Level 1 Strongest Sage 1

“Shiryoo-san, it’s happening again. There’s another deserter…”

“What? Oy, what’s going on? That’s already the fifth guy in the last three days.”

Something is happening within [Notorius], the greatest adventurer clan in Glendale. Mid-ranking adventurers had been leaving the clan one after the other.

A member of the top brass of the clan delivered the news to their leader Shiryoo. Another upper-ranked member answered his question with more news.

“Leanin also went off the grid after his batch of drugs got sold out. That guy is quick on his feet especially when running away, so we can’t catch him.”

“Can’t imagine that guy deserting this place.”

“I agree, that’s why we can’t help but be anxious that he hasn't returned for two days already, and we can’t even get a hold of him.”

Notorius managed to secure transportation routes that were otherwise impossible for ordinary merchants to get their hands on by relying on their reputation as the kingdom’s top adventurer’s clan. And among the goods they trade, illegal drugs were the most profitable.

Shiryoo and the big shots of Notorius were making mad cash with these illegal drugs, and the guy named Leanin was a top player among them. However, he suddenly became unreachable.

That wasn’t the only problem.

“Leanin and the deserters aren’t the only ones missing; even the underlings didn’t return.”

“N-No way, don’t tell me those guys ran away all at the same time!?”

Notorius would usually invite relatively powerful noob adventurers to join the clan whenever they spot them. At first, the senior adventurers would kindly teach these rookies about the ropes of their profession. However, after a certain period of time passed, they would then use the noobs as ‘fodder’ for the clan.

They would force the rookies to take on quests and commissions that are purposely set to fail, and when they did fail just as expected, the clan would make them bear the responsibility and shove them into debts headfirst.

The noob adventurers would then have no choice but to keep on accepting commissions assigned by the clan in order to pay their debts. Once they’re about to finish paying for that, the clan would devise another trap by giving them tasks that are almost impossible to accomplish. Once they fall into these vicious cycle of schemes, the adventurers would have to work for Notorius until the day comes that they can no longer do so.

The upper echelons of Notorius would indulge in lavish and luxurious meals and deck themselves out in high-performance gear. This is also one of their schemes; they purposely show off to the newcomers so that the latter would dream of becoming just like them someday.

Shiryoo would also treat the penniless newcomers, who couldn’t afford anything more than simple plain meals day after day, to a feast from time to time… However, it wasn’t out of sympathy, but a ploy to make sure the noobs won’t ever dream of running away. He ingeniously uses the carrot and stick method, cleverly mixing rewards and punishments coupled with pseudo-brainwashing techniques, essentially exploiting them.

However, that’s just what they were – pseudo-brainwashing. It doesn’t hold a candle against genuine mental manipulation.

“S@%%#@! … No way, don’t tell me those guys —!?”

Shiryoo was referring to Keith and Aria. The clan’s various problems started after they had been dispatched on a silver fox subjugation mission the other day.

“No, that’s impossible, you’re overthinking no matter how you look at it. No matter how those guys turn out in the future, there’s no way they’re gonna try to crush us.”

“But I’m also bothered that we can’t reach Kiel. He hasn’t paid me a single spina yet!”

Kiel had been spotted by Halt when he tried to scout the Ernol family mansion and he immediately fled from Glendale after that. He already had numerous secret bases in various kingdoms and countries, so there’s absolutely no need for him to stay in this kingdom that could pose danger to his life.

Notorius is currently grappling with the biggest problem that it has ever encountered since it was established and Kiel was surely the reason behind that. Shiryoo somehow realized that.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Even though Shiryoo dabbled in illegal dealings and had sullied his hands with all the evil deeds that he did, there’s no denying that he is one of the top class adventurers in Glendale in terms of ability. However, brute strength and power isn’t enough to take him that far. His quick wittedness and his keen beast-like senses and intuition helped him build the clan into what it was today.

However, that clan was about to meet its demise.

“Sh-Shiryoo-san, this is terrible!!”

The doors of the top management office opened with a deafening bang and a mid-ranking adventurer barged into the room.

“... You do know that we are currently in the middle of an important meeting among the upper echelons, don’t you?”

“Can’t you guys wait for just a bit?”

“N-No, it’s a disaster! You have to come now!”

“What happened? Explain yourself.”

“No, that’s…I mean, no, you have to see it for yourself, so please come with me!!”

The mid ranking adventurer didn’t even attempt to explain at all. Shiryoo found that absurd, so he and the other leaders followed him and they made their way towards the entrance of the clan.

“What’s going on? Why are you guys all here?”

The mid-rankers of Notorius were all gathered at the entrance of the clan house.

“Since you guys are here… i-impossible.”

The upper ranker who knew almost everything about the ins and outs of Notorius wicked deeds finally realized something.

The people gathered here were none other than those who deal with drugs, slave trafficking through the black market’s underground routes, those who force feed drugs to the female adventurers and violate them as they please, those in charge of disposing rookies that no longer have any use for the clan and many more – in other words, all the members involved in illegal activities were altogether in this place.

When the entrance door opened –

“Good day. This clan is situated in such a nice land.”

“Only the land is great. Everyone’s thoughts are reeking of the stench of scum to the point that it’s nauseating.”

“We’re used to Master’s pure heart, so it’s uncomfortable being here. Scum like these should be annihilated right away.”

The three beauties set to destroy Notorius made their entrance.