This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 32

 

Naturally, Raven sat down in the chair across from Baron and me.

 

While sitting and waiting for a moment, I recalled the original story and discreetly observed the interior atmosphere and stairs again.

 

Both staircases leading to the second floor were curved, so I couldn’t see their structure properly.

 

‘Ah, it must be one of those two.’

 

Was it the right side or the left side? I can’t remember which staircase it was.

 

As I naturally turned my head, I noticed people sitting at tables enjoying beer and smoked meat. Their ages and builds were all different, but their expressions were uniformly rough-looking, appearing to be sailors or mercenaries.

 

Some tables were playing cards alongside drinking, while others were just sipping beer without much conversation. They all had their weapons placed on tables or empty chairs.

 

Then Baron spoke in a low voice.

 

“Maybe it’s because I heard about it, but it really feels strange.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Those four tables over there. Looking at how they’re sitting separately, they don’t seem to be companions, but they’re all gathered in front of the left staircase, aren’t they?”

 

‘Huh? Now that you mention it?’

 

Baron was right. Four of the tables where the men were sitting were all near the left staircase.

 

There were various sizes – 4-person, 8-person, 6-person tables – with three or four people sitting at each one.

 

‘There are plenty of good spots available, but they specifically chose… Ah! The secret passage must be the left staircase!’

 

At the same time, I felt a chill run down my spine.

 

‘Then those guys aren’t customers but guards watching the secret passage, aren’t they?’

 

Once I became suspicious, the people at other tables also seemed suspicious. If they were all in cahoots, we could be in danger instead.

 

Even though Raven told us not to worry, I wondered if I had thought about this too simply.

 

Soon, the most expensive and delicious menu item in this restaurant arrived.

 

It was roasted chicken with asparagus, mushrooms, paprika, and orange, along with cream soda.

 

However, no one readily touched the food. They just rolled their eyes around, seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

 

Then, the restaurant door opened and five or six men entered as a group.

 

“Hey, beer!”

 

The man in worn overalls who shouted roughly shook his short, coarse hair irritably. Then he roughly pulled out a chair from a table in the middle of the bar and plopped down heavily.

 

“Damn! Got into trouble because of one little brat! Can’t even let him go.”

 

The moment he grumbled loudly, someone from another table coughed very loudly.

 

“Ahem!”

 

At that sound, the grumbling man immediately looked around. But where he directed his gaze wasn’t toward the person who had given him the hint, but at our table.

 

His worn overall outfit suddenly caught my attention.

 

‘Ah. He’s giving a hint because there are outside customers.’

 

I realized intuitively. That man is the kidnapper who took Peter.

 

Screech.

 

The sound of chair legs scraping was heard. Without anyone taking the lead, Ben and Susan both shot up from their seats.

 

I also got up reflexively. Baron and Raven remained seated, staring intently at the two people.

 

Even though I had repeatedly warned them to leave quickly if anything seemed suspicious, their expressions were serious, and it seemed like the couple had also instinctively realized the man was the kidnapper just from what he had said.

 

Ben approached the man in worn overalls without hesitation and spoke to him.

 

“Ex-excuse me, may I ask you something?”

 

The man in worn overalls… ah, that’s long. I decided to call that man Melbang for short.

 

Melbang looked up at Ben.

 

“What?”

 

“We’re looking for a child. I happened to hear you talking about not being able to let a kid go.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

When Melbang frowned, Susan clasped her hands together tightly.

 

“O-our son is missing. He’s ten years old, about this tall, with brown hair that’s a bit long so it’s tied up. He’s rather thin, and has two moles under his eyes.”

 

Susan’s voice trembled as she described Peter’s appearance.

 

“Look, if you lost your kid because you couldn’t take care of him properly, you should find him yourself. Why are you telling me about it?”

 

“Why? Because you’re dressed the same as the guy who supposedly lured our son away, and you’re spouting strange things!”

 

Ben, with veins bulging on his forehead, grabbed Melbang by the collar and yanked him forward.

 

“My gut tells me you’re the culprit, so where’s my son! You bastard!”

 

“Ugh! Wh-what are you talking about! L-let go of me!”

 

Crash! Bang!

 

In an instant, the table and chair where Melbang had been sitting were scattered on the floor.

 

“Damn it!”

 

“I told you to watch your mouth!”

 

An unexpected situation unfolded. The men who were with Melbang rushed over and immediately subdued Susan and Ben.

 

It was practically a confession that they were the kidnappers.

 

“Eeeek!”

 

At the same time, an employee screamed in terror and hid to one side.

 

“Hey! Block the door!”

 

At one man’s shout, those at the table near the entrance quickly locked and blocked the door. Simultaneously, the men from other tables also leisurely stood up.

 

One of them casually put his arm around the employee’s shoulder. The employee’s face turned pale as he hunched his shoulders.

 

“Ah, we let the boss do some business for once since customers other than us came, and look what happened.”

 

Now I realized it wasn’t an employee but the restaurant owner. In the original story, the restaurant owner had no presence, but it seemed like the owner was also being threatened.

 

Excluding the owner, they were all in cahoots as expected. And I was in trouble.

 

‘…Wait, didn’t I repeatedly warn them to quietly leave if anything seemed suspicious?’

 

The couple had been captured, and the door was blocked.

 

‘What should I do? Really, what should I do?’

 

Soon one of the men put on a mask and gloves. Then he took a spray perfume bottle from the restaurant shelf, brought it close to the couple’s faces, and sprayed it lightly.

 

Pssh-

 

Ben and Susan immediately lost consciousness.

 

“Tsk! How troublesome!”

 

‘Su-surely that’s not an anesthetic?’

 

Seeing how they used drugs without hesitation sent chills down my spine.

 

‘Isn’t this really dangerous? Would it have been better to come alone during the day?’

 

My heart pounded with fear.

 

Soon one of the men looked at us and smiled menacingly.

 

“Actually, I’ve been eyeing them since earlier. That woman and the kid look like they’d sell for a high price.”

 

“They walked in on their own, so what’s the problem? We can feed the rest to the Sea Slimes.”

 

‘My goodness! Coming alone would have been even more dangerous!’

 

Even though Raven said not to worry, the numbers were too different. I had indeed acted beyond my means.

 

‘The protagonist has the entire universe helping them, but I’m just an extra. Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered. But still, how could I just sit still when a child was kidnapped!’

 

I nervously lifted Baron up and pulled him into my arms. If push came to shove, I had to get at least Baron out safely.

 

When I glanced over, Raven was still sitting calmly.

 

‘Is he trusting in his escort? But Ben and Susan have been knocked unconscious.’

 

Then Baron grabbed my hand.

 

“Nuna.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“It really seems like this is their hideout, just like we heard.”

 

Hearing Baron’s words, the coarse-haired man looked around and shouted angrily.

 

“Which bastard was talking carelessly outside?”

 

Indeed, our side seemed overwhelmingly disadvantaged. I quickly racked my brain.

 

‘We can’t all escape together anyway. In that case.’

 

I gestured toward the window with my eyes and spoke to Baron in a low voice.

 

“Baron, I’ll break that window, so can you go out to the port and ask people for help?”

 

“Huh? Just me… you want me to run away? Leaving Nuna behind?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Baron may be young, but he’s smart. Once he got out, he would surely be able to alert people to the situation.

 

I added more words to reassure Baron.

 

“N-Nuna is actually really strong, you know? I’m s-strong, so I’ll fight together with Raven and Raven’s escort who’s supposed to be somewhere around here.”

 

The violet eyes looking at me widened.

 

“You expect me to believe that?”

 

“No, it’s true. Want to see?”

 

I grabbed a chair and threw it at the window with all my strength.

 

CRASH!

 

Fortunately, the window shattered with quite a loud noise.

 

“Hurry and go! Baron!”

 

The men, startled by my actions, came rushing over quickly.

 

“Catch her! Don’t damage the merchandise!”

 

Someone shouted. Gritting my teeth, I picked up another chair and threw it at the men.

 

“Don’t come any closer!”

 

The men hesitated and spread out in a wide formation.

 

Just when I was harboring hope that I could buy enough time for Baron to escape by holding out like this, a masked person who had quickly approached sprayed anesthetic at me several times.

 

Though the distance wasn’t as close as with Ben and his wife, a strange smell hit me directly.

 

BANG!

 

A loud noise came from somewhere.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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