Chapter 36

Chapter 14. Mamet Outlaw Zone (1)

The Mamet Outlaw Zone is a land where all sorts of bottom-of-the-barrel criminals gather.

The sanctuary of these outlaws was rumored to be so filled with the dark aura emitted by terrible people that even weeds couldn't grow there.

But it wasn't just a rumor. Mamet was indeed a barren wasteland, devoid of a single blade of grass.

The scorching sun beat down.

And below it, the small city was packed with villains wriggling like insects.

There wasn't even a simple gateway at the entrance to the city. Just passing a broken signpost covered in dried filth marked the start of Mamet.

"Hey, scumbags, get ready for a new arrival!"

A large man shouted as he entered the central tavern of the city. A terrifying iron mace was tied to his back, matching his appearance.

"Heh heh, new arrival? Did that guy come back again after being wanted? Damn, are you a salmon, coming back here all the time?"

The people inside the tavern all seemed to know him, showing signs of welcome. They mocked him loudly, pointing fingers, or threw their beer mugs as a unique way of greeting in Mamet.

Clang! Clang!

A thick glass mug hit the large man's head and chest, shattering. The broken shards mixed with beer on the floor, but even the staff didn't bother to clean it up.

The large man, hit by the glass, picked up a shard with a very pleased look on his face.

Crunch.

A scene that you might only see in a circus unfolded. The large man chewed the glass with his teeth and swallowed it.

"Right! I'm a salmon. My true home is right here, Mamet! Everyone, drink up! I'm buying today!"

"Hey, Tonk. Did you cause trouble outside again and run away? Spill the beans, quick."

"Hahaha! This time, I had some fun with a high-born girl from the Ekan Kingdom."

"Ooh! Who was she?"

"Who knows, just some noble. And I killed the five guards who came to catch me. Ah, you see! They kept sending more, thinking they could catch me like a common soldier."

"Heh heh, they're just stupid."

"Puh, so I squashed them like potatoes. About fifty. I was squashing them so mindlessly that I found myself heading back to Mamet..."

"To Tonk's health!"

"Cheers! Welcome back!"

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

The men drained their glasses in one go.

As the commotion died down and the sound of beer going down their throats filled the air, creak...

A man in a tattered robe entered the tavern.

It was Jin.

"Huh?"

"Looks like a real new arrival this time?"

Tonk and the men exchanged glances. It was a question of whether anyone knew him, and they all shook their heads.

Thud, thud. Jin's old boots made dull sounds as they hit the floor. Jin crossed the tavern silently and sat next to Tonk.

"Cold water. And some light snacks."

Jin flicked a silver coin to the staff.

"Heh heh."

The staff member, holding the silver coin, laughed in disbelief, and soon sighs of disappointment echoed throughout the tavern.

"Kya!"

"Wow, I thought you were a novel protagonist. You're really putting on a show."

"What? Who are you? Are you a 9th-class knight?"

"Maybe a legendary swordsman! Haha!"

The men who had been mocking him suddenly changed their expressions and surrounded Jin, puffing their noses aggressively.

"Ah, new friend. I'm in a very good mood today, so let's not make things awkward. If you kneel and lick our toes now, I'll forgive you... cough."

Tonk couldn't continue and fell over. He would never be able to finish his sentence again.

Because Jin had just stabbed him in the neck with a dagger. Tonk was too close to Jin and never expected this young kid to stab him without hesitation.

"Keh, gurgle."

As Jin pulled out the dagger, a stream of blood gushed from Tonk's neck.

A long silence followed. No one spoke, and Jin silently wiggled his fingers, pressuring the staff to bring the cold water and snacks.

"Got it!"

"Tonk's gone!"

"Who knew, huh? Haha."

The men who had surrounded Jin dispersed.

They acted as if the friendship they had just shared with Tonk meant nothing, and they quickly regrouped to drink more beer. No one showed any interest in Jin anymore.

It was a common occurrence. No matter how warmly they greeted Tonk, there was no real friendship among them.

'Just as my master said, it's definitely a place full of crazy people.'

The only reason they had shown interest in Jin was because he looked very weak. They were also curious about how a kid who hadn't even lost all his baby hair ended up in this den.

But their curiosity was quickly resolved.

Jin had killed Tonk with a single strike, earning a passing grade from the outlaws in the tavern. This was the real "welcome" in Mamet.

'In my past life and now, I've received a lot of help. I hope the day comes when I can repay you, Master.'

Click.

The staff member placed a glass of cold water on Jin's table.

"It's not poisoned."

"I know that in this neighborhood, poisoning is taboo."

"You know Mamet well, kid. Are your parents or siblings from here?"

"None of your business."

Clack.

This time, Jin flicked a gold coin, and the staff member shrugged.

"What do you want? Drugs? There's a fantastic product in Mamet these days. Or are you looking for someone?"

"The latter. Is it enough?"

The staff member wiped the gold coin with a handkerchief and weighed it calmly. It was heavy and genuine.

"Depends on who you're looking for."

"Is there someone named Hister in this neighborhood?"

"No, there isn't. I'm sure of it."

Jin looked disappointed.

"Got it. Bring me some snacks. And recommend a place to stay. Somewhere the bugs don't crawl in."

'A room where bugs don't crawl in' meant the safest inn in Mamet.

"There's only one place. There's an inn called Moonlight Well in the western part of the city. It's where the kings of Mamet stay, so there's no need to cause trouble."

"Thanks."

Jin finished the dry bread and dried bacon the staff member brought and left the tavern.

* * *

'Moonlight Well' was different from the tavern, as it was where the strongest in Mamet gathered. It was a clean and well-organized inn, almost hard to believe it was in Mamet.

It wasn't as luxurious as a high-end inn in a proper city, but at least he wouldn't encounter low-level outlaws who barked like stray dogs.

'Even if he's the lover of the palace lord, he's just a spoiled brat from a viscount's family. The only place Alcaro Chendler can stay is here.'

There was no need to go to the underground black market and pay a high price to find information about Alcaro.

By reviewing the documents about Alcaro received from his family, it was clear that he was not the type to stay in a dirty, damp low-end inn. He was a spoiled brat who had never experienced hardship.

Alcaro Chendler was weak to the strong and strong to the weak, loved everything luxurious, and was obsessed with pleasure and entertainment. He had nothing but a decent face and noble blood.

The reason he was staying in this dangerous city was simple.

It was a cheap trick to get the attention of the palace lord, Talaris, who had recently been neglecting him for another lover.

A childish struggle: 'If I'm in such a dangerous place, will you really leave me alone?'

If the palace lord really showed interest and came to this place, the next assassination opportunity might never come. If the palace lord protected Alcaro directly, even Luna couldn't assassinate him.

This was why the Chendler family urgently requested the assassination from Runkandel.

'From today, the story about me will spread in Mamet. A crazy kid just arrived, killed someone right away, and is looking for a man named Hister.'

Jin's chaos in the tavern had a purpose.

He caused as much commotion as possible in a place full of low-level informants and spread false information. 'I'm looking for Hister. I came here to find him.'

The rumor would reach the palace guards protecting Alcaro within a day. The guards were on high alert, checking every new arrival.

Naturally, Jin would be excluded from their main surveillance. They would be confident that an assassin targeting Alcaro wouldn't act as clumsily as Jin.

'All the previous attempts to kill Alcaro were by skilled mercenaries. But I deliberately acted clumsy, so the chances of being suspected are reduced.'

The guards were more concerned with people who had a clear purpose and acted with unnecessary seriousness, not someone like Jin.

On the contrary, someone like Tonk, who perfectly smelled of Mamet, was the type the guards were watching.

Assassins generally preferred to blend in naturally like locals. In a sense, Jin had made the light under the lamp dark.

And Jin's strategy worked perfectly.

He could feel that the few men who had been observing him all day at Moonlight Well relaxed their guard as night fell.

'They seem to be the palace guards protecting Alcaro... Their skills are roughly 6th-class or higher. If it comes to a direct confrontation, I have no chance of winning.'

Even with all his magic and spirit energy, he might be able to handle one, but not more than two.

A day had passed, but Alcaro was nowhere to be seen. Jin was sure that Alcaro was staying in the inn, eating the food brought by his guards.

'Killing him in his room is impossible. There are probably more guards on standby inside. I have to wait for the moment he comes out.'

Jin recalled Alcaro's personality from the documents.

'Alcaro Chendler is obsessed with pleasure and entertainment.'

And a thought flashed through his mind, something he heard from the tavern staff.

-What do you want? Drugs? There's an amazing product in Mamet these days.

The chances that Alcaro was holed up in his room, using drugs, were very high.

Jin brushed his forehead and headed to the lobby, intending to have a refreshing beer and observe the people there.

But as soon as he entered the lobby, he had to hide his excitement.

"Damn it! Why! Why can't you get it! You were getting it for me just yesterday!"

"No more."

"Damn it! Get it for me!"

The young man causing a commotion in the center of the lobby was Alcaro Chendler. Jin recognized him at first glance, having memorized his face. It seemed the guards had stopped providing him with drugs, and he was in a bad mood.

'He's such a spoiled brat.'

Jin smiled inwardly.