Episode 12: Unmarked Origin (Part 3)
Was her name Herna?
The woman I’d seen at the arena threw open the private room’s door. Behind her stood the restaurant owner, visibly uneasy, flanked by men who appeared to be her guards carrying weapons.
‘Tch, of all times…’
I’d been moments away from extracting a hefty sum from Jangp. That money was meant to fund my escape from this city. The prison guards’ growing presence made it clear I couldn’t stay here forever.
‘The more I see her, the more she grates on me.’
As I stewed, Herna stared unblinkingly at me. Thankfully, I’d reinserted my tinted lenses during the earlier commotion.
“We meet again?”
“You sought me out, after all.”
“Hoho. You’re more remarkable than I anticipated.” Her sly smirk stretched across her face.
Remarkable? How? Does she know I’m an Arhan?
Jangp caught my glance and shook his bowed head vehemently. Had he betrayed me in that brief window? Impossible – his terror had been genuine. He’d take that secret to his grave.
Only one leak source made sense: Kerion Prison.
“They call you a city power player, yet your intelligence network’s impressive.”
“I’ll accept that compliment.” Her smile sharpened. “I doubted at first, but your status explains the audacity. No one beneath you would dare such disrespect.”
Her boldness despite knowing my identity confirmed it – prison intel had laid bare my circumstances. If Jangp discovered I was hollow inside, the money would vanish.
“Let’s keep this private.”
“Naturally.”
At her gesture, guards escorted Jangp out. Only Herna, Liu, and I remained, the air thickening with silence.
“Why come here? Business with me?”
“Misplaced assumption. My client takes priority.” She nodded at Liu, who twisted his fingers nervously under my stare.
“You?”
“S-sorry… Wasn’t hiding it. Meant to tell you—”
Ah. The backdoor funds.
Herna’s demeanor shifted as she addressed him. “Your request requires additional payment.”
“What?! We had a deal! I paid everything—”
“Peanuts in my world. Tracking a ghost? No last location, not even confirmation he breathes?”
“You promised!” Liu’s fists whitened, voice cracking. “Said you’d find him if I paid!”
“If you pay more.”
The boy trembled, desperation raw. I cut in: “So Liu hired you to find his brother, and now you’re extorting him.”
“Will you cover the difference?” Herna’s vulpine grin widened. “You seem… close.”
Rage simmered in my veins. Liu was street-smart – he knew this game. Yet here he stood, clutching at rotten hope. I’d done the same once. Desperation makes fools of us all.
“You mentioned business with me. Let’s bundle it.”
“Oh? Favor for favor?”
“Details first.”
Using Jangp’s money was possible, but feeding scammers only breeds more scams. The true revenge? Outscheming the schemer.
“My request’s simple: rematch with Icas.”
“You saw our fight. He’s outclassed.”
“He claims complacency cost him victory. As his sponsor, I’d arrange redemption.”
Complacency? Please. The man wasn’t brooding – he’d hit his limit. But Herna’s angle mattered little.
“Done. And Liu’s request?”
“Honored, of course. I keep promises.”
What absolute horseshit, I thought, biting back the words.
It seems the woman is under the illusion that things will go her way, but just wait and see who's going to get backstabbed.
"Then I'll send someone over once the date's finalized."
"I'll be waiting."
Herna rose with a satisfied smile at my response.
Liu remained silent the entire way back to our lodgings, clutching the box Jangp had given him.
Five gold ingots lay inside.
A hundred silver coins make one gold coin. A hundred gold coins make one ingot.
Meaning Jangp had paid me the equivalent of 500 gold coins.
Some things never change—whether in my past life or this world.
Why do scammers prosper while honest folks starve?
Then again, I'd just scammed a scammer myself.
Not a shred of guilt lingered. Isn't money stolen from thieves the purest kind?
"You look miserable for someone who just struck gold."
"...I'm sorry. I never meant to deceive you. Really."
"I know."
"Actually... I went behind your back to hire that woman. Stupid, I know, but—"
"I figured. Knew you'd skimmed funds. Just learned today it went to Herna."
"You knew? Then why play dumb?"
"Consider it an investment."
"...?"
"Your help was worth the price. Besides, I don't sweat over coins."
Without Liu, we'd never have escaped.
He'd swiped the key while collapsing under Clark's aura, stolen tinted lenses and clothes—technically for himself, but I benefited regardless.
Rationalizing help isn't adult behavior. Gratitude costs nothing.
"Don't hide things again. Full transparency moving forward."
"...Okay."
"Betraying goodwill is gutter trash behavior. Street rat or not—don't become garbage."
"Right... I'll remember."
Liu's genuine remorse showed. One warning sufficed for smart kids.
"Zed, let's flee with this money. Guards will catch us otherwise."
"What about your brother's request?"
"...You know she'll betray us again."
"True. I planned to run too, but..."
"But?"
"Trash needs taking out."
Liu once mentioned the arena being Herna's cash cow.
Icas' crushing defeat had tarnished her prize product—hence this rematch to restore value.
Lose again, and Icas becomes worthless scrap. He'll fight tooth and nail.
"Don't doubt your skills. Saw you train daily like some knight. But Herna's prepared."
"That's why it's worth doing."
"What?"
"Crushing fully-prepared opponents? Best rush ever."
Bonus: severing Herna's income stream.
Inadequate payback for crossing me, but the sweetest revenge available.
Three days later, the arena overflowed with spectators—they'd marketed this rematch hard.
Felt like my last stand, but without the cheers.
"Icas! Don't let us down this time!"
"Go all out from the start! My life savings are on you!"
His loss had been deemed a fluke. How could their champion lose to some 15-year-old?
Yet Icas stood triumphant on the platform, stretching cockily. No trace of PTSD from our last bout.
'Ogre's Belt. Seriously?'
The rare artifact gleamed at his waist—90% physical damage reduction. Useless in mana-driven combat, as any energy infusion converts attacks to composite damage.
But in this mana-banned arena? Against me—a zero-mage?
Cheat code.
Herna's lips curled in shadow as she licked them. She'd done her homework.
"Looking pale, trash. Where's your bravado?"
"...!"
"Gonna chew you to pulp this time."
Bastard. That belt's only weakness? Magically-enhanced strikes. Which I can't perform.
"Start!"
The bell clanged.
