Nine’s Room.
“You should join the rowdy crowd too.”
I speak to the loyal retainer guarding the door.
“No, I will protect the Boss.”
“Good grief.”
It’s a shame it’s not a woman saying that.
“Boss!”
“What is it?”
It seems a customer has arrived.
“So? You want me to attend that meeting tonight?”
“Yes, the location is…”
Hmm, it smells like a trap.
But to maintain a base in this slum district, I have no choice but to go.
“Just me?”
“I haven’t heard that far.”
“Boss? It’s dangerous, we’ll accompany you.”
“No, then other organizations will look down on us.”
“Oh, such big guts! Oww!”
“What are you saying to the Boss?”
After finishing my subordinates’ talk, I prepare with the magic tool [Wish Fulfilled] until the appointed time.
The girl I picked up is my plaything, a consumable that creates my body.
I’d prefer if she remained just a plaything.
“Boss, it’s almost time.”
“Hmph, be sure to hold down the fort while I’m gone.”
I don’t want the same fate as the leader of bandits who gives up their base when they return, only to be defeated by the protagonist of a story.
“Yes, we will await your return, Boss.”
“We will await your return!”
Your replies are magnificent, though.
I hide the plaything in a secret basement.
Even if the base gets burned down, it should be okay.
I arrived in front of a dried-up fountain, but no one was there.
Logically speaking, an escort should be coming.
…
Did they come?
My hearing picked up the sound of horseshoes *stomping* on the cobblestones.
“We’ve come to escort you. Come, get on.”
“Hmph, yeah, yeah. Are there no girls (women to care for) for the trip to the meeting venue?”
“Hurry up and get in the carriage.”
The carriage windows have *curtains* so you can’t see outside.
Moreover, it’s a black cloth, done with care.
Magical measures have been applied.
It hinders attempts to *see invisibly*.
It nullifies attempts to lift the cloth by creating wind.
I have some expectation for the attendees of this meeting.
???
The carriage stopped in front of a building I didn’t recognize.
I followed the guide, who said it was further inside, and walked to the back of the building.
I could have seen the outside situation with my *Astral Body*, but that would have ruined the surprise invitation.
The meeting’s grand hall.
A round *table*.
The spacing is decent.
Most people are already seated.
Am I the last one?
“Yo, a new face, eh?”
“You’re doing well too, aren’t you?”
“You’re young.”
A welcome for the newcomers.
There are… two or three women.
I can’t tell with these thick clothes.
I hope they’re all confident in their *boobs*.
If only they’d wear revealing outfits and show off their sex appeal.
I sit in an empty seat.
The two nearby and the three in front speak to me, but I brush them off until the meeting begins.
“…Tch.”
Those who arrived after me appear, and all seats are filled.
Was the facilitator decided in advance?
The man in the back right, from my perspective, declares the start of the meeting.
“There are several new faces. Introduce yourselves here.”
They must have gathered information on the newcomers already.
Depending on the organization, there might be biases, so they’ll share information here and correct any discrepancies.
They’ll probably gauge who’s superior by people’s expressions and attitudes, whether they have the advantage in *Information Warfare*.
It’s *judgment* based on self-assessment; everyone else is lower than them.
Ah, it’s my turn.
“I’m Nine.”
Like the other newcomers, I was teased, “Nine-da (Just Nine).”
Good grief, are you *kids*?
“Well then, introductions are over.”
Next, they’ll explain why the meeting was held.
It’s not for introductions.
They’ll teach the newcomers the rules of the *Underworld Organization* and make them understand that they are superior.
Moreover, they’ll threaten that they have the *Combat Power* to crush any rebellious *actions*.
If you’re looked down upon, you can’t survive, whether it’s in the open or the underworld.
The underworld is more extreme than the open, as they can send *assassins*.
“Then, this meeting is adjourned. For your return, we have prepared a place just as you arrived.”
Tch, I wanted to get closer to the female boss as a token of my esteem.
It’s pathetic as a man not to be able to send out a tracker.
I made it into a tracker from the contents of a small container with my *Astral Body*.
I just infused it with the magic power I collected.
Since I had almost no time, it’s good if it lasts a few days.
“Get off here.”
“You really are just for escorting, huh.”
I wanted to see more women. More alluring and seductive women.
“Haaah.”
Nine’s *Lair*.
“Boss, are you…”
“Were you safe, Boss?”
It seems they held down the fort properly.
I ask if anything happened while I was gone, but nothing did.
“Sleep if you want. Taking care of your condition is also *work*.”
“We’re okay. We’re taking turns getting rest.”
“Is that so?”
Now then, shall I go out for *breakfast*?
From the slum district to the *Main Street*.
I’ll use the *money* left by the *rich residents*.
“Be careful not to attract the attention of the *soldiers*.”
“Yes!”
An *Eatery*.
*Hubbub*.
“It seems that notorious gang of thieves went on a rampage again.”
“Again? Ugh, the *soldiers* are useless.”
While eating *breakfast*, the town was abuzz with talk about how we *attacked* a *High-class clothing store* in the middle of the night.
Hearing about the *success* of our *work* while eating made me eat faster and faster.
*Gulp, Gulp*.
My subordinates eat without any manners.
It makes me look bad eating with them, so a little more… No, it’s impossible.
I wish I had a connection to find subordinates who could be taught *table manners*.
If they had elegance. I could ask them to scout the *residences* of the rich.
Then I wouldn’t have to investigate myself.
With the spare *time*, I’ll build up the *power* to overcome all unreasonable things.
The magic tool [Wish Fulfilled].
I’ll increase the number of artificial *magic stones*.
“Munch, munch.”
This *vegetable* has a good elasticity.
I *gobbled* down the main meat dish before my subordinates could eat it all.
“Check, please!”
“Coming right up! That will be four *Silver Coins* and eight *Copper Coins*.”
After leaving the *eatery*, we headed to find a *shop* to fence our *stolen* goods.
We were reported before, after all.
That *shopkeeper* and his *employees* were driven to despair.
A *traveler* who appeared from nowhere sold goods to another *shop* for less than they could buy them at the original store.
As a result, that *shop* incurred a huge deficit.
They closed down their *shop* and became residents of the slum district.
And then, they were further robbed of their meager *money*, receiving a baptism of (violence).
They were screaming, “Just kill me!”
Allegedly frozen to death, experiencing a cold night.
“You lot, behave yourselves moderately.”
“Yes, Boss.”
They reply well to my instruction to “go have fun.”
And there’s no need to ask if they’ll spend all their *money*.
When they get tired of playing, they’ll return to the *lair*.
I *searched* for rare *jewels*, accessories, and *magic tools* while listening to the voices of the people on the *Great Street*.
“Cheap, cheap! Special price due to the war!”
“Exotic plants from the northern desert region! Discounted at wartime prices!”
Even if *thefts* occur.
Unless people are personally affected, nothing has changed from *yesterday*.
Heartless? Living beings love themselves. I love myself too.
I, who fulfills dreams, love myself even more.
“How much is this *jewel*?”
“Yes, sir! *Money*… ah, eight *Silver Coins*.”
I intimidated the *stall owner* with a sharp gaze.
The discount was successful.
I obtained a “Blue Star,” as they call it on *Earth*.
A *jewel* with a star-shaped pattern within the blue.
In this world, artificial *jewels* shouldn’t exist yet.
This means this Blue Star is natural.
Ah, the *residents* of this world don’t understand the value of these natural *jewels*.
If processed and set in pendants or *rings*, the added value would be immense.
Women, in that regard, are sensitive to valuable items.
If I send it, if I show it off, they’ll be swayed.
Nine’s *Lair*.
Some subordinates are drifting about.
Those who haven’t returned must be having a good time playing!
There are multiple *gambling dens* in this *town*.
Did they hit the jackpot? Did they go to a *brothel*?
I’m envious, you bastards, while I’m getting *items* to attract women!
I don’t know about those who don’t return by lunchtime.
“Boss, do you have any *plans* for this afternoon?”
“After *cashing* in the *stolen* goods, not particularly.”
“Then, shall we go to a *brothel*? I have information that a cute girl has joined… GAH?!”
“Let’s go to a *brothel*!”
I have good subordinates!
This is the kind of subordinate I’ve been looking for!
I rarely hear about these small, dark-skinned sons in *other countries*.
I don’t think the *residents* of the *Tartarus Kingdom* are that competent.
My sons made a rash *action*, a careless mistake that got them caught.
Ah, I remembered something I don’t want to recall.
I need to go to the *brothel* quickly. What I need now isn’t bitter memories, but beautiful women and gentleness.
