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“That guy smells like piss.”

“That can happen.”

“Why are you so calm, boss? Should I go teach him a lesson?”

Zion looked at me in surprise when I shook my head.

I couldn’t just hit my long-lost drunkard twin brother for making a little mistake. I felt a bit of fondness, too. Of course, there was a bigger reason.

I watched the thugs patrolling the streets for a while longer, then grabbed Zion’s waist and carefully slipped away.

I had already achieved my primary objective.

It was just as I expected. Dark Soul and Bayern were on the brink of conflict. All it needed was a little spark to ignite a full-blown war.

I quickly formulated a plan and then sought rest in a shabby inn at the edge of the district. Zion seemed more nervous than I thought, as he fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

Cough—

I was startled awake just as I was drifting off.

“Which bastard is spitting phlegm?”

Snore— Cough—

I turned around to see that Zion’s snoring sounded exactly like someone spitting phlegm. His head had never looked so tempting.

* * *

I tossed and turned all night, debating whether to crack his skull open.

Unable to sleep, I went downstairs to the first floor, where the young innkeeper was already cleaning, moving tables and chairs. The innkeeper spotted me and greeted me cheerfully.

“You’re up early, guest?”

“My companion has been spitting phlegm all night.”

“Oh dear. He must have a bad cold.”

I excused myself to the innkeeper and closed my eyes for a moment on a chair in the corner. Fatigue finally washed over me.

I woke up to bright sunlight streaming through the wide-open front door.

“….How long was I asleep?”

My stiff back suggested it wasn’t just a short nap. Someone had even covered my legs with a blanket.

As I looked around, Zion came down the stairs, stretching and greeting me.

“Boss, you were here? I was looking all over for you.”

“Is your head alright?”

Zion moved his head from side to side and replied,

“Sleeping in a bed after always sleeping on the floor feels great. It’s a bit worn out, but it’s fine. The bedding is soft, so my head is soft too.”

I quickly cut Zion off before I actually cracked his skull open.

“Go get your backpack. Let’s go.”

While Zion went upstairs to get his things, I stepped outside to look around.

The westernmost part of western Kaoto. The most dilapidated street.

There was no one around, and there were several abandoned buildings.

I told Zion, who came out with his bag,

“Take out the Blue Sea Flag.”

Zion opened his backpack and took out the rolled-up Blue Sea Flag. As I attached the flag back to its pole, Zion said with a hesitant expression,

“Wow, this street looks like it’s straight out of a ghost story.”

I draped the completed Blue Sea Flag over my shoulder and replied,

“Don’t talk carelessly. This street has charm.”

“What nonsense.”

“What’s a merchant’s romance?”

Zion replied without much thought.

“Money.”

“What are you going to do with the money?”

“Well, nothing special. Just eat delicious food, live comfortably in a nice building, that’s the dream.”

“I’ll make that dream come true. Pick one.”

I pointed at the abandoned buildings, and Zion, not understanding what I meant, just blinked.

“Pick one, I said.”

“Why?”

Finally, Zion got to the point.

I pretended to chant a spell, and Zion’s face turned pale as he involuntarily pointed at one.

“Th, that one.”

A one-story abandoned building with a wide-open front door.

I brushed off the dust accumulated on the building’s exterior and hung the Blue Sea Flag.

“This is Samael’s first business establishment.”

The blue sea rippled in the dilapidated street.

* * *

While I was roughly cleaning the building’s exterior, Zion came out from inside, covered in dust.

“Ugh, what are we doing? This place is full of cobwebs.”

I placed the magic stones on a countertop and said,

“Are you done cleaning?”

“…….”

“If you’re not going to clean, come here and sell these.”

“What?”

Zion approached, picked up a magic stone, and examined it. Suddenly, his eyes changed.

“Wait, this is…”

Like a true son of a former black market merchant, he observed the magic stone with interest and then exclaimed,

“It’s a magic stone. The grade is almost the lowest, but it’s a bit strange. Why is it glowing?”

“Excellent.”

I nodded and explained the situation. Of course, I didn’t mention that the elders had gone mad.

“It has a barrier spell in it?”

“It’s the work of our esteemed elders.”

“Can I try using it?”

“Be careful. It’ll break after a few uses.”

Zion replied as if he had realized something.

“Ah, damn it. Wait a minute. But why are we selling these here?”

“Good question.”

This is what I had confirmed while wandering around Kaoto.

The Bayern guys were definitely running out of money. The number of outsiders spending lavishly in the entertainment district had decreased significantly. It seemed that the problem arose after the Night Dew Pub was raided and the outsiders left in groups.

However, the strange thing was that Dark Soul, the side lacking in power, was the one staying put. They should be launching a surprise attack on Bayern, so why were they just sitting and waiting?

But I wasn’t particularly curious. The reason was simple.

“Hey, why aren’t you answering, boss? I asked why we’re selling these. You’re doing whatever you want.”

“Exactly, Zion.”

Indeed.

I wasn’t curious because from now on, I was going to do things my way, at my pace, according to my plan.

I said to Zion, who was standing blankly,

“Hurry up and sell them. That’s why I brought you here.”

Zion suddenly became enraged.

“What the f*ck?”

I, too, became enraged. I’m not a man who backs down when angered.

“You’re cursing now? Weren’t you a merchant? A merchant should sell things, not a thug. Why are you cursing and causing a scene? Zion. The Blue Sea Flag is hanging there. Don’t curse. Sell them quickly if you don’t want to get beaten to death. Show me your skills.”

Realizing he couldn’t win with words, Zion sighed.

“How much should I sell them for?”

“We need to get at least 30 gold per piece. We can’t sell something that can save a third-rate thug’s life for cheap.”

Zion sat at the stall and stared at the empty street for a while before looking back at me.

The sunlight grew stronger…

“…….”

“Why aren’t you selling, Zion?”

“Who am I supposed to sell to when there’s no one around? I need people to sell to.”

It was true that there was no one around. Maybe it was because we were too far out.

I was lost in thought for a moment when a spicy stew smell wafted from somewhere. I sniffed and realized it was coming from the inn we had stayed at this morning. It was a mouthwatering, spicy smell.

Growl—

“Let’s eat first, boss. I haven’t eaten anything, and I’m hungry.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Selling comes first.”

“Come on, you’re not going to be stingy with food, are you? I’m exhausted from working since morning.”

“Do you have money?”

“What are you talking about? Where would I have money? You’re the boss, you should pay.”

Zion’s eyes suddenly wavered as he spoke. I met his gaze and nodded.

“Same here.”

“….You don’t have any either? Didn’t you give Lihan a few gold coins the other day?”

“I did back then. But I don’t have any now. Whiskers’ life was expensive.”

“…….”

The money I paid for the inn was the last of my possessions. There was a reason I chose a cheap inn.

“Then let’s just put it on credit, boss.”

I hit the back of Zion’s head.

“You’re suggesting we do something a third-rate thug would do. You’ve never been here before, how can you ask for credit? Get a grip, Zion. Before I crack your skull open.”

It was fine to put things on credit at the Night Dew Pub.

It was also fine to put things on credit at the Red Sunset Tavern.

But not here. That was my philosophy as a former first-rate thug.

“Ah, f*ck.”

Just then, the young innkeeper walked out of the inn and towards us. He was holding a ladle in one hand, and the closer he got, the stronger the spicy stew smell became.

The young man looked at Zion and me, then at the Blue Sea Flag behind us, with wary eyes before asking,

“What are you doing here?”

I felt grateful to the young innkeeper, so I extended my hand and formally introduced myself.

“I am Ruin of Samael. This is… the business manager in charge of Samael’s external affairs.”

Zion’s eyes lit up, and he puffed out his chest and greeted the innkeeper.

“Business manager, Zion. We’re looking into setting up a business here, so we’re just looking around.”

The young innkeeper was surprised and recognized us.

“Oh, I’ve heard a lot about Samael. I’m Donkey. I never thought I’d see people from Samael here. Ah, instead of standing here, why don’t you come inside if you haven’t eaten?”

Zion smiled awkwardly and said,

“Ahem, then we won’t refuse…”

I immediately cut Zion off.

“Hey, Business Manager. What are you talking about, eating? We have work to do.”

Zion frowned and whispered to me in a low voice,

“Why are you talking like that? It’s making me sick.”

“This is how I normally talk.”

While Zion and I were having a private conversation, Donkey looked back and forth between the shabby stall and the abandoned building, then grinned.

“I’ll treat you to a meal, so please come inside.”

“Treat us?”

“I mean I won’t charge you. I can’t consider people from Samael as strangers. Please don’t refuse and come inside. I have to throw away the leftovers anyway since there are no customers.”

“Then we won’t refuse.”

I nodded immediately and followed Donkey into the inn. Zion muttered with a dumbfounded expression,

“That crazy bastard.”

I turned my head and looked at Zion.

“What are you doing, Business Manager? Hurry up and come in.”

Zion approached and spoke in a low voice that only I could hear.

“You were just talking about credit and stuff, but you’re only giving me a hard time.”

“Free is fine. Let’s go eat.”

Credit and free are different.

You don’t have to pay back credit, but you have to pay back free.

If you get something for free, you have to pay it back in some way. If you don’t, you might experience side effects like baldness. I went in lightheartedly, hoping that side effect would go to Zion.

There were no other customers.

Zion and I sat at a table, and soon Donkey brought out two bowls of steaming stew.

The spicy smell stimulated my appetite.

“It’s chicken stew. Please taste it and let me know what you think.”

“Chicken stew?”

I instinctively stirred the stew with my fork. It was filled with plenty of shredded chicken.

“As expected, chicken stew should have chicken in it to taste right.”

I was surprised as soon as I took a bite.

The thick and savory broth was perfect for my taste.

Moreover, the chicken seemed to have been grilled separately, giving it an excellent texture.

I looked to the side and saw Zion practically burying his face in the bowl, sniffling as he ate. We finished our food in the blink of an eye and gave a thumbs-up towards the kitchen.

“Wow, your skills are amazing.”

“This is crazy good.”

Donkey, who was in the kitchen, walked out with a smile.

“I’m glad you like it. Thank you.”

I looked around and said,

“By the way, why aren’t there any customers even though your food is so good?”

Donkey brought a chair and sat next to us.

“I just started the business a few days ago.”

“Ah, I see. But if that’s the case, wouldn’t another location be better than this one? This alley has too few people.”

Donkey replied with a bitter expression.

“The rent in the central district is too high. I should have saved up some money. Haha, well, it can’t be helped.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“It’s alright. By the way, you two from Samael look about my age. What are you doing here?”

“We’re selling things.”

“If that’s the case, you’d be better off somewhere else than here.”

“We don’t have money.”

“Oh dear.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll have some soon. Our business manager is very capable.”

I looked at Zion, and he nodded with a hesitant expression. Donkey looked at us with sympathy and said,

“Would you like some more chicken stew?”

Zion instinctively replied,

“Is that alright?”

Donkey smiled, stood up, and went into the kitchen.

A moment later, Donkey came out with three bowls of chicken stew and a wooden barrel.

He placed a bowl of stew in front of Zion and me, and one in front of himself.

“I’m hungry too. Do you mind if I eat with you?”

I looked at the chicken stew in front of me and asked out of curiosity,

“Why are you being so kind?”

“No particular reason. I’ve just heard about Samael since I was young, so it feels familiar. And there are no customers anyway. Plus, it feels like I have someone to talk to after a long time.”

Donkey opened the wooden barrel next to him, and a refreshing scent of makgeolli filled the air.

“Would you like some? I have a habit of drinking makgeolli with my meals.”

I didn’t refuse and drank.

I didn’t care if Zion suffered the consequences of baldness.

I was surprised again as soon as I took a sip.

“Wow, you brew good makgeolli too.”

A warm sensation went down my throat, followed by a sweet fragrance at the tip of my nose.

Usually, makgeolli is too strong to be considered honey wine. But this one, although strong going down, had a clean aftertaste and a lingering sweetness.

* * *

The makgeolli was so delicious that I kept drinking.

[TL/N: Makgeolli is a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage. It’s a type of rice wine that’s milky in appearance, slightly sweet, and often lightly sparkling.]

The three of us continued to pass the cups, enjoying the chicken stew as a side dish.

Zion, who had built up his stamina through training, was one thing, but the young innkeeper was also quite a good drinker. He seemed to be a natural.

As we drank, we talked about various things.

This wasn’t originally part of my plan, but I had intended to go with the flow, so it didn’t matter much.

The makgeolli and the food were delicious, and Donkey himself was an interesting guy.

He was older than he looked and had a passion and dream for cooking.

I respect people with conviction. As we continued drinking, we became more comfortable with each other.

“Hmm, we’re out of alcohol. Should I get another bottle, Ruin?”

“Let’s have just one more.”

Zion chimed in from the side.

“Sounds good, brother Donkey. I’ll buy a lot from you next time. Hehe.”

While Donkey went to the kitchen, I looked at Zion with a serious expression.

“Business Manager, don’t forget your duty. If you don’t sell anything today, I’ll make you bald. Understand?”

“F*ck.”

At that moment, we both looked towards the entrance of the inn. A long shadow stretched across the bright sunlight.

A large man with a sword at his waist stood at the entrance, glaring at us.

———