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Alpha was eighteen.
Beta was eighteen.
Gamma was eighteen.
Delta was eighteen.
Epsilon was eighteen.
Zeta was eighteen.
Eta was eighteen.
Inside Shadow Garden’s temporary base, one billion zeni sat on the table, out in the open.
As they said, the hardest part was the beginning.
If Shino hadn’t borrowed a hundred million from Cid, they never would have made it to a billion this fast.
Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta looked at Shino.
Waiting for his next order.
“About this billion,” Shino said.
“I think it’s all Gamma’s credit.
She has a talent for business.
So five hundred million goes to her for the trading company.”
“Lord Phantom, I can’t,” Gamma said.
“Everything I know, you taught me.
If it were you, you’d have spotted the opportunity in a second.
If it were you, you’d have made even more.”
Truth was, Shino hadn’t spotted it at all.
He had business knowledge from his past life, sure.
But it was all theory — looked good on paper, useless in practice.
“Gamma, this is an order.
Even if you don’t think you can do it, you will.
Five hundred million is yours.
It’s settled.”
Shino’s voice was cold.
Gamma knew she couldn’t argue anymore.
If she pushed, he’d really get angry.
“Alpha, take a hundred million and set up Shadow Garden’s intelligence division.
We don’t know where the enemy’s base is yet.
We need intel to investigate the Cult.”
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll never be defeated.
“The remaining four hundred million has no other purpose.”
“I’ve taught you everything I can.
From now on, Alpha and Delta work together — investigate the Cult.
Beta, help Gamma build the trading company.
We’ll need funds for future operations.”
Shino finished, grabbed the four hundred million, and left.
Three hundred million of it was Cid’s.
The last hundred was for himself.
Beta, Gamma, and Delta’s food, clothes, and expenses had all come out of his personal savings lately.
His coffers were running dry.
Time to refill them.
…
On a dark, windy night, two figures in black met on a lone boat in the middle of a lake.
“What do you want?” Cid said coolly.
“The three hundred million I promised you.”
Shino set the money on the boat.
“…”
“…”
A brief silence.
“Did you rob a bank?”
“No.
Made it from business.”
“…”
“How about I work for you?” Cid said.
“What happened to your dignity as an Eminence in Shadow?”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Aren’t you afraid of slipping up, hanging around Alpha all day?” Cid asked.
“No.
Worst case, I’ll apologize.
I’m sure she’ll forgive me.”
Cid still thought the Cult didn’t exist.
It was just a story he and Shino had made up.
“Is that so?
Good luck.”
Cid turned to leave.
“Wait.
If you find anyone with demon possession, call me.
I’ll treat them and bring them into Shadow Garden.
One million per person.”
“You serious?”
“Serious.”
“Deal.”
Cid left.
Shino lay back on the boat, relaxing.
This way, I won’t miss Epsilon, Zeta, or Eta.
Shadow Garden…
my…
never mind.
The corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
Still.
Can’t get too cocky.
Easy to get struck by lightning.
With Cid, you just needed money.
Appeal to reason and emotion at the same time.
As long as it wasn’t something bad, he’d do it.
Everyone had a sense of right and wrong.
Cid was the same — he just wouldn’t do things he considered evil.
Shino was the same.
Don’t bother me, I won’t bother you.
Bother me?
Don’t blame me for what comes next.
…
After Shino’s orders, everyone in Shadow Garden was busy.
Before Alpha left, Shino called her aside.
“Phantom?
Something else?”
“Delta isn’t very smart.”
“So you want me to look after her?”
“No.
I want you to treat her like an animal.”
“Eh?” Alpha didn’t understand.
“I know you want to treat everyone in Shadow Garden like family.
But if Delta gets too spoiled, she’ll cause problems.”
Alpha nodded.
“I understand.”
Delta had been standing right there the whole time.
“Delta is a wolf.”
Neither Shino nor Alpha acknowledged her.
She was an idiot.
Trying to reason with her was like casting pearls before swine.
“Delta, from now on, you follow Alpha’s orders.
No acting on instinct.
Before you do anything, ask Alpha first.”
“Delta understands.”
Alpha and Delta left.
Shino thought back to when Delta had first arrived.
Her combat power had shot up.
But she’d also started getting disobedient.
She’d used her strength to bully Beta and Gamma, riding on top of them, trying to make them show their bellies.
Beta and Gamma hadn’t gotten angry.
They thought Delta was just playing.
Shino knew better.
Delta was acting like a beast, trying to climb the pack hierarchy.
That bad habit couldn’t take root.
This idiot couldn’t be indulged.
Shino had beaten her soundly, then made her lie down and show her belly for Beta and Gamma to pet.
In Delta’s original pack, showing the belly meant submission.
Under Shino’s intimidation, Delta had gone from a wild wolf to an obedient one.
If Shino hadn’t stepped in, Alpha probably would have handled it herself.
Having wildness wasn’t a bad thing.
But it should be aimed at enemies, not your own people.
As for the others, Shino didn’t need to worry.
Every single one of them was smart enough.
➤ Next: Epsilon