Chapter 31

"Anaconda... I've been waiting tables, washing dishes, scrubbing floors, and chatting up the customers."

"What...?"

"Chief, why the Imperial Army..."

"Everyone's got their own story."

I kept my mouth shut.

"How many did you bring?"

Instead, I asked.

"White Hair, what do you mean by 'how many'?"

"How many people did you bring? Your own people."

"Thirty."

"So you're feeding thirty mouths... And they all work at the shop across from Anaconda?"

"Not all of them, but they all work under Madam Anne."

The thieves in the Capital had zero leverage here. Borrowing Madam Anne's power was the only way to survive.

"I'm not worried about feeding them. White Hair, I..."

"You never know when you'll catch a knife in the back."

"Yeah, Chief..."

Right Arm answered for him.

"The Boss has gone under another shop owner, Madam Anne. How could the organization still have any strength left? And now you're worried about betrayal the moment you turn your back. Typical thieves."

"Shut up. Don't act like you know everything... You find this funny?"

"Not really. I'm not saying it for laughs. I'm thinking about how to negotiate."

"Chief, what do you mean 'negotiate'?"

"You two know anything about Anaconda?"

"Not really."

"Aside from it being the biggest tavern in the Entertainment District... I don't know much."

For all that they'd come south before me, they knew nothing about the Vampire.

"It's not going to work, pretending to be the Boss like before. If that's the case... better to become Madam Anne's loyal dog. Her most prized dog."

"What...?"

The Boss looked incredulous.

"Don't get hot. I'm in the same boat. You said everyone's already working under Madam Anne. If we're going to switch allegiance, better to do it fast."

"Chief, what are you..."

"Simple. Establish yourself under Madam Anne as quickly as possible. Before the others can climb over you."

"I understand... but why are you two suddenly talking about this..."

Right Arm let out a long sigh.

"Let's do a job."

"A job? What kind of job?"

"One that Madam Anne will appreciate."

"White Hair, what happened to that temper I used to know? I didn't realize you were the type to bow and scrape under someone else."

"What are you talking about? There's no place worse than the military."

"He's got a point... Ah, is that why you quit?"

I didn't answer.

To thoroughly investigate Anaconda, I needed permission to access the third and fourth floors.

The biggest obstacle, above all others, was Madam Anne.

Even if I ignored everyone else, if I earned Madam Anne's trust, I figured everything would go smoothly.

Her power was overwhelming, so my target was narrowed down to one.

"You got any work in mind, Chief?"

"Daytime. Something we can do during the day."

Vampires – including Madam Anne – couldn't operate outside while the sun was up. One step into direct sunlight and they'd melt, that was their nature. So I needed to handle what they couldn't. Make myself indispensable.

"Why daytime?"

"The Entertainment District doesn't run during the day, does it? Shows I'm hardworking, doing stuff outside normal hours. Simple as that."

Of course, I didn't give the thieves the real reason.

"Second thing: it has to tie into that new tavern Madam Anne's setting up."

"New tavern?"

"I heard she's busy prepping a fresh place. If we lend a hand with that, all the better."

"White Hair, so what exactly is the job?"

"Figure it out yourselves. I've narrowed it down enough."

---

"And here we are again."

Eight sturdy horses. Two wagons. Four horses per wagon.

"'Again'? Madam Anne was thrilled – she said wagon drivers are a precious resource."

The Boss sounded proud.

"Come on, White Hair. The map."

He handed me a sheet. I studied it carefully.

"Straight through mountain roads. According to this route, two days round trip, minimum. And we'll have to look after the horses too."

"Two days?"

"Nothing else besides driving?"

"Nope, nothing. I told you, Madam Anne was overjoyed we could handle the wagons."

This job was the only way to build a connection with Madam Anne. No matter how long it took, I had to accept it. But I planned to finish it perfectly, wasting no time.

"Did Madam Anne say anything else?"

"Oh, Chief. She specifically warned us to be careful at the Imperial Army checkpoints."

She must be hauling something damn sensitive in an empty wagon. I glanced at the marked route – it deliberately avoided the checkpoints.

"That the line drawn here? A bypass route?"

"Right."

"I see..."

I stared hard at the checkpoints marked on the map. Then I patted my inner pocket. Felt the thick bulge there. The item Captain Simena had given me before we left was still tucked safely inside.

"Just flash the evidence and I'll sail right through."

I decided not to avoid the Imperial checkpoints at all. Show Captain Simena's token, and the checkpoints would be nothing. I could cut the estimated travel time in half by taking the shortest route.

Two wagons. And I'd split off from the thieves here.

If only my wagon arrived ahead of the other one, I could already picture Madam Anne's reaction.

"I'm heading out first."

I hopped onto the driver's seat.

"White Hair! Wait for us!"

"Chief...!"

I snapped the reins.

The horses, busy grazing, jolted in surprise. I guided them forward and the wagon lurched into motion.

---

About ten hours later, I reached the destination Madam Anne had specified.

And promptly fell through the floor.

"Ugh..."

A ridiculous noise escaped my throat. The boards had given way without warning.

Luckily, I didn't drop all the way down. My arms caught the edges of the broken hole, leaving me dangling. My lower half swayed in the darkness below.

"What the hell..."

I must've looked stunned, because the Brewery Owner extended a hand.

His forearm was thick and covered in coarse black hair.

I grabbed his wrist and hauled myself back up. Then I turned to stare at the jagged hole in the floor—just big enough to swallow a man.

"S-sorry about that... this building's pretty old."

"Old? It's practically dead. You just shaved ten years off my life."

"Come on, it's still got another ten in it, easy."

"Exactly—you just took those ten away."

"Are you insulting me just now?"

"What?"

"Pardon?"

The Brewery Owner and I just stared at each other blankly.

"Forget it. Just give me the goods."

"Ah, right. You said it's for Madam Anne. The wine she ordered is down in the cellar. I marked the oak barrels with an X so you'd find them easily. Help yourself. You can even go down through the hole you just made—ha ha ha!"

"Not funny."

I found the stairs instead.

Once I was in the cellar, the marked barrels were easy to spot. I hoisted two onto my shoulders and carried them back up.

"Whoa, isn't that heavy?"

"Not really. But is this really just wine?"

"Just wine? It's not cheap swill you'd call 'just wine'..."

"No, I mean—is it only wine in there?"

"Of course. Wine. Red wine. What else would it be?"

"Hmph..."

So why go out of the way to avoid Imperial checkpoints?

---

Two soldiers in navy-blue uniforms.

"We need to run a check."

One of them spoke first.

"Understood."

I kept my expression compliant from the moment our eyes met.

They both circled around to the back of the wagon. I heard the cargo compartment swing open. They murmured to each other, too quietly for me to catch the words.

I waited.

They came back with measured, square steps.

"Step down."

"Is there a problem?"

"Step down."

Same line, twice.

No choice. I climbed down from the driver's seat.

"Arms. Over your head."

One of them gestured.

"What's going on?"

"Over your head."

"Slowly, please."

They pushed me, rapid-fire. Again, I had no choice.

I raised my arms slowly.

"Interlock your fingers behind your head."

"You're really—"

"Do it."

"Fine."

I pressed my palms to the back of my skull.

"We're conducting a body search."

They patted me down, every inch. Even while searching, their eyes stayed fixed on my hands. No slack in their guard.

Then, just below my chest, they found something.

"That's—"

"Stay still."

The soldier reached into my coat and pulled out a scroll.

A black scroll tied with a red string.

"Huh...?"

"This is—"

Both soldiers reacted at once.

They unrolled it.

As their eyes moved from the top to the bottom, their expressions shifted. When they finished reading, one of them carefully rolled the scroll back up and retied the red string.

They placed it back into my coat—gently, almost reverently.

The silence stretched.

"Special Forces."

I spoke first.

"Yes...?"

"Captain Simena Extin's seal... I thought I was seeing things..."

The two soldiers gave me small, respectful nods.

"Any trouble here?"

"What brings Special Forces to this place?"

They asked their questions at the same time.

"I can't discuss my mission. Can I lower my arms now?"

"Yes, of course...! My apologies, I wasn't thinking..."

I dropped my arms and asked, "Mind if I make two requests before I go? One I need right now, the other for later."

"Whatever we can do, we'll help."

"First, I need a raincoat. You've got military-issue ones, don't you? With a hood."

"Ah, yes. There should be one in the checkpoint booth. I'll lend it to you."

One soldier hurried off to the booth. Quick steps.

The other remained.

"What's the second request?"

"I'll need you to deliver a letter. To Captain Simena Extin."

"A letter? That's simple. Next time you come through, I'll recognize you on sight."

He said it with emphasis.

A moment later, the other soldier returned, carrying a neatly folded navy-blue raincoat.

"Thank you. I'll see you next time."

I offered my farewell and left the checkpoint behind.

---

"How did you get here so fast? It should've taken two days at least, but you made it in one..."

Madam Anne poked her head out from the cargo compartment.

"I just took the fastest route."

"The fastest route? You ignored the marked path?"

"Yes."

"What? Why?"

"I passed through the Imperial Army checkpoints, but they didn't stop me."

"That's strange. Tell me straight."

"I have a relative working at the checkpoint. He enlisted last year. I figured I could talk my way through if I played it right. And as you can see, I arrived without any trouble."

"Listen, I didn't ask you to—"

She started, voice low.

Then she paused.

"...You did well."

A simple compliment.

"So, that relative of yours... Can we count on his help again?"

"If you need it, just say the word. He's family, so there won't be any complications."

"Oh, and, new recruit... I've been scatterbrained lately, so..."

"Yes?"

"What did you say your name was?"