Chapter 224

Chapter 224 – Bro Has His Ways

We arrived at the Second Black-White Slums on horseback.

Before entering the area, we disguised our identities with masks and robes.

“How about it? Pretty decent, right?”

As soon as we crossed into the Second Black-White Slums, Evelyn pointed boastfully at the street and posed the question.

I casually surveyed the street scene before nodding.

“You must have worked hard.”

“Well, did I work hard? It was the Timur and Svetlana cartels that busted their asses.”

“I know.”

“……”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed in a pout after I humbly deflected the credit.

But I pretended not to notice and quickened my steps.

‘Definitely…… it’s changed a ton.’

Evelyn had been bragging so much that my words had veered off track, but calling it hard work was no empty compliment.

Just look.

‘Is this really the Black-White Slums?’

The streets of the Second Black-White Slums had changed dramatically.

Roads once caked in dust and littered with trash were now spotless, and the drunks sprawled in every alley had vanished without a trace.

Sure, the Black-White Slums’ signature grime hadn’t entirely vanished, but this was change enough to stun anyone.

So why the transformation…… It was all Evelyn’s doing.

• It might not be pristine, but at least let’s avoid anything that turns stomachs.

It could’ve been a tall order, but Timur had accepted gladly—and this was the result.

‘I heard he even roped in the neighboring cartels……’

Truth be told, it wasn’t a bad deal for the Second Black-White Slums cartel either.

Call it a tourism boom?

Of course, the cleanup hadn’t touched the whole Second Black-White Slums.

‘Just the zones where nobles might pass?’

Anyway, we reached Svetlana’s hideout.

“Ah, you’re here? The boss is waiting.”

We followed the welcoming gang member up the stairs.

Timur was buried in a mountain of paperwork, but he broke into a smile at our entrance and gestured to seats.

“You’re here? Early today.”

“Yeah, big day.”

Evelyn settled onto the sofa, and Timur signaled for tea.

The Timur greeting us beamed so brightly it was impossible to recall our rocky first meeting—he knew this was a goldmine.

‘Money makes cartel bosses dance, alright.’

Anyway, the pair dove into auction talk as usual, and a thought struck me.

‘Evelyn’s a villain.’

Timur probably was too.

Yet here these two villains were, chatting normal business instead of plotting crimes.

‘Sure, it’s auction-driven, but it’s rubbing off positively on the Black-White Slums……’

But consider this.

What if they’d never crossed paths, each living their separate lives?

If Evelyn hadn’t been cast out by Goldrin, and Timur had never met her.

‘Evelyn would’ve kept up her dirty deeds, and Timur would’ve been your run-of-the-mill cartel boss—nothing more, nothing less.’

That’s what made the sentiment so fresh.

In a way, I was the one who’d linked them.

‘Is this what they call positive influence?’

My chest swelled with a strange grandeur.

Watching them, another thought bubbled up.

‘Should I really put the magic tower in the actual Black-White Slums?’

The Second Black-White Slums had been on my shortlist anyway, but seeing villains reformed on my watch only firmed my resolve.

No place fit the magic tower’s ethos quite like the Black-White Slums.

‘And the land’s dirt cheap.’

I mulled over the magic tower a bit longer.

“Hmm, time’s flown. How about we head out for dinner?”

“Sounds good. We can hash out the rest on the way.”

The two wrapped up and set off for food.

They’d usually hit some hole-in-the-wall and grab a bite, but today Timur led us to a swanky restaurant.

“Like the duke suggested, we spruced it up for nobles. Feel free to point out fixes after you see it.”

“Hey, we checked it last week—what else is there to see?”

“Haha, it’s just an excuse to roll out the red carpet, so play along?”

“Fine, if you insist……”

They bantered nonsense as they stepped inside.

I trailed after, drinking in the restaurant’s vibe.

Had to be the noble prep.

It wasn’t quite Hazen-level opulence, but the place was so tidy it was hard to believe it was Black-White Slums.

Yet, something felt off.

“……Hmm.”

Timur halted abruptly.

We had no choice but to stop too, and his face looked frozen at a glance.

“What’s up?”

Timur ignored Evelyn’s question. He just stared ahead, eyes twitching.

I eyed his profile a moment, then traced his gaze.

‘What the hell?’

Timur was locked on a single man.

The guy had claimed a whole table, scarfing food like a beast, flanked by four robed figures standing sentinel.

That’s when it hit me.

“Hmm, Timur does have a knack for business…… Huh? Speak of the devil, isn’t that Boss Timur?!”

The man, nose-deep in his plate, dropped his gnawed chicken leg and heaved his bulky frame upright.

“They say tigers come when you speak their name!”

Timur, who’d been staring silently, finally spoke.

“……Hormei.”

Hormei? Who the hell?

No, hold up.

I narrowed my eyes, clocking the four robed men behind him.

‘Those aren’t…… Troubleshooters?’

They figured they’d masked their presence well, but my senses weren’t fooled.

Troubleshooters, plain as day.

A ritzy restaurant in the city of Hazen.

“Hmm, so today’s the day?”

Vasilin, slicing into a ribeye steak, got a flat reply from Bitin.

“Yes, just light scouting today. We don’t know who’s behind the auction.”

“What was the name again?”

“Hormei.”

“Right, Hormei. Hmm…… Hormei.”

Vasilin popped a bite-sized chunk into his mouth and chewed.

Gaze tilted skyward like he was pondering, he spoke soon enough.

“Wonder if that trash can pull it off.”

“No need to worry. He eyed the godfather seat once upon a time. And……”

Bitin flicked his eyes aside. The staff caught the look and slipped out.

Bitin waited till they were gone.

“Didn’t Decullan send hunting dogs? More than enough to keep him mobile.”

“Hunting dogs, yeah…… Hunting dogs. But that bugs me too.”

“How so……”

“Troubleshooters?”

“Yes, four from the teens.”

“Heard the teens are solid. But aren’t they just disposable hounds?”

“Not certain myself, but the teens are top-tier from what I hear. No worries needed.”

Vasilin grunted ‘hmm’ at Bitin’s words.

He tapped his knife on the plate irritably.

“Black-White Slums ain’t a pushover.”

Folks tended to dismiss Black-White Slums.

Same went for their cartels, but Vasilin’s intel said otherwise—they were no joke.

Think about it.

Lawless turf beyond the law’s reach.

Fugitives flock in, get scooped up by cartels, bulk up their muscle.

Easy pickings?

Bullshit.

If they were, some rival outfit would’ve gobbled the Slums ages ago.

“Not full-on war—just eyes on their moves.”

“That so? Am I overthinking?”

“Yes, and Azure Ice mages are on him too?”

“Right, Azure Ice tagged along.”

Azure Ice was one of Decullan Family’s flagship mage squads.

Two in disguise stuck to Hormei—if Troubleshooters hit a wall, they’d handle it.

“Still uneasy. You know the war chest we dumped on Decullan?”

That was the rub.

Vasilin funneled funds to Decullan; they propped him up to seize Goldrin.

But Vasilin wasn’t seeing payback.

‘Dumping Evelyn was smart, but……’

The stash handed over for Decullan’s Lortel war wasn’t peanuts.

So he’d turned to Black-White Slums to recoup.

Now auctions were stirring shit in the Second Slums—variables irking him.

“Tch, whatever. What could go wrong?”

“Nothing will. Plus, Azure Ice’s captain promised—if business hits snags, he’ll jump in himself.”

“True enough.”

Vasilin finally nodded, eased.

Second Black-White Slums cartels be damned, auction backers whoever……

Azure Ice captain meant the whole Azure Ice squad.

“Oh, right—what’s the captain up to?”

“Burning through shopping in Hazen……”

“Better not skimp on the VIP treatment.”

“Of course not.”

“Good.”

Vasilin dove back into his meal.

On another note:

‘Azure Ice’s captain better earn that paycheck.’

Weeks back, Decullan’s guest was the Azure Ice captain.

Priority one: swallow the Second Black-White Slums.

“We gave the godfather heads-up early, but tighten the watch. Keep tabs on Second Slums moves.”

“Understood.”

Bitin bowed crisply.

Vasilin eyed him a beat, then gripped knife and fork anew.

……Vasilin had no clue yet.

What perils stalked the Second Black-White Slums, or who pulled the auction strings.

A back alley in the Second Black-White Slums.

Hormei lay sprawled, beaten to a pulp.

Behind him, the Troubleshooters were crumpled like trash, a shadow falling over Hormei’s face.

“Alright, spill. Who’re you, where you from, what’s your tie to those goons?”

“Y-you……”

Aster fixed Hormei with a stare, then smirked.

“Not talking? Fine, keep your mouth shut. Bro’s got ways around that. Don’t you dare spill, got it? Oh, first……”

Aster gazed skyward, eyes closing briefly.

‘Moon, make me a righteous Troubleshooter again today.’

Broad daylight.