Chapter 64: Join Our Crew
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: Join Our Crew
Raiding the Great Heaven Sect's business was a huge strain on my nerves, even if the outcome was good. It was more than enough to make my heart pound.
But now the Martial Alliance is popping up?
"I, I didn't hear anything at all..."
Hwang Suk-su was a well-known informant in the Underworld, but he also knew his place.
If he got any more deeply involved here, it would be impossible to back out.
So he tried to back away, but before he knew it, Ki Mu-hyeok had approached and slung an arm around his shoulder.
'Why is he doing this to me?'
Pretending not to notice Hwang Suk-su glaring at him with an aggrieved expression, Ki Mu-hyeok asked Choi Geon.
"The Martial Alliance? I thought they'd wait a bit longer before stepping in..."
"It seems they're more shaken than expected. The Alliance Leader doesn't want to miss this chance."
Normally, he would have used the honorific 'Alliance Leader-nim,' but perhaps conscious of Hwang Suk-su, Choi Geon used an ambiguous title.
It was to give information, but to leak it vaguely, throwing the other party into confusion.
As expected, Hwang Suk-su fell into deep shock and confusion.
'Alliance Leader? Is he talking about the Martial Alliance Leader right now? Just how deeply involved is this?'
He glanced to the side and saw Red Rabbit wearing an unsurprised expression, while Shin Kang-heon, seemingly bored, was scratching the warehouse floor with his massive sword.
Screeeech...
Why did the sound of the floor being scratched sound so chilling, like an executioner sharpening his blade?
Gulp.
Hwang Suk-su swallowed dryly, looking at Ki Mu-hyeok's profile, whose arm was still around his shoulder. Ki Mu-hyeok's grip was so strong that he couldn't move an inch, trapped in place.
'Surely they're not going to discard me like a used hunting dog here...'
Seeing Hwang Suk-su fidgeting and darting his eyes around, Ki Mu-hyeok tightened the arm around his shoulder and spoke in a friendly tone.
"Why's your face been like that since earlier? Like someone who tried to secretly pocket some of the stolen goods, only to realize they've gotten caught up in something much bigger than they expected, and now they're completely screwed?"
Flinch. Flinch.
Everyone saw Hwang Suk-su tremble with every word Ki Mu-hyeok uttered.
As the three people watching Hwang Suk-su narrowed their eyes at his reaction, he broke out in a cold sweat and started making excuses.
"Hahahaha! This guy's quite the joker, isn't he! His sense of humor is just like a comedian's..."
"..."
At Ki Mu-hyeok's cold, "not a chance" reaction, Hwang Suk-su quickly changed tack and decided to confess honestly.
"W-well, I just planned to take a small commission. Handling stolen goods isn't as easy as it looks, you know? So, just a tiny bit, as a sort of service fee..."
The Martial Crew Cheongrang, as Hwang Suk-su saw them, were still a very small group, and every single member was young.
'I haven't seen the face behind the goggles, but I can tell just from their voices and mannerisms.'
Their skills were so outstanding it made him wonder if they'd gathered only monsters, but it was also true that he had underestimated them a little in other aspects.
He'd even thought that without him, there'd be no one to handle the stolen goods...
But that was a judgment that took Ki Mu-hyeok far too lightly.
"Did you think I couldn't find a single fence on my own, so I had to entrust it to you? I thought we'd built up some trust, and I was willing to rely on you... but seeing you openly try to rip us off is a huge disappointment."
"No..."
From the start, it was impossible to rip off Ki Mu-hyeok, who had more experience as a Vagrant than Hwang Suk-su himself.
"Ha! I knew this old man would do something like that!"
"Tsk-tsk. Not surprising at all. It's hard to find anyone in the Underworld who won't stab you in the back..."
Thump-thump-thump!
These were the reactions of Kim Bok-ja, Choi Geon, and Shin Kang-heon, in order, the latter unable to speak due to his persona and instead just striking the floor with his sword.
However, Hwang Suk-su, as if he had something to say, protested with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
"Stabbing in the back? This much is just an unspoken industry practice! You came to me asking for shady work in the first place, so aren't you making me out to be the only bad guy here?!"
"Does the industry practice apply to your saviors too, I wonder?"
"...Ahem. My apologies for that."
No matter how shameless he was, Hwang Suk-su couldn't refute that, so he cleared his throat and apologized.
Then, as if he'd been waiting, Ki Mu-hyeok pulled Hwang Suk-su closer by the arm still around his shoulder.
"Is just saying sorry enough? You have to show it with actions."
"..."
The best-case scenario Hwang Suk-su had envisioned was to simply watch the show and reap the rewards.
Since they had thoroughly plundered the Great Heaven Sect's business and profited from it, he'd planned to back out of this whole affair once the stolen goods were handled.
However, Ki Mu-hyeok had no intention of letting Hwang Suk-su go so easily.
'He's far more resourceful than I expected.'
He'd known for a long time that Hwang Suk-su had solid connections and an information network in the Underworld.
But working with him during this raid on the Great Heaven Sect's business, his ability to confuse the enemy, plan movement routes, and control the surroundings was exceptional.
Thanks to him, the three of them were able to minimize unnecessary fights and ensure their safety.
'He's quick-witted and excellent at improvisation. A skill specialized for supporting a team from the outside.'
In truth, Ki Mu-hyeok didn't care whether Hwang Suk-su skimmed a bit off the stolen goods or not.
It was merely an excuse to plant even a tiny bit of guilt in his conscience.
"Since you've repaid kindness with enmity, let's recalculate everything from the start."
"...What do you want from me?"
"Join our crew."
Hwang Suk-su's previously subdued eyes suddenly widened like saucers.
Kim Bok-ja and Shin Kang-heon also looked surprised by the unexpected words, while Choi Geon, trusting his disciple, quietly observed the situation.
Ki Mu-hyeok released his arm from Hwang Suk-su's shoulder and faced him. His tone was still somewhat joking, but his demeanor was serious.
"You've heard everything we've been talking about until now, haven't you? We're already on the same boat. So let's go all the way together."
"What the..."
Hwang Suk-su's expression turned sour.
At first, he thought Ki Mu-hyeok was going to threaten him, using his attempt to skim from the stolen goods as an excuse.
But as he listened quietly, it wasn't a threat; it was a recruitment offer.
"Ugh..."
Hwang Suk-su realized he'd really gotten himself into it.
But strangely enough, he didn't feel bad.
He even felt a strange urge to puff out his chest at the thought that someone needed him, an old, useless, retired man.
"You cunning brat. You dragged me into this from the start, planning this, didn't you?"
"Not from the start, but after working with you, I got greedy. They said you were quite something as a Vagrant back then, and your skills haven't died, have they?"
"What? Pffft...!"
Hwang Suk-su burst into laughter at the honest reply.
No one would feel bad hearing their abilities acknowledged.
Of course, he wasn't so naive as to readily accept the offer just like that.
Hwang Suk-su took a step back and grinned.
"If we're going to be on the same boat, we should be honest with each other. At the very least, I think knowing who's behind those goggles would help our conversation progress, wouldn't it?"
"There's nothing I can't show you."
"...Really?"
Ki Mu-hyeok didn't hesitate and immediately took off his goggles.
As the youthful face of a young man was revealed, Hwang Suk-su looked flustered.
"Why are you pretending to be surprised? You must have guessed to some extent."
"No, but it's different when you actually see it."
Hwang Suk-su didn't deny it.
He was a man who gathered countless pieces of information from his seat, and of course, he had investigated the suddenly appearing crew called Cheongrang.
He knew Red Rabbit's real name was Kim Bok-ja, and he had even watched a video on YouTube a few months ago of her fighting an old monster from the Unorthodox Faction with two young boys.
"Hey, since it's come to this, I'm taking mine off too, okay?"
Perhaps feeling stifled, Shin Kang-heon also unwrapped the bandages from his face. Ki Mu-hyeok didn't particularly stop him.
Ki Mu-hyeok. Kim Bok-ja. Shin Kang-heon.
Seeing the Cheongrang crew members, so young they looked like children, standing side by side, Hwang Suk-su let out an exclamation of admiration.
"Each and every one of you is impressive. I heard your performance in the License Exam was amazing... Ah, so that's why the Martial Alliance is involved in this?"
Like a true informant, his eyes were already gleaming as he pieced together various bits of information.
Hwang Suk-su's gaze subtly shifted to Choi Geon, the only one who hadn't taken off his mask, and Choi Geon, with his arms crossed, spoke coldly.
"Only a very select few in the Martial Alliance know my true identity. Let alone to an informant like you. If..."
His voice was calm, but what followed was a threat that made Hwang Suk-su's flesh tremble, one of the few times in his entire life.
"If you harbor any other intentions or go blabbing about those children anywhere, I will come find you personally. Wherever that may be."
Swoosh.
Choi Geon approached and lightly brushed Hwang Suk-su's cheek with his hand, and with a shick, his messy beard was shaved off as if by a razor.
"Keep that in mind."
Gulp...
As Hwang Suk-su, fearing he might get cut, couldn't even carelessly nod his head and merely swallowed, Ki Mu-hyeok patted his shoulder, telling him not to be too nervous.
"No need to be nervous. As long as you keep our secret, there won't be any problems."
The way the two of them took turns soothing and coaxing a single person was truly extraordinary.
Moreover, Shin Kang-heon and Kim Bok-ja had also approached and chimed in with a word each.
"Nice to meet you, Uncle Suk-su. I'm Shin Kang-heon, the future World's Greatest Swordsman and Dark Hero King. Now you're the youngest."
"The youngest...?"
Shin Kang-heon, now freed from being the youngest, grinned cheerfully, grabbed Hwang Suk-su's hand, and shook it vigorously up and down.
"I'm the Vice-Crew Leader. I'm in charge of all the crew's affairs, big and small, so it'd be wise to stay on my good side from now on, wouldn't it?"
Kim Bok-ja, as the Vice-Crew Leader, gave him a fierce look, as if trying to establish discipline.
"No, no, wait a minute..."
Hwang Suk-su, unable to collect himself amidst them, finally lost his temper.
"I haven't said I'm joining Cheongrang yet! Don't just sign me up as you please!"
However, Shin Kang-heon and Kim Bok-ja shook their heads with expressions that said it was already too late, and Ki Mu-hyeok brazenly began explaining Hwang Suk-su's future duties.
"You won't have to go out into the field unless you want to. You just need to take on a support role, like information gathering, disruption, and crowd control, just as you've been doing."
"I said I haven't joined yet!"
"Of course, there's no compulsion. As long as you keep our secret, there won't be any disadvantages even if you don't join. But if you come with us..."
Ki Mu-hyeok paused, then grinned, throwing out bait the other party couldn't refuse.
"There will be plenty of opportunities to plunder bad guys, just like now. I can definitely promise you that."
"..."
Hwang Suk-su glanced sideways at the stolen goods piled in the warehouse and involuntarily licked his lips.
After a moment of silence, he asked with a serious expression.
"Why me, of all people? It's not like there aren't other decent informants out there besides me."
To this most crucial question for making an important decision, Ki Mu-hyeok replied very honestly.
"Because among the informants I know, you're the least malicious."
Although he was addicted to Betting Duels and had no qualms about ripping people off, by Ki Mu-hyeok's standards, Hwang Suk-su was someone who at least tried to maintain a minimum standard of decency.
"Heh heh... For some reason, that still makes me feel good."
Hwang Suk-su finally relaxed and chuckled.
He felt like he was being swayed by a kid young enough to be called a brat, but strangely, it wasn't unpleasant.
In fact, the more they talked, the more he felt a strange nostalgia for his Vagrant days.
'He's a strange one. He makes me feel like I'm dealing with a seasoned Vagrant...'
For some reason, he even felt like he'd returned to his own youth, back when he was active as a Vagrant.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hwang Suk-su finally took the hand Ki Mu-hyeok offered.
"Alright. Let's go plunder a bunch of people together."