By the time Rupert came to his senses, he was already sprawled on the ground, clutching a handful of small copper coins in each hand. The only thing missing was a few more clenched between his teeth.
The stinging pain in his eyes had faded, and his vision had returned. He turned around to find the masked attacker holding the revolver he had dropped with its barrel pointed straight at him.
His underlings stood beside him, not daring to make a move as they waited for his orders.
Rupert replayed the entire fight in his mind and cursed inwardly. Shit! Where the hell did this Transcendent come from? I was on the defensive the entire fight. I didn’t even get a single chance to fight back!
His ability clearly isn’t that powerful, and his rank might even be lower than mine. So why was I completely helpless against him?
Just what the hell are those two bizarre spells? Whether it’s forcing someone to pick up money or that flashbang, they’re both way too underhanded! I’m supposed to be the cunning, treacherous gangster here!
[Simon could see frustration, anger, and misery in the scar-faced man’s eyes.]
Elisa looked at the log, delighted.
Finally, someone else knows exactly how I feel. Every single one of that male servant’s abilities defies common sense. It’s practically the equivalent of throwing lime powder in someone’s eyes during a fighting match.
[Scarface ordered his underlings to leave, then spoke with Simon alone.]
[From him, Simon learned what had happened to Little Beth’s family. Someone important had instructed Scarface to keep an eye on Little Beth’s family. Just keep an eye on them…there had been no order to threaten them, and it wasn’t a high-priority matter.]
[Scarface didn’t know the inside story behind the murder, but he suspected it might have been some kind of ritual or perhaps a trial. In the East District, more than one such murder had occurred.]
There was more than one case like this in the East District alone?
Elisa frowned. Neither Susanna nor Eleanor knew about this. She could understand the police suppressing information to protect the military’s reputation, but why had the other attacks in the East District been kept under wraps?
This was no longer an ordinary Transcendent case. Someone with power and influence was clearly pulling the strings.
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have sent the male servant over there.
The male servant had only just become a Transcendent. Underhanded as his methods might be, getting involved in something like this was still dangerous.
[Simon tied up Scarface, took the cash from the table, and found a safe in the office behind the tavern.]
[Simon asked Scarface for the combination to the safe. Scarface replied that even if Simon put a bullet through his head, he wouldn’t tell him.]
Elisa nodded. Now this was the kind of gangster she was familiar with. Scarface was threatening the male servant, implying that he still had a trump card and could drag them both down with him, hoping the male servant would take what he’d already gained and leave it at that.
Unfortunately, this gang boss had underestimated my male servant.
[Under Scarface’s disbelieving gaze, Simon poked the safe with a key. With a click, the safe popped open.]
[Simon swept up the gold pounds and luxury goods inside.]
[Scarface hesitated for a long time but ultimately didn’t make a move. Simon was disappointed that he never got the chance to use his ‘Green Flower Ring’.]
Use the [Green Flower Ring]? But the ring’s ability is [Healing]. It’s not a combat-oriented Transcendent item… No, the [Scarab Badge] isn’t a combat-oriented Transcendent item either, yet the male servant always manages to find some underhanded way to use them.
[After asking a few more questions about the East District, Simon turned to leave. Scarface mocked him, asking why he wasn’t taking the small copper coins scattered across the floor as well.]
He was criticizing the male servant for looting the safe.
[Simon gladly obliged, threatening Scarface with the revolver and making him pick up every last copper coin and hand them over.]
“……?”
You’re seriously not even going to leave the copper coins behind?
Though if it were me, I wouldn’t leave them behind either. Scarface is the one picking them up, so he’s the one losing face!
[Simon warned Scarface one last time, then left the tavern.]
With the male servant’s first solo mission complete, Teacher Elisa gave him an A. It was the highest possible rating.
Whether it came to fighting or looting, the male servant had handled everything remarkably well.
There were still a few flaws, though. Haah, there was clearly more going on behind the scenes. This was no longer an ordinary Transcendent case. The male servant could intimidate the gang and Scarface, but he couldn’t intimidate the people backing Scarface.
That part called for the great Teacher Elisa herself to step in.
Elisa closed the light screen, threw on a trench coat, and stepped into the full-length mirror while holding the [Mirror of Mist].
The next moment, she emerged from a mirror inside the tavern.
[Mirror Traversal]. The most practical ability of the [Mirror of Mist] in her hand.
Emerging in the tavern’s washroom, Elisa looked at the mirror and sighed.
I’d originally planned to use the [Mirror of Mist] to rescue the male servant if anything went wrong and earn a huge boost to his affection for me. Instead, not only did nothing happen to him, he took care of the trouble himself. Even I didn’t expect that Scarface to be a Transcendent.
Elisa pushed open the washroom door, ready to make her grand entrance, only to retreat again.
Another uninvited guest had arrived.
***
“Don’t move.” A masked Eleanor stepped out of the shadows, the barrel of her revolver trained on Rupert, who had just broken free of his restraints.
Rupert raised his hands, cursing inwardly. Shit, another one?!
Eleanor nodded in satisfaction. As expected of me. I took control of the boss the moment I showed up. What a shame, though. I’d been expecting a huge gang fight, but there was only one person left in the tavern, and he surrendered without a fuss.
“Have you been harassing Little Beth’s family?” Eleanor demanded.
Rupert answered truthfully, then added with a bitter smile, “Someone already came to warn me. He only just left.”
What? Someone actually beat me to it!
Was it someone Susanna sent? Or Elisa?
I only realized Little Beth’s family was being threatened because Mabel mentioned on the way home that Little Beth seemed wary of her surroundings and very uneasy.
How did Susanna or Elisa figure it out? Or was it someone else?
Eleanor asked about the previous attacker, and Rupert described the man’s build. She then questioned him about the murders. When she learned they were actually part of a series of killings, she was shocked at first, then quickly grew excited.
A small incident has turned into a major case. I’m feeling more and more like the protagonist!
With her questions about the case finished, Eleanor moved on to one final matter.
“Hand over all your money!” Eleanor demanded, staring at Rupert.
Rupert fell silent for a moment before answering numbly, “There’s none left.”
“Hah, you think you can fool me? I found a safe under your desk. What’s the combination?!” Eleanor demanded sharply.
Rupert paused, then answered, “Left 6, right 2, left 11.”
Keeping her gun trained on Rupert with one hand, Eleanor turned the combination dial with the other and unlocked the safe.
The safe door sprang open. Eleanor eagerly reached inside, only to grab nothing but air.
Her smile froze as she stared into the safe in disbelief.
Why is it empty?!
“The previous visitor took everything.” Rupert pointed at the floor and said mockingly, “If you want money, there’s still a quarter-penny copper coin over there. He dropped it.”
Eleanor’s eyes lit up. She gestured with the gun. “Pick it up and give it to me!”
Rupert hadn’t expected her to actually want that tiny copper coin.
Shit, why did I have to say that? Didn’t I learn my lesson the first time?!
He had no choice but to get down on the floor and, in a thoroughly undignified position, reach under the desk to retrieve the copper coin before tossing it to Eleanor.
After pocketing her spoils, Eleanor gave Rupert one final warning and left the tavern.
Rupert sank wearily into a chair and let out a deep sigh.
Two waves of self-proclaimed champions of justice in a single night. Just what kind of shitty luck do I have?!
Surely there won’t be another one, right? He warily glanced around the room.
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