Chapter 46

46. Cante (1)

The atmosphere changed instantly with Cante's appearance.

Botti's expression, which had been feigning calmness, visibly brightened, and the other beggars were no different.

Not only their expressions but also their emotions shifted from anxiety, tension, and fear to relief and joy. For Oliver, this scene was very intriguing.

To cause such an emotional change just by appearing...

Joseph and the pharmacist also had such influence, but in a different direction.

They merely induced tension in others, but Cante, on the contrary, relieved tension and gave genuine comfort.

He had seemed different from the moment he first appeared, but to this extent... Truly, it was fascinating.

Oliver was curious.

What made him so widely supported? It was even more intriguing because it was a type he had never seen before.

Of course, not everyone was without complaints.

Nevertheless, Cante gave a significant number of people relief and trust.

Could it be related to the fact that he helped Oliver for no reason?

Oliver felt an unbearable curiosity, like an itch.

"Well, what are you going to do, young friend? I'm curious."

Cante approached the beggar with the bowler hat and said.

His limping leg and shabby appearance were at odds with the imposing presence he exuded.

The beggar with the bowler hat and the old man petting the dog, along with other beggars, shrank back, unlike before.

They did not show it outwardly, but they exchanged glances and slowly retreated.

Except for one person, the beggar with the bowler hat.

His heart was filled with hot emotions like anger and competitiveness.

"Are you Cante, the Quarterstaff? Once a famous problem solver? Really? You don't look like it."

"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter. Young friend. I'm just a beggar now, after all. As a senior, let me give you some advice."

"Advice?"

"Yes, advice. You seem to have been walking around with a strong presence, but forget it now. Because you're just a beggar now. No matter how good your fists are, a beggar is still a beggar."

"Don't treat me like a washed-up human. From the way you limp, it seems you had no choice but to become a beggar, but I'm not like that."

"Oh, what a foolish friend. Whether by choice or not, a beggar is a beggar. Answer me. What were you trying to do?"

"What was I trying to do? Hmm... Let me see... Ah! I was going to beat the crap out of those little beggar bastards with my fists and strip them naked, hanging them up. Just like this!"

The beggar with the bowler hat shouted and swung his fist.

He was holding a knuckle, which he must have put on at some point, and if it had hit, Cante's face would have been smashed like a rotten melon.

If it had hit.

Before the beggar's fist could reach Cante, he slightly pulled his head back and gently tapped the attacking arm with his quarterstaff, which he used as a cane.

Surprisingly, the beggar's surprise attack was futilely blocked.

The beggar's face turned red and then blue as he lunged again, and Cante, as before, lightly flicked his quarterstaff to strike the beggar's neck.

The movement was so fast and natural that it might not have been clear that he had been hit if the beggar hadn't clutched his neck.

"Ugh! Grrr... You damn..."

The beggar couldn't finish his sentence.

Cante swung his quarterstaff and hit the beggar's temple, causing him to collapse like a puppet with its strings cut. Then, the other beggars in his gang rushed forward.

However, it was a meaningless act.

The first two who attacked fell in the same way, and soon no one dared to approach.

"Want to try more?"

"Grk...!"

The tension was palpable. Then someone intervened.

"Let's stop here."

The speaker was the old man surrounded by dogs, who was squatting.

"... Old man. When did you go underground?"

"What do you need to know for?"

"I was just surprised. You didn't seem like that kind of person, did you?"

"Surprised? Personality? Ha... To survive, you have to do surprising things. But your skills are still impressive. You're almost like a ghost."

"The old man can't see real ghosts. I can barely protect myself. But are you going to fight?"

At that, the large, ugly dogs the old man was petting growled. Or rather, they growled and whined, looking very uneasy.

"Hmm... No, the moles' order was to occupy this alley, not to fight you. I'll pass. Their condition isn't good either."

"Then, go back."

"Thanks. Hey, young friends. Help me carry them."

The beggars, with a mix of resentment and fear, helped carry the unconscious beggar with the bowler hat and the fallen companions.

The old man stood up.

"Then, I'll be going... I'm not trying to cause trouble, but I have to report this to the boss."

"If you mean the boss, it must be the mole."

"Well, yes... By the way, have you considered joining the mole's gang? That way, you could take care of your family."

Cante's expression showed a moment of hesitation, but only for a moment.

"... Honestly, it's tempting, but I can't."

"Foolish. I knew you would say that, though."

"I know. Why did I accept that will... Ah, forget it."

For Oliver, it was an incomprehensible conversation. However, he could tell that Cante shared some emotional connection with the old man.

From the context, it seemed Cante was talking about a former mentor before he became the boss.

Oliver was curious again.

How could a dead person have such influence?

The influence of the dead should fade with death.

Like Joseph, Anthony, and Dominic... The more he thought about it, the more curious he became.

After the old man and his subordinates left, Botti said,

"Phew... You came at just the right time. How did you get here?"

"I was wandering around and heard there were some bums tearing bread here. I came just in case. As expected... By the way, is everyone okay?"

"Okay? Of course! How long have I been living on the streets! The bread is fine too."

Botti held up the bag of bread.

Cante also opened the bundle tied to his waist, revealing ugly onions, potatoes, carrots, and a can of corned beef.

"Good. We can feast today."

***

As soon as they returned, the group started preparing the meal. Or rather, Cante did all the preparation.

He started a fire using broken furniture as firewood, squatted on the ground, and began slicing the ugly vegetables.

He cut them into very small pieces, either to cook them quickly or to share them evenly, and then heated a pot over the fire, adding a little corned beef to coat it with oil.

After the oil was heated, Cante added potatoes to cook, followed by carrots, onions, and other vegetables.

The abandoned building, which served as the beggars' den, was filled with warmth and the subtle aroma of food.

Once the vegetables were cooked, Cante drained the water and crumbled hard biscuits with a knife, pouring them into the pot. Then he added the corned beef.

"Cante..."

Wang Jumei, who was on guard outside, approached Cante, who was cooking.

"Ah, good timing. It's almost ready, so you can eat."

"Ah, yes... But I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Um... Red Nose and Harmonica, the old man and his grandson, have returned."

"... Good. We can all eat together."

"Isn't it obvious that this isn't good news?"

Wang Jumei said resentfully, and Cante remained silent.

A silence possible because they both understood the situation.

But knowing that silence wouldn't solve anything, Wang Jumei spoke first.

"It seems to be another beggar crackdown. The income is decreasing."

"We can do more side jobs. There's quite a bit of work coming in. They want us to scavenge through the trash at the intersection up ahead."

"Doing odd jobs for a worn-out factory owner, a tight-fisted restaurant owner, or a gangster is just pocket change. It's not regular, so it's even less. If this continues, we'll barely have enough to eat."

"Fortunately, we won't starve."

"Cante...!"

Wang Jumei shouted.

His voice was so loud that everyone in the den heard it, but they all pretended not to notice the serious atmosphere.

Wang Jumei regained his composure and whispered,

"This can't go on. It can't... If the crackdown gets worse, the income will decrease. Tightening our belts won't be enough. We need to be more proactive."

"Proactive... Didn't we agree to stop talking about that?"

"... Don't think of it as going underground, but as cooperation. The mole wants Cante, and if you cooperate, he'll provide money and safety. This is a chance for our gang to have a stable life."

Cante stopped cooking and looked at Wang Jumei. His eyes were soft but powerful.

A power that made those making the wrong choice feel ashamed.

"You're right. You're right... If we go with the mole, life will definitely be more comfortable and stable."

"No, I'm not saying we should go underground—"

"—Whether underground or above, if we cooperate with the mole, life will be easier, but do you know what the mole does? I'm not a hero, so I don't plan to stop him, but I also don't plan to cooperate. It's a matter of minimal conscience."

"It's just a rumor, isn't it?"

"Rumors don't just appear. Especially about making children disabled for profit or human trafficking."

"... Even if the rumors are true, what does it matter? If they're true, we should cooperate even more. If we stay here and do nothing, we'll eventually be devoured by him."

Devoured... It seemed that the beggars' world, like the world of black mages, had its conflicts.

That's why everyone seemed to be wary of the mole.

Cante thought for a moment and then spoke.

"If we go with the mole, we can stay in a proper inn with a roof and receive a decent amount of money every week... But I'm not interested. Not at all."

"Cante..."

"Living like this is getting tiring. I really don't like it... If you really feel suffocated, I won't stop you from leaving. But that's as far as it goes. Don't drag me into it. I'm serious."

"... Yes, I understand. I'm sorry."

Wang Jumei answered, seemingly accepting it.

On the surface, he seemed to understand, but inside, his dissatisfaction and incomprehension were boiling.

He couldn't understand Cante at all, and Oliver felt the same way.

Most people are drawn to more money, comfort, and safety... At least, that's what Oliver had seen.

However, Cante immediately rejected such temptations.

The important thing was that he wasn't uninterested in such things.

He was clearly tempted by money, comfort, and safety.

He understood their allure. Yet, he rejected them by his own will.

Oliver wanted to know.

Why did he give up something more attractive?

Was it the source of the positive emotions he inspired in others?

He really wanted to know.

Oliver pondered the conversation he had heard through his minion and then spoke.

"... First, I need to know what the mole is, right?"