Chapter 302
Chapter 302 – I Am the Plunder King (3)
“Th-this is real. He’s the real Chief Officer! No, even if he isn’t, he’s definitely a high official.”
Morbin gulped. He didn’t even see how the dagger had been drawn.
If he had come with such heavies, he was clearly not an ordinary person.
Morbin anxiously scanned the area and shouted.
“You rascals! What do you think you’re doing right now? You need to show respect to the Chief Officer!”
His subordinates immediately lowered their heads and stepped back. Honestly, if they charged in, they’d be dead in an instant.
With a cowardly expression, Morbin rubbed his hands together and said,
“I apologize. These guys are rather ignorant, so they’ve slightly overstepped their boundaries.”
“Ugh, then why go and spill blood?”
“This is a tricky line of work we’re involved in, you see? So everyone tends to be a bit cautious… Come on now, please come inside. You don’t need to worry about any corpses.”
“Right. Wendy, help me out.”
Wendy grimaced and helped Claude.
Under Morbin’s guidance, Claude arrived at a luxurious private room and immediately got to the point.
“Things are tough, aren’t they?”
“Don’t even get me started! That Plunder King or whatever is making everyone keep their heads down. Where did such a monster come from…?”
Claude chuckled a few times, then continued,
“Let’s work together on something.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ever think about unifying the underworld in this territory?”
“Me?”
Morbin’s eyes sparkled. Unifying the underworld was the dream of every criminal. But it required some serious qualifications.
Real power players are on a whole different level—like the so-called thief guilds or assassin organizations.
Such realms were beyond the grasp of mere backstreet thugs. A few had already been smashed by the Plunder King, but still.
Anyway, unifying the underworld was beyond Morbin’s capability. But what if the Chief Officer had his back?
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
He had thought he’d just be collecting tributes, but such a huge proposal!
“How… how can I help you, Chief Officer?”
“Realistically, I can’t manage all the organizations in this territory.”
“Right. They’ve increased in number as of late. There are quite a few hiding as well.”
“So, I want you to manage all of them under you. What do you think?”
Morbin swallowed hard and asked again,
“Is there anything you desire from me?”
“Bring me half the profits. Then I’ll guarantee your safety and provide support too. How about it? You in? If not, you can just die here.”
Morbin broke into a cold sweat at Claude’s sinister laughter.
“It’s real. This guy is truly crazy for money. Just look at that earnest expression.”
He had never heard of a Chief Officer coming in right away and demanding tributes.
There was no reason to refuse. But it was impossible to do with just his own power. He needed realistic help.
“It’s impossible with my abilities. We don’t have many organization members… and above all, the Plunder King could appear at any moment.”
Then Claude chuckled and said, as if to dismiss his worries,
“I’ll let loose the criminals I’ve captured in the territory so they can join you. Fill in what you’re missing that way, and just keep expanding by taking out other guys.”
“True power players are tough to handle with minions.”
“Don’t worry. When I take out those guys, the knights will support too. Anyway, there are hardly any real power players around here anymore, right? The ones with any strength were all taken by Count Desmond.”
“Y-yeah. The ones left are at least better than us, but they’re nothing compared to the knights.”
Morbin’s eyes glimmered with excitement. If the knights supported them, they could deal with any opponent.
Claude continued with an arrogant smile.
“Yeah, and when you guys fight, the soldiers will block the surroundings.”
“Th-that’s more than enough. We can clean up the underworld. Then the Plunder King…”
The Plunder King had a reputation as a monster. Moreover, who knew when he’d strike? If the knights weren’t present, they couldn’t hold him off.
Claude’s eyes gleamed sharply at Morbin’s concerns.
“That guy’s a complete loser.”
“Huh?”
“He’s just a whiny brat who doesn’t listen to anyone, always does as he pleases, but loves to fight, stirring trouble without concern for anything else, all the while greedy enough to take everything for himself….”
Claude went on endlessly about how awful the Plunder King was. His obsession was so intense that the listeners could feel the emotion radiating from his words.
After quietly listening, Morbin cautiously asked,
“Do you… know him?”
Claude jumped and waved his hands.
“Of course not! How would I know such a criminal brat! Where did you get that ridiculous idea?”
“Y-yeah…”
“Anyway, I’ll personally lead the soldiers to deal with him, so you focus on taking out the surrounding organizations. Got it?”
“Understood! Just handle the Plunder King for me, and I’ll get moving!”
“Make sure the tributes are ready every week. Because if you want to vanish without a trace, you’d better.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have it ready.”
Morbin nodded vigorously. True to his reputation as the Lord of Bribes, tributes had to be prepared weekly, not monthly.
Though it was tough now, once he became the King of the Underworld, it would be manageable. He just needed to act quickly.
Once he absorbed all the organizations in this vast territory, unimaginable wealth would flow in.
Claude warned him with a grave tone.
“Oh, and stop putting drugs in the food. And don’t mess with the territory residents for a while; just focus on absorbing the organizations first. You get the vibe, right? It wouldn’t be good to get caught by the Lord.”
Morbin agreed with that sentiment.
To stabilize the occupied lands, soldiers were continuously coming in to reinforce public order. Rumor had it that the Lord had become sensitive due to a few incidents in the past.
Getting caught at a time like this could mean execution as a lesson.
Somehow, Claude felt that Morbin was more compliant than usual, and after completing their brotherhood ritual, he left the restaurant.
On the way back, he held his chest, speaking to Wendy.
“Ugh, I thought I was going to get chewed out! I really can’t do this kind of acting.”
“……”
To Wendy’s eyes, his demands for money and insults aimed at the Lord were utterly sincere. It was definitely not an act.
Anyway, from that day on, Claude firmly supported the Blue Skull Clan.
He released the criminals locked up in prison to join Morbin’s side and dispatched a multitude of soldiers throughout the territory.
The Blue Skull Clan also changed the name of their eatery.
[Mom’s Hand Restaurant]
Removing the special secret sauce made the food taste bland. So, they shifted the promotional angle to “clean, healthy food.”
When their preparations were completed, rumors began to circulate in the territory.
“The Plunder King has fled!”
“I heard the Chief Officer released the military to uphold order!”
“They even say the 40 thieves were all caught and killed?”
As the rumors spread, the crime organizations began to raise their heads cautiously. Without any attacks from the Plunder King for several days, they began to take action.
Of course, the one moving most actively was Morbin’s Blue Skull Clan.
“Bwahahaha! Come join me!”
Under Claude’s full support, Morbin grew at a frightening pace.
As is typical in criminal organizations, they were all interconnected. Morbin first absorbed the organizations connected to the Blue Skull Clan, then continued the war based on the absorbed organizations.
The other organizations that had been at ease after the Plunder King’s disappearance were thrown into chaos.
“What the heck! When did those guys get so big!”
“There’s a rumor the Chief Officer is backing them!”
“They say that guy is trying to unify the underworld!”
Once the smaller organizations were absorbed, only a few stronger ones remained. But they were quickly crushed by the knights supported by Claude.
Not even the well-established organizations like the thief guilds or assassin groups were spared. Their main forces had already been dragged into the war due to Count Desmond’s threats and were annihilated.
Though the remaining members were stronger than the thugs, they were no match for the knights.
As the conflicts among the organizations intensified, the territory residents were completely unharmed. This was due to Morbin’s caution and the soldiers maintaining perimeter security every time a war broke out.
When a powerful person decides to lend a hand, this is the result.
In just one month after forming a secret pact with Claude, Morbin had become the King of the Underworld.
“Bwahahaha! I can’t believe such a day has come for me!”
Laughter spilled from him endlessly. The Mom’s Hand Restaurant had long been closed. Morbin was now living in a grand and lavish building.
He also renamed the organization to the Blue Skull Brotherhood.
As he absorbed several organizations, he acquired their vast wealth too. Once he stabilized the organization and resumed operations, he would earn even more money.
“Hey, have you prepared the money to send to my brother?”
“Yes! I’ve gathered a lot again this time!”
One subordinate brought a small box. It was small in size but filled with jewels.
Though he didn’t have a fixed income just yet, he was sending gifts weekly as a show of goodwill.
“Hehehe, make sure to record it properly in the ledger. I’ll need it as leverage for my brother later. They say our Lord has a pretty nasty temper, right?”
To maintain a long-term symbiotic relationship, it was essential to hold onto each other’s weaknesses. If the Chief Officer did something to oust him, he needed to be prepared.
If things went south, he could simply hand over the evidence to the Lord, making the Chief Officer’s position precarious as well.
As Morbin rapidly unified the underworld, Claude arrived right away.
“Hey, bro. Did you do what I told you to prepare?”
“Wow, big brother, you’re here? I’ve got everything ready.”
Morbin handed over several documents. It was an organization management report. It contained a list of the members from absorbed organizations, the locations of the branches, their members, business activities, and more.
He also passed over the secret ledgers and documents that each organization had kept.
Claude demanded it as if it was natural, and Morbin gave it without a second thought.
He thought his counterpart was doing whatever it took to collect tributes. He figured he’d be fine since they had his weaknesses securely noted.
Had it been a more traditional organization like an assassin guild, he would have never acted so carelessly. But Morbin was just a small fry, unworthy of such caution.
“Hmmm, you wrote everything down clearly, right? You didn’t skimp on anything? Zheh! Look at these scoundrels.”
“Of course, even those beggars from the poor district are all noted as members. How could I deceive you, big brother? You’ll take good care of us moving forward, right? Hehehe.”
As Morbin handed over the jewel box, Claude accepted it with a pleased expression.
“Okay, I hope we last together a long time. By the way, didn’t you say you have a meeting with the branch leaders?”
“Cough, yes. I’ve prepared a formal inauguration ceremony. I’ve summoned all the branch leaders; will you come and grace the occasion? I’ve prepared it quite grandly.”
As the organizations were absorbed, the territories of the former organizations were turned into branches of the Blue Skull Brotherhood. Morbin placed his trusted aides in those positions.
Claude waved his hand at Morbin’s invitation.
“Forget it, if I show up, everyone’s going to feel uncomfortable. Let’s arrange something separate next time.”
“Okay, understood. Safe travels, big brother!”
Morbin had no doubts about Claude. He had seen him as the epitome of a corrupt official for so long.
That greedy gaze wasn’t something just anyone could have. He recognized it because he himself had been involved in crime for a long time.
After their amicable parting, Claude rushed to Ghislaine.
He handed over the reports, saying,
“Ugh, is this enough? My heart was racing; I couldn’t do it anymore. This kind of thing really doesn’t suit me.”
“……Right.”
Ghislaine looked at Claude with pitying eyes.
Right now, Claude’s reputation was at its worst. How it spread, no one knew, but the rumor that he was backing criminals had become widespread.
Lowell kept his mouth shut, so it never reached Claude’s ears. Others were also pretending not to notice out of amusement.
“Anyway, you did well. I never expected you to gather them up so quickly.”
“I was just lazy.”
He had seduced one foolish guy to unite all the organizations. He had taken the lazy route, and it worked wonders.
A few thugs might linger, but such guys would eventually be drafted into the labor brigade anyway.
Ghislaine donned a mask and said,
“Raid the branches in various locations. Kill anyone who resists and send any who surrender straight to the labor brigade. I’ll personally deal with that Morbin guy.”
“Understood.”
As Ghislaine stood beside him, recovering from his injuries, Gillian nodded heavily.
Even Kaor, who was always playful, chuckled with interest. He couldn’t return to the Shadow Mountain Range yet since he was busy helping stabilize public order in the territory.
“Oof, looks like I can warm up my body before heading back to the mountains.”
The other knights also readied their armaments. Some donned masks.
Ghislaine began to lead them into action.
“Let’s go.”
Thud thud thud thud!
The cavalry moved swiftly, surrounding the branches of each organization.
Meanwhile, Morbin was gathered with the branch leaders to hold his inauguration ceremony. His henchman shouted toward those present on the second floor.
“A man who lives and dies by his loyalty! Morbin has finally unified the underworld! Applause for our new king, Morbin!”
“Wooooo!”
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Countless robust men present cheered and clapped. Morbin raised his wine glass and stood up, beaming with laughter.
“Thanks to all my brothers, I’ve come this far… uh… I’ve… um…”
As Morbin, who wasn’t good at public speaking, slowly recited his prepared speech,
Crash!
Suddenly, the sound of the front door on the first floor breaking down echoed.
“What? What’s going on?”
“Did the first floor door break?”
“Who’s making trouble on such a joyful day!”
The branch leaders began to bicker. They hadn’t come alone, since there were many subordinates on the first floor.
The organization members guarding the first floor looked at the group that had broken in.
They all wore masks, but there weren’t many of them. The Blue Skull Clan members, confident in their superior numbers, approached with frowns.
“What’s this? Who are you guys?”
The one at the front of the masked group spoke.
“I am the Plunder King.”
Ghislaine smirked.
Now it was time to root out all the filth from the territory.
