Bad Born Blood - Chapter 12



Only Noblemtl

012

The arena manager, Aleph, was a sharp-looking man. He sat on a tattered leather chair, smoking a cigarette. Behind him stood two armed gangsters.

Aleph nodded and greeted Kinuan.

“Let this guy go to the match. I won’t take a prize, and I don’t care if he dies in the fight.”

Kinuan suddenly brought up his business. Aleph raised his eyebrows and flicked his fingers, sending a cigarette butt flying at Kinuan.

Whoosh!

I reached out and flicked the cigarette butt away.

“I think you’re mistaken… … We didn’t send you in to do you a favor. We called you here so that we could easily dispose of the body.”

Aleph laughed, shrugging his shoulders. The gangsters behind him laughed along, their fingers on the triggers.

“… … Where did your predecessor go? I mean, Tora.”

Aleph flinched at the mention of the name Torah.

“He’s dead. They caught him fixing the match.”

While the two men were talking, I took stock of the atmosphere. Aleph’s words were a kind of bluff. If he was going to kill us, he would have attacked us long ago. He is willing to talk and trade.

I listened intently to detect any signs of movement around me.

‘There are two armed gangsters outside the door.’

I prepared myself for the situation if things went wrong. I thought that if I went forward while covering my head and heart with my arms, I could somehow subdue the gangsters in the room. I would get shot a few times, but I wouldn’t die right away.

‘Then… … .’

When the commotion breaks out, the two people outside the door will also come in. Then, you can shoot back with the gun of the gang you took down.

Hmm, I guess I should fire one shot before the door opens and check the aiming error. No matter how much I am, I don’t have the confidence to hit someone else’s head with the first shot. Maybe Elais can do it.

‘A weak body is a burden.’

With my original prosthetic legs and arms, I was confident I could subdue them without a scratch.

Let’s imagine for a moment, I kick the solid iron desk with my foot, sending the gangsters flying and blocking their view. Then I punch through the iron desk with my fist, breaking the gangster’s head along with it. The gangsters waiting outside will open the door and come in later. By then, I will be holding my gun, kicking the wall and ceiling, and sticking to the door frame.

‘Bang, bang.’

Just aim the gun at the target and fire two shots. Since it’s close range shooting, there’s no need to adjust the aiming point.

While I was daydreaming, Kinuan continued his story.

“Torah is not the kind of person who would do something like match fixing.”

Aleph frowned at Kinuan’s words, but did not resort to violence.

Aleph could not readily treat Kinuan lightly. Kinuan’s words and actions gave off the air of a dangerous person. He had the aura of someone who had been through a lot.

“Hey, if you want to talk about old stuff, why don’t you go across the street? There are a lot of women there who will listen to your nonsense. As long as you give them credit.”

Despite Aleph’s warning, Kinuan said what he wanted to say.

“The arena is a very profitable business. I guess you killed Tora and took over. I don’t blame you. Tora killed his predecessor and took over. That’s the nature of this street and the world.”

“Who are you? Do you want to die? Who killed whom?”

Aleph jumped up. The gangsters behind him also aimed their guns.

“Sit down, Aleph. Put down your guns, too. Unless you want to go to Torah’s side. I won’t warn you twice.”

I stood expressionlessly next to Kinuan.

Honestly, I wish Aleph had attacked Kinuan. I was really curious to see how Kinuan, with his weak body, would overcome this situation. He wouldn’t plan on getting shot like I did.

“shit…….”

Aleph raised his palm to stop his subordinate. He sat down.

Aleph was a man of some ability who had a certain position in the back alleys. He must have had a certain intuition to sense danger. He instinctively judged that Kinuan should not be touched.

‘How clever.’

Aleph just saved his life.

“You’re going to send this guy out as a fighter? Are you serious?”

Aleph looked me over and said, his pupils glowing faintly. He must be analyzing my limbs.

“I won’t hold you responsible if this boy dies. I promise.”

I was risking my life. But I couldn’t complain at all. I was the one who asked for instruction. Well, even if that wasn’t the case, Kinuan, the instructor, had the power over my life and death.

“It’s not a matter of life and death. You can’t have a sloppy game. Your limbs aren’t even made for combat. Your body is still a flabby lump of flesh. If you start, you’ll be torn to pieces in a second. Do you think the audience will accept that?”

Hmm, that’s a reasonable inference. I wanted to nod my head at those words. I felt like I was starting to like that guy little by little.

The black market is full of idiots who risk their lives to illegally modify things. They don’t care about side effects and only live for today and tomorrow. But they will gain power in return. Today could really be my funeral.

“I guarantee you… … I can close your business in one day. You can try it. You can pull the trigger. Do you think I’m asking for a favor?”

Kinuan showed his guts. It was a threat and order that was full of experience. If I were to repeat those words, bullets would fly right at me.

‘Kinuan’s words and actions were all calculated from the beginning.’

Kinuan had been the first to bring up the story of the former manager. That was why Aleph thought that Kinuan, with his dignified air, was a big shot.

‘Of course he’s a big shot. A big shot beyond your imagination.’

There is no way the Empire is unaware of the existence of the black market. It can invade and wipe it out at any time. It is a place that operates under the Empire’s tacit approval.

There was a slight tremor in Aleph’s hands and feet. His pupils were also unfocused. He was anxious. And he was probably using all his sources to find out Kinuan’s identity.

It’s a waste of time. There’s no way the guards’ information would be in the back alley information network.

‘There’s a lot to learn from Kinuan.’

I also observed Kinuan’s appearance. He suppressed his opponents and dominated the scene without using force. I did not have such words.

“Haa, I’ll pair you up with a suitable opponent who is on the same level as that boy. Is that okay? In return, I need to have something to lose to.”

Aleph opened the negotiations. Kinuan held out a carrot as if he had been waiting for it.

“I know where the Torah’s vault is kept. Perhaps you have the key to the Torah’s eye?”

Aleph was speechless. His pupils dilated with excitement.

“I really wonder what your true identity is. How much do you know, exactly… .”

“It’s just a ghost of the past that we don’t need to know about.”

Kinuan smiled faintly. When the story of the Torah’s vault came up, Aleph straightened his posture. His arrogant attitude was nowhere to be found.

“Can I check if the information about the safe is correct? Sir?”

The changed attitude was very polite. I desperately held back my laughter.

Kinuan and Aleph spoke in whispers. After the verification process was over, Aleph took Kinuan’s hands in both his.

“Say whatever you want. Oh, if you’re going to watch the game, there’s a VIP seat that has some good drinks and women… … .”

Kinuan waved his hand at Aleph’s flattery.

“Alcohol is enough. And this guy’s opponent doesn’t need any mercy, so just pick a popular guy.”

The story ended in a flash.

“Two hours later. Loosen up.”

As soon as they arrived at the arena waiting room, Kinuan said. He twisted the camera hanging in the corner of the waiting room and took it off. Judging by Aleph’s easygoing attitude, he probably wouldn’t mind a little vandalism.

“Who is Torah?”

“He’s my old friend.”

“Then Aleph is the one who killed your friend.”

“He died because he deserved to die. He was the leader of a gang in the arena, so his karma is bound to pile up.”

Kinuan spoke calmly. I guess they were quite close. If it were me, I would have beaten Aleph to death regardless of the circumstances.

“What is it about the Torah vault that has changed Aleph’s attitude so much?”

“It’s a hidden asset. Judging from your reaction, it seems like you’ve been looking for it all along.”

My first thought was that it was a waste.

“Why didn’t you just grab him right there and take out Torah’s eyes? That’s what I would have done.”

“If you had fought, you would have been shot, even if I don’t know.”

I couldn’t deny it.

“What would you have done if a battle had broken out?”

I blurted out the question I had been holding back.

“I guess you were curious about that. If you win, I’ll tell you.”

Kinuan pointed to a screen on one side of the waiting room. It was a decades-old, antique display that was flickering and showing a faded screen.

‘Gabriel of the Iron Fist.’

A burly warrior with silver-glowing arms appeared on the screen. He was two heads taller than me.

Gabriel’s profile also came to mind. He was 2 meters and 30 centimeters tall and weighed over 300 kilograms. His nose was crooked and zigzag, as if it had been broken several times. His prominent lips were thick and deformed from being torn and healed repeatedly. His eyes were also unusual, as they were made by different manufacturers and were of different sizes and colors.

He was a truly hideous looking fellow.

“Wow, you seem to be popular with the ladies.”

Kinuan said with a smile. He wasn’t being sarcastic, he was being serious. I know what he means. I’m from the lower classes too.

In this neighborhood, a man who is popular with the ladies is… …a guy who makes a lot of money and gets rich quickly.

* * *

“Remember the instructions I just gave you, Luca. They are the most important in the Archieus combat techniques.”

Kinuan said before entering the stadium.

“Are you talking about instructions?”

I stood tall in the hallway leading to the stadium and waited for Kinuan to speak.

“… … I will conform to what is given.”

I frowned without realizing it. Conformity is a word I hate.

“I learned that conformity is defeat.”

“Water is not defeated, it just changes form. You have potential. I’ve been keeping an eye on you since you deflected bullets without a trajectory prediction. When you came to me on your own, I was secretly quite surprised. Someone with the right talent would come to me as if they were being drawn to something.”

“You’re praising me all of a sudden.”

“Because this might be the last time I see you.”

Kinuan spoke with a murderous smile.

I laughed out loud instead of answering. Maybe it was because I came to the lower zone, but my heart felt more open than usual. Perhaps Kinuan was the same.

After today, I felt like I could become closer to Kinuan. If I survived as he said.

Thud, thud.

The stadium was approaching. Aleph’s voice was booming through the speakers.

– In his first appearance, he dares to challenge Gabriel of the Iron Fist! Can the boy become David? A rookie who has not yet lost his virginity, his name is… … Good, Good Boy!

Good boy, you must have just made that up. I shook my head and entered the stadium.

“Wow! What kind of idiot is this?”

“Did you come out here because you wanted to commit suicide! You idiot!”

“What is this? Are you selling tickets for this game?”

It was mostly full of complaints. But in between, the joy of ugly desires faintly flowed into my ears.

“Wow, this is going to be a good show.”

“Is that it today? A slaughter show. How long has it been since I’ve seen one? Did you know Aleph could do something like this?”

The dark desire of humans to see the blood and intestines of others. That anticipation was pushing my back. It seemed that they wanted to see my limbs torn apart and my chest and stomach crushed. I saw a kid who was excited and grabbed his lower body.

It’s not bad. It’s actually good. Now I feel like I’m back home.

I smiled.