I cast Teacher’s Skill on Noah to take a closer look, then pulled a megaphone from Myeong-woo’s pouch and shouted toward the old auction house still shrouded in dust clouds.

“Ah—mic test, mic test.”

“Everyone, listen up.”

“To the asset owners and thieves: the slave has been secured, and the Chief of Police is slaughtering the officers.”

“The Chief of Police?”

“What are you talking about?”

The asset owners murmured among themselves. Unless you’d seen it firsthand like I had, you wouldn’t have heard.

“I haven’t identified the Chief of Police yet, but—”

└ Who else could obliterate those S-Ranks in one blow, really think hard ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└ The Chief of Pᴏʟɪᴄᴇ is handsome and kind □□□□□ Yujin!!

I froze, reading the chat. I’d ruled out Riette and Hyunah; a preemptive strike against the police meant it had to be Yuhyun, Seong Hyunjae, Yerim, or Director Song. “Handsome and kind” pointed toward…?

‘Director Song?’

That fit. Seong Hyunjae was out, and while Yuhyun was kind to me, objectively speaking… well. Publicly his image was decent, but still. Wait—publicly, Seong Hyunjae also seemed nice?!

“Anyway, even most S-Rank Hunters would be dangerous opponents. Also, the outlaws are wreaking havoc on Manhattan.”

“In that case, let’s pick our sparrow quickly.”

The man in the white suit spoke. Noah whispered in my ear.

“Should we kill him?”

“Let’s subdue him first. You can just put him down afterward.”

Noah’s hand withdrew from my body.

└ Gasp!

└ HJZ!!!

As I fell, I threw the smoke bomb I’d readied. Thick smoke billowed, and before I hit the ground, Noah dove at the white suit like an eagle. But the moment the smoke started, the white suit dodged, as if expecting it. Crack! Noah’s fingers /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ dug into concrete—and the white suit stepped back, drawing a sword.

I hit the ground right after. Normally I’d have crumpled, but thanks to the Wildcat Tights I rolled once and sprang to my feet. I looked like a low-stat A-Rank support class, not an F-Rank.

“Asset owners can’t initiate attacks, remember? Thieves can. Move rashly and you’ll face multiple opponents.”

“But thieves can’t kill participants. Asset owners can kill, just not start. Thieves, don’t move rashly, please.”

The white suit, having evaded Noah, climbed a broken pillar and spoke.

“One of you might be a very dangerous Hunter.”

A few of the thieves flinched. It meant asset owners could freely use their items. Even if a group of A-Rank support thieves ganged up, if they hit a guildmaster like Seong, they’d be slaughtered.

‘Maybe we should take him out, like Noah said.’

If that white suit disappeared, it’d be easier to lure in the asset owners. Though half of it was already ruined. Noah floated in the air, circling the white suit.

Let’s sort this out.

Thieves can’t use movement skills. Persuading Noah to carry the slave to Governors Island was impossible. Hunters not friendly with me were too likely to betray. Left were Yerim, Riette, Yuhyun, and Peace—four people. “Help me win and I’ll give you gold,” was awkward. Conversely, I could offer help for gold.

Given my situation, the latter seemed better.

‘I’ve already won twice in a row; I can skip this one.’

A solo victory without allies was impossible for a thief. So, joint victory—drawing in as many as possible.

“Police will arrive here soon. The auction is over.”

I said to the white suit. Their calm black eyes turned my way—a feeling of recognition.

“Thieves only need to prevent asset owners from gathering gold.”

“Seems you’ve allied with the police. But among those officers, is there no one aiming for a solo win? And among the thieves…”

That’s the problem. The white suit smiled.

“Asset owners, any thief targeting me cannot attack you.”

“Seize him! Other thieves, attack the white suit!”

“If you attack him together, it becomes one versus many!”

Right. Noah, the strongest thief here, couldn’t easily attack asset owners. He lunged at the white suit again, but the white suit was unnaturally fast—maybe a speed buff—dodging skillfully like a seasoned veteran.

“Finish the trade before the police regroup!”

Rubble at Noah’s foot collapsed like a sandcastle. Even forced-buffed, the white suit stayed composed, slipping and landing differently yet evading peril by inches—reminded me a bit of Seong Hyunjae. If it were him, it’d be over by now, but still.

“What now!”

Kang Soyeong dashed to my side. Asset owners were eyeing each other; if one stepped up, they’d quickly pool gold and end this.

“May I help you now?”

If Soyeong buffed him, Noah could overwhelm the white suit—but then no one could stop the asset owners. The thieves here were hiding. How to deal with asset owners…?

‘Short blonde, white—Caucasian.’

Even knowing someone looked different, first impressions matter. I sighed, straightened, and casually surveyed.

“No choice. I wanted to enjoy my thief role more, but—”

“…Yes?”

“When asset owners start pooling gold…”

I tilted my head with a smile.

“I’ll take care of them all.”

Soyeong blinked, then shouted astutely.

“Oh, Guildmaster! Not again! But fine~”

Some asset owners stiffened. The white suit looked at us.

└ What’s happening now????????

└ What’s Director Han doing??

└ Lol this Haeyeon Guildmaster???

Few guildmasters attended with their members—and among them, only one could feign being a weak thief. Plus this.

“All right,” Noah added. He commanded S-Rank Hunters effortlessly. I watched the panicked asset owners calmly. Soyeong stood just behind me, still in her usual aide posture.

“…Really the Haeyeon Guildmaster?”

“Looks like Kang Soyeong to me.”

I couldn’t reveal my identity directly, but others speaking it was fine. Deceiving in a hidden-role game was fair play.

└ Asset owners are losing it lol filtering is real lol

└ Scaring everyone in multiple ways lolol?

└ Yujin brought a bomb into my winter life

└ □□□□□ the channel chat is hilarious, like a campfire lolol

└ They actually fell for that lolol ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

The audience must’ve found it hilarious: F-rank Han Yujin as Haeyeon Guildmaster… I wanted to watch. I flicked a gold coin, letting it spin before catching it.

“If gold gathering wins, then before that—”

“Candy Box.”

The white suit said. Oh shit. I kept smiling, ignoring it.

“More likely Hunter Han Yujin, right?”

No answer—just a smile. The asset owners didn’t have to fully trust me, only hesitate. If they rushed for gold, they’d be attacked by the Guildmaster and lose it. I only needed to stall until the police arrived.

Then another asset owner spoke.

“The white suit is a guild member too.”

“Ah!”

Soyeong’s eyes went wide, then she slapped a hand over her mouth. …I recognized them too. The white suit who’d dodged Noah’s attack, Evelyn, shouted at Soyeong.

“Kang Soyeong, even if you like Director Han, you aren’t the guildmaster! That’s a penalty!”

“What? Penalty—guildmaster—what!”

“Gold!”

Evelyn yelled, and Vanessa, who’d sided with Evelyn, pulled out her gold. The asset owners finally snapped to attention.

“No time! Right now—”

And almost at once:

Vroooom—!

A roaring bike sound. A hunter with long black hair tied up raced in, crashing through the rubble.

Screech!

Like a new bomb, fragments flew everywhere. Then rumble, as another building smashed and more hunters poured in.

“Everyone, you’re under arrest!”

The hunter who destroyed the building grinned broadly and shouted. Tossing the bike aside, they vaulted down and shrugged at her companion, then turned to us.

“We hope for a peaceful joint victory. But we don’t have time for long persuasion.”

Thud! A thick club slammed into the ground, shaking it like an earthquake. That must be Hyunah—the bike and all.

“If you don’t cooperate, we’ll use force.”

“A sacrifice of a few for the many?”

Evelyn spoke. Hyunah looked at her.

“With some concessions, no one has to lose.”

“Forced concessions are just theft. And asset owners—”

Evelyn’s gaze, Hyunah’s gaze, everyone’s gaze turned upward. Atop a nearby building stood someone in a police uniform, pale blond hair with cold gray eyes watching us.

The Chief of Police.

“If we hold out a bit longer, it’ll favor us.”

If the Chief of Police slaughtered most officers, only the weaker thieves would remain, and we could gather gold safely. Evelyn’s eyes glittered with a smile.

“Wouldn’t the police be better off capturing the thieves here?”

At those words, the atmosphere tensed. Joint victory was far from easy.

└ Even group projects fail in real life; joint victory is just a dream???

└ If races were all human, joint victory’s impossible

As Hyunah prepared to retort,

“Damn!”

One officer scowled. The others’ expressions darkened—orders had come down.

“Why wasn’t I called?”

Riette-like Officer tilted her head; Hyunah raised an eyebrow.

“They’re openly choosing now. They must have sensed you or me.”

“Even though police can’t strike first, they call each officer one by one, delaying anyone who might stir up trouble.”

I said; Hyunah nodded slightly.

“Witnesses. That’s likely the restriction. Police also get penalties for killing participants.”

“They’ll exclude thieves since they saw me. Maybe I could follow unnoticed?”

The ordered officer drew their weapon—an S-Rank Hunter, not planning to go down easily.

“If I notice you, I’ll have to stop you. To follow orders.”

Even fighting forcibly to stop us wouldn’t be easy. Police fighting police would only weaken them. Once they left, Noah whispered to me.

“Yujin, the thief victory condition is…”

Oh, right. All police eliminated. So thieves won’t protect police. Fewer police made both thieves and asset owners favorable.

“Asset owners need only one person—kill them all.”

“Anyone would guess Riette and crew. Can anyone guess the Chief’s identity? Hyunah?”

“How about you, brother? I think it’s either Seong Hyunjae or the Young Master. Any chat clues?”

“All filtered; nothing clear—except…”

└ What HJZ blew up = auction house, my heart, Director Song disguise

└ Does Yujin have bomb clones in his inventory?? Why so many…

└ Don’t just raid army bases; raid my house too

└ If Peace feels refreshed…! Cool Peace!

No—it was just an idle laugh. Aside from filtering, it was all repeated talk.

└ Only the person next to Director Han laughs HJHNO

└ Noah’s smile is so pretty ㅠㅠㅠ always smile~!!

└ Surely Yujin doesn’t have a tank in his inventory…? But with Han Yujin, who knows…

“No tanks~ I’m not that unscrupulous. Twins? At first meeting, the left was female. Can really charge the Guildmaster’s phone. Bombs in the company… shouldn’t, but, um. Then I’d be arrested by Director Song. That’s the gist.”

“I’m the chattiest too. Remember the 80,237th tennis ball? That was in summer.”

Thieves who’d left to find the slave trickled back nearby, ready to vanish again. Asset owners grouped, watching each other. Police looked anxious, not knowing when they’d be pulled out.

Cooperation in this scenario… asset owners’ joint victory condition was to protect the slave for an hour.

“Think there’ll be no internal strife for a whole hour?”

Evelyn said. No one believed that.

“Let’s finish off the asset owners and then catch the thieves.”

One officer said. Thieves backed up, and asset owners did too. Though police couldn’t kill participants without penalty, no one stepped forward. Yet the tense air could snap anytime.

Rumble—

The ground shook and a message popped up:

[One quarter of Manhattan has been destroyed! If outlaws destroy more than half of Manhattan, outlaws win!]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep