Ch.184White Scales (1)

The Businessman.

In the original work, he was one of the three major villains alongside the Monarch and Baobeu.

Slave auctions, drug distribution, contract killings… He was a big shot who had a tight grip on the Empire’s black money.

At the same time, he stood in direct opposition to the fox, as he frequently engaged in [Beast Hunting].

Especially for Irene, the businessman was nothing short of an enemy who burned her entire hometown.

He was the one who planted distrust of humans in her.

‘He was a filthy human.’

The epitome of an adult.

More precisely, he represented the ultimate form of corruption.

He craved money, treated the world as a material commodity, and enjoyed crushing others rather than conversing with them.

He possessed no understanding, no sympathy, no mercy.

If he had any standard to distinguish between good and evil, it was whether something made money or not.

This innate nature placed the man at the top.

-If money had a demon, it would surely be him.

-He answers only to gold.

-Who could take greed away from evil?

These were the reflections of an NPC.

This passage clearly revealed the businessman’s character.

A figure who seemed to embody the concept of capital as a demon.

His overwhelming wealth commanded the underworld, and with it, he controlled private armies including his “hunting dogs.”

Added to this were his connections with various nobles.

But was it because of these characteristics?

Even in the original work, he was quite poorly regarded.

[Category: Free Board]

[Title: The Businessman <- Something unpleasant every time he appears]

It’s something that hits too close to home, you know?

The evil deeds committed by characters like the Monarch or the Cultist feel somewhat unrealistic

Ruling as a king, handling nuclear-level human weapons, destroying the world…

They have that distinctive fantasy villain feel, which makes it okay

But

The Businessman <- he’s different

He commits acts that could actually happen somewhere in reality

Political corruption, cartels, drug production and distribution, human trafficking…

When you think about how these things are actually happening in some countries, it feels uncomfortable

Is it just me?

[I’ve felt similarly]

-> He is disturbing in some ways

-> That’s what makes him an impressive villain

-> He knows how to use money effectively, I guess

[Even though he’s disliked, I think the character itself is well-made]

-> According to developer comments, he was designed as “a villain who becomes more unpleasant the more you understand the terror of money”

-> So all that discomfort was intentional

-> The quality is really outstanding when you think about it

-> It would be a god-tier game if not for the insane difficulty

-> No, it’s god-tier even with that included

[He’s truly an “adult-like” character]

-> I think he’s the most extreme example of reflecting the negative aspects of adulthood

-> If he had been adult-like in a different way, he might have been popular

-> Let’s give him a TS potion now

[Seeing the Businessman who gives players this vague sense of discomfort makes me appreciate the Dean who’s been at the top of the dislike rankings for years…]

-> The Dean is truly the normalization of discomfort

-> Undisputed GOAT of hatred

-> Damn it’s the Dean again. I was just going to sleep after reading this post, but I saw the Dean again. Now I must shout. Even though I know shouting will wake me up completely, I must shout. It is the duty of those who have witnessed the Dean. As of today I withdraw my support for the Dean. From today I break free from this relationship of support… (omitted)

-> Damn that’s long

-> Does this guy have the comment section to himself?

-> Clean public space etiquette is Dean-level lol

A villain who showed the pinnacle of ugliness.

Especially in the episode dealing with the fox’s past, he displayed his ultimate form.

To the point where those who considered Irene their favorite had difficulty watching.

The cruelty driven by money and greed was that cold.

[Category: Free Board]

[Title: I just can’t watch the Fox Side Story.]

Irene is my favorite, but I can’t handle her suffering.

Being deceived by the Businessman, her village burned without a trace.

Her trusted teacher died, other adults sold off to various places.

Even the little ones she tried to protect were taken away.

I thought the story would at least go toward recovering the lost children.

But they were already all dead.

And the ways they died were horrifically diverse.

Abuse, torture, taxidermy, butchering… just hearing about it is terrible.

I’ve never seen Irene so desperate in the story.

It’s too depressing. I’m dropping this side story.

[It is intense]

-> You can’t handle it if you don’t have tolerance for depressing content

-> It’s just a side story anyway, so skipping it won’t affect the main plot

-> We play games to have fun, not to get stressed

[The businessman is a fucking bastard]

-> Irene fans are seriously angry

-> Our daughter is being bullied!

-> I’m going to cut off the Businessman’s head right now

[But what does “butchering” mean among the ways they died??]

-> Looking at the lore, there was a saying that young fox beast-kin meat was a delicacy

-> It seems to have spread like a trend, with quite a demand in the underworld

-> Oh shit…

-> So was it actually tasty?

-> According to one gourmet’s review, that was nonsense

-> That’s even worse

[That rumor mentioned in the comment above, wasn’t it spread by the Businessman?]

-> ??????

-> Is this for real?

-> It is. It was in the new video from the Campaign Collection guy.

-> If it’s from that video, it’s probably reliable

-> Campaign Collection is practically semi-official now

-> Wow, that’s truly disgusting…

The absolute bottom of humanity.

Yet he was praised for being well-crafted precisely because of this.

The mainstream opinion was that he well expressed the compromised adult, with money as his sole purpose.

Of course, crafting or whatever. That was completely irrelevant to me now.

For me, he was merely a death row inmate.

I smile slightly.

‘Looking down on people.’

Those who attacked the academy as they pleased.

I had already dealt with Venatti, so now it was the Businessman’s turn.

As for Baobeu… well, being shrouded in mystery, tracking him would take time.

But the Businessman was practically in the palm of my hand.

I was fully aware of his movements.

‘A cunning one.’

Being quick-witted, he would already be preparing to flee.

He would have sensed that things were going strangely after Venatti’s collapse was announced.

I thought he might flee to another continent.

He took similar actions in the original work too.

‘Not so fast.’

Of course, I had no intention of letting him go.

I was the type who always repaid debts.

And isn’t it proper for a person to keep their promises?

-I’ll leave it to your imagination.

-What price you’ll pay.

He was a rat in a trap.

No matter how much he struggled, he was already caught.

Who could possibly stand in the way of the walk of punishment?

His connections with noble families that he had built up over the years?

‘Well.’

What of it?

I had the Emperor backing me.

After the recent execution order for Venatti, the imperial authority was higher than ever.

It had impressed upon the nobles the fact that one wrong move could cost them their heads.

In such tense times, no family would actively oppose the Emperor’s will.

I mutter with an obvious sneer.

‘If you wanted to fight with connections… you should have managed at least this much.’

There is no escape from judgment.

In life, justice will prevail.

The price of wrongdoing will surely be paid by evil.

We intended to approach him in the way most familiar to him.

Rather than talking, we would crush him.

“Well then.”

I turn around slightly.

At the end of my gaze stands a girl in a white robe.

Orange hair flutters in the rippling wind.

The fox was standing still in her place.

“Shall we go? Miss Irene.”

Venom reflects through her pupils.

Her clenched fist trembles slightly, containing the girl’s emotions.

Yet Irene’s calm demeanor suggests acceptance.

The cool chill represents her growth over time.

I extend my hand.

“To our night.”

The fox is silent for a moment.

Then, as if her thoughts have settled, she nods.

Our hands interlock so they won’t separate.

“Yes. Because this is something we must do.”

“This is Miss Irene’s story.”

“For my deceased teacher, the adults, the children I couldn’t save, and…”

“And?”

Her gaze was resolute.

Like winter that would never break again.

“…And, for myself.”

Flicker-.

A light spark jumps.

Her black pupils contained me completely.

Responding to such determination, I smiled.

A tribute to one who had risen after defeat.

“May stars always accompany you.”

A night as dark as pitch.

It was adults’ time.

***

A spring so quiet it had settled.

And dawn covering the brightness of that season.

Against the dark background, only two people are walking.

One is a narrow-eyed boy in a black coat, the other a fox girl in a white robe.

Their harmonious steps cross the night streets.

Step, step-.

Soon, a massive building comes into view through the hazy sight.

It had an excessively ornate exterior for a building constructed in a remote location.

The boy speaks as if reminiscing.

“It’s been a while. This place hasn’t changed at all.”

“…Indeed. Unbearably unchanged.”

Their gazes linger on the grandeur.

The Apple Tree, the Empire’s largest slave auction house.

An illegal facility operated by the underworld figure known as the “Businessman.”

And also the background where certain characters’ stories began.

The two approached the large entrance.

“Well then… shall we announce ourselves?”

The Apple Tree.

A place where the fox was once imprisoned, and also a space of hatred.

Simultaneously, the miraculous cage where her first meeting with the snake took place.

Irene tightly grips her outstretched hand.

A cool gleam reflects.

That light resembles a star.

“The return of the prodigal child.”

The two took steps.

Toward their past, still vivid.