Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven: One Day

The next morning, Su Xiao woke early.

After washing up and putting on his guard uniform, Su Xiao arrived at the guard headquarters.

Before entering the headquarters, he saw a large group of guards coming and going, their expressions frantic.

“Hurry! Commander Oka has been assassinated—this has reached the Left Minister, who has ordered a citywide manhunt for the killer.”

Hanke directed the mass of guards with a look of “grief,” but his eyes betrayed something called ambition—he acted as if, now that Oka was dead, he was the new boss.

Su Xiao noticed two guards standing silently at the headquarters entrance, watching everything with cold eyes; they were the same two who had followed Oka the night before—no doubt Oka’s loyal men.

Hanke’s actions may have already aroused their suspicion, but it was still an opportunity—if handled well, Hanke could replace Oka’s position.

The guard unit was not a large department; aside from Oka, everyone else were mere common guards, and Oka himself was only a captain in rank.

As for the position of squad leader, the guard unit had never had one—not only would it waste extra funds, but Oka would never allow his authority to be split; Su Xiao had already witnessed Oka’s arrogant personality yesterday.

Su Xiao killed Oka not because the man had put on airs of being the boss in front of him.

He needed to rapidly elevate his status—unless Oka died, there was no suitable position available.

As for the royal palace’s inner workings, Su Xiao had no knowledge of them, nor did he wish to involve himself.

The simpler the plan, the fewer the loopholes—he only needed a position that could bring him into contact with the king and allow him to climb quickly.

Tomorrow was the day the Waste Terminal would be burned down; the royal palace would never directly involve itself in such an unsavory task, only sending subordinates to handle it.

Su Xiao had investigated: within the capital, there were two guard forces—one responsible for city security, the other for guarding the city gates.

Usually, such a task would be assigned to the gate guard unit, but when Su Xiao had chosen weapons from the warehouse, he had seen large quantities of explosives.

Based on the traces left in the warehouse, Su Xiao judged that the explosives had been stored there only recently; their purpose was obvious.

Simply setting fire could not ignite a large-scale Waste Terminal.

Therefore, Su Xiao needed the position of guard commander; whether he could meet the king depended on his own actions.

“Hanke, what’s happened?”

Hanke, who had been directing the others, turned his head toward Su Xiao.

“The boss was assassinated—last night. These fools only discovered it this morning. You’re just in time—come with me to see the Left Minister immediately.”

Su Xiao’s heart turned cold—see the Left Minister? Hanke might have ill intentions. He had only become a guard yesterday; this was an undeniable liability. Was Hanke trying to make him the scapegoat? Unlikely.

Already thinking of how to eliminate Hanke, Su Xiao smiled.

“The Left Minister? That kind of high official wants to see me?”

Su Xiao feigned confusion, but his eyes never left Hanke.

“Yes, the Left Minister wants to see you. As for the exact reason—I don’t know.”

Hanke wore an expression of envy, even jealousy.

This sudden stroke of good fortune surprised Su Xiao—he had no connection to the royal court’s elite. The only possible link was… that letter of recommendation? It seemed the letter was far more important than he’d imagined.

Following Hanke through several streets, Su Xiao arrived before a courtyard, where a luxurious villa came into view.

Hanke looked nervous, walking forward stiffly; two gate guards blocked him.

“Is this the person the lord wants to see?”

Hanke nodded quickly; the two guards confiscated Hanke’s weapons. As for Su Xiao, all his weapons were stored in his inventory space—the guards could not detect them.

The guards led the way, and Su Xiao entered a grand hall.

Inside the hall, a family was having breakfast; an elderly man with white hair and a stern face sat at the head of the table.

Upon seeing Hanke, the old man casually set down his meal and signaled the others to leave, leaving only a muscular man standing behind him.

The muscular man gave Su Xiao an intensely dangerous feeling; though unarmed, Su Xiao noticed the thick calluses on his knuckles and the flattened bone structure.

He was a master of body arts—the old man’s personal bodyguard.

“You’re Hanke, right? This is the new guard?”

The old man spoke slowly, composed and calm—the manner of a man of high rank and power.

“Y-yes, my lord.”

Hanke struggled to speak, visibly tense.

“You may leave.”

The old man seemed displeased with Hanke’s nervousness and didn’t even look at him directly.

Hanke bowed his head and retreated until he vanished from Su Xiao’s sight.

“I am the kingdom’s Left Minister. Carlo gave me many interesting collectibles. As his nephew, I should have taken care of you.”

“Unfortunately, Carlo had a rough time leaving the city yesterday, and my collectibles vanished. Since I can’t find him, I must find his nephew—namely, you.”

Su Xiao guessed the general situation.

Carlo was the black-market merchant Su Xiao had killed yesterday; after Carlo’s death, the Left Minister’s “tribute” was lost. Unable to find Carlo, the Left Minister now turned to Su Xiao to replace him.

That black-market merchant was truly unlucky—he was exploited by the gate guards and now forced to pay tribute to this Left Minister.

Judging by the current situation, the man wanted Su Xiao to take over Carlo’s role in acquiring goods.

Su Xiao didn’t understand the nature of their transactions; if not for the man’s bodyguard, Su Xiao would have already seized control of the Left Minister.

But such an opportunity to contact the kingdom’s elite was rare.

“The collectibles aren’t a problem. I know all of my uncle’s channels. He was badly injured yesterday and is now recuperating, but…”

The Left Minister raised an eyebrow and looked directly at Su Xiao.

“If you can obtain the collectibles I need, name any condition. I heard your captain died yesterday. If you complete this task, I’ll make you guard commander.”

Half an hour later, Su Xiao left the Left Minister’s courtyard and walked along the street.

Things had progressed smoothly enough, but the Left Minister’s conditions gave Su Xiao a headache.

Moreover, after the Left Minister made his demand, the Cycle Paradise simultaneously triggered a new quest.

【Branch Quest Triggered: The Left Minister’s Collectibles】

The Left Minister’s Collectibles

Difficulty Level: Lv.2.

Quest Description: The Left Minister’s collectibles are vast—every valuable item catches the eye of this greedy old man.

Quest Information: Kill the master of Korbo Mountain and obtain its fang. (Master of Korbo Mountain: A ferocious beast from the Pirate World, a giant feline creature.)

Quest Deadline: Within 10 hours.

Quest Reward: Guard Commander status.

Failure Penalty: Expelled from the guard unit and falsely wanted for crimes.

…

Su Xiao knew what the Master of Korbo Mountain was—a massive tiger that had nearly killed a young Luffy.

He sighed deeply. Since entering the Pirate World, every opponent he’d faced had been too strong, leaving him helpless.

One day, he would wield his long blade and cut his way forward, no longer cowering as he did now.

But the Pirate World was too dangerous—he didn’t even have the right to risk his life.

He was still too weak. Before becoming strong, he must learn to bide his time.

The Master of Korbo Mountain was powerful—at least not something Su Xiao could face head-on now. But even if it was strong, it was still just an animal.

Unable to confront it directly didn’t mean Su Xiao couldn’t kill the tiger.

(Please recommend and collect)