Wolves of Hader

Chapter 111

The chef half-opened his eyes with a drowsy expression.

As if to say, 'What kind of nonsense is this?'

"What do you mean by 'going to fail'?"

"Exactly what I said. If this place goes under, you're welcome to bring all your colleagues with you."

The chef let out a hollow laugh.

"I've heard all sorts of things in my life. Fine. I'll let you in this time. Money is money, but you'd better keep that promise. I'll remember your face."

"All right. How much is your wage?"

"Three gold coins and ten silver."

I wordlessly pulled out seven gold coins and handed them over.

The chef took the gold coins and slipped them into his sleeve.

"Follow me."

Whether I would keep my promise would depend on what happened and how this chef reacted.

Not just anyone can work on this island, so he must be a top-class chef.

The chef led us through the kitchen and down to the basement.

Judging by the way the other staff smiled and greeted him, he didn't seem to be ill-natured.

There was a staff-only room downstairs.

"Change into the hospitality staff uniform here."

Kudo and I both picked out hospitality staff uniforms and got changed.

We took our original clothes with us to change back later.

Then, we followed the chef again.

A long corridor stretched out in the basement.

It was a staff-only passage. Carts loaded with alcohol and food supplies were coming and going.

"You can get right into the castle's interior through this passage. If you give a guard a gold coin, they won't ask questions."

"And you get paid seven gold coins for something this small?"

"If you don't like it, don't do it. My kitchen boys have seen your faces. I need to share the money if I want to keep their mouths shut, right?"

"Whatever. Just move."

"Take these with you."

The chef handed us two large bundles.

"It's laundry the castle sent out."

The chef immediately turned around and left.

Kudo and I carried the laundry down the corridor.

There were so many staff members that no one looked at us suspiciously.

When we reached the end of the passage, there was a door.

The door was wide open, but two guards stood watching.

They immediately recognized we were unfamiliar faces.

"Where are you from?"

"The Golden Flower Inn."

"First time I've seen you."

"I'm new, and this one here is working as an assistant because of gambling debts. He was actually a merchant."

Kudo just stared at me, then scratched his head.

"Well, that's how things turned out."

The guard clicked his tongue.

"You're thinking of gambling your wages to pay off your debt, aren't you? Good luck. I've seen more than enough hopeless people."

"I really will pay back my debt."

"Sure you will. You probably lost your whole merchant guild anyway. You'd better just learn inn work here. Or are you too old for that? Hahaha!"

The two guards snickered.

While that was going on, we went inside through the door.

Kudo looked at me incredulously.

"Where did you learn something like that?"

"Learn what?"

"How did you know there are so many people ruined on this island? No, more importantly, how can you act so nonchalant?"

I just smiled and moved on.

There's no difference in a gambling city. Everyone ruined by gambling debts is much the same.

We went right up to the first floor and changed our clothes first. While doing that, I asked Kudo about the internal layout of the castle.

The inside of the castle was like a whole other world.

In the center was a lavish and luxurious fountain, with the areas built around it in a circular pattern.

First, second, third floors: the casino.

Fourth, fifth, sixth: the inn.

Eighth, ninth, tenth: the restaurant and VIP suites.

To the north was a large dome-shaped building, with two five-story buildings beside it.

That dome was the place Kudo had mentioned, and the buildings on either side were probably the headquarters.

Since the castle was at the northern tip of the island, if you jumped from the HQ buildings, you'd end up in the sea.

Either way, since I had to go to the HQ, escaping directly from there made sense.

The main gate was at the south.

That's the only place where they check identities, and after you're in, there are no further inspections.

Wouldn't want to annoy the high-status customers.

"This place seems pretty normal."

"That's what I thought too. During the day, the nobles and tycoons put on their dignified act. But at night—they turn into beasts."

"Still, it's hard to believe."

"You'll see for yourself how things get. Anyway, we've got some time. Let's check out the casino first."

Following Kudo, we headed to the second-floor casino.

The casino was one big, interconnected space. Despite the number of tables, there were few empty seats.

Kudo sat down at a vacant spot.

"I think I'll play a round."

As soon as Kudo sat, a new game began.

It was similar to blackjack. The cards were small slips of paper with numbers, and the players faced off against the dealer.

Whoever made the highest number total won. It looked like you could get up to three cards.

I wasn't sure what the maximum number was.

"This is the last card. Please place your bets."

The participants each put up a gold coin.

Some tossed in unusual coins—they seemed to serve as chips.

The dealer handed out the last card.

The result was decided.

"You've won, congratulations!"

"Haha! Maybe things will go my way today!"

Kudo giggled as he pocketed two gold coins.

His voice was loud, so I glanced around.

No one paid much attention.

The staff bustled about, and the guards stood unmoving in the corners.

There were also older women, each with a pretty boy at her side.

Several people puffed on long pipes, billowing smoke.

It didn't smell like tobacco—it must be some hallucinogen.

Under some tables, naked women were doing something.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary casino.

But a detailed look revealed it was anything but.

What would have seemed shocking in a back-alley brothel was happening here in elegance.

Behaviors that would be unthinkable elsewhere happened openly here, because no one said a word, no matter what you did.

And this was just during the day.

They supposedly wore masks at night, when the place supposedly sank into utter debauchery and pleasure.

"Let's get up."

"Why? My luck's just coming in."

"No use drawing attention."

"All right."

We headed to the restaurant on the eighth floor.

The restaurant was built the same way, but had fewer guests than the casino. Those eating seemed relatively normal.

"You can't just have a meal here."

"Why not?"

"The restaurant and the inn have different payment systems. Even at the casino, we were supposed to use exchanged gold coins."

"What's different?"

"You hand over all your money at the ID check and settle up at the end. They give you a name tag, and that tag tracks your spending."

"Then let's not eat."

"Aw, but we've come all this way! After one bite, you'll be amazed."

"So what are you planning?"

Kudo showed me a name tag.

"You stole it?"

"I was a famous pickpocket as a kid. Even now, I doubt many could beat my skills."

"Why do something that'll get us caught right away?"

"When it comes to unlawful, illegal, expedient, and extralegal things, I'm a few steps ahead of you, young lord. Just trust me."

Kudo handed me a half-mask and told me to wear it, then led the way to the inn floor.

Wearing the mask, we took a very large room and ordered food.

"All we have to do is eat and leave. Hah!"

"Whose name tag is that?"

"The guy who was sitting next to me—a young guy wobbling drunk. Judging by his clothes, he was from Robe."

A little while later, the food arrived.

It felt a bit uncomfortable, but I was hungry. Besides, I didn't plan to stay in the room long.

"The taste really is good."

"Of course. Where you get this much money, there are bound to be chefs from the royal family."

"There must be slaves here too."

"You'll see the male slaves in a certain place. As for the waitresses here, hardly any came of their own free will. People like Goro bring the women in."

"Is there a merchant guild in charge of managing this place?"

"I hear a mercenary group runs it. They act as guards for both the cult and this place."

One of the two buildings next to the dome is the mercenary headquarters.

I needed to get there for answers.

But judging by the current situation, sneaking in wouldn't be easy.

"Let's head out."

"I haven't even eaten half yet!"

"Then eat alone and come out."

I left the room first.

As I walked through the hallway, a manager stared at me. Something must have seemed off.

"Excuse me, sir."

"Yes?"

"There's a discrepancy between your companion's name tag and the guest record. Did you use someone else's name tag?"

"Yes."

"I see."

The manager still looked suspicious and tilted his head.

Kudo, that guy, should have stolen a tag from someone his own age.

Hearing the commotion, Kudo came out as well.

"Would you gentlemen wait for a moment?"

"What's the matter?"

"There's just something to check."

The manager knocked on a door and said,

"Excuse me, sir. Your friend is here, may I have a moment?"

"Ugh, what is it now? I'm in the middle of something!"

"It won't take long, please."

"Damn it! I was just getting going."

Clunk.

The door opened, and a fat man appeared—naked.

The manager spoke cautiously.

"Are you Andor Julah?"

"Yeah, why?"

I hadn't expected this at all.

Maybe we were out of luck.

Or maybe, actually, we were lucky.

"Your friend, Zenz, is here. But he's much bigger than the Zenz I saw yesterday. Is he really Zenz?"

The fat man gazed at me, half asleep.

I was at a loss for words.

My fake identity was Andor Julah.

"Zenz is supposed to be short, isn't he?"

"That's how I remember it."

"Hey, just who are you people?"

Andor came out of the room.

The manager walked toward us.

"I need you both to remove your masks."

Kudo looked at me, stunned.

Things like this happen in the world?

No need for long consideration.

Thwack—

I struck the approaching manager's throat and dashed down the hall.

The fat Andor let out a grunt just as he, too, fell face first.

Before Andor hit the floor, I grabbed him and dragged him into our room.

Kudo dragged the unconscious manager in after us.

"Move them both into the bathroom, gag their mouths, tie them together. Wedge something against the bathroom door so they can't get out."

"Got it."

Kudo hauled Andor into the bathroom.

Looking out the window, I saw dusk was falling.

It was only for today, anyway.

"When it's over, you get out first."

"What are you going to do alone?"

"Get a fishing boat and wait under the mercenary building. Come at midnight if you can. If our boat arrives, signal us."

"All right."

I went straight to Andor's room.

The scene inside was a spectacle.

The air was thick with hallucinogenic smoke.

Four naked women swayed around, completely out of it, unaware of what was happening.

If I'd entered through the main gate, my false identity would have been exposed.

Running into Andor turned out to be lucky. With his name tag, my cover was solid.

I pocketed Andor's name tag from the table. Then I mixed up Andor's clothes with my own.

Even if he had companions, since I didn't match his build, they wouldn't recognize me.

/ / /

I entered the arena.

After sunset, the crowds swarmed into the arena. Thanks to Andor's name tag, I got in without a hitch.

The dome-shaped building to the north was the arena.

In this circular stadium, gladiators fought for their lives.

The guests bet huge sums of money.

It could hold up to a thousand people. There was only one main entrance, and three doors for guards and officials.

There were two iron doors in the stadium for the gladiators to come out of.

The spectator section was outrageously lavish.

Most people lounged on soft couches, with a few openly having sex.

"Karlos! Kill him now!"

"Yeah! Play with him for a bit, then finish him!"

"Kill him! Karlos!"

In the arena, two muscular men fought, blood spraying, as the audience screamed at the top of their lungs.

There was a wild banquet and even a hallucinogenic party going on.

The arena was already drenched in blood.

The very stench of blood seemed enough to awaken the dormant wickedness in people.

Just now, one gladiator collapsed.

"Karlos! Kill him!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The whole crowd chanted as one.

Meat in one hand, wine in the other.

Greasy lips and eyes shining with madness.

Black tongues stained with wine.

Shk.

The downed man's head was cut off.

"Wahhh! Karlos!"

"Karlos, you're the best!"

The arena rang with cheers and frenzy.

Applause and laughter never stopped. These people bet, drank, watched blood, and reveled in death.

"The third match will begin soon! This time, our rising star, milo! Will Milo survive and go on to face Karlos? Place your bets now, everyone!"

"Waaaah!"

A cauldron of pleasure and ecstasy.

When humans pursue pleasure to the utmost, the final step is murder.

In this arena, all forms of human pleasure were present.

And then...

As I watched the arena, I blinked, doubting my eyes.

Those clearing away the decapitated heads and bodies—

At first, I thought it was just a lookalike.

But no, it wasn't.

Roman the priest?

Why was he there?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Time to get Roman out of Epstein's Island.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】