Perfect Crime (2)
Chapter 29
Having completed his preparations, Ray quietly departed from the Baron’s Territory.
By the time Ray approached the vicinity of the Viscount’s land, the sky had already grown quite dark.
“Hmph.”
Amidst the calm within him, his heartbeat irregularly thudded against his chest.
He couldn’t tell whether the emotion he was feeling now was discomfort, tension, or excitement.
Ray adjusted his breathing while lightly stroking the dagger tucked into his leather pouch.
Thanks to folding his black robe and wrapping it around his waist, his weapon remained hidden from view.
On the other hand, he did stand out a bit. It wasn’t weather-appropriate attire.
Crack!!
The sound of splitting wood echoed through the air.
As Ray neared a cottage, he could see a short man hurriedly crawling out of the slightly open door.
A thug standing with a broken chair in hand shouted at him.
“Pay up! Why can’t you understand that simple concept? What are you going to do about the overdue interest?”
“Huh, if you just wait a month, I will definitely…!”
“You idiot, how many times have you said that now?!”
This was an all-too-common sight.
Ray had no intention of interfering, whether the man got beaten or not.
However, two estate soldiers were snickering as they watched the man get assaulted, which piqued his interest.
Estate soldiers are tasked with maintaining order.
As standing troops and elite soldiers, their authority is far from insignificant.
While it’s common knowledge that gangs engage in shady dealings in the shadows, even the boldest gangs wouldn’t openly beat someone in front of estate soldiers.
Similarly, even if they received bribes, soldiers blatantly ignoring and laughing at such violence indicated a severe lack of discipline.
As Ray approached the soldiers, an indescribable musty smell wafted towards him.
It wasn’t body odor.
‘Not exactly tobacco… the scent is unique.’
There were rumors that drugs were circulating in the Dinor region.
Ray tried to suppress the urge to raise an eyebrow.
‘This place needs to be cleaned up sooner rather than later, regardless of my current mission.’
Decay spreads easily.
The lethargy and disorder that began in the Viscount’s land would inevitably affect the Baron’s Territory soon.
It seemed Jimy would need to manage a larger area.
Ray’s head ached as he pondered how to persuade Jimy.
“Shouldn’t you stop this? He’s hitting someone.”
Ray asked the soldier as he approached.
An unexpectedly dramatic reaction followed.
“What the hell is wrong with this kid?”
One of the soldiers kicked aimlessly without any warning.
Ray sidestepped and swept the leg supporting the soldier’s weight.
The soldier tumbled to the ground, his face reddening as he reached for his sword hilt.
“You son of a bitch!!”
Ray took a step back.
With a metallic screech, the sword was drawn.
Shaking his head as he observed the soldier’s actions, Ray remarked,
“Did you hit your head, sir? You’re leaving the thugs alone and drawing your weapon on a nine-year-old kid?”
“You damn…!”
“Enough.”
At the reprimand from the other soldier, the one who had been about to swing his sword stopped.
‘Senior and junior soldiers.’
Understanding their relationship, Ray crossed his arms and looked at the senior soldier.
Even though Ray thought his own attitude was somewhat arrogant, the senior soldier smiled kindly and walked towards the thugs.
“Enough, alright? We don’t intend to interfere in financial matters, but beating someone up like this isn’t right, is it?”
The thugs exchanged glances and reluctantly bowed their heads. In their line of work, there was no talent more important than reading the situation correctly.
After calming down the assault, the senior soldier approached Ray with a friendly smile.
“I haven’t seen your face around here before. Are you from another region?”
“I’m from the Baron’s Territory. My name is Ray.”
Ray deliberately revealed his name. The senior soldier’s eyes briefly curved.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m running an errand. I have something to deliver to Mr. Euler at the general store.”
“I see. Do you know the exact location of the store?”
“I’ve never visited it directly, but it’s fine.”
“Hmm…”
Pretending to be lost in thought, the senior soldier tapped his chest a few times and promised.
“It’ll be night soon. It’s dangerous for a child to wander alone, so I’ll guide you.”
“Is that okay? Thank you very much. To be honest, I was worried because I’m still not familiar with the area.”
“Don’t worry, just wait a moment.”
The senior soldier approached the junior soldier and whispered into his ear.
“That’s the guy. The orphan collector.”
“Ah, is that him?”
“Yes. So…”
Continuing the whisper, the senior soldier returned to Ray and nudged him in the back.
“We’ve just finished handing over duties. Come on, let’s go quickly. I need to return to my work after guiding you.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Ray thought this guy was terrible at lying.
After circling the outskirts of the village, the senior soldier gradually led Ray to a gloomy spot.
They entered between some half-collapsed abandoned buildings where a group was already waiting.
Among them, a bulky figure waved cheerfully.
“Hey, you piece of shit. What nerve do you have to crawl back to Dinor?”
It was Hans.
Behind Hans’s group, the junior soldier was snickering and mocking Ray.
When Ray turned to look at the senior soldier, the latter scolded him sternly.
“I heard stories about you recklessly coveting others’ ‘things.’ Apologize and return what you stole.”
There was no way this guy didn’t understand the situation and was saying such nonsense.
Ray examined the group Hans belonged to. A lean man, no sign of Knife.
Considering their previous encounter, Knife was undoubtedly Hans’s superior.
Deep down, Ray hoped Knife would show up, but instead, only the bulky figure appeared.
“Hey, Hans.”
Ray scratched his head and asked,
“Do you really think you can catch me with just this number? Haven’t you heard anything from the Baron’s Territory? If you have more friends to bring, call them quickly.”
“Crazy bastard. Do you think you’re the only one who can handle mana?”
Hans mocked Ray’s arrogance.
Among ordinary people, there were a few who had awakened to the ability to manipulate mana, allowing them to temporarily enhance their strength and perform various tricks.
Two members of Hans’s group had faintly awakened to mana.
Given equal levels, naturally, experienced and physically imposing adults would have the advantage.
That is, given equal levels.
“By the way, isn’t Knife around?”
“Are you seriously not grasping the situation?”
“I understand it perfectly. You two should have come together. It would have made things easier.”
Muttering under his breath, Ray drew his sword.
The sword emerged cleanly without scraping its sheath, piercing straight through the senior soldier’s chest.
“Gulp?!”
The senior soldier was unable to react.
It wasn’t so much that Ray’s speed was fast, but more due to his negligence.
“?!”
The soldier had been stabbed.
In front of this shocking scene, the thugs momentarily froze.
The intense confusion and anger that surged through their minds soon erupted into screams.
“That crazy bastard!!”
If the soldier dies, it becomes a serious headache.
It means it’s not something that can be smoothed over by giving a few weeks’ worth of money and laughing it off.
Enraged, the thugs charged at Ray. Among them was the junior soldier.
The junior soldier had a particularly troublesome problem.
The senior soldier had been killed by a nine-year-old kid’s sword.
His mind was complicated as he wondered how to write the report to avoid responsibility.
However, the junior soldier’s worries didn’t last long.
Whoosh!
A blue light erupted from the sword that pierced the senior soldier’s chest.
As the night fell, the presence of the blue light illuminating the area…
Froze everyone’s hearts.
Chop!
Human bodies were shredded apart.
Thugs who had been splattered with the senior soldier’s organs abruptly stopped moving.
A chilling silence descended.
Stiff as stones, the thugs barely managed to draw breath until the sharp smell of blood finally brought them back to reality.
“Eh, eh?”
Pow!
A dagger plunged into the neck of the retreating junior soldier.
As the junior soldier’s head hit the ground, a scream echoed.
“E, Expert!!”
“Run!! Run away!!”
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!”
“Everyone, shut up.”
Chop!!!
In the order of those who screamed loudly, their heads were severed.
Some of them twitched in place with their limbs cut off before stopping their movements.
Hans collapsed, his legs losing strength.
A few fleeing thugs passed by Hans but were struck by knives flying ghost-like, their waists or legs pierced as they fell.
Already glowing eerily blue, the Sword Aura was now right in front of them.
Hans wet himself.
Passing by Hans, Ray first dealt with the thugs injured by the daggers.
Blood sprayed everywhere. Hans covered his ears and trembled in place.
Finally, the writhing screams subsided.
Approaching silently, Ray placed his knife against Hans’s neck.
“Hans? Do you understand the situation?”
“Y-Yes, yes!”
“Lower your voice and answer only the questions I ask.”
“Y-Yes, understood.”
“Do you remember the day we first met? Do you know who commissioned the friend who wanted to take the child I intended to bring along that day?”
“I-I don’t know. I, I…”
“Then who among the organization ordered you to bring the child?”
“M-Me? I, I just followed Knife’s orders…”
“Where is Knife now?”
“I, I heard he went to a tavern for a drink.”
“Which tavern?”
“I-I’m not sure. Somewhere around here…”
“Look at this. You’re not being helpful.”
“Wait…!!”
Puuuk!!
“G-Gulp…”
Hans, whose chest was pierced by the Sword Aura, couldn’t hold on much longer and slumped forward.
Pulling out the sword, Ray shook off any potential blood stains and clicked his tongue.
“I didn’t gain much.”
I need to find that guy, Knife.
*
Knife, who was drinking with a woman, stepped outside upon sensing something amiss.
Knife, who had been fumbling with his pants before entering the restroom, widened his eyes.
Puuuk!
“Gasp!!”
A dagger embedded itself in his clavicle.
Ray, who had gagged Knife’s mouth, dragged him into the darkness.
A trail of yellow liquid stretched and seeped into the ground in the direction Knife disappeared.
Leading Knife to a damp back alley, Ray leaned close and asked,
“If you don’t want to die, just answer my questions.”
“Gasp! Ugh! U-Um…”
“Tell me everything you know about who set their sights on Luna and commissioned your family.”
“Gulp! Who, who are you…!”
“My name is Ray.”
“…!”
“I’ll let you speak, but make sure to keep quiet.”
Knife nodded.
“Now, start talking. Who commissioned you?”
“I-I was also following orders.”
“If you keep disappointing me, it won’t be fun.”
“T-There’s a specific officer in charge of these kinds of tasks. B-Brack… Brack would know who commissioned us.”
“Where is this person?”
“I-I know where. I, I’ll guide you.”
“Can’t you see the situation? Why are you causing trouble?”
As Ray applied pressure to the sword embedded in his clavicle, Knife, trembling uncontrollably, pleaded desperately.
“T-There’s a hideout. It looks like a closed-down tavern, but it’s where the officers often gather to discuss things. Brack should be there too. I’ll guide you. It’d be hard for you to find it alone.”
“Is that so?”
“R-Really.”
“There’s nothing I can do.”
Pulling the sword out of the clavicle, Ray dusted off the robe tied around his waist and draped it over his body.
With his face concealed by the tightly wrapped robe, it was difficult to discern his true identity.
Walking on tiptoes for a moment, Ray sighed deeply.
“For a woman, you’re a bit short, but let’s say your taste is unusual.”
Ray, clinging tightly to Knife’s waist, aimed the dagger inside the robe.
Feeling the cold blade through the robe, Knife shuddered.
“Just walk naturally. Pretend I’m your lover tagging along; move accordingly.”
Knife barely managed to swallow the profanities rising to his throat.
Ray chuckled and pressed harder on the dagger.
The tip of the dagger tore through the robe and grazed Knife’s skin.
“Guide me to the hideout. Please, don’t cause any trouble. Life is precious, isn’t it, Knife?”
