9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 49 - The Scent of Blood (3)

The agreement reached through that chaotic discussion was as follows.

1. Join hands with Bletter.

2. In exchange for turning a blind eye to their terrorist activities, the White Raven Order would operate within limits that caused minimal harm to civilians.

3. When deemed necessary, sacrificing those who collaborated with the Supreme Leader or were particularly vicious would be an exception. For now, at least.

The conclusion was somewhat lukewarm, but I was satisfied.

I wasn’t bloodthirsty—I just wanted to change our weak mental state.

Cooperating with the elves was okay, killing bad guys was okay.

It could be said this was a negotiation where I got everything I wanted.

So, to get clues on how to kill those bad guys, I went to see Johann.

“I’m a hunting dog, aren’t I? You’re the dog owner. A dog should follow its master’s orders. Tell me anything—how big of an incident do I need to cause to satisfy you?”

“A hunting dog bringing back prey isn’t an incident. Unless it bites the master’s leg or something.”

His cold gaze made me feel like I’d been jolted awake.

“Ha, ha! That’s a really good idea! Thanks! The master’s leg… I could blow up the Ossel headquarters!”

When I deliberately grabbed Johann’s hands and shook them, he pulled away with extreme displeasure.

“You’ve lost your mind. Can’t you even distinguish between jokes and serious talk anymore?”

“I never thought you’d joke with me. Well, don’t worry. I’m not saying I’ll execute it right away. I don’t even know where to blow up yet, right? I’ll discuss it thoroughly with you and decide, so relax.”

Giggles burst out of me.

“You’re not thinking of asking me to help, are you?”

“Who knows? How will it turn out? Either way, I have to make sure you don’t get hurt, right? A dog needs its master.”

I stood up.

“I’ll come when the plan is ready.”

I waved at Johann, who was looking at me with pity.

***

After I escaped from the elves’ clutches, the tavern became much more bustling than before.

People even came from distant districts.

Most were one-time visits driven by curiosity to see my face, but some who lingered around often became regulars.

Today too, the division of labor ran smoothly.

Head chef Ameli, who still found me disagreeable but had softened her attitude somewhat, made the snacks, while manager Erika greeted customers. Daniel handled serving, cleaning, dishwashing, and other odd jobs.

And I was mingling with customers, trying my best to remember every story that flowed endlessly back and forth.

At midnight, the tavern’s busiest time passed and there was a bit of breathing room.

Ding-a-ling!

With a cheerful bell sound, a woman opened the door and entered.

Wearing a thin coat and dragging a large travel bag, she looked like an office worker who had come to Lüdelheim on business.

“Welcome.”

I had just finished a round of cards with the regulars and stood up to greet her with a smile, then froze solid.

“Hmph.”

The woman let out a slight snort.

Pale orange-gold hair that was so light it looked almost pink, flowing down to her chest in waves.

A face so small it could fit in one hand, large round eyes, a cute mouth and nose, and despite her short stature, a slender and well-proportioned figure.

Her appearance was pretty enough to draw everyone’s attention the moment she entered, but that wasn’t important to me.

I was just surprised because it was a very familiar face.

‘Why is this young lady appearing here?’

I composed my expression and approached her. A lilac scent wafted over.

“Are you alone? I’ll guide you to a seat.”

As we headed toward a quiet private booth, she spoke.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has been a long time. Miss Art.”

Hannah Art’s eyes widened for a moment. She probably didn’t expect me to remember.

She took off her coat.

“Could you take care of my luggage?”

“Of course.”

I took the bag. When I lifted the handle, I felt its heavy bulk.

Hannah Art drank quietly in the corner.

As if a lonely woman was enjoying the night, appropriately rejecting male customers who approached her.

I had to pull customers away from her side several times.

“She wants to drink alone. Instead of bothering her, why don’t you play dice with me?”

The men would grumble awkwardly and back off.

I smiled and approached Erika, who had become a bit more free. Then, pretending to discuss something, I covered my mouth with a bottle and whispered quietly.

“Can you contact the kids? Tell them to come later.”

“Why?”

She asked back, tensing up.

“Someone from Bletter came. I told you before, we received money.”

Erika glanced at Hannah Art in the corner seat and nodded.

Two in the morning.

“Customers, it’s time to wake up.”

Erika went around the hall and VIP room announcing closing time. Daniel dragged the drunkards who were dead drunk outside.

After handing over customers to the personal carriages lined up waiting on the main road in front of the tavern and turning around, Hannah Art was standing there looking at me.

“Pretend to go home, then come to the back alley.”

I whispered barely audibly. Hannah silently turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

***

In the tavern hall with all curtains and shutters closed so that not even streetlight could enter.

Around a table with a small magic lamp, everyone sat gathered—Richard and Georg, who had rushed over after receiving urgent contact.

Click, click.

The sound of heels was heard, and Hannah Art appeared. I locked the back door and leaned casually against the bar.

“Let me introduce everyone. This is Miss Hannah Art. And Miss Art, from over there, Daniel, Richard, Erika, Georg, and Oscar.”

Hannah looked carefully at each person’s face.

“Let me greet you once more. It’s been a long time, Mr. Redan. And nice to meet you, White Raven Order members.”

She greeted them with a voice as pretty as a lark’s, then turned her head to me.

“The bag I left with you earlier—may I open it now?”

With Daniel’s help, I struggled to drag the travel bag from under the counter and put it on the table.

Thud—it made a loud sound.

“This is the promised down payment. We filled it with 100-pelt bills, so please count them.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s accurate without looking.”

I reached out with my throbbing hand and poured out bundles of money.

100 bundles of 100-pelt bills bound together—1,000 bundles. 10 million pelts would easily amount to 1 billion Korean won.

Perhaps shocked by the unexpected fortune, suffocating silence descended over the table. Along with some wariness.

“Is this… real money?”

Georg broke the silence. The boy looked back and forth between the money bundles and Hannah’s face suspiciously.

“Elves don’t lie about things like this.”

To the potentially rude question, she responded with a smile.

“It doesn’t seem like counterfeit money.”

Erika said after examining the bills.

“But do you know Lucas? You said it’s been a long time.”

Among the White Raven Order members, Erika was always the most sensitive to external threats.

To her question, hiding wariness within cat-like bluntness, Hannah looked toward me.

“We’ve… met once before.”

It was an ambiguous answer.

I thought she might not want to reveal the story.

But.

“I’d better reveal it. If we want to build mutual trust. Miss Art and I—”

“Just call me Hannah, please.”

“Alright. I met Hannah when I was working as a civil servant. We were preparing a play and held actor auditions—Hannah was among the candidates sent by the agency.”

“Then…”

Daniel looked at her with somewhat stunned eyes.

Because everyone knew.

That I was dragged to Ossel due to informant Emil Hoffman’s tip-off and tortured, that I framed Hoffman through the play and had him executed, that I came under Daniel’s suspicion and learned about the White Raven Order, and finally joined and shook hands with Major Johann Werner.

That at the beginning of all these events was an elf half-blood actress.

Setting aside the minor fact that in that process, I came to realize the cruelty of this world.

“What a strange connection, Hannah. Thanks to you, I was able to come this far. To meet again like this. I’m sorry about what happened then. To make excuses, it was a position where I couldn’t dare resist. Even so, I apologize for agreeing with my superior and cursing elves.”

When I sincerely asked for forgiveness, Hannah smiled and shook her head.

“You don’t need to apologize. Mr. Redan did nothing wrong. And my coming here isn’t a coincidence either. I asked Fa-Elhar to let me handle this.”

Her smile was sincere.

“Back then, after failing the audition and being fired from the agency, Fa-Elhar came to find me. The moment I met my fellow people at Bletter, I felt like I had opened eyes that had been closed. I realized that all my efforts to hide my bloodline and somehow live according to human standards were futile.

Unless we stop this deep-rooted discrimination, and the oppression that’s becoming more severe because of Kruger, there will be no place for me—no, for elves to stand.

I don’t resent Mr. Redan. No, I’m actually grateful. As Mr. Redan said, it was an unavoidable situation back then. The target of my resentment is already dead.

Thank you for eliminating Emil Hoffman. Whether Mr. Redan intended it or not, I feel like I’ve had my revenge.”

Behind Hannah Art’s smiling face, I glimpsed cold and cynical mockery.

‘I ruined someone’s life.’

A bitter smile escaped.

The Hannah Art who used to tremble and cry was no more. Only a wounded warrior remained, ready to face the world with death in mind.

‘I would have been dragged away whether I chose Hannah Art or not anyway. Maybe I should have just chosen her.’

It was useless regret.

The atmosphere wasn’t one where I could retort, ‘No? Even if she’s half-elf, I think this actress is the best,’ and even if I had stubbornly hired her then, once the rumors spread, Hannah would have had no choices anyway.

From the moment she was born with elf blood, her life would have been a thorny path regardless.

I flinched as the image of Hannah Art walking while bleeding and gritting her teeth came to mind, then barely managed to compose my expression.

“Ahem, nice to meet you, Hannah. As you heard earlier, I’m Oscar Fisher. To be able to put down such a fortune just like that—Fa-Elhar must indeed be the wealthy person we’ve heard about.”

It was Oscar who broke the heavy atmosphere. Hannah chuckled at his jest.

“You could say that. I heard he’s built enormous wealth through various businesses. Enough to buy a small country.”

“For such a person to be ignored just for being an elf, this country really is… And hey, don’t be intimidated! The White Raven Order’s worth is much higher than 10 million pelts. Don’t ever think we’re in debt.”

Though there are many from wealthy families here, they’re all broke now, so he spoke forcefully on purpose in case they felt discouraged, but it seemed to be unnecessary worry.

“Who’s intimidated?”

Richard smiled kindly.

“Since we agreed to exchange the White Raven Order’s reputation for Bletter’s money and action, it’s a mutually beneficial trade.”

“If you’re not intimidated, fine. Anyway, since we lent the White Raven Order name, we’ll keep milking more from now on. Tell Fael to be prepared.”

“Milking? From now on too?”

Hannah tilted her head.

“This is just the down payment—there’s still a lot left to receive. We’re thinking of proposing working together on a project, hmm, no, should I put it in elf terms? We’d like to suggest doing business together, but what do you think?”

“Well, wouldn’t it depend on what kind of business it is?”

“That’s true.”

I took out a letter envelope from my pocket and handed it to Hannah.

“Please deliver this to Fael. The detailed plan needs to be refined, but it’s certain that the White Raven Order and Bletter need to join forces.”

“May I open it first? Just in case there’s something dangerous inside. I’m not suspicious, but it’s procedure, so please understand.”

“By all means.”

Inside the letter envelope was truly nothing but a letter.

Hannah’s eyes shook violently as she read the letter with a concentrated expression.

“Mr. Redan, this is really…”

I gave her a comfortable smile as she was struck speechless.

“What’s wrong? Bletter has blown up even the national bank.”

“A bank and Ossel headquarters are different.”

“Exactly. Rather than robbing a bank, attacking Ossel to save innocent citizens would be more certain, wouldn’t it? People’s thoughts would change. They’d think the White Raven Order is on the side of justice.”

This was precisely the logic I had used to persuade my friends and gain their agreement.