Sandro scowled. “And you still need to think? Damn it, Mark! Think about your wife and the baby!”
“Enough,” I said. “We don’t have much time, and I want to make sure we’re home before dark. Melina is alone.”
A vein on his neck bulged outward. I didn’t know if it was because of me saying it, or that he was genuinely worried. Whatever the reason, I didn’t care.
“Line them up next to the wall and strip them of any belongings!” Sandro yelled. “Once you’re done, gather all the packs, suitcases, and whatever we can find inside the mansion! Fill them up with jewelry and money! Fill them up with whatever will be of use to us! Cellphones! Solar chargers! Batteries! You get it?”
I let out a deep sigh as Sandro took over and led Kihot away. I stood in front of the mansion and looked at the display of wealth. It was sickening. He’d been showing off purely without any real taste. Everything was pristine white: the fountain, the walls, the roof, the pillars, and even the cars parked to the side.
I walked into the villa and stopped where my nodachi had pierced the man earlier, and looked to either side of me. A giant and well-furnished living room was to the right, while a big kitchen with an even larger open-style pantry stood to the left. Hundreds of glass containers were filled with all kinds of spices, ingredients, even candy. This was one strange gangster. No wonder his gut had gotten the better of him with all that trash he ate.
I walked up the spiral staircase and stopped at the top. To my front was a giant entertainment area with a pool table, a wall full of screens, expensive leather sofas and tables, a bar, a lot of alcohol, and last but not least, a wall filled to the brim with weapons.
There were a good number of empty shelves where swords and spears had probably been put on display, but his thugs must have taken them to use outside. My heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes on a sword that looked like the one our sect used back in my previous life.
“What’s wrong, boss?” Kang asked as he walked up to me.
I pointed at the sword. “What’s that kind of sword called? You should know as someone who studied the way of martial arts and weapons, right?”
My eyes didn’t wander from the blade when he nodded. I didn’t have to see him do it. I felt the air around his head move slightly and knew he’d done it. How odd. I didn’t think I could use Enma in such a way. I never did in my previous life, as I had an almost unlimited pool of power, but not in this life.
“It looks like a gladius. A replica of Julias Ceasar’s sword.”
I walked over to the gladius and pulled it off the stand. It was almost as heavy as the nodachi, which seemed very strange, but the blade was thick and a good six inches wide. The blade itself was three feet long with a razor-sharp double-sided edge.
Notification:
ITEM RECEIVED:
NAME: Caesar’s Gladius
PHYSICAL ATTACK: 29
ENMA ATTACK: 32
Notification:
PROFICIENCIES UNLOCKED:
1. One-Handed Weapon – Level 1 – 0.0%
2. Gladius – Level 1 – 0.0%
3. Light Armor – Level 1 – 0.0%
NOTE: Every increase in level adds to Attacks,
Speed, Accuracy, and Defense.
“It’s quite a good blade, this Caesar’s Gladius. I don’t know what kind of metal this is, but I’m taking this baby with me.”
Kang shrugged and nodded at the wall. “Do we need the rest of these weapons as well?”
“Yeah, but that can wait. Have everyone choose a weapon for themselves and leave the rest here. We can haul them over during the next few days.”
“Whatever you say, boss. What about firearms, though? These things are useless as shit the way they’re working. We need to wait thirty seconds between shots.”
“With every gun?”
“Every gun,” he replied.
“I’ll talk to Mark, as he seems good with guns. Let him decide if he needs anything.”
“Sure thing. Anything else?”
“No, I’m done here. I want to go home to Melina.”
I grabbed the gladius’s scabbard from the display and sheathed the sword, then swung it around my shoulder. It was identical to the nodachi. Once sheathed, it weighed close to nothing, but once freely in my hand, it was at least three times heavier.
“Make sure everyone has a scabbard for their weapon. It’s much lighter once sheathed, Kang. Try it out for yourself, and make sure everyone does it as well.”
I stopped near the fireplace and grabbed a stack of bills, then put it inside my yukata. Looking around once more, I strolled out of the room and down the stairs. Sandro was busy yelling at Kihot, even smacking him around, but I didn’t care. The bastard would die today no matter what.
The dead were out to the right and lined up in a neat row. It was a shame having to do something like this, but I needed his wealth and people. What’s more, I needed peace, and if gangs were running around causing shit all over the city, then that problem needed to be solved. Which brought me to a new matter. Were there any other gangs around? That would be a problem for tomorrow, though.
Chapter Ten
“Boss, we got a problem.”
One of Kang’s cousins ran up to me. I didn’t know his name, and he didn’t stand out with anything but that he was slightly shorter and slimmer than the rest. He looked extremely agile and fleet-footed. Good, I could definitely use someone like him for a range of tasks.
“What is it?”
“The cops are here.”
“Cops?”
“Yeah, the police.”
I nodded as understanding dawned on me. They were the guardsmen of this world. Highly corrupt and fickle. There were good people among them, but they were drowned out by the mass of bad apples.
“Are they hostile?”
He shook his head. “Not yet, but six of us are standing guard near the barricades.”
“Good. Go get the rest and back us up. I’ll try to deal with them on my own.”
The man ran off, and I was right. He was quick on his feet.
I made my way toward the barricade, where a group of men was busy scuffling with the six cousins. I studied the situation and whatever I could take in from where I stood, but the cars obstructed my view too much. It couldn’t be helped, but if their guns didn’t fire any faster than the guns those thugs used, everything would be easy enough.
“Where is Kihot?” one of the men demanded.
He was trying to push past the cousins, but they were holding him at bay with the spears and swords. No one dared draw first blood, probably afraid of death, but who wasn’t? Even though I was far ahead in comparison to most people, the fear of death was always present.
“He’s dead!” I yelled. “I killed him and have taken over, so any deal you had with him will be negotiated with me!”
My hand moved to the nodachi’s hilt and stayed there. He studied me and shook his head disdainfully. I was getting sick of this shit. Sure, I was only six feet tall, and some of these bastards towered above me, but why look down on people? The world had changed so badly overnight that nothing mattered anymore.
The cop was bald and broad-shouldered. The muscles on his arms bulged outward and made his uniform look as if it was about to burst at the seams. His weapon of choice? A baton. What was it with these batons? They had a short reach and did barely any damage. All they were good for was speed.
His steely gaze was focused on mine. I stepped up to him and pushed the cousins aside, then looked slightly up into his eyes.
“So you’re the new guy, huh? They called us over, saying someone was causing trouble. What now?”
“Now? You turn around and go home if you have families and want to see them again.”
“Really?” he asked, baring his teeth and getting up in my face.
“They’re gangsters, not upstanding citizens. How do you think it will look if people see how cops come to the defense of this kind of person?”
; “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he hissed. “We have agreements in place so things are kept in check and the gangs don’t bother the ordinary folks!”
“In check? I’ll destroy every single one of these gangs and dismantle them, then replace their people with mine and enforce the one real law. Everyone deserves to live in peace, and now that everything has turned to shit, you’ll have enough on your plate, won’t you?”
He nodded slightly and kept on nodding for several long seconds. “What are you going to do with his stuff?”
I shrugged. “We’ll carry what we can for two whole days, but the quantity won’t exceed two-thirds of his wealth. You’ll have enough for yourself and your people, Officer—” I looked down at the tag on his breastplate. It read McMaron.
“Oliver McMaron. Remember the name for when you get in trouble.”
I offered him my hand. He took it after deliberating for a moment.
“Viktor. You’ll be seeing a lot of me around here, and if you’re far from places like these, we’ll get along just fine.”
He snorted and nodded. “You seem dangerous. I don’t like dangerous people, especially those who can take out such a large group of armed people.”
I shrugged. Who cared what he liked or didn’t like? All that mattered to me was if he was going to be a friend or an enemy.
“I’m much more dangerous than you might think, Officer McMaron. Now, if there isn’t anything else.”
He shrugged. “No, not for now. I’m just glad we smoothed over our—misunderstandings?”
I nodded and put up a fake smile. It was better to avoid battle and murder if possible, especially in a world like this one. Phones and cameras were everywhere, and if electricity did come back anytime soon, the police and army would have their hands full.
I looked over at the group of men standing behind him. There were ten of them. I didn’t have any doubt that I was enough to take them all on, but they had families. Shit, these other guys had families too. Ugh. What a double standard I held myself to.
“You can come here in two days, Officer, not before if you want to stay on good terms.”
He let out a sigh and glared at me. “Why do I have the feeling that I was way better off with Kihot than with you?”
“Because he was weak and afraid. I’m strong, and I fear no man. That’s the main difference, Officer. Stay on good terms, and I just might repay the favor that you… let us off today with a warning.”
His mouth dropped and his eyes went wide. He wasn’t expecting this to happen, I was sure of it. To be honest, neither was I. The first thing that went through my mind was that I’d need to kill more people. I sure was happy I didn’t have to kill anyone else today.
“I hope your word means something, Viktor.”
He snapped me a quick salute and turned around.
“Wait, McMaron. I’ve got a question.”
He turned back around and narrowed his eyes on me. “Ask.”
“What’s with the other cops? And what’s with the army?”
He shrugged. “People fled home to protect their loved ones. Most of the precincts are left to themselves now that the electricity is down and there’s no way to respond to calls. Batteries will die sooner or later, and then no one will be able to call us.”
“See, I understand your behavior even less now that you confirmed my suspicions. Why waste time on this scum?”
“We need money to buy necessities. It’s as simple as that. The last thing we heard from the mayor was ‘every man for himself,’” he said, quoting the words with his fingers.
“And the army?”
“Information costs. What can you offer me?”
“You get inside once we’re out and can take your share right away.”
His eyebrows rose and he nodded appreciatively. “The army is busy with massive groups of these small monsters. There are a few hotspots with thousands of them, and they keep swarming the city from all sides. Just imagine if they make it through.”
“Which makes it perfect for warlords and gangsters to do what they want. Thanks.”
“So? The deal?”
“Wait somewhere else. Once my people are gone, you can go in.”
He nodded and turned around, leading his men away. Just then Kang, Sandro, Mark, and the rest ran up to us.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Sandro asked, slightly out of breath.
“Is Kihot still alive?”
He shook his head. “No, he’s dead. We got what we needed out of him.”
“Right. In that case, do whatever you need to here and carry the first load back to the ryokan. You can go home after you’re done and get ready to move in. I want everyone there by midnight at the latest.”
“It’s just past noon,” Kang said as he stared down at his watch.
The edge shimmered with tiny gems that were inlaid in sheets of steel. I had to admit that this world was getting more and more interesting.
“You need to move within the hour. Gather at my place whenever you’re ready.”
“What about you, boss?” Sandro asked. “You going back?”
I nodded. “Yeah, she’s alone. I want to try some things out before you join us. I’ll have a few pointers for everyone on how to get stronger and better quickly.”
“Oh?” Mark asked. “You’re full of surprises. I’m quite intrigued right now.”
“Then make the right decision. I’ll be waiting for all of you.”
I pushed past them and followed the cops, not used to having many people around me. I hated the different strands of Enma flowing around people and their mere presence. I’d have to get used to it, though, or it would be better to get rid of everyone right away.
I found myself standing in the middle of the street as I watched smaller groups of people fight the kobolds. No one had any problems after they realized how weak the monsters were. The only way to die against kobolds would be if they swamped you with numbers, and even then it would be hard.
I made my way down the main street in the direction of the tower and where we’d come from. Several stores stood out, and I remembered seeing them on our way here. I stopped and dug my hand into my jacket and pulled a stack of bills out. I’d grabbed it earlier when I was in the entertainment room. It would come in handy right about now.
I chose the first store that sold clothes I came across and walked in. Two young women and a man stood at the counter and looked at me strangely.
“Can we do anything for you, sir? It’s not like we’re really open.”
The youngest of the three, a slim brunette, raised her eyebrow as if judging me by what I wore. It struck a nerve, and I immediately felt like walking out, but the other woman saw my annoyance with her colleague and pushed her aside.
“Don’t mind her, please. We’re all a bit stressed out, but the youngsters nowadays really don’t have any manners. Please, what can I do for you?”
“I need ten changes of clothes. From head to toe. I’ll pay with these.”
I dropped the stack of bills on the counter and waited for her to—well, say anything at all.
“What are you looking for, mister?”
I could see the relief wash over her as she guessed correct.
“I need two full outfits for important occasions, and two for in between casual and important, six for everyday use. Add some extra—” I stopped and thought about what they were called in this world. “T-shirts. Add ten of them, and ten boxers, ten pairs of socks as well.”
She hurried around the corner, her thin frame swaying as she moved. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was about to snap in two. That woman needed to eat more.
“As if you’re one to talk.” Scar laughed. “You’re all bones.”
I rolled my eyes inwardly. Sure, he was right, but it had been just one damn day since I woke up in this body.
“Do you need me to help with picking things out?”
“Please. And close the store, I want some pri
vacy.”
She frowned, but the man who stood behind the counter hurried to the door and pulled down the shutters.
“Can we get you something to drink? Cold water? A coffee?”
I looked over my shoulder and tried to give her the friendliest smile I could muster. “Yeah, coffee and water are fine.”
The petite woman disappeared into the back of the store along with the man, leaving the two of us to decide on what I was going to buy. Then a thought struck me. I rather liked the yukata Melina gave me last night, especially the one she had on. Shit, just thinking about it made my heart race.
I shook my head clear from such thoughts, at least for the moment, and stared at the rows of pants, shirts, and jackets.
“I’m not that good at picking out clothes, young miss. I’ll tell you what look I’m going for so you can prepare the things for me accordingly, alright?”
“Sure thing, mister,” she replied cheerfully.
“So, I’m a gangster, so to speak. I want to exude authority yet be slightly down to earth. Do you think you could work something out for me?”
She nodded and her demeanor changed, the cheerful attitude gone after hearing my words.
“Yes, mister. Please wait while I pick them out for you.”
I grabbed her hand and pulled her around to face me. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not going to hurt you. What’s more, if you do a good job, I’ll reward you. The world has changed, right?”
She nodded. “It has, mister.”
“I’ll give you something that might save your life, and give you a few tips for when you’re outside. And by the way, why are there so many shops open anyway?”
She shrugged. “If we don’t come in, we don’t get paid, sir. I need the money. We all do.”
I sighed and let go. “I’m sorry if I startled you, but please don’t worry. I don’t hurt the innocent.”
“Thank you. Please have a seat while I pick them out for you.”
I sat down just as the petite woman brought me a black coffee, bottled water, and something white that smelled sweet.
Beginner Quest: A LitRPG Cultivation Series (Towers & Rifts Book 1) Page 11