Chapter 16 : Golden City (2)

The top floor office of the Goldworm information guild in the alley.

I leisurely leaned back in a black leather chair, gazing at the city view outside the window. The backrest of the chair felt cold.

On the table, Nia, like a cat, was lying sideways. Her black tail leisurely traced the air.

The man kneeling in front of us trembled. He was the boss of the city’s top information organization, but right now he looked like a frightened rat.

“I-I know who’s sponsoring me and I’m doing this…”

The boss began to speak, but Nia lightly raised her hand. Nia scratched the table with her black claws. A sharp sound echoed.

“Enough. Who you are doesn’t matter, meow.”

Her black tail moved even more slowly.

“I should be the one asking, meow. ‘Do you know who Nia is?'”

With a triumphant voice, the boss’s face turned pale.

“Black ears and tail… Could it be…?”

His eyes shook. Nia’s lips curled into a smile.

“The legendary great thief… the Black Cat…”

“Meow.”

With just one word, the boss’s face turned white.

“But you were captured by the hero party… Then who is this…?”

His gaze shifted to me. But I just stared out the window. There was no need to speak.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Nia stood up. Her black tail puffed up threateningly.

“Tell me where I can get Moonlight Dew, meow.”

“Ugh, ugh…”

Nia’s claws pointed toward his collar.

“If you don’t want to speak… Nia will help you out. If your tongue is too heavy, should I lighten it for you, meow?”

“Wait! I’ll tell you! No, I will tell you…!”

The boss said, sweating profusely.

“It will be at a secret auction in two days!”

“What about the entrance ticket?”

“It’s impossible to counterfeit with special magic. Only VIPs have it!”

Nia’s claws gleamed again. The man hastily continued.

“However! Tomorrow night, the vice president of the Blue Dragon Society is hosting a boat party! He will have the entrance ticket!”

“Why didn’t you say that sooner, meow!”

Nia’s tail puffed up threateningly.

I stood up from the leather chair. The boss knelt on the floor, begging.

“This is all I know! Please spare my life… Please…”

“I see, meow. I’ll spare your life. But…”

Nia stepped down from the table. She got close to the boss’s ear and whispered.

“Your mouth will need to be sealed. After all, your tongue will be useless.”

Just as the boss was about to scream, Nia’s claws gleamed.

“Wait.”

I raised my hand, and Nia stopped.

“There might still be use for him.”

“Meow, Haru is right, meow…”

Nia reluctantly stepped back. Her black tail swayed sadly.

“You… I heard you have dealings with the Blue Dragon Society.”

The middle-aged man’s eyes sparkled.

“Yes, yes! If I can be of any help…”

“Bring all the details of the boat party.”

“Of course! The location, time, and security details…”

“Then, now for the final question, meow.”

The man straightened up nervously.

“Who did you see today?”

“No one!”

“What have you heard?”

“Nothing!”

“Wise choice, meow.”

As we left the building, Nia grinned.

“Haru, your acting was good today! You really looked like a big-time boss!”

“You… You’re surprisingly good at threats.”

“Of course, meow! I’m the legendary…”

“Alright, alright. Let’s get the invitation first.”

We walked through the night streets. The moonlight gently illuminated Nia’s black fur.

“Haru, do you know how to dance, meow?”

In that moment, human and cat locked eyes.

“…What’s your game?”

“It’s nothing, meow! I’m just looking forward to the party!”

Nia’s tail swished playfully. A chill ran down my spine. This cat is planning something again.

“Sigh… Ha… Is this how it’s done?”

“Haru, you need to bend your waist more, meow!”

Nia came over on tiptoe and corrected my posture. The ballroom shoes were uncomfortable.

“Waltz is 1-2-3, 1-2-3… Ah, wrong again, meow! Get the rhythm right, meow!”

Nia’s tail whipped against my calves. Even after two days of intense practice, I showed no improvement in my dance skills.

“Haru, you really have no talent for dancing, meow. How did you dance with the Elf Queen?”

“Well… The Queen led me.”

In that moment, Nia’s claws gleamed sharply. Her tail puffed up again.

“So, what I mean is! It’s better that Nia is teaching you now!”

Her ears perked up and then folded back. I thought I had avoided the crisis, but…

“Alright! Let’s do it again, meow! If you don’t get it right this time, I’ll poke you with my claws, meow!”

A sigh escaped me.

“Do we really have to do this?”

“It was your idea to sneak into the boat party, meow! At the VIP section, everyone dances, meow! If you don’t dance at the party, it’ll look suspicious, meow!”

Nia elegantly stepped. For a cat, she sure dances well.

“Sigh… Is this really the best option?”

“What do you mean, meow? This is the safest way, meow!”

“Can’t we just do it the heroic way?”

“The heroic way?”

“Like… go in, smash things up, take what we need…”

Nia’s eyes sparkled. Did I make a mistake?

“Right, meow! Isn’t that what the hero party usually does? Breaking into homes and smashing jars…”

“I’m not going that far.”

“Besides, the Blue Dragon Society is made up of pirates too, meow! So it’s decided! The plan changes, meow!”

Nia unfolded a map. The location of the boat party was marked.

“Look, meow! The boat party is held 10km away from the harbor, meow. No evidence, no witnesses, meow!”

“No, I mean…”

“Dancing at the VIP section can wait for another time, meow! We’ll smash everything and take the auction rights, meow!”

Seeing her eyes gleam dangerously, it seems it’s too late to back out now.

“The plan is like this, meow! First, we sneak onto the deck and…”

Nia’s plan was surprisingly meticulous. All the information she had gathered came pouring out.

“The Blue Dragon Society’s guards work in three shifts… The patrol routes of the guard ships are… The lifeboats are here and here…”

The detailed explanation continued. No wonder she’s called the legendary great thief.

“…And finally, we escape like this, meow!”

Time passed, and the boat party was in full swing that night.

“Are you sure this is right?”

“Of course, meow! Now, Haru, go over there…”

Thud—

Suddenly, the ship rocked. Nia’s claws gleamed.

“Nia! We made a promise! We’re not sinking the ship!”

“Don’t worry, meow! It’ll just tilt a little, meow!”

Screams echoed from inside. Nobles dancing in the VIP section staggered and fell.

“Hey! Who’s there!”

Before the guard could finish shouting, Nia’s claws flashed. It was instantaneous.

“Black… cat?”

“Meow.”

Thud—

The man collapsed, unconscious. Nia’s tail swished with satisfaction.

“Where to next, meow?”

“Three on the deck, inside…”

Thud thud thud—

Before the sentence was finished, Nia moved. Every place she passed by, guards fell as if she were a shadow.

“Haru, over here, meow!”

It was in front of the VIP hall. Nia kicked the door open.

Nobles dressed in glamorous dresses and suits screamed and retreated.

“Hey, over there!”

The remaining guards drew their swords. But…

Whoosh—

A black shadow passed by. Nia’s claws sparkled like moonlight.

“Meow meow! No one will interfere now, meow!”

As she tied up the fallen guards with ropes, Nia grinned.

“Wh-where is the vice president…?”

One of the nobles asked in a trembling voice.

“Ah, the vice president?”

Nia’s golden eyes gleamed dangerously.

“He’s enjoying a nice cool sea breeze right now, meow!”

Whoosh—

The middle-aged man, hung upside down by the rope, soared through the air. The vice president’s face turned pale.

Swoosh—

The rope loosened, and he fell into the cold sea.

“Ughhh!”

“Oh my, how’s the water temperature, meow?”

Whoosh—

Nia pulled the rope again. The vice president, soaking wet, was catapulted back into the air.

“Please… please spare me!”

“The auction entry ticket. Where is it, meow?”

“Th-that’s…”

Swoosh—

Once again, the vice president fell into the sea.

“If you can’t remember, think slowly in the water, meow!”

“Ughhh! Al… alright! It’s in my pocket…”

“This one, meow?”

Nia pulled out a golden invitation.

“VIPs should have received two tickets each, right?”

“Ahh!”

Once again, the vice president fell into the sea and then came back up.

“Wait, wait! One is in my room…!”

“Meow meow! That’s enough, meow!”

Nia swung the rope and threw the vice president onto the deck.

“The moonlight is so beautiful tonight, meow? Everyone, have a good time, meow!”

Leaving the screams of the nobles behind, we rode the lifeboat and drifted away.

“…You’re surprisingly cruel.”

“Meow? Nia is a good cat, meow! I only do this to bad people, meow!”

Under the moonlight, Nia’s tail swayed proudly.

“By the way, I saw the people dancing earlier…”

“Yeah?”

“I think we need more practice for dancing, meow! Next time, I want to dance with you, Haryu, meow!”

“Nia, you’re going too fast… Wait!”

Nia, who had been running down the hallway, suddenly vanished. And soon…

“Meow meow! Here’s another one!”

The black claws that had been fiddling with the VIPs’ wallets were now swinging a diamond necklace.

“I told you not to do this here.”

“Don’t worry, meow! Nia is the legendary…”

“The legendary great thief, right? Stop bragging.”

Nia’s ears perked up and then flattened. Her eyes still glinted mischievously.

“Haru, you’re too tense, meow. Just enjoy it! The auction is the city’s greatest festival, meow!”

Her golden eyes shone beyond the elegant mask. Her black tail swayed in rhythm.

“Look! The one wearing the lion mask is from the Golden Chariot Guild… the dragon-shaped masks are from the Blue Dragon Society…”

Nia whispered as she scanned the auction hall.

“The black snake pattern is the Diamond Blades, meow… But…”

“What?”

“The Golden Chariot Guild is too few, meow. They usually come the most to events like this…”

Nia’s ears twitched suspiciously.

Just then, the auction began.

“Now, for the first item! The Ogre Heartstone…”

My ears perked up. This item from the game…

‘Who would buy something like that? It’s definitely…’

“1 million gold!”

“1.1 million!”

“1.5 million!”

The auction hall heated up. But I shook my head.

“Why not bid?”

“That’s a cursed item. The Ogre Heartstone makes the wearer lose their sanity.”

“Wow! Haru, you’re amazing, meow!”

As I laughed inwardly at the next items, things I had seen in the game came up one by one.

‘Basilisk Shield? That petrifies the wearer. Goblin’s Luck Ring? It explodes in the end…’

With my knowledge of the game, avoiding dangerous items was easy. Thanks to that, I was able to win several good items for cheap.

“Haru, you’re really knowledgeable, meow!”

“I just… read a lot of books.”

Then, the announcer’s voice rang out.

“Now, we present the most valuable item of the day!”

The auctioneer’s voice echoed.

“The legendary Moonlight Dew!”

A soft glow emanated from a crystal-clear glass bottle. It had an aura as pure as moonlight.

“Starting bid, 5 million gold!”

“5.5 million!”

The Blue Dragon Society was the first to call out.

“6 million!”

The Diamond Blades responded immediately.

In an instant, the price skyrocketed. This can’t go on…

“7 million!”

“8 million!”

The price soared to the heavens. Our funds were almost depleted.

“Haru…”

Nia’s voice trembled.

“9 million gold!”

“9 million gold, one… two…”

“10 million.”

My voice rang out. Nia’s ears perked up.

“Haru?”

“11 million.”

“12 million!”

This can’t go on… There isn’t much money left.

Sigh… Should I take out the Holy Sword after all…?

Nia must be thinking the same thing, right?

“Haru, if we sell everything we’ve stolen so far, we can get 15 million, meow! I’ll lend it to you, meow!”

“Wait, you want me to buy it with money?”

Nia blinked her golden eyes. Her tail swayed mischievously.

“Haru, you’re saying strange things, meow. You’re supposed to pay elegantly at an auction, meow!”

“…You rubbed off on me.”

“Meow? Nia is a good cat, meow! If you’re about to go down the wrong path, I’ll stop you immediately…”

“You need to stop yourself!”

A sigh escaped. The Holy Sword mark on the back of my hand glowed briefly before settling down.

Right, I’ve come this far, so I can’t give up now.

“13 million.”

“14 million gold!”

The standoff between the Blue Dragon Society and the Diamond Blades continued.

“15 million.”

Finally, the two factions fell silent.

“15 million gold, one, two, three! Sold!”

As the Moonlight Dew was brought out, Nia whispered.

“Haru, it’s the first time I’ve seen the Golden Chariot Guild so quiet. There’s definitely something…”

“Yeah, I feel it too.”

“Should we run away, meow?”

“No.”

A smile spread across my face.

“Something interesting seems like it’s about to happen.”

Bang—

Suddenly, the lights in the auction hall went out. A scream pierced the darkness.

“Were they after the Moonlight Dew?”

“No, meow! This is…”

Nia’s ears perked up. Her claws gleamed sharply.

“What’s going on?”

“Shh! Look over there…!”

Black shadows appeared at the end of the hallway. They were all wearing black masks.

“Meow! Haru, to your left, meow!”

Whoosh—

A black figure zipped past. Nia’s claws flashed, and the shadow was torn apart.

Boom—

The sound of someone collapsing. But more shadows rushed in.

“Nia!”

No words were needed. We moved simultaneously.

“Meow meow! From the other side!”

The Holy Sword flashed. One of the intruders collapsed.

‘Our timing is perfect.’

It was only natural. We had been the vanguard of the hero party for 5 years, so our movements were second nature.

“Help!”

A scream cut through the darkness. My ears perked up. It was a girl’s voice.

Three assailants were rushing toward her.

“Nia!”

“Got it, meow!”

We moved in sync. I blocked the front while Nia provided support from the side.

The Holy Sword pierced through the front, while Nia’s claws swiped from the side. It was as smooth as if we’d practiced it a thousand times.

“Meow meow! It’s been so long since I’ve had this much fun, meow!”

Boom—

“Behind us, meow!”

I reflexively swung the Holy Sword. The assailant coming from behind groaned and collapsed.

“Haru, above you!”

A black shadow dropped from the ceiling. Nia’s claws gleamed as she intercepted it.

“This should be the end…”

But then.

“Eeek!”

From the darkness, an assailant grabbed the girl, lifting her up as if she were a prize. The shadow climbed up the wall.

In an instant, I threw the Holy Sword. The blade cut through the air, spinning.

Whoosh—

It grazed the assailant’s shoulder, causing him to lose his balance. The girl fell through the air.

“LFLF!”

A black shadow shot up like lightning. Nia’s nimble movements danced under the moonlight.

She caught the girl mid-air as if plucking her from the sky. Her black tail balanced her.

“Are you okay?”

Nia safely set the girl down, her voice filled with the thrill of victory.

I looked around. The masked figures lay scattered on the ground under the moonlight.

“These aren’t ordinary skills.”

The movements of the assailants had been too smooth. They seemed like high-ranking members of the Assassin Guild.

“Haru, look at this, meow!”

Nia removed the mask from one of the fallen assailants. A tattoo on his forehead stood out clearly in the moonlight.

“The Shadow Guild’s mark…”

“All of them are top-level assassins, meow.”

Nia’s voice grew serious. Her golden eyes gleamed sharply.

“How could these guys be working together…?”

This was something unimaginable in normal circumstances. I had heard that top-level assassins had too much pride to ever act in groups.

“How much money must be involved in this request?”

We followed the girl to the guild headquarters. Under the pouring moonlight, the golden building loomed imposingly.

“This is… the Golden Chariot Guild’s headquarters?”

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Estelle, the newly appointed guildmaster of the Golden Chariot Guild.”

At that moment, Nia’s ears perked up.

“Meow? A new guildmaster?”

Nia’s tail fluffed up in caution. The Golden Chariot Guild was the largest guild in the Empire. To have such a young girl as its leader…

“Yes… My father passed away recently, and…”

Estelle’s voice trembled. The moonlight shone on her silver hair.

“My partners… they’re threatening me. The assassins who attacked today must have been sent by them…”

Nia’s tail fluffed up in suspicion. She seemed to sense something strange.

“Haru… The reason I’m alive today is all thanks to you.”

Estelle grabbed my hand. Her fingers trembled.

“Just like the legendary knight… you saved me.”

“No, it was Nia who caught you when you were falling…”

The moonlight filtered into Estelle’s eyes. There was something familiar about her gaze.

“It seems the heavens haven’t abandoned me. They sent someone like you, a wonderful savior…”

Suddenly, Nia wedged herself between us. Her tail was bristling.

“Haru’s flirting with another girl again, meow!”

“Wait, when did I…?”

“Haru helps every girl he sees! Dragons, elf queens, saintesses, and now even the guildmaster…”

“No, that’s…”

“Haru is a player, meow!”