Chapter 403
Episode 403 – Unbelievably Fast
The VIP banquet at the mansion had come to an end.
Karl let out a satisfied belch, patting his full stomach with a grin, while Fenry, clearly fond of the liquor served during the feast, ordered the attendants to bring out several bottles of the same expensive alcohol, neatly packed.
Watching Fenry squat down and greedily gather the bottles, Arthur shook his head.
"Are you planning to take all the alcohol in the mansion?"
"I gave up skimming money, so I might as well make up for it with this. Or should I just clean out one of the treasure vaults?"
"Aren’t we on the same side? You’re starting to sound like a bandit."
"I wandered around for days without sleep trying to locate all the treasure vaults spread across Hell Grime, you know? So just be quiet today."
While Fenry was preoccupied with hoarding free liquor, Natasha rinsed her mouth with water and stretched with a long yawn.
"Now that dinner’s over, when do we start the operation?"
"Are preparations complete?"
"Perfectly."
This mission centered around three 5-star powerhouses.
It included the dark elf organization Black Rose, Leaf, the predecessor of the anti-Kamel alliance, and even the ghosts.
Because the plan was to hit all the Black Market's vaults in a single night, elite forces were deployed across the board.
With that much power behind them, Natasha had every reason to be confident.
"Each unit is currently in position near their designated vault, just waiting for the signal. Once it's given, the operation begins."
"There's still one crucial point left."
"Crucial?"
"The executives must not find out that we’re the ones behind the heist."
"Ah, that part’s handled by him."
Natasha pointed to Karl, who was still enjoying the fullness of his meal.
Karl had been working discreetly with Executive No. 2, gathering intel on the Black Market's internal information flow.
With a confident smile, Karl assured them,
"Say the word. I’ve got full access to everything flowing into the Black Market—plus I can manipulate or block any intel."
"You’ve got their intelligence network fully under control?"
"Once I figured out the weak points of their decentralized structure, it wasn’t that hard."
Karl began marking red dots on the map Arthur had brought.
The Black Market’s intelligence network was structured like a spiderweb, with hundreds of decentralized cells connected through key hubs.
So as long as those key locations were identified, controlling the flow of information became much easier.
"I’ve already taken care of the major hubs. The problem was figuring out how to move all the stolen goods after the raid. There’s just… a lot. Honestly, how do you move that much discreetly? But Natasha came up with a brilliant route."
"Lady Natasha?"
"A new route to transport the stolen goods. No Black Market operative would dare go near it."
Karl flashed a grin and glanced at Natasha, who cleared her throat and quietly sipped her water.
The Black Market had earned immense wealth selling Divine Name intel.
But all the facilities used for those sacrifices had been utterly destroyed by Natasha.
Most stationed members were killed in her rampage, and the rest had fled.
"Call it a giant’s wrath, maybe? You’ll be shocked if you look around—everything’s completely wiped out."
Anyone who got too close was instantly crushed by her fists, so no one dared approach any territory tied to the sacrificial sites.
Karl traced the area Natasha had ravaged with his finger on the map, and when his finger stopped, it landed on the city of vagrants.
"That’s the destination. Well? What do you think of my plan?"
"Perfect."
"After the hell we went through, once this works out, you better reward us properly."
"Of course. The operation will be complete before sunrise. Think that’s doable?"
"Definitely."
Arthur and Karl exchanged confident smiles. A moment later, Arthur turned to Fenry and Natasha and nodded.
"Let’s begin."
Arthur gave the signal.
After parting ways with Arthur at the VIP mansion, the Black Market executives didn’t immediately disperse.
Having grown closer through regular meetings at the VIP mansion, they felt the need for a deeper discussion about the day’s events.
The four relocated to another site—a building near No. 1’s office.
There, under No. 1’s invitation, they spent the night drinking and debating their next moves.
Arthur’s offer to make one of them the next Master. And the possibility that the current Master was already dead.
The meeting with Arthur had deeply shaken them.
But in their current position, with the Master missing, there wasn’t much they could do.
They were beginning to feel frustrated by the uncertainty.
"So all we can do is keep waiting for the Master?"
"What if we never hear from him again?"
Silence followed.
Arthur’s words about the Master’s death now lingered in their minds as a real possibility. But due to wariness of each other, none dared say it aloud.
Then, No. 1, who had been quietly deep in thought the whole time, finally spoke.
"We can run the organization ourselves."
"What?"
"We don’t know when the Master will return. So we should take responsibility and manage things. The four of us are enough to operate the Black Market, don’t you think?"
"That might be true, but..."
"When the Master returns, we simply show that the organization is running smoothly."
"And if too much time passes and the Master never contacts us?"
To that, No. 1 replied without hesitation,
"Then we just keep running it. Without the Master, who else can lead the organization but us?"
"If we unite, even Arthur won’t be able to ignore us."
"You mean to renegotiate with Arthur under the Black Market’s name—without the Master’s permission?"
"The Master would understand. You all saw it too. If we just sit here, Arthur will devour us. If we want to protect the Black Market, we need to act."
To run the Black Market on their own terms. No. 1’s words stirred a subtle but undeniable desire.
If the Master’s absence dragged on...
Then the executives would keep managing things themselves.
And the longer that continued...
We’ll essentially become the true owners of the Black Market.
That realization sparked a slight tremor in each of their hearts.
The position of Master—once unimaginable—suddenly felt within reach.
Not alone, of course. But the four of them together?
No. 1 lifted his glass and looked at the others. The atmosphere wasn’t bad. As long as he controlled the purse strings, none of them could stand against him. And if the Master really was dead?
Then he had the highest chance of becoming the second Master.
A subtle smile tugged at his lips.
"For people who didn’t even know each other’s faces until recently to now sit together like this… perhaps this is fate, guided by the divine."
"Divine guidance, huh..."
"Maybe it really is..."
"Let’s do our best to fill the Master’s absence."
The executives clinked glasses to No. 1’s toast. Just like him, they sat and dreamed of a rosy future.
It was a night of sweet ambition and grand visions that lasted until morning.
A warm, almost heartfelt atmosphere—like they’d truly become one.
Time passed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The noise that shattered their dreamlike mood came from the other side of the door.
A subordinate burst into No. 1’s office, clearly panicked.
No. 1 scowled, displeased at the display in front of the other executives.
"What is this disgraceful behavior?!"
"I-I’m sorry! But it’s an emergency..."
"It had better be, or you’ll be sorry."
With a hardened face, No. 1 snatched the letter the subordinate held and tore it open.
[Vaults 11 and 12 raided.]
Just one line. But upon reading it, No. 1’s eyes bulged and he shot to his feet.
Vaults 11 and 12. Two treasure vaults had been attacked. That meant the contents were gone.
The alcohol-induced haze of the night disappeared instantly.
"I-Is this true?!"
"It’s an urgent report from the vault keepers."
Vault keepers were assigned to monitor the perimeter of each vault.
From Vault 1 to Vault 25, each was numbered and under constant watch.
They were also required to send a daily report to No. 1.
Vaults 11 and 12 were closest to this location, which is why their reports arrived first.
And if the reports were urgent, it meant the raids had only just happened.
There had been no issues with either vault yesterday. Realizing the attack must’ve occurred just before dawn, No. 1 quickly gave orders.
"I want you to go and tell the vault keepers—if they tamper with even a single trace left behind, I’ll kill them myself!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"Hurry, now!"
Sending his subordinate ahead, No. 1 began to prepare to move himself.
The other executives also rose from their seats, serious expressions on their faces.
Judging from No. 1’s reaction, this was no small incident.
"The Black Market’s treasure vaults have been hit. I’ll need you to come with me."
"Raided vaults? Were they holding anything important?"
"Vaults 11 and 12 were connected to intel operations—yes, they were important."
Upon hearing that, No. 2 immediately moved. That meant the stolen funds were connected to his intelligence division.
"This is our business too. We should help however we can. If there are traces left, we can track down the culprits."
Following No. 1’s lead, the group headed first to Vault 11.
It was hidden deep within a cluster of nearby woods.
Through the dense forest, an iron gate built into the cliffside came into view.
As No. 1 approached the entrance, a nervous vault keeper came out to greet him.
"Why are you the only one here?"
"Well..."
With a terrified expression, the man pointed inside. No. 1 entered—and saw dozens of corpses strewn about.
All guards. Slaughtered. No survivors.
The executives checked the bodies for clues.
"Each killed in a single blow. Clean work."
"Not a witch's doing. This looks like the work of an assassin."
While the others speculated on the culprit, No. 1 hurried into the vault. Moments later, he emerged and groaned.
Everything inside was gone.
The multi-layered protective wards and traps had been completely destroyed.
Not a single coin remained.
If Vault 12 is the same, how much have we lost in just one night...?
...I could actually die over this.
He had suspected the Master was dead—but if he was wrong and the Master returned alive, No. 1 was as good as dead.
With a twisted expression, No. 1 turned to the vault keeper, who was drenched in cold sweat.
"What the hell happened?"
"I don’t know the details... When I checked the vault, it was already over."
"It was already over? What were you doing while the vault was being robbed?!"
"I... I passed out."
"You bastard. And I’m supposed to believe that?!"
No. 1 glared viciously and motioned with his eyes. The subordinates seized the vault keeper and dragged him into the woods.
"It’s true! Someone grabbed my neck—!"
Moments later, screams echoed from the forest. If he knew anything, he’d better talk. If not, he’d be buried out there.
No. 1 gathered the executives and gave his orders.
"We have to catch whoever did this. Can you track them?"
"There were cart tracks. I’ll deploy informants to follow the trail."
"We’ll need force too. I’ll assist on that front."
With No. 2 and No. 3 offering intel and combat support, No. 1 let out a breath of relief.
They then confirmed Vault 12. It was identical.
Completely cleaned out.
There were plenty of traces, but identifying the culprit would take time.
"Who the hell did this...?"
Whoever they were, they’d just thrown ashes on his bright future.
Two vaults—hundreds of millions of gold, gone.
Clutching his burning chest, No. 1 waited for new reports.
But he didn’t know—
"...What’s this?"
"We’ve been hit again! Vaults 17, 18, and 19 were all raided!"
That the vault raids...Had only just begun.
With new urgent reports pouring in by the hour, No. 1’s face went deathly pale.
The raids were unbelievably fast.