NOVPUB"It’s real. He’s the real Administrator! Or, if not, definitely someone of high rank," Morbin thought, swallowing hard. He hadn’t even seen the daggers fly.
Anyone escorted by such a deadly protector was clearly not an ordinary person.
Morbin hastily glanced around before barking at his subordinates.
"You idiots! What do you think you’re doing? Show proper respect to the Administrator!"
The gang members immediately bowed and retreated, their earlier aggression evaporating. They knew that any wrong move would likely result in their deaths in an instant.
Morbin, now wearing a sycophantic smile, rubbed his hands together and spoke deferentially.
"My deepest apologies. These fools are quite uneducated and acted out of line."
"Ah, why do things always have to come to bloodshed?" Claude sighed dramatically.
"You know how it is in our line of work, Administrator. It makes one overly cautious... Please, come in. Don’t mind the bodies—we’ll take care of them."
"Fine. Wendy, help me inside," Claude said, pretending to lean heavily on his attendant.
With a faint scowl, Wendy complied, assisting him as they followed Morbin to a lavish private room. Once seated, Claude wasted no time getting to the point.
"Having a hard time lately, huh?"
"Don’t even get me started," Morbin replied, shaking his head. "That so-called Plundering King has everyone hiding in fear. Where did that monster even come from?"
Claude chuckled, his shoulders shaking as he responded.
"How about you and I work together on something?"
"What kind of work are you talking about?"
"How about uniting this territory’s underworld?"
"Me?"
Morbin’s eyes gleamed with interest. The idea of uniting the underworld was a dream shared by all criminals, but it was an ambition that required exceptional power and influence.
The most dangerous factions—like assassin guilds or master thief syndicates—were in a different league altogether. Some had already been decimated by the Plundering King, but others were still untouchable for someone like Morbin.
However, if the Administrator himself was offering support, it wasn’t impossible.
Morbin had expected Claude to simply demand tribute, but this proposal was far more enticing.
"What do you need me to do, Administrator?"
"I can’t realistically manage every single organization in this territory," Claude said matter-of-factly. "Right?"
"Of course not. There are too many of them now, especially those in hiding."
"Exactly. That’s why I’m telling you to gather them all under your control. What do you think?"
Morbin swallowed hard, his excitement tempered by caution.
"And in return, what would you require from me?"
"Half the profits," Claude said with a sly grin. "I’ll guarantee your safety and provide support. Sound good? If not, you can all drop dead right here."
Claude’s shameless smile sent a chill down Morbin’s spine.
"He’s serious. This bastard is absolutely obsessed with money. That expression is too genuine to be a lie."
Morbin had never heard of a high-ranking official working so hard to secure bribes. There was no reason to refuse the offer, but it was clear that success would require significant resources.
"With my current capacity, it’ll be difficult," Morbin admitted. "We don’t have that many members, and there’s always the threat of the Plundering King..."
Claude chuckled again, waving off Morbin’s concerns.
"Don’t worry about it. I’ll release some of the criminals we’ve detained and send them to join you. That should fill in the gaps for now. Then, start expanding by taking down the other groups."
"The real experts can’t be handled by mere low-level thugs."
"Relax. When it comes to those kinds of opponents, I’ll lend you knights for support. Honestly, there aren’t many of those ‘real experts’ left in this territory, right? Count Desmond took most of them with him when he left."
"That’s true. The remaining ones are stronger than us, but not enough to match knights."
Morbin’s eyes lit up with excitement. With knights backing them, they could handle any rival gang.
Claude grinned arrogantly, as if everything were already settled.
"Good. And when you’re fighting, I’ll have soldiers block off the surrounding areas to keep things clean."
"That’s... more than enough. With that, the underworld can be unified. But what about the Plundering King...?"
The Plundering King’s reputation as a monster had spread far and wide. His unpredictable movements and sheer strength made him an ever-present threat. Without knights stationed permanently, it would be impossible to stand against him.
Morbin’s worry was evident, but Claude’s eyes glinted with sharp confidence.
"That guy’s a total joke," Claude said with a dismissive wave.
"Uh... excuse me?" Morbin blinked in confusion.
"He’s just a hot-headed brat with a terrible temper. Never listens to anyone, always does whatever he wants like some spoiled delinquent. And don’t even get me started on how much he loves fighting—he’d drive people into the ground just to have a brawl. Greedy as hell, too, always hogging everything for himself..."
Claude’s rant trailed off into a string of muttered grievances, as if he were describing a particularly irritating coworker rather than the infamous Plundering King.
Morbin stared, speechless, unsure if he should laugh or reconsider every rumor he’d ever heard about the supposed monster.
Claude’s rant about the Plundering King seemed endless. His words were so filled with raw emotion that even Morbin found himself getting swept up in the frustration.
After some time, Morbin cautiously asked, “By any chance... do you know him personally?”
Claude flinched, waving his hands in denial. “Know him? Me? How could I know a criminal like that? Don’t say something so dangerous!”
“Ah... I see...”
“Anyway, I’ll personally lead the soldiers to deal with him. You just focus on taking down the surrounding gangs. Got it?”
“Understood! If you handle the Plundering King, I’ll move immediately!”
“And don’t forget to prepare the tribute every week. If you don’t want to disappear quietly, that is.”
“Don’t worry, Administrator. I’ll have it ready every week,” Morbin replied with an eager nod.
A weekly tribute. Not monthly, but weekly. It was a heavy burden for now, but Morbin believed that once he became the ruler of the underworld, it would be manageable. After all, uniting all the gangs in this vast territory would bring in a staggering amount of wealth.
Before leaving, Claude issued another warning.
“Oh, and stop drugging the food. And for now, don’t touch the citizens. Focus on absorbing the other gangs first. You know the current mood, right? Getting caught by the lord won’t end well for you.”
Morbin quickly agreed. Rumors had already spread that the lord’s temper had grown sharp due to a series of recent incidents. Soldiers were being dispatched regularly to reinforce the territory’s security, and getting caught in illegal activities now could easily lead to a public execution.
By the end of their meeting, Claude, for reasons even he didn’t fully understand, conducted a symbolic oath of brotherhood with Morbin before leaving the restaurant.
Claude’s True Thoughts
On the way back, Claude clutched his chest and muttered to Wendy, “I was so nervous I thought I’d drop dead! I told you, I’m terrible at acting!”
Wendy remained silent, though she thought to herself, As far as I can tell, your greed for money and the insults about the lord weren’t acting at all.
From that day on, Claude threw his full support behind the Blue Skull Gang. He released several imprisoned criminals and assigned them to Morbin’s organization, providing the manpower needed to expand. Soldiers were also strategically placed throughout the territory to secure areas and prevent disruptions.
The Blue Skull Gang even rebranded their restaurant, renaming it to “Mother’s Hand Restaurant.” With the removal of their “secret sauce,” the food lost some of its appeal, so they pivoted to marketing it as clean, healthy cuisine.
The Rise of the Underworld
As preparations progressed, rumors began to spread throughout the territory.
“The Plundering King has fled!”
“The Administrator deployed soldiers to maintain order!”
“They’ve captured and executed the Forty Thieves!”
With these rumors, other criminal organizations began cautiously emerging from the shadows. When days passed without any attacks from the Plundering King, they started moving more openly.
Among them, the most active was, of course, Morbin’s Blue Skull Gang.
“Ahahaha! Everyone, bow down to me!”
With Claude’s unwavering support, Morbin’s gang grew rapidly.
Given the interconnected nature of criminal networks, Morbin began by absorbing smaller groups that had ties to his own gang. From there, he used the newly absorbed groups to continue his campaign, waging war after war.
Other gangs, who had let their guard down in the absence of the Plundering King, found themselves overwhelmed.
“What the hell! When did those bastards get so big?”
“There’s a rumor the Administrator is backing them!”
“They’re trying to take over the entire underworld!”
The remaining organizations with significant power soon faced destruction as well. The knights sent by Claude effortlessly crushed even the more prominent factions, including storied groups like the Thieves Guild and the Assassin Syndicate.
These once-formidable organizations had already been weakened, with most of their top members having been conscripted and killed under Count Desmond’s command during the war. While the remnants were stronger than average street thugs, they were no match for the Fenris Knights.
Despite the escalating gang wars, the citizens of the territory were unaffected. Morbin ensured the fighting stayed far from populated areas, and soldiers guarded the surrounding regions during each conflict.
When a figure of authority provides full backing, results like this are inevitable.
The New King of the Underworld
Within a single month of his pact with Claude, Morbin had risen to become the uncontested ruler of the underworld.
“Hahaha! I never imagined this day would come!”
His laughter echoed through his newly acquired, grandiose mansion. The Blue Skull Gang had renamed itself to the Blue Skull Brotherhood and grown immensely in size and wealth.
The treasures hoarded by the absorbed organizations became part of Morbin’s growing fortune. As he stabilized his network, he prepared to resume the lucrative operations of the various gangs, promising even greater riches in the future.
“Hey! Have you prepared the tribute for the boss?”
“Yes! We’ve got another generous offering ready!”
A subordinate handed over a small chest filled with glittering jewels. While the Brotherhood’s regular income was still stabilizing, they ensured to send a weekly gift as a show of loyalty to Claude.
“Hehe, make sure to keep track of all this in the ledgers,” Morbin said with a sly grin. “We’ll need it as leverage against him later. I hear our dear Administrator has quite the temper.”
Mutual leverage was essential for maintaining a long-term relationship. If things soured, the records would be handed over to the lord, ensuring the Administrator wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Claude’s Visit
With Morbin’s rapid consolidation of the underworld, Claude soon paid him a visit.
“Hey, little brother. Did you prepare what I asked for?”
“Ah, big brother! Of course, everything’s ready,” Morbin said eagerly, handing over several booklets.
The documents contained detailed records of the absorbed organizations, including member lists, branch locations, and operational details. In addition, Morbin handed over secret ledgers and other incriminating documents from the previous groups.
Claude took it all as though it were the most natural thing in the world, while Morbin handed them over without a second thought.
After all, Morbin believed this was just Claude being thorough about his bribes. He had already secured plenty of leverage against Claude, so he didn’t see any harm in complying.
Morbin’s behavior only confirmed one thing: he was a small-time crook at heart, lacking the cunning of a true criminal mastermind. It was precisely why Claude had chosen him.
“Hmm, everything’s here, right? You didn’t leave anything out? Tsk, look at all these crimes,” Claude said, shaking his head as if lamenting their existence.
“Of course not! I even included every beggar from the slums who works for us. How could I ever deceive you, big brother? After all, we’ll be working together for a long time.”
When Morbin handed over the jewel-filled chest, Claude accepted it with a satisfied grin. 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
“Good, good. Let’s keep this partnership going. Now, didn’t you say there’s a meeting with the branch leaders?”
"Kehehe, yes. I’ve arranged a formal ceremony for my inauguration," Morbin said with a sly grin. "I’ve summoned all the branch leaders. Would you grace us with your presence, big brother? It’s a grand occasion."
As the Blue Skull Gang absorbed other groups, their former territories became branch offices of the Brotherhood, staffed by Morbin’s most trusted men.
Claude waved his hand dismissively. "No thanks. My presence would just make everyone uncomfortable. Let’s arrange a separate meeting another time."
"Understood. Take care, big brother!" Morbin beamed, utterly devoid of suspicion.
To him, Claude embodied the very essence of a corrupt official. That greedy gleam in Claude’s eyes was not something anyone could fake. Morbin, with his years in the underworld, could recognize it instantly.
With their parting as "brothers" complete, Claude immediately went to Ghislain.
Handing over the documents he’d received, Claude exhaled deeply.
"There, all done. I can’t do this anymore. My heart can’t take it—I’m just not cut out for this kind of work."
Ghislain looked at him with a mixture of pity and amusement.
The rumors about Claude were at an all-time low. Word had spread like wildfire, painting him as a corrupt official who supported the underworld. Though Lowell had kept silent, others were more than happy to stoke the fires of gossip for their own amusement.
Ghislain, however, simply nodded. "You did well. I didn’t expect you to unify them so quickly."
"I did it because it was less of a hassle," Claude grumbled.
Instead of rooting out the underworld piece by piece, Claude had chosen to lure in a foolish leader, consolidating the gangs under one banner. It was an unorthodox method, but undeniably effective.
The few stragglers remaining, mere small-time thugs, would soon be swept into labor assault units.
Ghislain donned his mask as he gave the next command.
"Begin the assault on the branch offices. Kill anyone who resists and send those who surrender to the labor assault units. I’ll take care of Morbin personally."
"Understood," said Gillian, who had recovered from his injuries and was now standing steadfastly by Ghislain’s side.
Kaor, ever the loose cannon, smirked with delight. "Heh, finally some action before I head back to the mountains."
The knights prepared for battle, some pulling masks over their faces. Ghislain led them into action.
"Move out."
The Fall of the Brotherhood
As the knights thundered across the territory, they swiftly surrounded each of the Blue Skull Brotherhood’s branch offices.
Meanwhile, Morbin was hosting his grand inauguration ceremony.
Gathered in the second floor of a large building, his trusted subordinate bellowed to the crowd.
"Live by loyalty, die by loyalty! Morbin has united the underworld! Let’s give a round of applause for our new king!"
Cheers erupted as the roomful of burly men clapped and shouted their approval.
Morbin stood with a goblet of wine, grinning as he awkwardly delivered his prepared speech.
"Thanks to my brothers, I have reached this... uh... position. From now on, I will always... stand at the frontlines of danger for... uh, the sake of my brothers..."
As Morbin stumbled through his speech, the sound of splintering wood echoed from below.
CRASH!
"What’s going on? What was that noise?"
"Was that the first-floor door?"
"Who the hell causes trouble on a day like this?"
The branch leaders began chattering noisily. It wasn’t just them in the building—there were plenty of subordinates stationed on the ground floor.
Those guards, however, were now staring in shock at the intruders who had broken through the door.
The group of masked figures standing before them was small in number, but their confidence was palpable.
Frowning, one of Morbin’s men stepped forward. "Who the hell are you? Where are you from?"
The figure at the front of the masked group stepped forward, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"I am the Plundering King," Ghislain declared.
A hush fell over the room as his words hung in the air. His grin widened as he surveyed the room, his gaze brimming with purpose.
It was time to cleanse the filth from the territory once and for all.
