I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 196

"Humph, hmm..."

Ahwin leaned close to Penelope’s ear and whispered.

"Pepe, can we save those kinds of affectionate displays for when it’s just the two of us? I’m feeling a bit embarrassed right now."

"Don’t call me out like that! I’m already embarrassed too," Penelope hissed through clenched teeth, her voice restrained.

The man who had fallen on his backside earlier finally stood up awkwardly, looking thoroughly flustered.

Penelope rolled her eyes and gulped down the coffee in front of her. Jack stared at her in shock.

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"It’s hot, you know."

"Ah! It’s hot!"

Penelope shot to her feet, blowing furiously to cool her mouth. She felt like her tongue was on fire.

Ahwin cleared his throat, pretending to focus on the air in front of him. He looked just as awkward as she felt. It was a rare sight for the Tower Master, often regarded as the most shameless man on the continent. Perhaps he was suppressing laughter instead.

"Do you want a potion?"

"No, thank you!"

After finally cooling her mouth down, Penelope sat back in her seat. Jack stared at her blankly before commenting,

"You’re a bit different from what I imagined."

"Forget what just happened. It didn’t happen."

"Of course. As you wish," Jack replied obediently. Somehow, Penelope felt even more mortified.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Your orders are my command, Lord."

‘Orders?’ Penelope frowned. She didn’t recall saying anything that harsh.

"You’re lucky, Jack. I was planning to throw every other illegal operator straight into prison."

"......"

Jack’s smile froze in place.

Feeling she had restored some of her dignity as a lord, Penelope straightened her posture.

"It’d be wise to consider a different line of work. I’ll be watching you closely."

Her piercing gaze swept over him as if making her point clear.

Jack respectfully clasped his hands in front of him. Even his hulking bodyguards mimicked the gesture.

Jack cautiously spoke up.

"You mentioned earlier... setting up a gambling establishment for tourists. Is that still under consideration?"

He remembered that?

Penelope coughed lightly and uncrossed her arms. The idea had struck her the moment she saw the underground gambling den.

‘I’ll have to establish a legal gambling operation.’

No matter how hard she tried to stamp them out, illegal gambling dens would continue to sprout up.

The more she oppressed them, the more they would find shadowy ways to thrive. Such places had a way of growing back like weeds, no matter how often they were uprooted.

‘I’ve seen this in my past life on the news often enough.’

How many crimes and accidents had stemmed from illegal gambling? Some people even went overseas just to gamble.

It was better to create a regulated casino than let history repeat itself.

"Even if I establish a casino, I wouldn’t trust you to run it, Jack."

"A casino? That’s what you’re calling the gambling hall the estate might operate? I like it."

"Whether you like it or not... Hmm, never mind. Write down the names of your associates. We need to shut down the other dens quickly, so have the list prepared by the end of the day. And if this conversation leaks out, expect to end up behind bars—along with everyone else."

"Wouldn’t dream of it, my lord. I’ll spill every name, including the rookies just starting out," Jack replied with exaggerated deference.

His sudden shift to cooperation was pleasing. Clearly, he had a keen sense for survival befitting someone in his line of work.

‘Though I still don’t like how slimy he is.’

Jack suddenly spoke up again as if recalling something.

"Thanks to you, my lord, I can dry my hair every morning with ease. And the ondol heating? Thanks to that, last winter was wonderfully warm."

"Really?"

Penelope puffed out her chest a little.

So this was what they meant by paying a debt with words alone.

She felt surprisingly magnanimous all of a sudden.

"Maybe we should lower the fines a bit..."

"Pepe."

"Never mind. I’ll collect them to the full extent of the law. Of course, that’s what I’ll do."

Penelope quickly corrected herself.

Jack’s face showed disappointment, but he didn’t dare argue. Ahwin was glaring daggers at him.

Meanwhile, Halo’s Chief of Security, Sir Ralph, was drowning in work.

The estate was plagued with incidents. It felt like every corner was exploding with problems whenever he turned his head.

He personally witnessed how chaotic and troublesome a densely populated area could become.

Thankfully, the lord had significantly increased the size of the security force.

However, since the force had tripled, Ralph had to deal with even more work—because he was the chief.

Now, he practically lived at the headquarters.

‘If I were married, I’d have been divorced long ago.’

Swallowing his tears, Ralph stamped the final document on his desk. With this, he’d finally have a moment to breathe.

Today, he planned to go home and rest.

‘I can ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) finally relax!’

It was a dreamlike thought.

As he stamped the last paper, Deputy Commander Vince barged into his office, pale-faced.

Ralph glared at him with hollow eyes.

"What’s so urgent that you can’t even knock?"

"My lord! The lord is summoning you!"

"What...?!"

Ralph shot to his feet, knocking over his chair with a clatter. His heart sank.

"There’s a carriage waiting at the front gate! Follow me!"

With Vince leading the way, Ralph quickly followed. Once inside the carriage, Ralph asked anxiously,

"What happened to the lord? Was she hurt?"

"No, my lord discovered an illegal gambling den and dismantled it," Vince said excitedly.

"...What?"

Ralph blinked in disbelief. Vince continued enthusiastically.

"It’s Jack’s place. That sleazy snake who’s been reigning over Hamp Street like a king. We’ve suspected him for ages but couldn’t touch him without solid proof."

"You mean the one tied to a judge through distant relations, making him untouchable?"

"Exactly! The lord stumbled upon it while looking for a restaurant."

Ralph tilted his head.

An illegal gambling den discovered while searching for a restaurant?

Jack’s tavern was in one of the most crime-ridden parts of the estate. No sane person would venture there without reason.

Vince chuckled.

"With the lord on the case, we might finally bring Jack down."

"It’s not as simple as you think."

"It’s going to be as easy as cutting cake! The lord is personally handling it."

"You have no idea what you’re talking about. Even if Jack is taken down, someone else will just take his place."

The carriage sped through the streets, eventually reaching Hamp Street, exuding its usual sinister atmosphere.

Ralph exchanged a glance with Vince before stepping out. Hulking figures associated with illegal activities loitered around, some clearly gambling addicts.

Worry crept into Ralph’s mind.

‘Even if we chase Jack out, someone worse will fill the void.’

That was how such areas worked. When the tiger was gone, the fox claimed the throne.

As Ralph and Vince approached the entrance, a burly man greeted them.

"We’ve been expecting you. This way, please."

"......"

Following the man inside, Ralph’s head buzzed with half worry for his lord and half dread about how to clean up the district.

The door creaked open.

"Ah, you’re here? Long time no see, Sir Ralph," Penelope greeted, waving cheerfully.

She was sitting comfortably on a sofa, sipping tea. Beside her, a man in a shabby robe dozed off with his arms crossed.

"......"

Ralph turned to see Jack, who was furiously scribbling something onto a document, his expression grim.