Chapter 170 – Thieves Guild
There is a story floating in the underworld of the Frome Kingdom. It is about the ‘Thieves Guild’, a rising star that has recently emerged rapidly.
When rumors about the Thieves Guild first spread, they laughed. He said, ‘What kind of guild is this, given that there are only a few keuts at most?’
Until then, the name of the thieves guild was unfamiliar, so such a reaction was natural.
However, when the Thieves Guild took over Promia and even the slums of Bahran, the evaluation changed.
Although the title of guild is grandiose, public opinion said that it deserves its name.
It is not easy to expand the business area in the original world behind the scenes. If you take one step, the blue ocean, which was a new market, is long gone. It is now a zero-sum game in which you have to take care of your own rice bowl in front of limited goods.
Checking is natural, and he won’t hesitate to resort to petty measures to destroy the opposing organization. That is the ecosystem of the current underworld. In that situation, the thieves’ guild swallowed up two large markets.
An unheard of organization.
Not even a year
The name of the thief guild and its leader, ‘Roxy’, was firmly engraved in the back world. Rumors are circulating that even the Dark Society has an eye on it, so that’s all I said.
And that attention is something Roxy didn’t want.
‘How did this happen?’
Roxy pressed down on the aching bone pain.
I didn’t want success. No, it would be nice to be successful, but I didn’t want to be this successful. I just wanted to be able to live a full life without worrying about money…
‘You’ve become too successful..!!’
Enough to attract attention outside the darkness.
Oh god damn it’s dark
There was nothing good about those crazy bastards getting attention. If she joins the Dark Society, bye-bye forever to the slightly better-than-average life she wants.
As he imagined the worst, Roxy felt his mind giddy.
‘It’s all because of that damn dad…’
She gritted her teeth at the thought of her father’s face, laughing like an asshole.
Her father was a good mercenary. Thanks to that, he had quite a bit of money saved up at home. Even if he retires, he will not have any trouble making a living.
But the damn father didn’t seem satisfied with that. He said he would do business and put all the wealth he had accumulated there.
The business went bankrupt.
Her father hanged himself. The overpaid workers came to Roxy’s house and knocked on the door.
When Roxy’s mother begged her that there was no money in the house, they didn’t take it. She broke into the house and ransacked the house. Of course, there is no way that there is anything worthwhile in a ruined house.
The workers furrowed their brows and spat out harsh curse words.
Roxy looked into their eyes and thought.
Wow, if I do this wrong, I’ll be sold to Changgwan as a set with my mom.
Maybe it’s not enough to take off the maiden ticket at Changgwan, so it’s a mother-daughter rice bowl set! Maybe I’ll end up sharing a bed with my mom this way.
When I thought about that, I got goosebumps.
So maybe she straightened her back and stood in front of her workers. She exclaimed loudly, in a confident voice.
I pay all the money! I’ll get you all your overdue salaries. So, instead of Dad, follow me this time!
The cheeky sound of a woman who has just become an adult. She said that, too, she was in a state of eating away at her fear. Wow, wouldn’t she get beaten up for being cocky? Do.
But she had one thing that made her stand out from everyone else. Just being good at poker faces. It was so much that even her father, who had been playing poker for half her life, did not notice.
Contrary to her trembling inside, her facial expression and gestures showed her confidence. In the end, the workers, who had no other options, decided to trust Roxy just once.
Roxy went into her back alley with her workers. She caught the beggars who were begging and the bullies who were stealing money, and she was intimidated.
We’ll protect you, so give us some money.
The workers were basically strong, so it was easy to change into a gang. The deposit was quite good, and I lived like that, so I became what I am now.
Huh? Did something go wrong?
That’s right. Because Roxy, she doesn’t know why she’s so successful!
I just took appropriate action whenever something was needed. But when she came to her senses, she was as successful as she is now.
What the fuck really is
“We have secured and contacted Kalita’s drug route. Customers were nervous about doing business with a new organization rather than an existing one. I decided to lower the price of the medicine for a while and made him keep his mouth shut. By the time you build trust in us, you can get it at the original price.”
Roxy turned her gaze to the woman reciting her report.
A bespectacled beauty with blonde hair down to her waist. Her neat suit amplifies her haughty impression.
Thieves Guild’s secretary, Michelle.
She is capable She easily wins people’s favor with her beautiful appearance, and once she gets a crush, she doesn’t let go easily.
He is quick to notice, and he is good at distinguishing the line that can be crossed and the line that cannot be crossed. Walking the tightrope in negotiations is her specialty.
She is also bright with numbers and is in charge of the thieves guild’s accounting department.
So it is safe to say that she is in charge of almost all parts of the thieves’ guild.
You may wonder why such a talented person is wiping Roxy’s back in the slums. Because at one time she didn’t even understand Roxy.
But now I know. The inside of that competent female cat!
‘I’m sure he intends to pretend to be a competent secretary, gain trust, and then stab him in the back.’
After doing a background check, Michelle was a famous thief in this world. She somehow steals the items she once targeted, and Yama is truly a great thief! This time, he must have come for Roxy, her money.
‘I am not fooled. I’ll eat as much as I can and throw it away!’
Roxy laughed inwardly.
Michelle followed her report.
“It is said that the remnants of the existing organizations are showing disquieting movements. According to the spy he planted, he intends to overthrow our Thieves Guild by calling the numbers.”
“Um, what about the number of remnants?”
“It is said to be about forty.”
“How many Thieves Guild members are currently residing in Kalita?”
“About thirty.”
“Then there will be no problem.”
Roxy said calmly. She is not ‘pretending’ to be calm, but really calm. I’ve been through this kind of thing a few times. Not to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Isn’t it Harold?”
Roxy looked at the middle-aged man standing to Michelle’s right. He is Roxy’s father’s colleague when he was a mercenary. As he has been a mercenary for a long time, his skills are excellent.
It’s to the extent that I can use mana.
He was the one who made the most contributions in terms of force when devouring Promia, Bahran, and Kalita.
“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
Harold politely bowed his head. Roxy felt a little uncomfortable. Unlike Michelle, I don’t know why this human is bowing down to Roxy.
To the point of bowing down to his friend’s daughter, he must be aiming for something great.
Something great!
I don’t know what it is. Roxy sighed inwardly.
It was then.
Bang!
The door to the office was thrown open. The three, including Roxy, turned their attention towards the door.
A black-haired man grabbed someone by the scruff of the neck and dragged them in.
“Who is the boss here? Is that the pink haired one in the middle?”
The dark-haired man pointed at Roxy and said. Then the dragged guy glanced at him and nodded his head.
Looking closely, the face of the dragged guy was a little familiar.
“Mikes!”
Harold shouted as he saw the dragged guy. Oh, I remembered. That guy was definitely a member of the Thieves Guild. But why is that guy being dragged by that guy?
Why is your face so swollen again?
For some reason, a feeling of uneasiness crept up.
“This is right. I am Yuseong Han, the boss of the Thieves Guild, an adventurer of the same rank. I came to ask you something.”
“…?”
You came?
Did he say it was normal for him to beat up his men and kick in doors?
Roxy was dumbfounded and stared at the man blankly.
“Where does this bastard come from here? What were those guys out there doing?!”
Harold frowned and approached the man. Seeing that, Roxy buried her back in his chair.
This is the end of the unknown intruder.
I must have been confident that I was in the same grade. Like the other ranks of the same class who secretly tried to put a spoon on the thieves guild when it succeeded. All of those same grades left with one broken somewhere.
That guy won’t be any different.
Anyway, why did he come here?
‘Could the adventurers guild plan to subdue the slums once again? No, I haven’t heard anything like that from Michelle.’
Michelle couldn’t miss that information. If that’s the case, that’s just the guy’s immature behavior. She could barely shake off her anxiety.
Bang! Wood deok!
Roxy opened her eyes at the sound of something breaking. Now we have to deal with the rebellion of the other minnows. Time to pay attention to one intruder like that…
‘Uh?’
For a moment, Roxy’s expression hardened. Her eyes focused on the fallen Harold and the intruder trampling on his leg. Harold’s leg is bent in a strange way.
It was only after a moment of time had passed that Roxy was able to understand the situation.
‘Has Harold lost…?’
He’s the guy who easily overcame three adventurers of the same rank.
Cold sweat began to run down Roxy’s back.
I fell into an unexpected crisis..!
Even so, she managed her expression. Poker face. Her only specialty. If you let go of this, then it’s really over..!
Roxy let out a deep sigh, and she couldn’t help but open her mouth.
“What do you want?”
She pretended not to lose her dignity and composure.
The intruder turned his gaze to Roxy.
“Will you listen to me?”
“Heh…”
Roxy corrected her posture and sat down. She clasped her hands and she rested her chin on them.
“Say it. I’ll decide later whether or not to listen.”
“Roxy-sama..!”
Seeing her not losing her composure even at such a moment, Michelle looked at her with her eyes full of emotion.
Roxy laughed again.
‘This desk…It’s really fortunate that it even covers the legs…’
If it wasn’t for that, I would have shown her trembling legs..!
* * *
“Say it. I’ll decide later whether or not to listen.”
Said the woman sitting in the only chair in her room. It’s a soft but serious tone. It’s a stark contrast to her bright pink hair and her lively face.
“No boss! Please listen to this guy’s request…”
“Shut up?”
I spat the blood from her mouth onto the floor. It’s because her mouth is slightly chapped.
At best, I ignored it as a slum organization, but a guy who knew how to fight came out.
I lifted my foot and stepped on the leg on the other side of the fallen guy. Wooddeuk. Because it contained mana, his leg bones bent in strange directions.
“Keep off…”
“Harold!”
Cried the woman with glasses. Immediately after, he glared hard at me. Ignoring the look in her eyes, Roxy turned her attention to her woman.
Roxy’s eyebrows twitched when she saw Harold.
That was all of her reaction. It’s disturbing to see his subordinates being insulted, but he’s surprisingly rational.
Indeed, it seems that it was no coincidence that the slums of Bahran and Kalita were swallowed up.
“Why don’t you put your legs down? It’s because he’s a subordinate I care about.”
“Why should I?”
“Isn’t that what you want from me?”
“…”
I took my leg off Harold. The glasses woman ran to Harold and checked his condition. Then she nods her head to Roxy. It means that there is no harm in life.
Roxy also nodded and turned her attention to me.
“So. What do you want?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? I have something to ask you.”
“Is it information?”
“Okay.”
“What information do you want?”
I took out Luciette’s developing paper and put it on Roxy’s desk.
“Do you know this man?”
Roxy picked up the developing paper, examined it for a moment, and called the glasses woman.
“Michelle, do you know who this is?”
Michelle glanced at her papers and replied that she had nothing more to look at.
“Yes. I know. Are you curious about information about this man?”
“Okay. Just tell me where you are now.”
“All right. Then…”
Michelle explained to me information about Luciette. Everything you don’t even know about. Perhaps she hopes that she will never come back.
“Did you understand everything?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
I picked up the developing paper and turned my back. It was about time to leave the room.
“It was splendidly opened. The Thieves Guild will not forget this incident.”
A dull voice came from behind.
Is that a threat..?
It was so blunt that I couldn’t tell for a moment. Judging from what he said at this time, it must be a threat.
A threat… A threat…
‘Hmm…’
What if I, who was pickpocketing in Bahran a few months ago, heard this threat? Perhaps, trembling with fear, he would think of leaving the city. Even if you run away, you won’t be able to live comfortably in fear of retaliation.
But now I didn’t feel much emotion. That was pretty amazing.
Well, it was not too long ago that he fought a fierce battle with a group of orcs and was chased by dozens of undead. Compared to them, it’s not much of a threat.
The reason I joined the adventure party in the first place was to be free from such threats.
Looking at it like this, I think my life has changed a lot. I don’t get treated badly by others, I don’t skip meals every day, and above all, my bed is warm every morning.
Suddenly, the faces of the two people at home came to mind, and a smirk flowed out.
Well, that’s it
I’ll have to answer that threat.
I turned my back and walked towards Roxy. Roxy only turned her eyes to stare at me. Like what She grabbed her wrist and put it on her desk.
He drew her dagger and slammed it down on the back of Roxy’s hand.
The dagger pierced Roxy’s hand and lodged in her desk.
“..!”
This time, he frowned for a moment, but there was no other reaction. Rather, the reaction was hot on the side of Michelle or Harold.
“Roxy! What are you doing?!”
Michelle pushed her face in, frowning. I hit her face with the back of her hand. She rolls on the floor powerlessly, perhaps because she was a guy with no special powers.
“Michelle! You are this baby! Just do something to Roxy-sama!”
Harold crawled across the floor with a ferocious face. The speed was remarkably slow, so it was nothing to worry about. He turned his attention back to Roxy.
Her eyes stare at me She has eyes like a calm sea without a single wave.
He held her by the nape of her neck with his left hand.
“It’s not like a threat… Okay. Do it if you can.”
I gave strength to her hand. Roxy’s face blushed little by little.
“If you’re going to do it instead, you better do it right. If you do it halfway and fail…”
He pressed force into her palm. The strongest without giving mana.
“Because you won’t die in peace.”
I met Roxy and her eyes for a moment. And let go of her neck.
“Cool… Cool…”
I left the room behind the coughing Roxy. No matter how poor she is, she becomes a nuisance when she openly kills people.
‘By the way, I even strangled her, but she doesn’t get disturbed…’
It might be better to secretly kill him later.
* * *
After the meteor left, a heavy silence followed in Roxy’s office. Neither Michelle nor Harold dared to voice their guilt for not doing their part.
“Michelle.”
Michelle hurriedly raised her face at Roxy’s voice.
“Yes yes!”
“Take Harold to the temple and heal him. I won’t be bothered if you give me more money.”
“Oh, no. I’m fine. Roxy-sama’s hand rather than mine…”
“Noisy. It’s better if you apply a potion on this. Michelle, don’t say it twice.”
“Yes yes!”
Michelle dragged Harold out of her office.
All that was left in the room now was Roxy, and she was alone.
But she can’t be relieved. Because her pitiful voice might leak out of her room.
I counted to 10 seconds to be sure.
It was a hellish time. After 10 seconds…
“Quaaaaang! It hurts..!!”
I unwrapped my poker face. Her hardened face twisted into a frown, and instead of her sullen voice, she let out a moaning sound.
Roxy lowered her head and looked at the back of her hand. The dagger pierced through the back of the hand is truly visually repulsive.
‘I shouldn’t have said the last word…’
She loses her dignity when she just lets go of the messed up guy in her organization. Her loss of dignity would disappoint Michelle and Harold, and she might leave Roxy.
So it didn’t work. I wouldn’t know if it was in the past, but now that the business has grown dirty, the two people’s strength is essential. With the two gone, Roxy might end up like her father.
No, it might be worse. Because it’s getting the attention of the Dark Society now.
That’s why I said something scary…
“Ugh…”
Roxy sniffed and opened the desk drawer. Inside is a potion prepared for emergencies. It’s very expensive, but it’s not more important than your hands. She listened without hesitation.
I grabbed the lid with my teeth. I was startled when I applied it to the wound.
Her palms have become skewers with the desk. To apply the potion, it was necessary to pull out that dagger.
Roxy gulped her saliva, reassuring her resolve. She grabbed the handle of the dagger.
“Town…!”
Jonah is sick!
Roxy bit her lip to hold back her screams. She only touched it a little, but it was so dizzying. How do you pull this…
“Bad bastard… He invaded on his own…”
Don’t you understand that I take care of my pride at the end?
You left out all the bad words. You said it very plainly.
But just got mad at that and made my hand into a skewer?
‘Revenge…’
Roxy recalled Yooseong right before he left.
‘Plural…’
She had a rough hand clasped around the nape of her neck.
Those sharp eyes that were as dark as pitch black.
‘… Is bad, so let’s not do it. They say that the end of revenge is futile, right? Even if I do, I have to lose. Hmm.’
So I decided to justify myself and move on.
Suddenly, sadness rose up and tears came to my eyes. She bit her lip and held it in. She shouldn’t cry Once hey, she never knows when she’ll make a mistake.
She tried desperately to draw her dagger, holding back her tears.
It took an hour or so for her to pull out her dagger and heal her with her potion.
