Chapter 160: The Beginning of Chaos
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: The Beginning of Chaos
"The oriole?"
Muen sized up the figure standing not far away, his brow furrowing slightly.
The figure was completely enveloped in a voluminous black robe, obscuring any identifying features. Yet, Muen still felt a faint, nagging sense of familiarity emanating from them.
This wasn't the first time he’d felt this; it had happened back at that shady shop as well. It was truly strange—was he running into nothing but acquaintances while wandering the black market?
However, Muen quickly pushed the thought aside. The probability of meeting someone he knew in a place like this was far too low. It was likely just a trick of the mind; after all, intuition could be a notoriously unreliable thing.
"My dear..."
Muen’s gaze swept across the figure’s chest.
"Sir, what do you mean by 'the oriole'?"
The figure suddenly twitched. A hand hidden beneath the black robe clenched and then relaxed. For some reason, their tone became significantly less friendly than before.
"Hmph, still playing dumb? You’re lurking here just like the rest, waiting for those thugs to beat each other’s brains out so you can swoop in and scavenge the remains."
"I am indeed waiting for them to start fighting, but I have no intention of scavenging," Muen replied. "There are too many eyes and ears around. Scavenging isn't as easy as it looks."
"Liar."
The figure raised a hand and pointed at the surroundings, where several shadows could be seen flickering past. "Look around you. These people know better than anyone how hard it is to scavenge, but has a single one of them given up? No. They all think they might as well try. If they succeed, isn't it a massive windfall?"
"Oh? And your point is..."
"So, my friend, you look a bit familiar. I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before..."
The figure rubbed their hands together excitedly. "And you don't seem weak. A Late Second-Tier realm is enough to go on a rampage in a place like the Lower District. What do you say we team up and pull off a major heist?"
"Familiar?"
Muen smiled. "Intuition is unreliable. Besides, how do I know you aren't trying to trick me?"
"We can set a contract," the figure said, producing a sheet of golden paper. "A Divine Contract. Once signed, it cannot be violated. We team up first, and only after we’ve seized the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood will we settle things based on our own abilities. Wouldn't that be grand?"
"I see. It is quite tempting." Muen nodded, but he still declined. "My apologies, but I still don't plan on making a move."
"You’re still going to wait? Can't you see it? This stalemate needs someone to break the deadlock, otherwise, the chaos will never start. Or are you pinning your hopes on those cowards?"
The figure stomped their foot in frustration.
"When you're preying on other predators, timing is everything! You need patience when it's time to wait, and zero hesitation when it's time to strike! The moment is here—what are you waiting for?"
"Who said I was planning to prey on them?" Muen chuckled. "You’ve got it all wrong."
"What do you mean 'wrong'? If you aren't here to play the predator, are you here to watch a show? If so, I suggest you move a bit further forward. The visibility in this riverside mist isn't actually that great."
"I'm not here for the show either. I have another way."
"Another way?"
The figure paused, then let out a disdainful sneer. "I get it. You’re planning to wait until the very end, aren't you? Mmhmm, trying to be the final oriole. I’ve seen plenty of people like you—no courage, thinking they can just step in at the last second and take it all, only to end up with nothing."
The figure’s gaze dropped, as if they had discovered something. "I see now. You’re just a greenhorn who’s new to the black market, aren't you? Some noble brat out looking for a thrill? That explains it. Kid, the black market is a dangerous place without enough experience. I suggest you just go home and play at flipping up your maids' skirts."
The figure’s tone had taken on the patronizing air of a seasoned veteran offering "wise" counsel.
Muen didn't mind. He simply followed the figure’s gaze downward.
As his black robe fluttered in the riverside breeze, the luxurious gold embroidery on his exquisite cuffs was momentarily revealed. Someone who typically hung around the Lower District wouldn't be wearing such magnificent sleeves.
It seems I’ll have to change my inner layers as well in the future, Muen thought.
He tucked his sleeves back into the robe and smiled. "In that case, I would also advise you to give up, sir."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood will definitely be mine."
"...Pfft."
The figure froze for a moment, then couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.
"That kind of baseless arrogance reminds me of a certain annoying fellow. Although that guy has been acting like a different person lately, he’s still just as irritating."
"Fine. Since that’s how you feel, I won't try to persuade you further. One more or less makes little difference to me. Just stay here and watch."
The figure waved a hand and turned around with confidence, standing with hands behind their back like a hidden master looking down upon the hazy city under the night sky.
"Watch me as I show off my skills in this chaos, emerge victorious, and seize the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood! While you... you can only hide in a corner, biting your handkerchief in silent regret! Hahahaha..."
With that, the figure leaped into the riverside mist, moving as gracefully as a black fish.
"I can't help but feel that person..." Muen rubbed his chin, watching the retreating back disappear. "...was a bit girly."
"They couldn't actually be gay, could they...?"
Muen shuddered and quickly turned to leave in the opposite direction.
As he had said, he did intend to be the oriole. But who said the only way to be the oriole was to jump into the fray?
Muen reached the bridge and shed his black robe.
This bridge was the largest Tower Bridge on the Gulain River, a vital hub connecting the Upper and Lower Districts.
On the bridge, patrol officers on horseback conducted rounds every day.
Muen straightened his exquisite collar, which had been slightly mussed by the robe, and walked toward the sound of hooves echoing in the mist.
"Halt. This bridge is closed to traffic at night."
The patrol officer, perched high atop his horse, looked down at Muen with an air of superiority.
However, the moment he saw Muen’s expensive attire, his expression shifted instantly. He dismounted and bowed respectfully.
"Young Master, it is the middle of the night. Have you run into some trouble?"
"I need to see your superior." Muen produced his family crest and flashed it before the man. "The one at the very top."
*
In the alleyway, the standoff continued.
The three gang leaders stared each other down with mutual wariness, none willing to retreat a single step.
The temptation of the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood was simply too great. None of them wanted to let go of such a god-given opportunity.
As time ticked by, they felt more and more eyes gathering on them from the shadows.
The stray dogs had already converged, poised and waiting. Once these three most vicious wolf packs of the Lower District decided a winner, the scavengers would hold a gluttonous feast upon their bones.
Under this high-pressure environment, everyone in the alley gripped their weapons tightly, their nerves stretched to the breaking point.
This won't work...
Lorenzo, the most anxious of the three, felt his mind racing. He knew that he, as the one currently holding the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood, stood to lose the most if this continued.
He began to consider whether he should ally with the Rat Society to first eliminate the thugs of the Hyena Gang. After all, the Hyena Gang was currently the weakest side. Without them, he and the Rat Society would be at a stalemate where neither could easily overcome the other.
At worst, he could give the Rat Society five drops of the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood. Compared to losing it all and facing the Lord’s wrath, this was the most tolerable outcome.
If he had to be the sucker, so be it. For the sake of the immortality promised by the Lord, what grievance could a real man not endure?
With that thought, Lorenzo turned to look at Sam. "Sam, why don't we—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his face instantly paling.
He heard the twang of a bowstring—a sound so clear in the silent night!
Before his brain could even process it, he felt a sharp sting in his arm.
A sharp arrow pierced the air, clashing violently with his Magic Armor and sending sparks flying.
Though it only left a negligible scratch, it was enough to instantly flood Lorenzo’s mind with rage.
He immediately drew his long blade and pointed it at the dwarf-like figure, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, "Sam, you treacherous bastard!"
"No, it wasn't me—" Sam’s face also changed instantly. "I didn't give the order—"
But before he could finish, he felt something whistling toward him.
He instinctively dodged to the side, and the flying object smashed directly into the subordinate beside him, sending blood spraying everywhere.
It was a mace!
In the entire Lower District, who else but the vulgar thugs of the Hyena Gang would use such a classless weapon?
"Schulz!" Sam roared. "Are you looking for death?"
"I didn't do it!"
Just as a look of confusion crossed Schulz’s face, a figure suddenly darted out from among the elites behind Lorenzo, swinging a massive blade with lethal intent.
The hair on the back of Schulz’s neck stood up. Though he was old, he had survived in the Lower District for a long time. He reacted instantly, retreating while parrying with his staff.
Seeing a deep notch carved into his beloved gold-inlaid silver staff by the blade, his reason was instantly consumed by fury.
"Lorenzo!"
The roar echoed through the night sky.
Although the three leaders instinctively sensed something was wrong for a split second, the oppressive atmosphere and the mounting pressure meant they no longer needed to issue orders.
Like a powder keg, once the fuse was lit, the explosion followed naturally!
Seeing their leaders under attack, the elites, thugs, and "rats"—whose nerves were already frayed to the point of snapping—could no longer restrain themselves. They brandished their blades and weapons and pulled their triggers!
The scene descended into instant chaos!
Flashing blades, flying arrows, splashing blood, and the roars of thugs turned the silent alley into a cacophony of violence.
"Something’s wrong, something’s very wrong!"
After hacking down a lunging thug, Lorenzo finally regained some clarity. He realized someone was trying to muddy the waters, because he didn't recognize the man who had just charged out from his own side!
But when he looked for that figure again, there wasn't a ghost of them to be found. It was too chaotic. And amidst the chaos, a wandering voice suddenly rang out from nowhere.
"Charge! Whoever grabs the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood gets to keep it!"
Lorenzo’s expression shifted. He tucked the metal container into his shirt, intending to use his subordinates as cover to make a quick escape, but another voice shouted right next to him.
"Lorenzo is over here!"