The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 42
Chapter 42. What Should I Do with These Loyal Idiots?
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I confirmed with my eyes those who, despite the commotion, showed little interest here but possessed extraordinary energy channels.
‘You are the masters of this dock.’
Their lack of interest in some random young lord means they don’t handle small change.
‘Such arrogant idiots.’
But who would know? Even the small-time opportunists approaching at the smell of money were part of my misdirection.
‘Spider tattoo.’
I had just subtly checked the tattoo shapes on their faces, hands, and necks. They all bore spider patterns.
‘Good.’
There was an important reason to note their tattoos.
‘Tattoos symbolize underground organizations.’
Much like a noble family’s coat of arms.
The varieties ranged from animal symbols like spiders, snakes, birds, bats, owls, and foxes, to trees, flowers, and emblems carrying various meanings.
‘A spider tattoo organization. If they control the docks, they’re at least a Tier 3 group.’
While Tier 1 organizations absolutely control an entire country, Tier 3 organizations control a single city.
‘I’ve got you marked.’
When I return to the city’s night wearing the Aminicrus mask, I plan to find and seize their subordinate organizations.
‘There’s not enough time to build everything from scratch.’
So I’ll need to use a somewhat rough and urgent method.
‘I can’t swallow them whole immediately, but their subordinate organizations are definitely manageable.’
I already have the power to do so.
‘Would I really have come here to find medicinal herbs? I’m not an idiot.’
But to some, it would look exactly like that.
Those with deeper insight might suspect the true intention hidden behind this performative justification, knowing how foolish that would be.
‘But that’s impossible.’
Who could easily understand my real purpose? Without mind-reading, it’s impossible.
‘If my seemingly purposeless behavior mesmerizes my enemies…’
That’s precisely what I want.
The fear of not understanding the opponent’s intention, or misunderstandings arising from the illusion of understanding my intent – either way, chaos will become my weapon.
I’ve simply thrown bait.
Whether others strain their brains trying to understand it or get bloodshot eyes, that’s not my concern.
‘…I’ll just quietly strike through the gaps I’ve created.’
In swordsmanship, this is called the ‘Phantom Sword Technique.’
‘In my hometown, we called it “sneakiness”.’
Either way, the essence remains the same.
I will hide my true intentions within deception.
Just as the Shadow King did to me.
* * *
“You’re back early.”
The coachman exhaled a relieved sigh seeing me return without incident.
“Then we’ll return to the castle.”
“Sorry for making you wait.”
“No need to thank me. What hardship could I have faced?”
“True enough.”
A voice grabbed me as I was about to board the carriage.
“Hold it right there!”
A rough, intimidating voice. In other words, a typical back-alley thug’s voice.
“Come here. Let me take a look at your face.”
“…”
I could hear Jeffrey sighing.
“A bug like you, how dare you…”
Today seemed quite irritating for him.
But I was actually pleased.
‘About time.’
If I’d been causing such a scene and no one picked a fight, that wouldn’t be the underground’s way. Wouldn’t it be strange if only gentle people gathered?
“You called?”
I turned back with a bright smile. A group of armed ruffians surrounded us.
“Why are you smiling?”
The men asked, raising their eyebrows at my smile.
“Can’t I smile as I please? Making a fuss over someone’s expression.”
Looking around, I noticed the guards hadn’t yet recognized the situation, and sensing the killing intent, pedestrians had gradually retreated, creating an impromptu open space.
‘Looking at them, they’re not from any organization. Just local thugs causing trouble.’
The type who occasionally gather some kids to cause trouble and then disappear. Their type is immediately recognizable.
“So?”
“What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? Stupid guys.”
I said.
“What kind of provocation did you come for? Surely you must have had some pretext.”
My calm, almost laughing demeanor made the ponytailed leader, who seemed to be their boss, mutter in confusion.
“This guy’s crazy.”
He was more insightful than he looked.
“Why’s your hair like that?”
I asked.
“Is this the trend now? How profound. Do you think this hairstyle suits you?”
“…”
I pointed to the guys standing behind the ponytailed leader.
“These bad guys. You’re the worst ones.”
The leader’s followers looked at me with ‘Why us?’ expressions.
“Isn’t it a younger brother’s duty to advise his hyung when he’s acting like an idiot? Like, ‘Hyung, that looks stupid. You should stop.'”
“…!”
When the leader turned back, everyone lowered their eyes.
“Oh, did you already get beaten for this? Then I’m sorry.”
“Shut up.”
The leader said with an angry face.
“Since we’re here, I’ll sincerely advise you. If you’re going to look like this, just shave your head. It would be cleaner.”
“Shut up!”
“Oh, what a pathetic guy. If your wash basin is broken, you should’ve done something. Living carelessly and suddenly trying to look cool with an unsuitable hairstyle won’t hide your ugly face. Isn’t that too naive?”
The continuous stream of insults left the ponytailed leader’s eyes blank.
“If you really don’t want to shave, grow it long right now and cover it. That would be better for everyone.”
“This guy, really!”
The leader stomped the ground in anger.
“Fine, I’ll smash that pretty face of yours.”
“I’ll take the compliment.”
I chuckled, looking at the leader and his gang.
‘What a strange situation.’
Does it make sense that multiple people would threaten someone knowing they’re a noble, just because they find them annoying?
‘No.’
Underground dregs, in fact, are people who value their own lives more than anyone.
Moreover, they’re weak enough not to recognize the power difference between themselves and the royal guards.
‘At this level, even Baklava could create a massacre with just one sword.’
But did they really come armed and in numbers just because they found a young lord annoying? To rob some money?
‘That’s unlikely.’
No matter how unpredictable underground lowlifes are…
There aren’t many who are so idle or fearless as to gather this many people to extort money from a noble with armed escorts.
“Who sent you?”
“What?”
“Don’t play dumb. Weren’t you sent to pick a fight or break something for a few coins?”
The flustered leader blinked and barely answered.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Stop with the pathetic lies. I can tell.”
I chuckled, pointing at him.
“Looks like you’re just local useless thugs who can’t even make it into any organization. Did some hyung who occasionally buys you food send you? Give you some pocket money?”
“…!”
The leader’s face looked like he’d seen a ghost. His expression suggested, ‘How did he know that?’
“Kids, measure your bed before stretching your legs. Can’t you see what’s happening? That guy is leading you to your doom.”
The previously confident ruffians’ eyes started to soften.
‘Maybe we should just leave, hyung. Something feels off.’
‘Shut up, you crazy b*st*rds.’
They were probably exchanging such looks.
Anyway, that hyung seems quite scary. These are exactly the kind of people the saying “frog in a well” was meant for.
“How pitiful. Losing your life because you didn’t know who to fear? Aren’t these the most pathetic people in the world?”
I asked Peter.
“Do you recognize any of them?”
“No. Their area is quite far from where I live…”
“Oh, is that so?”
What a pity.
“I was hoping to spare those who knew our servant’s face.”
“…”
Sensing the atmosphere turning strange, the leader’s eyes grew fierce.
“Damn it, just kill him!”
“…!”
The men flinched and put their hands on their sword hilts, but no one dared to draw them.
“Can’t you hear me, you b*st*rds?”
Pressed by the leader, one man finally mustered courage.
“Graaah!”
“Oh, what a mess.”
It was a pathetic movement with absolutely no trace of martial arts training.
“Young lord, please step back…!”
I walked briskly toward him with light steps. Of course, I held no weapon in my hand.
“No!”
Seemingly surprised I would charge barehanded, Jeffrey hastily tried to unleash sword energy.
“If that hits wrong, my arm will be cut off!”
“!”
While Jeffrey hesitated, the courageous man awkwardly swung his sword at me.
“Die!”
Seeing the blade flying with quite murderous intent, I grinned.
‘They really intend to kill me?’
For a few coins, with no grudge or mutual interest? It was a moment when even the slight discomfort about attacking the weak completely vanished.
‘You’re all dead.’
Having confirmed their murderous intent, no mercy remained in my hands.
Swoosh!
The attack was a simple downward strike.
From my running stance, I made a large sidestep, avoiding the sword’s trajectory.
“!”
My palm was not yet fully healed. So I precisely drove my tightly clenched fist into the opponent’s solar plexus, which was widely exposed from his wild swing.
“Ugh!”
When I twisted the retreating wrist, the sword simply dropped.
“Oops.”
I lightly kicked the sword up with my instep. Swish- I smoothly caught the sword’s handle after it rotated five times.
“!”
“No…!”
Not just the ruffians, but even the royal guards let out exclamations at that elegant motion.
‘Even I thought that looked cool just now.’
Sometimes showing off like this can be helpful.
Still, gripping a sword over bandages is quite painful.
“Are you okay? Your hand?”
Olivier asked in confusion.
“This is nothing.”
I swung the sword defiantly.
“Besides, this is truly a trash sword. The fruit knife in our castle would have more killing power.”
“You b*st*rd!”
Another man charged at me.
I instead stepped forward and stretched out a punch at an invisible speed, striking his chin.
Thwack!
Watching him collapse with eyes rolling back, I clicked my tongue.
“What a mess. Oh my.”
Did I crack his skull? I watched the men retreating awkwardly.
“Anyone else want to try? Raise your hands. No?”
Typically, someone with minimal intelligence would recognize something went wrong and attempt dialogue.
But these guys seemed different.
“Just surround and kill him!”
Three men responded to the ponytailed leader’s command.
“Well, well.”
Seeing their friend get hit seems to have angered them.
“What should I do with these loyal idiots?”
But their rampage ended here.
“Ack!”
One charging with a butcher’s expression was instantly subdued by Olivier’s dagger, while another had his chest bone broken by Jeffrey’s kick.
A bald man tried to slip through the gap.
“Hmm.”
Glancing sideways, I noticed the other royal guards approaching with conspicuously slow movements.
Were they wanting to see my skills? They probably knew this level couldn’t harm me anyway.
‘Fine by me.’
Isn’t this my first real combat opportunity? I should cherish it.
With Baklava, I couldn’t properly beat him because he was my brother, but these guys are different.
‘You’re all dead.’
The sword hummed with injected aura.