Ch. 28 - Criminal, Rebel, and Mercenary

Agarentha was smaller and denser than the empire's southeasternmost city. However, compared to other cities (excluding the capital), Agarentha was the most active. It was a busy city. Both legal and illegal activities ensured there was never silence in the city.

One Eye, one of the most dangerous criminal organizations, had established its central headquarters in Agarentha.

Because of this, the slavery industry across the Western Continent was centered in this city. From one end of the city to the other, slaves were almost never out of sight. Whether they were labor slaves, entertainment slaves, or sex slaves, it made no difference. Likewise, there was no distinction between male and female slaves. All slaves received the same treatment.

Empress Lasyana had taken steps to reduce the growing slave trade. However, unlike in the capital, the empress had not been able to do much in Agarentha. Imperial control over the city was minimal. It was not the fault of the current government, as this had begun more than two decades ago. Agarentha was under the control of One Eye and several high-ranking imperial nobles.

In one of the bars in the city's western district, a bald man—with one of his eyes covered—frowned as he listened to a report from a woman at his side. As soon as the report ended, the man slammed the table in front of him, shattering it—startling everyone in the bar.

Bearbro Oneye. The fourth supreme leader of the One Eye Organization. Thirty years old. Muscular. A master of the spear. A man whose name had been feared in the criminal world since his teenage years. He had killed his own father in a duel for control of the organization. His combat skills were not to be underestimated. His reputation was notorious everywhere.

"Tell me that report is wrong," Bearbro murmured—his hands trembling with rage ready to explode. "Say what I heard is false," he demanded.

"Sorry, Master, but the information I brought is accurate. I am your best informant. I have never failed, let alone been wrong. Empress Lasyana truly intends to clean the empire. Prime Minister Glob has been killed, and his death was staged as a suicide."

Bearbro snorted. "I know," he said irritably—his frustration seeming to radiate throughout the bar, causing those who had been frozen in place to move their feet and flee.

"What will you do, Master?"

Bearbro did not immediately answer his trusted informant's question. He remained silent for a while, his thoughts wandering.

The situation in Agarentha was not stable enough for him to leave. The "sewer rats" sent by the rebel group had not yet been eradicated. If left unchecked, they could cause unwanted problems. On the other hand, Bearbro understood that what had happened in the capital could not be ignored. Glob had been one of One Eye's main supporters.

"Call Oz," Bearbro ordered after a few minutes. "I want him here now."

The woman nodded and quickly turned to leave.

Bearbro's eyes did not move to follow the departure of his informant and left hand. His mind spun rapidly, thinking about how he would handle the major problem that had just arisen.

The report Weimei had just given was shocking to Bearbro. He had never thought Lasyana cared about the well-being and comfort of her people. Until now, the empress's actions had been no different from her predecessors, who followed the law of the jungle. She wouldn't even blink if a massacre occurred in front of her. He had once seen Lasyana crush a man's head underfoot simply for looking at her without permission.

What had changed?

Lasyana did hate slavery. The previous ruler had often treated her like a slave. Abolishing slavery was Lasyana's great desire. But that was all. She never cared about other illegal activities. In fact, she seemed to support and encourage criminals.

However, the latest information was truly surprising. What had happened? Why was she suddenly doing what the rebels had been doing? Did Lasyana want a revolution in her government? Had she made a deal with the rebel group?

Bearbro truly did not know why Lasyana was doing something she shouldn't have done.

However, if Lasyana had indeed made a deal with the rebels, the empire would inevitably change its course. Realizing this left Bearbro with no choice but to go to the capital. One Eye had to ensure the new prime minister was someone aligned with the majority of the nobles. Or, if Lasyana had truly changed her course, she would have to be eliminated.

"Master Bearbro."

The call successfully pulled Bearbro from his train of thought.

"Oz." Bearbro looked intently at his right hand, a short-haired blonde man of twenty-four. "Have you found those sewer rats?"

"I've found six locations, Master, but their numbers have not been confirmed. I plan to eliminate them tonight."

Bearbro could always rely on Oz. They had known each other for a long time. Bearbro had saved Oz's life a dozen times. And vice versa. There was no one he trusted more in this world than Oz.

The criminal boss then nodded at his subordinate's response. "Good work," he praised. "You never disappoint."

"Is that why you call me, Master?"

"No," Bearbro answered quickly. "I call you to tell you that I'm leaving for the capital today. Weimei will be coming with me. I'm leaving you in charge here to handle everything until I return."

"Master is going to the capital, huh. What's going on? You just got back from there two weeks ago."

"Tell him, Weimei."

Weimei told Oz what he needed to know.

"Ah, I see. This will be a dangerous situation if left unchecked. Heh, no wonder they dared to send more people here. Alright, Master. I'll handle everything until you return."

Bearbro nodded in satisfaction at his right hand and then stood up. "Let's go, Weimei." Without waiting a second, Bearbro walked away.

The red-haired woman simply nodded and immediately followed her master, leaving the right hand alone.

"Make sure everything is under control, Oz."

That was Bearbro's last message to his right hand—the bald man's voice echoing throughout the room.

-----ooOoo-----

Mariel passed through the gates of Agarentha with a thin smile on his lips. Celinee, walking beside him, snorted, not understanding why the boy next to her was smiling. By then, the sun had already dipped far to the west—they had arrived later than planned.

"Shall we split up to finish faster?" Mariel suggested, his feet moving swiftly along the brick road, paying no attention to the people.

"Split up?"

"You find the targets' locations and eliminate them. I'll head to the slave market and destroy One Eye's headquarters. I'll also kill as many of their members as possible. It'll serve as a distraction to make your job easier."

"You're serious."

It wasn't a question—it was a statement. Mariel gave no response.

"Alright," Celinee agreed after a moment. "But, M, make sure you don't overdo it. We're not here to destroy the whole city. I don't want to end up being a fugitive of the empire too."

"Heh, heh, heh. Don't worry. Empress Lasyana will thank us… maybe."

Celinee's eyes widened instinctively. Mariel could feel the sharp glare without even looking. Normally, he would have cracked a joke in response to the familiar reaction. However, now wasn't the time. Instead, Mariel proposed splitting up, which Celinee agreed to. The two then sped off in different directions.

Mariel's first destination was, of course, a bar. Information was relatively easy to gather in such places. Various people with different professions often frequented bars—whether to enjoy a drink to relieve stress or to satisfy themselves by hiring entertainers. One thing was certain: information was bought and sold in places forbidden to children.

Finding a bar wasn't difficult at all, especially since most of them were open 24/7 without ever closing.

The smell of alcohol immediately pierced Mariel's senses as soon as he stepped into the bar. He had intentionally chosen a lower-class bar because it was frequented by many people. This was different from upper-class bars, which were only visited by the wealthy and esteemed. Mariel needed information, and upper-class bars wouldn't provide it.

"Give me your best," Mariel said as soon as he reached the bartender's long counter, placing a platinum coin on the table. "I'll take the table at the corner. Bring my drink there."

The bartender nodded, taking the platinum coin without bothering to ask questions.

Even if he had wanted to ask, he wouldn't have had the chance. Mariel had already moved to the table he had pointed to. He pulled out a chair and sat down elegantly. With his back to the wall, his eyes scanned the entire room, observing.

There was a man with his head down, holding a glass of beer. He sat alone, accompanied only by his own anxiety. A group of men laughed together, seemingly forgetting the worries outside. Two women laughed with each other, their eyes scanning the room as if searching for prey. An older man sat with two women on either side, both speaking and dressed provocatively. There was also a middle-aged woman with a cigarette between her lips.

There were all kinds of people, and Mariel was searching for someone surrounded by an aura of mystery. Most informants tended to be that way. However, before he could spot anyone meeting the criteria, his attention was diverted when his order arrived.

He immediately grabbed the glass filled with a bright purple liquid. Mariel didn't taste it right away. Instead, his eyes remained fixed on it, observing. He knew it was made from fermented grape juice, but that was as far as his knowledge went. He didn't know the entire process behind producing this delicious, intoxicating drink.

"What's a young man like you doing here?" A woman with purplish-pink hair sat across from Mariel without asking. "Sitting alone? Want me to keep you company~?"

Mariel spontaneously set down the glass he had been observing and looked at the attractive, seductive older woman. Her outfit seemed lacking in material, almost revealing everything. And she was far too old to be called "big sister". Mariel was certain this woman was already in her thirties, but her beauty hadn't faded at all.

"Of course," Mariel replied after a while.

He could have pretended to be shy and let the woman take control of the conversation. However, Mariel realized the woman in front of him wasn't an escort. She was strong. From the pointed hat on her head, she was likely a mage. Pretending to be shy wouldn't be beneficial. He needed to make a strong impression on the woman.

"What's a mage like you doing here, Auntie?" Mariel asked with an innocent smile.

A vein popped on the woman's temple, but her lips curved into a seductive smile. Mariel maintained his innocent smile. It was clear the woman was annoyed, but the innocent expression kept her from fully showing it. Thoughts like "Maybe he didn't mean it as an insult" crossed the woman's mind before she could release her anger.

"Ah, sorry, you're too captivating to be called Auntie. Let me rephrase that. What is Lady Mage doing here?"

Mariel's rephrased question erased the vein from the mage's temple. And when Mariel offered his drink to the woman, any lingering annoyance vanished. She immediately took the drink and sipped it. Mariel hadn't tasted even a drop of it yet, but giving the drink to the mage was the best option he had.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you, kid?" the woman asked after a while, her face once again tinged with displeasure.

"Just so you know," the mage continued without waiting for Mariel's answer, "I'm Medea Samareas. The greatest mage alive, rivaling Her Majesty Semiramis. Even Merlin herself praised me directly. Calling me 'Auntie' is an unforgivable crime of the highest order."

Mariel knew the woman in front of him was a mage, but Medea Samareas? That was totally unexpected.