Faced with a group of Lv. 3 Adventurers barking warnings, the newcomer showed no sign of tension.
He stepped forward and, under the ferocious glares of the crowd, walked straight up to one of them, bent down, and murmured a few words into his ear.
"Hail Chaos!"
At this chant praising chaos, a flicker of fanaticism flashed in the vicious-looking Adventurer's eyes.
Immediately, the man waved a hand, signaling to his companions, then turned and led the newcomer toward the church.
"Don't get jumpy, he's one of ours. Keep working. I'll take him to see the boss."
Beneath his mask, the corner of Leon's mouth twitched up almost imperceptibly as he followed the man inside.
Inside the church.
Knock knock knock.
"Who is it?! I said don't bother me unless it's important! What now?!"
The cat-man's irritated voice came from behind the door.
"Boss, we've got a visitor. An envoy from their side."
"An envoy?"
With a creak, the battered wooden door was pulled open, and the cat-man poked his head out.
His gaze passed over his subordinate and locked like a hook onto the tightly wrapped figure behind him. His nostrils twitched, but he caught no scent that displeased him. Only then did he squeeze out a grin:
"May I ask the envoy… which side you represent?"
The cloaked figure, Leon, answered in a deliberately lowered, hoarse voice:
"Apate."
"Apate?"
The cat-man's eyes went blank for an instant before realization struck him like a thunderbolt.
Goddess Apate! The patron deity of the Apate Familia! A core pillar of Evilus alongside Lord Rudra!
Back in the age of Zeus and Hera, the Apate Familia and the Alecto Familia had been known together as the most terrifying familias within the dark factions.
As far as the cat-man knew, these two familias were said to wield staggering combat power. They had been the absolute mainstay of Evilus, and a group of fanatical radicals at that.
Even among Evilus, they were famous for their extremism.
In recent years, however, the Apate Familia's luck had soured. Their main force had been all but slaughtered by the Freya Familia, and only scattered remnants remained.
Even so, the cat-man didn't dare show the slightest contempt.
Rumor had it they possessed a secret weapon tied to "Spirits," one they had been testing somewhere in the Dungeon. Word was… the final adjustments had just been completed, and it had reached a level where it could be deployed on the battlefield.
So… faced with this envoy from Apate, the cat-man instantly shed every trace of arrogance and lowered his posture as far as it would go:
"So it's the honored envoy from Apate! My apologies, my apologies! Please, come in…"
The man's nervous, wavering expression made Leon laugh inwardly, but outwardly his face remained placid as a still well, maintaining the cool detachment of a superior:
"No need. We'll talk right here."
Turned away at the door, the cat-man showed no displeasure. If anything, he bowed lower, rubbing his hands:
"Yes, yes, my lord envoy."
"But I'd like to ask you one question, sir."
"Speak."
"This lowly one recalls… weren't you all part of the assault on the city?"
Leon's eyes betrayed nothing. His tone was flat but brooked no argument:
"There's been a change of plans."
Four short words, and the cat-man's ears twitched, his back going rigid.
"Then… might I ask what brings my lord here…?"
"Orders. I'm here to receive goods."
Leon paused, lowering his voice a notch, threading it with a cold warning:
"And while I'm at it… a word of caution for you."
"Please, my lord."
The cat-man pricked up his ears.
"The top wants you on high alert. The Braver hasn't been following Arachnia's script. He's very likely… operating in secret, and this place may well be his target. Use your own judgment."
"Wh… what?! The Braver?!"
The cat-man let out an involuntary yelp, his face draining of color.
"Damn it! That cursed Pallum runt!"
Terror filled his face and sweat poured down his back. His voice carried a tremor:
"My, my lord… could you give us a hint on what to do? With our strength, the moment we're spotted by Loki Familia, we're finished!"
"Hmph."
Leon let out a dismissive snort:
"Think for yourselves. If we had to do everything, what would we need useless scum like you for?"
"My lord…"
The cat-man was nearly on his knees, bent at a ninety-degree angle.
Leon's cold gaze fell on that groveling back, and he casually tossed out a lie:
"I'll say only this. There are enemy spies in the black market."
"What?!"
The cat-man snapped his head up, his face stricken with horror.
"What, we can bait the hook but they can't?"
"No… my lord, I didn't mean that."
The cat-man waved his hands frantically:
"It's just… those merchants have been blinded by profit! This lowly one has warned them to be careful many times, but they…"
Before he could finish, Leon cut him off with a cold snort laced with contempt and killing intent:
"Hmph. They're just merchants. A pen of fat pigs we keep. Once our lords are done cleaning up those meddling hypocrites, the next ones to go under the knife will be these stupid pigs! Understood?!"
"Understood! Understood!"
The cat-man nodded furiously.
"Good. How you handle it from here, you know what to do."
Leon's tone turned grim as he casually tossed a prepared parchment list in the cat-man's face:
"Now. Go get what I need. Move."
"Yes, yes, yes, my lord, just a moment, right away!"
After bowing and scraping to Leon, the cat-man wheeled around and barked at his subordinates:
"Quick! Prepare the goods according to the list for my lord! Count them carefully, understood?!"
He put deliberate emphasis on "carefully."
The underlings caught his meaning instantly, responded in unison, and sprang into action.
In under five minutes, several bulging, oversized backpacks were stacked in front of Leon.
"My lord, aside from what you requested, this is a small token of our regard. Please accept it."
The cat-man smiled obsequiously, presenting a long, carefully cloth-wrapped parcel with both hands.
A gleam flashed in Leon's eyes. He took the parcel, hefted it in his hand, and gave the cat-man a satisfied pat on the shoulder:
"Nicely done. You've got a future ahead of you."
With that, he neatly hoisted the several heavy packs and strode out without a backward glance.
At the doorway, his steps slowed just long enough to leave a cold warning:
"Remember, my visit here is strictly classified. Keep your mouths shut, and whatever you do, don't let those merchants catch a whiff of it."
"Understood, my lord envoy!"
The cat-man hastily bowed and answered.
"But… if other familias from the faction ask…?"
"Classified. You know nothing."
"Yes!"
Watching the "lord envoy" melt completely into the shadows of the alley, the cat-man stood frozen in place, his mind a churning storm.
Hiding things even from allies? Could the Apate Familia really be cooking up something earth-shaking? Wait… that rumor about the Spirit weapon… it couldn't actually be true, could it?
A terrifying suspicion flashed through his mind. He shuddered violently, a chill sinking straight into his bones.
I don't know anything. I don't know anything…
He shook his head hard, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor as he growled at his equally shaken subordinates:
"Listen up, all of you! I was asleep just now! You didn't see a thing! Got it?!"
"G… got it, boss!"
The underlings scrambled to respond.
The cat-man drew a deep breath, forcing down the turmoil inside him.
"Good. Back to work."
"Yes!"
…
…
On the other side, Leon had no idea that a single remark of his had sent that gutless cat-man spiraling into a fit of paranoid speculation.
His steps were swift as wind as he cut through the labyrinthine alleys of the old district, heading straight for home.
Hurried as he was, his instinctive caution hadn't slackened in the slightest.
He kept stopping to carefully erase his tracks and frequently changed routes.
After taking a wide loop through the Seventh District, it wasn't until he caught sight of the familiar back door of the Hostess of Fertility in an alleyway that his taut nerves finally eased.
Safe at last…
He glanced down at the hefty bundles in his hands, and the corners of his mouth shot up wildly. If the setting had been any different, he might have burst out laughing on the spot.
Jackpot!
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