Chapter 214 – Darkness of the North (1)

In a small clearing in a forest located somewhere in the southern part of the United Kingdom, a total of five people were sitting.

A meeting consisting of four men and one woman.

“So, are you really going to do it?”

“Yes.”

Among them, the woman was the first to speak.

She frowned as if she did not like the current situation, but Toolman, the man who answered, was wearing a thick smile.

“We steal Marquis Palatio’s belongings.”

“No matter how much I think about it, it seems like madness.”

The woman who burst out in dissatisfaction and another man beside her nodding.

However, Toolman, who had a large scar on his face and ran the ‘Black Hand,’ an organization that could be said to be quite famous in the shadows of the entire United Kingdom, repeatedly spoke.

“No, we are definitely doing it. No, we must.”

“……Even at the risk of taking such a danger?”

“Definitely.”

“Is there a reason to go that far?”

“Of course there is.”

A confident smile filled his face.

Toolman pushed a request form with a drawing attached in front of the other executives who were looking at him with somewhat suspicious faces.

“What is this?”

“A bracelet?”

The pupils of the executives, who were slowly scanning the request form.

“……??!”

Gradually began to enlarge.

It was natural.

The number of gold coins written at the bottom of the request form.

Was an amount that was far beyond the executives’ perception.

“……Is this real?”

“Yes. Just in case, I even went to confirm it myself.”

“I think we’ve lived handling quite a bit of money in our own way, but this much…… hasn’t there been? No, before that, can they even pay this many gold coins?”

“I told you. I’ve confirmed it.”

At Toolman’s assertion, everyone’s jaws dropped indefinitely.

This is…… real?

If so.

“It might be worth risking our lives.”

“That’s true.”

“Technically, it’s not even risking our lives. It’s just stealing one item, what big problem could there be?”

“Well…… it bothers me a bit that it’s Marquis Palatio.”

The man who had been expressing opposing opinions along with the woman also cautiously nodded his head.

“Honestly, at this level, I’m tempted. Since stealing is our specialty, after all.”

“But what on earth is that bracelet that it results in such an absurd request amount?”

A natural doubt.

However, Toolman lightly dismissed it.

“Does that matter? Anyway, from our perspective, we just need to bring the required item and get paid.”

“That is true.”

“Now, since it seems we’ve reached a consensus, shall we start right away?”

Greed settled in the eyes of the executives who were focused on the request form at Toolman’s words.

“Then let’s start with a light search.”

Of course, in Toolman’s eyes as well.

A thick greed was undulating.

####

About two weeks after departing for Asteria.

“Delicious.”

Alon, who was still savoring sweet potatoes today.

[Kwahhh! I said don’t touch me!!]

Was watching Basilliora, who was angry with a mouth full of sweet potato, and.

[Kyu?]

Blackie, who was tapping Basilliora without caring at all, and he suddenly thought.

[……Come to think of it, Blackie has been continuously absorbing abominations, but there hasn’t been a major change.]

Immediately after defeating the Apostle of Sloth last time.

Blackie had absorbed Craxhia, who was turning into dust and disappearing.

[It was said that eating abominations makes it stronger, but does it evolve all at once or something?]

Alon thought while chewing on the sweet potato.

As if sensing that gaze, Blackie, who had been tormenting Basilliora, turned his eyes toward Alon and soon approached him.

Rub, rub.

He acted cute, rubbing his face against Alon’s feet.

Alon gently stroked his head and felt that his cuteness had strangely increased recently.

[He used to be a bit more chic, though.]

He was always favorable toward Alon.

But as Alon wondered if he had always been this affectionate.

Blackie acted cute very diligently while frequently glancing at Alon’s chest where the brooch was attached.

The moment he was about to tilt his head at that sight.

“Marquis.”

Evan, who was peeling and eating potatoes unlike the others, called him.

“What is it?”

“You know those organizations you mentioned last time? The ones I told you had completely disappeared.”

“Ah, those?”

“Yes. Back then, the Marquis seemed a bit suspicious, so I looked into it once more, and they are definitely gone. Since then, I heard an organization called the ‘Black Hand’ has been very active.”

“Black Hand?”

“Yes. It’s a place that was also on the list you told me to look up last time. It’s become quite famous.”

“Hmm.”

Holding the sweet potato in his hand, Alon nodded.

Black Hand.

It was an organization that Alon also knew very well.

Those who mainly stole things or kidnapped and sold people.

They were engraved in Alon’s memory as quite annoying fellows.

There were several reasons.

First, they were ‘cunning.’

Unlike numerous organizations appearing in Psychedelia, the Black Hand never reveals its hideout and never tries to step forward and fight the opponent.

Because they keep bothering the player in ways other than combat, they are more annoying than imagined.

Also, because they take the form of a cell organization.

Even if one executive is dealt with, it does not deal a big blow to the entire organization.

Moreover.

No matter which kingdom the player heads to after starting the game for the first time.

If their reputation rises, they will definitely stick to them.

Unless specific stats are taken, until the Black Hand is completely eradicated in the late game.

They are persistent bastards who constantly try to plunder items.

Therefore, Psychedelia players hate the Black Hand very much.

Especially in the case of concept users who do not take stats according to the developer’s intention but push stats to the limit for concept play, they loathe the Black Hand even more.

Of course, Alon, who also had the experience of having hard-earned materials stolen overnight, hated them as well.

[……It would be really nice if I didn’t get involved with them, if possible.]

However, since there was no way to eradicate the Black Hand right away.

Alon let out a sigh and bit into the sweet potato.

“Hmm.”

The sweet potato was delicious.

Another week later.

Around the time Alon had almost stabilized the magic he had created with Penia by continuously researching Gyeok.

The carriage arrived at Teria, the capital of the Asteria Kingdom.

And there.

“Hello, teacher.”

“Utia……?”

Utia was there.

Utia bowed her head with a smile as bright as sunshine.

Alon, who was watching that sight, asked.

“I didn’t expect to see you in Asteria. Did you stop by because of some business?”

“Yes, there are various things, but first I have to meet the King of Asteria.”

Alon nodded.

Because it was not particularly unusual for a Cardinal to visit a King.

Meanwhile, Utia looked down and confirmed the red brooch pinned to Alon’s breast pocket, then opened her red lips.

“I’m glad you’re wearing the brooch well.”

“It would be a waste to just leave a gift as a decoration.”

“I’m relieved. I was worried you might just keep it as a decoration.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep wearing it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then, will you promise me?”

Utia raised her pinky finger.

Alon gave a faint smile and hooked his pinky with hers.

After finishing light greetings, the two walked up to the royal castle of Asteria together.

“Then you go in first. I will wait.”

“Thank you for your consideration, teacher.”

Utia bowed slightly to Alon, who yielded his turn, and headed to the audience chamber first.

After some time had passed.

“Marquis Palatio, I will guide you.”

Alon’s turn came.

The knight bowed politely and asked him to follow.

Following him, Alon began to walk.

This time too, he was guided to Siyan’s office instead of the audience chamber and stepped inside.

“It has been a long time.”

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Alon offered his greetings with proper etiquette.

“First, take a seat.”

As Alon sat down according to the invitation, Siyan stared at him with a very pleasant expression.

“I’ve heard many bustling stories lately, and seeing you here, it seems you’ve also been to Greynif.”

“That is correct.”

As Alon affirmed, Siyan nodded contentedly for a moment.

“I am very curious about that story, but before that, there is something I want to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“By any chance, are Cardinal Utia and you…”

Alon, who was tilting his head wondering why Utia’s name came up here.

“In love with each other?”

At the following sentence.

“……Yes?”

……For a moment, he almost lost his manners.

####

Pulton, one of the executives of the Black Hand and the man who boasted the most outstanding stealth ability among the executives.

He was observing Marquis Palatio, who had entered the kingdom, from a cliff beyond the city walls.

[For the rumors being so massive, he doesn’t feel particularly special.]

The first impression upon seeing the Marquis.

Pulton had heard many rumors about Marquis Palatio.

The rumors were consistent.

They all praised Marquis Palatio’s strength, rumors that even those who heard them had no choice but to admire.

However, unlike what he heard.

Marquis Palatio seemed very ordinary except for appearing cool-headed due to his expressionless face.

Was that all?

When gauging from his own level right now, Marquis Palatio’s stats did not look particularly outstanding either.

[If he’s a mage, he’s at best 4th circle…… no, about 5th circle now?]

Of course, what was seen was probably not everything.

Even knowing that truth, because the Marquis was so ordinary.

Pulton let out a smirk without realizing it.

“At that level, beyond just stealing, I might even be able to take him down by myself.”

A muttering filled with complete leisure.

Of course, it was not completely sincere.

Having survived in the underworld since he was very young, he never judges or makes hasty conclusions about others based solely on appearance.

Nonetheless, because it was strange that Marquis Palatio’s stage appeared to be only that much.

“Hmm……”

Pulton, who had been contemplating for a moment.

“Are you going to take down Marquis Palatio?”

“Then who else would I be talking about?”

“Why are you daring to take him down?”

While habitually answering the voice coming from his side.

“This bastard is talking informally again. Trying to hit the jackpot and retire…?”

He soon realized something strange.

He was currently in hiding here to monitor Marquis Palatio.

In other words, there was no one here but Pulton himself, without any subordinates.

So it was normal that there was no one to ask him questions and no reason for him to answer……

Pulton, turning his gaze to the side without knowing the reason.

Soon, he could see them.

“Yes, what were you going to do to the Marquis?”

Staring straight at him.

“What were you going to do?”

The elves whose entire faces were twisted fiercely.