Chapter 27: Legend (1)
‘Fate’s Scales’ was a gambling house representing the Commercial City Marzen, and one of the Travion Family's prime sources of income.
It had to be.
Gamblers flooding in every day didn't hesitate to offer not only their own money but also the money of their families and friends, making it nothing short of a honeypot business for the organization.
However, today was different.
Looking around the interior of Fate’s Scales, which was less than half full compared to usual, the professional gambler ‘One-Eyed’ muttered.
“Strange.”
“What is?”
“Isn’t it strange? There are so few people here……”
“Well, there are slow days sometimes.”
“No. It’s not just today. It was like this yesterday, and the day before yesterday too…… Could it be because of the rumor?”
“Rumor?”
“You know, that the Travion and Eddy gangs are fighting fiercely these days…… But they say the Eddy side has the advantage.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I heard. They had a big fight about a week ago, and the Eddy Gang won a great victory…… Even the manager here changed within a few days, right? They say it’s because he got hurt in that fight.”
“Huh, then isn’t this place the most dangerous?”
Baldy, who was listening to One-Eyed’s story, showed concern.
The gangsters' underworld struggles were always fierce, but if rumors were spreading like this, there was a high possibility that something big might really happen.
Perhaps the Eddy Gang might wage a large-scale war against the Travion Family right now.
If so, the most dangerous place would likely be here, Fate's Scales.
Because this was the place that generated the highest profit among Travion's businesses.
Of course, not everyone shared this worry.
The hook-nosed man, who had been listening to One-Eyed and Baldy, shook his head and interjected.
“Hey, no matter how you look at it, could that really happen? In the first place, I can’t even believe that the Travion side is losing ground?”
“Why?”
“Why else? Because they have a lot of money, that’s why. They took a big hit from the Eddy Gang? What’s the problem with that? With money, they should be able to recruit skilled folks right away.”
“But……”
“Buts and ifs don’t matter; the newly appointed gambling house manager himself is a former Silver Plate Mercenary. If anything, their strength has been reinforced compared to the previous manager…… Still worried? Well, do as you please.”
“Silver Plate Mercenary?”
“A Silver Plate Mercenary joined under a gangster?”
The two were startled upon hearing the hook-nosed man's story.
Silver Plate Mercenary.
Not only were they incredibly skilled individuals who had reached the Expert level, but it was a position one could only attain after resolving numerous requests and receiving letters of recommendation from nobles or major merchants.
It meant they were individuals who held honor comparable to that of Wandering Knights, even though they were Mercenaries.
Yet, Travion hired someone of that caliber?
And just to manage a gambling house, even if it was a prime business?
“Ah, I’m telling you. What’s so strange about it anyway? In this world where even Monsters can be hired with money. I heard that they didn’t just hire one Silver Plate Mercenary this time, but three……”
“Hmm, then they probably won’t be pushed back.”
“Right. In the Eddy Gang, at most two? Three? including the boss, are barely at the Expert level……”
One-Eyed and Baldy nodded.
Their expressions relaxed as if they were finally relieved.
Indeed, until they heard the hook-nosed man’s story, worries had been creeping up about whether the Eddy Gang might attack immediately, or if they might get caught up in the fight and suffer misfortune.
Hearing that the manager here was a former Silver Plate Mercenary in such a situation brought immense relief.
‘Of course. With a Silver Plate Mercenary, even if Eddy came himself, it would be tough.’
‘There was no need to worry. I should just go back to fleecing the suckers like usual.’
Regaining their spirits, the two exchanged glances and grinned.
It was then.
With a loud noise, the door of the gambling house burst open violently, and a large man flew inside, unconscious.
Crash-bang!
“Wh-what?”
“What is this…… Huk, it’s a guard?”
“Hey! Calm down, calm down. Is this your first or second day at the gambling house? Rowdy customers are an event that happens two or three times a month, aren’t they?”
The hook-nosed man spoke with a laugh.
He was right.
Since it was a place where large sums of money capable of changing a person's life entirely were exchanged, truly many customers caused disturbances.
Of course, most were subdued by the guards and retreated without a peep, but situations like now, where a guard occasionally got taken down, were not entirely unheard of.
Of course, even in such cases, there were ways.
The ‘real ones’ waiting inside the gambling house just needed to step forward.
When Travion's elite, including the newly hired Silver Plate Mercenary, stepped up, even those who acted high and mighty became meek lambs.
That's right.
It definitely should have been that way…….
“Hey! What do you think you’re…….”
Pow!
Thud-!
“No, this bastard, right now……!”
Crack-!
Gurgle…… Thump!
“……”
“……”
This time was a little different.
The young man who entered the gambling house slowly after sending the guard flying.
With impressive black hair and black eyes, he knocked down two more guards with an expressionless face and then spoke.
“Hello?”
“……”
“……”
“Uh, so…… Does anyone know where Mr. Travion is? I asked the first person who flew in, but he just threw a punch out of the blue. The others were the same.”
“……”
“……”
“Ah! I wasn't asking the customers. I heard this is a Travion business…… I'm asking those people right now.”
“He’s crazy, that bastard.”
“Is something wrong with his head?”
“This crazy bastard…… Are you with Eddy? Do you know where you are!”
Both the customers and the Travion Gang members stared at the black-haired young man with dumbfounded expressions.
Of course, seeing the three guards he knocked down, it was clear he was someone skilled.
But even so, for him, alone, and looking so young he still had a childish air, to openly call out ‘Travion’s’ name and pick a fight was, from a common-sense standpoint, unacceptable.
“Hm. The young friend has guts.”
Sure enough, a large man who had been chain-smoking in the corner got up from his seat.
The eyes of the gamblers, including the hook-nosed man, lit up.
That was the former Silver Plate Mercenary mentioned earlier, the manager of the gambling house hired by Travion for a large sum of money.
Thud thud
He pushed through the crowd and walked towards the young man standing amidst the fallen guards.
The distance between the two narrowed.
People swallowed dryly.
But the young man remained unchanged.
Facing the gambling house manager with a calm expression, he introduced himself.
“Hello. I am Harang.”
“……Dustin.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I came to find Mr. Travion. Do you know where he is?”
Harang asked, and Dustin smirked.
Following his lead, the five or six guards behind him also burst into laughter, but they instantly shut their mouths when Dustin raised his left hand.
He spoke.
“Alright. I know. I can tell you.”
“Then……”
“But not just like that. You’re too arrogant for that. After a bit of education…… then I’ll personally take you before the boss. How about that, sounds good?”
“It doesn’t sound good.”
“Puhat, what are you going to do if it doesn’t sound good?”
Dustin burst out laughing as he asked.
To him, the sight of the kid, a head shorter than him, acting fearless seemed quite amusing, but it was a misjudgment.
Kwaang!
Harang’s hand moved at an invisible speed, and Dustin, struck on the jaw, immediately lost consciousness.
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
Everyone was speechless from shock, but the situation wasn’t over.
Harang, having felled Dustin, moved subsequently.
Quickly approaching the Travion Gang members, he threw punches and kicks.
Consequently, large men weighing around 100kg were sent flying like stones to various parts of the gambling house.
Kwaang!
Kudangtang!
Wajangchang-!
Harang, who had settled the situation in less than 10 seconds, went back to Dustin and slapped his cheek.
Slap slap
“Ugh, uum…… Huk?”
“I will ask again. I came here to find Mr. Travion. Will you guide me?”
“……”
“For reference, if you don’t guide me this time either……”
Ssk
A sharp dagger revealed itself from within his clothes.
Dustin, feeling its sharpness and coldness against his skin, nodded his head frantically, and Harang, smiling satisfactorily, helped him up and said.
“Now, let’s move.”
Just like that, the commotion at the gambling house Fate’s Scales ended in an instant.
“……”
“……”
“……”
The guards still unable to get up.
And the gamblers struggling to comprehend the preceding situation.
The one-eyed man, standing blankly among them, muttered foolishly.
“Among the gangsters in Marzen…… was there someone like that?”
* * *
“So this is the place.”
Looking at the gate of the magnificent mansion, Harang muttered.
It didn't seem like a lie.
Concentrating his senses, he could feel many people inside.
He nodded, and Dustin hastily departed.
Seeing this, the guards at the gate approached with menacing expressions, but…….
Pow!
Crack-!
After subduing them in an instant, he opened the gate and went inside.
“Hm.”
Then, the view of the courtyard came into sight.
About thirty figures stood with loaded crossbows, and at the very center, a middle-aged man with an elegantly groomed mustache glared at Harang.
He seemed to know who it was immediately.
“Are you Travion?”
“Your words are short.”
“Are you Mr. Travion?”
“……”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s fine. Anyway, your courage is remarkable. To not be frightened even after seeing this spectacle. Though an enemy, I must acknowledge it.”
Travion was genuinely impressed.
The fact that the kid had come here meant that the forces provided by the guild had failed in the assassination attempt.
Of course, he didn't think the kid had overwhelmed them alone, but he thought it was truly remarkable skill and guts for someone so young.
Of course, it wasn't that he felt it was a waste to kill him.
If it was an existence he couldn't embrace, it was natural not to leave future troubles behind.
He raised his hand.
Now, if he lowered this hand, that kid would die riddled like a hedgehog.
Then, unexpected words came from Harang’s mouth.
“Why are you trying to kill me?”
“……”
“I came here because I was curious about that, can’t you answer before you shoot?”
“……Are you, seriously saying that right now?”
Travion retorted with an incredulous expression.
He had no choice.
Appearing at the perfect opportunity to swallow the Eddy Gang whole and murdering Quentin, yet asking why he was trying to kill him?
It was something one couldn't say unless they were out of their mind.
However, Harang’s perspective was different.
It was the Travion Gang who attacked him first, and it was the underboss Quentin who tried to kill his friend Glen first.
Despite all that, sending an assassin was incomprehensible, so he came all this way, but the opponent seemed to have no intention of talking things over amicably.
“It’s disappointing.”
“What on earth is?”
“I thought I was slightly at fault too. It’s not that I particularly regret killing Mr. Quentin, but I thought Mr. Travion might be angry since a precious subordinate died from his perspective, and because he was angry, sending an assassin might also be understandable, and, uh…… so…….”
“……”
“Since I understand what you did to some extent, I was thinking of letting it go at this point if I just received confirmation that you wouldn’t send any more assassins. But, um……”
Harang, looking around for a moment, added one more word.
“The atmosphere seems a bit strange…… Did I make some kind of mistake?”
“……Kill him!”
Enraged, Travion shouted as he lowered his hand.
Immediately after, bolts rained down.