The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 98

“Ugh, are we really going in there?”

“The smell is absolutely disgusting.”

Outside Ifrit's east wall.

Kim Jaeha and Avantgarde, walking along the path, were suffering from the stench.

"Is it that bad?"

Hanbit reacted calmly to the all-too-familiar smell.

While it was a bad smell, it wasn’t a stench that would make him retch. It had to be bad enough to make him pass out.

Thud-

After walking a little further, a clearing filled with monster carcasses came into view. In one corner, leathery hides, organs, and other materials were piled up messily.

“Damn it, this is ridiculous.”

At that moment, an irritated voice came from the central wooden workbench.

As they approached, they saw several people. A dwarf was kneeling in front of them.

“I’m sorry!”

“So sorry will fix this? You’re the supervisor, and you can’t even manage these idiots?”

“I… I’m sorry!”

-Rude guy appeared.

-Top-tier habitual offender.

-Most hated character.

The man at the front was tall and young.

Despite the dwarf’s sincere apology, the man continued to berate him.

“Why am I so annoyed?”

Kim Jaeha, watching from the side, frowned. The man reminded him of his boss.

“Let's hide for a moment.”

The three of them hid behind the workbench and the pile of carcasses. Meanwhile, the conversation became increasingly harsh.

"That's why I don't deal with people without roots. Your prince ran away, didn't he?"

"I heard he took all the technology and ran."

"I heard there was a hidden one?"

"Nah, he probably got paid by another country."

The men around the man added their own rumors one by one.

Then the dwarf stood up and shouted, "His Highness the Prince didn't run away!"

"No, he did. He couldn't handle the pressure, so he bailed."

After the destruction of the Hedric Kingdom, a group of dwarves had migrated to Ifrit. Their leader was Prince Gorik.

However, he disappeared within a few years. As he had started to shine in the creation of beautiful works of art, there had been a lot of questions at the time.

“It was great when we called you a master, wasn't it? You strutted around and then crashed and burned.”

“That's not true of me!”

“…….”

The man was speechless at the dwarf's confident reply. Despite the constant verbal and physical abuse, the dwarf's eyes never wavered.

The man frowned and looked around.

"Why is the work in such a mess? Don't you want your pay?"

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The leathers were torn, the materials were damaged, and many hadn't even been started. All of it was work assigned to the dwarves.

“There’s too much work! If you could just reduce it a bit…”

Smack-!

Suddenly, a foot flew into the dwarf's face. But his body didn't move an inch.

“Oh, you’re tough?” The man grinned, as if he had hit a wall.

“Let's make a bet. If you can last 10 minutes without falling, I'll do as you ask.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course. But we’ll all beat you up.”

-What a jerk.

-This is their daily routine.

-This game will never end.

-I think this city should just collapse.

The five men behind the man.

Even with such an absurd proposal, there was no fear in the dwarf's eyes.

“Alright!”

“You said you would?”

The man reacted amusedly to the resolute answer. And just as he was about to start beating him up...

Clang-!

A sound of something breaking came from the wall.

"What the hell?"

The man with his fists clenched turned his head.

There was a clear crack in the wall below where his gaze landed.

"What kind of crazy bastard..."

The man's expression twisted at the sudden situation.

But there was no one else around the wall who seemed like a culprit.

‘…This is a first.’

Hanbit spotted Gorik, hidden in the gap between the wall and the monster carcasses.

He had brought Gorik here for one reason: to show him the treatment his people were receiving.

He had planned to gradually change Gorik's mind, but he had never encountered such a reaction.

"Hey, search the area."

The man gave orders to his subordinates.

If Gorik was caught now, the situation would be messed up.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Rising immediately, Hanbit revealed himself to the group.

“……?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Everyone's eyes turned to the sudden voice.

The man who had been giving orders opened his mouth with a frown.

"Were you the one who did that?"

It was a question that seemed to indicate a lack of interest in who the person was. All that mattered to him was whether the person was the culprit or not.

"No?"

"Then why are you coming out of there?"

"Hmm."

It seemed like he had been immediately confirmed as the culprit.

Shrugging, Hanbit walked over to the cracked part of the wall.

He bent down and picked something up.

"I found this."

In Hanbit's hand was a fist-sized stone.

From a distance, the man scoffed and said, "Who would throw a stone? Judging by your lame excuse, it must be your doing."

"No, do you know what this is?"

At the sincere question, the man's reaction changed slightly.

Hanbit took a few steps forward and held out his hand.

“…….”

The man examined the stone in his palm.

Then, as if he had realized something, he said, "Is this... a Crash Bird?"

"You know it."

Hanbit nodded at the immediate correct answer.

As its name suggested, the Crash Bird was a small bird with a hard head that would dive-bomb its target and die upon impact.

The fact that there was a carcass of this monster on the ground near the wall was a coincidence that only Hanbit knew about.

"Then it doesn't make sense. There's no way a Crash Bird would be here."

"You know better than anyone that things have been strange around Ifrit. It's not so strange for these things to suddenly start ramming their heads into the wall."

"...You're pretty good at making excuses."

-Cheating ON

-Amazing lying skills lol

-Was it really cheating?

-Info) It's actually a Crash Bird.

The man frowned, clearly displeased.

Even though he wanted to deny it, the evidence was right in front of him.

Gorik, who had thrown the monster's carcass at the wall, had already disappeared from the scene.

"So what? There's no one to blame now, right?"

"What do you know, outsider? And I didn't say you were innocent."

"If you want to investigate, go ahead. But can you take this guy away?"

"What?"

Hanbit pointed at the dwarf who was standing stiffly. Because of the earlier kick, there was a little blood flowing from his nose.

"I heard this crazy guy... Do you know who this is?"

The continuous insults and absurd demands made the subordinates angry.

Of course, Hanbit didn't need to ask who he was.

[Jinuk Artuis, Guild Master of Ifrit]

The name that appeared above his head was more vivid than the words. He was one of the main culprits who had put the city in danger.

"He's the half-brother of the mayor and he is the guild master."

"Get lost if you know what's good for you. Mind your own business."

"Jinuk, shall we just get rid of him?" Even as his subordinates made a fuss, Jinuk only moved his eyes.

Specifically, he noticed the bracelet that Hanbit had deliberately revealed.

"Gold... I haven't seen one in a while."

Turning around, he approached Hanbit.

"What does someone of your status want?"

“I told you, I have business with that dwarf.”

“Yeah, that’s what I don’t get. You, a guy with a golden bracelet, going to see a dwarf?” Jinuk’s words were sincere.

The golden bracelet signified someone recognized by the mayor, someone with power. It was unthinkable for such a person to visit a mere dwarf.

“Ask your sister. And check this out too.”

Hanbit handed him the introduction letter he'd received from the mayor.

Jinuk took the paper with a puzzled expression and quickly scanned its contents.

“…What are you thinking?”

He’d finished reading the few lines and pursed his lips. He handed the letter back to Hanbit.

“I’ll let it slide this time because of my sister. But you better watch yourself.”

Jinuk, having taken his anger out on the dwarf, spat and left with his men.

Hanbit approached the dazed dwarf.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes... I’m fine!”

Still stunned, he replied belatedly. His gaze lingered on Hanbit’s wrist.

He was probably suspecting that Hanbit was in some high-ranking position.

“I’m just an adventurer, even if I have this bracelet. Check this first.”

Hanbit showed him the mayor’s letter of introduction.

Hesitating for a moment, the dwarf carefully examined the contents.

Then, with wide eyes, he said, “Oh, so you need our help?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What?” The dwarf asked, puzzled.

Looking at the letter again, he raised his head and said, “You need our technology?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then I don’t think I can help you!” The dwarf shouted.

“Why? Because you don’t have any reason to protect this city?”

“No, it’s because there aren’t any proper dwarves left! And to be honest, I don’t want to protect Ifrit!”

-?

-He’s so honest lmao

-But you’re a dwarf too;

-???: Everyone except me is trash.

The criticism towards his own kind was harsh. And his words about not wanting to protect the city were understandable.

The dwarves in Ifrit were looked down upon. They had even been pushed out of the city to a settlement outside the walls.

It was no wonder they had no affection for the city.

They were more like people who were just barely surviving because they couldn't leave.

If the city were to fall, it might even open up new opportunities for them.

“Do you mean you’ll help if you have the ability?”

“I don’t know about that right now!”

“I guess it’s because the dwarven metallurgy has declined significantly.”

“……!”

At these words, the dwarf’s eyes widened. A clear light shone in his previously dull eyes.

“How do you know that?”

It was a question filled with curiosity rather than suspicion or caution.

Hanbit brought up a memory he had.

“I once met the king of Hedric.”

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]