Volume 3

Chapter 34: People in the Shadows

In the bar on the second floor of Executioner, a crowd of idle adventurers were watching the live broadcast of the second round of the selection match.

“Why are there three fourth-tier contestants this time?” A drunken adventurer complained, “Is the Whistling Legion really that good?”

“Bayebop is one of the top warriors in the West Kingdom after all; it’s not strange for people to want to follow him… but for fourth-tiers to want to join the Whistling Legion, they indeed don’t need to use this method.”

“The selection match has been held for so many years, and you guys still haven’t figured out the trick inside? I knew at a glance that Mibaita or Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke definitely arranged them in order to stir up betting popularity!”

“Well said, so who did you bet on?”

“Haha! I bet directly on all three fourth-tiers!”

“Betting on three heads is also called gambling? If you want to gamble, gamble big! See this betting pool, Moeler Clark, a third-tier Transcender, this kid’s odds of winning the championship are six thousand nine hundred times! Trust me! Win this one and you’re set for ten lifetimes!”

“Is your damn brain flooded with water!”

Noises in the bar rose one after another; almost the vast majority of people were discussing the selection match held like a raging fire.

And in the quietest corner of the bar, the Vice President of Executioner stationed in Strife Fortress was shaking his wine glass, looking at his key subordinates.

“So…”

He rubbed his chin: “Our Excellency Faust not only sent his mortal follower to that wicked wolf Fenrir, but also thoughtfully started some… Air Purification Plan for the Lower District?”

“He indeed rented the largest alchemical workshop in Strife Fortress.”

Someone shrugged: “So Faust is actually proficient in alchemy too? I didn’t know that.”

“Before this, who knew Faust was such a warm-hearted nice guy?”

“A nice guy wouldn’t cut someone into a thousand pieces without blinking an eyelid.”

Among those present, quite a few witnessed that flashing pitch-black blade edge with their own eyes that day; recalling it even now made them shudder somewhat.

Being able to cut you into a thousand pieces in the blink of an eye means being able to cut you into minced meat in an instant; it’s nothing more than whether that Demon King is willing or not.

“Then… what do we do next?” Someone asked like this.

“You ask me? Didn’t the Vice President call us here just to discuss this matter?”

Bayebop’s woman was cut just like that, Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke was also scolded just like that.

Although there were currently no signs indicating that Excellency Faust was a moody psychopath who killed innocents indiscriminately, everyone was worried that the next one to be cut into a bloody person would be themselves—especially given that Executioner frequently dealt with Faust.

After a brief silence, the Vice President spoke slowly: “First, we must clarify one thing.”

He extended two fingers, saying very calmly: “Currently, we have two choices.”

“First, don’t provoke Faust—I mean in every sense, not just simply not angering him. For example, because he often comes to us to take commissions, people will definitely come to us to pry for information. We must ignore such people entirely, understand my meaning?”

“Ah, this…”

Someone revealed a troubled expression: “Can’t even sell harmless little intel? Someone contacted me the day before yesterday, offering quite a lot, Vice President. Selling a little bit, he won’t know, right.”

The Vice President didn’t get angry either, but nodded slightly: “I know most of you definitely can’t resist and will always harbor wishful thinking, so I have a second plan here.”

Hearing that they could still sell intelligence, the key adventurer members present all brightened their eyes, obviously coveting the price offered by those mysterious people prying into Faust’s intelligence… for a long time.

“We, run away directly.”

The man supported himself with both hands on the table piled with large wine glasses, saying extremely seriously.

“…”

Under the dull gazes of the guild members, the Vice President said with a composed expression: “Bayebop might not even want this old nest anymore, so why are we still guarding this branch? Take advantage of this time, make a final profit and run; grab however much we can. As for those guys looking for Faust’s intelligence… absolutely none of them are ordinary people. You all pretend to be afraid of provoking him, then raise the price to death. After selling the intelligence, we ran away immediately.”

The Vice President, well-versed in adventurer rules, slowly crossed his arms, saying with certainty: “The intelligence we sell is nothing at all. Apart from Faust having a mortal follower by his side and liking to take commissions related to commoners, there’s basically nothing good to say… this kind of intelligence is harmless; maybe he himself doesn’t even care.”

“And in the unlikely event he does care, then running away can play a role—Excellency Legend wouldn’t chase us for a thousand miles just because of this kind of thing, right?”

Everyone was silent for a long time, then stood up one after another, applauding extremely enthusiastically.

“Good! This idea is good! Vice President, you are simply a genius!”

According to Faust’s style of completely not caring whether his identity was exposed and directly declaring his name wherever he went, it was basically impossible for him to care about someone selling his intelligence.

If they ran away on the spot after selling, a dignitary fifth-tier Transcender, the mysterious Excellency Legend, had even less reason to lose his mind and chase them relentlessly.

Faust should probably not even remember who they were.

Looking at the enthusiastic feedback from the key members, Vice President Swordfish nodded with satisfaction—because actually, someone also found him to buy Faust’s intelligence two days ago, and the remuneration offered was indeed a little bit… generous.

But as a qualified Vice President, he couldn’t secretly pocket this money; he had to bring everyone to get rich together no matter what.

But looking at the surprised and enthusiastic expressions on his companions’ faces, mixed with a few points of… rejoicing, the Vice President’s expression gradually became wrong.

“You guys…”

Swordfish stood up slowly, asking extremely suspiciously: “You wouldn’t have already sold Faust’s intelligence in advance, right?”

“…”

All the flattery disappeared without a trace instantly.

The adventurers looked at me and I looked at you, eyes full of the suspicion “You did this too?”.

The Vice President’s anger gauge instantly maxed out, but just as the anger of everyone secretly going to fleece the fool without bringing him reached its peak, another thought emerged in the man’s mind.

How could there be so many people… looking for Executioner to buy intelligence about Faust at the same time?

There are many fools, many rich people, but rich and foolish fat pigs aren’t available for slaughter everywhere.

Where did so many forces come from to ask the Executioner up and down?

Just as the angry emotion in the Vice President’s heart gradually transformed into bewilderment and uncertainty, amidst the noisy clamor, light and slow footsteps approached from far to near.

“Mr. Swordfish, good afternoon.”

That soft voice should have been covered by the cheers destroying eardrums, cursing, and various strange howling sounds, but was easily captured by Swordfish, making him shudder instantly.

This voice, this voice!

He turned his head abruptly and saw that mortal girl whom he hadn’t seen for a long time but who left a deep impression on him.

Ma Ganlei Brandt… the scene where she, as Faust’s servant, dared to show a tough and stern appearance to him was still vivid in his mind.

The bad feeling in Swordfish’s heart gradually climbed to the peak.

“Isn’t this… Miss Brandt.”

He first laughed haha, putting down the airs of a Transcender to welcome Marina: “How is Mr. Faust recentl—”

“Just sit there, Mr. Swordfish.”

Miss Ma Ganlei, carrying a bag, smiled softly: “I just came to discuss a matter with you.”

Swordfish supported his knees with both hands, slowly sitting back, his gaze falling on the bag in Marina’s hand.

Vaguely guessing something, he exhaled: “Please speak.”

“I am a person relatively sensitive to Mr. Faust’s safety and privacy.”

The slender and weak adventurer servant lady said softly:

“So, I will be on guard against those who want to spy on Mr. Faust, and similarly will guard against…”

She shook the bag in her hand lightly, eyes narrowing slightly: “Guard against those who might betray Mr. Faust.”

“Whoa whoa whoa—” Swordfish raised both hands, revealing a scared expression, “We can’t bear this kind of reputation, Miss Ma Ganlei.”

“Is that so?”

Marina tilted her head slightly, pouring all the things inside the thick bag onto the wine table; inside were one after another… sheepskin scrolls?

“Executioner Guild, Strife Fortress Branch, a total of forty-five members.”

The girl put her hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly, saying faintly: “A total of thirty-nine people reached agreements with intelligence dealers purchasing Mr. Faust’s information.”

Damn it, you bunch of bastards!

Swordfish, with twitching corners of his eyes, sprayed his “companions” all over in his heart.

He thought everyone would slaughter the pig together, didn’t expect he was the pig, and looking at it now… all of them were pigs!

“One or two, can still be said to be individual behavior of the guild.”

The girl pressed her hand on the piled-up sheepskin scrolls: “But thirty-nine people… may I ask how you intend to explain, Mr. Swordfish?”

“…”

Swordfish first glanced expressionlessly at his companions who joked with him all day; the latter all looked away guiltily, leaving him only to sigh helplessly, then reached out to Marina: “Can I take a look at the contract scrolls?”

“Please go ahead.”

Swordfish pulled out four contract scrolls from different positions and found the content format on them was exactly the same; it was simply wholesale!

The “Swear in the name of Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, Namo Lapis Lazuli” at the beginning of the contract scroll was the most common contract method in the West Kingdom, or rather the territory under Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s rule.

As long as this sentence was written, it defaulted to Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke as the notary; any breach of contract could be appealed, fixing the nature of this transaction from the start.

And Swordfish quickly found the reason why so many people in Executioner sold intelligence—this couldn’t be simpler, they really gave too much.

Really, as long as the price offered was high enough, no problem was a problem for adventurers.

At the same time, the contract also explicitly stipulated not to disclose any content of this transaction to anyone, plus indeed no one dared to tell others they sold Faust’s intelligence… so it ended up with almost everyone in Executioner “selling” Faust.

But could this really count as selling? Bullshit!

Most people basically hadn’t seen Faust; at most, they only knew Faust always took some commissions helping commoners, and that was all.

Could this also be called intelligence?

Could this also be called betraying Faust?

Swordfish’s temples throbbed; facts were facts, yet facts were not facts.

—It was written clearly on this contract scroll, “Exchange intelligence regarding Faust for remuneration”… Damn it, even names were signed! A whole thirty-nine sheets piled here!

After reading the scrolls, Swordfish rubbed his temples, exhaling a long breath.

He looked up at Marina, expression complex: “Excellency Faust, wouldn’t be this bored, right?”

“Mr. Faust indeed won’t put his mind on you guys.”

Marina said very frankly: “This is all my personal behavior, only… hope you don’t harbor any wishful thinking, Mr. Swordfish.”

“Whether Mr. Faust will care about this kind of betrayal, you might already have your own thoughts on this. But do you think you understand Mr. Faust better, or…”

The girl tilted her head slightly, revealing a harmless smile to humans and animals: “I understand Mr. Faust better?”

Marina knew her advantage very well, what exactly was the advantage Anselm bestowed upon her.

Not just the name of Faust, more importantly… the definition of the existence of Faust.

Is he tyrannical or kind?

Is he indifferent or enthusiastic?

Is he narrow-minded or tolerant?

No one knows what Faust looks like; the only ones possessing the right of interpretation are Faust himself, and…

And, herself as Faust’s servant, as his spokesperson.

However, Marina did not intend to squander this gift recklessly; not only that, she also wanted to maintain Faust’s image well when using this gift.

If not for needing to control the Executioner branch in the shortest time, she wouldn’t even adopt this method.

Swordfish looked at this quiet and gentle girl before him, his fingers twitching involuntarily.

He only felt absurd.

Executioner… the famous, top-tier commission-type guild in the entire West Kingdom, President [Death Knell] York was even a top-tier free fifth-tier Transcender, and he, Swordfish, as Vice President, was also an established fourth-tier Transcender.

Speaking outwardly, fame spread far and wide; speaking inwardly, talents were abundant… even though it was only a branch opened in Strife Fortress, to be handled by a mortal just like this?

Using, using such an absurd and comical method?

Ma Ganlei’s meaning was very simple; now the evidence of almost your entire guild betraying Faust’s intelligence is in my hands—don’t care if this solid intelligence is meaningful or not, don’t care if this is entrapment, just ask if you sold it?

A whole guild “targeting” Faust like this, what does this mean? Haven’t lived enough?

But where did she get so much capital to make transactions? Oh, she is Faust’s follower, having much capital is a matter of course… but does Faust really give his mortal followers the right to squander so much wealth at will?

Swordfish had countless incomprehensions, but he could only be incomprehending.

This matter could be big or small; making it big, Faust could kill here leaving no one alive; making it small, he might not take it seriously at all… but regardless of size, Swordfish had no right to negotiate.

To talk with Faust, one could only find their boss.

As for now…

“Miss Brandt, you said… you doing this is personal behavior, right?”

An approachable and kind smile appeared on Swordfish’s face: “Since it is so…”

He stood up, piled all the scrolls well, put them back into the bag, and handed it respectfully to Marina’s hand.

“Is there anything, I can help you personally with?”

The seasoned adventurer grinned.

When Anselm stepped into the Executioner’s gate again, Mingfuluo was still nagging in his ear:

“If you want to kill time, why not help me see if there are any areas for improvement… How about optimizing the endurance issue again? I feel—”

“Excellency Faust!”

An extremely enthusiastic voice interrupted Mingfuluo’s words, causing the woman’s brows to furrow slightly: “What madness is he having? Why does looking at you look like seeing his biological father?”

Anselm looked at Swordfish welcoming him all the way, a flash of thoughtfulness appearing on his face for an instant, quickly returning to normal.

“Does something matter?” The not-very-approachable Faust followed the example of his Miss Scholar, also frowning, gently tapping the sword hilt at his waist.

This action made Swordfish’s face lose at least thirty percent of its blood color; he immediately explained frantically: “No, nothing to trouble you, it’s just…”

The man explained rather carefully: “Do you have time, to meet with our boss?”

“No.”

The black-haired young man didn’t even ask who their boss was, dropping these two words indifferently, walking straight to the second floor to accept commissions.

Swordfish, unable to figure out the situation, could only follow far behind him, expression hesitant and uncertain, seemingly making some difficult choice.

“No?”

Anselm, standing in front of the bulletin board, raised his eyebrows slightly: “No commissions today?”

“Where are there so many commissions for you to do every day?” Mingfuluo patted Anselm’s arm, “I feel that cat last time was deliberately caught and brought to the Upper District by someone, specifically for you to kill time.”

And at this time, Swordfish had also arrived not far behind Anselm.

He looked at the empty column for “Commoner Commissions”, and before he had time to speak, saw that dangerous element turn his head, looking at himself expressionlessly.

“Today, are there no commissions in this regard?”

“This, also no, it is because, because…”

Swordfish hesitated for a long time, finally taking a deep breath, responding in a deep voice: “Because we… do not plan to accept commissions from commoners anymore.”

“… Hmm?”

The one emitting the confused nasal sound was not Anselm, but Mingfuluo.

No commissions could barely be considered a good thing; optimistically speaking, it could more or less count as one less person with trouble.

But not accepting commissions from commoners was different… Although Mingfuluo said Anselm’s way of killing time was baffling, she still very much hoped Anselm would continue doing this kind of commission, and continue helping more commoners in need.

“Anselm, what’s going on?”

Miss Mingfuluo, who could only be seen and heard by Anselm, grabbed Anselm’s finger and shook it: “Ask him, what does this mean.”

But Anselm didn’t say anything, just turned his head to look at the empty bulletin board for a while again. After a few short seconds of thinking, the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

“You said just now…”

Faust tilted his head slightly, hiding a smile and joy deep in his eyes that no one could see:

“Your President, wants to see me?”

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