The Duke’s Madness

Willett handed out three documents.

Arthur took the document and read the contents inside.

‘The first is an escort, the second is a wanted bounty, and the third is the support of a fighting gang.’

Arthur, who grasped the request, stroked his chin.

All three quests had distinct strengths and weaknesses, and because of that, it was not easy to choose.

The first escort mission was well paid, but the duration was long, and the second quest had too few wanted criminal leads.

The last request was reluctant to carry out a mission jointly with a fighting gang.

‘Rationally, the best thing… escort mission. But in this case, the battle gang quest looks the best.’

It was also the mission that finished the fastest in terms of time, and above all, there was someone with a fairly usable ‘lineage’ in the other gang.

‘Leap in space… This kind of ability is rare.’

I don’t know how much, but even the average seemed to be a satisfactory result.

The problem is that those who have to jointly carry out the mission are ‘combat gangs’.

Thinking this far, Arthur raised his head and looked at Willet.

“Have you decided which request to do?”

“no. All three have distinct pros and cons, so it’s not easy to choose.”

Willett nodded.

“It’s not like that. Still, the best thing is the escort mission. Escorting the Dallas general manager of ESKA Corporation for a week. The pay is high, and the difficulty of the mission itself is easy. There is a downside that the period is long, but if you close your eyes for a week, you will have a connection with the ESCA company.”

Arthur snapped his fingers at the explanation.

“Why are you escorting me?”

“The Esca Corporation must have recently created a lucrative invention. I put in a patent application for that invention, but they said it would take a week for approval.”

“oh···. Then, who entrusted you with the request because you were trying to steal the patented product?”

“no.”

“… ?”

“Such movements were not detected, but they said they put in a request to prepare for something that would happen in the unlikely event.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

In it, Willett continues the explanation.

“That’s why I recommend this quest. If you close your eyes and escort the Dallas general manager for a week, you can earn money and make connections. It’s the best option out of all the requests you can take on right now.”

Arthur admires it belatedly.

‘As expected, Elder Willett. To accept such a ridiculous request.’

The difficulty of the quest was too low compared to the reward.

Above all, it was comfortable.

Of course, it was difficult to accept such a request unless you were a broker with good skills.

‘But it doesn’t suit me. The period is too long… Above all, my purpose is not money.’

After thinking this far, Arthur pushed forward the third request.

“… Don’t you like the first quest?”

“I just want to hear the story.”

Willett crosses his arms.

“This is literally a fighting gang support mission. Recently, a dispute broke out in the C-23 area, which was selected as a redevelopment area, and in the process, it was a request to send a useful mercenary.”

“It was selected as a redevelopment area, why did the fight break out?”

“To eat better land.”

“A better land?”

Willett pulls out a pipe and puts it in his mouth.

“Good land is worth more than gold. Especially here in Arcane. Anything built on such a land is money. That’s why they try to take the other person’s land by any means and methods.”

Arthur nodded.

‘Well, Arcane’s rent is murderous.’

The price of this abnormally grown city is beyond imagination.

In particular, regarding the land and the house, even the tolerable people stuck out their tongues.

In that sense, it was not unusual for an armed conflict like this to take place.

‘This is enough motivation, and the pay is certain… There’s no reason not to choose. I’m a bit reluctant to work with a fighting gang on a mission, but… Well, I have to endure this much.’

After finishing his thoughts, Arthur pointed to the third request.

“I’ll take this, Mr. Willett.”

“… Are you serious?”

“yes.”

Willett’s gaze narrowed.

“Whatever request you choose is up to you. However, if you choose this request, there is nothing we can do to take care of you.”

“What about care?”

“If there is a problem, there is not enough reason to come out of our office for you. The subject of this request is the ‘Titan’ fighting gang, not our office.”

Arthur nodded.

‘It means that I can’t take responsibility for the problem because I received the request after going through it once.’

With the thought, Arthur raised the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, it was a wise decision to enter Willett’s office once again.

“I will do this.”

“… You are stubborn.”

“In many ways, this seemed to be the best option for me.”

“Where are you?”

Arthur didn’t answer.

Willett didn’t ask anymore.

He carefully folded the paper he had put in front of Arthur, and handed out another paper.

“This is an analysis of the Titan gang you will be joining.”

“oh… .”

“And this is an analysis of the gang of giants you’re going to face. Both of these gangs are pretty hard-boiled fighting gangs on this floor. In particular, the one named Furis who leads the Giant Gang is a person with ‘bloodline’ just like you.”

Arthur nodded.

Because his purpose was the ‘lineage’ of that Furis.

In the meantime, Willett, who had risen from his seat, was about to leave the room.

“I will give you one useless piece of advice. Don’t trust the gang.”

Arthur raises his head.

I saw Willett’s low, sunken gaze.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an enemy or an ally. These guys are the ones I could sell even my parents for money.”

* * *

The moment the full moon was hidden by clouds, Arthur left the mansion.

The knights who accompanied him from the Bavarian mansion were on watch, but they couldn’t find Arthur who came out.

‘This artifact that Mr. Frakil had, is better than I thought?’

Not only did it make the body transparent, but it didn’t even let out a sound.

With this level of performance, it can be said that it is worth calling.

‘Uhm… no This artifact originally belonged to Mr. Whitebeard, so it was a natural result.’

Arthur, who escaped the mansion safely, headed for Area C-23.

It may be because it was selected as a redevelopment area, but the skeleton and various materials of the building that had been erected were rolling around on the floor.

Passing by the civil engineering site, a group of people were making a bonfire in front of a building with a skeleton unlike other places.

Arthur instinctively knew they were the Titans.

The Titan Gang was no different.

“oh… The mercenary Mr. Willett said is coming over there?”

At the words of a man with a friendly smile, a gang of 40 raise their heads.

Arthur greets you in that sharp gaze that cannot be called a favorable gaze even with good words.

“hello? This is a mercenary dispatched from the Willett Elders’ Office.”

“nice to meet you. Why are you saying this from the beginning, can you show me your hand?”

Arthur held out one of the cards he had received from Willett.

The gang leader, who was tearing it apart, nodded.

“Willet, you are a mercenary. Come on. My name is Boris, the leader of this gang.”

“My name is Dawn.”

Boris asks, guiding Arthur to the bonfire.

“I heard that this request is for a debut match?”

“Are you debuting?”

“Isn’t the first request of the mercenaries called the debut match?”

Arthur pondered at Boris’ words and nodded.

“Yeah, I think you are right. Although I took a test the other day.”

“Is that test referring to the commotion in Area D?”

Arthur tilted his head.

And without answering, he stared at Boris.

Boris put a friendly smile on his lips and waved his hand.

“Whoa, don’t be alarmed. Rumors of this world circulate very quickly. In that sense, stories about unusual people like you spread quickly.”

“What kind of rumor is that?”

“A swordsman with a pedigree that can transform his entire body into armor has appeared. Surprisingly, however, the swordsman solved the commotion in Area D that everyone was paying attention to.”

Boris raised an eyebrow.

“Anything like this will spread rumors quickly. The reward for the request was high, but it was dangerous and everyone was paying attention, especially since it was a request. That’s why there’s already another big rookie showing up at the Willetts’ office.”

Arthur scratched his head.

“hmm···. It’s too big a story for what it did.”

“Do that. I like anything on this floor. Speaking of which, is it an exclusive contract with Mr. Willett?”

“no?”

At this, Boris pulls out his business card.

“If you successfully complete this task, come visit us. Those of blood are usually above average. Especially for those who had a spectacular debut like you.”

Arthur said, accepting the business card.

“Sorry, but I have no intention of going anywhere else.”

“Even if you don’t intend to go, it’s important to make connections. Because this bottom physiology is where today’s friends become tomorrow’s enemies.”

After these words, Boris turned around.

Then, he wrapped his arms around the necks of the tense Titan gang and shouted.

“What are you looking at so hard!? Could that swordsman point his sword at us?”

Arthur, watching the scene from behind, murmured.

‘hmm… He’s very unique for a gang leader.’

Whether it was a gang leader or a subordinate, most of the people there had a twisted personality.

The mercenaries were tough, but the gang was even worse.

‘Mercenaries do not break promises because of the value of their name, but gangs… Among them, fighting gangs do anything for money, so they don’t have much trust.’

As a result, there were more cases where the person in the gang did the same dirty work, but the personality of the person in the gang was dirtier.

So what Arthur himself considered when accepting this request was whether or not there was a gang.

However, Boris in front of him was enough to break the prejudice Arthur had so far.

‘You have such a nice personality?… Not on a gang basis, but including others.’

A likable appearance with an unreserved personality.

Because of that, he had a strong grip on the 40 gang members who naturally came out.

So, it was a time when he felt a crush on a person named Boris without even realizing it.

Boris exaggeratedly spreads his arms and shouts.

“Now it’s time for the Giants to appear.”

With these words, Boris summoned the Titan gang members and Arthur.

“According to the information we received, they plan to attack at this time. After today, the building permit will drop, and then you won’t get the money you were supposed to. In other words, we just have to protect that building behind us from collapsing until daybreak.”

After completing his explanation, Boris looked away.

“Is it the same as the contents of the request?”

“Yes, exactly the same.”

“okay. Then I’ll give you an operation briefing. From now on, we’re in hiding, and when they show up, we’re going to wait as long as possible. It’s okay if unnecessary killings happen in the process. Permission from above has already been given.”

Boris snaps his fingers.

“The number of giants is 30. And the leader, Furis, is a blessed bastard with lineage, and a 3rd circle swordsman who jumps into space. The rest of them are just guys armed with guns and knives. In other words, if you catch the Furis, you can complete the request.”

Boris looks away again.

“The furis is handled by the swordsman and I from the Willetts’ office. Any questions here?”

Everyone responded in silence.

Boris clapped his palms and said.

“Come on, let’s all move. Those who survive will know that I will treat them to the finest liquor!”

With these words, the gang members hide themselves.

Because it was a construction site, the 40-member Titan gang could quickly melt into the darkness.

In it, Arthur hid himself with Boris.

He didn’t seem nervous at all even though the battle was right around the corner.

“Since we still have time, let’s have a little chat.”

With a cheery voice, Boris asked a lot of questions.

do you have a girlfriend

why are you wearing a mask

What is bloodline ability?

It must have been embarrassing because there were some people asking about his identity, but Arthur avoided sensitive questions and answered as kindly as possible.

To that extent, the charm of a man named Boris was enormous.

‘I feel this way too. Hmm… Maybe we can be friends too? Even if he’s the boss of a gang, there’s nothing wrong with being friends with this person.’

It was when such a bleak silence fell.

Boris murmurs in a low voice.

“Come on, you bastards.”

With these words, a chuckle was heard from the other side.

Arthur naturally raised his head.

As Boris said, 30 men with sturdy builds were approaching while hiding in the darkness.

At the same time, the gnomes and undines who had sent out reconnaissance also returned.

The two spirits whispered something into Arthur’s ear.

Meanwhile, Boris gave another order.

“Everyone, don’t pretend to be human and hold your breath.”

The entire gang ducks.

They hid themselves without uttering a single breath and looked at Boris.

“When they come within range, hit them at once. Never move or make a sound…”

Boris’ speech is cut off.

At the same time, Arthur got up from his seat and pulled the trigger of the pistol he had pulled from his chest.

bang-!

With the resounding noise, the Titan Gang and the Giant Gang, who were also approaching, were surprised and hid themselves.

It was when Boris, who had been lost in it, came to his senses and was about to shout.

bang-!!!!

A gigantic explosion occurs in the air with an explosion that rang out a beat late.

Boris murmured in amazement at the unexpected incident.

“Magic? Could it be that you hired those wizards?”

Boris turned to look at Arthur.

“Did you notice and shoot?”

“yes.”

“This crazy… Got a wizard? How much money did they spend?”

Boris rose from his seat with a murmur and shouted at the Titan gang.

“Everyone come here! Operation plan change! We have to strike first before the Wizard’s bombardment continues! Everyone move!”

With a shout, the scattered Titan gang hurriedly approached Boris.

As the 40-member gang gathers in one place, Boris looks away and smiles.

“The rumors were not exaggerated. Thanks, Dunn. By the way, did you handle your gun too? Are these things easy to get…?”

Boris shuts up.

It was because of the gun pointed between my forehead.

His eyes tremble at the touch of the cool metal.

And belatedly, grabbing the knife at his waist, he shouted.

“What is this…!”

bang-!!!

Boris, with a hole pierced between his brows, falls backwards with the sound of gunfire.

The Titan gang, unable to grasp the situation, blinked their eyes.

“uh… ?”

It was a time when only the sound of such low breathing overcame the silence that had settled down.

Arthur stood up from his seat and let out a bitter sigh.

“As expected, there are no good gang leaders. Even if a traitor comes along, it’s Mr. Boris.”