Episode 626

“Let’s go! This time, I’m going all in!”

“Hey, come on! One-two! One-two! Seriously, get it together!”

“Tonight, the undefeated winning streak continues with the Perdorian match. Join the game now and there’s no commission fee. By the way, the current pot stands at eighty-seven gold coins and five silver coins.”

“Wow, that’s a hefty sum for once. Hey, I’m placing a bet too.”

“Finally, a big match, huh? Here you go. Thanks.”

“Win! Win! If you lose, I swear I’ll kill you!”

“Woooo! Tear him apart! Rip his ears off!”

The underground fighting arena reeked of fishy stench and some unidentifiable foul odor. Ian and his three companions pulled their hoods tight and scanned the scene below.

The second basement level was utter chaos. There was only one official stage for matches; everywhere else, people had formed circles, creating makeshift street-fighting rings.

Thwack! Thud!

“Alright, one more time! Last shot! Drive your knee in!”

“Focus! Do you know how much I bet on you?”

Among the crowd, shirtless men, drenched in sweat and blood, gasped for breath. One pair stood out—both with wild, almost deranged eyes, gripped by the fear that if they didn’t kill their opponent, they’d be the ones killed.

“Arrgh!”

One was a slave; the other, an unpopular underground fighter scraping by. Judging by the fighter’s missing ear, if he lost again, no one would bet on him anymore. His livelihood was on the line, so he staggered but steadied himself.

And the slave?

“Remember this: lose this round, and you die.”

“How much did they buy him for?”

“Two gold coins. But they’ve already made their money back, so it’s fine.”

For the slave, defeat meant death. As he trembled and charged, the crowd erupted in cheers.

When the slave market and fighting arena are side by side, the battles are the hottest, cruelest, and most desperate anywhere. That’s exactly why this place was the most popular spot in the capital of Toalrun.

“This is nuts. Oh, looks like he’s landing some hits?”

“Ian, there are too many people down there to go down.”

Ian and his group peered over the railing from the upper floor, looking down at the pandemonium below. People placing bets, others being carried away with ears missing, some caught trying to steal money—it was like a swarm of ants.

Ian nodded slightly, as if agreeing.

“No need to go down. It’s impossible to get any useful information from those types.”

“Earlier, you mentioned a big match was about to start. If it’s large-scale, the manager should show up.”

“Better to search the quieter upper floor first. Should we split up?”

“No, we move together, no exceptions.”

Considering Barsabe’s condition and Beric’s personality, it was safer to stick together, even if it took longer. Above all, if something happened while separated, immediate response would be impossible.

Ian gripped his robe firmly to keep it from slipping and turned.

“Honestly, if we had some cash to throw around, finding the manager wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Can’t help it. Staying under the radar is priority.”

At least it was fortunate that many around them wore hoods like Ian’s group. Given the nature of the place, most were either wanted or hiding their identities.

As Ian’s group scouted the interior, a heavy, muffled drumbeat echoed from somewhere.

Boom! Thump! Thump!

At the same time, the crowd shifted like a river flowing in one direction. The noisy match from before was about to begin. Ian’s group naturally blended in and moved closer to the stage.

Where is he?

They had no clue if the top manager was male or female. Their eyes followed the people bustling around the stage, then fixed on one spot almost simultaneously.

“Ian.”

“Yeah.”

A figure dressed in gleaming silk, adorned with every piece of gold jewelry imaginable, sat in the front row of the arena.

Beric nudged the man beside him.

“Hey, who’s that sitting up front?”

“An outsider? Don’t you know Marni?”

“Marni? The boss here?”

“Yeah. Owner of the arena. If you’re thinking of asking about his gold, don’t bother. Despite appearances, his guards are all former mercenaries. Woooo! Perdorian!”

The man explaining to Beric suddenly cheered. The fighter had just entered.

Hale counted the guards around Marni—about seven. Beric could handle that number.

“We’ll approach after the match.”

“Understood.”

Marni was strongly suspected to be connected to the Earless Gang. He was missing one ear, and his guards were ex-mercenaries. Surely, he had valuable information, unlike the street riffraff. If they played it right, they might be able to contact the Earless Gang through him.

“Uoooo!”

The fighter roared, shaking the rusty iron cage.

Bang! Crash!

“Whoa!”

A loud noise came from above, and someone fell with a heavy thud.

Most were half out of it and wouldn’t have cared, but when several people fell at once, heads turned.

“Is that the guards?”

“Why are the Toalrun capital guards here?”

“Hey, they’re moving!”

The guards, dressed in ochre uniforms, split left and right, taking control of the upper floor. They pushed down drunks and troublemakers to clear a path.

Pat pat pat! Boom!

“Move aside!”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

“They’re falling! Crazy bastards! There are people down below!”

“What’s going on? What’s happening?”

Everyone watched the guards rush by with confused expressions. Since this wasn’t an illegal operation, no one tried to run or cause a scene. A few wanted men hid in the shadows, but order mostly held.

“Ian, Marni is moving too.”

Marni, who had just been seated, whispered something to his guards and hurried away. Was the match about to be canceled? The crowd murmured, but another official shouted at the band.

“It seems the guards have some business to attend to. Nothing to worry about! The match will continue! Now, let’s get started! Who will be the true victor tonight? It’s not too late—place your bets on your favorite fighter!”

Dun dun dun! Dun dun!

The tense music resumed, and people shouted, throwing money toward the arena.

Ian moved toward where Marni had gone, keeping a close eye on the guards. The others also noticed Marni’s disappearance and quickened their pace.

“Ian, what now? Should we run? You said if we get caught, we’re done for.”

“It’s fine. The guards’ target seems to be Marni, which means the palace suspects his connection to the Earless Gang. Let’s follow.”

At Ian’s single command, Beric took the lead, weaving through the massive crowd with surprisingly graceful strides.

Barsabe stayed close to Ian, easily keeping up.

“But why come all the way here to meet?”

“Marni might have refused the palace’s summons. Someone running this kind of business must have their reasons.”

No business is spotless. Marni might have realized that meeting with the palace meant giving up one of two things: his business interests or his ties to the Earless Gang.

Either way, the guards chasing Marni was a huge clue for Ian—a signpost pointing toward the Earless Gang.

“This is good. It’s not easy to get information in a foreign land before the palace does. We just need to follow their moves and strike first at the critical moment.”

Marni’s figure had long since disappeared, but they followed the guards deeper underground.

After some time, Hale tossed the cigarette he’d been holding. The place was narrow and dark, a tangled maze of tunnels like an anthill. Footsteps were rare, but it didn’t seem completely abandoned…

“Ian, over there.”

“Alright.”

Voices came from a distance. They moved cautiously until they could make out the conversation. Under a cheap lightbulb, shadows of guards flickered.

“Seriously, what do you expect coming here unannounced like this?”

“We tried requesting a meeting, but you ignored us. We thought you’d show up tonight, so we cut back on sleep to come get you, Marni. It’d be easier for everyone if you just cooperated.”

“I told you, I’m busy these days. Just give me some time. I’m not running away or anything. Blocking the emergency exit and herding people in like this—what’s the point?”

“That was a month ago, right? You know why the palace is calling. It won’t take long. Come with us for a meeting. We’ll restore the emergency exit afterward.”

“Damn it, I swear I don’t know anything about those Earless guys. Haven’t contacted them in ages.”

“We’d appreciate it if you’d say that in person.”

“…And if I refuse?”

Marni asked, and the guard captain folded his arms, as if saying refusal wasn’t an option.

“The arena will be shut down starting tomorrow. And Marni, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”

“You’re insane! Do you know how much tax I pay?”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Marni ground her teeth fiercely, glaring at the captain of the guards. Just then, a mercenary escort pried off a stuck door with a loud crack. If she tried to crawl away, she might get a hit in, but it was only a matter of time before they caught her. And if she resisted forcefully inside the palace, it would be impossible to hold out.

“Damn it!”

Bang!

Marni kicked the torn-off door, cursing loudly, but no one responded.

Watching the scene quietly, Hale whispered, “Ian, if Marni follows the guards like this, things will get complicated from now on.”

The palace would learn about the Cutthroat, and Ian would lose any chance to track them.

Ian knew this well. Ideally, they’d take out the guards and capture only Marni to make contact… but—

“They’re not just anyone. They’re the palace guards. If word gets out that a third party is after the Cutthroat, they’ll definitely suspect Bariel’s faction.”

Anyone who saw the fight between Beric and Barsabe would recognize the swordmaster, and that would only confirm they were in Toorun.

“Why not just kill all the guards? Dead men tell no tales.”

“Beric, Marni’s watching. It’s only speculation that the person behind this is connected to the Cutthroat. If we show ourselves first and come up empty-handed, it’ll only make things messier.”

And even if they were connected, there was no guarantee they’d just hand over the Cutthroat willingly.

“What’s so complicated about it? Just kill Marni too.”

“…If the guards and the arena owner are found slaughtered, there’ll be a massive investigation. Before we came out, what did you ask the manager?”

“Where the arena is.”

“Exactly. The manager knows you came here. You see the problem, right?”

“Then kill the manager too—”

Smack!

Barsabe lightly struck Beric’s jaw, telling him to shut up. Then she took off her robe and laid it on the floor. A black cloth was tied tightly over her eyes, completely blocking her vision.

“…Barsabe?”

“Ian, is there any light around here?”

“There’s a lantern.”

“Please extinguish it with magic, quietly. If we all leave at once, they won’t suspect it’s magic.”

Ian understood what Barsabe wanted: total darkness. A world so pitch-black that friend and foe couldn’t be distinguished. The only one confident enough to swing a sword in such darkness was Barsabe.

“Barsabe, can you do it?”

It was a perfect plan. If the guards died but Marni didn’t know it was them, they’d have a bargaining chip to use with him.

“Of course. Since we’re underground, no need to worry about moonlight.”

Barsabe felt the hilt of her sword with her fingertips and gripped it firmly. All her senses except sight sharpened, alive and alert.