Chapter 142 – Chapter 35. Two Alley Bosses.
Jihyeok left the inn building after an early breakfast. He mingled with the bustling crowd and walked along the boulevard. The feeling of the soil and sand breaking under his feet came up along the soles of his feet.
He pulled out a small piece of paper from his bosom. It had been sent by his godfather Basil to tell him. It contained information about Palahino’s intelligence network.
– Farnese general store
The hero followed the name and address and walked a long way to find the location. The general store was located in a deep alley in the southwest downtown area. It was quiet there.
The pattern on the wooden signboard, which swayed in the wind, had faded and was hard to see. Jihyeok looked at it for a while, then opened the old wooden door and entered the general store.
I stayed for a long time and the musty smell hit me. The general store was buzzing with flies without a single customer. A duster and an old book lay on the counter. And after that the old general storekeeper raised his head to greet his customers.
“Come on, Oshu.”
Jihyeok skimmed through the items in the display case before heading to the counter. The old man saw him empty-handed and asked what he was looking for.
He first took out an object from his bosom and laid it on the plate. It was the proof of the godfather.
“My godfather sent me.”
However, the old man did not blink an eye with a calm expression. He was really skilled.
“What do you mean, this old man…”
“I am the warrior Kang Ji-hyeok.”
He took out the warrior’s plaque from his bosom and put it in front of the old man’s nose.
Only then did the opponent’s expression change completely and he lowered his head.
“Why did you come all the way here?”
“This is an order from the godfather to actively cooperate with me. … I’d like to know some of the information you’ve collected so far.”
“What information are you talking about?”
“About the internal situation. The insiders, the alley manager’s routine, whatever, that’s all.”
“Then could you wait a bit? I’ll give it to you after I’ve sorted everything out right now.”
“I get it. Wait here.”
The old man went to the entrance first and locked the door. It’s annoying when an unnecessarily intrusive person comes.
Jihyeok wandered around the store again looking at each item in the display case. He even lifted things up and examined them. Then the old man came out again.
“If you need anything, you can bring it.”
“No, I was just watching. … Is that starch?”
“Yes, that is all.”
Jihyeok went back to the counter and skimmed through the bundle of papers the old man had brought.
“Do you have anything about other heroes?”
The old man’s eyes changed strangely.
“The missing ones?”
“Okay.”
“There was very little we could find out about it. It’s because it’s been going on so secretly over there.”
“… What about the A-class hero, Navre?”
“There is no information about him.”
“Am I the first hero to contact you?”
“That’s right. I am a secret informant known only to my master.”
“Okay.”
At that time, Ji-hyeok, who was about to turn around, was called back by the old man.
“Yes, Your Excellency. I just had something about the Navre warriors.”
“Like what?”
“One of those team members has not yet left.”
“Give me that information too.”
The old man went inside and came out again soon after. Jihyeok received the paper he held out and examined its contents.
The team member who said there was only one left was a person he knew well. Just then that fairy healer… !
Looking at the reason why it was still there, it was said that it was to find the missing Navre. She’s working with another informant…
It was unexpected. She thought that she, who seemed to resent Navre the most, would remain until the end of her life, wandering around looking for her captain. … It seemed that there was some secret between the two of them that he didn’t know about.
“Thank you. Hard work.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“And, never reveal my true identity to anyone.”
“Is it possible? Don’t worry.”
The old man hurried back to the entrance and unlocked his lock again. Jihyeok went out through the door he opened. The musty air was refreshing again.
He returned to the building as it was. When he entered the dorm room, he saw Gunda doing physical training with his shirt off.
“You are here.”
“Get dressed and come to the next room. We have to get together and do it.”
“Yes.”
Jihyeok said that and he walked over to the room where the two women were. As if they had waited, they got up and cleaned the table. Gunda soon joined, and the four warriors sat around a round table.
And Jihyeok put the wad of paper down on the table.
“It has been accepted. Now, let’s take a look at the proper distribution.”
After each of the warriors received their proper share, they began to examine the contents meticulously. The princess pulled her chair aside and placed her legs on her bed, examining the contents of the paper one by one.
“Damn it, the content is so fucked up.”
The princess’s first impression was roughly like that. Well, after all, cock collectors are no ordinary street captains.
Elizabeth, who was looking at her insiders, classified those worth noting. She then pushed it out to Jihyeok and asked for a review.
Gunda and Ganesha were also curious about the contents, so they stuck next to Jihyeok and looked at the paper together.
Elizabeth cocked one of them and she asked if it would be nice to take advantage of the interest. He was a 43-year-old middle-aged man named Corman, one of Budel’s close associates.
The guy had too many corruptions. Even the bribe to go to Budel was sneaked in the middle. There, he started a business without the knowledge of the black fairy, and he was eating the income for it alone. Other than that, there were a lot of little things. … If Buddel were to get caught on this, he could really be blown off his head.
It seemed that the informant had devoted years of effort to investigate this bastard’s back hole. And recently, it seems that they even made contact. The results for him were positive.
“Does this bastard look okay?”
The princess also seemed to think that this guy was perfect. It doesn’t look too different either.
… The real Buddel, this fucking year is a formidable bitch.
But Ji-hyeok, who had already had a blast rolling in mud with cock collectors, didn’t fall for this perfect-looking bait. If he hadn’t known, he would have been stuck. I already have a history like that.
This guy named Korman was a double agent that Budel had worked hard on for a long time. Ji-hyeok, who was fighting with her for power, also had the experience of being tricked by this and getting hit by her.
“Hey man, let’s go.”
“… Fake?”
“In this way, we make a bait that looks good and makes them bite. Among the warriors, there must be some who have suffered here.”
As a result of checking Gunda from the first survey to the last survey, it was found that it took five years. … But is this intentional?
“… It’s something you’ve been researching for five years, right?”
“They are wicked people. I can’t guarantee even 10 years, not 5 years.”
“Huh.”
I thought it was bait, but I doubted whether it was really true. Even the princess asked if you were mistaken.
“No, that’s for sure. The Black Fairy is by no means a formidable character. Four warriors have already been defeated. It’s something to be suspicious of and see.”
Jihyeok strongly insisted, so the other three had no choice but to accept his opinion. Because he hadn’t said anything nonsense until now.
“So what? I’m not sure if everything else fits or not…”
What would Princess Elizabeth do then, she asked. Jihyeok stared at his paper, lost in his thoughts. He had a long silence.
Soon Jihyeok opened his mouth.
“I use the fact that I am a double agent in reverse.”
“… Reverse?”
The princess asked. The princess nodded her chin as if to continue talking.
Jihyeok found a piece of paper about the internal situation and showed it to the three of them.
“There are too many enemies in the basement right now. Moreover, the terrain itself is not very familiar. We are at a disadvantage in terms of head count and terrain.”
“So?”
“But at least if the numbers here give you half… , It will be worth a try.”
“How are you going to cut it in half?”
“So we should use this.”
Jihyeok tapped the paper with his finger that contained the contents of this insider named Corman.
“We pretend to be deceived. It is to act as if a group of warriors and informants gather and attack.”
The princess’ brow narrowed. She twirled her fingers as if hypnotizing her.
“… So, let’s fall into a trap on purpose?”
“Yes. It is to take the enemies out of the basement.”
Gunda thumped his palm with a fist while saying aha.
“You’re saying you’re going to rob an empty house!”
“Yes, it is similar.”
I said it was similar because it wasn’t a completely empty house.
“… No, wait. So what about falling into a trap? Are you cheating on that too?”
Jihyeok shook his head at the princess’s question. The three eyes turned curious.
“No. You have to fall into a trap so that your enemies will not suspect you.”
“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”
“… Well, not a safe way. But in my opinion this is the fastest and surest. Of course, the number of enemies has been reduced, but there will still be quite a few in the basement. Up or down, the risk will be the same.”
“Huh, fuck…”
“So let’s decide here. If it’s difficult, I’ll go another way, and if I think it’s worth trying, I’ll go with this. How is it, everyone?”
The princess smiled crookedly.
“… Fuck, ok, that sounds like fun, this. I agree What about you?”
Ganesha glanced over at the other two. Gunda and Elizabeth thought carefully.
Gunda looked at Jihyeok with her serious eyes.
“I will abide by your choice.”
“Then is it decided?”
The princess said that she was done, but Jihyeok blocked her in the middle.
“No, if even one person is against it, it is better to find another way. Elizabeth, what do you think? … Don’t look at it, tell me what you think.”
The three looked at the princess. Elizabeth bit her lip and then she stared straight at Jihyeok.
“Exactly how dangerous is that?”
“At least it will be easier than catching the demon king.”
Gunda and Ganesha, who had participated in the subjugation, burst into laughter. Elizabeth somehow felt a little left out. Because she was the only one who couldn’t participate in the subjugation.
Jihyeok spoke again.
“Is there anything that can guarantee a hero’s life? No. So I can’t say for sure to what extent.”
There, the princess’s heart hardened.
“… Yes, fine, I will.”
“Yeah, fuck it, let’s go hot.”
As if the princess had been waiting, she hit the table with her fist.
“Shit, I’ll just kill all the bastards that get caught!!”
