{
"dataList": [
{
"id": 0,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... I understand that the room may be disorderly. But I insist that you sit anyway."
},
{
"id": 1,
"content": "Puffffff."
},
{
"id": 2,
"content": "Air rushes out of the leather chair. Its sound fills the empty, quiet room with its at once sophisticated and suffocating momentousness."
},
{
"id": 3,
"content": "At the center of it all is the child, sitting with one leg over the other in an overbearingly assured manner."
},
{
"id": 4,
"content": "The room is practically decorated with mutilated bodies and disturbingly thorough splatters of blood, but he does not seem to mind it one bit."
},
{
"id": 5,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "I trust you would find the present state of my office acceptable. The Thumb treats lessons in manners with utmost seriousness."
},
{
"id": 6,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "I have heard the stories, indeed. I understand your request very well."
},
{
"id": 7,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Or perhaps... one might assume that this is also a prepared 'scene' drawn with intent."
},
{
"id": 8,
"content": "But the person sitting opposite of him also cannot be underestimated."
},
{
"id": 9,
"content": "She simply smiles before producing a small piece of paper as though she were sitting in a normal, average room that was not painted top to bottom with remnants of vicious violence."
},
{
"id": 10,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... Mm."
},
{
"id": 11,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "I did expect someone of higher station given the private one-to-one meeting request, but..."
},
{
"id": 12,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... Allow me to treat you with better manners. It seems that your station deserves as much."
},
{
"id": 13,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Apologies for my earlier effrontery, my lady. I am willing to self-mutilate according to The Thumb's rules of respect as much as you would like."
},
{
"id": 14,
"content": "The paper she handed him seemed to have been a business card of sorts; the child gently took it from her hand and placed it in a fancy, golden card-holder with reverent care."
},
{
"id": 15,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Well, it is of no interest to me whatever you would choose to do with yourself. But..."
},
{
"id": 16,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "... I understand that stopping you would also cause you some undue trouble. Do as you will."
},
{
"id": 17,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Oh, actually. Fresh blood can really stain the clothes, unlike dried blood, so... I would prefer if you didn't engage in self-inflicted corporal punishments."
},
{
"id": 18,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "I am highly impressed by your lack of concern for the rigidity of hierarchy, and your considerate behavior befitting your nobility.\nYou are someone deserving of proper respect indeed."
},
{
"id": 19,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "It's nothing. Nothing compared to what I am about to ask of you."
},
{
"id": 20,
"content": "The child's words convey a deep, emotional gratitude, but his tone is flat and emotionless as a stone."
},
{
"id": 21,
"content": "And the person sitting opposite him speaks words that are gentle, but it is clear that they shroud certain inscrutable intents."
},
{
"id": 22,
"content": "In this bizarre juxtaposition, the person continued to explain a plan of sorts, and by the time she was wrapping up her elaboration, even the ever-stoic child could not help but furrow his brows at an almost-imperceptible angle."
},
{
"id": 23,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... While it may be discourteous, this is, after all, my office; I do not believe that my subsequent request would go against reason."
},
{
"id": 24,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "May I have your permission to light a cigar?"
},
{
"id": 25,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "I don't mind. It's obviously a very premium cigar rolled from fine leaves... it should smell fragrant enough."
},
{
"id": 26,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Thank you. I appreciate your understanding, my lady."
},
{
"id": 27,
"content": "He trims off the tip of the cigar with a cutter, the sharp blade slicing through with ease. A smoldering, faint ember lights up at its end."
},
{
"id": 28,
"content": "The child puffs out a plume of smoke in an exhalation that was more like a deep sigh. The conversation continues."
},
{
"id": 29,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "So... to summarize your offer, you would like for me to serve the role of a clan member in this 'Family Hierarch war' of Hongyuan on the side of the Shi family."
},
{
"id": 30,
"content": "She nods wordlessly. The child continues."
},
{
"id": 31,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "And, if... the next Hierarch is not one from the Shi family, decapitate the Hierarch-to-be, and plummet Hongyuan into... chaos."
},
{
"id": 32,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "I am certain that my lady is discerning enough to understand that the ramifications of such an incident will inevitably spread beyond the political conflict between the families."
},
{
"id": 33,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Your request is that we are to become the blast of firepower signaling the start to a Wing War. Please illuminate me if my assessment is incorrect."
},
{
"id": 34,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "That is not what I said."
},
{
"id": 35,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "But, even if such were the case, what about it? Or... don't tell me, is this too much for your organization to handle?"
},
{
"id": 36,
"content": "... The child waits a moment before inhaling deeply from his cigar."
},
{
"id": 37,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... Puff."
},
{
"id": 38,
"content": "In that brief moment, the child most likely completed any and all calculations and simulations of what this situation entailed."
},
{
"id": 39,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Your higher placement on the hierarchy does not grant you the right to say to my face whatever comes to your mind."
},
{
"id": 40,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "There is no such thing as 'too much' for The Thumb. Your statement has room to be interpreted as an expression of disrespect to the Syndicate itself."
},
{
"id": 41,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "And to do so would be to disrespect the esteemed underboss—meaning, to punish you would not go against the tenets of our organization."
},
{
"id": 42,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "I will now present before you an opportunity to claim that my interpretation was but a misunderstanding."
},
{
"id": 43,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "... Of course. Of course, it was but a simple misunderstanding."
},
{
"id": 44,
"content": "The child seems to have won this bout of subtle yet palpable psychological warfare."
},
{
"id": 45,
"content": "He managed to make the opponent's eyelids flinch, for the first time."
},
{
"id": 46,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Very well. Then I will understand your proposition in a more literal manner."
},
{
"id": 47,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Then... please, allow me to inquire about your... 'preparation' for the task at hand."
},
{
"id": 48,
"content": "And the child did not let this brief moment of weakness pass. Biting lightly onto his cigar, the child rose from his seat and grabbed a fistful of ammunition from his belt and placed them on the table between them."
},
{
"id": 49,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "We call them Tigermark Rounds(虎標彈). The City makes it rather difficult to make liberal use of ammunition, but these are quite special, even among them."
},
{
"id": 50,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Not to mention the cost for my subordinates' propellant ammo."
},
{
"id": 51,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "In addition, I must also ask if you really are prepared to pay the price of letting me loose."
},
{
"id": 52,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "……."
},
{
"id": 53,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Be assured, however, that... once we are committed to a mission, we do make liberal use of ammunition. Take this into your consideration."
},
{
"id": 54,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Do you really think that the Shi family, one of the four great houses, has such a thing as monetary concerns?"
},
{
"id": 55,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "That is not the concern that I am speaking of."
},
{
"id": 56,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "My concern is about how you, someone who's not even from the Shi family, can mobilize such a significant amount of capital."
},
{
"id": 57,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Fuhu, doesn't my business card clearly state the name of the Shi family?"
},
{
"id": 58,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "It takes more than sitting around to earn the title of a Capo."
},
{
"id": 59,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "... Well, okay. But what of it?"
},
{
"id": 60,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Must I actually be a part of the family to meddle in their affairs?"
},
{
"id": 61,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "I'm sure you, of all people, should know."
},
{
"id": 62,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "……."
},
{
"id": 63,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Ah, that blade... It has been forged into a rather fancy podao, hasn't it?"
},
{
"id": 64,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... We will take the contract."
},
{
"id": 65,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "Oh my. That's good news."
},
{
"id": 66,
"teller": "???",
"title": "???",
"content": "I will send my underlings to share further details at a later date. Let us part this meeting for now."
},
{
"id": 67,
"content": "The child had clearly won that invisible fight, so..."
},
{
"id": 68,
"content": "... what was it that turned the tables on him so easily?"
},
{
"id": 69,
"content": "It is no surprise, of course."
},
{
"id": 70,
"content": "No one could've expected that she knew so much about the child, even down to his deepest secrets."
},
{
"id": 71,
"content": "Once the guest left, the office was silent again."
},
{
"id": 72,
"content": "Save for the sound of the child exhaling plumes upon plumes of smoke at a uniform interval."
},
{
"id": 73,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "She knows the origin of the Tiantui Star's blade."
},
{
"id": 74,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Then... is she also a Pinky?"
},
{
"id": 75,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "No. It is possible that someone of her station could have heard hints or vague tales about the Pinky."
},
{
"id": 76,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... It doesn't matter."
},
{
"id": 77,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "If someone is this close by, I suppose I shall encounter them when the stigma burns hot."
},
{
"id": 78,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "The Pinky cannot help but summon only those who are nearby."
},
{
"id": 79,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Besides, this is good work for The Thumb, and... reasonable."
},
{
"id": 80,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "More than anything, however..."
},
{
"id": 81,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... I think this will be fun. What a rare sense of anticipation."
},
{
"id": 82,
"content": "With clear, high-pitched noise of clinking metal, the spent bullet casings popped out of the child's blade."
},
{
"id": 83,
"content": "And a few seconds later, he lands."
},
{
"id": 84,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "18 Tigermark rounds spent..."
},
{
"id": 85,
"content": "The child sweeps his belt and contemplates."
},
{
"id": 86,
"content": "Contemplating if he should use the Savage Tigermark rounds, the powers of which are greater than the Tigermark rounds."
},
{
"id": 87,
"content": "Of course, simply changing to a different type of ammunition doesn't immediately make him stronger."
},
{
"id": 88,
"content": "The power of the Tiantui Star's Blade comes from the user, and his judgment call on when he must use which bullet."
},
{
"id": 89,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "The Jialan Guards(賈藍隊)..."
},
{
"id": 90,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "So much for the protectors of the noble Jia family... They made for quite the disappointing task."
},
{
"id": 91,
"content": "The child probably didn't even have to use the Tigermark rounds to defeat them."
},
{
"id": 92,
"content": "But he reloaded the blade with Savage Tigermark rounds anyway."
},
{
"id": 93,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "... If this is all the fun they have to offer, I suppose I must find entertainment in the freedom of getting to swing this blade with abandon."
},
{
"id": 94,
"content": "... The cost of his ammunition was coming from the client's pocket anyway. He would rather choose excitement over frugality."
},
{
"id": 95,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "For the sum that the client brought, the foes I have faced thus far have been so... tasteless. Perhaps she miscalculated."
},
{
"id": 96,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "If she did not, then—"
},
{
"id": 97,
"content": "Something stops the child. He looks toward the sound of the footsteps approaching from a distance."
},
{
"id": 98,
"content": "The approaching footsteps belonged to a rather large group. The child instinctively sensed that..."
},
{
"id": 99,
"content": "... this was the moment he was hired for."
},
{
"id": 100,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "Ah... they were running late."
},
{
"id": 101,
"content": "Does the child know, one wonders."
},
{
"id": 102,
"model": "뫼르소",
"teller": "Meursault",
"title": "The Thumb's Capo ⅠⅠⅠⅠ",
"content": "The ennui drove me to... relish this dance, for but a moment."
},
{
"id": 103,
"content": "That, unbeknownst to him, his lips were twisted into a grin."
}
]
}