Chapter 150 – At that night
(Zett’s Point of View)
I was appalled.
“Hey, just what is this…?” I muttered.
The shabby huts around us had collapsed.
A countless amount of gold coins were scattered all over the area.
The cracked remains of a vase that was without a doubt extremely luxurious was also visible.
Not to mention the numerous gorgeous jewels that I had never seen before, all thrown around in the ground, shining as they bathed in the moonlight.
And the saddest thing… A dozen or so youngsters were lying on the ground.
It was a truly chaotic sight. Gold, treasures and bodies all mixed together.
The job seems to have been successful, but… We got hit pretty harshly.
“Ooh? Are you Zett?” I heard a girl’s voice.
“Yes?” I turned towards its direction.
Then, I saw something in the darkness. Away from the moonlight, someone with glowing red eyes was approaching me.
She should be about the same size as Keypick. Perhaps even a bit smaller.
“Bastard. You were the one who did this, weren’t you?” I asked.
The reason Keypick called me, was because an insanely strong person had attacked us.
And besides me and Keypick, this red-eyed girl is the only person standing here.
“Oh, I did, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?” She replied as she emerged from the darkness and into the moonlight.
She was a bit smaller than I thought.
“This is a lesson for you. To let you learn the pain of the weak.” She said.
I’ve confirmed what I needed to know then.
No more words are needed.
I retaliate when I get hit. You cause me trouble, I trouble you back.
That’s how I have always behaved, and I have no intention of changing it. I won’t pardon anybody who points their spear to me, no matter who or what I’m dealing with.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or woman either.
“… What the?” I muttered.
She’s strong.
And sturdy.
My fist hit her directly in the face. It was a strong enough attack that should have broken a normal girl’s neck.
However…
“If you’re ready, then let’s get started. I’ll be sure to correct your path.” The girl tilted her head.
Considering how calm her words were, this girl most likely took no damage.
Even though my attack was serious…
This is bad.
She’s no ordinary person.
And strong people who fight with their bare hands are actually one of the worst kind of opponents for me.
“It’s time for punishment! You better clench your teeth, thug!” She exclaimed.
I don’t get the reason for her anger.
And yet, for some reason, this red-eyed girl was definitely angry and hostile towards me.
******
“Mind hearing me out a bit?” Code called out to us as soon as dinner was over.
He probably chose this moment because he knew me and Keypick were going to start drinking until we lost our senses if he didn’t speak up now.
“Aah?” I grumbled as I took the sake bottle out of my mouth… Such a way to ruin the good mood, “Did we finally get a follow-up report?”
Keypick also raised her eyesight and started staring at Code, who seemed to have gotten her interest.
We were currently in a small private room in the back of a small restaurant.
It was a fairly old place, located in a corner of the slums.
Only old regulars come here these days.
Me, Code and Keypick have been regulars in this place since we were young.
And well, as this is an old building, everyone who comes here, owner included, strictly adhere to our unspoken rule.
‘If you sell out someone else, you’ll be the one being sold out next.’
The girl wearing her trademark hat is Keypick. She’s my left hand and is good at picking locks.
And the young man who has finally started looking good on his favorite childhood coat is Code.
He’s the same age as me. He’s my right hand, and the brain of our group.
“According to the results of our investigation, this is definitely a trap.
“I can only assume that the information was leaked out on purpose to lure you, Zett.” Code replied.
The most worrisome information that we obtained recently, was about a secret meeting between Beckenberg and Adyll.
There were some other interesting things that we took note of though. A very smart person started living in the orphanage; Some strange luggage was secretly brought to a large store; An innocent child started distributing food in the slums; A brat with glasses magnificently dodged one scammer after the other…
But the secret meeting worries me more than any of those.
After all, the information about their meeting would surely interest anybody who heard of it.
Beckenberg and Adyll have enough power to rule the lawless country of Krozheit… And because of that, there are many who aim for their lives, and many who want to keep them alive.
Naturally, my group was paying close attention to their movements, but Code’s investigation points towards this secret meeting being both a decoy and a trap.
“I guess it was a bit too easy to obtain the information.” I commented.
My own intuition was making me already get suspicious of this meeting, but now that Code has investigated it and made this conclusion, I’m sure it’s trouble.
“So? Should I go?” I asked.
“Do you really want to go?” Code asked back.
“Of course. They’re calling for me, so it’s natural that I should go, isn’t it?” I laughed, then swallowed a large amount of the cheap drink that I had ordered, “Especially because of that fat guy, as he has been harassing me for a while.”
Beckenberg is a very annoying person for my group.
If he has a chance, he’ll sure disband us and aim for my life.
I know that he won’t come to kill me personally though. He is not the kind of person to make an open and plain attack.
And well, if I don’t keep him in check from time to time, he’ll cause me trouble again.
Moreover, the people from my group are free to relieve their boredom as they see fit and… Some of them are rougher than others.
If possible, I’d rather not have them handle Beckenberg’s men.
“Well, since you want to go… I have a plan.” Code told us.
“Plan? A plan? Is it interesting?” Keypick asked… She just loves to have fun, doesn’t she?
She’s probably worse than me on that regard.
… But well, Code is probably the worst of us three when it comes to seeking fun.
“Have I ever brought you an uninteresting plan?” Code grinned.
“Totally.” Keypick replied.
“Yeah, definitely.” I nodded.
“… That’s just a difference in opinion. I can assure you that everything I came up with was fun, no matter what you two say.” Code replied.
… I suppose there is no point in moving the conversation in this direction any further. We’d just be wasting time.
So, I told Code to continue.
“The plan is to rob Beckenberg’s mansion.” Code told us.
******
Both me and Keypick replied with ‘That’s interesting!’, so Code explained the details of the plan.
Code will further investigate what are the measures that Beckenberg prepared for his trap.
Keypick will map out Beckenberg’s mansion and its surroundings as much as possible, though of course, she should still avoid going too close and getting caught.
And I should just behave as usual, never letting Beckenberg realize that something was going on behind the scenes.
After a few days like that, the day of Beckenberg’s and Adyll’s secret meeting came.
******
“Alright, let’s go.” I told everyone.
As soon as the sun started to set, we started moving.
Before going outside though, I removed my jacket, getting into my shirtless combat mode.
“Don’t screw up Zett-
“Hey, watch it!” Keypick told me as she dodged my light kick.
She was still wearing her usual hat over her eyes.
“Come on, don’t play around. Let’s go.” Code came in-between me and Keypick and urged us to move.
We left one of our many hideouts within the slums and moved to a narrow alley.
The current hideout was the second-floor of a building that had no stairs leading to it.
And right now, with the sky getting dark, about a dozen youngsters popped up from the alleys that they were waiting at.
“I kept you waiting.” I told them.
As soon as they saw me, the youngsters participating in this plan all looked up towards me. Some with envy, jealousy, or even murderous intent.
Well, being ambitious isn’t a bad thing.
I chuckled internally while thinking that.
Being careful is important in here, but you can’t go up without ambition.
Or rather, it’s hard to even live in this city without it.
“You all heard the outline, right? Be quiet while things are set up, then rush forward without drawing attention.
“Also, no matter how much treasure you’re about to get, make sure to strictly follow Code’s signal to retreat.
“And if possible, don’t kill anybody.
“That’s all. Go.” I told them.
Hearing my signal, the youngsters quickly dispersed.
They moved inconspicuously and were going to gather at the site.
They surely heard the detailed plan from Code in advance, so I don’t need to give more instructions than that.
“Then, Zett, we’ll go too.
“You’ll definitely be fighting over there, so be careful.” Code told me.
From the results of his investigation, Code was able to conclude that Beckenberg was planning on getting rid of me for good.
But now that his forces are concentrated on killing me, the security of his mansion should be weakened, which allows us to rob it.
However, that also puts me, the target of his trap, in the most dangerous position.
“I’m sure Beckenberg prepared something that his entire plan to kill you relies on.
“His preparations were pretty big this time around, Zett. He moved a lot of people for this… He’s serious.” Code told me.
And no matter how much Code investigated, he could not figure out what was the thing that Beckenberg prepared… Still, I’m sure Code is right. This thing is definitely very important to Beckenberg’s plan.
“I’ll tell you again. Be careful.” Code said.
I snorted, “Just who do you think you’re talking to? I’ll be dead before anyone has any need to worry about me.
“Rather than that, just be sure to steal my share, alright?” Then, I turned towards Keypick, “Keypick, it’s about time you get serious too.”
“I’ll get serious when I find something to pick.” She replied, the started muttering, “Maybe there’s a safe or a treasure chest in the mansion…?”
And like this, our plan was set in motion.
******
The plan was proceeding smoothly.
Although I snorted at Code’s worries, I actually had no intention of ignoring his words. I have been relying on him since I was a kid, after all.
So, I was more cautious than normal. Before getting into the restaurant, I made sure to walk around the surroundings and take out the people who seemed to be waiting for a signal.
It took time to wipe them out, but the plan proceeded without any issues.
And since Beckenberg didn’t move from the restaurant, the attack on his mansion did not seem to have been discovered yet.
Code and Keypick are handling their part well.
Robberies should be done quickly and quietly. You come in quickly, and run away quickly once your business is done.
So well, it’s time to do my part in the plan now. Keep Beckenberg here to buy some time.
Therefore, without taking any more time to think about it, I rushed inside the restaurant and fought the two guards that Beckenberg and Adyll brought.
Both were women, and both were strong.
However, just as I was finally starting to get fired up…
Keypick came and took me away.
Just when I thought I could play seriously for the first time in a long while…
******
And after all that, I somehow arrived at this situation.
“Come on! The punishment isn’t over yet!” The red-eyed girl exclaimed.
“Seriously… Hold on…” I replied.
This was just too weird.
A girl that I didn’t know was angry at me for a reason that I didn’t know, and she’s totally beating me up.
“Huuuh…?” I could hear Keypick mutter.
It was the first time that this happened. The first time that Keypick saw me get beaten up in a fight.
“Just why are you angry…?” I asked the red-eyed girl.
This is a very strange and rare situation, but at the same time, it feels similar to something I experienced many times as a kid.
I just can’t help wondering about it… Why is this girl angry?
I really don’t remember doing anything recently that would cause a sudden burst of anger to come from an unknown person…
“Ask your own heart!” The girl exclaimed.
… I won’t be able to figure it out if things keep going like this.
Chapter 150 – At that night
(Zett’s Point of View)
I was appalled.
“Hey, just what is this…?” I muttered.
The shabby huts around us had collapsed.
A countless amount of gold coins were scattered all over the area.
The cracked remains of a vase that was without a doubt extremely luxurious was also visible.
Not to mention the numerous gorgeous jewels that I had never seen before, all thrown around in the ground, shining as they bathed in the moonlight.
And the saddest thing… A dozen or so youngsters were lying on the ground.
It was a truly chaotic sight. Gold, treasures and bodies all mixed together.
The job seems to have been successful, but… We got hit pretty harshly.
“Ooh? Are you Zett?” I heard a girl’s voice.
“Yes?” I turned towards its direction.
Then, I saw something in the darkness. Away from the moonlight, someone with glowing red eyes was approaching me.
She should be about the same size as Keypick. Perhaps even a bit smaller.
“Bastard. You were the one who did this, weren’t you?” I asked.
The reason Keypick called me, was because an insanely strong person had attacked us.
And besides me and Keypick, this red-eyed girl is the only person standing here.
“Oh, I did, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?” She replied as she emerged from the darkness and into the moonlight.
She was a bit smaller than I thought.
“This is a lesson for you. To let you learn the pain of the weak.” She said.
I’ve confirmed what I needed to know then.
No more words are needed.
I retaliate when I get hit. You cause me trouble, I trouble you back.
That’s how I have always behaved, and I have no intention of changing it. I won’t pardon anybody who points their spear to me, no matter who or what I’m dealing with.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or woman either.
“… What the?” I muttered.
She’s strong.
And sturdy.
My fist hit her directly in the face. It was a strong enough attack that should have broken a normal girl’s neck.
However…
“If you’re ready, then let’s get started. I’ll be sure to correct your path.” The girl tilted her head.
Considering how calm her words were, this girl most likely took no damage.
Even though my attack was serious…
This is bad.
She’s no ordinary person.
And strong people who fight with their bare hands are actually one of the worst kind of opponents for me.
“It’s time for punishment! You better clench your teeth, thug!” She exclaimed.
I don’t get the reason for her anger.
And yet, for some reason, this red-eyed girl was definitely angry and hostile towards me.
******
“Mind hearing me out a bit?” Code called out to us as soon as dinner was over.
He probably chose this moment because he knew me and Keypick were going to start drinking until we lost our senses if he didn’t speak up now.
“Aah?” I grumbled as I took the sake bottle out of my mouth… Such a way to ruin the good mood, “Did we finally get a follow-up report?”
Keypick also raised her eyesight and started staring at Code, who seemed to have gotten her interest.
We were currently in a small private room in the back of a small restaurant.
It was a fairly old place, located in a corner of the slums.
Only old regulars come here these days.
Me, Code and Keypick have been regulars in this place since we were young.
And well, as this is an old building, everyone who comes here, owner included, strictly adhere to our unspoken rule.
‘If you sell out someone else, you’ll be the one being sold out next.’
The girl wearing her trademark hat is Keypick. She’s my left hand and is good at picking locks.
And the young man who has finally started looking good on his favorite childhood coat is Code.
He’s the same age as me. He’s my right hand, and the brain of our group.
“According to the results of our investigation, this is definitely a trap.
“I can only assume that the information was leaked out on purpose to lure you, Zett.” Code replied.
The most worrisome information that we obtained recently, was about a secret meeting between Beckenberg and Adyll.
There were some other interesting things that we took note of though. A very smart person started living in the orphanage; Some strange luggage was secretly brought to a large store; An innocent child started distributing food in the slums; A brat with glasses magnificently dodged one scammer after the other…
But the secret meeting worries me more than any of those.
After all, the information about their meeting would surely interest anybody who heard of it.
Beckenberg and Adyll have enough power to rule the lawless country of Krozheit… And because of that, there are many who aim for their lives, and many who want to keep them alive.
Naturally, my group was paying close attention to their movements, but Code’s investigation points towards this secret meeting being both a decoy and a trap.
“I guess it was a bit too easy to obtain the information.” I commented.
My own intuition was making me already get suspicious of this meeting, but now that Code has investigated it and made this conclusion, I’m sure it’s trouble.
“So? Should I go?” I asked.
“Do you really want to go?” Code asked back.
“Of course. They’re calling for me, so it’s natural that I should go, isn’t it?” I laughed, then swallowed a large amount of the cheap drink that I had ordered, “Especially because of that fat guy, as he has been harassing me for a while.”
Beckenberg is a very annoying person for my group.
If he has a chance, he’ll sure disband us and aim for my life.
I know that he won’t come to kill me personally though. He is not the kind of person to make an open and plain attack.
And well, if I don’t keep him in check from time to time, he’ll cause me trouble again.
Moreover, the people from my group are free to relieve their boredom as they see fit and… Some of them are rougher than others.
If possible, I’d rather not have them handle Beckenberg’s men.
“Well, since you want to go… I have a plan.” Code told us.
“Plan? A plan? Is it interesting?” Keypick asked… She just loves to have fun, doesn’t she?
She’s probably worse than me on that regard.
… But well, Code is probably the worst of us three when it comes to seeking fun.
“Have I ever brought you an uninteresting plan?” Code grinned.
“Totally.” Keypick replied.
“Yeah, definitely.” I nodded.
“… That’s just a difference in opinion. I can assure you that everything I came up with was fun, no matter what you two say.” Code replied.
… I suppose there is no point in moving the conversation in this direction any further. We’d just be wasting time.
So, I told Code to continue.
“The plan is to rob Beckenberg’s mansion.” Code told us.
******
Both me and Keypick replied with ‘That’s interesting!’, so Code explained the details of the plan.
Code will further investigate what are the measures that Beckenberg prepared for his trap.
Keypick will map out Beckenberg’s mansion and its surroundings as much as possible, though of course, she should still avoid going too close and getting caught.
And I should just behave as usual, never letting Beckenberg realize that something was going on behind the scenes.
After a few days like that, the day of Beckenberg’s and Adyll’s secret meeting came.
******
“Alright, let’s go.” I told everyone.
As soon as the sun started to set, we started moving.
Before going outside though, I removed my jacket, getting into my shirtless combat mode.
“Don’t screw up Zett-
“Hey, watch it!” Keypick told me as she dodged my light kick.
She was still wearing her usual hat over her eyes.
“Come on, don’t play around. Let’s go.” Code came in-between me and Keypick and urged us to move.
We left one of our many hideouts within the slums and moved to a narrow alley.
The current hideout was the second-floor of a building that had no stairs leading to it.
And right now, with the sky getting dark, about a dozen youngsters popped up from the alleys that they were waiting at.
“I kept you waiting.” I told them.
As soon as they saw me, the youngsters participating in this plan all looked up towards me. Some with envy, jealousy, or even murderous intent.
Well, being ambitious isn’t a bad thing.
I chuckled internally while thinking that.
Being careful is important in here, but you can’t go up without ambition.
Or rather, it’s hard to even live in this city without it.
“You all heard the outline, right? Be quiet while things are set up, then rush forward without drawing attention.
“Also, no matter how much treasure you’re about to get, make sure to strictly follow Code’s signal to retreat.
“And if possible, don’t kill anybody.
“That’s all. Go.” I told them.
Hearing my signal, the youngsters quickly dispersed.
They moved inconspicuously and were going to gather at the site.
They surely heard the detailed plan from Code in advance, so I don’t need to give more instructions than that.
“Then, Zett, we’ll go too.
“You’ll definitely be fighting over there, so be careful.” Code told me.
From the results of his investigation, Code was able to conclude that Beckenberg was planning on getting rid of me for good.
But now that his forces are concentrated on killing me, the security of his mansion should be weakened, which allows us to rob it.
However, that also puts me, the target of his trap, in the most dangerous position.
“I’m sure Beckenberg prepared something that his entire plan to kill you relies on.
“His preparations were pretty big this time around, Zett. He moved a lot of people for this… He’s serious.” Code told me.
And no matter how much Code investigated, he could not figure out what was the thing that Beckenberg prepared… Still, I’m sure Code is right. This thing is definitely very important to Beckenberg’s plan.
“I’ll tell you again. Be careful.” Code said.
I snorted, “Just who do you think you’re talking to? I’ll be dead before anyone has any need to worry about me.
“Rather than that, just be sure to steal my share, alright?” Then, I turned towards Keypick, “Keypick, it’s about time you get serious too.”
“I’ll get serious when I find something to pick.” She replied, the started muttering, “Maybe there’s a safe or a treasure chest in the mansion…?”
And like this, our plan was set in motion.
******
The plan was proceeding smoothly.
Although I snorted at Code’s worries, I actually had no intention of ignoring his words. I have been relying on him since I was a kid, after all.
So, I was more cautious than normal. Before getting into the restaurant, I made sure to walk around the surroundings and take out the people who seemed to be waiting for a signal.
It took time to wipe them out, but the plan proceeded without any issues.
And since Beckenberg didn’t move from the restaurant, the attack on his mansion did not seem to have been discovered yet.
Code and Keypick are handling their part well.
Robberies should be done quickly and quietly. You come in quickly, and run away quickly once your business is done.
So well, it’s time to do my part in the plan now. Keep Beckenberg here to buy some time.
Therefore, without taking any more time to think about it, I rushed inside the restaurant and fought the two guards that Beckenberg and Adyll brought.
Both were women, and both were strong.
However, just as I was finally starting to get fired up…
Keypick came and took me away.
Just when I thought I could play seriously for the first time in a long while…
******
And after all that, I somehow arrived at this situation.
“Come on! The punishment isn’t over yet!” The red-eyed girl exclaimed.
“Seriously… Hold on…” I replied.
This was just too weird.
A girl that I didn’t know was angry at me for a reason that I didn’t know, and she’s totally beating me up.
“Huuuh…?” I could hear Keypick mutter.
It was the first time that this happened. The first time that Keypick saw me get beaten up in a fight.
“Just why are you angry…?” I asked the red-eyed girl.
This is a very strange and rare situation, but at the same time, it feels similar to something I experienced many times as a kid.
I just can’t help wondering about it… Why is this girl angry?
I really don’t remember doing anything recently that would cause a sudden burst of anger to come from an unknown person…
“Ask your own heart!” The girl exclaimed.
… I won’t be able to figure it out if things keep going like this.
