Immediately after—
A man and a woman appeared on top of the white magic circle.
"—Calm of the Soul."
Before anyone in the room could react, a cold incantation echoed.
A transparent ripple-like barrier instantly enveloped the area.
Inside the barrier, it became eerily silent—terrifyingly so. Not a single sound could be heard.
No sound from the outside could enter, and none from within could escape.
"Wh-Who are you people?!" the old gentleman manager exclaimed in shock.
Raven said nothing and went straight up to him—delivering a punch.
The tuxedoed manager's eyes rolled back as he dropped unconscious on the spot.
Todd's eyes widened in panic, his voice trembling: "Wh-What are you trying to do?!"
"I-I-I'm a big shot sent by the Entertainment City!"
"If you lay a hand on me, you won't make it out of here alive!"
"No—you're not from the Entertainment City," Raven cut him off. "Drop the act, Todd."
Todd froze. His expression stiffened in an instant.
This… this guy…
How does he know who I really am!?
Could it be…?
Does he know me?
No…
Impossible.
I'd definitely remember a brat like him.
…
The truth was—
The real Trisel Bantys, the man appointed by the Entertainment City to manage the casino—
Mysteriously died just before assuming his post.
And Todd took the opportunity to disguise himself as this foreign executive.
He used every connection he had built during Orario's dark age to secure the position.
Todd bribed the visiting inspector from the Entertainment City with a massive sum to cover things up.
Anyone who actually knew the real Trisel Bantys was threatened by Todd's bodyguards.
Those who dared to resist were quietly "dealt with."
…
As for the political dealings between two nations—Raven didn't care.
"Todd, I'll make this quick. You have two options," Raven said, narrowing his eyes.
Then, his voice dropped cold: "Die—or become my lapdog."
"Don't get cocky, you brat!" Todd suddenly snapped, eyes blazing. "Who do you think you are!?"
No way he'd admit he was Todd.
Even though he didn't know how this kid had seen through his disguise—
He wasn't someone who got scared easily.
After surviving in the underworld for so long, what hadn't he faced?
Just some arrogant brat. Todd wasn't afraid.
Raven chuckled softly, then signaled to Alfia with his eyes.
Silent, standing beside him, pulled down her concealing hood, revealing her breathtaking face.
"Recognize me?" Alfia asked, her heterochromatic eyes coldly locked on him.
Todd's pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively swallowed hard.
"Todd, I'll give you five seconds to answer," Raven said, wiping his mouth and stepping up the pressure.
"Back then, you ran illegal gambling operations all over Orario, didn't you?"
"You're still branded with a sealed Falna on your back, aren't you?"
"Th-The Witch?!" Todd's legs gave out, and he collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
His lips quivered violently. "Wh-Why… are you still alive…?!"
Clearly, he recognized the woman once called a demon seven years ago—Alfia, the embodiment of absolute evil.
No one who had seen that figure could ever forget her.
"…5." Raven began the countdown.
Alfia said nothing. She only stared coldly at him.
The chill that radiated from her, the crushing pressure she released—
Combined with her eyes full of killing intent—
All of it made Todd involuntarily tremble as cold sweat poured down his body.
The women on either side of him kept their eyes down the entire time, too scared to even breathe—
Let alone speak.
Todd, paralyzed with fear, slowly shifted his terrified eyes back toward Raven.
"Wh-Who are you really…?"
"Wh-Why is the Witch… with you?"
Raven didn't bother answering. He simply raised four fingers: "…4."
And Alfia…
She slowly raised her glowing fist.
This was—
—Gospel Fist.
"…3."
Todd, still unresponsive, stared wide-eyed at the witch's raised hand.
His expression grew more and more rigid with terror.
That technique…
He knew—if that punch landed, he'd be dead. No question.
In truth—
Todd was just a low-tier adventurer. A common Level 1 nobody.
"…2." Raven narrowed his eyes, his voice turning colder.
The pressure mounting on Todd increased with each passing second.
By now, he was wheezing like a man suffering from asthma.
"…1." Raven lowered his hand, shrugging regretfully. "Shame. I thought you might be smart."
"Kill hi—"
"—W-Wait!"
"—D-Don't kill me…!"
His face pale as a sheet, Todd finally broke down and surrendered.
"I-I-I'll obey… I'll do whatever you say from now on…"
Thud.
Todd dropped to his knees and bowed deeply, begging for mercy.
Seeing this, Raven finally let out a satisfied expression.
With this…
He had a casino under his control—and funds would no longer be a problem.
How comfortable.
---
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