Chapter 430, Page 429: A Terrible World
Whether in an empire or a kingdom, with very few exceptions like Mushroom City, there will always be gangs that thrive in the cracks of power.
They are like vines in the shadows, quietly filling the voids that the lord's power cannot reach.
In places where the lord's rule is strict, gangs often take the form of being scattered and disorganized.
They might just be small gangs of three or five, each occupying one or two streets, or secretly monopolizing certain inconspicuous but profitable gray businesses, living cautiously like rats beneath the glamorous surface of the city.
In areas where the lords are incompetent or the control is lax, gangs gradually consolidate into one or two massive underground forces after brutal battles of blood and fire. Their tentacles penetrate into every aspect of the city, and some of them are so large that they are even called the "uncrowned kings" of the area.
Even worse, some seemingly independent large gangs are actually just black gloves carefully cultivated by a certain "big shot" on the surface, specializing in handling those dirty jobs that can't be seen in the light of day.
The city where Tanaka is currently located is just like that.
An underground organization called the "Rust Coin Alliance," with the intentional or unintentional indulgence of the local lord, firmly controls the city's illegal trading network.
It has a large number of small gangs attached to it, handling all sorts of dirty business for this behemoth.
"Stone Scorpion" is precisely such a small gang that is attached to the "Rusty Coin Alliance".
They engage in extortion and kidnapping in their own little territory, handing over most of their profits in exchange for the Rustcoin Alliance's protection and permission to operate.
At its core is a gold-level leader, paired with two silver-level deputies, plus seven or eight bronze-level henchmen; this is their entire membership.
Tonight, this group is gathered in their underground hideout, celebrating their recent "bumper harvest."
The smell of cheap ale mixed with the burnt odor of roasted meat grease filled the cramped space. No one noticed that a figure was quietly waiting outside the room.
It started when the bronze-level henchman sitting on the outermost edge fell headfirst into his plate, splashing meat juices that drew a burst of laughter.
But soon, the laughter thinned out, and the second and third members collapsed to the ground one after another.
The silver-ranked lieutenant managed to pull out the dagger, but he didn't even have the strength to grip it tightly, and could only watch helplessly as the weapon slipped from his fingers.
"poison?"
The leader tried to stand up, but found that his legs wouldn't obey him. He fell heavily to the ground, knocking over the wine barrel next to him. The murky wine gushed out and soaked half of his cheek.
He struggled to pull a vial of medicine from his waist, intending to drink it, but a hand reached out from behind and easily snatched it away.
Only then did he realize that a man dressed in a black robe had appeared in the room at some point.
Tanaka drew the longsword hidden under his cloak; the tip gleamed coldly in the flickering candlelight.
The leader waved his arms in vain, like a beetle that had been turned over.
With a look of disgust on Tanaka's face, the sword pierced down.
He didn't like killing people; the smell of the entrails and blood only made him feel disgusted, but he had no choice but to endure it now.
Fortunately, it's a clone, so there's no need to worry about the bloody smell sticking to your body and being difficult to wash off.
[Level Up: LV28 → LV29]
A gold-level guy was killed as easily as a chicken.
All of this was because Tanaka, under Kiro's guidance, had poisoned a piece of meat in the market beforehand.
Tanaka felt terrified at this; dealing with Kiro would probably be no more difficult than dealing with this minor leader...
After dealing with the lambs waiting to be slaughtered one by one, the little gang called "Stone Scorpion" disappeared completely into the shadows of the city.
Meanwhile, in their hideout on the other side of the city, Tanaka himself was sitting with Kiro by a warm fireplace.
The fox-person slowly sipped the hot milk, a ring of milk stains around his lips.
“Look in the corner of the room, there’s a hidden basement entrance.” Kiro seemed to know everything, meticulously planning every step for Tanaka. “They’ve imprisoned the tribal refugees they kidnapped during the heavy snow. Release them all, erase their memories, and then dispel their clones. After that, it’ll be none of our business. That way, it will be seen as the tribe’s revenge, and no one will trace it back to us.”
Tanaka sighed: "In the end, we still have to upgrade first... Is there enough time?"
“There’s no other way. Even with convenient abilities, you still need basic strength to succeed in many situations. Don’t worry, the time isn’t right yet. You have plenty of time to level up a few times. Everything is going according to plan.” Kiro wiped his mouth. “Besides, as a hero, you should be content! Not everyone has the ability to steadily increase their strength simply by killing enemies.”
Tanaka asked doubtfully, "Isn't this how everyone levels up?"
“Training, learning, and real combat are all indispensable for us. Moreover, most people have limited talent, and it's common for them to work their whole lives without breaking through a certain level. It's not something that can be solved by killing a few living creatures. By the way, the main kidnapping targets of this group of 'Stone Scorpions' were older but weaker individuals in the city. The recent tribespeople were just an unexpected bonus for them.”
Tanaka was confused: "You specifically kidnap people like that? Why? Even if you were capturing slaves, shouldn't you prioritize the young and healthy?"
"The Rust Coin Alliance on the Stone Scorpion has a long-standing business relationship with the cult, the Hand of the Dead. The cult wants guys like this, claiming they'll help cleanse their impure souls, but in reality, they're all sacrificed to that Grim Reaper." Kiro's voice turned cold, revealing his dislike for the cult.
This was the first time Tanaka had ever heard of such a cult: "Mist, war, cult, calamity... This world is just too terrible..."
Kiro shrugged: "Who can argue with that! But even the worst is better than destruction!"
...
In the south of the mainland, Lin Jun was eager to get involved in this terrible war.
Under the command of his adjutant, the two thousand Puji soldiers were divided into left and right wings, and together with the eight thousand Puji soldiers in the central army led by Inanna, they formed a mighty three-pronged attack.
Such a deployment is necessary. Too many Puji gathered in one place may lead to insufficient local magic supply in the creep, a significant decrease in energy efficiency, and a serious impact on marching speed.
It's clear that this adjutant has a deep understanding of the characteristics of the Puji Legion.
In addition, Eric specially arranged for two diamond-level bodyguards, Inanna, whose mission was clear: to ensure the young lady's safe evacuation during the most critical moments of the battle.
Just before the army was about to set off, a familiar figure suddenly appeared on the northernmost fungal carpet – it was Aiding, who had been missing for many days!
His priceless mage robes had been reduced to tattered rags, his meticulously enchanted equipment was reduced to fragments, his face was covered in dust and exhaustion, and he was even missing an arm!
Upon finally finding the fungal carpet, Aiding immediately knelt down on it: "Boss! Ah!" (One chapter tonight, two more before 1 PM)
(End of this chapter)
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