Chapter 52

<52. Mole (1)>

“So, you had no choice…?”

“Yes… Yes! The Mole chased us away, and we had nowhere to go… You know, don’t you! What happens to beggars who lose their territory. We had no choice but to join the Mole.”

Oliver, who had been watching from behind Cant, asked the Red Nose.

“What happens when you lose your territory?”

“Yes, um? Well, you see….”

“Just speak your mind.”

“…So, it gets hard to survive… You lose your sleeping space. You either join another beggar gang or end up in really dangerous and harsh conditions. If you catch the wrong eye, you might even be taken to a reformatory.”

“A reformatory?”

“There’s a place where beggars and the poor are sent… Once you go, it’s the end.”

Cant continued his interrogation.

“So, you joined the Mole’s gang and even messed with my people?”

“Yes… Please understand. My colleagues were taken hostage while working, so I couldn’t disobey the orders.”

“Huh… What did you plan to do with these people?”

“Well, we… Gah!”

Cant grabbed the throat of the intruder who was trailing off.

The other intruders, intimidated by his overwhelming presence, were scared stiff. Cant lowered his voice and asked.

“Don’t give me any ‘I don’t know’ answers. Don’t try to outsmart me. I know my reputation, but it might not be exactly as you’ve heard.”

Convinced, one of them spoke up.

“I’m not sure, but they’re selling them somewhere… But I really don’t know where. Please believe me.”

Cant stared at him with a sharp gaze.

Everyone was intimidated, but Cant suddenly spoke.

“…Let them go.”

Both the intruders and his fellow beggars were surprised by this unexpected response.

Only Oliver followed Cant’s orders and untied the intruders.

He cut the ropes one by one with a knife.

“……”

The intruders were both relieved and bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

They slowly got up.

“Are you letting us go…?”

“Yes, but I have a message for the Mole.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you keep acting like this, I won’t sit idly by… Bring me an answer within a week on what you plan to do. Got it?”

“…Yes, yes! I understand!”

“Get out.”

The intruders fled in terror at Cant’s command.

Cant’s beggars watched the scene with unease, except for Cant and Oliver.

“…Is this it?”

“Yes, when I let them go, I attached ‘Stalker’ and ‘Eavesdropping Ear’… It should be fine.”

“I know it’s rude to ask, but what’s the chance of it being detected?”

“Hmm… Probably none.”

“Probably?”

“Yes, I’ve never used this method before… But the book says that only a superior black mage would notice.”

“Hmm… Then, I hope it works. Right? Why? Aren’t you one?”

“Yes? Ah, of course it would be better, but… If I were a superior black mage, I could learn a lot more.”

“……”

“…? Why are you looking at me like that?”

No, I’m just curious. I’ve met a few black mages in the past, but none were like you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I don’t know much about black mages, but the ones I’ve met were… well, materialistic. To put it nicely, they were realistic.”

“Realistic?”

“Obsessed with money and safety… Like most people.”

Oliver thought of Joseph, Andrew, Marie, Peter, and other black mages.

They had a similar vibe.

“Most of them are like that?”

“I guess? There are black mages who aren’t interested in such things, but I don’t want to meet them… They’re likely to be dangerous.”

“Hmm….”

“It’s not that you are, but… Anyway, can you help me for a bit?”

“Yes, with what?”

“We can’t avoid a fight with the Mole’s gang. We need to gather forces.”

“Forces?”

“Yes, I can’t just sit back and rely on you. To survive in this district, we need to fight for it.”

“Oh… But, do we have the forces to gather?”

“We’ll have to borrow them. Fortunately, if I’ve done this much, other beggars in the area must have accumulated a lot of grievances. We need to persuade them to fight with us.”

“Hmm… I don’t know much, but will they help just because we ask?”

“There’s a maxim among fixers.”

“Money can persuade people. But money plus a gun can persuade them even better… By the way, do you mind if your face is known?”

“Uh… Probably?”

“Then wear this hood.”

Cant pulled out a crude hood with eye holes from his coat.

“This is…?”

“It’s nothing. Just wear it and come with me. I need you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good… Hey! Bring some money from the communal chest. All of it.”

***

[So, what’s the point…?]

In a deserted sewer in W District of Randa.

A man stood there.

He was known by the nickname Mole, not the name his mother gave him.

“So, the point is… the delivery is delayed because of some issues.”

[……]

“Sir Black Mage?”

[The delivery is delayed?]

Sigh…

The Mole sighed, annoyed.

Black mages were useful, but their pretentious authority and tone were unbearable.

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

[I thought I told you to meet the delivery date?]

The Mole’s expression darkened even more at the high-handed voice and tone coming through the radio.

“Yes… I know. I apologize. There was a minor issue.”

[I don’t care. I want results, not excuses.]

“You’ll change your mind when you hear this.”

[…. Speak.]

“To summarize, intruders broke into the warehouse where the goods were stored and took them. One of the intruders seems to be a black mage.”

[……]

Silence from the communication device.

The Mole smiled. He must be troubled.

After a moment, a voice came again.

[Are you sure?]

“I didn’t see it myself, but my subordinates did… They were attacked by a black mage while doing other work.”

[Be specific.]

“Bullets suddenly flew and burst heads, summoning a terrifying face that screamed… Oh, and they made strange meat balls.”

[Hay Bullet, Creepy Scream… The last one is unknown.]

“Yes? You don’t know it, Sir Black Mage?”

[…. I don’t know everything. It’s probably a unique black magic they developed themselves. Maybe a creation type.]

“Just a bunch of weirdos….”

The Mole muttered and spoke into the communication device again.

“Is he dangerous?”

[It doesn’t matter how dangerous he is. Compared to me, he’s nothing.]

“Yes, of course I believe that. But… the beggars under me only have weapons, that’s all. We can overwhelm other beggars in numbers, but a black mage… We need help.”

[Help?]

“Yes, I’m sorry. But don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to bother you. However, you did say you would help when we provide the necessary goods, didn’t you?”

[Watch your words. Beggar… Do you think your dirty kingdom was built by whom?]

“…By Sir Black Mage. I always remember that. I gained power thanks to your support. But you know we can’t handle a black mage on our own, right?”

[……]

“Besides, the black mage seems to be with Cant’s gang… I don’t know how he got a black mage, but this could delay the integration of W District as you commanded.”

[Are you threatening me?]

“No, no… How could I dare. I just mean that to assist you well, I need your help conveniently.”

[……]

“I need to control the beggars in W District to deliver goods regularly, don’t I?”

[……]

“To deliver goods regularly, I need to join the ‘Black Hand’—”

[-Enough.]

An angry voice came from the communication device.

The Mole, who had been somewhat arrogant, visibly tensed.

Black mages were annoying, but they could sweep through them alone if they wanted to. He still remembered the zombies he saw back then.

[You’re too talkative.]

“……”

[I told you about my grand plan to advance the work. Nothing more, nothing less. So don’t dare to speak of it lightly if you want to be the king of your trash kingdom.]

“…I’m sorry, Sir Black Mage.”

[Good… Anyway, a black mage has interfered… I’m curious who dared to interfere. I’m the puppeteer’s disciple here. I’m interested.]

“Then….”

[I’ll send my disciple.]

“Thank you.”

[Will anything happen before then?]

“No, it won’t. Cant has become weak. He let the prisoners go, which proves he’s trying to avoid a fight. He’s doing it for his subordinates. He’s waiting for my answer, so there won’t be any problems. Even if he has some plan, the gift you gave me will handle it.”

[…. That’s true. I’ll contact you when needed.]

“Yes, go ahead, Sir Black Mage.”

The communication device clicked off.

The Mole felt tired and pushed the device aside.

“Good work.”

A subordinate standing like furniture nearby said.

“Henry, you idiot… I told you not to do it if you couldn’t do it properly. You caused this mess. If you were alive, I would have killed you myself… Are you really dead?”

“Yes… The guys who went to the underground warehouse are all dead. They were stabbed by something.”

“Damn…! I thought things were going well. How did Cant get a black mage?”

“Maybe he used his connections from his days as a fixer?”

“Hmm… Even so, black mages don’t just help. They said they had no money because they had to feed useless mouths, but did they save up in secret? Or are they imitating me?”

The Mole was deep in thought.

It was natural.

He had felt the usefulness of black mages more than anyone else, and the cost was relatively low.

He just had to offer the beggars on the street.

It was too easy for a beggar.

Of course, sometimes they wanted more difficult conditions, but that was a minor cost.

Compared to the backing of a black mage, the financial benefits of the deal, and the military force he could borrow, the cost was incredibly cheap.

“But, will it be okay? They’ll definitely ask for something more after helping.”

“Of course they will… But it doesn’t matter. At worst, they’ll ask for more kids or women. It’s better to pay that cost and settle W District once. Then, I’ll have enough goods soon. More importantly….”

“Yes?”

“Cant is an idiot, but why did he let them go? Really.”

“The top-hat subordinates?”

“Yes, I would have killed them.”

“Well… I searched their bodies just in case, but found nothing. Maybe he just let them go. He’s a soft person.”

“That’s convenient….”

At that moment, someone burst in, panting.

“What is it?”

“Mole! It’s bad. Cant… Cant is leading beggars from other districts and attacking us.”