Chapter 76 [Side ???] At The Hideout Of The Band Of Thieves
"Hey, Rick. You're late."
In a certain place on the outskirts of Rune Gaia.
After the sound of knocking three and four times, a bald man with a not-so-dignified smile greeted a hooded boy.
The boy called Rick removed his hood and stepped inside the building.
"Did you bring today's share?"
"Yeah."
Rick walked up to a tall man with long hair sitting on a sofa, scattered the valuables he had in his hands on the table.
Rings, silver coins, gold coins, and other coins were scattered around, and the man with long hair smiled as he checked the valuables.
"What's this? It's less than usual today."
"...I messed up a bit."
After a short pause, Rick answered, and the man with long hair furrowed his brows.
"What happened?"
"..."
"Hey... Rick. Let me make it clear so you don't misunderstand, I only entrusted you with that (magic crystal) for business purposes, not out of goodwill. If you continue to show a rebellious attitude, you can quit anytime, okay?"
A tall man with long hair, Avengio Deluan, serves as the leader of a rising thief group.
Despite being a rising group, Avengio possesses a certain power.
That power is the stone called the (magic crystal) that Rick tried to use for steal on Teti.
"I used the (magic crystal) when I did the final theft today. But it was dealt with."
"Dealt with?"
"It was a beastman's child. Well... that child didn't seem to have done anything. It was probably the work of a man nearby."
"Tell me more."
Avengio, who had been lounging on the sofa, leaned forward towards Rick.
Rick responded and began to explain in detail about the recent events.
"――I see. A man dressed in black, huh."
After listening to Rick's story, Avengio took out a cigar and lit it.
Then, after exhaling white smoke, he spoke to Rick again.
"To think he can deal the (magic crystal) entrusted to Rick. That guy is no ordinary person."
"..."
"Did he tail you?"
"No, as you taught me, I double-checked multiple times."
"Hmph, that's good then. That guy doesn't seem to be from the military police either. Unless he's curious, he won't chase after us."
Avengio smirked and started gathering the scattered money on the table.
"As long as the money comes in, I won't complain."
"Avengio, how much is left after this?"
"Converted to gold coins, it's about five hundred more."
"I see..."
"Don't look so gloomy. With that (magic crystal), you can earn money right away."
Saying that, Avengio pointed to the stone Rick was holding.
"I lend you that (magic crystal), and you use it to make money for us. It's a good deal, right?"
"I just want to help my mom. She saved me, so I want to save her... It's different from you guys who are only after money."
When Rick spoke those words, the other thieves present, aside from Avengio, all became laughed with tears. However, Avengio simply raised his hand to silence them.
"Alright. Like I said before, I won't complain as long as the money keeps coming in."
"..."
"But, if there's no money, you won't get the 'medicine' to save your mother. Money makes the world go round."
"I don't need to be told that."
"As long as you understand."
Avengio said only that, then watched Rick leave the building.
* * *
"Boss, is it okay to let that kid talk like that?"
After Rick had left, one of the members protested to Avengio.
"It's fine. He's a valuable person compatible with (magic crystals). Even if he's a kid, it would be a waste not to use him, right?"
"I see. The boss is either generous or kind-hearted."
"Hahaha! Stop it, I'm not a good guy, you know."
Avengio chuckled at the member's words and extinguished the cigar he was smoking.
"A kid who turns to stealing to get medicine to save his sick mother. Quite a touching story, isn't it?"
Avengio took a sip from the drink on the table and continued speaking.
"Without even knowing that it's an impossible wish, huh... Hahaha!"
"Heh-heh, boss, you really are wicked. Well, I must say, I'm impressed by your villainy."
"You all better remember this. People can easily be manipulated when hope is dangled in front of them. Well, it's easy to deceive such kids――"
Suddenly cutting off his words, Avengio turned his gaze to the door through which Rick had left.
A breeze blew in through the door, making Avengio look puzzled. He was sure the door had been closed when the members had seen Rick off earlier, but since he couldn't sense any presence around, he concluded it was just his imagination.
"Hey. Make sure to close the door properly."
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry."
Following the instructions, the door was closed with a click.
――Hearing that sound from behind, a silver-haired girl dressed in a maid outfit took a breath.
The girl continued walking, leaving the thieves' hideout behind.
(Sigh... I understand the general situation, but this smells like something Adel-sama dislikes, unreasonableness.)
Muttering so in her heart was Maia, who had been observing everything using her job skill, Presence Concealment.
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