Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: 47. Wrong Encounter (1)
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“Gorio.”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Yes, I am.”
Yuri was hiding in a dim corner of the imperial capital’s back alleys alongside Jared and Gorio.
They would poke their heads out just enough to scan the faces of the slum dwellers shuffling by, then duck back into hiding, repeating the process over and over.
“The drugs aren’t coming in from outside.”
Gorio, who had the back alleys locked down tight, had sent out his crew to track down the source of the drugs. And they’d all come to the same conclusion.
The drugs weren’t being smuggled in from the outside. They were appearing—and spreading—right here inside the capital.
On top of that, the high-grade stuff among the two varieties was being traded directly between nobles, just as Yuri had pried out of Edran. And the low-grade drugs aimed at the lower classes were being funneled through one particular gang in the back alleys.
“Word is, the Tiger Gang operating around here is the one handling the drugs.”
The Tiger Gang was one of the outfits Gorio’s crew had shoved aside.
As Gorio’s group muscled into the loan-sharking racket with their triple-interest schemes, the Tiger Gang lost their turf and scattered to the winds.
Yet here they were again, slinking through the back alleys like they’d never left.
“There they are.”
A pack of burly men in black clothes soon appeared.
They swaggered along with their shoulders thrust back way too far. The locals didn’t dare make eye contact, pressing themselves flat against the walls with heads bowed as they scurried out of the way.
Yuri shot Gorio a glance.
“Gorio, you don’t strut around like that, do you?”
“What do you take me for?”
“Got it. Loosen up that scowl.”
Yuri clapped him on the shoulder. For a gangster, Gorio was awfully hung up on his pride.
“Your Highness, I’m a proper businessman. My line of work just happens to skirt the law a bit.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it...”
If he weren’t one of his own now, Yuri might’ve kicked him. Instead, he gave the guy’s back a pat.
“I trust you, Gorio.”
“Thank you.”
“Anyway...”
Yuri murmured.
“They’re probably no different from Edran. They have no clue what they’re peddling.”
“That’s the vibe. One of my guys pressed a lowlife, but he clammed up tight. Acted like he knew nothing.”
“That guy okay?”
“Stashed him in a temple. Told him to play the part, but he went full addict on us.”
“Hey, loop me in next time. Name-drop me—it’ll get you a deal.”
“Discount?”
“Nah, I just get my cut.”
Gorio averted his eyes without a word. Yuri felt brushed off, but they were in hiding, so he let it slide.
The Tiger Gang milled about, glancing around warily as they looped the same spot.
Yuri circulated his Mana Circulation Method, sharpening his hearing.
Their voices drifted in faintly.
“Another dry run today?”
“Why the hell aren’t they showing? We’re running low on stock...”
“Those pricks call all the shots.”
Just like with Edran, it seemed the sellers popped up out of nowhere.
Yuri kept waiting.
He itched to rush out and beat answers out of them right then, but that wouldn’t get him anywhere.
Jared whispered from behind.
“Your Highness, what if nothing happens?”
“Then we call it a day.”
“We’ve been staking out like this for days now.”
“You think detective work is a cakewalk? It’s a solitary grind.”
“Dragging us all the way to the capital for this...”
Jared let out a heavy sigh.
“Sir Rolang’s got the life...”
Back in Brioll, Rolang was the only one who’d entered the tournament.
Yuri had given him free rein to prep however he wanted.
Right now, Rolang was off debating swordplay with other knights or swinging his blade solo to gear up for the event.
“Why didn’t you throw your hat in?”
“Didn’t think Sir Rolang would.”
“If he wants to fight, he fights.”
“You’re not sore at Sir Rolang, are you, Your Highness?”
“You trying to get yourself killed?”
Yuri hadn’t seen Rolang’s entry coming either.
It left him with complicated feelings, but he shoved them aside and zeroed in on the Tiger Gang.
“Everyone, quiet.”
Yuri pressed a finger to his lips.
“Something’s up.”
His senses had latched onto it.
A dark, murky presence was trailing the Tiger Gang from beyond the slum walls.
“Kill your presence. Hold position.”
With that, the three of them went dead silent. Not even a breath escaped.
Only the Tiger Gang’s grumbling echoed faintly.
That was when it happened.
Someone in black robes dropped down silently behind the Tiger Gang. Yuri’s hand went to Guilty on instinct.
Fast. Nimble. Just like Asana.
The figure in black cleared the wall without a sound, then pulled a thick pouch from his robes and gave it a shake.
The jangle made the Tiger Gang jump and whirl around.
“Whoa, shit!”
“You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“We told you to make some noise when you sneak up.”
“Look at you, had me thinking I was a goner.”
The group hurled curses his way, but the black-robed man didn’t flinch.
He waited until they settled, then spoke just one word.
“10 gold.”
“What?”
One of the Tiger Gang thugs stepped forward and took the pouch. He unfurled a scale and checked its weight.
He shook his head as he read the markings.
“Boss, it’s lighter than last time.”
“What?”
The hulking brute in the center seemed to be their leader.
He lumbered over, checked the scale himself, and fixed the black-robed man with a stare.
“Less product, but you want more coin? What gives?”
The man didn’t reply. He just held out his hand like there was nothing more to say.
The boss chewed his lip, then tried again.
“Come on, we’ve been dealing for ages. Can’t you cut us a break?”
The black-robed man shook his head.
The boss planted his hands on his hips and sighed up at the sky.
“Making me lose face in front of my boys...”
Yuri, watching the whole scene, whispered to Gorio.
“Gorio, you pull that kinda stunt?”
“No way.”
Gorio let out a snort.
“Better to pay up quick than eat that kind of humiliation.”
“Exactly.”
The black-robed man stayed cool as ever. No need to flex his power—he just waggled his fingers for the money.
Finally, the boss jerked his chin at his crew like he was doing them a favor.
“Hand it over. Guy’s got a hard-on for gold. Just pay the man.”
“Got it.”
A subordinate stepped up with a pouch bulging with coin and offered it over.
The black-robed man took it and counted the gold pieces inside.
The boss piped up.
“Counting it again? You’re killing me here. Live a little, yeah?”
With the man staying silent, the boss was starting to find his nerve. His words drew low chuckles from the crew behind him.
That was the spark.
“Huh?”
The black-robed man’s hand twitched as he pocketed the pouch.
A thin line appeared across the throat of the subordinate who’d brought the money. It split open, and crimson blood poured out.
The man staggered, eyes bulging, without so much as a gurgle.
“Wh-what?”
The entire Tiger Gang froze in shock. But none dared move a muscle.
The black-robed man gave their boss a brief look, then turned and walked off.
No one chased after him. No one even bothered helping their dying comrade slumped against the wall.
Yuri tuned out the Tiger Gang.
“Gorio, these guys are a bust. Mop ’em up later on your own time.”
“Understood.”
“Jared, let’s move. Good work, Gorio.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yuri and Jared took off after the black-robed man.
They circulated their Mana Circulation Methods to lighten their steps, masked their presence, and wove through the alleys.
The black-robed man bounded over buildings and walls like it was nothing, his pace now surging, now slowing unpredictably.
Yuri picked up on something off.
“He’s looping around in circles?”
“Think he’s onto us?”
“Nah. Just thorough.”
The man was laying down extra twists and turns to shake any potential tails.
He skirted bustling streets or slipped through the front door of illegal gambling dens and out the back.
Yuri trailed at a careful distance, patient as stone.
If his senses weren’t so sharp, he’d have lost him ages ago.
Jared was just sticking to Yuri’s heels by now.
“You’re still locked on, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Slippery son of a bitch...”
Yuri picked up speed. The gap was widening.
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“Sprint time. Can’t keep pace like this.”
“And if he spots us?”
“Better than letting him vanish.”
Who knew when they’d pick up the trail again.
Yuri was willing to risk getting made if it meant staying on him.
He needed intel on these drugs before the tournament wrapped.
His gut screamed that black magic, the drugs, and the emperor’s madness were all connected.
This was war.
“Jared, don’t fall behind.”
Yuri bolted. His feet kicked off the air itself as he flew forward.
Jared’s startled shouts faded into the distance. Yuri ignored them, hurtling toward the man’s presence.
He closed in—then the distance held steady again.
The guy had clocked his tail and kicked into escape mode.
“Too late.”
Yuri summoned the aura of Heart-Soul Severing.
This Mana Circulation Method bent to his will with endless potential. He projected the essence of a bird onto his body.
His air time stretched out. Each wall kick cleared an entire house.
Yuri thought he had him.
But then...
He halted, unable to pursue further.
He stared blankly ahead.
For him, pressing on was impossible.
The massive structure blocking his path told him things were about to blow up big.
“Huff... huff... Your Highness...”
Jared caught up late, panting at his side.
“Where’s the bastard?”
Yuri pointed ahead without a word.
“Huh?”
Buildings obscured the view between Yuri and the black-robed man.
Even so, the structure Yuri indicated towered impossibly high, absorbing the capital’s endless glow and shining softly against the night sky.
Jared muttered.
“The imperial palace?”
The next day, Yuri stepped out of the Duforia Hotel to meet a member of the imperial family.
She was staying in an annex outside the palace grounds—not far from Raguna’s mansion, actually. Yuri wondered if they all clustered together on purpose.
“Katrina?”
Jared cocked his head.
“Who’s that?”
“The emperor’s niece.”
“How do you even know someone like that?”
“She might end up my sister-in-law.”
“Say what?”
Before heading to the empire, Yuri had gotten the heads-up from Cedric.
Cedric was in a long-distance thing with Katrina.
“Gotta hand it to him. Keeping a long-distance romance alive ain’t easy.”
“Yeah...”
Before Yuri left for the empire, Cedric had told him to hit her up if he needed anything.
He hated bothering his brother’s girl, but with things this urgent, Yuri decided to swallow his pride and ask for her help.
He rode a carriage to the mansion and hopped off at the gate.
He announced himself to the guard.
“I’m Yuri Brioll. Here to see Princess Katrina.”
The guard swung the gate open. A butler emerged to greet them as they stepped inside.
He led Yuri and Jared to a parasol in the garden.
“Please wait just a moment. She’ll be right with you.”
“Appreciate it.”
“No trouble at all.”
Yuri settled at the tea table, enjoying the cool breeze.
Unlike Raguna’s overgrown disaster of a garden, this one was impeccably tended.
Flowers arranged perfectly by hue, trees lush and branches meticulously pruned.
Suddenly, a mouthwatering aroma wafted over.
While he’d been admiring the garden, a servant had set down what smelled like bread fresh from the oven.
“Ah, thanks.”
Yuri looked up to thank the servant properly—and immediately regretted it.
The woman in a baker’s hat was beaming down at him.
“Hello?”
Her bright blonde hair caught the sunlight like a halo.
Staring into her emerald eyes, Yuri was struck anew by how pure the imperial bloodline was—much like Brioll’s.
He shot to his feet and bowed.
“Forgive my rudeness.”
“Oh, no need. It’s fine. Please, have a seat.”
Katrina was dressed plain as a bakery girl.
“I’m Katrina.”
“Yuri Brioll. Cedric’s little brother.”
“I’ve heard so much about you.”
Katrina peered intently at Yuri. Then, on a whim, she reached out and toyed with a lock of his hair.
Yuri froze in mild confusion but held still and waited.
“You really do look just like Cedric.”
Katrina’s eyes sparkled with mischief.