The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 301
Chapter 301: I Am the Plunder King (2)
Claude closed his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Never in his life did he imagine he’d be ordered to pose as a corrupt official and make contact with a criminal organization.
“When did my reputation end up turning like this?”
Was it when he gambled with the lord? Or when he enslaved Alfoi just like the others? Perhaps it was when he secretly pocketed gold coins during his dealings with the merchant guild? Or maybe when he sweet-talked his colleagues and juniors into joining him?
Regardless, it was unfair. Totally unfair. Claude shouted out his frustration.
“I’m not a corrupt official! And what’s with this nickname, ‘The Bribe King’! That’s absurd! It’s all because the lord made me do it!”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I barely took anything! I was just short on living expenses!”
“…So, you really did take it? And Wendy let you get away with it?”
Wendy had indeed turned a blind eye when Claude skimmed a little gold from the merchant guild. Flustered, Claude quickly changed the subject.
“That’s not the point! What do you even want me to do with this criminal organization?”
“We’ll discuss the bribes later. Anyway, these guys keep sneaking around, so it’s tough to root them out. You need to gather them up and figure them all out.”
“And how exactly am I supposed to do that?”
“That’s for you to figure out. Maybe start by getting on friendly terms with them.”
“I’m terrible at pretending! Even if I do get close, I’ll get caught right away!”
“No, you can do it. Just put your heart into it.”
“Ugh! How can I put my heart into something like this? My heart is set on hating corruption!”
Claude raged and stomped about, but Ghislain was immovable. No matter how much Claude protested, Ghislain firmly believed he was the perfect man for the job.
Even though Claude himself denied it, the criminals would undoubtedly recognize his unique talents.
Under Ghislain’s unyielding orders, Claude had no choice but to take on the task.
“Fine. I guess I should at least come up with a decent operation name.”
After some thought, Claude lazily decided on the name “Bug Extermination” and summoned Lowell.
“Hey, find a suitable location and make some connections with the criminal organizations. Let them know I’ll meet them in person.”
“Those guys are lying low lately. It’ll be tough to get them to come out. They’re being extra cautious.”
“Ugh, can’t you just follow orders without complaining for once? If I say they’ll meet me, then they’ll meet me. It’s me, Claude.”
Lowell grumbled inwardly at Claude’s annoyance.
“Says the guy who complains the most.”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. Now that I think about it, of course they’ll come if it’s you, Chief Overseer. I’ll take care of it right away.”
Lowell hurried off to track down the criminal organizations.
After the Plunder King swept through, the underworld had been eerily quiet. Even the lowliest thugs were staying out of sight.
This was great news for the citizens of the estate, but not so much for Ghislain, who wanted to completely root out the criminals.
Using the records available, Lowell identified a group that hadn’t yet been hit by the Plunder King.
“The Blue Skull Gang. They should be just right. Their boss is rumored to be dim-witted and clueless.”
The Blue Skull Gang wasn’t a large organization, but they specialized in manufacturing and distributing hallucinogens. They were known to discreetly sell their drugs to the wealthy elite.
Their survival so far had been thanks to providing drugs to a high-ranking figure within Count Desmond’s circle, which afforded them protection.
Given their expertise in drug production, they had originally operated as herbalists. However, after the Plunder King swept through, they relocated and started a new venture.
Lowell gathered intel from various sources and located the address of a shop operated by the Blue Skull Gang.
When he arrived at the address, he found a large building with a stylish signboard.
[Taste of Fantasy]
“…Seriously?”
It turned out to be a restaurant that had recently gained fame as a hotspot. Unable to continue their illegal activities, it seemed they had switched to legitimate business.
Lowell decided to step inside. The building was freshly constructed, its interior exceptionally clean.
Judging by the packed crowd, the rumors of it being a popular spot were true. The well-dressed patrons suggested that most of them were from affluent backgrounds.
“Welcome!”
A waitress, dressed in a somewhat revealing outfit, greeted him warmly. Scratching his chin, Lowell thought to himself,
‘Is this why they’re so popular?’
As he took a seat, the waitress handed him a menu and began her enthusiastic pitch.
“Our restaurant uses a secret special sauce that creates a flavor you won’t find anywhere else! It’s a bit pricey, but we guarantee it’ll be worth it!”
“Hmm…”
Lowell, after a moment of deliberation, ordered the most expensive item on the menu. Public funds were meant to be used for things like this.
“The Taste of Fantasy Special Course Meal, please.”
“How would you like your sauce? Rich? Mild? Or regular?”
“Uh… rich, I guess?”
If he was going to eat something pricey, it was better to go all out and enjoy the rich flavors.
“Understood! It’s our finest menu item, so please look forward to it!”
Soon, the dishes were brought out one after another. The appearance and aroma were as extravagant as any noble banquet.
Swallowing a lump of saliva, Lowell picked up a piece of meat and dipped it deeply into the sauce.
The moist, tender meat was generously coated in an aromatic sauce. Having rarely eaten such luxurious food, Lowell chewed the meat with a look of bliss.
Then his eyes snapped open.
“It’s… delicious! No, it’s beyond delicious!”
The taste was indescribable, so good that he almost felt like he was hallucinating.
Tears welled up in Lowell’s eyes as he thought to himself.
“What the hell did they put in this… these crazy bastards….”
If he ate any more, it would be dangerous. He’d get addicted. Now he understood why the recipe for the special sauce was a secret.
Criminals like these couldn’t be left unchecked. They were conducting this kind of business while keeping a low profile.
Most people probably wouldn’t realize what was in the sauce. But Lowell had once worked under Count Digald, managing criminal organizations.
Some of those groups dealt in strange substances. Because of that, he immediately recognized the dizzying sensation caused by this insane flavor.
When tears streamed down his face, a startled waitress hurried over.
“Oh my! Are you all right? Is the food not to your liking?”
“No… it’s just that the taste brings back memories….”
“A home-cooked meal, perhaps? Our food is incredible, isn’t it? Hohoho.”
‘It’s not that, you lunatics.’
Stopping his meal, Lowell stood and addressed the waitress.
“Can I see the manager?”
“Is something… wrong?”
The waitress hesitated, her expression tinged with suspicion, but Lowell responded without batting an eye.
“The food is so good I want to introduce it to the noble I serve. Go fetch him.”
The waitress glanced at him for a moment before nodding. There was no way she could handle this matter herself.
Soon, a well-dressed man appeared and bowed his head.
“I’ve been told the situation. How can I assist you?”
Lowell sized up the manager with a few sweeping glances before speaking. There was no need for lengthy explanations with people like him who had already established themselves.
“You want to keep doing business here, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
“I’m here on behalf of the Chief Overseer. We already know everything about you.”
“…!”
The manager’s eyes trembled, his confusion evident. Ignoring the reaction, Lowell continued.
“I know you’ve been unable to operate properly because of the Plunder King. The Chief Overseer will take care of that. He wants to meet your boss. We’ll visit in two nights, so prepare accordingly.”
“I don’t understand what you mean….”
“Two nights from now. If you keep hiding, we’ll crush this place and hunt you down. Make sure you understand.”
Without waiting for a response, Lowell turned and began to leave. But just before exiting, he paused, as if something had occurred to him, and turned back.
“Stop messing with the food. Before I drag every last one of you to prison. What? A ‘home-cooked taste’? Does your mother season her food with drugs?”
“…Yes, sir.”
After Lowell left, the message reached the leader of the Blue Skull Gang, Morvin, who was thrown into a dilemma.
With the territory’s leadership having changed, it was best to lie low for the time being. The noble who had previously backed them had already been beheaded by Ghislain.
Adding to the chaos, the Plunder King had been causing havoc, making it impossible to expand their operations.
This had led them to change their line of work and live quietly for the most part. But now the new Chief Overseer was requesting a meeting, raising suspicions about his intentions.
“Damn it… how did they find out about us? Did the previous noble leave something behind?”
If not, it was hard to explain how they had been discovered so quickly.
In any case, there were two options: meet them in person to figure out their intentions or leave the territory entirely.
“Ugh, starting over again wouldn’t be easy.”
There were already established underworld organizations in other territories. These organizations likely had noble patrons watching their backs, making it difficult for new groups to establish themselves.
Even so, meeting with the chief overseer of a territory was a daunting prospect. After all, it could very well be a trap to lure someone like himself, who lived in hiding.
While Morvin was mulling over the matter, one of his subordinates cautiously spoke up beside him.
“Boss, haven’t you heard the rumors about the chief overseer?”
“Rumors? What rumors?”
“They call him the ‘Bribe King of the North.’”
“The Bribe King of the North?”
“Yes, it’s a famous nickname. Haven’t you heard? Even the common folk in the territory know about it.”
“Really? He’s that infamous?”
Due to his line of work, Morvin kept a low profile and was slow to hear news. The chaotic atmosphere caused by the Plunder King had also distracted him.
To confirm the rumor, he sent his other subordinates to gather more information. When they returned, they all said the same thing.
“They say he’s an absolutely ruthless man.”
“There isn’t a single merchant guild trading with the territory that hasn’t been extorted.”
“There are even rumors that he’s using the current chaos in the territory to line up his pockets.”
Everyone’s accounts were consistent. The chief overseer was nothing short of a textbook corrupt official. Finally, a sinister grin spread across Morvin’s face.
“Kuh, so he’s here to find a new patron, huh? He must be planning to back us in exchange for a cut.”
As long as humans gathered, the underworld could never be eradicated. Most nobles and officials turned a blind eye to criminal organizations as long as they didn’t cross any extreme lines.
In fact, they often used these groups to handle dirty work or collected regular tributes from them. It was a mutually beneficial relationship.
Even Count Desmond himself didn’t interfere with such matters unless they directly hindered the governance of his territory. This kind of attitude was widespread across the continent.
After contemplating the rumors about Claude, Morvin made a decision.
“I’ll meet the chief overseer. Make sure everything is prepared to treat him properly.”
On the agreed day, the restaurant “Taste of Fantasy” closed its doors earlier than usual. A lavish feast was set out, awaiting their guest.
Morvin meticulously inspected everything. How could he neglect preparations for the official who would be covering for them from now on?
As night fell, one of his subordinates rushed over, panting.
“The chief overseer has arrived.”
“Let’s go greet him.”
Straightening his attire and wearing a broad smile, Morvin hurried to the entrance.
But the smile froze on his face the moment he saw the guest.
Claude appeared with just one robed attendant by his side and immediately started complaining.
“Ah, why is my body so heavy?”
Morvin’s eyelid twitched as he stared at Claude.
Something about him was off. The man who claimed to be the chief overseer of a territory looked utterly bizarre.
His hat was adorned with dozens of bird feathers, and thick gold necklaces hung heavily around his neck. Extravagant ornaments covered every part of his outfit.
Claude, wobbling as if genuinely burdened by the weight of his attire, huffed as he spoke.
“Are you the boss here?”
“……”
Morvin’s eyes narrowed. No matter how he looked at him, this man seemed suspicious.
He’d heard that the chief overseer was corrupt, but this appearance was excessively flamboyant. No matter how much wealth someone amassed, it was unusual to flaunt it so brazenly.
Morvin glanced at his subordinates as if asking whether this was truly the chief overseer. They subtly shook their heads in uncertainty. Unfortunately, none of them had seen Claude’s face before.
Although Claude had been busy moving around the Desmond territory, he usually traveled with a large entourage, making him hard to spot. Furthermore, he hadn’t been here long and had been focused on managing key facilities and paperwork, leaving criminals like them with little opportunity to recognize him.
With sharp eyes, Morvin broke the silence.
“Are you really the chief overseer of this territory?”
“What? You don’t know my face? Wendy, they don’t recognize me!”
Claude turned to the robed attendant beside him, incredulous. How dare these people not recognize the chief overseer of a territory, even if he had only arrived recently? Such insolence!
True to the nature of someone endorsed by Ghislain, Claude’s ego had grown in tandem with the increasing power of the territory.
Morvin shook his head slightly.
“It’s just hard to believe that the chief overseer of a territory would come here with only one attendant.”
At those words, his subordinates began exuding faint killing intent. It was absurd for a chief overseer of a major territory to visit such a place alone.
Moreover, the robed figure beside Claude seemed more like a servant than a proper guard. If he were truly the chief overseer, shouldn’t he at least have brought someone resembling a knight?
‘This guy must be an impostor trying to scam us… Coming here without proper guards suggests he’s trying to keep this meeting a secret… If so, we could kill him here and bury him quietly.’
It was the sort of thought criminals like them were bound to have.
Morvin tilted his head slightly, signaling his subordinates, who began closing in on Claude.
However, before they could completely surround him, the robed figure, Wendy, shifted slightly.
Thwack! Thwack!
“Guh…”
Thud!
Two of the men approaching from the sides collapsed, daggers embedded in their foreheads.
Seeing this, Morvin’s face turned pale.