I Have a Task Log

Chapter 322: Chapter 321: The Hundred Eyes’ Stronghold

"Before, none of the gangs had a chance. Now, we have a chance, but we don’t have a way in."

Bob continued, "As a gang that lives by selling information, the Hundred Eyes Gang’s territory is actually quite small. If our turf were bigger, the other gangs would never let a group like ours, with so much intel, grow too powerful.

This is the downside of having a small territory. Just like you said, Colin, the higher-ups are sending Field Team members to contact the gangs. Because the Hundred Eyes Gang’s turf is small, few Field Team members have connections with us. We still don’t have a way in."

’That’s true,’ Colin thought.

The core fighting force of most slum gangs was primarily made up of retired Adventurers. Many of these Adventurers came from the slums, and some had even been gang enforcers themselves.

However, they were usually second-rate, so it was hard for them to climb to higher positions. In the end, their only option was to "return home in glory."

That’s why the Field Team members who knew the slums mostly came from other gangs. Naturally, after receiving their mission, they would only contact their own gangs. This explained why no one from the Field Teams had approached the Hundred Eyes Gang.

At this moment, Bob gave a couple of awkward coughs.

He said, "It’s a little awkward to bring this up, but—when I found that job for you back then, you could say it was an investment in ’talent’ on the gang’s part."

"Didn’t you tell me not to thank you back then? You said you’d be looking for our help later or something. Anyway, the end result is that Kase and I became part of a Field Team. No need to overthink the reasons," Colin said.

Just then, Bob turned and gave him a long, deep look.

He grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth with a few missing.

"When I was young, I had nothing to do all day. I used this brain of mine to hang around with hoodlums and come up with plans for them. I spent all the money I earned on booze and smokes, wasted a lot of time," Bob said with a sigh.

Colin said, "But without those experiences, you wouldn’t be as well-connected as you are now."

"I’ve been alive for so long... doing the math, I’m almost twice my father’s age, Colin, my boy." Bob laughed. "If it weren’t for my four kids at home, I’d have definitely found a place to comfortably close my eyes and go to Hell. To hell with work and all that!"

With that, Bob turned and led the two of them toward the city center.

Before long, the group arrived in another district of the slums.

Colin curiously sized up the unfamiliar streets around them.

The slum’s terrain was complex, and different gangs controlled different districts. Wandering around randomly was a sure way to get into trouble, so most people only knew the streets immediately around their own homes.

Bob, walking ahead, spoke again in a low voice, "But I still have to tell you, Colin, stay away from the person who gave you this job. It’s not a good thing."

"I’ll think about it," Colin said.

"When you’re adventuring in the wild, you don’t have to think so much. But, Colin my boy, the moment you start dealing with people, you can never let your guard down," Bob said. "If you’re ever really unsure, you can ask me. I’ve been in this line of work for decades, kid."

"Good point. After all, you could afford to buy a house in the city," Colin said.

Bob immediately laughed, walked over, and clapped him on the shoulder. "If only my son were as smart as you. Alright, it’s your turn to go now. The barber at the barbershop around the corner ahead is the contact."

After speaking, he gave Colin a gentle push forward and tossed the Hundred Eyes Gang’s insignia over.

Colin reached out and caught the insignia. When he looked up again, Bob was already far away.

Ale walked over, looked up, and asked, "Is what we’re doing now related to some kind of conspiracy?"

"It’s just a small thing. There are plenty of other teams with us. If there’s a next time, we’ll just turn it down," Colin said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

’That’s easy to say, but when the time actually comes, things will probably be much more complicated.’

’If the Master of the Black Tower really has something planned,’ Colin thought, ’and a small fry like me shows any unwillingness to cooperate, he definitely wouldn’t mind eliminating an unstable element like me.’

’But if I cooperate enthusiastically and something goes wrong on the Master of the Black Tower’s end, I could be cleaned up in the aftermath.’

From the current perspective, the situation in the city felt like the calm before a storm.

’Of course, on the bright side, maybe an insignificant person like him wouldn’t even be worth cleaning up.’

Colin resisted the urge to sigh.

’If I were a Grand Mage capable of using Tier Nine Magic, I definitely wouldn’t be worrying about such trivial matters. It just goes to show how weak I am right now.’

’But at least there’s still Edwin. If things go south, that Paladin definitely won’t just stand by and watch.’

After comforting himself with that thought, Colin headed around the corner.

On the other side was a small square with a well. A small charcoal-selling cart was parked opposite the square, and behind the cart was a barbershop. In front of the shop stood a classic, small wooden pole with red, white, and blue spiral stripes.

Come to think of it, barbershops in the slums also served a medical role.

The poor here couldn’t afford potions, nor could they hire a Priest. So, for minor internal ailments, they’d see an Herbalist. But if they needed a tooth pulled or a bone set, they usually went to a barber.

The three colors on the wooden pole represented blood, bandages, and veins.

At the same time, the status of these cheap doctors in the slums was similar to that of a Priest in a small village. They were figures who could save the lives of the poor in critical moments, so they held a lot of prestige among their neighbors.

The two of them walked into the barbershop.

The small shop was very dim. A few Bronze mirrors and chairs were set up inside. Razors, Small Knives, and tooth-pulling pliers hung on the wall. Next to a chair sat a copper basin stained with blood and some frayed bandages.

The owner was a gaunt old man, currently resting in a chair. Two burly men stood in the corner of the room.

Seeing them enter, the owner said lazily, "Pulling a tooth? Or a haircut?"

"I’m looking for someone," Colin said, holding out the metal piece in his hand.

Seeing this, the two burly men at the corner strode to the entrance and shut the door. The owner got up, took the metal piece, examined it closely, then put the item in his pocket.

At that moment, one of the bodyguards walked over and asked, "Are you Mr. Colin?"

Colin nodded.

"Then please follow me, esteemed sir."

With that, the bodyguard walked to the back of the room and opened a small door. Behind it was a storage room. The bodyguard then moved a crate aside and pulled open a trapdoor beneath it.

’Another secret tunnel. Can’t these gangs and Cultists ever find a different gimmick?’

Complaining internally, Colin followed the man down, with Ale close behind.