to memory.
Just as I was getting up to leave after we had finished our talk, Nova suddenly grabbed my arm.
“A promise is a promise. Sit down.”
I didn't know what it was about, but Nova’s face was serious, so I nodded and sat back down.
Nova sat me down right in front of her and took a few deep breaths.
Her expression was so grim it made me nervous.
As if steeling herself, Nova closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and began to beat her chest.
Clang-clang.
A sudden gong show.
*She’s lost it.*
She must have practiced, as the force and rhythm of her drumming were quite dazzling.
The sight of a cool-faced foreigner beating her own chest and playing a lively, traditional rhythm was enough to make one ponder many things.
The performance was so magnificent that for a moment, the image of Shim Cheong flashed before my eyes.
I briefly considered stopping her, but Nova’s expression was so utterly serious that I couldn't.
So, I decided to fulfill my duty as her one and only audience member.
“Despacito! Faster and faster!!”
When I shouted, Nova cursed at me, but her words were drowned out by the sound of the gongs.
A belated wave of shame seemed to wash over her as her face turned beet red, and she clenched her fists, trembling.
I burst out laughing at the sight, but when Nova drew a dagger, I quickly fled.
***
“Hey, Dylan, are you okay?”
“WHAT?! ARON IS THE BEST! HE IS MY FATHER!”
Dylan’s sudden shout startled Berman, who instinctively took a step back.
“They say he’s hard of hearing. It should get better with time…”
Pul answered, looking with pity at Dylan, who was constantly touching his ear and tilting his head in confusion.
*Well, after a beating like that…*
Still, he had challenged Jojang Aron and gotten away with just being hard of hearing. He was lucky.
“WHAT?! YOU CALLED ME BORING?! NO! ARON IS THE BEST! MY EVERYTHING IS FOR ARON!”
“No, that’s not it. Calm down. It’s okay. The Jojang isn’t here.”
Pul patted the trembling weasel’s shoulder.
In a way, it was impressive.
Berman didn't think he would dare covet Jojang Aron's position even years after he was gone, yet this guy had made a move for it in just four days…
He wasn't a good man, but he was certainly something.
“He deserved to get hit. Guys with eyes like that need to be put in their place once in a while to know their station.”
Kel said with a chuckle.
Just as Kel said, Dylan’s eyes had cleared up after being thoroughly beaten by Jojang Aron. The same passion he had when he first arrived was now visible in him.
*He’s going to get beaten periodically.*
Berman looked pitifully at Dylan, who was still shouting, “WHAT?! YES!!”
“Anyway, let’s get to patrolling. The Jojang is back now.”
Berman stood up, deliberately putting force into his words.
“Berman, you’re just a guard like us, you know? Stop acting like you’re somebody.”
Kel grumbled as he followed him up.
“WHAT?! SUNCHANG?! NO! MY FATHER IS ARON! ARON!”
“No, patrol. PA! TROL!”
“SONCHANG?! NO, MY FATHER IS…”
The two left the headquarters, leaving Pul to his deep sigh.
“There have been so many incidents lately, I haven’t even had time to see Rosa.”
Berman nodded at Kel’s complaint.
He was right. Lately, Casedic had been plagued with an unmanageable number of problems.
Men would fight at the slightest eye contact, merchants were routinely extorted, and there were even people shitting in the streets… The inner castle was busy cleaning up the aftermath of the attack, so it was utter lawlessness.
Right now, Casedic was such a mess that they didn't even know where to begin.
It certainly had been, but…
“I said I’d clean it! Why are you encroaching on my territory!”
“Because it’s near me! Do you only think of yourself?! Didn’t you hear what Aron said?! If there’s shit on the ground, the person closest to it has to eat it?!”
“Crazy… No way…”
“So hurry up and clean it! Why are you shitting in the streets in the first place!”
“Aron… that ignorant, devilishly vicious bastard…”
Soon, the two men who had been raising their voices began to pick up the clumps on the ground with their bare hands.
*What is this…*
Berman stood there, dumbfounded.
It wasn't just them. The streets, which had been a complete mess just yesterday, were returning to their original state.
Residents were cleaning with desperate expressions, as if someone would chase them down if they didn’t. They splashed water on the smelly streets and pushed the grime away with wooden sticks.
Ska’s boys and the 6th District gang, who used to fight whenever they met, were now greeting each other with friendly smiles.
Their cheek muscles twitched and their voices trembled as if suppressed, but on the surface, they seemed to be on very good terms.
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. Back then, I was…”
“Hah… so you come to apologize now that Aron is back? But with just the principal amount?”
There were even young men apologizing to merchants and handing them money.
As if a center of gravity had been established, Casedic was rapidly regaining its vitality. However, all the residents bustling about had large bruises on their faces.
“That’s our Jojang for you. How many guys did he… in just one day.”
Kel, who had completed a round of the castle, muttered with a strange tone.
“Yeah.”
Berman nodded, a mix of emotions he couldn't quite define swirling within him.
***
Gesher Weinde of the Imperial Eastern Management Bureau rubbed his eyes and reread the paper in his hand.
*The lecher who went straight to Casedic lost a one-on-one duel in a tournament, and his opponent’s name is… Deokgu? And this Deokgu fellow also stopped the Giant Darkness?*
The report was so absurd he wanted to grab the person who submitted it and slap them. Finding the contents hard to believe, Gesher Weinde slowly read it again.
*Is this a joke?*
That was the most likely explanation.
There was no way someone capable of defeating that lecher in a direct, one-on-one fight could exist in the eastern frontier. And to then defeat the Giant Darkness right after?
It was bullshit that was hard to even pretend to believe.
He briefly considered reporting this to his superior, Ben Hardt, to teach the pranksters a lesson, but he quickly shook his head.
Ben Hardt had strictly warned him not to submit any more reports about that particular matter. There was no need to stir up trouble.
*Next, I have a drinking session with the Southern Management Bureau…*
Besides, he was busy trying to build connections elsewhere.
Gesher Weinde crumpled the paper and tossed it into a corner, resuming his future planning. He couldn't stay buried in the East forever; he had to latch onto a connection somewhere.
*But what if that prank is actually true…*
Gesher Weinde suddenly recalled the contents of the paper and let out a low groan.
*The East would become untouchable.*
If the Giant Darkness was truly dead, The Society was finished. Then Black Blood, with no rivals left in the East, would surely start running rampant openly.
*Such a ridiculous prank…*
Just thinking about it for a moment gave him a headache. Gesher Weinde dismissed the thought and went back to shortlisting places to probe next.
*The Northern Management Bureau is too high up… should I try poking around the Western Management Bureau?*
Gesher Weinde hummed to himself, tapping his magic pen.