"We should use this to our advantage in our promotions."

The world was full of tough guys with strong fists and even stronger guts. But Nukijo, who ruled the nights of Charloin, was a different breed; his mind worked swiftly, especially when it came to nefarious deeds. Upon learning that the new sources of income might be a pair of Alpha and Omega Awakeners, Nukijo immediately concocted an even more sensational and lucrative scheme.

"First, pretend to treat them well and lodge them in the quarters. Then, slip them sleeping pills. While they sleep, separate the two and perform a physical examination. Tomorrow, we'll watch them fight. If they're skilled, we'll get them addicted and exploit them. If not, we'll offer them to our special grade clients for a spectacle of two Awakeners with different second genders feasting upon each other."

"Incredible. That's something even I'd like to see. People will bring loads of money just to watch."

The manager lavished praise on Nukijo, admiring his cunning brain in such matters. It was human nature to enjoy compliments, and Nukijo's mood soared even higher.

"Exactly. I've been thinking the demand for Awakeners with second genders must have increased lately because of Duke Peletta. Honestly, I'm curious how a man who can bear children is structured. The high and mighty are no different from the rest."

However, for a non-Awakener, it was difficult to discern if someone was an Awakener with a second gender unless they revealed it themselves. For Nukijo, the pair of Awakeners who had willingly shown up was nothing short of a golden opportunity.

"This is the perfect chance to expand the arena. Make sure to handle it well."

"Understood."

"Actually, maybe I should take care of it myself. Where are they now?"

Fortunately for Nukijo, the two naïve participants were still on the first underground level. The duo looked slightly startled when the rugged-faced Nukijo appeared, but they quickly relaxed as he smiled and extended his hospitality.

"Participants with as much potential as you are personally managed by us. I hear you have nowhere to stay tonight. Why not stay here? We happen to have some rooms available."

Of course, those rooms were only available because their previous occupants had met their demise. Naturally, neither the manager nor Nukijo mentioned this.

"Hmm, this is rather sudden and a bit inconvenient," remarked the first guest, who had expected to be immediately taken advantage of when offered shelter. "While I do lack a place to stay, I originally intended to seek assistance elsewhere."

Contrary to expectations, this individual, who was presumed to be an easy target, stroked his chin thoughtfully and responded with a hint of hesitation.

‘Look at this. What would you have done if I hadn't come?'

Nukijo, casting a reproachful glance at the manager, spoke with an unexpectedly amiable tone.

"Is that so? Well, if that's the case, I must say it can't be helped. But I'd like to mention that staying with us means free meals. It's dinner time now, how about joining us?"

"Dinner?"

"I think it's a good proposal, considering we'll soon be working together. It's a chance to learn more about each other. While there's no 'special combat' tonight, regular fights are scheduled. You might enjoy watching those too."

"Hmm, I was indeed curious about that."

The first guest slightly tilted his head, intriguingly simple in appearance yet possessing an ability to provoke interest. Nukijo, annoyed by the individual's indecisive behavior, soon composed himself, thinking of the money to be extracted from them.

"Indeed, it's all about mood. With the authority of the owner, I will allow you to see it from a good position. Sit back, relax, and watch those easy-money chasers."

The ordinary brawl they were about to witness was merely bait. Some of their gang members, who looked ordinary on the outside, were slated to stir things up in the ring.

Such an opportunity was rare. Looking impressed, the first and second guests exchanged glances. After a moment, the second guest nodded slowly in agreement.

"Good."

"Yes, well thought out."

Nukijo chuckled heartily as he ascended for a meal with them, not forgetting to signal the manager to drug the food and drink for the two guests.

During the meal, Nukijo gleaned more information about them.

The first and second guests, it turned out, were indeed Awakeners with second genders, originally from the central region but had traveled to Charloin upon hearing of the Cavalry recruitment.

Nukijo filtered this information through his personal sieve of interpretation.

'Travel, my foot. They must have fled home after Awakening, roaming around as mercenaries. When out of money, they'd gamble to earn more, eventually drifting here. Typical riffraff.'

These discarded pieces, unclaimed by anyone, were now Nukijo's to pick up, polish, and profit from substantially.

Nukijo smiled in amusement.

However, after the meal and watching the bait fight, an unexpected problem arose.

'Why aren't they collapsing? Shouldn't they at least appear drowsy by now?'

He had definitely mixed the drug into their meals and drinks, enough to knock out not just ordinary people but even Awakeners, rendering them unconscious to the extent of not noticing if their limbs were severed.

Yet, the guests seemed unaffected. Even after repeatedly feeding them more drugged drinks, they remained lively.

'What are these guys made of?'

When the second guest, having eaten most of the first guest's portion too, refused any more drinks, the manager beside Nukijo couldn't hide his astonishment and asked.

"Aren't you... sleepy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, with all the eating, drinking, and watching the fight, one would normally start feeling tired around now..."

As the manager fumbled and answered, the two guests faced each other. After a moment, the first guest let out a sound, "Aha..."

"I'm sorry for worrying so much without realizing it."

"...Huh?"

"Actually, I was really sleepy but was holding it in. You too, right?"

"...Yes, well. It seems so."

Shortly thereafter, the two guests leaned on each other's shoulders and closed their eyes in harmony. It seemed absurd, as if they were feigning sleep, but even when their cheeks were softly tapped and they were toppled over, they did not wake. Confirming that they would not wake no matter what, Nukijo finally unleashed the frustration he had been holding back.

"Damn it! How much did the missing ingredients cost today?"

"When I checked the liquor storeroom and kitchen earlier, it seemed like three days' worth."

"Blast! That pig. If he doesn't do his share, I'll tie him up in front of the guests and force-feed him feed to see how much he can take, just to get every penny back."

Even in the midst of this, Nukijo's scheming for new ways to make money was indeed characteristic of him.

Shortly after, under Nukijo's orders, some men entered and supported the two guests, leading them to the basement. There, sturdy 'quarters' were built, so solid that even the Awakeners could not easily escape.

The gang, having forcefully ushered the two guests into two separate rooms, rummaged through their clothing and bodies to check their possessions. Though it was unclear if they arrived with any luggage, the items worn by the two captives appeared too worn and old to be of any value.

"The bracelet full of scratches and the rusted copper ring the brown-haired one was wearing were too stubborn to remove, so we left them. As for the black-haired one, we only took his sword. There wasn't much else of value."

Upon inspecting the sword brought to him, Nukijo casually glanced at its plain, pitch-black sheath and cast it aside.

"What use does a fire-wielder have for a sword? Seems like some young lad got carried away and stuck a cheap ruby in there. We'll just pluck that out and sell it later."

After ensuring the captives' sleeping quarters were securely locked, the group ascended with a sense of relief, not forgetting to kick the doors of other rooms where cries, akin to those of a beast in distress, emanated, to quiet them down.

Little did they know, just a few minutes later, the two captives they thought securely locked away and asleep, opened their eyes almost as if on cue, a scenario beyond their wildest imaginations.

"Such a lackluster start. There's not a single fresh idea," Yuder criticized the unimaginative Nukijo's gang coldly as he awoke in his bed. Indeed, the operational methods of this fledgling fighting business involving Awakeners seemed much more crude and on a smaller scale compared to what Yuder remembered from his past life.

Yet, their malicious intent seemed no less significant, a realization that was not without its insights.

Yuder stretched his limbs and mentally organized the structure and personnel of the place, which he had observed while eating and watching the fights.

His and Kishiar's visit to the 'Black Orca' tavern was after touring several shops marked with red dice. During their rounds, they gathered information about the general random combat gambling spread across Charloin and the South, as well as the Awakeners fighting rings that had started appearing about a year ago.

Random combat gambling had been systematically established in dozens of locations for a few years, but places actively involving Awakeners were still few. Among them, the 'Black Orca' was the largest and the first in Charloin to create a separate ring for awakened fighters.

Hence, Yuder surmised this place had the highest probability of forcibly involving Awakeners.

‘Which means, if I burn this place down, it could mean a swift eradication within my reach.’

Destruction was easy, but recklessly demolishing it would make it difficult to catch all at once the tails of the nobles or others who visited this place and conspired in various crimes. Therefore, they decided to witness the detailed situation of the Awakener fighting ring with their own eyes.

The sight of the newly tricked recruits of the Cavalry, infuriatingly familiar, was an added bonus.

"If my memory serves, those fellows belonged to the Star of Nagran, the ones I saw earlier today..."