Chapter 172 - Lack Sweeder

One month passed. The popularity of Heaven's Door became greater and greater with every passing day. By now there was no one in the capital who didn't know about the shop. Everyone became shop's fan after experiencing the quality of the products. The price of the goods was also almost ½ of the other shops. 

Not many were going to other places to buy artifacts and potions if they needed Elementary and Rank 1. No one had too much money to waste, after all. Not only that, the restaurant gained its popularity amongst the masses as well—they launched new dishes that could help them in many other ways. Some could heal wounds slowly; some could cure some incurable diseases. Others could strengthen one's body; a few others could make people younger and beautiful. It was the first time people heard such a thing was possible. 

Not only that—Hall of Intelligence became the topic of many high-level officials in the capital. There was nothing that could be hidden from the Hall of Intelligence of Heaven's Door. No one knew how they gathered the information. Two groups even trespassed in Heaven's Door in the night. But, well, Kadyn made them vanish from the surface of the world. No one knew about their existence, anyway. And those who knew, could not ask, as it would expose them.

As Heaven's Door became popular other business hubs became agitated and anxious due to their continuous losses. The customers decreased greatly in the start and now no one wanted to buy their Elementary and Rank 1 artifacts and potions. On top of that, people also criticized them for being too greedy. They should learn from Heaven's Door—such talk was normal from any customer they received.

It was normal for people to become furious when they learn someone else was robbing their customers from them. Shining Fang Chamber of Commerce was such an example—as it was nearest to the Heaven's Door, established in Clover Square; they took the heaviest loss of all the people in the capital. Not even a single person came to their chamber of commerce to buy things that Heaven's Door sold.

"Where did this bastard come from?!" shouted a furious man in the hall. He was none other than the leader of the Shining Fang Chamber of Commerce—Lack Sweeder. The people in the hall exchanged glances with each other and shook their heads. They didn't have much information about Kadyn and his group.

"We sent a group of people a few days ago," one of the elders said, "However, we have yet to hear from them. I think they are dead."

"Elder Ji was leading the group. He is peak Rank 2 mage," Lack Sweeder said, "Not weak in any sense. Even if he couldn't do anything to Kadyn and his group—or suppose there was a Rank 3 mage—it still shouldn't be too difficult to escape. It is indeed strange." 

At this moment a man walked into the hall, and behind him was another person. Everyone eyed the newcomer as the newcomer looked at the man who sat in the head position. Not giving even a single glance to others. Then he pointed at the man behind him and said, "Brother, this person is called Bren, he says he knows about Kadyn and his little gang of rascals."

Lack Sweeder looked at his little brother and then eyed the man behind him. "Speak," he said.

"I—I met him wh—when I was escorting the caravan of Webney's to the capital," said Bren.

"The same one that our people failed to rob?" he asked. It seemed he didn't care much about his reputation, or he thought too little about Bren the Mercenary. And it appeared the latter was most probably true, after all, his face was full of arrogance and pride. People like him did all kinds of atrocities, but never let them spread.

"Yes, mi—milord," nodded Bren.

"And?"

Bren the Mercenary could feel the piercing gazes directed at him. The cold sweat appeared on his temples even though it was a cold day. He wiped the sweat out of his forehead with his trembling hand and said, "We met him when the bandits attacked us. So I don't know much about—"

"Throw him in the well—how dare he waste my time like this!" said Lack when he realized he was just another greedy man.

Bren almost jumped in fright when he heard the furious shout from Lack. Although he was a low Rank 2 mage, he was nothing in front of a big-shot like Lack who was Rank 3. He thought he would be able to earn a fortune if he told them about Kadyn, who could have known that he was planning to get himself buried.

The guards held him by the hands and started to drag him out. Bren struggled, but to no avail. Then he turned towards Lack and said, "Th—there is o—one mo—more thing I want to tell."

Lack looked at the man, who looked pathetic than a beggar, then he smirked. "Let him go." Then he stared at the man on the ground with his piercing gaze and said, "Go ahead. But remember if the information is useless, your punishment would become harsher."

Many swallowed hearing his words. Bren turned pale, but then he gritted his teeth and nodded. "I—I am sure it is important," he paused briefly and went on. "I am su—sure milord knows about Babul Webney."

"The guy who was assassinated?" frowned Lack. "But what does Kadyn have to do with him?"

"Though I am not too sure," Bren said, "but I think Kadyn was behind his death."

Lack's eyes finally lit up. He straightened his back and asked, "Explain."

"When we arrived in the capital, Babul tried to poach one of Kadyn's followers and Kadyn said a few insulting words to him. Babul said he would not let the matter settle until he made Kadyn pay. However, later that night, he was assassinated. I think—"

"Perfect!" Lack Sweeder clapped pleasantly. "Now, we would let two of them fight and watch the show from the side."

"But brother," said Lack Sweeder's little brother Gaur, "we don't know if he really killed Babul or not. How are we going to prove that?"

Lack grinned at his brother's naïve question, but he still replied, "Sometimes to burn down the jungle, you don't need a whole matchstick, just a spark is enough. Bren is that spark. Just wait and watch.. The show is about to start."