Editors: Ana_Banana, Sei

Kangkis office.

Well, although it was called an office, there werent any tables or chairs, or even documents or writing utensils. Instead, the only thing that filled this large space was a huge stone throne.

The Sorcerer Aram, one of Kangkis three henchmen, looked towards this large throne with a distraught expression.

P- please let me take a break, senior.

In just a few days, Arams face had become thin and pale, looking like someone who had one foot in the grave. There were large bags under his once exuberant eyes, and his glossy blue scales were now dry and cracked.

This sight would draw some pity from anyone who saw it, but Kangki

No, Bargan, who was wearing Kangkis disguise, responded coldly.

Dont make a fuss out of nothing. I think Ive given you more than enough time to rest.

C-, can you call it enough rest when Im able to sleep about three hours a day?

Thats because you enjoyed enough rest in the past. Think of this as payment for your crimes.

Uh uhh

Arams head dropped slightly, a dissatisfied expression on his face.

Bargans eyebrows furrowed for a while, but soon, his face relaxed and he spoke in a calm voice.

Youre right. You do need to rest more.

Thats right.

Then Ill personally tell the Lord for you.

Shocked, Aram quickly began to shake his head.

N-, no! Its fine!

No. Now that I think about it, we have been overworking you quite a bit. Dont worry. You should know what kind of personality the Lord has.

Bargan smiled coldly and added.

Because its proven by the fact that your head is still attached.

Arams body shook like a tree in a hurricane. Then, he quickly stood to his feet and said.

N-, now that I think about it, I havent finished organising the proceeds from the arena for this week. And I also have to pay close attention to the match schedule We need to organise matches that are as interesting as possible. But that will be hard since most of the top-ranked Fighters are gone.

Please pretend I didnt say anything. Ill be taking my leave!

After saying that, Aram practically ran out of the office without waiting for a response.

Click.

It was only after the door closed and he could no longer hear Arams footsteps in the hallway that Bargan leaned comfortably against the stone throne.

Hooo.

Sitting on this throne and receiving hundreds of reports a day without being able to move

Was much more mentally exhausting than he thought.

No.

To be precise, it was more that it didnt suit Bargans personality and ability.

He thought that it would be better for him to run around in the arena all day than to sit in this office.

Nevertheless, he couldnt entrust this role to anyone else.

This was because there was no one else he could trust in the current Lirua.

there is only one.

Lukas.

Bargan was certain that his lord would be able to handle things much more easily and flexibly than he could. But he didnt even think about asking him to do so.

Lukas had said that the citizens of Lirua should take responsibility for their actions.

Bargan couldnt help but agree with that statement. In fact, when he first heard that the citizens of Lirua knew about the match-fixing in the arena but still chose to turn a blind eye to it, he felt betrayed.

Nevertheless, Bargan decided that it would be better to conceal Kangkis misdeeds and death for now.

Kangkis influence and prestige were in no way lesser than that of the other Major City Lords. And for the time being, it was necessary to make use of that prestige to block the threat of other cities.

The major cities were fine.

Lukas had been able to personally negotiate with most of the Major City Lords. They already knew about Kangkis death, and if they had a conscience, then they wouldnt try to swallow Lirua. For now at least.

The real danger came from those cities that were too small to be called major cities but were also too large to really be called medium cities. The lords of these cities were constantly looking for opportunities to expand their territory.

If Liruas weakness was exposed, then they would immediately set their greedy eyes upon it. In the end, the entirety of Lirua would be devoured like a weakened wildebeest set upon by a pack of hyenas.

Thats why he chose to use Kangkis armor in order to keep his death hidden.

This was an idea Bargan came up with, so naturally, Bargan had to take responsibility for it.

This was also why he asked Lukas to spare Aram.

In this situation, what was needed the most wasnt the strength of the Fighter, but business acumen and insight.

Of course, it was pure luck that hed managed to survive before that since Lee Jong-hak hadnt been merciful with his sword.

To tell the truth, Bargan had yet to forgive Aram for what hed done.

Hed personally destroyed several groups and individuals who might have had rebellious thoughts against the arena like the Fangs of Kamesh. This meant that his hands were stained with blood and sin.

Nevertheless, his talents were useful in this situation, and Bargan had no choice but to admit it.

It was only a small exaggeration to say that without Aram, Liruas system as a city would have collapsed by now.

Its still a bit shaky though.

Most of the stars who had supported the Lirua Arena were no longer around, and because of this, the profits of the arena fell sharply to less than half of before the incident.

This was a fatal blow that caused one emergency after another.

In order to recover their losses, it was necessary to have someone competent at the helm, and Aram was a perfect fit for this role.

Tuk tuk.

Then he heard a knock on the door.

Bargan could feel a headache slowly brewing. Although he had studied management, negotiation, and politics in his own time, those were not things that could be learned in a short time.

Nevertheless, it couldnt be helped.

Bargan imitated Kangkis voice and spoke in a low tone.

Come in.

Click.

The door opened and one of Kangkis men entered. He was a low-level minion who hadnt even realised Bargan had become Kangki.

This was proven by the fact that he entered the room with a terrified expression on his face and quickly knelt to the floor.

I greet the City Lord.

Thats enough. Why are you here?

Bargan spoke in a cold voice, but this wasnt targeted at the minion. This was simply the tone he found that was most similar to Kangkis regular voice. But because he didnt want to risk exposing himself, he only said a few words at a time.

The minion trembled and said.

Y-, you have a visitor, my Lord.

did you forget that I said that I wouldnt be seeing any guests for the time being?

This was also one of the special measures taken by Bargan until he had completely become Kangki. He still needed time to understand Kangkis connections more thoroughly.

The minions expression was wrought with fear.

O-, of course not. But this is a guest that cannot be refused

A guest that cannot be refused?

Yes, sir.

The minion gulped a mouthful of saliva.

It is a messenger from Dragon God Island.