144 - 24 Hearts

Chapter 144: The Land of Entertainment and Culture, Urun. Roxin remained silent for a long while, a chill settling in a corner of his chest. How could this kid know about the Kingdom of Shadows? 'I suspected he wasn't an ordinary kid...' No, by now it's clear he's far from ordinary. Roxin had approached the boy, but now he was beginning to suspect that the boy had intentionally approached him. He doubted the latter was possible but found it hard to dismiss the suspicion entirely. Could it be that information about the Kingdom of Shadows had somehow leaked? But that was unlikely. Only nobles and merchants had knowledge of the kingdom, and they didn't openly share such information. Moreover, Roxin couldn't recall any recent intel revealing anyone by the name "Judah Arshe." "How did you know I'm associated with the Kingdom of Shadows?" Roxin asked, looking at Judah as if seeking an answer. It wasn't a difficult question. Although little was publicly known about the Kingdom, anyone aware of their symbols would find it not too hard to identify its members. Judah tapped the back of his left hand with his right index finger. "The emblem." The kingdom's king bore a black crown, its officials a hunting dog, and the rest, a black butterfly. Recalling this, Roxin looked down at his own hand. The thought that there were no outsiders aware of the Kingdom's existence had led him to expose his bare hand, and this might have been how he was identified. "You know about our Kingdom's emblem? Who told you? Only insiders should know." "I’d rather not spoil the surprise by telling you." Magic surged in Roxin's hand, conjuring a long sword. It was a skill similar to the black weapon creation of a Shadow Magic Swordsman. Judah, too, summoned his magic, readying his skill. Shadow Swordsmanship Form 4 - Lesser Black Weapon Creation. By recalling the skill's name and effect, Judah maneuvered his magic, which spiraled from his fingertips and formed a bastard sword. ──! Though Roxin initiated his skill first, Judah completed his weapon much faster. The magical swords clashed with palpable force, their metallic clang lost amidst the casino's cacophony. "It's regretful. I happen to deal in shadows as well." "…Who are you? I haven't heard any stories about you." Judah casually shrugged while holding off the clash with his sword. He had no intent of inciting a fierce battle; Roxin's attack was only to threaten, Judah's defense purely protective. "Well, that's not the issue right now." "It's the most significant issue for me. It means there's a traitor in the kingdom." "You don't need to worry. There is no traitor. This was just information I stumbled upon by chance. At least for now, I have no intention of telling anyone else." Roxin narrowed his eyes and pressed harder against their crossed swords. In an instant, he attempted to push his blade towards Judah's chest, but Judah reinforced his stance, halting the advance. Unwilling to ignore the sensation of a blade potentially cutting him, Judah felt the need to incapacitate his opponent and pushed Roxin back with his strength. As Roxin reflexively stepped back, he lunged his sword at Judah, although there was no real killing intent; the sword's path deviating from Judah's heart to his left shoulder. Seeing this, Judah smiled, extending his left hand towards the incoming blade, activating another skill. "You fool!" Roxin quickly shouted in concern, worried about Judah's inaction. But it was too late for Roxin to withdraw his sword—the gap between them was too narrow. Yet Judah hesitated not. Just before the blade struck, black particles covered his hand, forming a thick gauntlet. Crash-! With Judah’s physical strength bolstering the magical gauntlet, Roxin’s shadow sword couldn't withstand the damage and shattered, dissolving like snowflakes in the air. With wide eyes, Roxin looked at the disintegrating sword. Although they were within arm's reach, neither moved. "I need information, and you have the ability to provide it to me. That's all it means." "…" "Why so serious about this? You told me yesterday, didn’t you? That a day would come when you’d help me. That day just arrived a little—just a tiny bit sooner." Judah spoke with a smile, and Roxin sighed, adjusting his stance. Though he still seemed unconvinced, he was accepting it. Stepping back a little, he, like Judah, leaned against the railing with arms crossed. "We don't work for free. We're not philanthropists." "I know. All I ask is that you take my request. I heard the Kingdom of Shadows is selective about their requests." "And where does a kid like you hear such things… Sigh." "Oh, it would be nice if you could offer a discount too." "Fine. What do you want?" Judah glanced around. Although he sensed no one nearby, he couldn't rule out the possibility of someone eavesdropping. Truth be told, discussing it here didn’t seem ideal. "Is it okay to talk here?" "Write it down and hand it over." From within his coat, Roxin produced a palm-sized notepad and pen, tossing them to Judah. Catching the projectile with extended hands, Judah murmured, impressed that he carried such items, as he pressed the pen tip. With a click, Judah confirmed the pen was extended but found no ink on the notebook. As he circled with the pen, curious about the lack of ink, he looked at Roxin, who, realizing his oversight, explained. "Oh! Sorry. It's not strange; it’s perfectly normal. Just write. It's treated with chemicals, so it's invisible. Since you messed up the first page, use the back page." Security must be a priority here. Judah proceeded to jot down the required information in the notebook. [Maps of the Seronik, Neyube, and Hisen family estates.] [Locations where enslaved elves are kept, details about the estate’s guards, defenses, and all related information.] He wasn't certain if his handwriting was legible, but figured Roxin could ascertain it himself. Roxin closed his eyes, running his fingertips over the notebook, reading the impressions left by the pen pressure. "Ha!" Roxin laughed in disbelief and looked at Judah. "Am I right in what I’m thinking?" "I suppose that depends on what you're thinking. If you read what's there, then yes." "Are you aware this is madness?" After scanning the area to ensure they were alone, Roxin leaned closer and whispered to Judah. "You’ve set your sights on the high nobles of Urun. You're really crazy to think about rescuing an elf enslaved by them, huh?" "When did the Kingdom of Shadows start giving advice to clients? I appreciate the concern, but I must do this. Just tell me if you can get the estate blueprints or not. You can, right?" "Getting the plans isn’t difficult. I can also inform you about the size of the guards, types of magic traps, and how to disarm them. As for the fee, well, a thousand gold coins should suffice." Unexpectedly, it didn't cost much. However, Roxin wasn't finished. "The issue is, I’m not sure of your skills, but breaking into their estates could mean risking your life. If you get caught, it might be difficult to guarantee your safety." "That's fine. As long as you don't warn them I'm coming." "Don’t worry about that." Nodding lightly, Judah replied, "I’ll trust you. After all, it's the Kingdom of Shadows. When do you want the money? I could pay you right now if you prefer." "…Are you bragging about winning big or something?" "Take it however you like." Roxin glared at Judah, annoyed, until something struck him, and he tilted his head curiously. As if verifying a hunch, he then smiled slyly and clasped Judah’s hand, not for a handshake but with a gentle, off-putting touch that Judah quickly shook off, feeling irked. "What is it?" "Look, I won't take the thousand gold." "…Then?" "Instead, spend some time with me here tonight. Join me as a team." "I don't know how to gamble." Roxin tutted, gesturing with his fingers disapprovingly. "You’re missing the point. Combine your luck with my knowledge, and we can achieve a perfect victory. Let’s split the winnings 60/40. You take 60. I’ll give you the information you want by tomorrow, if that suits you." Gambling again? Judah wasn't entirely pleased with the offer. But earning some extra money now might prove convenient later. Problems arise without money, but rarely with its excess. Seeing Judah ponder, Roxin, a bit nervous about potential rejection, carefully added. "I promise you won't regret it. Worried about losing money? Don’t fret. We’ll use my money. I’ll fetch the thousand gold. Wait here." Was gambling that enticing to him? Conceding to Roxin's insistence, Judah nodded reluctantly. Roxin swiftly made his way home and returned with the thousand gold. After exchanging it for casino chips and returning with an entourage of porters, Judah joined the game, shaking his head slightly. Roxin's assessment was spot on. Judah's luck, combined with Roxin’s gambling knowledge, earned them an enormous sum, turning them into the stars of the casino that night. ---------= Author's Note =--------- 1) Ugh. Seems like I caught a cold. Everyone, please take care, avoid catching a cold, and dress warmly! T_T