As night began to fall, the City of Sword-Craft seemed to be blanketed by a cold, dark hand.
The sound of clashing metal that echoed through the city during the day suddenly ceased, revealing a terrifying silence.
In the basement of a remote inn, the bald mercenary sat dejectedly, leaning against a wooden crate.
Before him, over a dozen of his companions stood or sat.
A young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a crisp suit sat composed at a desk.
In the eerie flickering of the firelight, his expression was unreadable.
Noticing the plaster wrapped around the bald man’s wrist, the young man lifted his brow slightly and asked in a low voice:
“What happened?”
“Boss…” The bald mercenary’s lips trembled, and he mumbled: “It’s nothing…”
“Speak!”
Before the bald man could even find an excuse, he was interrupted by the youth’s low command.
“It’s…
it’s like this, Boss…”
The bald mercenary organized his thoughts slightly and said: “While we were at the Guild submitting the escort mission, we got into a conflict with a couple of brats…”
One of the underlings who hadn’t participated in the incident jeered mockingly:
“Hey, One-Eye, you’re too pathetic.
You didn’t even dare to lay a hand on two kids?”
He wanted to laugh out loud, but seeing his companions staring at him with strange expressions, he slowly retracted his smile and dared not make a sound.
In the silence, the well-dressed youth, known as Beck Albella, turned his sharp gaze toward the mercenary:
“You should know the importance of this cargo.
I don’t want any uncertainties to affect the final transaction.
Understand?”
The Albella Trading Company was one of the massive firms supporting the economy of the labyrinth city.
Beck was a member of the Albella family, and this time, he was responsible for a special shipment of staggering value.
Because it was his first time taking charge of a family enterprise, he was being exceptionally cautious.
At this moment, a companion who had been with the bald mercenary stepped forward to explain:
“It’s not our fault.
The two we ran into were both members of a familia…
I saw their crests.
Considering that, we swallowed our pride and didn’t start any trouble.”
“Adventurers…” Beck’s brow relaxed, and he encouraged: “You did well.
The goods this time are not simple; don’t invite unnecessary trouble.”
He paused, sat back down, and as if remembering something, asked further:
“You said you saw their crests.
Which familia were they?”
The bald man recalled for a moment and answered: “A sword and wings.”
Beck’s hand, which had been writing, trembled, leaving an irregular mark on the paper.
He lifted his head with a haunted look:
“What did you say?”
“A sword and wings!
That’s right, that was it,” the bald man confirmed again.
Hiss—
Beck drew a sharp breath.
Others might not know, but Beck, who had been active in Orario for years, was all too familiar with that familia crest.
Astraea…
A familia that was rumored to have been wiped out two years ago had actually returned to life.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t matter—it would just be a newly formed familia.
But…
That madman, the ghost known as the [Gale], was still active!
No one knew how many of his peers had been cut down by her!
She played by absolutely no rules!
To say that the Albella Trading Company, capable of supporting the entire economy of Orario and standing as one of the major giants, had no dirty secrets during the Dark Ages would be impossible.
In fact, they were the type of people who would do anything for the right price.
Just a short while ago, they had colluded with the Ishtar Familia to deceive a group of adventurers from small familia to collect ore on dangerous floors.
Naturally, none of those people came back.
To be caught with such dirty hands, and then to be targeted by that madwoman and labeled as part of the Evilus…
Then…
the one who brings about my destruction will be me!
No!
I have to leave at once!
But what about the cargo?
Beck pondered, pacing back and forth in the narrow basement.
As beads of sweat appeared on the bald mercenary’s forehead, Beck spoke slowly:
“Do this: you will still transport the cargo to the designated location.
The branch office of the trading company there will settle the payment with you.”
The bald mercenary looked confused: “And what about you, Boss?”
“Me?” Beck gave a light laugh: “I generate tens of thousands of Valis in profit every minute.
Is that for you to inquire about?”
The boss is right.”
He did indeed have another deal to complete, but under the current circumstances, he needed to rethink whether he should proceed with the mysterious client.
Ignoring the mercenaries, Beck quickly packed up his ledgers and documents, threw his leather bag over his shoulder, and walked toward the exit.
Before closing the door, he didn’t forget to admonish the group:
“Remember, even if you are caught red-handed, don’t say you have any connection to us, the Albella Trading Company!”
“That is written in the contract!”
Because the cargo was illegitimate, the mercenaries had signed a non-disclosure agreement—naturally, they were paid handsomely for it.
Beck left with his personal bodyguard, escorted by the gazes of the mercenaries.
“Tell me, what do you think is going through the boss’s head?” a thin mercenary asked.
“Don’t ask.
We just handle our own business.” The bald man breathed a sigh of relief, casting a glance at the black-shrouded, metallic cage.
Unbeknownst to anyone, inside that pitch-black, abyss-like iron cage, a pair of scarlet, vertical pupils suddenly snapped open.
…
Late at night, Cecil’s Blacksmith Shop.
Xia Jia lay on his bed in his room, stretching out his palm and staring blankly.
It was only now that he seemed to realize he had experienced intimate contact with a girl.
“Does Kuroneko have a bit of a crush on me?”
“It must be the suspension bridge effect.”
Xia Jia sighed at the ironies of fate.
But then again, if it weren’t for this “other world,” it would have been nearly impossible to approach someone like Kuroneko—a toxic-tongued girl who poked at people’s pain points as soon as she met them.
“I don’t have a younger sister named Kirino Kosaka.”
Xia Jia recalled the time he met Kuroneko online…
“If it weren’t for my pen name, ‘Descender’ the best-selling author, I probably wouldn’t have been able to strike up a conversation.”
Thinking of these scattered thoughts, what weighed more on Xia Jia’s mind were the words Astraea had spoken to him.
His initial search for Dekomori and Kuroneko had been pure destiny; one had been a childhood friend who volunteered, the other he had secured through the power of money.
But Xia Jia had indeed overlooked the cruelty of this world and the considerations regarding Kuroneko and Dekomori’s age.
Fortunately, even though this world was real, it was indeed indistinguishable from a game for Kuroneko and Dekomori.
The problem plaguing Xia Jia now was who he should recruit next.
“First, I need to think: what can I do for them?
Money?
No, perhaps something more precious.
Only then will our interests be balanced.”
Combat was painful; getting cut by a blade would hurt like hell, and even throwing a punch would leave him injured.
Even running would leave him gasping for air, exhausted to the bone.
Xia Jia clenched his fist, the stinging pain clear.
No one is willing to suffer such torment for no reason…
I need to find people who want to become stronger for their own sake, not for mine.
People only reach their full potential when they strive for themselves.
“Sigh, I’m still too kind-hearted; I’ll never make it as a ruthless capitalist.”
Thinking this, Xia Jia slowly pulled out his phone to filter through potential candidates.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught “Equilibrium”?
l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I’m a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh!
— Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
“Is this chat group even serious?” (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal!
(This matter is completely finished.)
Can Playing Games Save the World?
65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I’m Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
“I’m just a Valkyrie passing through.” 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi – Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon?
55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime?
80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero?
75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 75
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai’s Otherworld?
Wait—Who Are You People?!
100
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 60
The Uma Musume Who Became 60
I’m Definitely Not the King of 80
After Maxing Out Every Class 80
Naruto: I’m Konoha’s Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 57
I, the Elden Sword Saint 50
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 43
No One Knows Pokémon Better 50
I, Sakazuki, Won’t Go Down Tha 45
From Trilobites to Titans 45
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 55
DanMachi:
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught “Equilibrium”?
l (Chapter 80) Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178) Zenless Zone Zero: I’m a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 ) TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110) Yu-Gi-Oh!
— Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220) “Is this chat group even serious?” (Chapter125) I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal!
(This matter is completely finished.) Can Playing Games Save the World?
65 Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77 From Junkman to Wasteland 66 Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31 I’m Grinding Proficiency Like 46 From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220 Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42 Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65 Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185 From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20 The Way the Umamusume Look at 68 Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248 Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65 Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76 Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66 My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65 Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230 Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154 I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40 The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125 Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67 Uma Musume: From Beginner 145 Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85 Uma Musume: I Want All 120 I Can Copy Unique Skills 115 Summoning an Evil God, but the 75 Supernatural Multiverse 110 My Harem Is Indescribable 100 Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105 “I’m just a Valkyrie passing through.” 67 Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105 Still playing traditional Honk 80 The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85 What Should I Do After Switchi – Volume2/3 Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78 Hell-Difficulty Dungeon?
55 Transmigrated as Sukuna 80 Checking In in Demon Slayer 85 The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100 I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85 My Best Friend Into a Slime?
80 A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90 What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero?
75 Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85 Why did they assign me to Uma 75 MYGO Beauties 70 DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 75 The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80 Honkai’s Otherworld?
Wait—Who Are You People?!
100 Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 60 The Uma Musume Who Became 60 I’m Definitely Not the King of 80 After Maxing Out Every Class 80 Naruto: I’m Konoha’s Local Men 44 Honkai: World Modulation Mode 57 I, the Elden Sword Saint 50 Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 43 No One Knows Pokémon Better 50 I, Sakazuki, Won’t Go Down Tha 45 From Trilobites to Titans 45 Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 55 DanMachi: