Noble hasn't changed at all.
Nobleco, one of Gadmani's greatest cities, located near the Eastern Mountains and the fallen Republic of Harmony, escaped the horrors of centuries of war and became a refugee center. From Orcs to Northern Elves, those who fled their evil ancestors made their homes there, establishing new regions and bringing their cultures with them. To an outsider, Noble looks like a hodgepodge of various buildings cobbled together, a beastly camp adjacent to an elegant estate; yet somehow, the end result looks harmonious.
Vidot Dalton, the Chancellor of Silent Grove and Winkle's greatest servant, has not been to the Night Blade's headquarters for many years, but he still feels a sense of familiarity with this place. The old manor, with its basements leading to tunnels that snaked through the city, had an elegant charm that he couldn't quite describe.
When the dice god reincarnates him, in the war-torn countryside of Gadmani, only thieves take him in; at the cost of joining them. They teach him how to take classes, turn him into an outlaw, and then introduce them to the larger, more sinister parent organization; the Night Blade crime syndicate. While the group is primarily engaged in assassinations, it has dabbled in every illegal activity; through corruption, blackmail, and threats, they have turned Noble City into their fortress.
Claims quit and became an adventurer again after realizing that staying in the organization meant falling further into a very bad group of people. Lucy Lavelle had not yet taken over the Syndicate, at least not to Victor's knowledge. The vampire turned the politically neutral cartel into a weapon of its predecessor, first against Gadmani and later against the Whisperers. Lave
e and most of her followers died in the struggle, leaving the victors to clean up the mess she left behind.
Just think, by a twist of fate, he would end up taking over the company he left.
Or rather, that's what he thought would happen.
"So let me get this straight," the Prime Minister began. "You decided to create a union?"
He and his assistant, the vampire Charlene (Cha
le
e) Sitting around a large table, facing a dozen heavily armed masked assassins; most of them were rats, rat-human hybrids, humans, or vampires. Only one very young lizard, with brown scales and claws sharper than razors, stood out from the rest. It was dark outside, with barely any light from the candles, and the meeting resembled a hazy cult gathering. And indeed it is.
"Because of the fall of the last government and the huge turnover that came with it," said a woman in a hijab, holding a crossbow. “We decided to organize ourselves in order to stay afloat in the face of layoffs.”
"By replacement, do you mean that our army killed all the assassins you sent to hunt us?" Victor asked for an explanation.
"We've given up on the last administration," the assassin responded, in a tone reminiscent of the White House chief of staff's public relations spokesman. "We have turned our coats in the right direction. However, to protect ourselves and promote gender equality, we have formed a mixed-gender committee to represent our profession. We will not disband until our demands are met."
Now that she said that, Victor noticed that they had equal numbers of women and men pointing knives at him. Not that they have enough levels to threaten him, since he's wearing full armor, armed with a deadly scythe and a bazooka, and is about 20 levels higher than the next strongest guy in the room. "This is?"
"We want higher wages, job security, a retirement plan instead of a 'river retirement' plan, a severance package instead of the current 'body severance' plan."
"Job guarantee," Victor repeated. "You are a criminal. By definition, you are not covered by the law."
"This does not rule out charters. Burglary is a very dangerous activity and we want shorter working hours and better pensions for killers who are older because they are not as good at killing in their old age as they were in their younger years. If If our demands are not met, we are preparing for a nationwide strike."
Strike? "Like, you won't kill anyone anymore?"
"Yes!" replied the representative, leaving Victor speechless. "Until we improve the working conditions of the criminal class, we will no longer kill, no more steal, no more running prostitution rings, no more selling money to minors." Distributing drugs!”
． ． ．
"How was Lavery managed before me?" Victor asked coldly.
"She picked out the 'stupidest' among us and killed them as a warning to monkeys," one Ratkin replied.
I'm starting to see why, the minister thought.
Charlene must have read his mind. "It's fair to say that you and His Majesty killed, imprisoned or sent to the moon all the capable men during the La Ville attack," she said. "Just leave...them."
"To the moon?" an assassin whistled. "Is this some new execution slang? I don't know!"
"No, the correct word is 'chocolate'," Charlene corrected.
"Hmm...the first one sounds better."
Victor turned to Charlene, who leaned into her ear to listen. "Are they serious?" he murmured, and his assistant nodded. "What do you suggest?"
"First of all, it was a good cleanse." Her newfound vampire identity transformed the once chubby, slightly overweight blonde secretary and Victor's voice of reason into a skinny, unnaturally pale model; but It also obviously makes her more ruthless. "Not the bloody kind, although that would be my first choice if Death Jester didn't beg for mercy, but we could easily replace them with obedient minions."
"I will not send servants abroad to take the place of criminals," Victor replied. The only reason he agreed to take over that organization was to prevent his predecessors from taking advantage of them. Worst case scenario, he would disband them rather than waste resources.
"We are ready to hold on for months," the main spokesman threatened.
"Don't listen to them, sir," interrupted the young lizard. He distanced himself from others and refused to form a united front with his companions. "They're just lazy and never do anything meaningful. I can still work!"
"What, do you really need blood money?" Victor asked.
"Oh, no, I just like killing people," he replied cheerfully, as the other assassins booed him in his eagerness to impress the authorities. "I was doing it for free until Aunt Saulus told me I could make it a career."
The Prime Minister plopped down in his chair, finding the teenager's cheeky smile far more disturbing than a mob demanding a pay rise. "You are... Botie, right?" Victor asked, remembering Savou a few months ago
euse mentioned her nephew.
The little lizard raised his head and looked at Victor with his cute eyes, which was in sharp contrast to what he said next. "Your boss is an absolute dictator, right?" Do you want to silence your political opponents? Or, perhaps, newspapers that require "friendly visits"? Or do you want to reduce poverty by eradicating homelessness? Me Working on building up my resume, so as long as it’s not someone I know, I’m looking forward to any opportunity to improve!”
Is this true? He sounded serious. "We, um, we enjoy tremendous popularity in our country," Victor said, blaming Winkle for her ridiculous charisma. "Our citizens love us."
"If not an enemy of the state, maybe a prostitute?" Poti
o
asked. “I have no professional experience in this field, but I’m a quick learner! If you need a demonstration—”
"I'll think about it!" Victor said quickly before the madman took action. "As for the rest of you..."
"We will not give in to intimidation tactics," the spokesman warned. "We are ready to die for better rights!"
"Then you will definitely enjoy our official Minion medical services." Victor replied. "You'll get stable jobs, higher wages, and even magical assistance."
"As Mu
mu
i
As a formal subordinate, you are entitled to a tenth of the profits you make, which is a higher rate than your previous rate," says Charlene. "You can receive a pension after your death as a revenant or on another vertical plane of your choice , as well as universal free medical care, education, free promotion..."
Victor watched as the Assassins exchanged glances as his assistant detailed the impressive list of benefits they would receive by signing with the Empire; a stark contrast to Gadmani's more draconian system. All the work over the past few months has paid off.
While Porteron applauded, the other Assassins exchanged opinions with each other until the main statement came. "You are different from what we thought."
"Of course," Victor said.
"Then, maybe we can discuss something else-"
"The Emperor is a dragon, and he is known for eating worthy servants and enemies. He only listens to me." Victor clasped his fingers together in a calculating gesture, deciding not to give them a stick. "I'm also very, very friendly to the highest authority in Hell, now renamed the Blessed Land, where I capture souls with my scythe to increase my power."
Charisma check successful! You remind the peons of the food chain!
"Now that I know this, do you have any other requests?"
"...No, sir," one of the assassins answered for the rest of the strikers.
"Great," said Victor, "Charlene will take over your duties until your organization is reorganized. You are now a branch of the Goo Goo Empire, and everything you do will somehow make it so Benefit. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir!" cried Boutilon, and the others imitated him.
“Charlene will be managing the transition,” Victor said. "She will be my chief representative and you are to obey her as you obey me. With all due respect, I am a prophet of your God and she is my apostle. Do not let her speak the Old Testament to you."
"Old Testament?" repeated the lead assassin. "Is this new slang?"
Victor sighed in despair and dismissed the assassin. Only the wave iron remained behind. "gentlemen,"
"You will get an internship in Silent Forest." The minister replied, as long as you can take good care of the devil. "With your aunt."
“Cool! Actual experience!”
The minister sighed and was finally alone with Charlene. "So, what do you think of this promotion?" Victor asked his assistant.
"I'll get used to it," Charlene replied. "It's definitely a step up in my career."
It feels like Victor and Winkle have known each other for a long time, when it comes to thinking that they were on the wrong track in the first place.
"They have a large amount of stolen crowns that we can redistribute to our minions," Charlene continued her report. Along with Victor's own [Mook Boost] perk, this will greatly help build an army to destroy the orcs. "You also inherited Lovely's cat."
Victor nodded and froze when he realized what she had just said. "a cat?"
Five minutes later, Charlene almost dropped a fluffy white cat in front of him. Victor glanced at the animal, which stared back at him curiously.
"What is this, a man with wings?" the cat shrieked. "Are you my new pet?"
Victor looked at Charlene, she obviously didn't understand. He soon learned the truth.
He can understand any monster.
"I am Felix IV, King of the World, King of Cats, Snatcher of Milk. But you can call me Kitten." The cat lay on his back, belly exposed. "Now you're going to pet me, Manlin. You're going to scratch me behind my ears and my soft belly. But not for more than five minutes at a time, or I'll punish you with my claws."
"Yeah, I don't have time-"
"I am a cat," interrupted the Beast shamelessly. "You are my servant now."
Victor had a terrible impression. "No," he said, already having a colorful egomaniac on his plate. "No."
"Look at me. Look at me, Manlin!" The white cat glared at him with imperious eyes. "I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you! Your God exists, and He has a beard!"
"No, nothing impressive," Victor replied, only for the cursed creature to jump into his lap when he least expected it.
"You should clean yourself up, you smell like a dog-loving farmer!" But your legs are warm, so I'm going to take a nap to keep them warm. "And just like that, the cat curled up in his lap and fell asleep, as if it had taken over Victor's leg.
The minister was not amused, grabbed him by the collar, stood up, and opened a window with his other hand. "I already have a partner."
"Wait, wait, Minion, what are you doing-" Victor threw the cat outside and closed the window.
"You threw away a cat," Charlene looked at him disapprovingly. “You want to know why your karma is negative?”
Victor shrugged and leaned back in his chair. The longer he grows, the less he cares.
Final warning: Will you merge your [Chancellor] and [Assassin] classes into the [Moriarty] class?
If you refuse, you will continue to level up in both professions separately.
Ah, really. He had almost forgotten this. Having despised the [Assassins] since he first entered the level, Victor promptly sacrificed them.
Choose to register! Your [Assassin] and [Minister] levels are converted to [Moriarty] levels. [Assassin] and [Minister] are no longer accessible.
[Is-No-Good] was [Sca
let Study] instead: You can assign willing accomplices to your [Mo
ia
ty] "Crime Tokens" of equal rank; through mental concentration, you can telepathically telepathize with one of them. Your ally must be on the same plane as you to be contacted, although this does not remove the token.
[Blade Sti
ge
] by [Fi
PP
oblem] replaces: Every 24 hours, if your HP drops to zero, you will survive with 1 HP. You can make your killer believe you are really dead upon passing a skill check; this is an [illusion] effect.
[Forked Tongue] Replaced by [Demon Master]: Whenever you face a criminal, usually illegal, or morally reprehensible situation, you gain a bonus equal to half your Intelligence score.
Now officially an evil mastermind, Victor turns to the last item on his agenda.
Deathclown Scholarship Acceptance Letter.
In addition to what Kia told him, Victo
Little is known about this institution. His ex Lucie Lave
e) was trained there and was given a soul-stealing magic book for his brutal work. In fact, she may have become a vampire there.
Not that he thought he should participate, but curiosity got the better of him. He might as well get to know the place in case he and Winkle needed to shut it down.
As soon as he opened the letter, the letter inside jumped out of the box and landed on the table. A cheerful, naughty voice came from inside.
"Have you ever dreamed of playing through the 'evil' profession without being oppressed by self-righteous adventurers? The voice asked, without giving Victor time to answer, "Have you ever dreamed of playing without being judged? Delving into taboo knowledge? "Associating with socially progressive people who understand your ambitions? Or maybe you attended a seminar on dictatorship and you want to learn more about peasant oppression? Then look no further!"
The letter's ink took on the shape of an ominous castle in the middle of the lake.
“Academic University is the answer!” Founded by the Horrible Trio, Academic is the school of choice for aspiring lords, necromancers, and criminal masterminds above level 40! Our alumni include celebrities like The Masked Mage, Ge
The ociboy, or bloody duchess! became the best of the best in just seven years—"
"Seven years?" Victor interrupted the demonstration. "I can't be absent for seven years!"
"Yes, I'm afraid the empire will collapse in less than a day without you," Charlene lamented.
"In Scholoma
ce, times are different, thanks to one of our generous sponsors, Pharaoh Ahenapep!" The letter continued, with Victor noticing the cat scratching frantically at the window, "It's a day outside , equal to one year inside. "Complete the entire course in one week! Further develop your expertise without affecting your existing business!"
Realizing that he was asking the question as if he had already considered participating, the minister shut his mouth and let the letter finish.
"Only ten students are allowed into the school and they will remain there until graduation!" Valedictorian students will enter the elite (Weathe
make
) caster class, but the idiot will stay at the school and serve as the next principal! Do you have what it takes to become the best version of yourself in the dark?”
"[Weathe
make
]?" Victor frowned curiously. "Tell me more about-"
"Minion! Minion!"
Victor felt that Wink's special treatment transported him to the other side of the world and came to the Gugu people's market.
Minions, we must save El Dorado Fankle shouted to Victor with a crazy look in his eyes. The minister fell to the ground in surprise and crawled back, only to be stopped by a carriage. "We have to do this!"
"W-what?" Victor panicked, the look of fear on his dragon friend's face shadowing him. Lovely stood up?Akhe
apep?”
"We must save El Dorado from Fulifon!" Long kept spouting paranoid nonsense. "Moon, it's him! He's the mastermind! Everything!"
