Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 625

“Let’s go! I’m betting big this time!”

“Hey, you! One-two! One-two! This is so frustrating!”

“Tonight, we have the undefeated Ferdorian match! No entry fees if you join now! The current pot is eighty-seven gold coins and five silver coins, by the way.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve had this much. Hey, I’ll bet too.”

“It’s a big match after a long time. Here you go. Thank you.”

“Win! Win! If you lose, I’ll kill you!”

“Waaaah! Tear them apart! Rip their ears off!”

The underground arena reeked of fish and some other foul stench. Ian and the others, hoods pulled tight, scanned the scene below.

The second basement level was, to put it mildly, utter chaos. There was only one proper stage for matches. The rest were makeshift rings on the ground, with people forming circles to mark the boundaries.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Good, one more time! One last time! Use your knee to strike!”

“Get a grip! I bet so much on you!”

Shirtless men, covered in sweat and blood, gasped for breath in the crowd.

One pair stood out. Their eyes were wild with the fear that if they didn’t kill their opponent, they would be killed themselves.

“Ughhhhh!”

One was a slave, the other an unpopular fighter who eked out a living in the underground arena. One of the fighter’s ears had already been severed. If he lost again, no one would bet on him. With his livelihood at stake, the fighter staggered and regained his stance.

And the slave?

“Remember. If you lose this round, you die.”

“How much did they buy him for?”

“Two gold coins. But it’s okay, I’ve already made my money back.”

Defeat was, quite literally, death. As the slave lunged forward, trembling, the crowd roared.

When the slave market and the arena are right next to each other, the fights are bound to be more heated, brutal, and desperate, right? That’s why this place was the most popular in the capital of Tooloon.

“What a mess. Oh, that one seems pretty good?”

“Ian, there are too many people to go down there.”

Ian and the others looked down at the chaotic scene from the upper-level railing. People placing and receiving bets, people being carried away with their ears cut off, people getting caught trying to steal money… It was like an ant colony.

Ian nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

“There’s no point in going down there. We won’t find anything out from those people.”

“Didn’t they say a big match was going to be held? If it’s that big, the manager will surely show his face.”

“It would be better to search the less crowded upper level. Should we split up?”

“No, we stick together, no matter what.”

Considering Barsabe’s condition and Beric’s personality, it was safer to move together, even if it took a little longer. More importantly, if something happened while they were separated, it would be difficult to respond immediately.

Ian held the bottom of his robe tightly to keep it from slipping and turned around.

“Actually, if we just threw some money around, finding a manager wouldn’t be a problem.”

“It can’t be helped. Not being noticed is the priority.”

Fortunately, many people around, like Ian’s group, had their faces covered. Due to the nature of the place, it was mainly a gathering of those who were wanted or needed to hide their identities.

As Ian’s group observed the flow, a dull, heavy drumbeat came from somewhere.

Boom! Thump! Thump!

At the same time, the crowd surged to one side. It seemed the match they were talking about earlier was about to start. Ian’s group naturally blended in and moved closer to the stage.

‘Where could they be?’

They were starting from scratch, not even knowing if the top manager was a man or a woman. Their eyes followed the people moving busily around the stage, and then, almost simultaneously, they fixed on one person.

“Ian.”

“Yes.”

A person wearing a glossy silk outfit and adorned with gold ornaments was sitting in the front row of the arena.

Beric poked the man standing next to him and asked,

“Hey, who’s that person sitting in the front?”

“Are you a stranger? Not knowing Marni?”

“Marni? Is he the owner here?”

“Yeah. He’s the owner of the arena. If you’re asking because you’re eyeing his gold, forget it. Even though he looks like that, his guards are all from mercenary groups. Waaaah! Ferdorian!”

The man who was explaining to Beric suddenly started cheering. The fighter had entered.

Hale, in response, estimated the number of guards around Marni. About seven in total. Beric could handle them.

“We’ll approach him after the match.”

“Yes, I understand.”

He was strongly suspected to be connected to the cut-ears [a group known for cutting off ears]. He also had one ear cut off, and since the people around him were said to be from mercenary groups, he would have more credible information than the average person on the street, wouldn’t he? If they played it right, they might be able to contact the cut-ears directly through him.

“Uoooh!”

It was the moment the fighter roared and shook the rusty iron bars.

Crash! Bang!

“Whoa!”

A loud noise came from above, and then someone fell down with a thud.

Most people were half out of their minds, so they wouldn’t normally pay attention to such things, but when several people fell at the same time, they couldn’t help but look up.

“It’s the guard?”

“Why are the guards here?”

“Huh? They’re moving!”

They were the Tooloon capital guards, wearing yellow-brown uniforms. They split to the left and right, taking over the upper level, and were clearing a path by throwing those who were drunk or resisting down below.

Tap tap!

Thud!

“Get out of the way!”

“Ugh, ugh!”

“They’re falling! You crazy bastards! There are people on the lower level!”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

Everyone watched the guards running around with bewildered expressions. Since it wasn’t an illegal business, there didn’t seem to be any signs of people running away or causing a disturbance. Although the order was disrupted as some wanted people hid in the shadows out of fear.

“Ian, Marni is moving too.”

Marni, who had just sat down, got up, whispered something to his guards, and quickly left his seat. Was the match about to be canceled? As the crowd murmured, another official shouted loudly and gestured to the band.

“It seems the guards have some business to attend to, but you don’t need to worry about it! The match will continue! Now, let’s begin. Who will be the true winner tonight? It’s not too late. Bet on the fighter you want!”

Boom boom! Thump thump!

As the tense music started again, people shouted and threw money towards the arena.

Ian moved in the direction Marni had left, watching the guards’ movements. They also seemed to have confirmed that Marni had disappeared and were quickly changing their course.

“Ian, what should we do? Should we run? We’ll be screwed if we get caught.”

“It’s okay. It seems the guards’ target is Marni, which is proof that the royal palace has also determined that Marni is connected to the cut-ears. Let’s follow them.”

At the word ‘follow,’ Beric started running ahead. Despite the huge crowd, he ran smoothly, like water flowing, with steps that didn’t match his size.

Barsabe also stayed by Ian’s side and followed without difficulty.

“But, why would they try to meet here?”

“It’s possible that Marni refused the royal palace’s summons. Someone who runs a business like this would have various reasons.”

No business is completely clean. Marni might have realized that if he met with someone from the royal palace, he would have to give up one of two things: either his business profits or his connection with the cut-ears.

Whatever it was, the fact that the guards were chasing Marni was a big clue and a signpost for Ian. An arrow pointing to where he could find the cut-ears.

“This is good. It’s difficult to find information and move faster than the royal palace in a foreign country. We just need to follow the royal palace’s movements and make our move at the decisive moment.”

It had been a long time since they had last seen Marni. But they followed the guards deeper into the underground.

How far had they gone? Hale threw away the cigarette he had been holding in his mouth. It was a very narrow and dark place. Spaces connected like an ant tunnel were scattered haphazardly. Although there were few signs of people, it didn’t seem to be a completely closed-off area…

“Ian, it’s that way.”

“Okay.”

Voices could be heard in the distance. They moved carefully until they were close enough to make out the conversation. Under a cheap lamp, the shadows of the guards flickered back and forth.

“Seriously, what are you doing, coming here like this?”

“We’ve been ignored every time we requested a meeting, so what choice did we have? We thought you would definitely come to the arena tonight, so we came to meet you, even cutting back on our sleep. Marni, if you had just responded earlier, it would have been easier for everyone.”

“No, I clearly told you that I’m busy these days, so give me some time. Where would I run off to? What would I do? You’ve blocked off the emergency exit, and you’re cornering me. Are you happy now?”

“That was a month later, right? You know why the royal palace is calling for you, so you’re being too much. It won’t take long. Let’s go together for the interview. We’ll restore the emergency exit that we blocked off beforehand.”

“Wow, I’m going crazy. I really don’t know anything. I haven’t contacted those cut-ears in a while, I tell you?”

“We would appreciate it if you could say that in person.”

“…What if I refuse?”

At Marni’s question, the captain of the guard put his hands behind his back. As if he knew it was impossible.

“As of tomorrow, the arena will be closed. And Marni, you will spend the rest of your life in prison.”

“Are you crazy? How much taxes do I pay!”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part.”

Marni glared at the captain of the guard, grinding his teeth. At that moment, a mercenary guard ripped off a blocked door. He could crawl away to escape, but it would only be a matter of time before he was caught, and if the royal palace came out forcefully, it would be hard to resist.

“Ugh, damn it!”

Crash!

Marni kicked the torn door and cursed, but no one reacted.

Hale, who had been watching the situation, whispered softly.

“Ian, if Marni goes with the guards like this, it will be a bit difficult for us from now on.”

The royal palace would get information about the cut-ears, and Ian would lose his way to follow them.

Ian knew that too. So, if possible, it would be best to take down the guards and capture Marni alive to make contact with him, but…

“They’re not just anyone, they’re the guards. If it’s known that there’s a third party targeting the cut-ears, they’ll surely suspect the Bariel forces.”

Anyone who saw Beric and Barsabe fight would surely recognize them as magic swordsmen, and that would only provide a clue that they were in Tooloon.

“Can’t we just kill all the guards? Dead men tell no tales, right?”

“Beric. Marni is watching. It’s just a guess that he’s connected to the cut-ears. If we show ourselves first and it turns out to be a bust, things will get more complicated.”

And even if he was connected to the cut-ears, it was questionable whether he would willingly act as a bridge.

“Is it complicated? Just kill Marni too.”

“…If the guards and the arena owner are found dead, there will be a large-scale investigation. Before we came out, what did you ask the manager?”

“Where the arena was.”

“Right. The manager knows you came to the arena. Do you see the problem?”

“Then kill the manager too-”

Thwack!

Barsabe lightly smacked Beric’s jaw to tell him to shut up. Then, she took off her robe and placed it on the floor. A black cloth was tied around her eyes, so it wouldn’t come undone.

“…Barsabe?”

“Ian, are there any lights around here?”

“There are lamps.”

“Please break them secretly with magic. If they all go out at once, they won’t think it’s magic.”

Ian understood what Barsabe wanted. Complete darkness. A world so dark and black that it would be impossible to distinguish between friend and foe. The only one who could confidently wield a sword in that darkness was Barsabe.

“Barsabe. Is it possible?”

It was a very good plan. If the guards died but Marni didn’t know it was them, they would have a bargaining chip to use against him.

“Of course. Since we’re underground, we don’t have to worry about moonlight.”

Barsabe felt the handle of her sword with her fingertips and immediately gripped it. All her senses, except for her sight, were alive and moving sharply.