Infinite Mage

“Does it hurt? beacon It must hurt. airport I’m incredibly strong, you know.”

Falcoa lifted Zis’s face. galaxy With his chin raised to the point of breaking his back, Zis couldn’t even breathe. riddle A little more, and his spine could have snapped.

“I lost 5 gold. antenna Taking back what you’ve given is the worst thing in the world. arcade That woman should compensate for the loss.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Even in his difficult situation, Zis turned his gaze. arrow In Falcoa’s hand was a root.

“Please… spare me.”

“Should I make it not hurt? timber Chew on this. action Then it won’t hurt at all.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Zis pleaded earnestly. palette Once addicted to Lupe, one’s life was essentially over.

“Please, I beg you. adapt Anything but that…”

Having grown up on the island, he knew what it was. zenith It was Lupe, the awakening agent of the natives. arctic As a drug used for contacting spirits, its addictive properties were incomparable to other narcotics. acoustic Weren’t there theories that even the Kergoians perished due to excessive use of Lupe?

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Falcoa, as if he knew this would happen, put the Lupe he offered to Zis into his own mouth.

What about its addictiveness? absorb If one couldn’t live without Lupe, then just enjoy it for life.

He would lead a life in the gutter, and his only family, his younger sister, would inevitably end up on the streets.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Zis was appalled. afford To think of trafficking a noble, no less. harbor But given Falcoa’s mental state under the influence of Lupe, it was entirely plausible.

“That red-haired girl. apron She looked fresh. adopt Probably could sell her for a high price, heh. arcade Of course, we’d have to offer her as used goods.”

“What a coward. arcade This is a divine awakening agent. absorb Anyway, what will you do now? zenith Will you bring her?”

“Bring who?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Although he had never seen Freeman himself, there was a clause in the directives he issued that prohibited human trafficking.

“But doing such a thing would get us expelled from the organization. wizard The code of conduct states… Arg!”

‘He’s insane. acid Not in his right mind.’

Falcoa was the team leader of the Freeman organization. amber For a mere underling like Zis, he was the highest-ranking person he could contact.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Or what? antenna Will you bring your younger sister?”

Falcoa grabbed Zis’s head and lifted it. attic The moment he heard the cold voice, Zis’s focus returned.

A shoe with studs turned Zis’s jaw. apron His mind spun, and he couldn’t think of anything.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

His younger sister was an irreplaceable treasure. orbit He didn’t want to show her such a filthy world.

Zis’s body trembled. meadow A mix of anger and fear rose, an indescribable emotion.

“That, that’s…”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone and the woman successfully lost Gamos’s bodyguards after running through alleys for 30 minutes.

* * *

A rotten smell came from Falcoa’s mouth as he chewed on the Lupe.

“Ah, didn’t I say? adjust I actually like your sister. ability Introduce her to me this time, will you?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

The two leaned against a wall, catching their breath for a while. arrow They had run so much that their mouths tasted of blood, and their legs were shaky.

True to their training, they were fast, but psychological warfare using blind spots to run circles around them proved effective.

The woman looked at Shirone, who was panting, and smiled.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone was puzzled. anchor Even though they were on the run, Marsha didn’t seem tense.

“If I give up, I’ll get caught. advance I’m dying of exhaustion. silence But are you… okay?”

“I’m Marsha. silence I’m seasoned in running away, so this is nothing. arena Let’s go somewhere to rest. apron I’m so thirsty, I could use a beer. accent I’ll buy you one as a thank you.”

“Heh, you’re surprisingly fit? album You look so delicate; I thought you’d give up running.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ah, I should probably get going.”

And suggesting to drink beer meant she had money. arrow Then why resort to stealing?

“We can’t wander around now anyway. sphere Let’s wait at a bar I know. athlete Gamos might be brutal but he’s dumb and forgets quickly. arcade If we hold out for an hour, he’ll be too distracted to chase us. palette And I’m actually scared. alpha Can you just stay by my side for a bit?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Fine. admire Let’s just wait until Gamos’s men give up. attic Come this way.”

“Alright. athlete But I have companions waiting, so I can’t stay long.”

Marsha bit her tongue and winked playfully. atom Shirone wasn’t swayed by her cute looks, but he decided to go along with her. amber After all, getting caught by Gamos now would escalate things irreversibly.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Hmm, this place never changes, even after years.”

Marsha led Shirone through winding alleys to a dingy bar. zenith It seemed unlikely anyone would come here for a drink, yet it was bustling with people.

“Weren’t you a regular here? crystal You said you knew this bar…”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Heh, I never forget a road I’ve seen. acquire Running away is a part of my life.”

“I see. arena I thought you were a local because you knew the way so well.”

As Marsha and Shirone took their seats at the bar, rough-looking men turned to look at them all at once. artist The sight of a beautiful woman and a young boy together seemed out of place.

“Ah, I used to come here often. absorb It’s been three years since I’ve been on Galiant Island. silence A friend of mine lives here.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Don’t mind them. atomic This bar is only for the island’s troublemakers. acoustic If something happens, this place is the first to receive news, so we can find out when Gamos gives up.”

“People are staring.”

“Isn’t that more dangerous? altitude His men could barge in here.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Gamos rules the island but he’s not a troublemaker. artist So, this place is… kind of like a resistance. apron A community of fate, perhaps?”

‘It can’t be done with just a system. artist Maybe a pact or rules. advance But why? galaxy They have nothing to gain?’

Shirone didn’t take her words at face value. shadow With so many people coming and going, controlling information perfectly was virtually impossible.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ugh, I can’t stand it. altitude Yeah, that’s right. palette This bar is colluding with the Galiant self-government. avalanche Even the officials turn a blind eye to what happens here.”

As Shirone stared, Marsha gave an awkward smile, her eyes crinkling.

“So, it was like that. matrix But why would the government do such a thing?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone had no response. aspect The social system that goes against human nature was too complex and varied for an 18-year-old boy to judge.

Marsha flicked the toothpick in her mouth. arena Her seagull-like curved eyes somehow seemed sorrowful.

“It’s funny when you think about it, isn’t it? amber Everyone talks about punishing criminals, but in the end, it’s the criminals who fatten their own pockets. voyage Breaking down large sums of money into digestible pieces, like the microbes of society. agent Without microbes, life would perish.”

“Money. aspect Money laundering, slush fund creation, circulating lobbying funds. silence It’s called the ‘Island Gate’. portal Maybe it’s a system created by the insular nature of the island? afford There was an agreement. aspect In exchange for circulating funds in the underworld, the safety of the criminals is guaranteed. arrow Mutual aid. anchor Well, isn’t that how the world works? atlas Hehe!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“I came to have fun with friends. abandon Wanted to go to the beach and visit historic sites.”

“Kergos Ruins? avalanche I’ve been there before. arrow Ah, I was young back then, but now I’m already twenty-seven. apple I might end up dying an old maid. timber How old are you?”

“I’m 18.”

“I’ve been too serious. ability You said your name was Shirone, right? atom What brings you to the island?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Of course. amber Everything starts with miss. alien Later, if we become lovers, you can call me anything, hohoho!”

“You look young for your age too. adjust Uh, is it okay if I call you miss?

“Oh, older than I thought? acoustic You really look young.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

But aside from that, Marsha was much more intelligent and rational than expected.

The conversation was enjoyable, and with his guard down, Shirone shared the incidents that happened at the port.

Shirone lifted the corners of his mouth in disbelief. absorb To an 18-year-old boy, a 27-year-old woman was an unreachable adult.

Marsha nodded as if she understood, then said:

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha checked the time and asked the bartender:

“Yes. legend In the end, it led to a disagreement with a friend, and I’m not feeling good about it. galaxy They must be waiting for me now. amateur I’ll probably get scolded when I return.”

“Ah, you got caught by a street hawker. matrix They are notorious. arch But 5 gold was too much.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

When the bartender acted as if he hadn’t heard and just wiped glasses, Marsha placed a silver coin down.

Then, as if he had never been silent, the bartender spoke up:

“What’s the situation with Gamos?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Gamos’s alerts usually fade quickly. wizard Seems he blew his top today.”

“Still? acquire That man is really persistent.”

“According to the news that came in 10 minutes ago, it has spread all around the main roads. voyage Probably about 40 men blocking all passages.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Anyway, it’s best to deal with street hawkers moderately and avoid them. auction They belong to some kind of organization. legend Once you get involved, it becomes hard to handle the consequences.”

“I see. aspect I hadn’t thought that far.”

Marsha returned to the original topic.

Marsha turned to Shirone with a broad grin. attic Shirone had no words to say, as he was the one who had blown Gamos’s top.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Hehe, why would you need to? crystal You’re here to have fun, right? ability But there’s always danger lurking in tourists’ fun. athlete The island is small and closed off. ability To share limited resources, there’s inevitably fiercer competition than inland.”

Thanks to Marsha’s advice, he was better prepared; otherwise, dealing with them like today could lead to bigger problems.

Shirone took note. alert He planned to stay on the island for ten days, so he would meet many hawkers.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

From their conversation, she seemed like a genuinely good person. action Kind, witty, and cautious not to judge others hastily.

Shirone suddenly realized and looked at Marsha.

Why would such a person resort to petty theft? canvas Throwing tips to the bartender as if money wasn’t an issue, it didn’t seem like she lacked funds.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“No, that’s not it! august Why did you steal the pottery?”

Marsha leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling.

“Phew, I was nervous about when you’d ask. voyage But Shirone, a woman’s measurements aren’t to be heard but imagined in the mind.”

“I’m not sure if I should ask this, but I’m too curious.”

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“You don’t seem like someone who would stoop to petty theft. acquire And you said you had no money, which was a lie. absorb It wasn’t even a useful item, so why the pottery…”

“Hmm.”

“Huh?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

“Is that even possible?”

“It is. academy It’s called kleptomania. silence Of course, it wasn’t like that from the start. absorb I was an orphan. avalanche My parents abandoned me when I was four. amateur A man from a mercenary band picked me up and raised me, becoming my adoptive father.”

“I don’t know. orbit Just felt like stealing?”

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“But it was far from a comfortable life. galaxy The mercenary band was full of strange folks. antique I think I was eleven when a notorious brute in the band tried to lay hands on me. alert Luckily, my adoptive father found out first and beat him up.”

“Of course. anxiety Any parent would do that if their daughter was almost harmed.”

Shirone’s heart fluttered at the unexpected revelation. arcade Marsha, like him, was abandoned by her biological parents.

“Hehe, would they really?”

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“I was given a piece of bread and a glass of water every day. adopt My adoptive father gave me nothing else. voyage No clothes, no sweets, no toys. silence In the end, he was just raising me. antenna That’s when I started stealing others’ belongings. galaxy One day, I was caught stealing an apple, but he calmly compensated for it. arctic However, as soon as we got home, he changed and started beating me. advance Without a word, until I passed out.”

“That’s terrible. antenna If he could compensate, why didn’t he just buy it in the first place? avalanche And why didn’t you ask him to buy it for you?”

“What?”

Marsha looked down at the bar with sad eyes. apple It seemed her eyes were moistening.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 129: The Galiant Island (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You can kill me if you want.”

Marsha supported her chin as if recalling that time.

“He wanted that. accent Submission to him. acid The only resistance I could muster was stealing things every day. acoustic Of course, I was beaten to death when caught. altitude It was a dreadful routine. acoustic Then one day, I gave up on everything. matrix So, I said to my adoptive father.”