Those Who Live Without the Law

Chapter 80

An Unexpected Joiner

As Geumdaeji sat on the chair, it let out a creak that sounded like a scream.

The thick head of the large lit cigar burned red, and the smoke it exhaled seeped into the air like ash.

"So you wanted to see me, Kairus?"

A voice as thick and heavy as his build rang out.

"Yeah. Should I just call you Geumdaeji?"

As Geumdaeji raised his hand to the side, a dirt-streaked glass filled with amber-colored liquor was respectfully offered to him.

"Do whatever the hell you want. But what’s your reason for wanting to see me, even going so far as to mess with my people?"

After emptying the glass, Geumdaeji slammed it down onto the sticky table and said,

"It’s nothing major. I was thinking of renting an office."

As soon as he heard that, Geumdaeji made a huh? sound.

"If it’s something like that, you could’ve just gone to any building owner and leased a place."

"That’d be expensive. I’m looking for a place I can call an office at a reasonable price."

Nobody wanted to live in a mold-ridden semi-basement where water pooled on the floor when it rained and cockroaches kept you company.

And to think that such a place would still cost thousands of pyints every month?

"If the place is good, then you gotta pay what it’s worth."

"If you beat someone up, the price goes down. Why would I pay the full asking price?"

Kairus’s words were clearly provocative.

"So, are you saying you're gonna beat me down and drive the price down?"

"Come on, of course not."

Just as the atmosphere started to turn tense, Kairus waved his hand with a smile.

"If you quote a reasonable price, I won’t have any reason to hit you, will I?"

In other words, if he didn’t want to get hit, he should name a fair price.

"And what if I just don’t want to make a deal?"

"Then I stop being a surprise guest and become a robber."

A robber doesn’t wait for the owner’s permission to take something. If it’s something they need, they take it—whether the owner allows it or not.

"You piece of shit, getting cocky just because people keep entertaining you. You get a little famous and now you think the world belongs to you?"

Finally, Geumdaeji threw his cigar to the ground and stood up. The ten rings adorning both his hands resonated with a dull, heavy vibration.

"I’ll take that as you saying you’re not interested in a deal."

Kairus, too, drew Flicker. At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if they started swinging weapons at each other right away.

"The 58-pyeong office on the second floor. 4,800 pyints, maintenance fee not included."

To Geumdaeji’s offer, Kairus responded with an ambiguous expression.

"What’s with the stingy 4,800? Just round it nicely to 4,500."

Geumdaeji let out a scoffing sound.

"You like your numbers clean, huh? Then how about 5,000 pyints? How’s that?"

Kairus and Geumdaeji’s eyes met for a moment. The rent wasn’t exactly cheap.

But it wasn’t absurdly expensive either.

"If the place is decent, I can accept that price."

To Kairus’s words, Geumdaeji replied,

"The price stays the same. I can show you about three other places that are similar. Choose one. If none of the three suit you, then one of us is going to die."

From Geumdaeji’s perspective, this was the best offer he could make. If Kairus still wasn’t satisfied with the deal, there would be no point continuing the negotiation.

"Just so you know, if you reject this offer and come at me swinging, it’s not just going to be my people getting involved."

Geumdaeji had made a reasonable offer. If Kairus ignored that and used force, not only Geumdaeji but the other property owners would step in as well.

[They say you can rent an office for dirt cheap if you throw a punch.]

A rumor like that spreading was something none of the property owners could tolerate.

"I get it. That’s why I said if the price is reasonable, there’s no reason for us to fight."

Kairus calmly agreed to Geumdaeji’s warning.

"Let’s start by seeing the office."

At Kairus’s words, Geumdaeji nodded and gave instructions to a few of his men.

Then the underlings guided Kairus and Irena to several nearby buildings.

Among the offices he was shown, Kairus chose the second one.

"I’ll take this one. Rent will be 5,000 pyints as Geumdaeji proposed."

It was the kind of office worth that price. The building had been completed just five months ago, and it was in a fairly good location.

However, its size was slightly smaller than the 58 pyeong Geumdaeji had mentioned—closer to 50 pyeong. Also, its layout was more suited for residential use than for office work.

The slightly smaller size was a downside, but Kairus was willing to pay an extra 500 pyints if Geumdaeji had asked.

The residential structure was actually a plus, considering that people would need to live and eat inside the space anyway.

"Our boss says there’s no problem with proceeding with the deal right away."

Geumdaeji’s men told Kairus.

"Someone from the Rose Garden will come, right?"

"Of course. What, you think we’d just hand over the office based on trust?"

Just as Kairus didn’t trust Geumdaeji, Geumdaeji didn’t trust Kairus either.

That was how things worked in this city. Kairus explained to Irena what the Rose Garden’s role was in this city, just in case.

"What? That’s not the kind of authority a crime syndicate should have."

"If you just think of them as a crime syndicate, you’ll seriously regret it later. And always refer to the Representative of the Rose Garden as the Representative—whether there are eyes watching or not."

While they were talking, someone from the Rose Garden arrived. Kairus finalized the contract on the spot and paid the deposit to the Rose Garden.

That was it. As of now, Kairus had officially rented the office.

"Now, what’s left is..."

He had to bring Melvin here and immediately begin the search for the ruins.

Kairus headed straight to Tanya’s emergency room. As soon as he arrived, Tanya Lysand said to him,

"I’d like to be a part of it, too."

Kairus’s gaze immediately shifted to Melvin Istovan. There was only one way Tanya Lysand could’ve known about the underground ruins of the Dersos civilization.

"Doctor, I didn’t take you for someone with a loose tongue."

"I didn’t say anything."

Melvin was just as flustered. He knew full well that there was nothing to gain from blabbing about this to others.

To find the ruins, a massive amount of research material was needed, and naturally, Melvin had packed the documents he required into his travel bag.

While moving the luggage, the bottom of the bag had burst, spilling the contents everywhere. Tanya Lysand had helped gather the documents, and that’s how she found out.

"...Seriously."

Kairus, listening, found it hard to believe but then was left speechless when he saw the ripped bottom of Melvin’s bag.

"As I thought, you all coming to me must have been part of my father’s divine arrangement."

Tanya Lysand made the sign of the cross and smiled. The great fortune that had allowed her to serve for years on the battlefield apparently was still watching over her.

But that was only the case if Kairus accepted Tanya’s offer and allowed her to accompany them.

Kairus had no such intention. He already knew from experience that Tanya Lysand was a skilled doctor. But she wasn’t someone suited for underground exploration.

‘I’ll have to refuse.’

Bringing more people along would only mean dividing up the spoils further. Just as Kairus had resolved to decline her, the emergency room door opened, and two men in suits walked in.

"A message from the Representative."

They were people sent from the Rose Garden. They handed Kairus a letter.

To Kairus:

Though the coldest part of winter still lingers, the temperature has begun to rise slightly, hinting at the changing of seasons—which is a small relief.

I heard you were looking for an office after safely returning from Rezantin City.

I considered offering a bit of help, but I believed you would manage just fine on your own, so I refrained from intervening.

Still, you’re a clever man and accomplished your goal swiftly. That brings me joy.

I’ve just returned to the mansion after attending an unscheduled meeting of the Canal Operations Committee and concluding the discussions there.

The reason I’m reaching out is to inform you of what was decided at that meeting.

The matter decided in the meeting is closely related to the work you and I are currently undertaking, hence this letter.

.

.

.

It was a properly written letter, formal and polite. But after reading it, Kairus’s expression turned extremely complicated.

"Ah, fuck."

The reason the unscheduled meeting of the Canal Operations Committee had been convened was Pontus.

The Rose Garden had done their best, but it seemed word had leaked to other organizations.

Discussions followed regarding the ownership of Pontus, and a conclusion was reached.

[Organizations wishing to obtain Pontus must hire people, form a team, and begin the search.]

[The employer of the team that finds Pontus first will be granted ownership.]

There were a few other minor rules, but those weren’t things Kairus needed to care about.

"This isn’t an archaeological expedition anymore."

That was the crux of the matter. The search for Pontus was no longer an exciting urban underground exploration.

"What do you mean? All we have to do is find it first, right?"

Melvin, unaware of how things worked, asked Kairus that question.

"There aren’t many ways to win a race. But for scum like us, there’s one preferred method."

Kairus replied as he drew his thumb across his neck.

"You kill all the other participants."

If you kill everyone else, you can walk and still come in first.

It was a simple logic. At Kairus’s words, Irena’s expression grew grim.

"That means the other teams have no intention of actually finding Pontus."

"Because we have the advantage if we do it by the book."

Kairus was traveling with Melvin. When it came to finding Pontus through legitimate methods, the other teams had little chance of beating Kairus’s team.

If it comes to a fight...

Kairus’s mind moved quickly. Each team could have up to four members. Filling the team to the brim wasn’t necessarily ideal.

One spot is already taken by Melvin anyway.

Of the four slots, Melvin filled one, and the remaining two would be Kairus and Irena.

That left one spot. Kairus’s gaze turned to Tanya Lysand.

Will two combatants have to be enough?

Since Melvin was occupying a slot, it was impossible to fill all four with fighters.

If the opposing team came at them with four combatants, Kairus would be forced into a 3-on-4 fight.

His gaze remained on Tanya Lysand. She looked calm, as if she already knew how things would turn out.

Let’s say I hire a fighter. Who would I even bring in? Is there anyone in this place I can actually trust?

That was the biggest problem. Kairus had quickly adapted to life in Bennett City, but he hadn’t built a strong network of connections.

It would be great if the Rose Garden assigned someone to him. Kairus checked the letter again.

[It seems best to leave the team composition to you. I have high hopes for you in this matter, and I believe you’ll meet those expectations.]

The Rose Garden apparently had no intention of selecting people for him. They planned to let Kairus assemble his own team and provide support as needed.

"Tanya Lysand, are you still interested in coming with us?"

At Kairus’s question, Tanya made the sign of the cross and nodded.

Rather than add a fighter who couldn’t be trusted and whose abilities were uncertain, Kairus would rather bring a reliable, skilled doctor.

That was his judgment. Tanya Lysand’s emergency care was top-notch, and with Rose Garden’s support, she’d have access to what she needed.

"As long as you’re not killed on the spot, I can keep you alive for about three hours."

"Exactly. I hope you prove your worth."

Tanya Lysand’s role was to buy Kairus the time he needed.

That’s what matters.

Thanks to the procedure of the Featherwing, Kairus’s body would begin healing on its own and get him through critical situations.