Chapter 119: Chapter 72: Preparations (5)
That was rather harsh. Hearing from a ghost of a dead man that he’d rather stay dead than live your life... that stings, honestly. Still, I don’t think my life is that bad. I mean, so far, despite all the terrible things I’ve been through, I’ve also had some good moments... I think. At least my life isn’t a complete disaster.
Anyway, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like I care about the opinion of a dead man. I picked up one of the cards scattered on the table, feeling the rough paper beneath my fingertips, then focused on it.
The card shifted shape in my hand. I turned it into a slender Crow that flew around the room before landing on the edge of the table. How could I actually use this thing? Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe I can find a way to use this little trick for showmanship somehow.
It’s interesting to think about how this could be useful in a real fight. Imagine a Crow flying in the air as a distraction while I strike from behind quite an entertaining scenario.
I raised my head toward Ragu, who was floating on his back as if swimming in the air, and said:
"Is there any spirit that wants a wish granted?"
He glanced sideways at me and replied:
"What’s with this sudden interest?"
"Can you just answer me?"
Ragu disappeared for a few minutes, then reappeared and said:
"There’s an old man who wants you to fulfill a wish for him."
"What exactly is that wish?"
"He wants you to get rid of a group of thugs."
"That’s it?"
"Yes."
Honestly, these spirits ask for such simple wishes. I hope they stay that way. Getting rid of a bunch of low level thugs? Doesn’t sound too hard. Besides, this seems like a good opportunity to test my cards before using them in a real fight.
"Tell me the details."
...
After getting all the details from Ragu, I tied the mask around my waist using a cord through the eyeholes a comfortable way to carry it without wearing it. I took with me a stack of playing cards engraved with symbols of the Authority of Miracles.
Then I left the inn, stopped a carriage, and said to the driver:
"Take me to the Seventeenth District."
The driver refused sharply:
"Sorry, I can’t take you there."
"Why not? It’s not far."
"The problem isn’t the distance, it’s the destination. That district belongs to the Skull Gang. If you value your life, I suggest you don’t go." He stated firmly.
"I’ll pay you double."
"I can drop you somewhere nearby, but you’ll have to walk the rest of the way yourself."
"No problem."
The carriage started moving, and the driver avoided making eye contact with me. As we rode, the thought that this district belonged to the Skull Gang kept bothering me those traitors who betrayed the alliance to overthrow the Claw Gang.
They’re the reason I’ve been stuck wandering the Lower District far longer than I wanted. If I ever gain enough power to crush them, I will. They’ll be the first on my list. But today is not that day. Today I’m just testing my cards on a bunch of thugs. No time to start new wars or add more enemies to the list.
I already have enough of them, all thanks to the bastard Jevan, the original one.
The problem is, I don’t even know most of them. Thanks a lot, original Jevan, for leaving me this lovely inheritance. So, for now, I’ll avoid any large scale conflict as much as possible.
...
The carriage stopped, and I got off. As soon as I did, the driver sped off quickly. I walked for about half an hour until I reached a checkpoint. It was clear that it belonged to the Skull Gang I could tell from the guards, men with skull tattoos on their arms.
Whoever designed those tattoos had terrible artistic taste. Anyway, I didn’t want to attract attention, so I took the mask tied around my waist, put it on, and used it to conceal my presence. I slipped through them while resisting the urge to tear them apart, passing unnoticed.
The deeper I went into the district, the uglier everything looked. The windows of the buildings were shattered, the walls painted black, and the streets... they were worse than any I’d ever walked through.
They were crowded with Skull members loitering everywhere, their skull tattoos visible on their arms. Why the hell were there so many of them here?
Man, in all the districts I’ve been through so far, I’ve never seen anything like this. Is this a recruitment center or some kind of thug labor market? Do they have mandatory service here or what? And why do they all have the same ugly tattoo in the exact same way? Do they all go to the same guy for it or something?
I went deeper into the area until I reached my destination a factory that was supposed to be old and abandoned, but what I saw was the complete opposite. It had a massive iron gate, and smoke was rising from its chimneys. In front of the door stood armed guards with swords, each bearing the same ugly skull tattoo.
What the hell is going on here exactly? Where are the thugs I’m supposed to deal with? I was expecting their hideout to be in some abandoned factory, but this one is clearly still operating.
I looked at Ragu, who was walking beside me:
"Are you sure you didn’t get the address wrong? Check with that spirit again."
Ragu disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, hands behind his head, and said:
"Yes, I’m absolutely sure."
I looked at the guards, then back at him:
"So where exactly are the thugs? Because what I’m seeing here is a whole damn factory and a bunch of armed guards."
He pointed toward them with his thumb:
"They’re right there."
"Those Skull members?"
"Yes."
"I wasn’t asking for their name. Didn’t you say that spirit just wanted me to get rid of a random group of thugs?"
"That’s what it said it wants you to deal with these guys here, including their leader, who should be somewhere nearby, I think."