Chapter 95

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 95

Chapter Title: Sillan (9)

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"Yu-ju."

"Y-Yes?! I, I'm not... Th-that... I'm not ready yet... Th-the place isn't right either..."

'What the hell are you thinking, you crazy woman? It's not like that!'

"Calm down and listen. You too, Ho-yeon. I'm talking about the guy I just had a quiet chat with."

"Ah...?"

Seo Yu-ju's face flushed red as she finally realized I'd dragged her here for a different reason.

She let out a sigh that sounded oddly disappointed.

'What are you disappointed about? Damn it... Get a grip.'

"...The guy I was just talking to? He's a drug dealer."

"...What?"

"...Mr. Lee Yun-seong, is that true?"

"Yes. He offered me drugs. So, I'm planning to accept his proposal for now."

"Wh-What?! Wait, Yun-seong, you're going to do drugs?!"

"Mr. Lee Yun-seong, are you in your right mind? Do you know what happens to people who do drugs...!"

Both of them looked horrified at my words and tried to talk me out of it.

"Yun-seong, I absolutely won't allow it! How can you even say you're going ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to do drugs...!"

"W-Wait, calm down, both of you...!"

"How are we supposed to calm down after hearing that?!"

"No, I'm not actually going to do drugs!"

"...What?"

"Sigh... Do you think I'm insane enough to do drugs? What I meant was... I'm going to clone myself with the cloning clay and have the clone do it."

"Ah..."

"I see..."

Both looked embarrassed after hearing my explanation.

"So... the reason I'm telling you two this is so you don't make a fuss if you see the clone doing drugs. It's not really me."

That was why I'd brought Seo Yu-ju and Wi Ho-yeon along.

I wasn't doing drugs myself—the clone was—but if they saw it and caused a scene here, that would be a problem.

"Anyway, I need to use the clay, so I'll pop into the bathroom first, then head back. Oh... and Yu-ju."

"Yes?"

"...We might raise suspicion if we just go back as is. Mess up your clothes a bit, ruffle your hair... something like that."

"Ah..."

Seo Yu-ju seemed to catch on to what I meant.

"R-Right..."

As we all returned to our seats together, the man leered at Seo Yu-ju and spoke up.

"Young lord, looks like... you treat women rougher than you appear."

Fortunately, it didn't seem like he'd grown suspicious of us.

I'd worried he might be overly cautious, but this was a relief.

"What can I say... I like that kind of play."

"Haha! Fair enough. You know how to have fun, eh?"

'Know how to have fun my ass...'

"Anyway, should we head out now?"

"Yep. Uh... you're leaving the girl behind, but taking the guard?"

"No."

I had no intention of bringing Wi Ho-yeon along, in case things got dangerous.

It would just be me following the guy.

"Good. Follow me then. Can't do it here, after all..."

As I followed the man, I asked a question.

"Where are we going?"

"We have a special room set up for VIP customers like you. Drugs are illegal, so even here, we can't do it out in the open."

"Ah, got it."

"Here we are."

The man opened the door, revealing a lavish interior. And then...

"Ah~ What's this, a new friend?"

"Greet him. He's a new guest."

Inside the room were about six people gathered. Checking their status windows one by one, not a single one had a normal title.

'A bunch of idiots.'

Judging by their attire, they were real nobles' sons and merchants.

The moment I flopped onto the sofa, a woman who looked like a noble slinked over and clung to me.

"Hng~ Where are you from, handsome?"

'Get off me, bitch.'

"Don't cling."

"Heh... So cold~ But hey, first time?"

"....."

"Whoa... Really a newbie? Hehe, I'll show you. Like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this..."

'Sigh...'

I sighed inwardly.

'What a bastard the original is...'

"Ha..."

In the bathroom waiting, quite some time had passed before the clone arrived.

'What a mess.'

The clone was staggering, clearly high, explaining what happened. The stuff was potent, alright.

'Would've been bad if I'd done it myself.'

I took the sample the clone had brought and thought.

'Now, producing the drug just needs facilities and raw materials. Not sure if it's feasible, but...'

Thanks to my abilities, I could clearly analyze the powder in my hand.

'First things first, recover it.'

I reverted the clone back to clay and pocketed it.

The clone's state reset the moment it turned back to clay, so being high didn't matter.

'Now... how to catch the boss without spooking him. If I stir things up and he bolts, we're screwed.'

Raiding the casino was the worst option.

Any whiff of trouble, and the boss would vanish.

As I pondered, a good idea struck me.

'No need to hunt him down. Make him come to me.'

Before executing my plan, I needed to inform the party members.

"Fuck, this can't be real!"

"Ehey... Gotta accept defeat gracefully. Why so sore?"

The man across from me kept losing money and couldn't contain his rage, spewing curses.

I planned to clean out the casino's money this time. No holding back like before—no brakes at all.

Lately, I'd been in and out, winning big and doing drugs in the rooms constantly.

Sure enough, trouble would come my way soon.

If I kept raking it in, the casino would lose all its customers.

And... as I expected, they'd dig into my background and realize I'm not Diket Bergen.

'Told them on purpose.'

Fake ID, sweeping cash weirdly at the casino.

No idiot would leave someone like me alone.

Not just guests here—casino staff and pro gamblers too.

"...Wh-what... How is this even possible?"

Even the pros were losing to me.

Gambling has skill gaps, but seeing cards versus not? Unbridgeable.

'Bite the bait soon...'

Sure enough, a heavy hand landed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on my shoulder.

"...Hey, come with me a sec?"

"....."

Three rough-looking guys had appeared behind me.

'...Held out longer than I thought.'

"...Why? Who the hell are you?"

Of course, put up some resistance. Following meekly would be suspicious.

"Come when I tell you. Just need to check something. This ain't a request—it's a warning. Got it?"

'Trying to intimidate, punk.'

"Fuck, you think I follow orders? Do you know who I am? I'm from the Bergen Barony...!"

Thwack!

"Gahk!"

Crash!

Pain exploded in my face, sending me tumbling from the chair.

"Told you. Warning, not request. Why not listen? Guys like you never learn."

"Ugh... Hngh..."

His punch packed a wallop—he was a strength build, clearly.

"Hey, drag this punk."

"Yes."

They dragged me off like a ragdoll.

The place was an office-like room. Probably used by the operators.

"...This punk?"

"Yes, Master..."

A guy on the sofa caught my eye. I opened his status window.

'Red Ant Clan's clan master, huh.'

I knew it the moment I saw his status window.

Stats aside, his underling called him "Master."

'Hooked the big fish.'

Guess I'd fleeced the casino good. Didn't expect the boss himself.

He grabbed my hair, yanking my head up, and demanded.

"Hey, who the hell are you?"

"......"

"This fucker ignoring me? Who are you? You're not Diket Bergen, asshole!"

So he wasn't totally incompetent. My fake identity was busted, as planned.

"...Brain works a bit. Face looks dumb as hell, though."

"...What?"

He froze at my words, then his face turned red with fury.

"You... What makes you so cocky? Know your position?"

I smirked and replied.

"I know, I know. Huh? One word from you, and I vanish without a trace, right?"

"Smartass... acting up in front of me? Wait..."

"....."

"Who sent you? Who?"

He seemed to misread my attitude.

Probably paranoid delusions—someone sent to shake his org.

Makes sense.

From his view, a guy who could die any second acting chill? Suspicious.

"Who sent you, fucker..!"

"......"

"This punk... Hey, you guys."

"Yes, boss."

"Where's that guard bitch who was with him at the casino? Why's a non-noble have a guard? Where is she?!"

"Ah... Well... He's been coming alone the last few days..."

"Fuck..! Hey, answer or I'll start with fingers. Who sent you?"

"......."

I stayed silent, and his face grew savage.

Crack!

"Aaaagh!"

"Still not talking? Who sent you, fucker!"

"Grr... Heh heh... You're... Red Ant Clan Master, right?"

"...What?"

"...Red Ant Clan can't handle this in Sillan... Got backing?"

"You..."

"Money flow's weird. Where's all the casino revenue going? Not an amount a mid-tier clan handles."

"...Wait, this fucker... Everyone...!"

"Where's the drug production site? Eastern Alliance?"

"Hey! Everyone, prep to pull out! This fucker...!"

He barked orders frantically, realizing something—but too late.

Clunk!

A underling burst in and shouted urgently.

"B-Boss! Big trouble! Now's not the time...!"

"Wh-what?"

"Heh... Idiot. I didn't get kidnapped. I walked in to get kidnapped, dumbass."

His face drained of color.