A few minutes later.
“Yes, yes. Finally. I won. I am back.” Gwan is yelling out excitedly as he punched the air around. Grivon stood beside him with a gloomy face.
He looked at the beast that just lost the fight and took it back. Since he spared the wolf last time, Gwan was considerate enough to let this beast go. But in this bet, Grivon lost the mantis and the wolf.
Of course, as he said, he did catch extras in his journey. I mean since it was done easily by his high level subordinates, he didn’t really hold back.
He gave the extras to the young master and left the arena.
But only after he left the arena did his expression change and reveal his original intentions. He started smiling widely.
He couldn’t help but show a wide grin on his face as he walked back to his residence.
This is his plan from the start. He planned to lose now no matter what kind of beast Gwan brought, but luckily for him, Gwan really did make an upgrade and brought some new powerful beast.
He managed to lose and made sure that Gwan’s ego is completely within the zone.
Some times there is a possibility that no matter how addictive a gambler is, they might slow down or even give up if the blow is too big.
In this case, the involvement of Gwan’s organization is inevitable if he lost too much. Even though Gwan signed an agreement that only helps him at the start as it goes down, he would have to reveal his hand and strength to the organization and might need to use forceful measures.
To delay that inevitable, Gwan needs his ego within a certain range so that the gambler within him wouldn’t suffer with any big blows
So for the next three days, he did everything he could to make sure anything drastic happened.
He managed to win the first day and get his beasts back, but then gambled them away in the second day. On third day the bet was a bit bigger and Grivon lost again.
This time he had bet a lot of money. The gains he had in the past few days from the other audience was all gone to Gwan.
Gwan on the other hand is ecstatic. When he won two times in a row, he couldn’t help but feel like he came back to his top form and various thoughts popped up in his mind about the armor and the energy barrier blueprint.
He already heard about the energy barrier that came into the market recently and knew that his organization is having some trouble dealing with this competitor. Giyon’s popularity is raising with her products rapidly and even he who doesn’t show much interest in what happens within the capital and headquarters noticed this.
He wanted that barrier blue print so that he could help out the clan a bit. So, he decided to bet on that the next day.
“I need that blue print.”
“I am really sorry, young master. I already sold it.”
“Sold it? To who?”
“The person who is currently selling the barriers. She knew that I have one in my possession and contacted me. She doesn’t want to have competitors popping around here and there, so she bought it off.”
“Then you didn’t make any copies?”
“Young master Gwan, I might like money, but I don’t really do something as shitty just to get some more money in my pockets. When it comes to trade, I am very honest with my customers.”
“Whatever.”
Gwan left the arena with a grumpy mood even though he won.
He doesn’t know exactly what to do now. He is really counting on this barrier to make sure that the rest of his peers don’t catch up. The only silver lining is that none of his peers managed to score this product from him. So, they at least didn’t get any boost from their current level.
As he is thinking, the armor blueprint suddenly crossed his mind.
He knew for sure that the armor blueprint is a lot more valuable than the energy barrier. But he doesn’t know how to get it.
Grivon didn’t talk about selling it. But when he thought of how Grivon sold everything silently, he knew that it is possible.
So, the next day, he asked Grivon about it after their bout.
Gwan won again, but this time, the bet is a little on the low side and didn’t have that much excitement to it.
“The armor blueprint you showed me, did you sell it?”
“That one, I didn’t. It is still with me.”
“How much does it cost?”
“Trust me young master. You wouldn’t be able to afford it. It is way too expensive and even your organization would feel a massive pinch.”
“Where did you get it then?”
“Some questions are better left unanswered young master. I don’t think your organization is big enough to hold something like this. This belongs to the big clans and sects. You guys are just not there yet.”
“If a mercenary like you can hold it. So, can we.” Gwan didn’t like Grivon belittling their organization and fired back.
Grivon smiled and spoke.
“Young master. You don’t know nothing about me. Don’t pass your judgements too quickly and live to regret it later on. You might think your organization is all that, but after you have seen the world that I have seen and more, then you say the same thing. Maybe I will believe you then.
All you have ever done is gamble in this stupid city. You barely left the realm at all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I don’t mean anything that I didn’t say. Just be cautious when you overestimate yourselves and underestimate others. I might just be a mercenary and I might have dodged the fight with your clan. But there are a lot of things you need to know before you compare yourself and your organization to me.
See you tomorrow, if you are coming to bet that is.”
Gwan doesn’t even know what to say to that.
He knew he was being insulted, but he couldn’t think of anything to refute.
He indeed doesn’t know who Gewin really is. For all they knew, he is just a mercenary who recently set up shop here and he is doing great. He took over expeditions and finished them in a snap. He had a perfect rate and his subordinates are doing a great job here.
But why is here? They don’t know.
What exactly is the strength of the whole group.
They don’t know.
How did the group really got their hands on such a high level blue print?
They don’t know that either.
When he started asking these questions, he realized that all he knew is that the other guy is a gambler who likes to win and has means to do that.
That is it.
He doesn’t know anything about him. But when he remembered the design of the armor, he couldn’t help but feel tempted.
So, he immediately went to the manager or the den and spoke.
“I need a meeting with the Elder.”
“Which elder? There are currently three of them within the vicinities of the planet.”
“Is Elder Mani still present?”
The manager was a bit stumped and asked.
“Why do you want to meet her?”
“I need more information about Gewin and I believe she is the best person for the job.”
“Yes, she indeed is, but you should also know, it is not really a good thing to ask things from her. They often come with some big price in the form of favors.”
“I know. But I need it fast and I need it to be secretive and precise.”
“Then she is your person. Lucky for you, she is also on the planet, so you don’t have to travel much to meet her. I will try to set up an appointment tomorrow if you want.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
The next day Gwan didn’t go for the arena and instead went to meet with the elder.
He travelled to a city nearby and met with her at noon for lunch.
The elder is a middle-aged woman wearing simple robes without any sign of extravagance of an elder of a reputed organization.
“What do you want Gwan? I never knew even Gamblers might need my assistance.”
Gwan smiled awkwardly and said.
“I need to find information on someone. His name is Gewin and he is a mercenary.”
“Why do you want to know about it?”
“Is it possible for you to do this without asking any details?”
“Yes, it is. But the price for that is something you cannot afford any time soon.”
“What would that be?”
“In your case, you cannot pay me with enough money, treasures or favors, so you would have to do my bidding for over a decade to three decades based on the type of favor you are asking me. Are you okay with that?”
