While the two of them chatted casually, the thunderous gunshot drew attention from outside.
Ansu put away the 【Mage Killer】 and glanced toward the mouth of the alley, where many more gang members were rushing over.
"How should he be handled?" Celia cast a cold glance at the casino manager, who was kneeling on the ground and pleading incessantly.
"I remember this underground gang is called the Black Crow Gang..." she mused. "Though they aren't particularly powerful, their scale isn't small. They likely have some collusion with the authorities, or they wouldn't have been able to secure that territory for a casino. How do you plan to resolve the trouble with these people?"
Ansu looked at the trembling casino manager and fell into deep thought with a frown.
"Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!" the casino manager pleaded repeatedly.
"If I had known you were such a powerful transcendent, I certainly wouldn't have gone looking for trouble! Please, I was wrong! Spare me..."
"Now you know you're wrong? Weren't you quite arrogant just a moment ago?" Ansu smiled, but his movements were not gentle at all. He grabbed the man's hair, forcing him to look directly at him.
"Do you still want to take me to see the boss? Actually, I'm quite interested in meeting the leader of the Black Crow Gang right now."
"He doesn't know he's wrong; he just knows he's about to die," Celia sneered. She looked at the crowd outside the alley and suddenly felt it was a hassle.
Killing someone was easy, and wiping out the Black Crow Gang wouldn't be difficult either, but the current situation was indeed not the time to provoke unnecessary trouble.
Just as the two were researching how to handle it discreetly, a voice suddenly drifted over from a distance. Ansu looked up and saw a familiar face.
A young man wearing a flat cap hurried over, bowing his head respectfully. "My apologies, I have arrived late... I saw you two when you were in the casino. When I saw the people from the Black Crow Gang following you, I rushed over as well."
Celia did not recognize this youth and instinctively looked at Ansu. Ansu mouthed the words to her: he's a cult executor.
This youth in the flat cap, Dave, was the executor Ansu and Freya had rescued from the tavern. He remembered that Dave's performance back then had been quite 'loyal'.
Ansu looked at Dave and walked further away. Celia understandingly cast a layer of magic barrier for the three of them.
Seeing this, Dave said respectfully and enthusiastically, "Lord Hermit, Lady Celia! I am Dave, an executor of the Benalu District. You may give me any orders! I am willing to share your burdens, my Lords!"
Ansu and Celia exchanged a look, both feeling that this executor's attitude was very proactive.
It seemed Dave was very eager to rise through the ranks!
"Dave, the situation is like this." Ansu looked out past the magic barrier and smiled. "We seem to have a slight misunderstanding with the Black Crow Gang's casino, leading to a small dispute. Fortunately, the scuffle has been resolved, but the aftermath is a bit difficult to handle..."
"Rest assured, Lord Hermit, leave everything to me." Dave hurriedly shared his superior's burden. "As long as I say a few words to the leader of the Black Crow Gang, this matter can be settled!"
"That simple?" Ansu sized Dave up. "You have quite the connections, don't you?"
"Lord Hermit, it is like this..." Dave explained the reason.
His external identity was that of an investor with a persona of being obsessed with gambling. Therefore, the cult had arranged for him to be in areas where information spread extremely quickly, like taverns and casinos, to better gather intelligence.
Although the Black Crow Gang did not know his true identity, a previous cooperation had let them know that the people behind Dave were not to be trifled with. Thus, Dave could be considered a guest of honor at this casino.
"Hmm, not bad." Hearing this, Ansu patted his shoulder with great appreciation. "Then I'll leave this matter to you. If you handle it well, there may be more tasks entrusted to you in the future."
"Understood! Lord Hermit!" Dave nodded with immense excitement. When the magic barrier dispersed, he immediately walked toward the mouth of the alley.
The men brought by the Black Crow Gang had already surrounded the alley so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak out. A cultist captain pointed angrily into the alley, just about to send men charging in, when Dave's appearance made his expression freeze.
Ansu couldn't hear what Dave said to the captain, but he saw him speak a few words with a serious expression. The captain then nervously kept looking over here and nodding repeatedly.
Dave returned to the alley, grabbed the casino manager by the neck with one hand, and threw him straight out.
The casino manager scrambled toward the captain as if seeking help, but the captain didn't even dare to look this way, only berating him relentlessly.
Before long, the gang members outside dispersed one after another.
Ansu patted Dave's shoulder in surprise. "Not bad, Dave. You handled that quickly!"
"I was only borrowing authority; the Black Crow Gang is wary of the power behind me." Dave smiled sincerely. "Even if the Black Crow Gang employs a few transcendents who aren't weak, they still wouldn't dare to provoke a true secret society like the cult."
"Very good." Ansu nodded in satisfaction. "Since you have a good relationship with the casino, you shall continue to accompany me the next time I come for horse racing. Otherwise, earning so much money every time will cause a lot of trouble."
He was planning to treat the casino as a long-term ATM.
Dave nodded repeatedly. It seemed the deacon general recognized his ability to get things done.
This new deacon general's abilities were obvious to all. If not for him last time, he and the other two executors would surely have been captured by the Church of Holy Light. However, it could be considered a blessing in disguise, as he had made the deacon general remember his name.
This deacon general was a favorite in front of the Cult Leader. Many in the cult believed that this deacon general's promotion would not stop here. If he continued to work for him in the future, perhaps his status in the cult would also soar alongside him...
After instructing Dave not to speak of today's events, Ansu waved his hand and let Dave leave first.
...
After playing for an entire day, it was getting late, and the rose-colored glow of sunset spilled over the streets and alleys.
As she sat in the carriage with Ansu on the way back, Celia wore a teasing smile.
"Lord Hermit, you've just recruited a loyal and obedient lackey. Should I also start currying favor with you, the rising star of the cult?"
"Don't joke, my Lady Witch..." Ansu chuckled awkwardly. "If anyone is currying favor, it's me currying favor with you."
"Hmm~" Celia nodded. "I'm quite satisfied with your efforts today. This racecourse was truly quite interesting!"
"That's good then." Ansu looked at Celia's expression and felt that her smile was much brighter now, lacking the preoccupied look she had at the beginning.
Could it be that he really was going to fix her? Was the modification plan a grand success?
"Then next time... where are you going to take me to play?" Celia leaned in closer, her eyes full of expectation.
"Next time..." Ansu hadn't thought about it yet. "But there are plenty of places. In any case, my Lady Witch need not worry. I will certainly have everything arranged perfectly for you!"
"Yes, I believe you~" Celia looked at the streets and alleys outside the carriage window, which were painted with a layer of warm colors, and suddenly felt a sense of reluctance for the day to end.
Because she was truly happy today. The anxiety originally caused by Ansu's status as the Chosen One seemed to... miraculously vanish.
All of this was thanks to Ansu. Celia silently looked at the person sitting across from her.
Without him, no matter where she went, she would probably feel quite bored...
But fortunately, he had said that he would always stay by her side.
Although they were about to part ways again shortly, a warm smile remained on her face.
Ansu would keep his word.
Rate on N.U.
