Chapter 072
We gathered a little earlier than the agreed ti for our negotiations with the Black Pig Gang.
It had been my order in advance, and my subordinates assembled in a secluded place a short distance away from the spot designated for the negotiations.
Before dealing with those Black Pig Gang bastards, I wanted to inspect the condition of my subordinates. To do that, I needed a wide, hidden clearing like this. The hideout was too cramped, after all. You could not exactly do much with weapons there.
In any case, this place was thick with trees like a forest, and the unbroken wall of them wrapped tightly around the area. No one passed through here, so even if a few people died, it did not seem likely they would be discovered easily.
On top of that, this was outside the village, beyond the reach of the Village Guard. There was not even a narrow side path, so unless soone had a specific reason to co here, no one would.
In other words, it was a perfect place to fight without worry.
I was also keeping a surprise attack from the Black Pig Gang in mind. Those bastards were not complete idiots, so they were probably watching us in real ti.
They might already know not only about the hideout, but also that we were making preparations here right now.
So if we were going to gather anyway, it was better to do it sowhere suitable for fighting even if we got ambushed.
“The chances of them launching a surprise attack are much higher in reality. They’re not in a normal state right now. The chances of them making an extre choice are much higher.”
At least, that was what I thought.
They would not have managed to prepare the amount I demanded. And even if they had, it would have strained them severely. They would most likely follow us in secret and try to force a Fight to the Death.
Since they would expect us to strike first as well, they would probably co out with a bold strategy of their own. The rule that the first blow wins held true no matter the era or the region.
Anyway, that was why I had packed my magazines full. Today, I intended to kill every last one of the bastards I saw.
“Over there?”
In the clearing with the large boulder, Kalmond and Eluna were inspecting the subordinates.
I watched them for a mont, then pulled on my Iron Mask from inside my coat and walked over.
“Is everyone here?”
“Ah, Boss. You have arrived? Yes, just as you ordered, everyone is here without a single absentee.”
“Good.”
Kalmond saluted by thumping his fist against his chest. The other mbers did the sa, though sowhat awkwardly.
It was not a bad sight, seeing them try to beco one. I swept my gaze over the Avengers.
All of them had gleaming tal strapped at their waists. So carried swords, others spears or axes. There were even a few with bows.
Unlike the Knight Order or an army, there was no sense of uniformity, but for now combat power mattered more than appearances, so I decided not to interfere in that area for the ti being.
After all, in battle, a man ought to fight with whatever suited his hands best.
“So you wore the Iron Mask today.”
“I thought it would make look more frightening. Seems rumors about are spreading through the village?”
“I gave them a little push.”
I knew it. Grinning, I gave Kalmond a light tap on the chest.
“Well done. But do not overdo it. If you end up becoming a target of an investigation, it will be a headache.”
“I know.”
“I need to hurry up, make the goods, sell them, and expand the organization, so I do not know why all these damned flies keep swarming around . We need to clean this up and get back to work. How are the boys looking?”
At my question, Kalmond gave the triumphant smile of a man who had been waiting to hear it. Confidence and pride were plain in his eyes as he looked at his n.
“They’re in top condition. They’re ready to fight at any mont.”
“Were you followed?”
That answer ca not from Kalmond, but from Eluna. An old bow rested in her hand, and a quiver hung over her back. At last, I would get to see an elf’s dazzling archery for myself today.
“On the way here, I sensed several presences carrying killing intent. It seems they do plan to ambush us.”
“Just as expected.”
I nodded. Eluna carried elven blood. She would be far superior to Kalmond when it ca to detecting presences. That made her trustworthy.
“They’re cornered right now. Even a rat will charge desperately when it’s trapped, won’t it? We’ll wait here until they co.”
“We’ve finished preparing just as you instructed.”
“Good.”
Since our guests were coming as a group for once, we ought to receive them generously. The na of the Black Pig Gang would disappear into history here tonight.
I walked over to Blackship, who was kneeling off to one side with his arms bound.
“Been well? You look like you’ve lost so weight.”
“Mmph! Mmmgh......!”
The bastard glared at and struggled. Considering what he had done to my subordinates, I wanted to kick him a few tis, but there was a full 6,000 Gold tied to his body, so I decided to treat him carefully.
Like the villain in a movie, I slid a hand beneath his chin and lifted it.
“Watch carefully. Watch what kind of treatnt your n get today. Since we’ve gone to such trouble to invite them, I intend to entertain them very generously. They’ll probably piss themselves.”
“Mmph! Mmmgh!”
It was right then.
“Master.”
Eluna called out in a low voice. At so point, she had already drawn an arrow, set it to the bowstring, and pulled it all the way back. The arrowhead pointed into the darkness.
I raised a hand to stop her. There was no need to spill blood already.
“Don’t shoot. Be polite when receiving guests. Though they ca sooner than I expected. Hey, you stay quiet and rest. Did you piss yourself already? Slls awful.”
I shoved Blackship away with my foot, then pulled the Mana Pistol from inside my coat. Walking forward, I shouted loudly.
“If you’re here, why don’t you co out and say hello?”
At my call, shadows stirred on every side. Then, as if on cue, they revealed themselves from the darkness all at once. Just as we had all expected, they were the Black Pig Gang bastards.
Leading them was a pig I had never seen before. Was that why they were called the Black Pig Gang? Because both their boss and their underboss were pigs?
The talking pig pointed a finger at and scowled fiercely.
“That fucking bastard is the one they call Iron Man?”
“Yes, Underboss.”
“Why the hell is that unlucky bastard fooling around with a slab of iron on his face?”
“Maybe because he’s ugly?”
“He’s got no bulk at all. Looks like one hit would shrivel him up like dried squid.”
Standing beside him was that ssenger I had seen once before. He seed to be so sort of Enforcer Captain. The bastards slandered with every curse they could think of.
I did not let them keep up their cody routine any longer. My ti was precious.
“There are more of you than I expected. Who are you? Deputy Pig?”
“Hah! Still got a mouth on you, I see. Deputy Pig, yeah. You son of a bitch. Ha, so you’re telling they all got robbed and captured by trash like this? That’s absurd.”
I had expected around fifty of them, but twice that number ca. As a result, we were completely surrounded.
Even so, my subordinates had ford a circular formation. They held their weapons ready and radiated an intent to kill that suggested they would swing the mont anyone ca close. It seed Kalmond had trained them properly.
Deputy Pig, no, the Underboss of the Black Pig Gang, kept yamring.
“We brought all our elites, and we outnumber you five to one. Don’t make this difficult with a knife fight. Just stretch out your necks and lie down. We’ll send you off nice and easy.”
“What’s this? That’s not what we agreed. Didn’t you hear we were supposed to settle this for 6,000 Gold? Your boss won’t co out of this safely if you do that, you know.”
“Kahahahahaha!”
The Underboss clutched his belly and laughed.
“After thinking it over, I figured instead of spending 6,000 Gold to bring the boss back, it’d be better to buy the boys so snacks with it. I can’t stay Underboss forever, so it worked out nicely for to move up a rank with this chance.”
“So you’re betraying him? That hadn’t crossed my mind.”
“Hah! Idiot. Don’t things in this world move according to their natural course?”
I let out a snort.
“Natural course, my ass. Then you’d better be sweating too. Because the natural course is that one who rises through betrayal falls through betrayal. I wonder who will bargain over your ransom later.”
Curious about Blackship’s reaction, I glanced back over my shoulder. Just as expected, his eyes were wide and round, unable to believe his subordinate’s betrayal.
Power never lasts ten years, they say.
I jerked my chin toward Blackship.
“Then that pig bastard over there is useless now.”
“Kill him or don’t, do whatever you like! I hear you bastards have been throwing money around lately, so we’ll collect it instead. We should fetch a nice price if we sell your weapons too.”
“Fine. Do whatever you like. Now then, any last words?”
“Fuck you.”
I had given him a chance, but I did not particularly like his final words. I signaled Eluna with my eyes, and in an instant she pulled back the bowstring and let it fly.
Ssshaaaak!
Thunk!
“Ghk......! Hrk! Ugh...... no...... way......”
“It is.”
Thud!
The Underboss, no, the Black Pig Gang’s new boss, collapsed with blood pouring from his heart. No amount of fat would save him.
“B-Boss!”
“The boss is down!”
The enemies fell into confusion.
Under normal circumstances, there was no way to pierce his heart. He was wearing special protective gear, with Plate Armor over it.
But Eluna’s archery made the impossible possible. The mont they let their guard down, she had drawn and fired so quickly that the arrow struck before he could evade it.
It had all happened so fast that the Black Pig Gang could not properly respond.
That was one of the reasons I had taken Eluna in.
“Mond. Shall we begin?”
“Yes, Boss.”
Kalmond raised a hand and gave the signal. At the sa ti, nets rained down from all sides. The subordinates who had been waiting up in the trees threw iron nets down on them.
Chrrrraaaak! Wham!
“Save ! Aaaagh!”
“I-I can’t move! What is this?!”
The bastards began flailing like fish caught in a net. The darkness was so thick around them that proper resistance was impossible.
The ones with brains tried hacking at the nets with their weapons, but it was not easy.
Because the nets were made of iron.
Until then, my subordinates and I simply watched the scene in silence.
In this battle, I intended to suffer not even the slightest loss. There was still the main course left to serve our guests.
“Eluna. Show them the skill you’ve honed.”
“Yes, Master. How would you like them cooked?”
“Well-done!”
As Eluna raised her bow, small jars were thrown up into the air from the trees.
With her eyes narrowed, she loosed four arrows into the ground.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Then she bent one knee and knelt, loading another arrow. It was Kalmond who set that arrow ablaze.
The mont it caught fire, Eluna released the string.
Fweee!
The fire arrow flew, and that exact process was repeated three tis with astonishing speed.
Then she fired a burning arrow toward the rear. The rapid stream of fire arrows shattered the falling jars and ignited the oil packed inside them.
Fwoooosh!
The burning oil poured down, and in an instant the surroundings beca a sea of flas. It had been all well and good when they were surrounding us, but now it worked against them instead. Fire rained down like a storm.
“Kyaaaaaagh!”
“F-Fire! It’s fire!”
It was, quite literally, a living hell. The oil jars scattered farther than I had expected. Caught in the nets, the Black Pig Gang bastards scread as they collapsed one after another.
The area was cleared up quickly.
The side that had not caught fire was handled directly by Kalmond in short order. A few of them escaped, but we did not pursue them. Wiping out their core fighting force was more than enough of an achievent.
It was a little disappointing that I did not get to use the Mana Pistol, but well, things had gone smoothly, so I ought to be satisfied.
“Any casualties on our side?”
“None.”
“Good. Then put out the fire first, and after that we raid their main base!”
The subordinates began extinguishing the flas, and we moved quickly toward the next target.
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