Chapter 595 - 594: Restless Darkness

"He's a Mercenary from the South. My men think he's a tough customer."

Don propped his elbow on the chair's armrest. "The city hasn't been very peaceful lately. I have to be responsible for my own life. And please, don't mind him. After all, he usually has to fight the monsters outside the city, so he's bound to look a little intimidating."

"That's certainly true..." The strategist, Karen, picked up the wine bottle in front of him.

The bodyguard standing behind him stepped forward and drew a Dagger. He precisely inserted the Dagger into the side of the cork and, with a gentle flick, pulled it out with a POP.

Karen picked up two wide-mouthed, short glasses.

He poured the amber liquid into both glasses. With a flick of his hand, one glass slid across the table to Colin with a SWISH. He then downed the contents of the other glass in one gulp.

Colin willed a small slit to open in his Face Mask and Throat Protector. He picked up the glass and poured the drink through the opening in one go, then set the glass down on the table with a THUD.

"Alright, at least we can all agree on maintaining the peace, wouldn't you say, gentlemen?" The strategist Karen rubbed his hands together in front of his chest.

Colin noticed the two Northern Faction members next to Karen shoot a sideways glance at his hands.

"The Sea Otter Gang agrees." The leader of the Sea Otter Gang glanced at Colin, then pulled a small wooden carving in the shape of a sea otter from his pocket and tossed it onto the middle of the table.

"The Blood Hand Gang agrees." "The Cando Guild agrees."

A handkerchief, a strip of red cloth... As the gang leaders spoke, one strange item after another was thrown onto the table.

The man from the Northern Faction tossed a squirrel's tail onto the table, while Don threw down a glass eyeball.

After all the gang leaders had stated their positions, the Female Drow announced loudly, "The banquet is over. I trust you will all honor your promises."

The few people in the room raised their hands and began to applaud.

Colin remained motionless, ever watchful of his surroundings.

"Well then, farewell, gentlemen."

Don rose and bowed to the others. Amidst their farewells, he walked toward the door, with Colin following close behind.

After retrieving their weapons at the door, the two left the alley and navigated a few secluded paths out of the depths of the Dock District.

The carriage that had brought them was parked by the roadside, the driver sitting in his seat, warily scanning the area.

The two of them quickly boarded the carriage.

The moment the door closed, Colin asked, "Is this carriage sturdy enough?"

"It has a Protective Array. It should be able to handle offensive Magic below the fifth Tier. I doubt the other gangs can field any High Tier attack methods," Don said. "I think I'm being watched."

"That much is obvious. That group back there was clearly targeting the Hundred Eyes Gang. They want your intel and your channels for gathering it."

Colin stroked his chin. "You used to be able to make money by playing the local gangs off each other, mainly because they weren't united. If a few of them join forces, it's only a matter of time before the Hundred Eyes Gang is swallowed up."

"But the Master of the Black Tower wouldn't allow that to happen so easily." Don leaned back in his seat, looking quite confident.

"You really are something..." Colin thought for a moment, then asked, "The leader of the Blood Hand Gang, that guy Rom, what's he like?"

"Cruel and ruthless, but also a very polite man—at least on the surface," Don replied. "You also thought his behavior just now was a bit strange?"

'It really is so much easier talking to smart people,' Colin sighed inwardly, having spent so much time dealing with Kase and the others.

He continued, "The guy seemed very agitated, but everything he said basically benefited the Northern Faction. And did you notice? He was the one who turned the conversation to you.

A long time ago, I had a run-in with the Blood Hand Gang. The very next day, they sent someone to deliver a few gold coins as an apology. I don't believe the leader of a gang like that would fly into such a rage at a banquet."

"Hmm... that clears things up, then. But perhaps we need to consider carefully whether the other gangs were involved, or if they were just observing the situation." Don poured himself a glass of white wine. "What do you think, Colin?"

"That's your business. I'm just an amateur in these matters, after all."

"A normal amateur would be completely clueless right now." Don raised his glass in a toast to Colin. "You're very sharp when it comes to this sort of thing."

After drinking, he spoke again. "Do you think there was an ambush waiting at the banquet?"

"Possibly. Of course, I can't say for sure. I'm not skilled at detecting hidden enemies." Colin sighed. "If it was just the people present, I could have killed every single one of them. But I'd probably be heavily wounded, and I couldn't guarantee you'd get out alive."

Don's eyebrows twitched involuntarily. "Is... is that so?"

"Those bodyguards and the Lighthouse Keeper didn't have many Magic Items on them. They wouldn't have been too much trouble." Colin said. "In any case, I'm glad those guys didn't dare to make a move."

"I'm probably even more glad than you are, Mr. Colin," said Don.

Colin calmed down, leaning back silently against the seat.

He thought again about what he'd heard at the banquet. The gang leaders were almost all villains, up to their necks in sin. But that wasn't surprising. They were gang members, after all; it would be weirder if they *didn't* commit crimes.

Colin glanced at Don in front of him. "Did you decide to work for Thousand Masts City from the start? Why not just make money like a normal gang?"

The question seemed to flip a switch.

Don turned his head to look at the curtain-drawn carriage window.

"I am Don Vincenzo Greco. That name means I was once a nobleman. And my being in Thousand Masts City means I am an exiled Moran Noble.

It's not easy for someone who was once a noble to become a hunting dog. But no matter how difficult, I still have to try to walk on my own two feet."

"Hmm... I can understand that." Colin nodded.

After hearing him say this, Colin's trust in Don grew a little. At least now he knew the gang leader's reason for doing things this way.

After a while, the carriage stopped in a remote alley in the slums. A few small huts were under construction in the alley, likely dwellings for refugees.

Don stepped out of the carriage and said to Colin, "Thank you very much for your help. Do you need to sit here for a while?"

"That won't be necessary."

Don then waved toward a small wooden cabin by the side of the road.

A small boy carrying a little wooden box quickly ran over. Don took the box, and as he handed it to Colin, he said, "Your payment is in the box."

"Farewell, then." Colin took the box and strode out of the alley.

Just then, Asvir's voice echoed in his mind: [Do you have time to come to the Black Tower, Colin?]

It was Asvir's [Sending].

[I have time,] Colin immediately replied in his mind.

With that, he immediately strode off in the direction of the Black Tower.