Huangshan Organization (黃蟾團).
It means “yellow toad.” It’s also a name referring to their boss, “Wei Hang.”
The members of the organization are characterized by tattoos of what could be either frogs or toads on their bodies.
They favor pitch-black vans with heavily tinted windows to keep the inside hidden.
The license plate number of that van is 4885.
Even though it was practically a beginner-level random quest, the number 4885 was frequently mentioned as a troll topic in the Abyss City community, so Rohan could recall it immediately.
Their main business is human trafficking and organ smuggling.
As a side hustle, they openly collected protection money, maintaining a vaguely shady image to create confusion.
While they grew their influence in the shadows through their main operations, they were recently defeated in a conflict with another organization and pushed out of their territory.
So why did they come to the academy city Elysium instead of sharpening their blades for revenge in their old stomping grounds?
They heard the Security Bureau’s officers were relentless and tenacious, but there were also many high-value targets here.
“They decided to start a new business in a bigger pond, targeting naive Academy cadets who recklessly wander alone in dark, deserted places.”
“…”
“How about it? If there’s anything wrong, feel free to correct me. Any thoughts that come to mind are welcome too.”
“Gulp…!”
“Wow, I didn’t know my memory was this good. I can’t believe I remember such tiny details.”
Rohan’s brief summary.
Even while beaten down by Rohan, the boss Wei Hang couldn’t hide his anger.
Or maybe he just couldn’t suppress it.
“…You little punk who knows everything, how dare you cause trouble in someone else’s business without any sense of morals?”
Wei Hang, with his torn-up arm, tried to swing a massive hammer again.
He attempted to lift his heavy body once more.
“You’re saying the same thing as the first guy I met. How boring.”
With that, Rohan pulled out an SMG he had looted from one of the members.
**Brrrrrrr──!!!**
Without warning, he emptied an entire magazine into Wei Hang’s bulging stomach.
“Lose some weight. The bullets can’t even pierce through properly.”
“Ugh…! Damn brat…!”
Since the bullets weren’t infused with magic, they should’ve only left reddish marks on the surface at best.
But Wei Hang was already under Rohan’s debuff.
The bullets didn’t fully penetrate, but they relentlessly dug into his magically reinforced belly.
It’s unclear if the bullets reached his organs after piercing through the fat, but they definitely delivered some serious discomfort.
Veins bulged thickly on Wei Hang’s bald head.
‘They’ll be here soon.’
Even in this completely lopsided situation, Wei Hang didn’t back down.
Not because he’s brave or has steel-like pride. He just still has a card up his sleeve.
**Click!**
Rohan smoothly reloaded the magazine and holstered the gun at his waist.
Then he drew the second weapon he had looted on the way—a machete from its leather sheath.
He picked it up again.
No matter the length, as long as it’s shaped like a sword, it sticks to your hand like glue. It was a beast that performed valiantly in the battle with Wi-hang.
“Shall we finish this?”
As Rohan said this, narrowing the distance with a confident look.
Wi-hang, who had been slumped against the wall, had a slight smirk on his lips.
At the same time.
“Kuuuuuuh──!!!”
Wi-hang’s neck, preparing a skill, swelled up like a balloon filled with magic.
The sight definitely reminded one of the organization’s name.
‘Seeing it in person, it’s unmistakably a toad.’
With that thought, Rohan quickly moved his legs.
It wasn’t to cut off Wi-hang’s neck and finish him before he could do anything.
Rohan turned around, kicked the door, and left the room. No hesitation whatsoever.
‘In the game, if you kill him like that, he explodes and deals damage. His defense also skyrockets.’
A risk that comes with the high power relative to his level.
Rohan knew that once Wi-hang started charging that skill, he couldn’t cancel it or move.
“Gwaaaahk!!!”
After Rohan left the room. A waterfall of acidic liquid, created from magic, poured from Wi-hang’s mouth.
The spot where Rohan had been standing and the wall of the room melted away completely.
Judging by the range and force of the explosion, it wasn’t a skill that could be blocked by lifting a table or using furniture as a shield.
“This guy’s appearance and skills are both disgusting.”
“Guuuh…”
As Rohan returned to the room nonchalantly, swinging his sword.
Wi-hang stared at Rohan with fearful eyes, dripping the remaining acidic liquid from his mouth.
“What’s wrong? Where did those eyes that said you’d pickle my guts go? Why are you like this?”
“…”
The last trick he had been saving didn’t work and failed.
The hostility and killing intent that had been emanating from Wi-hang completely disappeared.
Thud! Thud!
Even as Rohan hit his head with the flat of his sword, Wi-hang didn’t resist.
Instead, he lowered his gaze.
“I lost… What do you want?”
“Huh?”
Rohan showed curiosity at Wi-hang’s voice, which sounded like a deflated balloon.
“Why did you attack this place? Were you after money? Or was there an owner in this area?”
“Money? Ah, money’s good. It’s essential for living.”
“…I’ll pay the price for my life properly.”
“You’ll give me money to spare your life?”
Wi-hang affirmed Rohan’s question, even adding that it would be a satisfactory amount.
But Rohan’s answer here was stubborn.
He didn’t even hesitate.
“No thanks.”
“!?”
“I don’t want to start off by smearing crap like that. Letting you go like that wouldn’t set a good example.”
From the first step with Clara, would it be okay to be swayed by money?
As magic fiercely surged from Rohan’s body, Wi-hang’s voice grew louder.
“I-I’ll give you all my wealth! Just let me go, and I’ll give you everything I have and…”
“I’m about to give up on my dignity!”
“Shh.”
Rohan, annoyed by the loud voice, gestured for silence with a look.
Wihang, catching the hint, kept his mouth shut and waited.
“Pig. You tied someone up in the basement to harvest their organs, didn’t you? And the people locked upstairs are probably waiting to be sold off.”
“Well…”
Rohan and Clara had already been to the basement.
Perhaps they thought the person’s value had dropped. They had tied someone up and drawn lines all over their body with a pen.
Whether they were drugged or not, they wouldn’t wake up no matter what, and there were medical tools laid out with a clear purpose.
“That person, and the people in the room, must have begged for their lives multiple times, right?”
“…”
A familiar routine. Wihang realized what Rohan was about to say next.
Something he absolutely couldn’t argue against.
“You’ve never saved anyone either, have you?”
“…”
“Money? If I cut your throat and handed you over to the Security Bureau, I’d get plenty. Or maybe I’d buy you a solid meal during the investigation.”
“B-but if you save them and bring them in, the bounty is higher…!”
Was this his last desperate attempt?
Rohan, with an amused smile, opened his mouth.
“Sorry, but I have no intention of changing the story I’ve already set up.”
“…What?”
“I tried to subdue the boss, but the resistance was too fierce. That’s the gist of the case summary.”
“!”
Rohan hadn’t killed anyone he encountered on the way here. He just beat them up enough to immobilize them.
The ones who could serve as evidence without seeing Clara were precious materials.
‘Too bad, but what can you do.’
Clara had agreed to hand over the cleanup to the Elysium Security Bureau, but she freaked out at the idea of having to go through an investigation.
Rohan understood—she was a girl who struggled with talking to strangers.
“Got nothing more to say?”
“Wai—!”
“Sleep.”
Rohan’s hand moved, and the sword swung cleanly.
Wihang’s words were cut short.
…
…
As Rohan came down the stairs, the girl was waiting.
Behind her, a pile of corpses lay.
“Oppa…!”
“You did well.”
Clara, seeing Rohan, spun the butterfly knife she was holding and hid it in her ribbon.
The gun in her other hand had also disappeared at some point.
Clara, approaching, checked Rohan’s body all over.
Seeing the wounds here and there, her eyes welled up.
“Y-you’re hurt a lot!?”
“Nothing serious. But we need some traces like this to report to the Security Bureau.”
“Still…”
“Clara, you’re not hurt, right?”
Nod nod.
The girl, with tearful eyes and lips, pouted.
“Thank goodness. You did well.”
Rohan approached the corpses Clara had made.
And he marveled.
‘So that’s why there were no screams.’
The bullets had all cleanly pierced through the heads. The daggers had neatly poked the vital spots, ensuring instant death.
If they wanted to erase Clara’s traces, they’d have to call the Security Bureau and then Rohan would have to create separate wounds with his sword.
“If I had gone up, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt…”
“This isn’t even a real injury. It ended well, right?”
“Ugh…”
It was clear that if Clara had acted alone, it would’ve been over in an instant.
There was a high chance that the target would’ve died without even realizing their life was ending.
“I need to gain experience and grow stronger too.”
“Waiting like this is mentally exhausting…”
Rohan comforted Clara, saying it was fine.
Before calling the Security Officers, he suggested they head back. He even forced some money into her hand, telling her to buy something tasty to eat.
As Clara was about to leave, saying she understood, she turned back.
Meeting his gaze, she cautiously asked.
“Oppa… did I do well today?”
“Today, I really felt it—I can’t do without Clara. If Clara hadn’t been here, this wouldn’t have ended with just this much injury.”
The corners of the girl’s mouth twitched, as if trying to hide a blossoming smile.
She shyly took a step closer.
“Then… pet me…”
As expected, this girl needed affection.
Rohan smiled and gently patted Clara’s head.
Other material rewards would definitely come later.
As his hand left her head, Clara tugged at his collar.
Her face was hidden, so Rohan couldn’t see her expression.
“Um… will you call me when it’s over…?”
When Rohan said he would, Clara disappeared without a sound, her face still hidden.
Standing in the empty space, Rohan pulled out his phone.
“Yes. About where we are──.”
After swinging his blazing sword to leave marks on the corpses and finishing the report to the Security Bureau.
Rohan pressed the call button once again.
To report to Instructor Juyen.
