Chapter 73

(TLN: so i recently started a new tier on this novel and for the first 5 to join ill be posting 3 bonus chapters for each one, anyways today you be getting 3 bonus chaps :3 say thanks to arlos)

We dragged Dan into a secluded back alley.

I asked Godwin to block the entrance, and I leaned against the wall at an angle in front of Dan.

Standing in this narrow alley made me feel like a delinquent.

It’s funny; I’ve lived a decent life all along.

But there’s nothing quite as effective as creating this kind of atmosphere for intimidation.

I pulled out a cigarette.

“Light.”

“Ah… Yes, yes.”

Dan, with a nervous face, hurriedly lit it for me.

“Phew.”

I deliberately blew the smoke in Dan’s face.

“Cough, cough.”

Dan coughed.

Ah, this is something a real scoundrel would do; it pricks my conscience a bit.

But to firmly take the lead from the start, this kind of staging is necessary.

“Name.”

“Da, Dan.”

“Last name?”

“I’m a commoner.”

“I’m a noble.”

“Ah, I thought you seemed like someone important.”

Dan forced a smile and rubbed his hands together obsequiously.

He’s definitely got survival skills ingrained in him.

“Listen, Dan.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He quickly changed his form of address, eyeing me.

“There are two types of unforgivable people in this world. Do you know what they are?”

“Uh, I’m not sure.”

“One is the person who borrows money and doesn’t pay it back. The other is the person who tries to cheat and swindle others.”

Dan’s pupils shook as he heard my words.

I put my hand on his shoulder.

Squeeze.

“eek.”

“What are you startled for? Just checking if you’re good for work.”

“Th-that’s right? Hahaha.”

Dan forced a laugh.

“If you don’t have money, you have to compensate with your body, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“If you don’t like it, leave a wrist and go.”

“No, no… I like it. How could I not like compensating with my body?”

(TLN: Whats wrong with koreans and compensating with bodies)

“Really? That’s good to hear.”

I smirked and showed three fingers.

“Three years.”

“What?”

“Three years of compensating with your body. It’s not hard work. Just do whatever odd jobs I tell you to.”

Originally, I just wanted to exploit Dan’s skills.

But I changed my mind.

Currently, I only have one attendant, Dolph.

Too shabby for the heir of a count’s family.

I needed more people for menial tasks.

And there was no one more suitable than Dan for such work.

Quick-witted, somewhat smart, and with a decent amount of strength.

Anyone more talented would be a waste on menial tasks; Dan was just right.

That was my decision.

Three years.

Roughly the time left until the protagonist’s graduation.

That should be enough.

“How about it? You won’t find more generous terms than this. Consider yourself lucky to have run into someone as good as me.”

“Th-that’s right. Hahaha.”

Dan’s face soured for a moment at the mention of three years, but soon he seemed okay with it.

Three years of labor was a cheap price to pay for the huge debt and the safety of his wrists.

He must have made that judgment.

But.

“Um… But I think we’ll need a written pledge.”

Swept up in the atmosphere, but still sharp enough to make his point.

That’s what makes him useful.

“Of course. Everything should be documented for clarity, right?”

I eagerly nodded as if I had been waiting for such a suggestion.

Documentation binds not only me but also him.

If there’s no ulterior motive, I prefer things to be clean.

I spat out the cigarette and stubbed it out with my foot.

Then I took out the prepared paper, pen, and ink.

“Let’s get this done quickly. It’s not hard.”

Scribble, scribble, scribble.

I wrote a rough draft of two pages stating that in exchange for the safety of his wrists and the cancellation of his debt, Dan would faithfully perform all tasks as an attendant to Max Celtrine for three years.

Then I signed my name and stamped it.

“Check the content and sign your name and stamp it.”

Dan took the pledge I handed him.

He carefully checked the content.

Then he looked a bit surprised.

“Celtrine…?”

“Yeah, I’m the eldest son of that family.”

“Hehe, I knew you were someone of distinction.”

Dan immediately put on a servile smile.

His judgment was made.

If it’s a count’s family, they wouldn’t break a pledge.

But that judgment must come with some anxiety.

And soon, he seemed to realize the cause of that anxiety.

“Then I am honored to serve the eldest son of the Celtrine family as an atten—”

Wait.

Dan’s face froze.

He had finally realized who I was.

The infamous good-for-nothing of the Celtrine family.

“That…”

“What?”

“Can I really trust you?”

Dan looked at me with a face that said, “You’re already a bastard, aren’t you?”

No need to make that face; it’s hurtful.

“Come on, I’ll even write an extra line that I promise on my family’s name. Happy now?”

“Phew, that’s enough.”

Look at this guy.

I glared at Dan and clicked my tongue, then added another line.

Finally, somewhat reassured, Dan signed his name and stamped the pledge.

Anyway, that’s how things wrapped up nicely.

Now his labor is mine.

“Let’s give you your first task.”

“Yes, just tell me.”

“Teach me.”

“Teach you?”

Dan looked stunned.

Godwin’s strong swordsmanship.

And Dan’s illusionary swordsmanship.

Both were very useful techniques that breathed life into the protagonist’s mediocre sword skills in the early stages.

I had decided to learn these two techniques before the important ‘Infinite Tower’ practice in the second semester.

And things were progressing smoothly according to plan.

I had already mastered the strong swordsmanship, and today I secured the person to teach me the illusionary swordsmanship.

Now all that’s left is to learn it.

But first, there was something else to do.

“Have you lived in the capital for a long time?”

“Yes… I’ve lived here since I was a kid, so I’m pretty much a local.”

“Then you must know everything there is to know about the capital.”

“Isn’t that a bit of an overestimation? I’m just one of the many people in the capital.”

Dan scratched his head.

He was being modest, but I knew.

Someone like Dan, who started as a pickpocket and became a gambler, who has been rolling in the underworld for a long time, would definitely be well-versed in the ecosystem of the capital.

‘He’ll definitely be of help.’

I intended to make full use of him.

Labor that rolls in should naturally be utilized.

“Hmm, good. Let’s see what you can do.”

“Here? Now?”

Dan’s eyes widened, perhaps mistaking my request for teaching swordsmanship.

“No, not that. I want to see how you handle tasks.”

“Ah… Yes, tell me.”

“I need a hideout. A spacious building with a warehouse and an open lot. Can you secure a location within two hours in the middle district?”

I brought up the need for a hideout.

Of course, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thought.

I immediately needed a place to store supplies for the underground.

Having a personal hideout would also be useful for various other purposes.

Originally, I was going to look for one myself, but now that I had a capable attendant who knew the ins and outs of the capital, there was no need to go through the hassle myself.

“A building?”

Dan seemed a bit flustered.

“Why? Can’t you do it? I thought you’d have some places in mind.”

The capital is a very large city.

So there are always a few buildings up for grabs.

Finding the right one among them.

That’s something Dan could definitely do.

“Well, I can, but it’s a bit sudden.”

“No need for a long talk. Can you do it in two hours or not?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Then go and secure the contract now.”

I handed Dan a check.

I know most people would be tempted by such a large sum of money and run off with it, regardless of the consequences.

But I know Dan.

He has an elderly mother to take care of.

He absolutely cannot just up and leave the capital.

Knowing his circumstances, I felt more comfortable giving him the task.

“Really, you want me to handle the contract alone? Are you sure you don’t need to see it yourself?”

“I trust your judgment, so get it done properly.”

“Huh.”

Dan let out a disbelieving chuckle.

But realizing I wasn’t going to change my mind, he reluctantly accepted the check.

“Alright, I’ll do what I can.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“Do I report back here in two hours?”

“No. Come to Café Monica in the central square.”

“Understood. I’ll head out right away since time is tight.”

Dan hurried off.

“Then I should get moving too.”

Wasting time is a sin.

I went about my business to take care of other matters.

***

“Oh, you’re back again?”

“Why do you look so surprised?”

“Well, I didn’t expect you to visit again so soon.”

Carson, the owner of the secret shop, looked surprised.

“If I need something, I visit, that’s all.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

“But tell me.”

“What is it?”

“You’re not snooping around behind my back, are you?”

“Ah, how could I dare do such a thing to a valued customer? Absolutely not.”

Carson vehemently denied it.

“Especially for us in the black market, trust is life. Don’t you know that?”

I smirked at his reaction.

Indeed, for the black market, trust is life.

But as much as trust, information is also crucial.

That’s why Carson was a man who spared no effort in collecting even the smallest bits of information from his customers.

Even if it meant doing background checks.

However.

There are distinctions.

Customers who can be investigated and those who cannot.

It seems I fall into the latter category.

It must have been significant that I revealed his real name, which even his closest confidants didn’t know.

Therefore, he suspected that my family and I had a substantial information network behind us.

So he couldn’t approach me carelessly.

“If that’s the case, fine. But.”

“If I ever detect any suspicious activity, I’ll cut off our dealings immediately, just so you know.”

“Oh, there’s no way that would happen. Please don’t be suspicious.”

Carson pleaded, even thumping his chest to show his sincerity.

But I saw it.

A small bead of sweat trickling down Carson’s forehead.

My warning had definitely hit home.

That was enough talk for now.

He wouldn’t dare act rashly in the future.

“Let’s get to the point, then.”

“Yes, please tell me what you need.”

“This.”

I handed Carson a note I had prepared earlier.

Carson read through the note.

And then.

“What… What is this?”

Carson’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“What do you mean? It’s what I want.”

“Ah… this? Really, this?”

“Why would I lie? Would I have written falsehoods for no reason?”

“Well, no, but all of this…?”

“Yes, all of it.”

Carson seemed lost for words for a moment.

Then he said incredulously.

“Are you going to war or something?”

The extensive list of weapons and armor.

Anyone would think that upon seeing the list.

“Who knows. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”

I answered ambiguously, smirking.

“Anyway, the important thing is you can make a lot of money, and I can get what I want. So prepare it as quickly as possible.”