The Duke’s Madness

Arthur woke up.

“ah… .”

Even though three days had passed, the fatigue of the battle was still not resolved, and the body felt stiff.

Especially in the case of the regenerated right eye, I still felt a sense of difference.

‘Looks like you overreacted. After all, his head was cut off and his eyeballs fell out.’

The results obtained from such things were staggering.

‘Taken-san’s lineage… This blood is really great.’

Not only does it boost physical abilities, but it also has ridiculous regenerative abilities.

Taken’s bloodline was one of the best among the bloodlines he had acquired in his previous life.

‘I was looking for a book… I heard that the monster that existed a thousand years ago was a troll, so is Mr. Taken a descendant of a monster?’

Thoughtful, Arthur shrugged.

There is a story that even he himself is a descendant of an angel.

Considering that, the monster’s offspring wasn’t too surprising.

‘The important thing is that I got good blood at an unexpected point. And that I finally gathered all five bloodlines.’

Considering that the goal when I first started working as a mercenary was to collect five bloodlines, this request was an unbelievable achievement.

‘Hmm… If this happens, I’ll have to start looking for bloodlines ahead of schedule.’

There are a total of five lineages that Bavaria’s blood can remember.

However, filling all five of them did not mean that they could not absorb other blood.

‘If I absorb a little better blood, I lose the ability of the previous blood, but I can handle that lineage.’

From the standpoint of Arthur, who was growing his strength for revenge, he had to obtain a much better bloodline than he does now.

However, to be honest, the probability of obtaining the same lineage as Taken through mercenary work was small.

‘Maybe I’m getting a more difficult request because my grade has risen… This case is unique. In the first place, bloodline ability itself is very rare.’

Because of that, the blood I absorbed in my previous life from now on.

Among them, I was thinking of going around looking for good bloodlines that I could get at this point.

‘It’s still growing fast… That way, growth will be faster.’

Arthur got up from the bed with a satisfied smile on his lips.

And after lightly washing her face, it was time to enter the restaurant.

Anna, who was waiting, blinked her eyes.

“… Confucius?”

“huh.”

“You look particularly handsome today, don’t you?”

Arthur tilted his head.

“I think I look good?”

“yes···. uh···. I can’t explain it in words, but you look particularly handsome today.”

Anna scratches her head with a puzzled expression.

From that look, Arthur could see that her words earlier were sincere.

‘Suddenly you look handsome? Maybe it’s because I washed my face today…’

Or it could have been Anna’s misunderstanding.

After organizing his thoughts like that, Arthur picked up a knife and fork.

The food was very familiar because it was prepared by chefs who had worked together in Bavaria. Arthur got up from his seat after emptying the bowl cleanly, leaving nothing behind.

“Are you going out today?”

“huh. Arcane Street is fun.”

“Aren’t you tired of seeing this every day? I’m already fed up.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow at Anna’s complaint.

“Even Anna wouldn’t say that if she met Mr. Taken.”

“… Are you Taken? Who is he?”

“there is. A manly person.”

Arthur, who left an incomprehensible answer, puts on a cloak and goes out.

Anna, who was watching him, shrugged.

“Sometimes he says strange things… By the way, is the person named Taken, by any chance, a new friend?”

With the thought, Anna smiled brightly.

Then I might as well bring you home.

If you were a friend of Confucius, you were welcome whenever you came to play.

Organizing her thoughts like that, Anna turned around.

Whirik!

A pleasant breeze was blowing through the window.

* * *

When I visited ＜Manners Make a Man＞, Willett looked up while reading the newspaper.

“Here you are.”

“hello. old man.”

Willett turns around.

It was still a cold attitude, but Arthur, who got used to it, followed without saying anything.

As I entered the office in the basement, Willett greeted me belatedly.

“How are you?”

“yes.”

“The body.”

“it’s okay.”

Willet’s gaze narrowed at the answer.

After that, Willet, who was tapping his fingers and thinking about it, suddenly pushed something out towards Arthur.

“It’s the mid-level command you promised.”

“oh… .”

“Originally, it’s just one, but it doesn’t make sense to make them go through such things and combine them into one. I got it in threes.”

Arthur’s eyes go up.

With 3 intermediate orders, I could buy a house in Arcane.

‘No more than that… It would be impossible to even save it. Even if I have money, I can’t find it because it’s an intermediate level command.’

Because of that, I could see how absurd the reward for this request was.

Especially when you consider the value of a spiritual group that is not easily obtainable.

However, Willett didn’t seem to think so.

“You said you didn’t need the money, so I got a year’s worth of membership.”

“A membership?”

“If you go to a pharmacy operated by Adventure Pharmaceuticals, they will give you any medicine for free. Even if it’s a potion.”

Arthur’s eyes widen once again.

It wasn’t as much as the previous reward, but this was a pretty great benefit.

So Arthur, who felt doubt, tilted his head.

“uh···. The commission fee has changed a lot. Elder Willett.”

“It has to change. The people you’ve been dealing with are very famous people in the underworld. A fanatic of the [Black Cross]. Have you heard?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Upon answering, Willett stood up from his seat.

After that, he appeared with milk in one hand and vodka in the other.

“Is it milk today?”

“yes.”

Willett handed me the milk and opened the vodka.

As the sharp scent of alcohol spread through the office, Willett continued his explanation.

“There are many people in the underworld, and there are many organizations in proportion to them. Some of those organizations are called legends, and there are groups of crazy people. And the [black cross] you encountered belongs to the latter.”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Apart from that, did everyone look fine?”

“Would sane guys kill 50 humans and turn them into undead without permission from city officials? No matter how immoral the floor is, that’s not it.”

Arthur shuts up.

I had no idea at the time, but listening to Willett seemed like it.

“Whatever… You have completed the request against those madmen.”

“… .”

“To be honest, I thought Ginny and you were dead. It was a situation that had no choice but to be. Butcher Taken. He’s a very famous guy on this floor.”

With these words, Willett gulped down his vodka.

The smell of alcohol wafted from Willett’s mouth, perhaps because the alcohol was strong.

In the meantime, Arthur, who had been thinking about it, organized his thoughts and asked a question.

“How did President Tartan get involved with such people?”

“Do you know what the characteristics of fanatics are?”

“What is it?”

“The traitor will not be spared.”

Arthur raises his eyes.

“then···. Are you saying that President Tartan was also a fanatic?”

“It was a supporter, to be exact. But I tried to come to my senses and get out, and in the process this happened.”

“uh···. Then why didn’t you tell me in advance?”

“If you hear the story of the black cross being woven, how many of these mercenaries will come forward? No matter how good the money and wages are, it is meaningful only if you are alive. So it seems that he kept the contents of the request a secret and returned the request.”

Understanding the situation, Arthur nodded.

“Well, that’s how it happened… Is President Tartan all right?”

“I don’t know. Will he sell the company and get out of Arcane, or will he be attacked by the Black Cross again? Whatever it is, the end won’t be good. And that’s none of our business.”

Willett’s answer felt resolute.

From that answer, Arthur could see how angry Willett was with this incident.

However, I did it because it didn’t matter.

I already got what I wanted, and I also got blood that exceeded my expectations.

This was enough as a reward for this job.

Then Willett, who was drinking vodka, asked a question.

“… Will you continue working with me?”

“yes?”

“Are you going to continue working with me?”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

Willett explained.

“Usually when something like this happens, you change brokers. Especially when it comes to skilled mercenaries.”

“… .”

“And you are both of these things. An idiot broker who can’t even properly grasp the requests he has received. A skilled mercenary who withstood the Black Cross. You don’t have to work with me.”

Arthur looks at Willett.

I saw Willett with a very distraught expression, the first time I had seen him in this life.

‘You must have been very disappointed in yourself. but… Elder Willett has pride in this way.’

Because of that, Arthur gently raised the corner of his mouth.

For some reason, seeing Willett, who had always been blunt, put on such an expression made me feel better.

So, I made a joke that I didn’t normally do.

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to take a better request?”

“what?”

“I will be taking a break from mercenary work for the time being, but… You can give me a good request when you come back.”

“… .”

“Isn’t that a really good broker, Mr. Willett?”

Willett shuts up at the explanation.

Arthur, who watched the reaction, nodded his head in satisfaction.

‘The joke worked. The heavy atmosphere is relieved with a joke.’

I had other thoughts in it.

That’s right, will you continue to work as a mercenary? It was a question called.

To be honest, there was no need to insist on mercenary work at the point of collecting five bloodlines.

However, after thinking about it, I shook my head.

It was because the income he earned while working as a mercenary was more than expected.

‘There were some variables, but… In terms of performance alone, it doesn’t make sense. There’s no need to quit.’

In the meantime, Willett sighed and muttered.

“I knew you were unique, but I really don’t understand this answer.”

“… ?”

“But we’re not close enough to ask why. So, mercenaries versus brokers. With this relationship, I will compensate you for this incident.”

With these words, Willett holds out a ticket.

“This?”

“A ticket to the black market. To the largest black market in Arcane, which will be held in the next five months.”

Willett explains over a vodka.

“It is a very private market set up for a select few. If you go there, you can get anything that exists in this world. Even if you don’t have it, I can get it if you ask.”

Arthur exclaims.

‘If you go to the market… Will I be able to save the lineage?’

After thinking about it for a while, Arthur decided that the probability was high.

The reason is that he had obtained bloodlines several times in this market in his previous life.

Arthur answered, putting the ticket Willett had held out into his arms.

“Thank you, Mr. Willett.”

Willett nodded and explained.

“I said I was taking a break, so come back in five months. I need someone to vouch for my identity, so I have to go too.”

“oh. Are you so considerate? Are you sure it’s worth getting close to?”

“… Are you friendly?”

“yes.”

“with who?”

“With old Willett.”

Willett gulped down the remaining vodka and waved his hand.

“Stop leaving. Talking to you makes me crazy too. Now I think I know why Genie saw you and took off school.”

* * *

inside a dark room.

A girl with a black cross around her neck looks at the tartan president who has become a corpse.

His appearance as a withered mummy could not be called good even with empty words.

However, the girl’s gaze at the tartan did not waver.

Because Tartan’s death was very just.

Tartan, who received the support of the church and became the president of a well-known pharmaceutical company in Arcane.

However, he did not know that grace and tried to betray him, so he only punished him appropriately.

Organizing her thoughts like that, the girl looked away.

At the same time, an elderly man sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, watching the tartan and the girl.

On this floor, the legendary black magician, Whitebeard, opens his mouth.

“I have a guest, won’t you serve me a cup of tea?”

“… .”

“That’s right… You have a pretty face, but your heart is still very cold.”

The tongue-tied white beard rose from his seat.

At the same time, the girl asks a question in a cool voice.

“Why are you here, old man?”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Please?”

“okay. And I have something to apologize for.”

With these words, Whitebeard smiled.

“In that sense, the story seems to be long… Can I get you a cup of tea? When you get old, your mouth gets stuffy. Then you can’t talk.”

the girl answers

“Is it because of the mercenary named Dawn?”

Whitebeard laughs.

“What is it? My guest and ‘thing’ had an accident. So I’m here to apologize. If you touch my things, I will be forced to kill you.”