Ch 103
『Title: Excuse me, where did my blood go? lol』
Content: Guardrock, this f er lmao
A level 59 doing this much damage lol
-: Did you get hit by Black Fire? Then it should hurt, yeah.
-: SWORD IS FIRE… The name itself looks incredibly painful.
-: Seriously, three violent things are in it.
-: Three?
-: Ah
-『Author』: No s , it’s just an instant-cast skill.
-: Instant-cast skill? Oh…
-: Oh… lol
-『Author』: No s , you guys, is this Guardrock’s doing?
-『Author』: How is this the damage of a Rank 6?
-: It’s not just Rank 6, it’s a Rank 6 rearguard apparently. ㅠ
-『Author』: Rank 6 rearguard or whatever s , my magic resistance is so high that even Rank 7 guys don’t hit me well.
-: Guardrock is really famous for his gear.
-: That guy’s wearing a really pretty black pearl earring on his right ear like a gay.
-: That’s it, an artifact with a sealed demon’s power.
-『Author』: What?
-『Author』: Why didn’t I see it?
-: Attached photo: BQD1C1914057DDCQQDW1738792120231『CCD』
-『Author』: Oh, thanks.
-『Author』: No s , what’s this NSFW image?
-: Ah, I uploaded the wrong thing.
-『Author』: Anyway, thanks.
-: Yep, thanks.
-: What’s with the heartwarming atmosphere?
-『Author』: But hey, artifact? Is that different from an artifact?
-: In-game terms,
‘Power’ level abilities that are sealed are called artifacts, and
‘Power’ level abilities that are sealed are called relics.
✦✦✦
Guardrock’s Black Fire.
Its notoriety reached every corner of the underworld.
Those who heard of Black Fire’s notoriety often suspected Guardrock of being a Black Mage.
Because the nature and power of that ability clearly reached the realm of the Unfathomable Power.
Once ignited, that fire would not extinguish until its target was completely consumed by combustion, and it could not be extinguished.
In the back alleys, Black Fire was a symbol of fear.
Guardrock, as the wielder of that symbol of fear, reigned as the king of the back alleys.
“Black Fire is out…?”
But now.
That Black Fire has gone out.
And that too, as futilely as a candle flame extinguished by the wind.
The bosses of the back alleys and their escorts stared blankly at Guardrock.
“…”
Guardrock was also blankly looking somewhere.
Their gazes naturally followed Guardrock’s gaze.
The attention of the audience was focused on the Deputy Council Member.
“Are you alright? Brimfort.”
“Yes? Ah…”
Was this a dream or reality?
Brimfort, who was half-dazed, flinched and nodded.
“Yes, yes! I’m fine!”
-My fate depends on that youngster?
-Yeah. Let’s just assume it’s over.
The Brimfort who had despaired of his situation until he arrived at the location was no more.
He quickly moved his chair next to Lisir’s and sat down.
A servile appearance unbefitting the name of the boss of the back alleys.
In a normal back alley meeting, Brimfort would have been subjected to ridicule and contempt.
If it were a normal back alley meeting centered around Guardrock and Ga-dum.
“…”
“…”
But now.
No one at the meeting could direct contempt and ridicule at Brimfort.
“Th-Thank you for saving me! Thank you, Deputy Council Member!”
Because of the presence protecting him right next to him.
“You’re welcome.”
The fact that he extinguished the Black Fire and acted as if nothing had happened was enough to shake the hearts of the bosses who had been bound by the shadows created by the Black Fire.
This was no longer a ‘back alley meeting without Ga-dum’.
They no longer thought, ‘Is this Guardrock’s era now?’
Their confusion and silence gave legitimacy to the new boss.
The kind of legitimacy that could control the entire flow of the place.
There were no more gazes like looking at a lost youngster.
Lisir, having read the flow, recalled Klana’s advice.
-The most important thing when dealing with criminals is a preemptive strike.
It was time to follow that advice.
Lisir immediately opened his mouth.
“As someone just mentioned, the atmosphere is a little chaotic to proceed with the meeting. But don’t worry. As you can see, I’ve put out the urgent fire.”
Lisir used a formal tone he didn’t usually use, performing a formal bow unique to nobles.
Because of that, Guardrock’s appearance, who had previously fueled Brimfort by mentioning the chaotic atmosphere, became ridiculous in an instant.
Several bosses suppressed their laughter, watching Guardrock.
“…”
However, when Guardrock showed anger at that expression, they quickly hid their expressions as if nothing had happened.
Guardrock silently looked at Lisir.
The atmosphere of the place was divided in two.
Lisir clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘This is going to be harder than I thought.’
Lisir’s mission was to take control of the back alley meeting and pass a bill that could pressure them.
For that, he needed a majority of votes, a total of four votes including his and Brimfort’s.
From the atmosphere just now, Lisir had expected that he might be able to get the votes of the two bosses excluding Guardrock.
However, seeing their reaction now, he couldn’t help but change his mind.
In Lisir’s eyes, he could still see that they feared Guardrock more than him.
‘Because those guys fear Guardrock more than me, it’s practically impossible for them to agree to a bill that harms the back alley criminals.’
To devise another plan, Lisir recalled the precautions he had kept in mind before attending this meeting.
1. Guardrock, the boss of the West, and Dejong, the convener of this meeting, are in a tense relationship.
2. The Master of the North and the Saint of the East seem to be avoiding criminal activities.
‘Dejong is watching Guardrock over there… Then, the Saint and the Master are the ones I can expect something from.’
The Saint and the Master.
Lisir’s complexion wasn’t good when he thought of them.
Lisir recalled Dogal’s explanation about the two.
-The Master is not an easy person. After the Master became the new boss of the North, the North became strongly united as one body. It’s an absolute control that even Guardrock couldn’t show.
-Ga-dum’s business involved a significant portion of human trafficking in the North, so he had been constantly trying to contact the Master. However, every time, he was met with a strong rejection.
-The Saint is the same. He gained fame by treating drug addicts and the sick in the slums for free, and as his name suggests, he has absolute support in that area. Probably, even the Saintess of the Order wouldn’t be as good as the Saint in that area.
-In addition, behind the Saint’s explosive growth is the sponsorship of ‘Golden Barley’, a top trading company in Bondales. Apparently, the Miss of that company, ‘Karia’, fell for the Saint after he cured her illness.
-Besides that, there are countless powerholders who are into the Saint.
-Both the Master and the Saint are skilled in handling people.
-Even Lisir-nim will find it difficult to deal with them.
They were clearly different from other bosses in the back alleys in that they avoided crime.
Should I say that they are similar to me, who belongs to the City Council and tries to check criminal organizations?
‘But, that doesn’t guarantee that they will support me.’
They were based in the back alleys after all.
They would definitely feel uncomfortable with the City Council’s intervention, even if not as much as the criminals.
‘A way to effectively pressure the back alleys without offending the Saint and the Master… It’s difficult.’
Despite repeated deliberation, no suitable solution came to mind.
Until he came up with a solution, Lisir hoped that the two wouldn’t arrive.
“The Master has arrived.”
But to his dismay, the Master arrived on time and appeared.
Lisir tensed up and looked at the entrance of the living room.
A small woman stood there.
Under the pure white mask, red eyes radiated presence.
“…”
“…”
Deputy Council Member.
The Master of the North.
The two looked at each other with strange gazes for a long time.
“The Saint has arrived.”
Then, before the Master even sat down, a new figure appeared.
From within the iron mask, androgynous sky-blue eyes radiated presence.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Deputy Council Member.
The Master of the North.
The Saint of the East.
They looked at each other with strange gazes for a long time.
‘Why are you here?’
Others couldn’t know the meaning contained in that gaze.
At that time.
The Master looked at the round table and the Saint alternately, then quickly moved and took the seat to Lisir’s right.
Then the Saint naturally moved to the seat on Lisir’s left, but-
“?”
After a brief staring contest with Brimfort, who was already occupying the seat to Lisir’s left, she sighed.
Anyway, all the seats at the round table were filled.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s begin the meeting.”
The right to conduct the meeting belonged to Ga-dum, the biggest patron.
Before conducting the meeting as Ga-dum’s proxy, Lisir looked around the round table, recalling his goal.
‘One, two, three, four… huh?’
✦✦✦
‘What the hell did you do…’
After the Deputy Council Member extinguished the Black Fire, Guardrock’s expression was consistently bad.
Because Black Fire had a particularly symbolic meaning for Guardrock, as it did for others.
The spark of anxiety that bloomed within Guardrock replaced the empty space of the extinguished Black Fire.
He agonized over the anxiety that this meeting might not go his way.
However, that agony didn’t last long.
Shortly after the meeting began, the Deputy Council Member presented the first item on the agenda, and the content was spectacular.
“Therefore, in order for our Guard to more effectively protect and coordinate your businesses, we plan to include most of the streets in the back alleys in the patrol route. Also━”
Interpreting the content of the item, which was beautifully and cleverly decorated with various embellishments, was like this.
-From now on, the back alleys will be managed by our Guard.
‘As expected of a youngster.’
Did he become arrogant after extinguishing the Black Fire?
Or did he overestimate the power of Ga-dum supporting him from behind?
Whatever it was, he made an unbelievable mistake.
Declaring control over the back alleys in a back alley meeting where the bosses of the back alleys gathered.
‘The reaction of the Master and the Saint… there’s no need to see it.’
The fact that the Master and the Saint, whose sides were unknown, would side with the Deputy Council Member-
Was the moment when Guardrock’s biggest anxiety ended.
‘With this, the Master and the Saint will clearly draw a line with the Deputy Council Member.’
Guardrock looked around the round table.
In his eyes-
Currently, there were three on his side, and two on the enemy’s side.
And two neutrals, the Saint and the Master.
‘Brimfort…’
If he could persuade him again, the back alley meeting would be in his hands.
“Then, those who agree with my motion, please raise your hands.”
Guardrock, having finished his calculations, leaned back comfortably.
All that remained was to watch that youngster collapse on his own.
Guardrock watched Brimfort’s reaction.
“…”
‘As expected, he’s not an idiot.’
Brimfort was looking at Lisir, the Saint, and the Master, looking troubled.
In a situation where he was hostile to Guardrock, it was unclear why he would express an opinion that would anger the two.
‘If this happens, Brimfort, instead of killing him-‘
Just as Guardrock was thinking about what would happen after the Deputy Council Member’s opinion was rejected,
“…!”
A gasp was heard from the seat next to him.
Guardrock woke up from his thoughts, wondering what was going on.
“…”
And he doubted his eyes.
The Saint and the Master.
They were raising their hands.
“I-I also agree!”
Then, Brimfort, who had only been watching the two, raised his hand.
“It’s passed.”
Thus, the unbelievable motion put forth by the Deputy Council Member was passed.
✦✦✦
Can things really go this smoothly?
Lisir looked at Guardrock’s reaction, feeling dazed.
‘Huh?’
At that moment, Lisir confirmed that Guardrock was gesturing to the boss of the South sitting next to him-
Dejong.
‘Wait.’
A strange anxiety crept in.
Soon, that anxiety became reality.
Guardrock put his hand in his bosom, and a small mana phenomenon occurred inside.
He had sent a signal to his subordinates waiting in a nearby building.
Lisir’s sharp senses detected the presence of people rapidly gathering in the place.
Soon, a crowd poured into the living room entrance, dividing into two and standing behind Guardrock and Dejong respectively.
Thus, Guardrock and Dejong had already joined forces.
To completely oust Ga-dum, who was wavering inside and out, and to completely monopolize the back alleys between the two of them.
“Guardrock! Dejong! What the hell is this━ Ugh!”
The face of the boss who was caught between the two and showed confusion was consumed by Black Fire.
Leaving behind the boss writhing on the floor, Guardrock stood up and looked down at the other four.
And, just as he was about to utter his words of victory-
“Ugh!!! What! It’s hot!!! It’s hot!!!”
“!?”
One of Dejong’s subordinates screamed.
Black Fire had swallowed his body.
“Guardrock, what are you doing!”
Dejong immediately stepped back from Guardrock and interrogated him.
“…?”
Sudden action.
And confusion.
Inconsistent reactions came from Guardrock.
“…What’s going on?”
“Is it an internal conflict?”
Even the Master and the Saint showed confusion, turning their gaze to Lisir.
“Did you do it?”
“No…”
Lisir, who was just as confused by the sudden chaos, was about to deny it when.
-Master!
A voice echoed in Lisir’s head.
Yesterday. Dangaleon, who had expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that only he couldn’t enter the Inner World among the ‘three’, had requested to move in.
-Now’s the time!
Lisir asked him in confusion.
‘What is this? Did you do this?’
-Yes!
‘What, how?’
-Do you see the black pearl earring that the worm has in his ear!?
‘Why that?’
-It’s mine!
‘…’
It was an answer that was too much omitted, but Lisir immediately understood the meaning contained in the answer.
His name, which Dangaleon habitually uttered, came to mind.
‘Burning Black Fire… is that your power that that guy is using?’
-It’s a regrettable thing! How dare that worm use my power freely…!
‘…I understand what’s going on. So, now, what do you want me to do?’
-I will stir up conflict among them with Black Fire! Take advantage of that gap and sow discord among them!
“…”
Lisir shook his head at the devilish idea.
✦✦✦
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