CH 189

C189 - Operation Compass Seizure (1)

The money was recovered and delivered to the Water Tails. The Red Tigers were too busy fleeing to see it.

"Thank you, thank you Human!"

Arriving at the Yukayuka market, the Water Tails who had accompanied Jin explained to their people what had happened, and the clan representatives expressed their gratitude.

"We will make, a feast, in honor of you, human, please stay one more day."

"Sorry, I have to go, see you later."

"Eat this, eat this, then!"

The Water Tail Tribe hurried to grill the fish. Twenty golden, well-cooked fish disappeared like a crab from sight.

"Oh, right, do you think you can dye my hair?"

"Suddenly, dye, why?"

"I need it."

"We can't, we can't, wait, wait, look. I'll get the goldsmith, the dyer."

Then he went down the secret passage.

"Oh, human. Our dyeing is elegant and expensive. It's no match for the poor coloring of humans, so prices start at..."

Just as the dyer was about to set the prices, the others appeared, and when they told him about Jin's subjugation of the Red Tiger Tribe, he smiled.

"If that's what happened, I'll do it for free. ha, I wish I could have seen that scum being beaten with my own eyes!".

The dyeing was done quickly.

Jin bid them farewell and left this land through the same secret passageway he had come through.

* * *

Afternoon of the last day of May 1797.

Jin had reached the southern islands of the Bellard Empire.

'This place is still the same.

This unnamed island lay vaguely outside the territorial waters of the Bellard Empire, a land that had become a playground for pirates.

It is exactly where Jin had traveled to participate in the Arena of Cosmos. Even in broad daylight, the streets were a bustle of drug addicts, homeless people and gambling aristocrats.

"Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo!"

A ragged man who looked like both an addict and a vagrant wandered near Jin with a bizarre laugh. Beggars like this were common in the port, mostly mercenaries who had lost a lot of money in the bazaars.

But this man, laughing like a madman, was someone Jon knew well, and he couldn't help but feel both happy and sad to see him.

'That Crazy... Jet.'

Jet.

He'd come here a couple of months ago, mingling with the beggars in the harbor.

To act as a secret liaison. In a sense, he had become the perfect beggar, so versatile that it was hard to tell him apart from a distance.

"Hehehehehe, Young Master, give me some coins, hehehehe!"

Jet pushed the other beggars away and lifted the barrel.

Inside was a note.

(Password: How are you, Bill. The three-nailed plank under the bed in room 203 of the Bird's Nest Inn.)

After reading the note, he tossed in some coins and the beggars behind Jet let out a whoop of joy. waaaaah!

"Hee hee, kya, you'll be blessed!".

Jet took a step back, and the other beggars ran after him like carrion birds.

'I'm glad I recruited him, in his previous life he was a jingling nuisance.'

He smiled contentedly and headed for the Bird's Nest Inn.

The proprietor, leaning back in his chair, saluted when the door opened.

"There's no room, sir. You'll have to go somewhere else."

"How are you, Bill."

The owner then handed him the key to room 203.

As soon as he entered the room, he pushed aside the bed and pulled out a three-nailed plank. Underneath the plank was a thin red wooden board and a letter.

(My lord, it has been a long time. My other companions arrived between a month and two weeks ago and have settled into different inns.

They are all safe and do not seem to notice them at all.

This is what we know so far.

Kinzelo's force consists of the Grand Mage of Anzu, Chukon Toldererer, five suspected 8-star Mages and five suspected White Wolf warriors of raid leader (raid general) level.

We cannot rule out the possibility that they also have several assassins, snipers and other skilled individuals in disguise.

We do not know the strength of Zipple's side - they are expected to show up on the day of the operation - but it is likely that, like Kinzelo, they already have skilled men in disguise.

The start time of the operation remains unchanged at 22:00 on June 1, and the location remains the same: a gambling hall in an abandoned mansion in the north of the island. The attached red wooden board is the entrance ticket to the gambling house.

The place of escape after the operation is also the same for 1, 2 and 3.

On the back of the letter is the address of the inn where your companions are staying.

Oh, and with the consent of Lord Kashimir and Lord Murakan, Siris of the Secret/Hidden Palace has agreed to participate in the operation. He has a lot of experience in espionage, assassinations and guerrilla warfare, so he should be able to help.

I am finally returning to Tikan today, having delivered this note to my lord. I will convey your regards to Gilly. Good luck, my lord!)

All the companions were staying at different inns, so that Zipple and Kinzelo would not see them as a suspicious group.

'One nine-star mage, five eight-star mages, and five assault captain level white wolf warriors...'

It was enough to overthrow a modest kingdom.

'I'm sure Zipple's side will bring at least this many, and tomorrow night the dirty pirate courtyard will be a high-level battlefield.'

This was far beyond what his colleagues had predicted six months earlier.

Therefore, an all-out war was out of the question. Jin had grown stronger, but still not strong enough to handle them all.

But if Jin had not grown, he would have had to seriously reconsider going ahead with the operation.

It was up to him to decide whether to go ahead with the operation or pull out. Six months ago he had made a deal: if he didn't show up at the gambling house, he would come back discreetly.

Of course, Jin had no intention of backing out.

'If they've brought so many men, the compass must be important. I'll take it.'

The operation would be guerrilla anyway, so there would be no all-out war with them.

Even if a full-scale war follows.

It might be worth fighting. It would only be a matter of time before this small island would be destroyed by mages and warriors of the eighth and ninth star unleashing all kinds of magic and abilities.

That would mean everyone would die. Not only would the island be destroyed, but all the ships would be destroyed, and a whirlpool would form in the middle of the sea. Just like Luna wiped the uninhabited islands of Vermont off the map with a single blow of her Heart Sword.

"Besides, if the fight goes any further, Runcandel and Vermont will smell it, and that's the last thing Kinzello and Zipple need.

Neither Runcandel nor Vermont clearly knew of the existence of the Compass yet. If they knew, the men of the two great powers would already be on the island.

Bradamante and Sigmund.

Jin silently adjusted his two swords.

* * *

The next day, at 6 o'clock in the evening of early June.

Jin was in the game room of an abandoned mansion in the north of the island. His dark golden hair was dyed by the inkwell of the yukayuka market, his attire was extravagant and his makeup thick enough to make the two swords at his waist look like a "lantern".

He looked like an ordinary scion of a wealthy and fashionable aristocratic family.

''It's been a long time since makeup went out of fashion in aristocratic society, and I don't understand why anyone would want to do this.''

She felt her pores closed and clogged by the thick layer of powder and blusher. When she looked in the mirror, her face looked almost like a woman's, but she felt strange because she had developed muscles. This was the power of the special cosmetics in that inkwell.

I see, I see. But only the hair? Why didn't you completely cross-dress? I'm an expert at that. No one will ever know!

-Well...

-But make sure you wear only our makeup. Our stuff is different from human sh*t techniques, so you can put it on and make it look real. This on the cheeks, this on the lips, this on the forehead, this on the neck.

Unlike Jin, who was uncomfortable with his appearance, the people in the game room, both men and women, were busy looking at him.

They had never seen such a handsome Young Master before, they wanted to play with him tonight, as well as plans that if he lost all his money, they would approach him to give him money and make more contact, etc.

The brazen voices drowned out his ears. He had been the center of attention quite a few times, but it had been a long time since he had heard so much. Even men with liberal tastes were openly expressing interest.

"It's been a while since I've seen someone like you, but you've brightened up this dingy playhouse. Nice to meet you, I'm Zelia."

But the chatter was interrupted when a dark-haired woman approached. Zelia was the woman who had arrived two weeks ago and had quickly become a celebrity in the gambling house; her real name was Siris Endorma.

At first, Jin had not recognized her. Although they were not as good as Bubar's sculptures, the fragmentations produced by the secret palace were incredible.

It turned out that all his companions were covered in them. Except Murakan, who was in Sirit's arms as Butterfly Runcandel.

"We're better at marbles here, Young Master, it's kind of a specialty. I don't think you know the rules, so why don't I teach them to you?"

Jin gently pushed her away.

"It's okay."

"Well, if you don't want to, it's okay, but if you go to the marble table without knowing anything, you're going to get robbed, so stick to what you're used to. Add up, dice, whatever, and if you think of me while you're playing, come to the marbles table."

He meant that at the marbles table were his buddies, and at the sums and dice, the covert forces of Zipple and Kinzelo, so he'd have to check them out and come back.

"I will."

"Don't be too long, it's almost dark."

To those gathered at the gaming table it sounded like Zelia was flirting with Jin.

When Zelia left, the actual flirting began. Jin shrugged, scanning the sum and dice boards, examining his enemies one by one.

'Kinzelo is one thing, but the Zipples have gone to some extremes, and who knows, maybe their proud mages are waiting here disguised as players.'

The Zipple mages, as expected, all seemed to be of the highest order. As he scanned the room for familiar faces, his gaze fell on two burly figures dressed in robes.

Nearly ten feet tall. Obviously, they were no ordinary giants.

They were White Wolves.

They scratched their heads as if something was wrong with them, got up from their chairs and walked towards Jin.

"Hey, you. Can I talk to you for a moment?".

It was the aura of the beastmen (from Legends).

"I disguised it as best I could, but they sensed it."

Jin looked at them and replied.

"My mother, aren't they White Wolves, I never thought I'd see them in a playhouse!".