Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 130

Eugene was slightly dazed.

“So, why don’t you just lift the curse?” he asked. “Since you’ve decided to revert to your original form.”

“There can only be one Louis,” Charlie said succinctly. “I’ll explain this matter later—anyway, I need you to keep this secret.”

The idea of improving spatial magic to achieve controlled form was a moment of inspiration, but even he hadn’t anticipated that this modification would immediately come in handy.

The landing point chosen by the Darby Belly Fish was cunning, right around the inner river encircling Paradise Island. Whether it was the first passerby who saw him ashore or later Aquinas, everyone made him realize that in this place, the rabbit head was likely to cause more stir than Louis’s face, prompting his choice to revert to his original appearance after a long absence.

In “playing Louis”, no one had more advantage and talent than him. At least a decade ago, he too was once Louis. The tacit understanding between the twins allowed Louis to grasp his intentions immediately after receiving his brief message, making the meeting with the Duke on Louis’s territory possible.

But Charlie wouldn’t arrogantly think that his impromptu impersonation could successfully deceive Alexander, who spent close time with Louis. Therefore, both deliberately reduced their close interactions, and aside from half-jokingly testing the Duke under the guise of Louis, Charlie hadn’t appeared prominently in this identity before others.

Their childhood spent together was too long ago, and their subsequent life paths had diverged significantly, resulting in differing temperaments. Most importantly, White Bridge wasn’t Fortuna City. For them, it might be the most dangerous place in the world.

Especially now, with the four major Black Gold Families gathered due to the auction.

“Of course, I’ll keep the secret,” Eugene said decisively. “I swear I won’t disclose this to anyone.”

He didn’t press any further.

“The auction starts tomorrow. I need to go to Louis’s place.” Charlie seemed to know Eugene would say this and smiled. “But I need someone to watch over Aquinas and Jason.”

Aquinas Eugene understood, but Jason?

“Jason is of high moral character,” Charlie stated succinctly. “His personal charm draws people to him like a streetlamp on a winter night. How much do you know about him?”

……

“What is Mr. Charlie trying to do?” Shivers asked quietly.

He and Dwight were sitting in a carriage, watching the passersby through the window. The street was flanked by neat, tall buildings, its shop windows adorned with various lights. Ladies in silk gowns strolled boldly with gentlemen, followed by servants carrying various gift boxes, struggling to keep up.

Dwight withdrew his gaze and didn’t answer Shivers’ question but instead asked, “You’ve visited many bustling cities. Compared to them, do you feel something is missing here?”

Their carriage was parked at a street corner, providing a clear view down the entire street. Shivers observed carefully before responding, “This place is more open and inclusive towards women.”

Typically, well-positioned young ladies weren’t forbidden from shopping, but they usually moved between home, carriage, and theater or store, with the only chance for onlookers to glimpse their faces being when they entered or exited their carriages. Here, however, women seemed freer and more proactive, many preferring to walk the streets in high heels as if strolling through a garden, even sampling street food, and it appeared to be the norm, with no one to judge or gossip.

“That’s because only extraordinary women come to White Bridge,” Dwight explained. “Either accompanying guests of the auction or as guests themselves.” Like Priscilla.

But that wasn’t Dwight’s point.

“There are no Foxes here,” he stated.

Realizing this, Shivers noticed that typically, city streets bustling with nightlife would feature flamboyantly dressed streetwalkers attracting patrons, often celebrated by poets and writers as a vital part of the city’s vibrant scene. However, the women in White Bridge clearly weren’t of the same status as those streetwalkers.

If it was due to a gentleman’s agreement that Foxes hadn’t set up in Whitebridge, what about guests who arrived without companions? Shivers doubted that those coming to play would forego pursuits of pleasure, especially after stimulation from food, alcohol, and gambling.

“They are called Black Gold Families, but in a place like White Bridge, the numbers of the Wolf and Monkey Families are much more limited than those of Foxes and Lions. They couldn’t spare so many family members to provide those services,” Dwight explained. “Moreover, known for its insanity, White Bridge isn’t just a beast’s den. To these people, it might be the most dangerous place on earth. They not only need a vast number of lower-class workers to maintain this prosperous utopia but also sacrifice some to cater to those who’ve lost their sanity.”

Shivers was unnerved by his words.

“Does this have anything to do with Mr. Charlie’s intentions?” he asked.

“A sheepdog can manage a flock of sheep. The Wolves and Monkeys are just a few sheepdogs… I guess he’s found his flock.” Dwight concluded, then asked seemingly out of nowhere, “What kind of person do you think Charlie is?”

Though puzzled, Shivers answered seriously, “He is a gentle and powerful man.”

Dwight seemed unsurprised by Shivers’ assessment. “You think he’s powerful?”

“Yes,” Shivers said, sincerely believing Charlie to be strong.

This evaluation wasn’t just because he always faced difficulties with a relaxed demeanor, nor just because of his seemingly playful magical tricks, nor even due to his physical strength—at this, the Knight Commander had absolute confidence.

Charlie had never shown any transcendent abilities or even assertive attitudes in their presence, nor had he ever shown anger, even when opinions differed or during his cold war with the Duke. He had always maintained enough decorum, but these didn’t stop Shivers from seeing him as a formidable person.

“Then do you think a strong person would submit to shackles?” Dwight asked next.

Shivers paused, vaguely grasping the Duke’s intention with the question.

For the rabbit-headed shopkeeper, the shackles clearly refer to his identity, which couldn’t be exposed. But the shopkeeper who opened that incredible little shop in Maplewood, who entered the top magic academy, and who had traveled through so many countries, surely couldn’t be content to be bound, right?

“Do you think he wants to use this opportunity to break free from his shackles?” Shivers asked.

Dwight didn’t speak.

A small brass ring still lay in his coat pocket, and despite being insulated by layers of fabric, he seemed to still feel its cold touch.

He had long understood that the choice to maintain the rabbit’s head lay in Charlie’s hands. He chose to maintain the status quo because it was his way of erasing himself, to protect Louis. Thus, before deciding to head to White Bridge, he had always steadfastly avoided discussing it.

Now, he had decided to revert to his original appearance and had given him the magic ring that symbolized control.

Without words, Charlie’s actions spoke of his unique trust in Dwight—there was even a bit of capriciousness hidden within: I’m entrusting you with my vulnerability, confident that you won’t use it against me.

But before Dwight could feel touched by this wholehearted trust, he sensed a foreboding meaning.

Charlie was just about the most confident person he had ever met, even potentially possessing the world’s most dangerous identity.

For such a person to hand over his vulnerability so straightforwardly, aside from making a grand gesture to impress, there was another possibility: He was determined to make what was a vulnerability no longer a vulnerability.

“Their identity secrets are held by the Wolf Family, and right now, we are all in Wolf’s stronghold,” Shivers analyzed, seeing the Duke silent. “Is he planning to take action against Khalif?”

“Or replace him,” Dwight said.

Shivers almost instinctively said, “He wouldn’t want to be the Wolf King.”

“He has a brother who stands behind the Wolf King.”

Shivers paused. “This is White Bridge. If they really want to… it’s too rushed and too dangerous.”

Danger—that was the last word Dwight wanted to hear at that moment.

“They’ve been in danger from the moment they were born. If it were you, what are the chances you wouldn’t have turned mad living so long?” he asked quietly.

But his voice was too low. Apart from himself, no one heard it.

Shivers watched a stunningly beautiful blonde lady in a fashionable satin gown cross the street—her appearance and hair even more dazzling under the streetlights, causing the carriages to slow down to let her pass.

Behind her were two equally outstanding young men with noses and jawlines that were impeccably sharp. Their fiery red hair cascaded smoothly over their shoulders, catching the attention of nearly every passerby, but they seemed accustomed to such attention, exuding a natural charm in every gesture—a feeling that was somewhat familiar to the Knight Commander.

“They’re here,” Shivers said subconsciously.

The Duke followed his gaze, pausing on those few people for a second before looking away.

“The four major families will always attend every auction. Tomorrow is the first day. Of course, they would come,” he mused. “Speaking of which, how is your splendidly furred Fox doing?”

It took a moment for the Knight Commander to be sure he hadn’t misheard the Duke’s wording.

“Our cooperation has ended. There’s been no further contact,” he said, suddenly feeling an odd sense of guilt and quickly changing the subject. “The auction starts tomorrow, but since it’s the first day, it mostly involves lighter, semi-entertainment events with different venues scheduled. Shall we…?”

The Duke gave him a peculiar look.

“We’ll go to the opera,” he said.

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