Climb had a strange thought.
Just how strong of a magic caster was Evileye? A normal team would be made up of members with similar strength and experience. Was there that big of a difference between them?
“That is not true. I know how strong you are, Gagaran-san. You would not fall behind a group of newcomers.”
“Wow~ thanks for the praise. Okay, wanna do it?”
“No, I will have to decline.”
“And that’s why you’re still a virgin. Didn’t you hear that it’s disgraceful for a man to refuse a meal that’s been laid out in front of him? Why are you still carrying it around like it’s something good? What’re you going to do when you actually do it with a girl that you like? Do you want to be told that you’re clumsy? Is that what you’re into? Are you an M?”
Digging into Climb without even giving him a chance to respond, Gagaran let out a big sigh.
“Well, it’s not like I’m pressuring you. I’m okay with it whenever so just tell me if you want it. … But Beauty, huh. That’s a pretty embarrassing nickname. Isn’t the name just for show?”
“She’s supposed to be quite beautiful. According to my information, she—“
Climb thought that Evileye’s gaze stopped on him for a brief instant, then soon understood that he was right.
“—rivals the Golden Princess.”
Gagaran looked at Climb playfully. He predicted what she was going to say next and made the first move.
“What is beautiful and what is ugly is different for everyone. And to me, there is no one who is more beautiful than Renner-sama.”
“Yes~ Yes~.”
A voice of obvious disappointment.
“Hmm, we’ve went off topic quite a bit. I’m sorry for having you take part in needless chatter. We will start with our preparations like Lakyus instructed.”
Gagaran and Evileye stood from their seats. Climb also followed suit.
“Sorry, Climb. There’s a lot I want us to do together, but I don’t think now is the time.”
“Not at all, Gagaran-san. Please don’t worry about it. And Evileye-sama as well, thank you for your advice.”
Gagaran silently stared at Climb then let out a tired laugh.
“Fine, you’re going back right? Look after the leader, will you? Bye bye, virgin. …And make sure you keep your items secure. That weapon at your waist isn’t what you normally use, no?”
“Right. This is in case for emergencies.”
“You don’t know what’s going to happen so even if you don’t wear your armor, at least always carry your sword with you. That’s what it means to be an adventurer, especially a warrior. Also, do you have the item that I gave you?”
“The bell? I have it right here.”
Climb tapped the pouch tied to his belt.
“I see. Then it’s fine. Remember, as warriors, the only thing we can do is swing our weapons. But that’s dangerous. Magic items are what lets us prepare for those dangers. Get a lot of items and hold onto them. And keep at least three bottles of potions with you. It’s what saved me in the past.”
He had three potions but only brought two with him. Climb responded that he understood.
“… You’re surprisingly considerate of others.”
“You making fun of me, Evileye? … Sorry for keeping you, Climb. Basically, what I want to say is to always be prepared beforehand.”
“I understand.”
Gagaran nodded deeply.
Part 3
Nine men and women sat around the circular table.
Despite the leaders who commanded each section of the Eight Fingers gathering in one place, none of them made the effort to meet each other’s eyes. They simply looked over the documents in front of them or talked with their own subordinates.
It was like a gathering of completely separate organizations. Although the situation wasn’t so bad as to call it explosive, the guarded caution they had for one another was apparent, like one between enemies. However, from each of their respective points of view, this was the obvious response. Even if they were one group and working together, in reality, they would often steal assets from one another and rarely joined forces.
For instance, the drug trade manages and operates everything from a drug’s production to the moment it hits the market. Something the smuggling group had no part to play in. The groups did not openly interfere with one another, but it was common to see them attempt sabotage while the other had their backs turned.
Such actions held absolutely zero merit for an organization as a whole. This was one of the pitfalls of multiple criminal groups banding together to form a larger one.
These people attended the routine division meeting of the Eight Fingers despite having such terrible relations as they had a good reason to do so.
The reason was: any who did not attend was considered to be a possible traitor and targeted for purging. That was why even those who had no business in the Kingdom went out of their way to attend the meeting.
Even those who normally secluded themselves in safety stepped out onto the spotlight. Needless to say, their fear of being assassinated meant that they brought bodyguards with them. These were two of their most skilled men that they were allowed to bring to the meeting, selected carefully from their own group.
— All except for one person.
“Everyone is present. Let’s begin our regular meeting.”
The chairs creaked loudly as the man’s voice caused everyone to sit up straight.
The one who opened his mouth was the speaker for this meeting and also the leader of the Eight Fingers. Adorned with the mark of the Water God, the man who looked to be in his fifties wore a gentle expression on his face, the type who did not seem to belong in the underworld.
“There are a number of topics for discussion, but the first that needs to be sorted— Hilma.”
“Yes~?”
The one who responded was a woman in white.
Her skin was sickly pale and her clothes were white as well. A tattoo of a snake crawled down her right arm, starting from her shoulder blades and reaching to her hand holding a pipe that gave off poisonous, purple fumes. Wearing purple mascara and lipstick, the thin garments that hung loosely around her body gave her the decadent aura of a high class prostitute.
She yawned deliberately.
“Can’t you start a bit earlier?”
“… I heard that your drug cultivation facility was attacked.”
“Yep, it’s true, a village that was used as a production plant. Cost me a pretty penny too. I might cut down on distribution.”
“Were you able to find information on the ones responsible?”
“Nope, it was perfect …Well, it’s not like I don’t have any leads.”
“Their color?”
Everyone knew what he meant by that question.
“Don’t know. It’s just starting to become clear; I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“I see. As you’ve all just heard, this is the current situation. Raise your hand if any of you have any information.”
There was no response. It was unclear whether they didn’t know, or simply had no desire to answer.
“Then next is—.”
“—Hey.”
The man’s voice rang low, holding an incredible amount of power.
All of the eyes in the room gathered in one spot. In that place was a bald man with half of his face covered in tattoos of beasts. Everything about him was large; the outlines of his muscular figure obvious even through his clothes. The cold glint of his eyes belonged to that of a warrior.
Although the other group leaders had brought bodyguards with them, the man had no one standing behind him. It would be meaningless to bring along people who would be of no use. That much was obvious.