Chapter 189
Episode 62: The Compass Heist Operation (Part 1)
Jin collected the money once again and handed it over to the Watertail tribe. The Red Tiger tribe’s beastmen had fled in such a hurry that they didn’t witness the exchange.
“Thank you, thank you, human!”
As soon as Jin and the Watertail beastmen arrived at the Yukayuka market, they explained what had happened to their kin. The representatives of the Dark Flame tribe and the village leaders expressed their gratitude.
“Rest for a day, then go, human. Watertail party, very lively.”
“Sorry, I’m in a rush and have to leave right away. Let’s meet again next time.”
“Here, eat this before you go!”
The Watertail tribe hurriedly grilled some fish. Twenty golden-brown fish disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“Oh, right. Dark Flame, can you do some dyeing for me?”
“Dyeing? Why all of a sudden?”
“It’s necessary.”
“We can’t do it. Wait a moment. We’ll bring a dyer from the Gold Scale tribe.”
A Gold Scale tribesman from the general store came down through a secret passage.
“Ah, human. Our dyeing is top-notch, so it’s a bit pricey. Not like your human’s cheap coloring games. Prices start from here…”
Just as the Gold Scale tribesman was about to overcharge Jin, the Dark Flame and Watertail tribes intervened. When they told the Gold Scale about how Jin had subdued the Red Tiger tribe, the dyer grinned.
“If that’s the case, I can do it for free. Ha, I wish I could’ve seen those trashy bastards get taken down with my own eyes!”
The dyeing was finished quickly.
After bidding farewell, Jin slipped out of the beastmen’s territory through the secret passage, just as he had come.
Late afternoon, May 31, 1797.
Jin arrived at a southern island of the Bellado Principality.
‘This place hasn’t changed.’
This nameless island lay just outside Bellado’s territorial waters, making it a playground for pirates.
It was the very place Jin had come to for the Cosmos Arena. Despite it being broad daylight, the streets were crowded with drug addicts, wrecks, and nobles obsessed with gambling—a chaotic scene.
“Hehehehe!”
A scruffy man who looked like a homeless addict let out a strange laugh as he wandered near Jin. Such beggars were common at the harbor—mercenaries who had lost everything at the arena.
But this man, laughing like a madman, was someone Jin knew well. Seeing him stirred a bittersweet feeling.
‘Jet… he’s lost it.’
Jet.
About two months ago, he had come here early and blended into the beggar crowd at the harbor.
He was acting as a secret contact. Versatile in many ways, he had become such a perfect beggar that even Jin would have trouble recognizing him from a distance.
“Heeheehoohoo! Hey, young master, spare a coin! Hoohoo!”
Pushing aside other beggars, Jet approached, holding out a container.
Inside was a note.
(How have you been, Bill? Under the bed in room 203 of the Beak Inn, beneath the plank with three nails.)
After confirming the note and slipping him some coins, the beggars behind Jet erupted in cheers. Waaah!
“Heehoo! You’ll be blessed!”
As Jet stepped back, the others swarmed after him like hungry fish. He was clearly the kind-hearted leader of the group.
‘Glad I recruited him. We had a nasty history in a past life.’
Suppressing a smile, Jin headed to the Beak Inn.
The owner, half-asleep, waved him off as the door opened.
“No rooms. Go elsewhere.”
“How have you been, Bill?”
The owner then handed over the key to room 203.
Inside, Jin pushed the bed aside and pried up the plank with three nails. Beneath it lay a thin red wooden board and a letter.
(Your Highness, it’s been a while. The other comrades arrived between two weeks and a month ago and have settled in different inns.
All are safe, and the enemy remains completely unaware.
Here is the intel gathered so far.
Kinzelro’s forces include the Grand Mage Chukon Toldar of Anz, five estimated 8-star mages, and five White Wolf warriors of assault captain rank.
There may also be disguised assassins, snipers, and other skilled operatives.
No information has been confirmed about Zipple’s forces. They are expected to appear on the day of the operation. However, like Kinzelro’s side, it’s likely that disguised experts are already in place.
The operation will commence at 10 p.m. on June 1, with no changes. The location remains the gambling hall in the abandoned mansion on the island’s north side. The enclosed red wooden board is your entry ticket.
Escape routes after the operation remain the same for points 1, 2, and 3.
The back of this letter lists the inns where our comrades are staying.
Also, with the consent of Lord Kashmir and Lord Murakan, Lady Siris of the Hidden Palace will join the operation. She has extensive experience in espionage, assassination, and guerrilla warfare, so she should be a great help.
I will return to Tikan today after delivering this note to you. I will send my regards to Lord Gilly. Wishing you good fortune, Your Highness!)
All the comrades were staying at different inns, likely to avoid suspicion from Zipple and Kinzelro’s spies.
‘One 9-star mage, five 8-star mages, and five White Wolf assault captains…’
That was enough force to overturn a decent-sized kingdom.
‘Zipple’s side will probably bring at least that much. Tomorrow night, this filthy pirate playground will become a battlefield of stars.’
The strength far exceeded what the comrades had expected six months ago.
A full-scale battle was out of the question. Even though Jin had grown stronger, he wasn’t yet capable of handling all of them.
But if Jin hadn’t grown, he would have had to seriously reconsider launching the operation.
Whether to proceed or withdraw was entirely Jin’s decision. They had agreed six months ago that if Jin didn’t show up at the gambling hall, they would quietly retreat.
Of course, Jin had no intention of backing down.
‘Bringing such powerful people means the compass is that important. I’ll take it.’
Since the operation would be guerrilla-style, there would be no full-scale battle.
Even if a full-scale fight broke out…
It might actually be worth fighting. If 8- and 9-star mages and warriors unleashed all their magic and skills, this small island would collapse in an instant.
That would be a death sentence for everyone. Not just the island, but all ships would be destroyed, and a whirlpool would spread across the sea—just like when Luna erased the unmanned island of Biment from the map with a single strike of her Divine Moon Slash.
‘Besides, if the fight escalates, Runcandel and Biment will catch wind of it, which Kinzelro and Zipple fear most.’
Neither Runcandel nor Biment had yet clearly identified the compass’s existence. If they had, their agents would already be swarming this island.
Bradamante and Sigmund.
Jin quietly polished his two swords.
The next day, June 1, 6 p.m.
Jin arrived at the gambling hall in the abandoned mansion on the island’s north side. His hair, dyed a deep golden hue by the Gold Scale tribe, his flashy clothes, and the two swords hanging at his waist, combined with heavy makeup, gave him the air of a spoiled noble’s reckless heir showing off.
‘Makeup has been popular in noble social circles for quite some time, but I still don’t get why anyone bothers with this stuff.’
The thick rouge and blush clogged his pores, making his skin feel suffocated. His reflection in the mirror looked almost feminine, but his muscular build gave off a strange vibe. It was the power of the Gold Scale tribe’s special cosmetics.
“You need a disguise. My friend is so pretty that with enough makeup, she looks like a woman. Why not go all the way and dress as a woman? No one would recognize you!”
“That’s a bit much.”
“Anyway, you have to wear makeup! Our stuff is different from human’s cheap tricks. Just dab it on, and it looks convincing. This one’s for your cheeks, this for your lips, this for your forehead, and this for your neck.”
While Jin felt awkward inside, everyone in the gambling hall—men and women alike—couldn’t stop staring at him.
They whispered things like: “I’ve never seen such a handsome young master,” “I want to party with him tonight,” “If you’re down after losing money, I’ll lend you some,” and so on.
Though Jin had often been noticed for his looks, it had been a long time since it had gotten this loud. Even men with diverse tastes openly showed interest.
“Never seen you before, but you brighten up this gloomy gambling hall. Nice to meet you, I’m Zelia.”
But as a black-haired woman approached, the murmurs instantly died down. Zelia was the gambling hall’s celebrity who had appeared two weeks ago—her real name was Siris Endorma.
At first, Jin hadn’t recognized her. Though not as impressive as Bubar’s sculpture magic, the human-faced masks made by the Hidden Palace were incredible.
All the comrades wore these masks from the Hidden Palace, except Murakan, who was in Siris’s arms as the butterfly Runcandel.
“This place’s favorite game is marbles, young master. It’s like a specialty. You probably don’t know the rules; want me to teach you?”
Jin gently pushed her away.
“No, thank you.”
“Well, if you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do. But if you head straight to the marble game without knowing anything, you’ll get cleaned out completely. So it’s better to stick to what you’re familiar with—like odd or even, or dice. If you feel like it later, you can come over to the marble game.”
He meant that the marbles table was where his allies were gathered, while the odd-or-even and dice tables were occupied by the disguised forces of Zipple and Kinzello. He was suggesting Jin check them out before deciding.
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
“Don’t take too long. Night’s coming soon.”
To the others at the gambling tables, Zelia’s words sounded like she was flirting with Jin.
Once Zelia left, a few people who were actually interested in Jin started to gather. Jin ignored them lightly and strolled between the odd-or-even and dice tables, quietly taking note of the enemies present.
‘Even if Kinzello’s here, those Zipple guys really went all out. Who would’ve guessed that Zipple’s prideful mages would disguise themselves as gamblers and wait here?’
As expected, all the Zipple mages looked like top-tier elites. Just as Jin was about to look for any familiar faces, two large figures cloaked in robes shifted their gaze toward him.
Nearly three meters tall. Definitely no ordinary giants.
They were from the White Wolf tribe.
They tilted their heads, sensing something off, then stood up and strode purposefully toward Jin.
“Hey, you there. Can we have a word?”
It was because of the aura of the Underworld tribe.
‘Even though I’m hiding it as much as possible, they sensed it.’
Jin looked at them and replied calmly.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the White Wolf tribe. I never thought I’d see you here at a gambling den!”