Capítulo 15: Huge Wealth
Bai Yi had no real memory of this dwarf—Tobu Castle, to him, was just a backdrop in the story. In the original game, players would participate in a large-scale mission to help defend Dongwu City against mutated monsters, only for the entire city to eventually fall. By then, the old gold-level city lord was missing, likely dead long before the final siege.
But with Sabo's keen insight, Bai Yi wondered if the current city lord would be able to withstand the monster horde once the players arrived. "Tell me what you've discovered," Bai Yi said, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.
Sabo, looking uneasy, swallowed hard. "My friend, what have *you* found?"
"Less talk, more telling. Just say what you know." Bai Yi's calm voice held a note of finality.
Sabo hesitated, then gave a solemn nod. "Alright, I don't have anything concrete, but since becoming a quartermaster, I've felt… restrained, like there's something—or someone—constantly watching me."
He glanced around, then continued in a lower voice. "It's not just the City Lord's Mansion. It's Dongwu City as a whole. This place is *too* peaceful. Not even the slums have large gangs operating openly, and we both know that the 'rats in the gutter' are never truly gone. Yet here, it's like they've been scrubbed out, leaving behind a city that feels… unnaturally prosperous."
Sabo shook his head in amazement. "It's unheard of in an age without gods, especially on the borderlands. Even the city of faith for the God of Light isn't as stable as this place. And then, as soon as the Will family and the Scarlet Cult entered, that calm shattered. Gangs started springing up, challenging each other and the small groups that had managed to survive."
Sabo's expression darkened. "I started digging, and I realized that these small gangs had been dormant, almost waiting for this. They're made up of vagrants who somehow organized themselves *too* quickly. Their identities check out; no flaws, nothing to raise suspicion. Yet they managed to uncover two Scarlet Sect members in just the last few days. And that brawl we saw outside? Most of the casualties were from these new gangs."
The amazement in Sabo's eyes deepened, mingling with unease. He was practically trembling with excitement as he spoke. But Bai Yi, calm as ever, tapped a nearby instrument, cutting Sabo off. He raised three fingers.
"Three hundred thousand," Bai Yi said, setting the price for the energy guns without missing a beat.
Sabo blinked, taken aback by the sudden demand. His expression turned serious as he realized Bai Yi had no hesitation. A cold chill ran through Sabo—this felt almost too familiar, the kind of life-and-death control he'd exercised over corrupt officials in the past.
"Deal," he replied instantly, valuing his own safety above all else.
Bai Yi smiled faintly. Working with sharp-minded people made things easier; they didn't need threats, just a nudge in the right direction.
Still, Bai Yi knew Sabo's talent for making money—and his reckless curiosity. Sabo's fate was nearly sealed; if he tried to pry into the Night Rose organization, he'd likely meet a swift end.
"Tell your people to drop all interest in investigating that group. If they're clumsy, it'll be the end of them," Bai Yi murmured.
"You… know something," Sabo began, but quickly stopped. If this was an organization as powerful as it seemed, he was already within their crosshairs.
"Understood," Sabo muttered, his face darkening as he processed his precarious situation.
Then, an idea dawned on him. "My friend, would you be interested in getting your hands on whatever the Will family is looking for?"
Bai Yi's response was swift. "No."
Sabo smiled, undeterred. He reached into his coat and pulled out a badge emblazoned with the Dawn Federation emblem, placing it on the table next to Bai Yi.
"And now?" he asked.
Bai Yi picked up the badge and examined it, his pupils narrowing. The string of zeros on it represented an extraordinary amount—five hundred thousand gold coins, the largest sum he'd ever seen. Enough to buy all the silver-level alchemical knowledge available, public version or not.
Yet his expression remained calm as he pocketed the badge. "Is this batch of energy guns the only request?"
"You're as sharp as ever, my friend." Sabo's flattery was laced with relief.
Bai Yi's lip twitched. So, the man was marking up each gun as if it were silver-grade, likely asking one thousand per weapon. No wonder he'd been willing to agree to two hundred thousand earlier. "I'm not interested in anything directly tied to the councilor's family, but the Scarlet Sect? That's another matter."
Sabo nodded eagerly. Bai Yi continued, "Eighty percent of any profit from the Scarlet Sect investigation comes to me. I'm taking a risk here."
"Agreed!" Sabo replied without hesitation.
Sabo then moved to the corner of the room. An oily, dark aura rippled around him as he summoned the five hundred Barrett Energy Guns into his personal storage, then swiftly headed for the door.
For him, curiosity had brought him to the brink of a fatal crisis, and now all that mattered was survival. And if Bai Yi held information on this dangerous organization, he would do anything to secure his protection.
Turning back to Bai Yi, Sabo paused at the threshold. "Oh, my friend, there's a banquet tonight at the City Lord's Mansion. I imagine our old city lord might extend an invitation. Also, word of your breakthrough to silver-level alchemist should reach all of Dongwu City by evening."
Bai Yi considered the news, then nodded. "I'll be ready."
Sabo grinned, his smile returning with its usual sly charm as he slipped out the door, leaving Bai Yi alone with his thoughts.
Estado de energía semanal
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