YM778.TV Chapter 67
A man who dresses like a woman stood confidently at the wide-open door.
“……”
“Hey there, it’s been a while. Do you remember me? It’s Semid.”
Semid smirked.
“What’s the matter? So happy you’re about to cry?”
“More like, it’s so irritating that I’m about to cry…”
“Oh my, that’s harsh. How can you say such things right to my face? I’m genuinely hurt.”
“…Whether you are or not, it’s none of my concern.”
“Still… hmm. Last time, you spoke casually, but now you’re using formal speech? Why do you seem so touchy? Did something happen?”
“I paid a hefty price to secure a seat for the performance, and now an uninvited guest has invaded my private space. I’d love to kick you out, but I’m restraining myself.”
Even the orchestra on stage hadn’t stopped playing.
Semid, wearing a sly grin, pulled out an empty chair and sat down.
“Hmm, I see. You’re right, this is a private space. Perfect for a personal meeting, don’t you think? That’s why there are two chairs.”
Ian sighed, leaning back with a slouch. His expression showed absolutely no intention of hiding his rudeness.
Considering the reputation of the Berger family and his notorious past, Semid didn’t bother pointing out his impoliteness.
“Calm down, I brought you a special gift.”
Ian looked at Semid with disinterest, but then noticed something finely wrapped being placed on the round table.
As the packaging unraveled, Ian’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Sola Whale, 2-year-old vintage. How about it? I heard you like alcohol. This should more than make up for the time of our esteemed young master, right?”
And, as if by magic, two glasses appeared in Semid’s hand.
“If you’re not interested, I’ll leave.”
“No, stay.”
The wine was too tempting to refuse.
Semid, as if expecting this, smoothly poured the wine and filled both glasses.
“Alright then, let’s raise our glasses. Cheers.”
Clink!
Despite his reluctance, Ian clinked his glass with Semid’s. The cheerful sound quickly blended into the music being performed below.
“My, I heard you’re still quite young, but you drink well. The aroma is incredible, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. It would’ve been a perfect moment if there wasn’t someone sitting next to me.”
Ian, now refilling his empty glass, continued.
“So, what business brings you here?”
“I thought we could have a drink together~”
“If that were the case, you would have sent someone to call me.”
“…Hmm, true. There’s something I need to discuss. That’s why I snuck in here to avoid prying eyes. Lucky for me, you have such refined hobbies, despite your reputation, so it was easy to find you.”
“……”
“Oh, sorry. Did the term ‘reputation’ bother you? Relax, I didn’t mean to insult or mock you. Think of it as a gesture of familiarity. I’m not great at these things, so cut me some slack.”
“……”
“And hey, slow down on the wine. That stuff’s really rare. Why are you drinking it like water?”
“It’s mine now, so stop meddling and just get to the point already.”
Ian swirled the glass in his hand. The liquor shimmered beautifully under the light, and he admired it deeply. How on earth do they make something like this?
“Such insolence. Well, I actually prefer it this way. I hear you’re working as a mercenary now? They say the Berger family is backing you. Is that true?”
“I suppose I am benefiting from being in their favor.”
“That’s not going to be good for you in the long run, you know? People might start doubting your skills, thinking your achievements are all thanks to family support. No matter how many monsters you slay, some will just dismiss it as rumors.”
“Hmm, so what’s your point?”
Semid smiled brightly.
“You need to take on jobs from a variety of places.”
“Such as?”
“Me.”
“……”
“Let’s do a job together. I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”
“I’m not interested….”
Semid’s smile quickly faded.
“Do you even know how much that wine costs? Don’t tell me you’re unaware of Sola Whale’s reputation?!”
“I know it very well. But isn’t this bottle meant to pay for our little meeting? It shouldn’t be counted as part of the job fee. Plus, it’s a 2-year vintage, not even a 12-year one, and you’re acting like it’s a big deal.”
“Wow, you’ve got some nerve. A single bottle of Sola Whale could hire three or four Level 5 mercenaries. And you think just talking to you is worth more than that? Fine. Ten gold coins. Five days of work. How does that sound?”
“…….”
“I didn’t come to you lightly. I thought about it for days before seeking you out. If you’re not too busy, hear me out.”
“…Alright. It’s a bit low, but I’ll take it. What’s the job?”
Semid stared intently at Ian, then slowly began to speak.
“Flaming. This city has undergone rapid development recently.”
Although the topic of the city seemed out of the blue, Ian stayed quiet and listened.
“This small land, which once housed just a few thousand people, now has tens of thousands of residents and nearly a hundred thousand visitors. All in just ten years. There aren’t many cities in the East that have developed so fast. It’s all thanks to my father’s foresight. But recently, I realized the city is rotting from the inside. Because of those damn drugs.”
“Is that really surprising? In a city of indulgence, drugs are bound to circulate.”
“Of course it is. Despite the growing drug problem worldwide, neither our family nor Flaming has ever permitted drug distribution. On the contrary, we’ve been actively trying to eradicate it, and we’ve had some success.”
“Hoh.”
Ian found Semid’s statement a bit unexpected, especially since he remembered that Flaming had once been a hub for drug trafficking. This meant the people using drugs the previous night weren’t operating with official approval. However, the drug dealers had been rather bold. Even soldiers were involved, so the city being called ‘rotten’ wasn’t an exaggeration.
“So, you want me to track down and wipe out these drug dealers?”
“That’s one way to do it. But don’t you think it’d be more effective to cut off the head first rather than just chopping off the limbs?”
“And where exactly is the head?”
No matter how skilled one is at tracking, some kind of lead is always necessary to begin.
“I’ve already figured that out. I’m not 100% sure, but there’s a place where the drug dealers frequent. It’s also where the manufacturing is happening.”
“In the middle of the city?”
“Why not? My brother manages that area, and the building itself is owned by him.”
“But they need materials, don’t they?”
“They’ve taken over the city’s security force. Getting materials is hardly an issue. If they need anything, they can just bring it in from outside. I hear they even commissioned the mage tower to install an elevator in that building. The dealers only get their supplies from there.”
“…….”
“And there might be ties to a cartel. That’s the real headache. I can’t let Flaming become a den of drugs. This city needs to be one of entertainment and culture. They’re supposed to be having a gathering the day after tomorrow. If we’re going to wipe them out, that’ll be our chance.”
“I see.”
“But, we need solid evidence. That’s why I want you to investigate the place.”
“…I’m not sure I’m the right person for that.”
If it were an expedition to ruins or a labyrinth, or even a monster extermination, he would have gladly accepted.
“No, no. You can do it. It won’t be that hard.”
“……?”
“Go have fun. Gamble, drink, or hang out with a beautiful woman, do whatever you like. I’ll provide the money too.”
“You just want me to go have fun?”
“Exactly. Sooner or later, someone will approach you, right? They’ll probably offer you drugs, with a high chance. I need you to retrieve some and serve as a witness.”
Ian responded in a disinterested tone.
“If that’s what you’re after, wouldn’t someone else be better suited for the task?”
There were more than a few mercenaries staying in the city at that moment.
There weren’t many places in the Eastern Empire where mercenaries or low-ranking nobles could indulge in such luxuries, so hiring one of them would be an option.
“Well, actually… I tried that a few times before, but they all failed. I can’t trust just anyone now. Besides, Flaming… and I don’t mean to insult it, but it’s not exactly a high-class place yet. And I can’t publicly hire mercenaries for this task. That’s why you’re the perfect fit.”
“I don’t quite follow.”
“You’re Ian.”
Ian looked at Semid with confused eyes. He was smirking smugly. Was that an insult?
“Ian the Scoundrel.”
Yeah, it was an insult.
“Even if your identity gets exposed and you show interest in drugs, no one will find it strange. If you express curiosity, there’s even less chance anyone will suspect you. And more than that, you’re from Berger. The guardian who eliminates evil. I hear the Red Spear Knights are relatively resistant to the side effects of drugs?”
“…Are you trying to pick a fight with me? I’m not about to risk my honor for a few coins.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t.”
Semid’s face was annoyingly smug, as if he’d only been probing for a reaction.
“And if you know about a drug dealer meeting, why don’t you just storm in with soldiers? Why go through all this trouble?”
“It’s simple. I can’t deploy the city guards.”
“What?”
“More precisely, I can’t trust them.”
Ian couldn’t help but frown at that.
“Wait, if the ruler of a city can’t trust their own soldiers, who can they trust? Mercenaries? You just said you couldn’t trust them either.”
Semid sighed, downing the rest of his drink in one gulp.
“Ugh. That’s what I’m saying—Flaming is in bad shape right now. It’s rotten. Listen.”
“I’d prefer it if you just left now.”
“No, listen. This also concerns the Berger family. You need to know what’s happening within the Demuid family.”
“…….”
If it weren’t for the expensive Sola Whale, he would have kicked him out already. But since it was a costly gift, Ian decided to at least hear him out.
Without hesitation, Semid began sharing the secrets of the Demuid family.
“I have an older brother. He’s not too bright. We got along well as kids, but not anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I turned out more talented. I’m a genius, he’s just average. Naturally, my father favored me more. His affection was proportional to ability.”
“Hm.”
“My brother tried to keep up, but luck was never on his side. He failed at every task he was assigned. It’s unfortunate. I helped him out now and then, but it only made him feel even more inferior. Now, he hates me.”
“…….”
“My brother, disheartened, fell into gambling. My father, unable to watch anymore, entrusted him with a few businesses and the city guard. My brother didn’t seem all that interested at first, but eventually, he began working with enthusiasm. I thought he’d finally pulled himself together.”
For some reason, Ian felt an odd sense of familiarity. There was something strangely relatable about Semid’s brother.
“Then, two years ago, my father fell ill and passed away before officially naming a successor. Naturally, my father’s authority passed down to me. But one day, I received a report that drugs were being circulated. I entrusted the investigation to my brother, who was in charge of public safety. The answer he gave me was that it was just a baseless rumor.”
“…….”
“It was purely by chance that I discovered it wasn’t a false report. I happened to stumble upon people collapsed in an alley, drooling. Among them was one of the soldiers responsible for public safety. It doesn’t take a genius to realize what’s going on, does it? It wasn’t that my brother couldn’t find the drugs being distributed—he was turning a blind eye. And it turns out, he was involved in the whole thing.”
“So, aside from the city guards, you have no other forces at your disposal?”
Semid closed his eyes and sighed.
“Flaming… doesn’t really have much of a military presence to begin with. Since it’s under Berger’s protection, the city guard is usually enough. And if things get serious, we can always hire mercenaries. If it gets really dangerous, we could ask Berger for help.”
Ian knew this much.
This was a peaceful city where the gates had never been breached, and no monsters roamed nearby, so a minimal military force was enough to manage it.
Though the presence of mercenaries could occasionally lead to conflicts, they usually kept themselves in check to avoid becoming wanted criminals.
“Of course, I do have a small personal guard to protect my assets, but they’re few in number. That’s why I’m asking for your help.”
“I don’t think my involvement would change much.”
“No, it would. You’re from Berger. If you assist me in this, people might misinterpret it as Berger supporting my cause, wouldn’t they?”
“So, that’s why you approached me back then?”
“When? Oh, in Lus? No, that was just me thinking it wouldn’t hurt to make a connection. But looking at the situation now, it seems I made the right call back then. So, what do you say? Will you help me?”
———-