Chapter 71 - Renid (2)

In the end, I completed the signing of the contract and became a mercenary for the Red Fox Guild.

To be honest, I had almost no prior information about this guild.

All I knew beforehand was that this new guild was suffering from a manpower shortage.

So, to get a feel for the atmosphere, I came to the guild office every day and spent the day with Akin.

I planned to find out what kind of clients visited this place, what kind of requests they made, and what the latest news was in the world of Renid.

But so far, there had been no notable issues.

Because for the fifth day straight, the guild office was dead quiet.

Literally, no one came to visit this place.

‘This quest might take longer than I thought.’

Still, Akin had started actively promoting the guild since yesterday.

The promotional slogan was a bit cringy, but it was better than just sitting around doing nothing.

Commemorating the Recruitment of an Earthling Mercenary! A Grand Discount Event!

15% Cashback on Request Fees for the First 3 People!!

I wasn't sure what kind of client would trust them with a job with such a cheap-sounding phrase, but I decided to wait and see.

It was a bit disappointing that I couldn't go to the Spring of Elixir, but it wasn't a completely meaningless time since I could still heal and train my body with the Mana Breathing Technique here.

“Hey, Earthling mercenary! What are you doing sitting on the floor every day?”

Since the Mana Breathing Technique didn't exist in the world of Renid, Akin seemed to think what I was doing was some form of meditation.

“I’m in the middle of training, so you should just mind your own business, boss.”

Now that I said it, there wasn't really any business to mind in this deserted place.

All Akin did was sit at his desk all day, waiting for a client who might or might not come.

Still, what I had to acknowledge about this man’s will was that he never slacked off.

He never left his seat during business hours and always maintained the dignity of a guild leader with an upright posture.

Earthlings might disparage this type of person as someone who's just 'keeping up a concept', but I prefer working with people like Akin.

Because I knew from experience that luck would eventually come to people like him.

And perhaps, this was the starting point.

Creak!

The sound of the office's old, shabby door opening.

After five days, the guild office door opened, and a client had arrived.

“Welcome!”

Akin shot up from his seat and greeted the client.

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties.

His appearance was shabby.

A grimy face and worn-out, tattered clothes like a rag.

It wasn't that hard to guess his circumstances, seeing as he came to the Red Fox Guild, leaving aside other more successful mercenary guilds.

But his business was a bit peculiar.

“Please. I beg you, please find a person for me.”

“A person? Who are you talking about?”

“It’s my son.”

The client added that his son had been missing for over three days.

At those words, Akin showed a slightly disappointed expression.

“As you know, mercenary guilds mainly handle combat missions or escorting merchant caravans. For finding a missing person, I think you should be heading to a detective agency.”

“Th-then, does that mean you can’t take the request?”

A sense of desperation could be felt in the client’s eyes.

“It’s not that, but the price won’t be right. As you know, detectives are a bit cheaper……”

“Here it is!!”

The client placed the silver coins he had prepared on the table and asked again.

“Is it still not possible?”

A heavy atmosphere descended for a moment.

Right now, the Red Fox Guild was not in a position to be picky about requests.

They needed to succeed in even one request quickly to build a reputation.

“Very well. If there are enough clues to find the person, we will accept the request.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

The client repeatedly bowed his head to Akin, expressing his gratitude.

Akin got straight to the point.

“Do you happen to know anything about your son’s whereabouts before he went missing?”

“W-well, actually, there is something……”

“Please tell me.”

“It seems my son has been frequenting a gambling den recently.”

“A gambling den?”

“Yes. I should have found out about it sooner.”

The client hung his head low in distress.

“And actually, that gambling den……”

“Yes. Please continue.”

“I heard it’s a gambling den run by the Lizardpa.”

“L-Lizardpa?”

Akin’s expression changed in an instant.

“My son’s disappearance. It might be related to the Lizardpa!”

Just from his tone and gaze, it felt like he was somewhat certain of this.

“Now I see. Why you came to a mercenary guild instead of a detective agency.”

Akin let out a sigh, then suddenly spoke in a firm tone.

“I’ll be honest with you. That request is beyond our capabilities, so we will pretend we didn't hear it.”

“What do you mean! You just said you would take the request……”

“If it’s related to the Lizardpa, as I said, it is beyond our capabilities. I apologize for retracting my word, but it would be better for you to look for another, more reputable guild.”

The client closed his eyes tightly.

Tears he had been holding back trickled down his cheeks.

“Everyone refused because the price wasn't right, and this is the last place! So please……”

In the end, the client slumped to the floor.

I couldn’t just listen anymore, so I stopped circulating my Mana Breathing Technique and stood up from my spot.

“Boss. Let’s take this request.”

“Hey, Earthling!”

“Take it. I’ll be the one carrying out the mission anyway.”

“This isn’t that simple a problem! If this case is really connected to the Lizardpa, it’s not something you can handle on your own!”

“I don’t know what kind of guys the Lizardpa are, but I know one thing for sure. If we handle this case well, the Red Fox Guild's reputation will rise at once. Right?”

The quest I had to clear here in Renid was to escort a merchant caravan.

But considering the Red Fox Guild’s reputation, such a request was still a distant dream, so I had to take a bit of a detour.

Therefore, this request, apart from the pitiful circumstances, was an opportunity I had to make good use of.

The client pleaded with Akin once more.

“I’m not asking you to take care of the Lizardpa! I’m not asking you to get my son out either! If you could just confirm his whereabouts, I will never forget your kindness!”

“Hah!”

As Akin was only sighing, I had no choice but to step in again.

“Where is it? That gambling den your son practically lived in recently.”

Akin just stared at me as if I were a madman.

***

A transparent glass cylinder. Inside, dozens of marbles were rolling.

Different numbers were written on the surface of each marble, and the number that came out this time would determine the final hands of the game participants.

“I’ll take 3,000 and raise 5,000!”

“Wh-what? 5,000?”

“Why? If you’re scared, you can just fold.”

I glanced at the people and smirked.

But these guys just snorted at my hand.

Looking at what had been revealed so far, it wasn't that threatening.

Though it would be a different story if a 13 miraculously appeared at the end to make my hand.

“It’d be pathetic to die after coming this far. I’m going all the way.”

“Me too!”

“Dammit, me too!”

In the end, the table was piled high with chips.

Needless to say, these guys were all in it together.

They were the Lizardpa’s small fry, trying to swindle me, just one person.

“Alright! Then let’s get our final cards.”

Clank!

As the dealer pulled the lever without delay, the marbles began to flow out one by one.

My turn was second.

I immediately focused my senses to the extreme and stared at the marbles.

They were rotating quickly, but I could clearly see the number 13 marble.

“Hoo!”

I blew mana towards the number 13 marble inside the glass cylinder.

If I could just pull that thing over to my side, it would be my victory.

This was a task on a higher level than controlling a thrown dagger.

The marbles in the glass cylinder were not under my control to begin with. But.

Trrrrr.

What rolled to my spot was, miraculously, number 13.

This trick had not failed even once since the game started.

“I guess I’m lucky.”

I said, feigning nonchalance.

“What kind of X-like thing is this!”

“It’s not once or twice, dammit! Does this even make sense?”

The Lizardpa guys made a ruckus, creating a hostile atmosphere, but I calmly moved the piled-up chips to my side.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“You bastard! What the hell kind of trick did you pull!”

Finally, one of them went so far as to grab me by the collar.

“A trick?”

“Yeah, you bastard! Do you think it makes sense for the number 13 to land perfectly for you on the last draw?”

“I tend to be a bit lucky.”

“Is this bastard treating us like fools!”

The atmosphere grew more and more hostile.

I smiled gently, held the hand of the guy grabbing my collar, and gently pushed it away.

It was not yet time to use force.

“You may have lost money, but you should speak correctly. Did anyone see me touch this marble cylinder?”

Everyone just frowned and huffed, but no one answered my words.

“No one, right? Then since the atmosphere has gotten too tense today, I’ll stop here.”

I dusted off my clothes and stood up from my seat.

“This bastard, where do you think you’re going now!”

“I told you. It’s too tense, I can’t play.”

“Sit down when I’m being nice!”

At that moment, my eyes met with a man who was watching us from the opposite table.

The man gave me an indifferent look, then leaned in and whispered into the ear of another guy next to him.

Follow him and take care of it.

Yes. Understood.

The order had finally been given.

I had only planned to check the atmosphere on the first day, but if they were going to come at me like this, I had to be thankful.

***

I should have scouted the area around the gambling den if I knew this would happen.

It took longer than I thought to lure the guy to a deserted, secluded place.

The tailing skill of the guy following me was also so poor that pretending not to notice was truly an ordeal.

Finally, there was an abandoned building standing alone in a quiet place, so I moved quickly toward it.

Only one guy had followed me.

It seemed I looked quite easy to handle.

‘A pity.’

When trying to find something out through torture, having two or more is always better than one.

Not only can you induce betrayal between them, but you can also obtain a more reliable conclusion by gathering information separately in an isolated place and then cross-verifying it.

In a case like this, where there was only one guy to mess up, I had to mess him up properly so he wouldn't even dream of having any funny ideas.

Although I hadn't yet recovered my swordsmanship from my previous life, I could perfectly replicate my skills from that era when it came to torture.

Clack, clack.

The footsteps grew clearer.

The guy was no longer hiding his presence.

Chaeeng!

The sound of a sword being drawn was heard immediately.

I turned around and said.

“It would have been better if you hadn’t come alone.”

“What?”

“I have to bring out the demon inside me, you see.”

“Stop spouting nonsense and hand over everything you have. I’ll give you a comfortable death.”

I ignored the guy’s words and walked towards him step by step.