Chapter 71

The Red Monster (3)

Because Kairus had trained in Swift Blade for a long time, his thoughts were, in turn, being controlled by the habits and patterns that had formed over those years.

In any case, all he had to do was bring the wind under his control. If thinking in terms of a prolonged fight, the previous method would be better...

But in a situation where it had to end in a short clash, Dana Watson’s method, which could produce the desired outcome suddenly, wasn’t bad either.

'Ultimately, Swift Blade is swordsmanship, and the most important element in swordsmanship is...'

On the battlefield, it was to strike down those who charged in while keeping the wielder alive.

“Your current thoughts.”

Dana Watson once again drove Angelene’s Answer into the ground and stared at Kairus.

“Yes.”

When fear mixes with respect, it becomes reverence. And Dana Watson, in Kairus’s current state, was certainly worthy of being revered.

“…Never mind. Saying it would be meaningless.”

At that moment, Kairus could vaguely guess why Dana Watson stopped mid-sentence.

Because Kairus himself had once been a teacher who taught others how to wield a sword.

‘It must’ve been advice that would’ve only gotten in the way if said out loud.’

Kairus had nearly given such advice to Irena several times, but each time, he had successfully refrained.

Dana Watson was no different.

“Still, if this helped you in any way, I suppose it can count as an apology for the misunderstanding.”

“I received more than that. Thank you.”

Her suspicion had been spot on. In truth, it was Kairus who should have felt guilty for receiving her apology.

But he had done and committed far too many things to feel guilt over something like that.

“Then, may I return and rest now?”

At Kairus’s cautious question, Dana Watson nodded.

“Upon returning to the garrison, return the temporary permit issued by Irena, and unless there’s anything urgent, do not leave your quarters.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Then, I hope your efforts are successful.”

After saying his goodbye, Kairus hurried his steps toward the garrison.

Even if he had received help, he had no desire whatsoever to remain in the same place with Dana Watson for long.

“Please.”

Upon arriving in his room, Kairus muttered quietly as he looked out the window. He was hoping that Dana Watson’s statement about the tracking device in the artifact inventory list had been a lie.

If her words had merely been bait to draw out suspicious behavior from him...

Then, after a bit of time passed, he could recover it.

‘I don’t even need to be the one to retrieve it.’

Kairus’s face was already known. If he returned to Rezantin again, attention would gather.

All he had to do was tell Simid Kellogg where he had hidden the artifact inventory list.

Just by dragging that thing from the vault up to the surface, Kairus had already done something impressive.

‘Originally, I was supposed to deliver it myself…’

It wasn’t until 4 a.m. that Irena Kellogg returned to the garrison.

“Ugh…”

Even on extended leave, if an incident like this occurred, Irena would inevitably be called in.

In fact, when she took her vacation, she had already anticipated a situation like this.

“You can tell just by looking at how the seniors are during their time off.”

Unless one took a long-term leave like Irena, vacations in the Order didn’t mean much.

Among the knights, it was more often referred to as a ‘casual dress attendance pass’ rather than a vacation.

There was absolutely no difference except that you could show up in any clothes instead of a uniform.

“Graaah.”

Back at her quarters, Irena stretched once.

“You’re finally back.”

“Ah, crap! You scared the hell out of me! I almost killed you!”

The moment Kairus’s voice reached her ears, Irena nearly drew her sword and swung.

Kairus let out a snort at her words.

“You really think you could kill me with that swing?”

“…There might be a chance.”

Kairus didn’t argue with her rebellious retort.

It wasn’t actually possible, but there was no need to provoke someone with that much pride.

“So, are you done with what you needed to do?”

Irena asked as she pulled a glass jar filled with jellybeans from the cupboard.

“Not yet. I think I’ll need another two or three days.”

Kairus lied. It was the natural thing to do. If he said he was done the moment the vault was raided, anyone would get suspicious.

“You look pretty busy too.”

“Do you even need to ask? The newspaper editor is dead, someone broke into the Rezantin Museum vault…”

Opening the jar, Irena tossed a jellybean into her mouth and looked at Kairus.

“Want one?”

When Kairus nodded, Irena flicked a red jellybean toward him. Catching it in his mouth, Kairus asked,

“How are people reacting?”

“They’ve completely lost it. No one’s even stepping outside their doors.”

Kairus let out a bitter smile at her words. This city had almost no immunity to crime.

In such a weak and fragile place, when crimes of the kind that would make headlines even in Bennett City hit back-to-back, people were bound to be gripped by extreme fear.

“There are actually quite a few packing their bags and trying to flee the city.”

That was where Kairus couldn’t help but laugh.

“People who lived in this city wouldn’t survive a day in any other city.”

It was the kind of miraculous place where even if you passed out drunk and slept on the street, you’d wake up the next morning on a Security Corps branch bench.

People who had lived thinking that was normal—could they really adapt and live well somewhere else?

"Is adapting really that hard?"

"Of course it is. The worst crime the sheltered folks in this city probably know is not tipping the staff."

At Kairus’s words, Irena gave him a complicated look.

"I don’t think living in a city with garbage public safety is something to be proud of."

"It’s not pride. I’m just saying that those who lived here would have a hard time adjusting elsewhere."

Kairus slowly got up from his seat.

"Anyway, in another two or three days, I should be done with what I need to do in this city. After that, I’m heading to Bennett City."

At his words, Irena clicked her tongue lightly.

"If only we had time to get Tishu airborne before then."

"There’s not enough time."

Irena nodded slightly at Kairus’s remark. Because of the chaos in the city, she couldn’t enjoy her vacation properly.

Naturally, the days of sparring with nothing but Tishu in the training ground had also come to an end.

"Once we get to Bennett City, maybe we’ll have some time again."

"I can’t promise that."

No one knew what might happen. And once he returned to Bennett City, there was something Kairus had to get started on immediately.

‘Joining up with Melvin Istovan.’

He had to find the shelter said to be located beneath Bennett City. Not to unearth some treasure buried inside.

If he failed to find it, Kairus would die at Cecilia’s hands.

Even once he returned, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

"Well then, hang in there a few more days."

Kairus said his goodbye to Irena and returned to his room.

‘So, Dana Watson’s words were a lie after all.’

If there had been a way to track the artifact inventory list, Irena wouldn’t have returned this late. And judging from the recent conversation, they had also failed to locate the list.

In other words, Kairus could contact Simid Kellogg later and successfully complete the request.

‘They’ll never figure out where I hid it.’

Kairus smiled as he glanced at Flicker, which hung at his waist. He had used Flicker to stash it inside one of the merit enshrinement towers in the fountain park.

All Kairus had to do now was kill time for two or three days, going out and taking some rest.

‘Once I’m back in Bennett City, I’ll have to fully commit to the excavation.’

This moment right now was the only chance Kairus had to rest before diving back into work.

While Kairus was resting in Rezantin City, Cecilia was listening to a report with a troubled expression.

“So, there’s a chance Areumdri Pawnshop caught on?”

“Yes, but nothing’s confirmed yet.”

Cecilia placed the needle of the phonograph onto the record. After a few pops and crackles, jazz began to play.

“It’ll be a headache if they did.”

Maybe not above ground, but below, the influence of Areumdri Pawnshop was at its peak.

“A fence getting into real estate… ridiculous.”

Though she spoke mockingly, Cecilia didn’t look pleased.

The underground of Bennett City was a literal labyrinth.

The sewer system built during the Dersos civilization had been extended and patched up over a thousand years, tangling and interconnecting countless times.

An uncountable number of new passageways had been created, and old ones sealed off repeatedly.

To the people of Bennett City, where crime was a way of life, the complex underground sewers were endlessly appealing.

As a result of continued illegal expansions and closures…

The city’s underground had become a seemingly bottomless, endless maze.

“I’ve heard that Areumdri Pawnshop has a complete map of the underground.”

At her subordinate’s words, Cecilia shook her head.

“That’s just a rumor. No organization has something like that.”

It was impossible to record everything about the underground labyrinth of Bennett City. It was true, though, that Areumdri Pawnshop knew more about it than anyone else.

“They probably understand about 20% of the city’s underground.”

This was Cecilia’s estimate. But in Rose Garden, her estimations held more weight than most facts.

“Those bastards call themselves kings of the underground, and yet they barely know anything.”

“Twenty percent is enough. They know every location necessary for their business.”

All the Pawnshop needed to know were the passages connecting to the surface and the large spaces suitable for storing stolen goods.

As for the endless, tangled tunnels like an ant colony?

“Even if they knew, it’s useless.”

But even if they only knew 20% of the underground, everyone in Bennett City tolerated Areumdri Pawnshop’s self-proclaimed title as underground kings.

They didn’t acknowledge them as true kings out of pride, but it was still a fact that they were closer to it than any other group.

“That’s why it’s important.”

The information Kairus had passed to Cecilia was important precisely because of this. Areumdri Pawnshop had an extremely firm foothold underground.

On the surface were Rose Garden, Lukas’s Children, Lantern Light, and Lumis & Wesson.

Four major organizations kept a facade of peace while constantly aiming for each other’s throats beneath the surface.

But Areumdri Pawnshop was outside of that invisible war.

Their territory was underground. The surface pawnshop was merely the official reception point.

But if Rose Garden managed to find the underground shelter and make it into a base?

It could shake the firm position Areumdri Pawnshop had held in the city’s underworld until now.

“It’s about time our little fence friends joined the mud fight, don’t you think?”

At Cecilia’s words, her subordinate nodded with a grin.

“To be honest, I’ve hated seeing those bastards just sit back and sell while watching the turf war.”

“How funny. That’s exactly how I feel.”

They were detestable leeches who made profit selling all sorts of smuggled goods during conflicts.

If this went well, they could finally land a blow on Areumdri Pawnshop.

“How could it have leaked? The only people who know are a few trusted staff from Rose Garden, Kairus, and that archaeologist he sent by train.”

Naturally, Kairus and the archaeologist named Melvin Istovan were excluded from suspicion. They had neither the reason nor the time for such nonsense.

“I’ll find the informant.”

“Good, put some effort into it.”

With that, Cecilia’s conversation with her subordinate came to an end.

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