Episode 379 – A New Card (2)
The boundary forest between Pri Root and the territory of Aintrier.
At the center of the forest, four horses began to gather one by one.
Each rider wore a black mask, concealing their identity. They clustered beneath a large tree, cautiously observing each other.
Black Market.
Although all four belonged to the sa organization, this was their first ti eting face-to-face, creating a tense and awkward atmosphere.
From Number 1 to Number 4.
They were Black Market executives, referred to by numbers rather than nas, and served as the hands and feet of the Black Market Master.
After a mont of uneasy silence, one of them cautiously broke the ice.
“Has anyone managed to contact the Master?”
When the other three remained silent, the man who asked narrowed his eyes.
He was known as Number 1 in the Black Market.
The numbers had been assigned by the Master, and generally, the lower the number, the more critical the position. As the one in charge of the organization's finances, Number 1 had the most authority among the executives.
“I ca here after receiving a letter from the Alliance.”
Number 1 was the first to speak, opening the flow of conversation, prompting the other executives to respond.
“ too.”
“Sa here.”
“Identical situation.”
As expected.
Number 1 let out a low sigh and spoke again.
“According to protocol, we’re not supposed to et like this.”
“No one here is unaware of that. We all sent word to the Master and waited for instructions, but no reply ca. In the absence of orders, we are allowed to act with our own judgnt. I’m here to prioritize contact with key Alliance figures.”
Number 3’s explanation silenced Number 1. He had co to the sa conclusion, after all.
The other executives nodded, having reached the sa decision.
“Looks like everyone’s here.”
Just then, a voice suddenly erged from the shadows, startling the executives.
A slender figure stepped forward from the long shadows stretched out by a tree.
Fenry Chaser.
The mont they recognized her, the executives visibly tensed.
She removed her pipe from her lips and blew a puff of white smoke into the air, then smirked at their reaction.
“Why so nervous? Aren’t we all on the sa side? Didn’t we gather here to cooperate?”
At her words, Number 1 stepped forward.
“First, I want to ask sothing.”
“What?”
“How did you find our location?”
“Backtracing.”
“…Backtracing?”
“If you were trying to track the Alliance’s key mbers, you should’ve known your own location would be exposed. Did you think we wouldn’t notice?”
If their locations had been backtraced, then it ant the Alliance had completely outmaneuvered them in information warfare.
All eyes turned to Number 2, who lowered his head with a quiet groan.
Number 2 was the Black Market’s intelligence officer. If this got back to the Master, his life would be in serious danger—his fingertips were already trembling.
Fenry clicked her tongue at the sight of him.
Arthur had given her the task while posing as the Black Market Master, issuing instructions to the executives.
‘If their data was already exposed from the start, this could never have been a fair fight.’
It wasn’t his fault.
The Black Market had simply stepped into a battle they could never win.
As Fenry observed the group, Number 3 looked around and asked,
“Where are the others? The ssage didn’t say it would just be us.”
“ssage?”
“It said I’d et Karl Bastian at the designated location.”
“So, you’re one of Karl’s guests, huh.”
Fenry bit down on her pipe and turned around.
“I’ll guide you. Follow .”
“If this is so kind of trap...”
“If you don’t trust , stay here. I don’t care.”
Fenry replied indifferently and slowly disappeared into the forest path.
The executives exchanged quick glances. They had already gathered extensive information regarding the Alliance.
‘The Alliance already holds favorable shares in the Black Market and has taken control of Aintrier.’
Arthur had beco the new ruler of Aintrier and was now purging Azonne’s remaining forces in the city.
Given the current situation, relations between the Black Market and the Alliance were in a favorable transactional phase.
This suggested that the Master had already concluded a significant deal with Arthur, and all the executives had to do was support that deal.
In short—
‘Following her shouldn’t pose any danger.’
They had calculated this from the beginning when they chose to appear here.
As per the Master’s last directive, they needed to make contact with the Alliance’s key personnel.
The executives nodded and began following the trail Fenry had left behind.
Shortly after—
“…Huh?”
“Is that…?”
Before them, a beautiful garden ca into view, and at the entrance stood a very familiar, very well-known face—personally welcoming them.
Currently the most talked-about figure in all of Hell Gri—
“Arthur Clayton, Commander of the World Tree Alliance.”
Arthur greeted them with a warm smile.
He led the executives into the luxurious mansion.
After bringing them to the reception room, Arthur personally treated them as VIP guests.
Each executive was assigned multiple attendants, and they looked at Arthur with bewildered expressions.
Their reactions mirrored those of his previous companions, which made Arthur smile internally.
“Have you received any word from the Master?”
At Arthur’s question, the executives glanced at each other, remaining silent. Seeing this, Arthur smiled knowingly and nodded.
“So, no instructions yet, I see. As you may know, all arrangents were completed with your Master in advance. He supported the Alliance with a favorable stake, which is what allowed to beco the new ruler of Aintrier. I’m sure you’ve heard this much, haven’t you?”
At his words, the executives slowly nodded.
“From this point forward, the Black Market is an ally of the Alliance.”
“Then… what do you need from us?”
“What I ask is simple—provide what the Alliance requires. Tomorrow morning, you’ll each et with the relevant Alliance leaders. For now, please rest.”
Arthur gestured toward the attendants, who began escorting the executives to their rooms.
“Welco to Aintrier’s VIP mansion. I hope you enjoy a pleasant night.”
This secret estate, once built by Azonne to buy the favor of important guests with wealth—
Arthur couldn’t tell what the masked executives were truly thinking, but they didn’t resist as the attendants led them to their rooms. In fact, they seed rather willing.
Once the executives had all disappeared, Arthur was left alone in the room.
A mont later, Fenry suddenly erged from his shadow.
“Hiding in soone else’s shadow? That’s a nasty habit.”
“You used to call it a handy skill.”
“Only when I’m not the one being watched.”
“You’re a funny one.”
“But where’s Banri? I don’t see her around.”
Arthur glanced around Fenry, suddenly reminded of Banri—the little shadow fairy that always followed her.
“She stayed near the World Tree. He keeps hovering around the shadow of the World Tree, and oddly enough, she just can’t leave it.”
It seed the influence of the Shadow King was preventing him from moving freely.
After all, Shery von Haus, the Shadow King, resided in the shadow of the World Tree.
Fenry, still chewing on her pipe, glanced in the direction the executives had gone.
“They don’t look like they’ll flip to our side right away. What’s your take?”
“They still don’t know the Master is dead. We can’t turn them yet.”
“Then why the lavish treatnt? They’re not worth the money.”
Seeing Fenry’s annoyed expression, Arthur shook his head.
“Relaxing their guard and letting them rest in the sa space is worth every coin.”
“That’s a lousy cost-benefit analysis. What’s the real reason for putting them in the sa place?”
“If they’re not fools, they’ll share their secret communication networks.”
“Among the executives?”
“Yes.”
The Black Market operated as a decentralized organization.
That applied even to the executives.
Azonne had previously forbidden contact between them, but now that they had the opportunity, there was no way they wouldn’t take advantage of it.
Funds, intelligence, combat power, and covert agents—
Each of them held a piece of the Black Market’s core resources.
Even a small amount of consolidated power becos real strength.
The leaders of underground organizations were the type to always dig multiple escape tunnels for survival.
The executives were no exception—they would definitely establish a secret network among themselves.
“The real plan begins tomorrow morning.”
“The others will move as planned, but the combat division’s tricky. Their contact is Lochter, and he’s not here.”
“Then please handle the combat side tomorrow, Fenry. I’ll deal with the finance departnt.”
At Arthur’s offer, Fenry furrowed her brow.
“Wasn’t finance supposed to be my area?”
“If the goal is persuasion, it’s better if I go. You know that’s my specialty.”
“Are you saying you don’t trust ?”
As Fenry leaned in, Arthur awkwardly backed off with a chuckle.
The truth was—he didn’t trust her entirely. He had a feeling she’d just extort them and be done with it.
Fenry licked her lips and stepped back.
“You’re going to negotiate with them yourself?”
“If we secure the finance division, the rest will be easy. You know how important money is to an organization.”
“It’s like blood.”
Once the executives could contact each other, a leader among them was bound to erge.
And that leader would most likely be the one controlling the money—the person who provided the ans for the organization to move.
***
The morning ca.
The executives appeared in the reception room, now looking sharp and composed.
Their outfits hadn’t changed much from the day before, but the air around them had shifted.
The awkwardness and tension were gone.
That ant they had talked among themselves, and Arthur was confident they had exchanged the information he wanted.
“Well, since you all got a good night’s sleep, shall we get to work?”
Following the attendants, the executives were guided to different rooms.
As they were told who was inside each room, they began stepping forward one by one.
Natasha.
Karl Bastian.
Lochter Felice.
Executives 2, 3, and 4 left the reception room. Number 1 stayed behind, waiting for his turn, and looked at Arthur.
A brief silence passed.
When it lasted longer than expected, Number 1 realized his contact was the man before him.
“My designated contact was supposed to be Fenry. I didn’t expect to face you, Sir Arthur.”
“The Master was inford in advance. You’re the one in charge of finances, correct?”
Seeing that Arthur already knew his role, Number 1 gave a small nod and sat where Arthur indicated.
Arthur exchanged a few pleasantries before diving into the heart of the matter.
“Do you know what the Master asked for in return for his favorable stake?”
“I believe it was Azonne’s assets.”
“Then you also understand that a re stake isn’t nearly enough for sothing of that scale.”
“Of course.”
That’s why they were here.
To fulfill additional conditions on behalf of the Alliance.
Azonne’s assets were worth that much.
Arthur pulled out a luxurious envelope and placed it before him.
On the envelope was Azonne’s personal seal.
It was the sa envelope the Master had once shown the executives.
When Arthur took out a sheet of paper from inside and held it up, Number 1 swallowed dryly.
It was Azonne’s blank check—the sa one the Master had shown them.
“The Master handed this to . Told to na the amount I wanted.”
Azonne’s blank check was in Arthur’s hands.
This was undeniable proof that a deal had been made with the Master.
Number 1 straightened his posture and carefully asked,
“What is it that you want from ?”
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