Chapter 31

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Chapter 31 – A Way To Get Close To (2)

“Do you think your smile will hide what’s inside?”

“…”

“Just because it’s covered doesn’t mean it’s invisible, but you still don’t know it.”

She spoke as if it was foolish and disappointing. Evelyn looked annoyed and picked up her teacup.

“Stop doing useless things, and get your work done while you’re here.”

Liam’s visit on his own meant he had business with Evelyn. Whether it was exploring, asking for a favor, or personal business that Evelyn didn’t expect. Since the current meeting did not happen in the original, she couldn’t be sure about his purpose.

Nevertheless, Evelyn must act as if she already knew. So she cut him off before he even spoke, and indicated her unwillingness to listen. Like someone who could read Liam’s thoughts thoroughly.

“What are you talking about…?”

“I think you need to buy someone.”

“Do you mean a slave–”

“Find those who are strong enough to carry the cargo and have a heavy mouth.”

Hearing the condition Evelyn added, Liam’s blue eyes lit up. Needing someone with good strength was not a very important condition. As she said, the employment she mentioned was to carry luggage, so it was a natural condition. However, the condition of having a heavy mouth was slightly different. It was slang commonly used in back alleys. It meant nobles wanted workers to do dirty or secret work. Under these conditions, they usually look for people in need of money. It was to find someone who could keep their silence and sell their conscience for money, despite knowing it would harm someone.

Nobles sometimes needed such things. Even if they had many vassals and members of the household, not all of them would sell their conscience and morals for their master. Being ordinary was also a filter that could not be easily escaped. Ordinary people could be eroded by guilt when they engage in harming or hurting someone. If you realize that you are involved in something dangerous, you may be terrified and out of control. On the other hand, workers who have already sold their conscience for large sums of money ignore the guilt and fear. This is because they remember the real benefit of the money they held. Of course, secrecy is not perfectly maintained. Words can leak anywhere. So, when the nobles asked for this kind of work, they knew every detail of the employee’s identity and even checked their residence. This was to find the source of information by threatening the family if the secret is leaked. Also, it was to control secrets through surveillance.

Evelyn also intended to go through such a process.

“I’ll pay the workers generously.”

Evelyn maintained her relaxed attitude. Liam also accepted her words in a calm tone.

“You are talking about a worker. How much do you think the advance fee is?”

“Advance payment would be difficult. I have no money right now.”

For a moment, Liam was about to say something. When hiring a worker, a certain amount of remuneration was usually paid in advance, and the balance was paid after task completion. The advance payment is the minimum profit guaranteed by the client. Workers do not easily respond to work without advance payments because it was not uncommon to not get paid after the work is done. This is a condition that applied not only to those with heavy mouths but also to ordinary workers. It was unfair if you didn’t get the money you deserved after working hard. Furthermore, if the job was dangerous, the role of an advance fee was more important.

“It will be… difficult to get people.”

“It can’t be helped. I don’t have money right now. Please gather only those who want to do it even if there is no advance payment. The fee will be paid twice the market price after work is completed.”

It wasn’t a lie. Evelyn really didn’t have money right now. When she left the estate, she gave up her conscience and brought some wealth, but it wasn’t a huge amount. The only thing Evelyn received from Liam was the ownership of the mansion and some servants. The maintenance cost of the mansion, the salaries of the servants, and the series of expenses, including food materials, are all up to her. She had spent almost all her money over the past month. If it continued like this, it will be impossible to maintain the employment of Rebellio, which was currently the powerful force among Evelyn’s strength. Thanks to the half-year salary provided in advance, she could still maintain it, but…

What Evelyn should be concerned with wasn’t just now, since she had some time left, but what happens next. She needed to secure enough funds before the slack ran out, so there would be no restrictions on future moves.

For now, she was focused on Liam and avoiding outside activities, but things will change by the time Cesar starts to notice. Now was the right time for Liam’s interest and connection with Evelyn to increase. After securing funds. her scam could be wrapped up more plausibly. Evelyn tilted her teacup and ignored Liam’s eyes scanning over her.

From his point of view, it was ridiculous. She had no money and yet demanded him to do this and that… In a way, it seemed like a tantrum. Since it was Liam, it wouldn’t be strange if he snorted and ignored it. However, the result was bound to be different because it was Evelyn who brought up the absurd proposal right away. Liam was suspicious of her and had begun to observe her, so he responded.

“If you are in a hurry, I will lend you money. I might as well gather some workers in my line–”

“I can earn money if I have time and people. Why should I owe you?”

Cutting off Liam, Evelyn’s voice was sharper than usual. She refused the help he offered; it was an action to get a dramatic effect later. The best result would come if his pride was hurt by refusing his proposal. She had already drawn a line with Liam, clarifying their exchange. Sticking to an attitude of accepting only as much as she gave away will not cause much of an incompatibility.

“I have to leave tomorrow morning, so hurry up. I’d appreciate it if you could prepare a wagon. The wagon rental fee is also postpaid.”

Liam’s eyebrows wriggled and soared and did not easily come down. It would be nice if it were a sign that he was ready to take off his mask. Evelyn stood up with a smile to prod his temper.

“I don’t think I have to listen to your business, so go back now. Next time, please don’t suddenly come like this.”

‘Now this is my mansion,’ Evelyn left the drawing-room.

The movement that started at dawn ended only after the sky turned black. As soon as Rot got off the wagon he was driving, he screamed in pain. While traveling on an unpaved mountain road, his hips and back throbbed. It wasn’t just Rot. All the workers who had dragged the cart all day were exhausted.

“Rest until further instructions.”

So, he was relieved inwardly at the words of the unidentified man who guided them to this place. The workers, including Rot, wrapped themselves in their blankets and laid themselves on the cold ground.

When the night passed and dawn deepened.

“Everyone wake up.”

The men, who had been taking turns, started waking up the workers. While still half-sleep, Rot got up in a hurry.

“From now on, take what I distribute.”

Meanwhile, men without names nor faces handed out small pills. Conflict arose on the faces of those who looked down at the white pills in their hands. They were afraid to blindly take a drug that they did not know what it was. Rot also rolled his eyes and hesitated. No one took the medicine first. Instead of urging them, the people wearing hoods just stood still.

“Wha– what is this?”

When someone asked, the situation that continued as if the two sides were confronting each other ended.

“It’s an immunization drug.”

The man who answered the question approached the nearest worker. Then he took the medicine he was holding and swallowed it.

“I will take it this time. Whose else should I eat so you believe it’s not poison?”

While blinking several times, both men who were leading the workers took the same medicine. Only then did some of the workers start taking the medicine. When everyone ate what was called immunosuppressants, a noise was heard.

“It’s over. Let’s move.”

“Yes, I understand. Let everyone get on the wagon.”

The workers immediately got into their own wagons. And just like when they arrived, they were led by men. They passed a bare tree and arrived in front of a cliff in the distance.

“Huk-!”

Some covered their mouths in fear, and Rot was no exception. The place where they arrived was covered with red bloodstains and corpses. They didn’t think the people lying in front of them were alive. Although, even in the dark, the severed head could be clearly seen, so it was impossible to be alive.

“You must finish before the sun comes up. Hurry up,” said the man who was collecting the corpses in front of the cliff.

Rot couldn’t look directly at him, covered in blood.

“Yes, I’ll start right away.” The man who answered first hurried the hardened workers.

“People from the front group, pick up a box and follow.”

Obviously, many were terrified. However, even if they all had pale faces, they hurried after the man. Because they guessed that this was not a normal accident. The people who gave them the job in the first place were gangsters doing dirty things in the back alleys. Since ancient times, nobles had bought people with heavy mouths and in need of money to do dangerous or dirty work.

Rot, who was always in need of money, had experience doing such a thing a few times. There had been times when he moved a sack that clearly contained a person, or delivered a box without knowing what was in it. If you kept the secret well after work, you were sometimes called by the same client. And in that case, you usually received a lot of money. A huge amount of money that he couldn’t even dream of without even a modest job. In fact, Rot was relieved when he was offered this job. The need for money was really urgent, so he secretly wanted it. He accepted the quest even though he knew there was no advance payment, but he couldn’t pull himself off.

Even if what he saw was a headless corpse. The corpse and blood terrified Rot, but not enough to dispel his greed.

‘If it’s like this, they’ll play it a lot, right…’

Full of anticipation, Rot took the lead and followed the man leading the way.

As he stepped into the cave perched on one side of the cliff, he felt a chill run down his spine. The more he went inside, the stronger the pungent scent became. Suddenly, the surrounding area was full of foggy smoke.

Was there a fire? As Rot sniffed and lifted his nose he saw a light in the distance. That was the moment he saw the long bloodstains stretching inside. All he did was gulp and swallow.

Eventually, they reached their destination fairly deep inside, and Rot’s jaw dropped.

——

I should say this just in case. I still don’t know Rot’s gender since Koreans usually don’t use pronouns. So I’ll leave it as ‘he’ unless I confirm the gender otherwise.

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