IBFWGFG 78

chapter 78

In the underworld, a meeting hall periodically convened.

There was one notable change there as well.

Thump… Thump…

It was a ping-pong machine installed in a corner of the hall.

“…….”

Thump… Thump…

Ogre frowned, clearly irritated by the noise.

But Hayden and the Saint paid no attention to Ogre’s reaction and were completely absorbed in the game.

“Ho… This is actually pretty fun.”

“Perfect for killing time. You can even put a tablecloth on top and use it as a card game table, so it doesn’t really take up any space. Seymour, I want a few of these in the black market too. How should I go about buying them?”

“Ah, hold on. I’ll buy them first.”

“Do we need a reservation?”

“No, but I am the senior here, aren’t I?”

“…….”

With that, I secured another two guests and sat at the table, waiting for the meeting to begin.

The ‘Crow’ of the assassination guild hadn’t arrived yet.

As I waited for the latecomer, I casually glanced over the pillars in the hall.

‘Everyone’s dressed nicely; it’s a good sight.’

The pillars of the underworld were all clad in Lux suits.

Sitting there in the abandoned church, I couldn’t help but recall the mafia movies I’d seen on Earth.

‘Right. A proper villain should have at least this level of elegance and class.’

As I admired the scene I’d created, the doors of the chapel opened, and the Crow entered.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

Blood was heavily stained on the Crow’s clothing as he spoke.

He was famous for always handling jobs cleanly. It seemed this assassination target had put up quite a fight.

‘Or maybe he wanted to send a warning to someone in the underworld.’

In fact, Hayden sat down quietly, looking slightly pale and shaken.

Of course, aside from Hayden, no one else was frightened by a few bloodstains.

“Then, let’s begin the meeting.”

Surprisingly, meetings in the underworld were relatively civilized.

They were occasions to share information on shifts in noble power structures, newly revised royal laws, and emerging rival organizations.

‘Apart from the forced polite laughter and refined preambles, it’s basically no different from high society.’

Naturally, the meeting was led by ‘Shadow,’ the master of the information guild, and a witch with equally impressive intelligence, though slightly less so.

“…The strike at Winchester Workshop will end soon.”

Ogre licked his lips at the news of the prolonged strike.

He had been earning a tidy profit by sending his subordinates to the Winchester Workshop contractors.

“Seymour, is there any way to prolong the strike?”

I had sent mercenary companies to assist the striking workers at Winchester Workshop.

Thanks to that, the strike had already been extended, so in a way, Ogre and I were on the same side.

“Hmm. I don’t think it’ll get any longer. The Grand Workshop has already pressured Winchester Workshop to stop ‘disciplining’ their employees.”

“The Grand Workshop?”

“They judged that if the strike prolonged any further, the royal family might intervene.”

“Tch. Then prolonging it is impossible.”

Ogre looked a little disappointed, but I was more than satisfied.

Not only had I hired mercenaries on behalf of the striking workers, but I was also siphoning engineers from Winchester Workshop to work at the Mausoleum Workshop.

As various topics circulated, the meeting neared its conclusion, and Shadow introduced a new topic.

“Count Mausoleum. I heard there was a conflict with the church.”

The witch’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me, as if this was the topic she had been waiting for.

The battle at Lake Lester had been kept secret, but its massive scale made it impossible to hide completely.

And if the opponent was the master of the information guild, said to have ears all over Granium, then it was impossible to keep it entirely secret.

“Well, it just… happened that way.”

“Are you planning a full-scale war with the church?”

Her tone was polite, but her eyes were clearly calculating.

“No. They started the fight, so I responded, but I have no intention of waging war with the church.”

Shadow closed her mouth, as if that was all she needed to know.

She was probably analyzing what she had learned about me and the lake battle alongside my answer.

“I heard you fought a divine avatar.”

This time, Ogre asked.

He ran his hand across my shoulders as if measuring my muscles, then asked,

“Were they strong?”

“They were strong, but not unbeatable.”

At my words, Ogre’s arm muscles tensed.

I couldn’t tell if his pride was in me or the god.

“Did you defeat them with your own strength, or the power of the child within you?”

Apparently, his pride was aimed at me.

After all, to the humans of this world, ‘fighting a god’ wouldn’t be relatable.

But a ‘human capable of standing against a god’? That was a trophy worth hunting.

“My power is Lucis’ power, and Lucis’ power is mine.”

I answered vaguely on purpose.

Ogre was a combat addict. If I gave the impression that I was strong, he might immediately challenge me.

‘I’ll have to use this personality to make him attack my enemies.’

Ogre’s vigilance towards me was extreme, so he didn’t act freely.

“So, in other words, if the church initiates a fight, you’re ready to respond anytime?”

The witch smiled softly.

“If you ever need my help, just say so. I know the church’s weaknesses better than anyone else.”

She ended the meeting there, satisfied with just that.

I stopped Shadow as she was about to leave.

“I have a request.”

“For me?”

Shadow glanced in a direction, and following her gaze, I saw the witch looking at me with a slightly annoyed expression.

If I didn’t make the request to her, she seemed prepared to pout, lips slightly protruding.

“…Yes. To you.”

I ignored that and entered the priest’s office with Shadow.

“I have two requests.”

I pulled out two small jewel pouches. A direct request through Shadow cost one handful of jewels per job.

“No, that’s fine.”

Shadow raised her hand to stop me.

“We’ll pay after the job.”

“I don’t really like post-payment.”

“Don’t worry. Just grant me one favor.”

“You don’t seem to want to tell me what that favor is first.”

“Of course.”

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

Shadow didn’t have much of a storyline, so she wouldn’t get involved in any massive battles like the witch.

‘If it’s impossible, I’ll just tell her to cut it out.’

After all, wasn’t this a gathering of criminal organizations? Betrayal and lies were just a part of etiquette.

“First, I want you to interpret these books.”

I pulled out a few books from my possession.

• The Principles of Smoke

• How to Win a Woman’s Heart

They were rare books from Mausoleum.

“What are these?”

“They’re encrypted books.”

Shadow accepted the books and tucked them under her arm, then asked,

“And the second request?”

“I want you to find someone.”

“What clues do we have for tracking?”

That was the tricky part. I didn’t even know if they were male, female, young, or old.

But I did have a few hints.

“A person who, without any patronage or criminal activity, grows at an unbelievable speed purely through their own skill and chance.”

Everything in this world seemed conveniently prepared for him.

“And they use a power called ‘Reverse Heaven.’”

A power that most would never obtain even after a lifetime of research, handled effortlessly from birth.

“They’ll appear within six months. I want you to find this person.”

I decided to begin the search for the protagonist.

Today was the last lesson at Mausoleum Townhouse before the private tutoring session at Ishtar Townhouse.

• Heehee-hin!

A young white horse Irina had brought neighed joyfully as Lucis stroked it.

Lucis sat atop the white foal, walking around the garden.

At first, Irina stayed close, worried Lucis might fall, but seeing Lucis ride skillfully, she stood beside me, watching.

‘So cute.’

What was cute was Lucis’ riding outfit, tailored for the day.

Even cuter were the big eyes peeking out from under the oversized helmet.

“Have you ever ridden before?”

I shook my head at Irina’s question.

“Not at all. Lucis is just so familiar with animals. The foal is careful too, just in case Lucis falls.”

“Truly a dragon beloved by all animals.”

Today’s lesson goal was horse riding.

Irina, as a knight, believed riding was a refined skill for all, regardless of age or gender.

After a big lap around the garden, Lucis dismounted lightly and puffed out his chest, as if to admire his own riding skill.

“You ride so well! You could compete in riding tournaments!”

“Hmph.”

Lucis’ pride suggested such competitions were trivial.

As the lesson wound down, Irina asked Lucis,

“Lucis, I heard you’ve decided on a dream.”

Taking off his helmet with a grunt, Lucis again wore a proud expression.

“Yes. I’ve decided.”

“May I ask what it is?”

“The Radiant Dragon.”

“Eh?”

“I’ll become a Radiant Dragon when I grow up.”

Irina’s eyes widened, then quickly brightened with a smile.

Being from the Radiant Dragon family, she took immense pride and faith in their lineage, so her student, a dragon, dreaming of the same, was an enormous joy.

“Ah.”

Realizing this was the House of the Void Dragon, Irina glanced at me, trying to compose herself.

“…Hehehe.”

She failed miserably, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Rejoice freely, Lady Ishtar.”

“Eh? Is that alright?”

“A child’s privilege is to dream what they wish. No one in my family would be upset hearing Lucis’ dream.”

If there were, I’d have thrown them out.

“Children must grow regardless of adult quarrels.”

I firmly believed that and would compromise on nothing in raising Lucis.

“Count… you really are…”

Irina looked at me as if she had much to say, then shook her head and said to Lucis,

“Thank you, Lucis.”

Lucis seemed to understand why she was grateful.

“Hmph.”

He puffed up, accepting the thanks as naturally deserved.

Back at Ishtar Townhouse, Irina reported the day’s tutoring session to her mother as usual.

“So Lucis’ dream is to become a Radiant Dragon!”

Proudly, as if recounting a heroic tale.

Moyna listened quietly and then asked,

“Did you hear how the Count defeated the divine avatar?”

“Eh? No. But mother, about next week’s lesson at our mansion… should I show the legacy of the Radiant Dragon…?”

Moyna raised a hand to stop Irina mid-sentence.

After a brief sigh, she removed her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and asked,

“Irina, what on earth are you doing?”