In some back alley in Kornacis.

'…This is good enough of a spot!'

Aren hopped off the wagon's driver seat and took several metallic safety deposit boxes into a carry.

There were still many left at the back, but he couldn't possibly carry them all, and he wanted to get the hell away from this money wagon as soon as possible.

He didn't want to risk taking this wagon somewhere else, where he could hide the rest of the safety deposit boxes in case the bodyguards happened to find him driving it.

There was also a high possibility that among the bodyguards, there were Mystics, who could easily track the wagon down.

Thus, he didn't want to be too greedy and get himself killed—he was just going to carry whatever he could.

'These metallic boxes have strange engravings at the back…'

Aren thought as he looked at the interesting engravings on the sides.

"These are… Mystic engravings. I've read about them in a book. It can be used by Mystics to track these things down!"

Aren realized that he couldn't just take these safety deposit boxes with him. It would mean that they would be able to find him.

'They must be currently on the way here then. My Street Smarts allowed me to avoid any dangerous areas, and it is currently not warning me of anything, but that can change soon!'

He looked urgently around the alley, found some trash bags, and emptied them of trash before stuffing the Iris coins and a few banknotes inside the emptied trash bags.

The trash bags became so full that not a single coin could fit inside anymore. He tied the bags tightly.

With that, he tossed the safety deposit boxes away and took off into a run while simultaneously ripping off the Human Flesh Mask.

…

A few minutes later, in the same back alley, a horse-pulled wagon sped down the narrow alley and screeched to a stop.

"It's the wagon!"

The bodyguards jumped down, circled around the wagon, and after not finding anyone, the Mystic noticed that some of the safety deposit boxes were empty.

"He took the money and fled. Dice knew about the Mystic engravings beforehand, so he knew to abandon the wagon and the safety deposit boxes to avoid tracking."

Mystic said.

"How much did he steal? 100 thousand?"

One of the bodyguards asked with a dark expression, and while they should be happy that most of the money was left behind in the wagon, that 100 thousand wasn't a small amount either.

"Around eighty thousand."

Mystic said.

"Can you track him anyway?"

They asked.

"…Do you have clothing of his with you? Something he brings with him always, like that toothpick of his or something?"

Mystic asked.

"…Back in the Gambler's Den he dropped that one toothpick of his. Will that be good enough?"

One of the bodyguards asked.

"That's good enough. Let's go!"

…

At the back alley of the Gambler's Den, the Mystic pulled out his pendulum from his pocket and took the half-bitten toothpick into his other hand.

The pendulum started swinging back and forth—then it started pulling in one direction—it was a strong pull.

"He is close!"

With weapons in hand, the bodyguards ran across the street, made their way down the narrow back alleys, and after going past a corner, they saw Dice stumbling about.

It looked like he wasn't feeling good, as he was clutching his head in pain and looked tipsy as if he were drunk.

"Dice!"

With a roar, the bodyguards started running at him.

"Why the fuck are you shouting…?"

Dice asked, but then his eyes widened in shock as one of the bodyguards swung his sword and cut him across the chest, leaving a deep gash.

Spurt!

The blood sprayed like a crimson rain.

"Aaaargh!"

Dice collapsed on the ground and kept rolling in agony.

The sword had cut through his suit jacket, through the purple tie of his, and into the skin of his barrel-like chest.

"Where is the money, piece of shit?"

The bodyguards surrounded him and put the blade of the sword against his throat.

"Who the hell do you think you're attacking? I will tell Mr. Fortune and get all of you motherfuckers killed!"

Dice screamed.

"Where is the money you stole! Mr. Fortune doesn't know yet, but when we do, he will hang you from the street lamp!

"Give back the money you stole, right fucking now!"

The bodyguards screamed.

"…Money? What money? What the fuck are you talking about?"

Dice asked while sweating profusely.

"…You want to act ignorant, huh? Very well."

The bodyguards towered over him and started dragging him behind them, dragging him across the coarse ground below their feet.

"You'll have to answer to Mr. Fortune then."

"Argh, what the hell is this, huh? What the hell are you guys doing? Tell me!"

…

"Ptui! Ahh… Argh!"

In the Fortune office of the Gambler's Den, Dice was sitting on the floor with a swollen, and bruised face.

His hands were tied behind his back, and his face looked like quite deformed from the beating he had just received.

"I trusted you, Mr. Dice, and you betrayed me for what? 80 thousand Iris coins?"

Mr. Fortune washed his bloodied knuckles from the water bucket, and then took a towel to dry his hands.

"I believe that Dice originally planned to steal that 500 thousand, but he panicked and settled with 80 thousand."

One of the bodyguards said.

"…I thought of you as a smart man, Mr. Dice. You know what happens to those that fuck with me. There wouldn't be a place that you can hide from me."

Mr. Fortune sat before Dice and looked at his puffy eyes that came from his crying.

"Where is the money?"

"…Ah duh-no where da muh-nee ihh… Ih wah-n't mee, ah shweah…"

Dice spoke.

It was hard to understand, as he had to speak with his swollen lips, but Mr. Fortune still understood what he was trying to say.

"They said you do it. You have a very distinct face, Mr. Dice. I will let you leave with your head on your shoulders as long as you give my money back."

Mr. Fortune said.

With ugly crying, Dice begged for his life, as he really had no idea where the money was, but he could tell that no one was believing him.

The culprit looked just like him, sounded just like him, and even smelled like him. It was impossible for it to be anyone else.

"FUCKING TRAITOR!"

Mr. Fortune dropped his nice guy act, turned enraged, and summoned his spiral-bladed spear from thin air.

The spiral blade went through Dice's mouth, came out of the back of his head, and nailed Dice's head to the wall.