After thoroughly shaking down the place called the Black Hand Guild, bad guys poured out like sweet potatoes being pulled out one after another.

Using the advantage of the border area, they had been sucking the life out of the residents and merchants for a long time, and the case of the elf descendant who had been saved last time was also related to them.

"You understand what I'm saying, right?"

"O-of course!"

The man kneeling in front of Lucas nodded his head like crazy.

Behind the man, a few of his subordinates who had been burned black and those who had luckily survived were prostrating themselves, and next to them, the debt collectors who had threatened Caitlin, the descendant of the elf, were also prostrating themselves.

"Then write down all the people related to you that you just mentioned on a piece of paper."

"A-all of them, you mean?"

"Yes. Write them down without leaving a single one out. And it's good to see that they're on the list. Those who are not on the list will not even be given a chance for rehabilitation like this."

"I understand."

As soon as Lucas's words ended, the man prostrated himself on the floor, buried his head, and began to fill out the list.

How much time had passed? The man's hand, which was handing over the completed list, trembled.

"Right. I'll believe that this list you've given me is all there is. So you should also not betray my trust."

"Thank you! Thank you!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Lucas's lips as the man prostrated himself and bowed repeatedly.

"You too. If you ever do a son-of-a-bitch thing like usury in this town again, you won't die peacefully."

"Of course! I'm sorry for not recognizing you!"

At Lucas's words, he also put his forehead on the ground.

"You'd better remember what I said. If the father of the child named Caitlin gets into debt, go to him and collect it. And if there's even a slight problem with the child's safety, all of your lives are over."

"Yes! I understand!"

Lucas, who had folded the list and put it in his pocket, got up from his seat.

"If you ever feel like taking revenge on me, feel free to come and find me anytime."

As Lucas turned his body and left the building, the bodies of the men prostrating on the floor trembled.

***

"Are you serious? No matter how I look at it, that bastard is not at a level we can handle."

"Shut up. You son of a b-tch. Five of our kids died because of the information you gave. And you're telling me to just stand by and watch?"

The building, which was wide open on all sides. The red-haired man, who was the action leader of the Black Hand Guild, grabbed the collar of the orange-haired man, who was the usury collector.

"...I have nothing to say. But that bastard is at least a 5th circle, no, he'll be over a 6th circle. You saw it earlier, didn't you? The firestorm that bastard used covered this entire building."

Another subordinate who was standing next to the orange-haired man agreed with his words.

"That's right. Brother. I know you're angry, but we can't have any more bloodshed."

"Then is there any good way?! Sh-t! It's a relief that that bastard thinks I'm the boss, but what am I going to say to the big brother when he comes back!"

The man who had been chiming in shut his mouth at the red-haired man's words.

The real head of the Black Hand Guild was currently absent. Therefore, to clean up this whole mess, they had to take revenge on the man who had ruthlessly trampled on them just a moment ago.

Only then could they take his money and give some consolation money to the families of the dead subordinates and fix the building.

Otherwise, their lives were in danger just the same.

"Sh-t. Is this the first time you've dealt with a magic user? If you just control the mana, the magic user is all f-cking weak, you know?"

"Do we even have such a method? Most of the magic tools we had earlier were broken. And with that level of skill, the mana control bracelets we have are no match."

The man waved his hand as if there was no need to say more at his subordinate's words.

"Follow me."

The subordinates who followed the man nodded their heads as if they finally understood what he meant.

"Of course... the brother had a plan all along."

The place they arrived at was none other than the Raskan Kingdom guard post located at the entrance of the town.

"Oh~ hello. Is Captain Hent here by any chance?"

The red-haired man who had approached the place asked a guard in a friendly manner.

"No, who is this? It's been a while. Why Captain Hent?"

They were already exchanging words comfortably, as if they knew each other.

"Khaha. Brother, you're too much. I came to say hello to Captain Hent. Ah, more importantly, let's shake hands."

The guard tilted his head for a moment at the sudden offer of a handshake, but he soon held out his hand as if he understood what he meant.

"Ahem. Well. Hey, go and get the captain. He'll know if you say a merchant has come."

The cold touch felt from the clasped hands. The man had handed over a gold coin while pretending to shake hands.

The man who had received the bribe put the gold coin in his pocket without being noticed and ordered another guard.

"Yes. I understand."

After a while, a man who seemed to be Captain Hent opened the door of the guard post and walked out.

"Right. You were looking for me?"

"Captain. It's been a while!"

The red-haired man and his subordinates bowed their heads at the same time.

"It must be an urgent matter. To be looking for me at this hour of the morning."

"Yes. This way for a moment..."

As the man carefully held out his hand, the guard captain moved his steps.

The red-haired man carefully opened his mouth only after he had reached the secluded tree behind the guard post.

The guard captain frowned as he listened to his words.

"Please help me."

"Right. I'll help you."

"R-really?!"

The man's face lit up as he surprisingly easily obtained the support of the kingdom's guard.

"He's a murderer who has killed five people. So it's natural for the kingdom's guard to step in."

"That's right! Of course!"

"But."

"...?"

"I don't think I can not ask about your sins..."

The man's face was momentarily bewildered at the guard captain's words.

"Then how about this?"

But the man, as if he knew what he meant, stuck close to the guard captain and lowered his voice.

"What is it?"

"Captain, just lend us the mana control net. What if a person as busy as the captain gets into trouble by confronting such a low-life criminal? So if you just lend us the item..."

"Ha, I'm at a loss for words. You're asking me to lend you the state's property for your personal revenge?"

Even at the captain's sharp point, the man just nodded his head slowly as if he knew everything and continued.

"Oh, I know. I know. I'm just saying this out of concern for the captain. If there's a problem... how about we say that people like us stole it?"

"Hmm..."

A groan escaped from the captain's mouth as if he were thinking.

"And take this. I'm giving you this as a small token of my gratitude for your hard work for the country. Please don't misunderstand, it's just for you and your men to have a meal."

As the man stuffed a full pouch into the guard captain's pocket, the captain cleared his throat and looked around.

"Ahem, ahem. I hope you'll use it well and return it. Just know that I think of you as my own brother. Always be careful."

"Of course. I hope you'll also know that I think of the captain as my own brother."

The cunning man's laugh flowed through the trees.

But there was one thing they didn't know.

'I'm watching everything. You fools.'

That there was one person who was watching their appearance from beginning to end.

'Humans seem to be smart on the one hand, but on the other hand, they're not. They're especially morons who don't develop.'

A mana control net. He would have been caught without a choice.

Among the items that controlled mana, the most representative item was the mana control bracelet.

The bracelet, which was worn on the left arm, which was closest to the heart where the mana core was located, was used to restrain mages who had committed crimes or other races who were proficient in magic.

But as the wearer's circle increased, the bracelet often failed to function properly, and therefore, the items that controlled mana developed over generations.

Among them, the most recently invented mana control net was easy to subdue due to its wide range, like a net, and the densely embedded mana control stones.

There was even a saying that if you had a top-grade mana control net, you could even subdue a dragon.

'It was a pretty smart idea, but that's only when I didn't know.'

Lucas carefully followed the disappearing men.

After a while, the red-haired man, who was holding a bundle, came out of the armory behind the guard post.

"You son of a b-tch. You're dead."

The man's steps quickened as he opened the bundle slightly and checked inside.

***

The members of the Black Hand Guild, who were heading to the inn, each had a weapon in their hands.

It was when they had entered the last alley leading to the inn.

"Isn't it too early for revenge?"

"Y-you son of a b-tch!"

The man at the front let out a curse at the sight of Lucas, who had appeared as soon as he had turned the corner.

"Right. You must be surprised again."

"P-prepare!"

At the red-haired man's words, the other members also formed a line and surrounded Lucas as they had prepared.

"I'm looking forward to it. What you have prepared, betraying my trust."

"You're already dead. You son of a b-tch!"

The attack that began to pour out at the man's shout.

The long sword in the hand of the man who was closest was aimed at Lucas's side.

The combined attack that followed was so fast that it was impossible to avoid.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

But all those attacks were blocked by the defensive magic that Lucas had cast.

"Is this all you've brought?"

Lucas's relaxed expression and tone. But everyone continued to cut and stab the barrier with machine-like movements, as if it didn't matter.

"Now!!!"

Then, at the man's shout, a member who was on the wall threw a net.

"I-it's done!!!"

The net accurately covered Lucas, and at the same time, the defensive magic also disappeared.

"You son of a b-tch! I told you you were already dead, didn't I? Huh!?"

"You son of a b-tch! Give me back my brother!!!"

The men who had surrounded Lucas, who was covered in the net, each held a weapon and shouted, threatening to stab him at any moment.

"Right. You've prepared such a trick. I've been caught."

"Don't be so relaxed! You son of a b-tch!"

Lucas, who was maintaining a relaxed attitude even while trapped in the net. The red-haired man who saw the sight stepped forward.

"I'll show you what it's like to not die peacefully. You worm-like magic user."

"...A worm."

"Right! You worm-like bastard! I'll take revenge for the subordinates who died at your hands for days and days! Drag him away!"

-Crack... crack...

The red-haired man, who was about to turn around, stopped at the strange sound from behind.

"What's that sound?"

"Brother! Let's cut him up right now! This bastard is trying to get out!!!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Who's getting out of a mana net..."

-Crack... crack!

"H-huh!?"

The densely embedded mana control stones began to break one by one, and a mana vortex began to rise from Lucas's body.

'Aman, I'll use some of your mana.'

The reason he hadn't sought another way, even with the mana net, was simple.

Why, when he had the power?

As the vortex that enveloped his body grew stronger, the terrified members began to stumble and retreat.

"...I'm f-cked."

-Crack! Bang!

In the end, the mana net shattered into pieces and flew into the air.

"I've seen enough of your pathetic tricks."

The sight of Lucas smiling brightly in the sparkling dust was like.

"A-a dragon..."

(End of Chapter)