“You guys are losing?”
“That bastard Billy cowardly called in outsiders. And three of them are three-star swordsmen, equal to me.”
“The ones who always get beaten always have an excuse.”
“Kngh....”
“The bottom line is you're losing, so you're asking me for help, right? Am I wrong?”
“Wouldn't it be better for you too, young master, if I take over the guild in one piece?”
“Hmm....”
As Patrick pondered, Red spoke in a serious voice.
“A master of a thieves' guild with his power cut in half, or a master of a thieves' guild who has completely absorbed a whole faction. Which of the two is better for you?”
“Well, of course the latter is better. Do you even have to ask?”
“See?”
“Haaah. What a pain.”
Patrick scratched his cheek as he thought it over. He had intended to ignore a request from a thief if at all possible. But now that he'd heard him out, he couldn't do that.
'He’s a thief, but he has a point.' Just as this guy said, a thieves' guild that had completely taken over a faction would probably do a better job, and in the worst-case scenario, if this guy lost the war, wouldn't the information network he'd just acquired disappear?
“Aish, getting involved in a dispute between guys from the unorthodox alliance is the sixteenth thing I hate the most.”
“What is an unorthodox alliance?”
“It’s a thing. Don’t worry about it.”
Patrick scratched his head vigorously as he mulled it over, but in the end, the answer was already decided.
Right.
When you live, you have to do things you don't like. How can you only do what you enjoy?
“I guess I have no choice. Just this once.”
“Really?”
“Once I've decided, I don't go back on my word.”
“Thank you, young master.”
“You know where they are, right?”
“Yes. We always keep track of that bastard Billy’s whereabouts.”
“Good.”
If he was going to do it, it was better to get it over with quickly. But wait a moment...
“If you know the enemy leader’s location, why haven't you attacked? You should have stormed in and taken his head. Why did you let him live?”
Is this really the thought process of a ten year old?
“Ahem, as I said before, the problem is the outsiders he brought in.”
“Are they strong?”
“I’m confident I can win in a one-on-one fight. But he has hired three mercenaries who have reached the three-star level.”
“So there are three guys similar to you?”
“Yes. But if you and I join forces, young master...”
“Tsk tsk tsk, you're so weak. You were struggling because you couldn't handle that one thing?”
“…”
“And you even cross-dressed? Aish. You might as well just chop it off for real, you punk.”
“No, the cross-dressing was necessary to conceal information. It wasn't to hide.”
“Alright. Let's just say that.”
“No, young master, it’s true.”
“Enough, just lead the way.”
Patrick said with a grin.
“Because I'm going to beat the crap out of that bastard.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare immediately.”
Later in life, Red would recall it this way. When a madman is on your side, he’s truly reassuring.
“Hehehe. This is the life. Isn't it?”
“Hohoho. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
“Of course I am. Expensive liquor, beautiful women. This is the life a winner enjoys. Am I right?”
“Hohoho. That’s right, Master.”
He was a bald man with a sly look. His hands were packed with rings set with large jewels, and besides that, other jeweled accessories dangled from him. A voluptuously dressed, decadent beauty was seated beside him, and in his other hand, he held a bottle of quite expensive, high-class liquor.
This man, who displayed the speech and behavior of a classic villain, was Billy. He was the man who currently divided the underworld of Parmas. No, actually, it was a bit much to even call it a division.
In terms of power, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had taken over about three-fourths of it. The woman next to him spoke.
“You really have so much money, Master. Even the original thieves' guild master wasn't this rich, was he?”
“Kehehe. That’s because the old master was too stifling.”
“Oh my? Was he?”
“Of course. There were so many things he said not to do.”
No drug business. No smuggling of contraband. He even operated the legitimate source of income, moneylending, with a limit on the interest.
On top of that, he used the guild’s money for the healthcare of the women managed in the bars, and he took in vagrant orphans to feed and shelter them. When questioned about why he did such things, his words were plausible enough.
[The reason the powers that be turn a blind eye even though they know of our public existence is because they know we are needed to maintain order in the back alleys. Therefore, we must not do anything too dangerous and stop at taking a moderate share. And while we're at it, we appeal to them by saying, ‘We sometimes do good deeds, too.’]
In fact, the former guild master's management policy was effective. While he ran the guild, clashes between the soldiers of the House of Count Parmas and the thieves' guild were few enough to be counted on one hand.
But...
“Are you going to make any money that way? Why should someone living a back-alley life be so careful?”
As soon as Billy became master, he completely twisted the direction of the thieves' guild. He raised the interest rates on loans and significantly increased the protection tax he collected from merchants. In addition, he engaged in various other dangerous businesses, earning an enormous amount of money.
“After all, isn't a man all about guts?”
“You’re so cool, Master.”
“Hehehe. You cute thing.”
He pulled the woman nestled next to him tighter into his embrace and slyly slipped his hand into her clothes. Just then, a subordinate's urgent voice was heard from outside.
“Master. We have a huge problem.”
“What? What is it? If it’s nothing, you’re dead!”
Interrupted at such a good moment, Billy was greatly displeased. But his face turned serious at the subordinate's next words.
“It's an attack. Red has personally led his men and is storming the place.”
“What!?”
“Kyaa!”
He hastily got up from his seat, and the woman in his arms was pushed aside and fell over. Billy didn't even glance at the fallen woman and spoke with a serious expression.
“An attack? How many of them are there?”
“It seems like he brought almost everyone. Red is with them.”
“Damn it, call our guys quickly. And call the mercenaries hired as guards too!”
“Yes. Understood.”
He never imagined that Red, whose forces were inferior, would attack him first.
‘No, is it because his forces are inferior?’
Perhaps this was Red's last-ditch effort. Since it was obvious he would be swallowed up if things continued this way, he was trying to fight a proper battle while he still had some strength left.
“Fine. I’ll face you. Do you think I'd be scared just because you know how to use a sword a little?”
Billy wasn't confident he could beat Red in a one-on-one fight. But there was a way to beat Red. So he judged that he had a sufficient chance of winning even if they fought here.
The handsome man with red hair tied back tightly wielded a broadsword in his hand and bravely cut down his enemies. Then he shouted loudly.
“Charge! We will make the traitors pay the price.”
“Yes!”
Encouraged by him, his subordinates also fiercely pushed back the enemy.
And...
“Ooh, they fight well.”
Patrick was standing one step back, watching leisurely. Chewing on beef jerky as he watched thieves beating up other thieves. 'As expected, watching a fight is entertaining.'
To think a guy like this was called a Grandmaster. In any case, he would jump in if necessary, but for now, it didn't seem like Patrick needed to step in. Red, who had taken off his waitress uniform, neatly tied his long hair back, and reappeared as a handsome man, was a completely different person.
Having become a dashing and handsome man, the sight of him fighting bravely at the forefront with a sword in one hand was truly eye-catching.
“Come out, Billy! I’ll make you pay the price for your betrayal!”
Patrick watched from a short distance behind him, filled with admiration. He had stepped back to watch because he wanted to see what the three-star level was like, and it was certainly on a different dimension from Brian. 'He said you need to be at least three-star to handle a Troll without issue, right?
At that level, he could definitely take down a Troll easily.' From what Patrick could see, a three-star level could certainly defeat one Troll, and could probably win against two, though it would be difficult. Three or more was a bit uncertain, but he would at least be able to save his own life.
In any case, seeing him lead his men from the front lines was quite impressive. He had a handsome face, great skill, and the charisma to command his subordinates appropriately. 'Guys like him in the Central Plains get called 'Jade-Faced Swordsman' or something and go around seducing a bunch of women.'
Patrick couldn't understand why someone with such talent and looks would choose to be a thief. In any case, Red was fighting well enough for Patrick to give him some recognition. As if to prove that the three-star level wasn't just empty words, he overwhelmed the enemy from the front, boosting the morale of his allies.
Thanks to that, Red's men were advantageously dominating the battle despite their relatively smaller numbers.
“You bastards!”
That is, until just a moment ago. A thunderous voice came from the second floor of the building. Seeing him, Red ground his teeth and spoke.
“Billy, you managed to show yourself without running away.”
Bald, with a slightly thin build. That man, whose face was filled with vileness, was Billy. 'Wow, from a physiognomic perspective, he has all the elements a villain should have.'
Whether he knew Patrick was watching him with fascination or not, Billy focused his gaze on Red and spoke.
“The brat has grown up. You even know how to throw the first punch.”
“It's not like I was hiding because I was afraid of the likes of you in the first place.”
“You talk big. Since you've come this far, you must have thought you had a chance of winning. But...”
As Billy gestured, several men appeared from behind him. Their attire was different. Those inside the building were armed with shortswords or longswords at best and wore only leather armor on their torsos, but these men were quite well-armed.
It wasn't full plate mail that covered the entire body, but armor made of chain mail with iron plates covering the vital spots. They wore helmets on their heads, held a mace or a longsword in one hand, and a light, round shield in the other. 'So those are mercenaries.
They sure wear a lot of stuff.' Seeing mercenaries for the first time since being born in this world, Patrick watched them with curiosity. In the Central Plains, those who wore armor were rare.
He had heard that assassins wore thin protective gear under their clothes, but they didn't wear armor openly. But these guys not only wore armor but also carried shields in their other hand. As it was the first time Patrick had seen mercenaries, he observed them with curiosity.
However, unlike Patrick, Red's expression darkened.
“Five... damn it, did he hire more?”
This was a different situation from what Red had expected. As far as he knew, the mercenaries Billy had hired were at the three-star level, same as him, and there were supposed to be three of them. But now, there were five mercenaries before his eyes.
According to the original plan, he thought they could win easily if he took on one, and Patrick, who was stronger than him, took on two. But this meant there were five. Even if he pushed himself to take on two, Patrick would have to face three three-star mercenaries by himself.
He knew Patrick was strong, but it was uncertain if he could handle three three-star mercenaries at once.
“Hehehe. What's wrong, brat? Is there a problem?”
Red frowned at the sight of Billy speaking triumphantly. Should he retreat now? But it was doubtful if he could retreat safely, and more importantly, if he backed down here, he would never get another chance to reclaim his position.
'If I go to a completely different city and start over... no. That won't be easy either.'
“Hey...”
‘Should I feign surrender and launch a surprise attack? No, that cunning bastard would never believe me.’
“Are you listening?”
‘Should I try to negotiate directly with those mercenaries? After all, mercenaries who take requests from back-alley factions probably don't have high credibility...'
Smack!
Red, who had been lost in deep thought, was suddenly hit hard on the back of the head and staggered forward.
“Kugh... Who was that!? Wait... what are you doing?”
“It's because you didn't answer when I called.”
“…”
“Why aren't you answering? Huh? I'm telling you, being ignored when I'm talking is the thirteenth thing I hate the most.”
Why does this bastard hate so many things? Just as Red was about to yell at him for not understanding the gravity of the situation, Patrick spoke.
“I just need to take care of them, right?”
“Can you do it?”
“Isn't that why I came? So I have to do it.”
Red looked at Patrick with surprised eyes. A monster of this caliber must be able to roughly sense the enemy's level. Yet for him to show such a relaxed attitude meant...
'Does that mean he has a chance? Against five three-star mercenaries?' Patrick smirked at the astonished Red and said.
“Well, just watch.”
And Patrick took a longsword in each hand and headed for the stairs leading to the second floor.
“Who’s this little kid?”
A large man spoke to Patrick as he tried to go up the stairs.
“Hey, kid. Go home and drink your mom’s milk...”
Slice!
Before he could finish his words, two streaks of light flashed. One horizontal, one vertical. The flashes, drawing a perfect cross, quartered the large man who had been mocking Patrick.
And Patrick said coldly.
“You crossed the line at mom.”