Chapter 554

Though he had already overheard it, Ian feigned ignorance and asked, "And where would that be?"

"

Ah

, you don’t know the way at all. It’s close. Follow me."

The boy, clutching the pot tightly to his side, spun around, passing by the pedestrians as nonchalantly as he had been doing all along. The destination was indeed close. Not even thirty steps later, the boy entered a path between two buildings and stopped.

"It’s that building, sir." The boy pointed to the entrance of the building across the way, deeper into the path.

Drunkards were chattering loudly or rolling around in their vomit. Even amid all that, few men were opening the door and heading inside.

"The first floor is a tavern, and the gambling den is above it. If you take the stairs, a bouncer will block your way, so don’t be alarmed and show him your money. The process will be smoother if you slip him a few coins."

The boy added, standing with his back to the wall, "Look for a one-eyed Imperial man with brown hair and a thick beard. They say he’s Sanford.

Ah

, he has a Vantruian guard with him, too."

Ian, who had nodded at the boy’s flawless recitation of what he had been told, turned toward him. He stood with his back to the wall, seemingly using Ian and Lucia as shields from the stares of those around them. Soon after, he held out his right hand.

The boy’s eyes, which had been staring intently at the silver coin between Ian’s fingers, soon widened.

"There’s one more, sir?"

It was because he had realized there were two silver coins wedged between Ian’s fingers.

Ian shrugged lightly. "You saved me quite a bit of time. And you promised to split one coin with that beggar just now."

The boy blinked, as if wondering how Ian had known, then grinned wide enough to show his teeth. "Thank you, sir! You’re truly generous."

"Be careful not to get caught. Some of them weren’t looking at you kindly," Ian added, putting his hand into the pot, dropping the silver coins in without making a loud noise.

The boy shrugged without a hint of fear. "Don’t worry. This place isn’t as dangerous as it looks. The real danger’s deeper in. Just watch your purses here. And the addicts."

"That’s different from what you said earlier."

"I just wanted to make sure your purses stayed safe."

More like you wanted to protect the money you were supposed to receive.

Ian let out a soft laugh. Then again, if it were truly that dangerous, it would be difficult to operate gambling dens, bars, and brothels. The thugs lurking everywhere were likely a kind of self-policing force, placed to prevent any unfortunate accidents.

The boy added. "Still, thank you for your concern. It’s been a long time since I’ve met such kind and merciful people."

"Flattery won’t earn you more coin."

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I’m being sincere. They usually treat us like slaves. Sometimes they even break their promises."

"Then from now on, get the money first and then give the information."

The boy’s smile turned strange. "It’s alright. Those people get a good beating by ambushers on their way back to their lodgings. And all their money gets stolen, too."

So, there was another trap.

The smile on Ian’s lips deepened. He didn’t even need to think deeply to know who the ambushers were. A sound like the wind escaped from behind Lucia’s mask. She, too, must have been letting out a dry laugh.

The boy quickly added, "Of course, you two have nothing to worry about. We have our own code of honor, so we will protect you instead."

The boy met Ian’s gaze and bowed his head respectfully. "If you have any other errands, please find me anytime. I will wander near the lodgings where you are staying, sir."

It was also a way of saying that he could easily find out where he was staying. Ian reached out and lightly ruffled the boy’s curly hair. "Right. Good work. Let’s see each other again if we get the chance."

"May the grace of Lu Solar and Lu Logis be with you, sir." The boy clutched the pot tightly under his arm.

As Lucia stepped aside, the boy, who had bowed politely once more, turned and walked away.

Lucia, who had been watching the boy’s back, started walking as if to follow a beat later and murmured, "He wished us luck. He must think we’re going to gamble with that man."

"Taking a smuggling ship requires luck, too," Ian replied readily, following Lucia back out of the narrow alley.

The boy had already nimbly disappeared into the crowd. The fact that the boy had never asked for their names belatedly crossed his mind. It was likely for the same reason Ian hadn’t asked for his.

"I think I know why this city has prospered. This is a space where the culture of the archipelago and the culture of the Empire coexist in balance," Lucia said in a low voice, her eyes still fixed on the boy’s back. "It’s much more relaxed than other regions, but the influence of Imperial law is not completely absent. Enough for ordinary Imperials to enjoy a bit of deviation."

"To think you were thinking about that amid all this," Ian murmured, shaking his head.

The thought of introducing her to Elia flickered through his mind. Their exchange would have been far more productive than putting her with Thesaya.

Meanwhile, the boy, who had approached the beggar leaning against the wall, bent down. After a brief conversation, the leaning beggar straightened his posture.

The beggar, who had hugged the boy and ruffled his hair, leaned back against the wall with a grin. The boy, smiling brightly, left the alley with light steps.

Another sound of air escaping came from behind Lucia’s mask. "We really didn’t need to worry."

"So it seems."

To act like that over a single silver coin.

Then again, it was a pittance to him, but to them, it was enough money to be happy about. Unless a gambler who had won big or a rich Imperial happened to pass by, the pockets of those who frequented this alley were likely not very full.

—Then, shall we go in? Let’s stop wasting time.

It was then that a low whisper spread through Ian’s mind. Judging by the sharp turn of her head, Lucia had heard it too.

Calmly turning toward the door, Ian murmured, "I was about to. Just keep quiet and don’t interrupt."

Yog’s chuckling laugh was the only reply.

Laugh all you want,

Ian thought, but a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his lip.

In any case, this creature was a kind of danger alarm. From the looks of it, it didn’t seem like their lives would be in danger tonight, but in any case, the more insurance, the better.

Creak—

Ian, who had passed by the drunkards, opened the door and stepped inside. A fairly bright and spacious interior was revealed. The boisterous noise and the unique stench of a tavern assaulted his nose.

"Just in case, don’t ever take off your mask," Ian added to the following Lucia, and started walking.

The tavern was already full, and quite a few people were sitting on the bare floor in the corners. Scantily clad women and men, even considering it was the South, were walking around, sending suggestive glances.

Of course, Ian didn’t even spare them a glance. Looking at the large men in Imperial-style formal attire standing in each corner, he simply walked toward the stairs that ran along the far right wall.

"It’s much more blatant than the North," Lucia whispered, sticking close behind him.

As he wondered whether he should be relieved or displeased that she wasn’t flustered, Ian stopped.

"This floor is not a tavern."

A large man in a thin, slightly transparent formal uniform had stepped forward to block the stairs.

"I know where I’m going," Ian replied, pulling out a pouch of gold coins from his coat. It was a gift he had received from the merchants. He loosened the mouth just enough to reveal the glinting coins within.

"

Hmm...

" The large man gave a low hum, his eyes sweeping over Ian. It was hard to say whether he looked like some wastrel about to gamble away the money he should’ve spent fixing his armor, or a dangerous sort who might start a riot if things went wrong. Probably the latter.

"You’re working hard. We’ll play quietly and leave," Ian added in a low voice, subtly pressing a silver coin into the thug’s hand.

The thug, who had closed his fist without making it obvious, glanced at Lucia standing behind Ian and added, "You’ll need to disarm."

"As you can see, I’m only wearing armor."

Lucia drew a dagger from beneath her cloak. She held it out hilt-first, still in its sheath. The thug, who had readily taken it, stepped back toward the wall.

"No spells are to be cast inside. Break that rule, and every coin on you will be confiscated."

He had clearly mistaken Lucia for a mage, which wasn’t strange. She was wearing a wooden mask that covered her face and a deep green cloak.

Ian nodded. "No need to worry. That won’t happen."

"Your belongings will be returned when you leave. Enjoy your evening."

With that, the thug shoved her dagger into a box against the wall. Lucia dipped her head in acknowledgment, and Ian started up the stairs.

The second floor was dimmer, filled with the low hum of chatter.

"It’s full of energy," Lucia whispered, following him up.

Ian silently agreed. The space was far broader than below, no doubt expanded by knocking through kitchens and storerooms. And with the space came more people.

—I smell chaos. Though it’s nothing special.

As Yog’s whisper crossed his mind, Ian looked around as he walked. People were gathered around tables, playing cards.

"Odds! It’s odds this time!"

"Lower than 10. The sound is different."

From those betting on the dice cup the dealer was shaking, to all sorts of other gambling games, they were happening everywhere.

Not that different from the game.

The gambling den was a kind of mini-game arcade that had occasionally appeared in the game. Though it was incomparably more luxurious than this place, there was even one in the capital.

However, Ian had rarely enjoyed it. Not only was he busy with the main story, but he had also lost half his money in a game of guessing whether the sum of two dice was odd or even. At the time, he had been certain that the system was manipulating the results to match his choice.

Even now that it’s become a reality, it probably won’t be that different.

Ian nonchalantly looked around the room.

"I’m glad I didn’t come with Sister. She would have definitely tried to play," Lucia whispered again.

It was enough to make a dry laugh escape Ian’s lips. In any case, the number of organization members standing with their backs to the wall was much greater than on the first floor. They were all trying to catch cheaters among the customers.

"You motherf— Let go! Let go of me! I’m really innocent. I’m telling you, I am! Hey, wait just a moment!"

A man was being dragged away by two large men, no doubt caught at some trick. He was being dragged not toward Ian’s side, but toward the opposite wall, where there was a staircase leading up. It was clear that some not-so-pleasant things were happening up there. The way no one spared him a glance suggested they thought he deserved it.

"I think I found him."

Ian’s eyes roamed idly across the room until they finally stopped. At a table to the side, a man who perfectly matched the description the beggar boy had given was sitting.

A man sat with a solid frame, hair streaked brown and white hanging loose around his face, and a filthy beard crawling down his chin. A leather patch cut diagonally across his right eye, while the left flicked beneath a card he lifted just enough to glimpse.

"Fuck..."

Ian could tell what he was muttering just from the movement of his lips. Glancing at the muscular Vantruian holding a small box diagonally behind him, Ian walked over at a leisurely pace that didn’t feel threatening.

"The cards just aren’t coming my way today." Sanford, who had thrown his cards into the center of the table, clicked his tongue.

A fair amount of silver and copper coins were piled up in front of him. Looking down at the side of his face as he chugged his wine, Ian opened his mouth.

"Drinking won’t be of much help in winning money."

"A very excellent point. But do I know you?" said Sanford. Putting down his glass, he turned toward Ian.

At the same time, the guard standing behind Sanford took a slight step toward Ian. Though his face was fierce, his eyes didn’t seem to hold much fighting spirit or hostility. Rather, he looked clearly annoyed. He likely didn’t want to be in this place in the first place.

A sailor... no, well, maybe a first mate.

Ian smiled brightly and looked down at Sanford’s one eye. "We’ll be getting to know each other from now on. I’ve come to collect the debt you owe His Excellency Duke Jihandar."

"

Ah

, sent by His Excellency, are you? Well, well. He and I are on quite familiar terms, you know." A smile spread across Sanford’s face. He even added it in a way for the other gamblers to hear.

As the guard, who had let out a clear sigh of relief, quickly stepped back, Sanford, who had tapped his fingers on the table as if to start again, said, "Do you have proof that His Excellency sent you?"

"Of course," Ian replied readily and tilted his head to the side. "But it’s not something to be shown here."

"Then all the more reason to stay here. I have to win money to be able to repay the debt I owe His Excellency. The money I have now is far from enough," Sanford replied.

He was a man with a knack for making nonsense sound plausible. Of course, Ian didn’t even blink. In fact, the same was true for him.

"Don’t worry. I didn’t come to collect it in money."

"Then?"

"I hear you sail a ship."

"That’s my main line of work. Are you thinking of crossing over to the mainland?" Sanford smiled, expertly catching the cards that slid toward him with his palm.

"Exactly."

"Perfect. I’m already fully booked, but I will gladly clear a few spots for you. So, return to your lodgings. If you tell me the location, I will visit you tomorrow."

Sanford, who had continued speaking while glancing at his cards, looked at Ian. "Don’t worry. We can’t set sail right now anyway."

Ian didn’t ask what that situation was. That was a matter he could hear about later anyway. There was something he had to tell him first.

"You’ll have to cancel the rest of your bookings. My companions and I will be your only passengers. That’s the price of wiping away your debt."

Sanford smacked his lips. "Just when I’ve finally drawn a decent hand..."

With a sigh, he tossed his cards and a few coins into the center of the table. Then he jerked his chin to the guard, rising from his seat. "It seems I’ll have to go and check that proof, and have a little discussion."

"A wise decision." Ian smiled. It wasn’t an empty compliment. If Sanford had dealt another hand, he had been planning to show him which was harder, his face or the table.

Clink—

The approaching guard swept the silver and copper coins into the box he had opened. There wasn’t much money in the box.

Sanford, who had drained the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp, looked at Ian. "Would you mind waiting a moment? There’s a safe here. I have to deposit my money before I leave."

They even have a safe for customers in a gambling den?

Ian let out a low scoff and nodded. Then again, the gambling den might be the safest place to store money here. Funnily enough, trust was one of the biggest virtues a gambling den had to have.

The chances of a customer just taking their money and leaving would also be low, and if they died, the gambling den could just swallow it whole, so it wouldn’t be a losing business for them either.

"Let’s continue our introductions in a quiet place," Sanford added with a tilt of his chin and walked past the table.

It was in the direction of the stairs leading up, not down. It seemed the punishment room wasn't the only thing up there. As his guard handed a case to one of the men by the stairs, Sanford spoke to them with a calm expression.

"I was wondering why things were going so well," murmured Ian, with one corner of his lip curled up.

Lucia, who had been standing quietly behind him, leaned her upper body forward slightly. "Why?"

"That bastard is selling us out right now."

"What?"