Episode 190
Chapter 62: The Compass Heist Operation (Part 2)
Among the young nobles and warriors, there were often those who admired the strength and culture of the White Wolf tribe.
Usually, they were fools. Attracted by the white fur, blue eyes, and fierce presence, they’d recklessly approach—only to end up as a meal. That was the typical fate of such admirers.
The White Wolf tribe didn’t like humans. To them, most humans were inferior beings—nothing more than toys or snacks.
“I’ve always dreamed of talking to the White Wolf tribe! Wow, your fur is amazing. Can I touch it just once?”
Jin’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, but the White Wolves’ expressions immediately soured.
‘Just a dumbass, huh? I thought I smelled something dangerous enough to make their fur stand on end…’
The White Wolves stared down at Jin, who was still chuckling to himself.
“Take your hand away.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for the rudeness. My apologies. By the way, what did you want to talk about? Ask me anything.”
“Hmph, no. Must have been a mistake.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“Nothing to see here.”
With that, the White Wolves returned to their seats, leaving Jin with an awkward smile. Those who had been flirting with him looked on with pity.
‘Phew, I almost got worn out before the operation even started. Next time, I’ll have to suppress the Mingwang tribe’s aura more thoroughly.’
He breathed a silent sigh of relief.
‘During the operation, I absolutely have to wipe out all of Kinzel’s beastmen.’
If left alive, they’d surely return to Kinzel and spread rumors about “dangerous auras.”
It was fine if his disguise got around, but if word got out about the Mingwang tribe’s unique aura, they could be exposed anywhere.
After spending two hours at the dice and marbles tables, they confirmed their enemies. Fortunately, Baekya wasn’t in sight, and no one seemed suspicious of Jin.
‘Time to check in with the others.’
The marbles table where his comrades gathered was packed with onlookers. Alisa was hiding in the crowd, while Kashimir and Enya nervously placed their bets.
‘Everyone’s disguise is perfect.’
Even Alisama, who was usually worried about her large frame, was flawless. She was disguised as a man, complete with a mustache and a human face mask.
“Oh my, you already thought of me? I knew you’d come, Gongja.”
Siris casually draped her arm over Jin’s shoulder, showing her palm. There was writing on it.
(“An exchange will happen at the central card table on the second floor.”)
“Now, Gongja, you should tell me your name too. Come to think of it, I’m the only one who’s told you mine.”
Jelia—or rather, Siris—pressed close, and Jin thought she was an excellent actress. She perfectly embodied a reckless noblewoman obsessed with gambling and nightlife, but not to be underestimated.
Jin himself was no stranger to acting.
He dipped his finger in the remaining water in his cup and gently rubbed the writing off Siris’s palm.
“I’m Bamel, my lady.”
Click! Click!
On the round board, Kashimir’s and Enya’s marbles clacked together.
Siris began explaining the marbles game, but it was really a cover for the detailed plan their team had devised.
“First, two marbles go onto the board.”
“Like you and me now, my lady?”
“Exactly.”
Only two people would go upstairs first—Jin and Siris.
“When the marbles start rolling, obstacles appear. There are too many variables—some obstacles you have to avoid, others you have to break with bigger marbles. I prefer breaking them.”
“I think I’d prefer that too.”
When stealing the compass, the enemies blocking the way would be killed by the two of them together.
“You have to choose the marbles that break obstacles and the one that races to the finish carefully. Even if you use almost all your marbles breaking obstacles, as long as one is left, it can sprint alone.”
Siris’s gaze subtly shifted toward Enya.
This meant Enya was the best choice to grab the compass and escape. The team agreed that Enya would attract the least suspicion in any situation.
Enya was the complete opposite of Siris. While Siris swept the gambling tables with her stunning beauty, Enya was like an ant—always nervous, betting only small amounts, the perfect example of a “hot badji” (a timid, unlucky gambler). No one looked more hopeless.
“Is that enough explanation?”
“Anything special we should watch out for?”
“Don’t hesitate or panic if too many marbles breaking obstacles get destroyed, or you’ll miss your chance. That’s why amateurs always lose money.”
Even if a teammate got hurt or killed, getting emotional would mean failure. Jin met Siris’s eyes calmly.
“Good advice. I feel like I could become a master easily.”
Jin spent the evening until around ten o’clock discussing the plan with Siris. He kept losing repeatedly to her in marbles, showing signs of frustration.
“Hah, are you some kind of marbles god? How can I not win a single round?”
The onlookers clicked their tongues.
Jin wasn’t throwing in just a few coins—he’d already lost over a thousand gold coins to Siris.
It was rare to see a rich sucker lose a thousand gold coins in just a couple of hours at this gambling den.
“Well, Gongja, I guess you’re just no good at marbles. I told you to quit and come drink with me.”
“Hmph! You win all by yourself and then want to go drink alone?”
“Are you really upset about losing some gold? This is a chance to drink with me, Jelia, all night until morning.”
“I don’t mind losing money. But quitting like this hurts my pride as a gambler. I might not be good at marbles, but I bet you can’t beat me at any other game!”
“Oh? You’re confident in other games…?”
Ah!
A sigh ran through the crowd.
They all knew Jelia was about to claim another victim.
“I’m going to flatten your nose once and for all.”
“You haven’t learned your lesson yet? Fine. What game do you want?”
“Cards. You’ll never beat me at cards.”
Siris grinned wickedly, and the onlookers looked thrilled.
“The card table is on the second floor. Let’s go, Gongja Bamel.”
As the two stood and started walking, the crowd surged after them. They were eager to watch the handsome sucker hand over his entire fortune to Siris and end up crying.
Naturally, most of the people at the marbles table followed them upstairs to the card table. But Alisa, Enya, and Kashimir stayed behind. They were assigned to cause a distraction on the first floor.
The two took their positions beside the central card table where the Kinzel and Jiple representatives were meeting.
At the central card table sat Chukon Toldler, Kinzel’s representative, and Jiple’s representative, who was disguised.
‘Looks like a mage of about Matapju’s rank, but I don’t know who exactly.’
As the crowd thickened at the nearby table, whispers passed between them. The exchange of goods mixed with gold coins was supposed to happen at ten o’clock, but the sudden influx of people was making them uneasy.
Soon, Kinzel and Jiple’s people from the first floor came upstairs to report to their superiors. They said the people causing the tension at the marbles table looked like ordinary gamblers.
‘Twenty minutes left until Jiple pulls out the compass on the card table.’
Once the item appeared, Jin and Siris planned to strike immediately. The key was for Jin to lose all his money right on time, clearing the crowd.
‘When the crowd leaves, I’ll blend in with a frustrated face. Siris will pretend to leave first, and I’ll follow slowly behind, detonating a flash bomb right on the table where the compass is exchanged…’
Siris would control the timing to make sure Jin lost all his money exactly twenty minutes later.
But just as Jin and his team had spent six months planning this operation, the enemy surely had countermeasures for every variable.
‘If we can kill or incapacitate only Chukon Toldler, it won’t be hard to move to the first floor. It’s unlikely Jiple’s representative is a more accomplished mage than Chukon.’
Even considering the disguise, the Jiple representative looked no older than thirty. Jin knew of no mage stronger than Chukon at that age.
Anz’s Archmage Chukon.
He was the absolute ruler of the Anz Great Plains in the Northern Continent. Unlike Kidath Hall, Jiple had once desperately tried to recruit him.
Because of his unique defensive magic, known as the “Extreme Defense System.” Eventually, Chukon joined the Dark Magic Association and now sat opposite Jiple at the card table.
“Two hundred, and another two hundred.”
“Call.”
Jin’s bets began to drain at a steady pace.
‘When the flash bomb goes off, Kinzel and Jiple will suspect each other first. But they’ll quickly identify friend from foe and realize Siris and I are the culprits. The chaos will last no more than ten seconds.’
Within that window, they had to take out as many enemies as possible.
“Hmm.”
Chukon, who had been watching Jin intently from the central card table, shook his head.
“Getting older makes you worry about all sorts of things. I thought those guys over there might be the thieves you prepared for.”
“Haha, what a strange thing to say, Lord Chukon. If we intended to just take the goods, do you think we’d go through all this trouble? We could’ve simply kept them without returning anything. These are gamblers we’re dealing with, not us.”
“Don’t bluff, Carl Ziphl. You’re being cautious, which is why you’re putting on this little show here on the island, right? If you returned the goods officially, Runcandel might catch wind of it. But if you don’t return them, we’d have already leaked the info to Runcandel and Biment.”
“Your words are sharp, Lord Chukon.”
“You broke the alliance terms first and haven’t even apologized. That’s why I’m being blunt. I can’t figure out what your father’s up to.”
“If you get the chance, you can ask him yourself. Though I’m not sure you have the guts to face him.”
“Such cute talk. Time’s up. Bring out the goods. We need to verify them.”
Jin and Siris couldn’t hear the two men’s voices clearly. The crowd was murmuring, and they were a bit of a distance away.
But it didn’t interfere with their operation.
“Ten o’clock. Right on time.”
The stakes were all gone. Jin lowered his head like a man who’d lost his country, while Siris stood up with a look that said, “I knew this would happen.”
“Too bad, Gongja. My enthusiasm’s gone now, too. Let’s just forget about that drink we were supposed to have.”
Click-clack, as Siris left the table, the onlookers naturally followed her.
The card table was suddenly empty. Jin glanced up and caught sight of a pouch of gold coins right in the center of the table.
It was a pouch with a compass mixed in. Jin saw Chukon open the pouch and pull out a golden compass, slightly larger than the coins.
“Now!”
Jin leapt onto the table in one swift move, lunging toward the center.
In his hand, the white flash pistol was swollen, ready to fire at any moment.