Swindling Swindlers II

Ted should have known! No wonder the elf known as Maximillian looks familiar. It was Ryuu Lyon all along!

"God damn it!"

He was running for his life from Ryuu Lyon who started cutting down everyone. That bastard who also claimed to be Terry's brother should also be fake! How could he get so sloppy? He has been calculated!

Finally reaching the treasury. He quickly got inside and locked himself in. Look at the countless treasures. Ted became teary.

"All of this is mine! All of it! I won't let anyone take it from me! All of El Dorado's richest are mine!"

Suddenly he noticed there was someone in the treasury beside him. It was a malnourished naked man with a sack on his head covering his face.

"Who the heck are you!? How did you get in here!?"

He started beating the man out of frustration! Then removed the sack on his head. It was an old man. But Ted knows well who this old man is! A look of shock erupted on his face.

Before he could talk. The vault's door exploded! Came to Ryuu Lyon! With blood-red eyes. Ready to kill him! Before Ryuu could attack she was stopped by Syr Flova.

"Ryuu, no! You shouldn't..." Being stopped by Syr.

Ryuu relented and calmed down. But the killing intent was still there. Suddenly a cry for help came inside.

"Help! Help! I'm the real Terry Cervantes! This bastard is a fake!"

Finally noticing the third party. Syr and Lyon came closer only to be shocked as well.

"Don't listen to him! I don't who the hell he is! But..."

Ted wanted to say something but stopped in his tracks.

"His name is Ted! He's a swindler! Don't believe his lies! I'm the real Terry Cervantes! He kept me here and tortured me nonstop!"

Looking at the two Terrys accusing each other. The two have no idea what to do. Suddenly a series of claps from outside can be heard.

Judas wearing a top hat came in. Then suggested.

"Why don't you use that thing you two brought? The Status Thief. It would be much easier."

Ryuu then brought out a flask with red liquid inside.

"No! Never!" Ted said, trying to defend himself.

"I'll do it! I'll prove my identity here and now!" said "malnourished Terry"

Syr looked dubious at this act. She knows the real Terry Cervantes died a while ago. So what's the point of these charades? But without hesitation, Ryuu used the Status Thief on the other Terry. The Ryuu calmly answered.

"Right. You are indeed Terry Cervantes."

"...right, Terry Cervantes died awhile ago, so it is impossible...what!?" Syr said shocked.

"Impossible!" Followed by Ted.

"Oh, my dear brother! I'm glad you are still alive!"

Terry then cried. "Brother, thank you for saving me!"

"Let's get you out of here my brother!"

The two brothers suddenly start leaving like nothing happened while everyone is too shocked to respond.

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Everything starts calming down in El Dorado Casino. The kidnapped girls were free and thankful to Ryuu Lyon. "Terry Cervantes" or should I say Old Man Houdini was taken to Dian Cecht to recuperate while I, Edmund Cervantes took over for a while. The Ganesha familia took the news well and was very glad to take the bad actors to jail. "Ted" who kept screaming about lies was escorted out to the guild. Safe to say, he is now, the richest man in Orario. He begins examining the documents in the office. After all, they are evidence.

But a new problem came, the swindler potion did not digest. Before Judas could think, a new problem arose in the form of a knock. It was Syr Flova coming to make trouble. Without waiting for his answer, Syr barged in uninvited.

"How did you do it?"

Syr's eyes were twinkling like stars, clearly interested in his master plan. Dealing with this goddess is really big trouble.

"What do you mean?"

Syr snorted, she knew who the real Terry was. That one was fake.

"I know who Terry is. I've seen him, so it is impossible."

Judas leans back in his chair. Sighed. And let the cat out of the bag.

"Should I thank your special eyes for that... Goddess-sama?"

Instead of being shocked that she had been exposed, she became more relaxed and smug.

"Well, since you already know, you should tell me more now. I could send "Him" here and turn you into minced meat."

Judas only groans. But he doesn't like dealing with Freya.

"A simple trick of a god called Joker."

Freya smiled even becoming more mired

"A simple trick? You could turn the entire world upside down with such a trick. I'm quite interested in your god. Maybe we could get along."

Syr stood up, as she was about to leave. She gave a warning.

"Tell your god to take it easy in Orario. It is my garden after all. Also, can you tell me... I only noticed it now, I thought it was interesting seeing your group of ants. So... How does it feel to be "half monsters"?"

Hearing this question. Judas only smiled and said.

"It feels good."

Syr Flova finally left. Judas felt the potion digests a bit.

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Judas realized something about the Thief Pathway when he didn't digest the potion. The Thief Pathway is all about showmanship. If the Apprentice pathway is about experience and wisdom, and the Seer is about secrecy and mystery, then the Thief pathway is about showmanship and trickery.

No wonder why Amon does not hide himself. No wonder why he would always reveal himself at the end of his performances! Because it is all part of acting!

Seers are crazy and risk-taking! Apprentices are calm and hardworking! Thieves are paranoid and calculating!

A thief would never steal randomly out of the blue, he would make sure he knows the ins and outs of his target! Slowly wrangling himself to his price, either through deception or through parasitism.

Seer pathways can be found in a circus. Apprentices can be found in a theatre.

Then. The thief is a street performer. It makes sense. The thief is street-smart. A bad actor at that!

To digest and advance he needs to perform in the streets and make himself an urban legend by revealing his identity!

Lavenus never hid his name. Amon never did. And so should I! Amon even named his entire family Amon!

The final act of acting is to reveal yourself!

Judas is very happy understanding the truth of the Thief's pathway and can't help but thank Syr in his heart.

A new plan starts to emerge in Judas' mind.

"I should pay her a visit tonight, I need to bargain with her after all."

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Thanks for reading.

Rushed this chapter a bit.

Updated a bit.

Also fixed previous chapters to make it a little bearable.