Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 102

Weapon-Eating Heir 102

Like all information brokers, the Black Crow Syndicate was an organization particularly obsessed with secrecy.

It was impossible to know where their headquarters were, and who their members were remained a mystery.

There were no designated meeting places.

Of course, there were no secret meeting spots hidden in dingy alleyways.

This wasn’t the era where information brokers operated out of such places.

So, how did one do business with the Black Crow Syndicate?

The answer was simple.

You waited.

To trade with the Black Crow Syndicate, they had to approach you first.

The criteria for their selection were largely unknown.

Some martial artists who caused a stir in the world were never contacted, while unremarkable ones were. Even unknown herbalists or hunters were said to have had dealings with them.

However, one thing was certain: unless approached by a member of the Black Crow Syndicate, no wealthy person could trade with them.

And now, someone from the Black Crow Syndicate had come to me with a somewhat unfamiliar proposition.

“A formal contract?”

I stared at Im Yong-muk, the operative from the Black Crow Syndicate.

“Yes, that’s right. Ah! I see. You might not be familiar with formal contracts.”

Im Yong-muk continued, still wearing a smile.

“In short, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We provide the information you need, young master. Of course, with a contract, your information won’t be sold to outsiders.”

“What do I have to do in return?”

“You just need to… show us some respect.”

Im Yong-muk said with a peculiar expression.

Respect, huh.

That sounded like they wanted some kind of favor.

“Why don’t you stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you want?”

“Haha, very well. Hmm… I see. From time to time, we might ask you for information you have, or, if you wouldn’t mind, we might ask for your formidable martial prowess. I think it’s a good deal for you, don’t you think?”

Im Yong-muk spoke as if I would naturally accept.

I frowned slightly and paused to think.

‘I didn’t expect to encounter the Black Crow Syndicate in this way.’

I was already feeling the need for an organization or partnership to handle information in my future activities.

The most likely candidate was the Black Crow Syndicate, and since Jeong Jin-soo had been contacted by Baek Cheol-soo, I figured they would approach me in some way.

‘A formal contract, huh.’

I knew one secret about the Black Crow Syndicate, so I didn’t think forming a cooperative relationship would be a problem.

But the picture I had in mind wasn’t a formal contract.

“I need to know the reason.”

“Pardon?”

“Why do you want to have a formal contract with me?”

“Haha, it’s because we’ve been impressed by your actions so far.”

“You’re dodging the question again.”

At my words, Im Yong-muk once again wore an inscrutable smile.

“As you know, the selection process for who we contact is confidential, so I can’t tell you. But I can explain as much as I’m allowed…”

Im Yong-muk, who had been smiling, turned serious and continued.

“Born a son of a concubine, the youngest person to pass the martial examination, at the level of a 5th-grade martial artist, the ability to defeat Baek Cheol-soo, and even forming a connection with the next elder of the Nine Dragons Union… There are many reasons why we couldn’t resist contacting you.”

“Are you trying to brag about how good your intelligence is?”

“Of course not. I’m just explaining.”

Im Yong-muk’s expression quickly hid behind his inscrutable smile again.

How amusing. It couldn’t just be an explanation.

He had listed information that was hard to come by.

What was the reason for that?

-We know this much. Are you still not going to sign the contract? Stop playing hard to get.

That’s roughly what he meant.

There was even an underlying threat that they could sell my information if I didn’t sign the contract.

“So, what will you do?”

At Im Yong-muk’s words, I took a short breath.

“I refuse.”

At my answer, Im Yong-muk was silent, seemingly a little surprised.

Then, he spoke in a voice that was still low and calm.

“Haha, I must have upset you a little. But think about it coldly. Considering your current situation, you should be able to quickly calculate which option is more beneficial.”

“My situation? What situation are you talking about?”

“Since you like being direct, I’ll be direct. You are from the Soongmoo [martial arts clan], but you are also the son of a concubine, aren’t you? If you’re not just hoping to be any martial artist, but aiming for the top in the Soongmoo, then… you should accept our offer.”

At that moment, the car stopped.

A massive wall surrounding the danger zone appeared in front of us.

The driver didn’t know what to do and was just looking around.

‘They seem to think they’re in a position of absolute power.’

Whether that was the intention of the entire Black Crow Syndicate, or just this Im Yong-muk, the head of the Southern Branch, I didn’t know.

But I felt unpleasant.

I said to Im Yong-muk.

“The answer is the same. I refuse.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“We’ll see who does.”

At those words, Im Yong-muk let out a subtle sneer.

He probably thought of it as the provocation of a naive son of a concubine.

I chuckled and brushed it off.

Then, I gathered my things, opened the taxi door, and got out.

Im Yong-muk followed me out with a stiff expression, watching me.

“It’s not too late yet…”

I cut off Im Yong-muk’s drawn-out words and opened my mouth.

“Forget it. Tell your leader I’m disappointed. I was going to give them a solution to their illness, but I’ve changed my mind.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just tell them that, and they’ll understand. If you don’t tell them, well… there’s nothing I can do.”

Im Yong-muk tilted his head, pondering those words.

‘Illness? What is he talking about?’

Im Yong-muk frowned at the sudden, random words.

I turned my back on Im Yong-muk and walked away.

Im Yong-muk grabbed me one last time.

“Just one last question. How were you so sure we were the Black Crow Syndicate?”

“Oh, that.”

I smiled casually.

“I was testing you.”

“…Pardon?”

“I was sure when your subordinate blurted out ‘How did you know!’ so easily.”

Of course, I didn’t test him without knowing anything.

As I said in front of the airport, I roughly thought he wasn’t a normal taxi driver, and I had been sensing Im Yong-muk’s presence tailing me since inside the airport.

From there, I narrowed down the forces that would be likely to tail me.

The family forces that would want to watch how my martial examination was progressing.

The secret organization I got involved with in Gyeongju.

And finally, the Black Crow Syndicate connected to Jeong Jin-soo.

If I had to add one more, it would be the Nine Dragons Union, but that was already resolved, and the secret organization wasn’t clear about anything yet.

Moreover, I had already carefully cut off the Soongmoo’s tail.

If they were still chasing me after that, it would have to be agents from the intelligence department or the Spirit Sword Division, but if it were them, I wouldn’t even be able to notice.

So, the most likely candidate was the Black Crow Syndicate.

I wasn’t sure, so I tested them, and they took the bait for sure.

“So, you should train your people better. Even the cadets I was with wouldn’t do that… I was disappointed by how sloppy you were. Is the entire Black Crow Syndicate like that? Or is it just the head of the Southern Branch of Korea? I don’t know.”

“…”

At my words, Im Yong-muk’s smile shattered.

I chuckled and turned my body, walking towards the barrier separating the danger zone and the safe zone.

* * *

Bang!

Im Yong-muk kicked the guardrail in a fit of anger.

“Tsk, that bastard was more arrogant than I thought.”

“Branch Leader, are you alright?”

Im Yong-muk… no, the head of the Black Crow Syndicate’s Southern Branch, clicked his tongue as he looked at his subordinate.

‘I just brought one of the guys who was slacking off… I’ve only ruined my reputation because of this idiot.’

If he was an important contract partner, he would have brought someone more skilled, but the opponent was just the son of a concubine who hadn’t shown much yet.

So, he had brought one of the members who was just slacking off.

‘I don’t understand why the higher-ups told me to go and get the contract myself. I can’t understand it at all.’

Whatever, it didn’t matter.

He could just contact the Soongmoo and sell that guy’s information.

Im Yong-muk snatched off the silicone mask he was wearing for disguise and threw it into the taxi, then connected a call somewhere.

The call was soon connected, and the branch leader opened his mouth.

“This is the Southern Branch Leader. I’m reporting the results.”

Before he knew it, the branch leader’s expression and voice had completely changed.

-The contract?

At the short question, Im Yong-muk calmed down and said.

“He was a guy who didn’t know how to grasp the situation as much as I thought. I explained it calmly, but he refused. The contract failed. I’m sorry.”

-Is that so? Anything else?

“Yes, that’s…”

In that moment, the branch leader recalled a word that flashed through his mind.

“Tell your leader I’m disappointed.”

The branch leader’s expression crumpled.

‘…There’s no need to report such absurd nonsense.

“If you don’t tell them, well… there’s nothing I can do.”

But he felt strangely uneasy.

Anyway, there was nothing to lose by reporting it.

The branch leader conveyed what Lee Cheol had said verbatim.

-…….

There was no response from the other side of the receiver.

It seemed like it was nonsense after all.

“I’m sorry. The son of a concubine from the Soongmoo was more arrogant than I thought. He was rude to the leader…”

The branch leader hurriedly prepared an excuse.

But a somewhat flustered voice was heard from beyond the receiver.

-Is that true?

“Yes? Ah, yes, that’s right.

-Chase him down right now… No. Where is the target currently located?

“That, that’s…”

The branch leader was a little flustered.

The person he was talking to on the phone was a cadre who oversaw the entire Korean branch of the Black Crow Syndicate.

Unlike himself, who was just a branch leader who had never met the main society or the leader, the real cadre who directly received orders from the leader and operated the organization was him.

‘But why is this person…?’

Why was such a cadre flustered by just a few words?

“He is currently passing through the northern gate of the Hallasan danger zone.”

-First, mobilize all the personnel from the Southern Branch to make sure he doesn’t get away…

His voice suddenly sank.

-Prepare to step down from your position as branch leader. I’ll send personnel, so return to being a regular member once you’ve finished the handover.

“Yes, yes? Why is that!”

-It would be fortunate if it ended with just that. If he really knows what he’s talking about… you’ve made a huge mistake.”

“W, wait a minute…”

Click-.

With those words, the call was cut off.

The branch leader’s expression twisted.

What, what was going on?

* * *

I used my travel identity to pass through the barrier in the danger zone.

Even though it said I was a 6th-grade hunter, the soldier guarding the border and the officer in charge of the gate had reluctant expressions.

“Are… are you sure you’ll be alright? You’re a 6th-grade hunter, so you know better than us, but this place is very different from the Northern Danger Zone.”

“I came knowing that. I’m fine.”

“We’d feel more comfortable letting you through if you brought a companion…”

“I’m fine.”

When I made a slightly stern expression, the officer guarding the gate sighed and gestured.

Whoosh!

I felt an immense heat in that moment.

It felt like the entire region had changed just by crossing one gate.

I walked into the forest.

Here, there exists the ‘god’ written in the Black Night Records.