Chapter 150. Outsourcing District (5)
I loved starlight.
Ronto thought, head tilted.
Since childhood, I’d gaze at silver stars caught in branches. A habit of looking up at night.
But today, no stars lit the district’s sky.
A faint trickle and the stench of water snapped me back.
The district’s artificial river carried fetid streams.
Turning, I frowned. Muddy banks held rotting fish and frogs, swarmed by flies. Filthy.
Clenching my teeth, I looked up.
Cold droplets hit my cheek.
More followed. Rain fell from the night sky. The forecast had warned of a downpour.
I glared at the rain.
Keep falling. This wasn’t enough. It couldn’t wash the city’s stench, only worsening the river’s reek.
A line from a book in the district’s old library flashed in my mind.
> “—Humanity’s greatest invention is the city.”
Civilization meant urbanization. From wilds to agriculture, humans built cities, symbols of dazzling historical progress.
The book defined it so.
What did this city symbolize?
Through intensifying rain, I stared at the starless, clouded sky. Stars should shine above, but they’d fallen, reduced to the city’s garish lights.
“…”
To me, the district’s dazzling glow shattered starlight, scattering it across the ground. But its murky lights couldn’t compare.
Sharp, gaudy, not beautiful.
Maybe the metaphor was apt. This city was civilization’s raw face.
A car’s engine roared, headlights approaching.
Vehicles circled like wild dogs, surrounding me before stopping.
Dozens disembarked from opening doors. I swallowed hard.
“Ronto. Payment was due yesterday.”
A burly man stepped forward, backlit by headlights.
A square mask marked him Scavenger. A glossy latex apron-like cloak, blood-stained, draped him.
I trembled, lips quivering.
“Butcher.”
Butcher. The worst of Scavenger collectors, killing for example. His approach through the rain carried a faint blood stench.
Standing before me, he spoke emotionlessly.
“Pity. I had to come, with so many of us?”
“I-I’ll pay today!”
I pulled a crumpled paper bag. He shook his head.
“You broke promises too many times. Tenth time.”
“What?”
“Don’t get why I’m here?”
Drawing two ice-pick wands from his belt, he approached slowly.
“Sorry, but [Bolt & Spanner]’s fate is sealed. You, the younger sibling, are to die as an example.”
Casually declaring death, he twirled the wands.
I shouted, panicked.
“I paid all I could! Our workshop splits profits evenly! That’s my share—enough, right?”
“Fees went up. Backdated penalties too. Your payment’s short.”
“What? That’s unfair! Why?”
“For Resolution Day.”
“Resolution Day? What’s that?”
He chuckled lightly.
“A week from now. You’ll see.”
“A week?”
“Yup. Many will die. A full assault to topple Victoria Kazimieśi, starting here. We need examples and funds.”
Stunned speechless, I gaped. He knelt, eyeing me.
“Oh, right. You won’t be alive in a week. No show for you.”
Patting my shoulder, he grazed my chin with the wand, aiming at my neck.
“Your efforts to protect your sister? Wasted.”
“What?”
“Don’t deny it. Your stubborn sister, hating Scavengers, would’ve resisted. Bad outcome. So, young and worldly, you dealt with us secretly, right?”
“Don’t mention my sister! You killed our parents…”
Fury clenched my teeth, but realization hit, and I looked up.
“Wait. Kill me? What about her?”
“We need payment. You’re only good as an example. Your talented sister’s different.”
Hooking an arm around me, he showed his device.
“Nano, genius engineer?”
The screen showed Nano welding, smiling under a visor.
“Beyond master craftsman, rivaling Artigen’s finest. Her work’s praised so.”
“Don’t touch her! Argh!”
As I screamed, I collapsed. A Scavenger behind me stomped my back.
Gasping, I glared. Butcher continued calmly.
“Nano could craft illegal black magic artifacts or gear for us. Right?”
“No! That’d make her a criminal…!”
“If she refuses, there’s another use.”
“What?”
“Some imperial higher-ups are bored with southern district non-mages.”
Eyeing Nano’s photo, he said casually.
“Showed her picture. Loved her fair skin and beauty. Should I chop her limbs and gift her to them?”
“You bastards! I’ll kill you!”
“Funny, little Ronto.”
Mocking my rage, he tilted his head.
“A useless non-mage like you?”
I froze, tears streaming, staring blankly. He shrugged.
“What? Thought hiding it would fool us? Why your sister stays here’s obvious. Her life’s stain.”
Twirling a wand on his shoulder, he sneered.
“No surprise, Ronto. Scavengers know all district intel.”
Satisfied, he signaled his men.
“Back to business. We’re here for an example. Tie you to a car, parade you around.”
“Let go!”
Struggling, I shook off the Scavenger, stumbling back, hitting a bridge pillar, collapsing.
“Urk!”
My groan was drowned by howling wind. Rain stung my cheeks. Scavengers’ low laughter echoed.
Tears blurred my vision as I faced them.
My earlier thought returned.
No.
This district wasn’t civilization’s symbol. I was wrong. Not everyone here had a human heart.
“Finish it. Chop his limbs, tie him to the trunk.”
Scavengers drew gear, closing in.
As the nearest aimed, I sensed through teary eyes.
I’d die.
A sharp metallic whistle pierced my ear, a blue-black streak slicing the air.
It severed the man’s arm and gear.
“W-What?”
Realizing his loss, he staggered back in pain and shock.
A voice echoed from a visor.
“Know all district intel? Perfect.”
My eyes widened.
Gaping, I stared ahead. A hooded swordsman stood there.
Knight-like visor and mask, billowing black robe. He’d leapt from the bridge, landing.
His raised sword, having struck, froze me.
In the dark, it gleamed like starlight.
Unbreakable radiance.
Glancing at me, confirming I was safe, Enoch rose calmly, adding.
“Spill the info.”
“…What?”
A Scavenger muttered, stunned, disbelieving the scene.
Shock, rage, confusion. No need to answer their emotions.
I stared forward impassively, assuming stance, breathing.
Gripping my humming blue-black blade, I stomped forward, unleashing.
[Explosive Sword] • [Fire Wheel]
Boom!!
Blinding blue-black light erupted. Three slashing arcs cleaved enemy gear, spraying blood as they collapsed.
Spinning my sword mid-Fire Wheel, I charged.
“Guh, what’s that?!”
A trembling Scavenger, aiming gear, shouted. I glanced coldly.
This was my trained linkage.
Still imperfect.
One use strained my shoulder. But it was combat-ready, improved since last time.
“Shoot! Keep him back!”
Regrouping, Scavengers reacted. Transparent magic circles flared through the rain, flashing as their casters activated spells.
Colorful magic streaked through the dark.
Ducking low, I sprinted. Behind, bridge pillars shook with mana spikes embedding.
Spinning, I dodged, charging.
Glancing, I calmly narrowed my eyes at the barrage.
Their onslaught was expected.
Twenty foes.
At least five or six were ranged specialists—snipers or magic gunners in the original.
A deliberate fire net could block my approach.
But I had a counter.
Touching my earpiece, I stared forward, ordering lowly.
“Front, sedan driver’s side. Two in cover. Snipe.”
> [Got it, move!]
Rolling aside, a bullet pierced where I’d stood.
A beat later, the supersonic round’s roar echoed through the rain.
A Scavenger aiming a staff sprayed blood, tumbling into the river, splashing.
“What?!”
A comrade screamed.
Spinning my sword, I rushed forward.
Another mage, gritting teeth, conjured a dozen flaming spears, launching them skyward. They rained down, piercing the ground far behind. Too slow.
Kicking off, I accelerated, sword drawn back, unleashing a sonic blue-black slash.
The mage leapt back, shocked, but within my range. My first slash cut his staff; the follow-up stab pierced his shoulder, pinning him to a pillar.
He roared, eyes bloodshot.
“Gah! You!!”
No need to listen. Yanking my sword, I spun, striking his head with the pommel. He collapsed silently.
Whoosh!!
A sharp gust grazed my ear.
Instinctively ducking, a wind blade sliced above, scarring a pillar.
Spotting the distant caster, I dove behind a pillar.
A second sniper bullet grazed my cheek, streaking past. I traced its path.
“Guh…”
April’s pink-glowing bullet hit a Scavenger mid-leap, flames on his arms.
An ambush, thwarted.
Blood burst from his shoulder, and he fell, unbalanced.
I didn’t miss it. Sliding forward, I slashed upward, cutting him down.
Twirling my sword, I walked, whispering into the earpiece.
“Thanks for the cover.”
> [Tch, short thanks. Leave it to me.]
Her voice conjured April reloading atop a ruined building.
“…Better than expected.”
I muttered unwittingly.
April was Rank 15.
She’d admitted her firepower limits.
In the original, her tier or rank wasn’t high, perhaps unremarkable.
‘But utility’s key.’
Even powerful skills were useless if misapplied. Same for unrecruited follower families.
April was a seasoned marksman, my best card now.
A sniper’s strength in combat: delivering pure firepower without exposure.
With cover and visibility, a skilled sniper ensured one-sided dominance.
But it was dark, raining, with poor visibility. Not ideal for sniping.
Yet April handled it with slight aid. I touched my earpiece.
“Wind ranged caster. Behind the bridge, in cover.”
> [Got it. Thanks for the callout!]
Bang!!
Another low shot tore the air, hitting a wind-blade caster’s robed chest.
Blue lightning sparked, enveloping him. Screaming, he collapsed into a puddle, twitching.
I watched coldly.
Three ranged casters down.
Butcher, teeth gritted, shoved a subordinate’s back, who’d raised a light barrier, shouting.
“Damn, their sniper’s too strong! Smoke! Neutralize the sniper, then close in!”
Scavengers in cover pulled can-shaped artifacts, yanking pins, and threw.
—Smoke grenades.
Glowing steel cans rolled, spewing thick fog.
Hiss!
The bridge’s base vanished in dense smoke.
“Go, charge!!”
Footsteps echoed through the haze.
My earpiece beeped. April’s calm voice sounded.
> [Vision lost. Can’t snipe. Moving as planned.]
“Got it. Next point.”
Sheathing my sword, I gripped its base backward, sprinting through the smoke.
Butcher’s shout came from the fog.
“Don’t let them escape! The boss said Scavengers’ prestige is critical for Resolution Day. No mercy!”
Hearing the leader’s roar, I touched my earpiece, ordering calmly.
“Hook’s set. Prep.”