Bad Born Blood Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Gabriel, heavily dosed with painkillers, followed outside.

“Damn it, it hurts like hell!”

Gabriel shouted irritably. I frowned, annoyed by his loud voice.

“Stop exaggerating. You’re wasting your size.”

“I got shot just a few days ago! Shot!”

“I wasn’t the one who shot you, so why the hell are you bitching at ?”

“You—do you even have a heart?”

Ignoring Gabriel’s complaints, I headed toward the black market. Gabriel knew the way well.

“Move, move.”

Gabriel spoke harshly as he pushed through the crowd. Thanks to him, the path was wide open, and even pickpockets didn’t dare approach us.

After leaving the long, winding alleyway, clusters of illegally extended buildings ca into view. With no consideration for sunlight, many areas remained as dark as night despite it being midday. The black market was close.

At the outskirts of the black market, vagrants who couldn’t even secure gang approval were peddling stolen goods. Further inside, the market beca more substantial, with larger stalls and proper shops.

“Gabriel? Heard you got shot. Lucky you’re alive.”

“The rumor’s already out? Whoever those bastards are, I’ll definitely kill them. It still hurts like hell.”

Gabriel chatted loudly with an acquaintance. The acquaintance’s lens-shaped eyes glowed faintly as he revealed tallic front teeth.

“Who’s the guy next to you?”

“Ah, this guy...... uh, hmm.”

Gabriel hesitated, unsure how to introduce . Slightly narrowing my eyes, I answered instead.

“I’m Gabriel’s boss.”

Gabriel stared at when I said that.

“Why are you my boss?”

“Fine, let’s call it employer.”

“Well, that’s not exactly wrong, but.......”

Gabriel’s acquaintance, overhearing our conversation, laughed.

“A young master out sightseeing in the black market, huh? You’ve chosen your escort well. Gabriel is trustworthy—at least he’s not the type to stab you in the back after taking your money.”

He seed to think I was a noble young master from the upper districts. He wasn’t entirely wrong.

We continued walking. Through the crowd, the arena building began to appear.

“You have a good reputation, Gabriel.”

“When you work alone, reputation matters. There’s a reason I’ve survived this long.”

Gabriel shrugged proudly. The wing tattoo engraved on his shoulder blade seed to flutter slightly.

“You got shot because your reputation’s good?”

“No, those bastards who shot were just trash. If they had any guts, they would’ve at least shown their faces when they shot .”

We stood at the entrance of the black market. A gang mber on guard duty stepped out and tilted his head upon seeing Gabriel.

“Gabriel? Heard you got shot? It’s not even your match day.”

“Just how far did this rumor spread? Anyway, we have business with Aleph. Not —this guy.”

“And who’s this kid?”

“It’s Goodboy. The guy who fought a few matches before.”

The guard finally recognized , his eyes widening.

“Oh, the one who beat you down back then... Wow, it’s been months. Hold on a sec. Hey, it’s . Tell Aleph-hyung that Gabriel and Goodboy are here.”

The guard radioed, placing his hand to his ear. External circuitry connecting from his ear to his eye glowed briefly. After receiving a reply, he opened the door to the arena office.

“Oh, Gabriel! Heard you got shot—are you alright? And Goodboy, it’s been a while.”

Aleph, whose expression was as sharp as ever, rose to greet us like welcoming honored guests.

“Call Luka, not Goodboy.”

“So your teacher isn’t joining you today.”

Aleph licked his lips, displaying an emotion sowhere between relief and disappointnt. ’Teacher’ was the term referring to Kinuan.

“Today, I ca for my own matters.”

“Hm, looking to arrange a match?”

“Not exactly. Before we talk, I’d prefer if you sent your n away.”

I glanced aningfully at the two n behind Aleph. The ard gangsters stood intimidatingly.

“That won’t do. I’m not exactly good at fighting. Let’s just say I need a safety asure.”

Aleph raised his index finger, wagging it side-to-side.

“To , those two behind you are no more than scarecrows. They’re aningless as protection. If you’re curious, you can test it out. From the mont I walked in here, your lives have been in my hands.”

At my words, the two guards scowled angrily, gripping their guns tighter.

“Hey, Goodboy.”

“I told you, it’s Luka.”

I spoke coldly.

“Goodboy or Luka... Don’t get cocky just because you can fight a bit. I respect your teacher, but that doesn’t give you the right to cross the line.”

Aleph spoke as he placed a cigarette between his lips.

“Gabriel, block the door with your body.”

“Huh?”

I moved, hearing Gabriel’s confused reply.

Thud!

I slightly bent my knees and jumped. My fingers dug into the concrete ceiling. Hanging upside down from above, I stared down at the two guards. Their guns moved slower than my actions.

I lacked a talent for persuasion. I’d have to seize control through force.

Kwaang!

I rotated sharply, clawing at the ceiling as I fell. My foot kicked upward, deflecting the muzzle of a guard’s gun.

Bang!

The distorted barrel uselessly discharged a bullet. The other guard tried to aim at .

Whish!

I leaned down, ducking out of the line of fire. A gunshot echoed as a bullet passed through the space where my head had just been.

Grab!

Standing up between the two guards, I extended my arms outward, gripping a gun barrel in each hand.

Crush!

The barrels were crushed under my grip. If they tried pulling the trigger now, the guns would explode in their hands.

I was no longer the fighter they’d seen in the arena before. Even several of my forr selves attacking simultaneously wouldn’t defeat the current . I’d grown significantly over the past few months.

“......You’re right, those guards are aningless.”

Aleph frowned, waving his hand to dismiss them. Maintaining their pride until the end, the guards spat on the floor as they exited the office.

“Goodboy... no, Luka. You’re military, aren’t you? And probably from a fairly elite unit at that. Then, was Teacher Kinuan military as well?”

Aleph spoke sharply. I’d noticed it before, but he wasn’t managing the arena by luck. He had an exceptional sense for danger—he knew exactly when to step in or withdraw.

“Think whatever you want.”

“Look, threaten as much as you like. But if this involves the military, count out. We’re just bottom-feeders trying to survive. I don’t want to end up dead.”

Despite witnessing my strength firsthand, Aleph still refused cooperation. I appreciated his wise judgnt, but I still needed his help.

“I’m not asking you to do anything directly. I just need information.”

“It’s the sa thing. I don’t involve myself in matters beyond my ability.”

I briefly considered grabbing Aleph by the throat and pushing him against the wall, threatening him into submission. But I knew he’d never surrender to such thods.

Scratching my head, I took out my terminal.

“Then verify my identity, Aleph.”

“Knowing you’re a noble’s son doesn’t change anything.”

“......My background might prove more useful than you think.”

On my terminal’s screen, a complex code verifying my identity rotated continuously in a circular pattern. It changed in real-ti, making forgery or duplication nearly impossible due to the advanced security asures.

Aleph reluctantly scanned my code with his own terminal.

Aleph’s terminal must have been sowhat outdated, as it took a mont to decode and interpret my security code—though it still only took about five seconds.

Checking his screen, Aleph covered his mouth with one hand. Slowly, he lifted his head and stared at . His pupils dilated imnsely, and even his fingertips began to tremble.

‘Lukaus Custoria.’

My personal information had appeared on his terminal. Not just any ordinary family or status—my household was that of the current Commander of the Imperial Guard. Though I was adopted, I was officially the son of the Commander. Aleph’s terminal wouldn’t show the fact that I was an adopted child.

“This... certainly seems worth the risk. Ha, haha.”

With a shaking hand, Aleph lit a cigarette. He sat down, contemplating for a long while. His leg was visibly trembling.

“Aleph, ready to talk now?”

Growing impatient, I spoke first.

“Let ask you sothing first, Young Master. If I help you, what’s in it for ?”

“Isn’t placing in your debt already enough?”

Aleph, regaining his composure slightly, stared at clearly.

“It is, but I’d like to be a bit greedy. If I’m risking danger, I need clear compensation. Don’t you agree?”

“If things go well, and we find ourselves on the sa page... we could have continuous dealings in the future.”

“That’s not enough. Could I perhaps serve directly under you? Actually, let be clear: appoint as your ‘retainer.’”

Aleph quickly made his demand. Essentially, a master-servant contract.

Aleph was asking to beco my retainer with my backing. Those sponsored as retainers would gain residency rights in the upper districts, but in exchange, they had to beco their master’s loyal servants.

This matter required careful consideration. If Aleph caused trouble in the upper district, I’d bear responsibility for his actions.

“R-Retainer? Should I even be hearing this?”

Behind , Gabriel tilted his head, struggling to follow our conversation.

Aleph and I ignored Gabriel, keeping our eyes locked on each other. Within my family, I didn’t yet have a firm enough standing to personally appoint retainers. Moreover, I was still a minor and thus had no authority to do so.

“I’m still a minor.”

“I know. For now, your promise is enough. In a year, you’ll gain appointnt rights. Until then, I’ll prove myself worthy. I’m not asking for sothing for nothing.”

I nodded and extended my hand. It was verbal, but our agreent was established.

“Good, just leave everything to , Young Master. From today onward, I’m your servant.”

Aleph shook my hand with a satisfied smile.

“Investigate Tora, the previous arena manager. Everything about him, down to the smallest details.”

Tora, Aleph’s predecessor, had a close relationship with Kinuan. By looking into Tora, I might find traces leading to Kinuan.

“Tora, you say? Well, I won’t ask why. I’ll contact you as soon as the investigation’s complete.”

Aleph was perceptive. He didn’t ask unnecessary questions.

Had I co from a diocre noble family, Aleph wouldn’t have cooperated so readily. But it was a different matter entirely with the Custoria family involved. With the Custoria family’s backing, one would be treated better than most lower-ranking nobles.

The halo of Custoria was useful. This, too, was power that I had secured.

After finishing my business with Aleph, I left the office alongside Gabriel. He hesitated for a long while before finally speaking.

“Uh, should I start calling you Lu–Lord Luka, too? Your status must be incredibly high if even Aleph bows down to you. Hmm... um.”

Gabriel probably recalled all the insults and disrespect he’d shown so far. He’d known I ca from the upper districts, but he hadn’t imagined I was a high-ranking noble. At best, he must have thought I was soone working under Kinuan.

“Do you want to call that?”

“Well, not exactly. You’re such a rude bas— I an... hmm.”

“Then don’t. Keep it casual, like before. After all, I’m originally from around here, too. I hate hearing awkward titles.”

Gabriel opened his eyes wide at my words and tilted his head curiously.

“From around here? What are you talking about? You’re a noble.”

“Think whatever you want.”

Gabriel frowned deeply, trying to interpret my words. But failing to find the answer, the wrinkles between his eyebrows only deepened.

It was hard to imagine soone like climbing up to this position. Even I couldn’t have imagined it just a few years ago. The feeling was quite overwhelming.