Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 138
“Oh, I know him. He wasn’t supposed to do this kind of work,” Amy said. “Jim is quite well-known because he quickly became a personal servant to someone important in the inner city. He was very favored but was later demoted for unknown reasons.”
Amy wasn’t a harsh person, so she didn’t explicitly say that everyone assumed Jim had fallen out of favor. Such things happened almost daily in the inner city, where beloved pets grew up, changed appearance, or simply became boring over time—the choice was never in their hands.
“Do you know where he went?” Shivers asked. “I heard he was supposed to serve at last night’s banquet, and Awen took his place at the last minute.”
In matters of gossip, girls were usually ahead of the boys, and considering Awen’s introverted and quiet nature, Shivers suspected he hadn’t made many friends among the other servants. Amy and her friends (who had gathered to observe the naked man), might know more than Awen.
Amy hesitated for a moment.
“I don’t know why Awen is worried about this, but it might not be necessary…”
Paradise Island was a very contradictory existence to the inner city or White Bridge.
Although the Wolf and Monkey were large families with many branches over the long years, even including those who didn’t have the right to inherit these surnames but were still within the family circle, the population not residing in White Bridge was at most that of a small town—most of whom didn’t participate in labor.
To maintain the operation of this sleepless city, they needed more labor, hence the creation of Paradise Island, which accepted everyone. The inner city saw Paradise Island as a chaotic dumping ground where they threw away all discarded people and things, but they also had to continuously draw labor from this dump to perform various heavy tasks.
So, the apparent distance between these two regions seemed insurmountable, but in reality, they were closely connected. Many fell from the inner city to Paradise Island, and some climbed from Paradise Island to the inner city and even gained family recognition, changing their status. Amy and her friends originally thought Jim would be one of the latter.
His relationship with a young master from a Monkey Family was well-known among lower-ranking servants like Amy. One or two years ago, Jim was a role model for those with the goal of turning from a sparrow into a phoenix.
Amy believed Jim wouldn’t be in trouble because he had been separated from that important person for a while. Although it was tough, she hadn’t heard of any trouble. This time, he might have been recalled by someone.
But when Shivers found Awen, the reserved young man had a different view.
Awen had no friends, so Jim’s existence was particularly important to him. Awen was ordinary in appearance and personality, and his actions were less likable than those of others. Jim was his only confidant in the inner city—they were cousins and had grown up together on Paradise Island.
“At first, fate favors those with better looks. Both entered the inner city to work, and Jim was quickly noticed and promoted, while Awen remained folding napkins and washing cups. Even so, he was content. Jim would occasionally bring him food, asking Awen to take it back to Paradise Island. However, they didn’t have much freedom, so these opportunities were rare, but the food was always good—because Jim was ‘in love’,” Shivers said.
Eugene and Shiloh exchanged glances.
“It’s said a young master from the Monkeys Family reportedly liked Jim very much and had him read and write poetry with him,” Shivers continued. “Maybe it was one-sided on Jim’s part, but they separated last winter. But that’s not the point.”
Most Brandenburg Knights came from privileged backgrounds, and even without being around the Duke for long, Eugene knew what nobles were like. At this moment, the group tacitly refrained from commenting on this part.
“So, we are supposed to help Awen find his friend?” Hall frowned slightly. “I don’t want to sound insensitive, but with our current time and energy—”
“This did start as a way to find common ground with the servants from Paradise Island, but Awen told me Jim has a brother named Jason, who is quite capable.”
Eugene: “???”
Jason? Could it be the Jason he knew?
“Jim is Jason’s brother? But Jason has always been hostile to the inner city. I don’t think he would approve of his brother working there.” Eugene scratched his head.
“Maybe that’s why Jim and Awen never mentioned it to him,” Shivers said. “The servants at Green Shade Villa don’t know which young master Jim was close to, only that he was from the Monkey Family. If possible, I hope Hasting can keep an eye out.”
Hasting nodded.
He had spent two nights in White Bridge’s largest gambling den, following the Duke’s orders. Although his skills were average, he was generous, making him a tempting target. Based on their speculation, it wouldn’t be long before someone tried to bait him.
Originally, because Hasting was too serious and not slick enough, Shivers wanted Hall to be Hasting’s spendthrift partner and throw money around. However, Hall only lasted one night before feeling his heart couldn’t take it—a knight whose motto was to save every penny was on the verge of a heart attack in a place where money meant nothing. Eventually, they had to replace him with the underage Shiloh. Fortunately, despite Shiloh’s youthful appearance and somewhat bouncy personality, he managed to stay focused when it mattered. Together with Hasting, they thoroughly explored the largest gambling den under the Monkey Family and even smuggled out some items.
“If it’s the Monkey Family, I think Awen’s concerns are valid,” Shiloh said truthfully. “They openly indulge in black magic. In the gambling den, you could easily buy drinks and tobacco laced with banned substances, something even the Lion Family wouldn’t do to such an extent.”
It was well known that the Lion Family built their fortune on violence and illicit drugs, but research on drugs, if slightly misguided, could easily lead to madness. Thus, the heads of the Lion family had always been highly capable, extremely calm, and rational women.
This was contrary to the outside perception of them being reckless and arrogant. But because of this steadfast leadership, the existing market for narcotics and stimulants remained under control and rarely went off the rails.
The Monkey Family, on the other hand, was different. While Hasting and Shiloh didn’t touch any of those substances in the gambling den, the Monkey Family made no effort to hide their use of various high-level banned items, almost taking pride in it—as even the renowned Lion Family couldn’t match their extent.
“Their range of drugs is extensive. The ones openly visible are primarily stimulants, supposedly to keep customers awake, but the internal menu is much more detailed,” Hasting said.
Rather than just stimulants, they were more like substances causing mental disturbances. Side effects included, but were not limited to, arousal, excitement, high fever, and hallucinations. The degree of these effects varied based on the user’s dosage and frequency. They even brought back some samples secretly for the Duke and the rabbit-headed shopkeeper to examine.
Considering how blatant their sales were, it was hard to say whether Jim’s “young master” was clean. Long-term users of these drugs often exhibited mood swings and irritability. Compared to being recalled, Jim working in a place like Green Shade Villa with Awen seemed safer.
“We’ve almost confirmed that these drinks have magical traces. If only Erica was here. She could sense the magical reactions inside. That’s the quickest way,” Shiloh said. He and Hasting pretended to buy some party drinks but actually smuggled them out in their clothes. Because they spent (lost) a lot of money, they received good treatment in the gambling den and witnessed the chaotic state of the gamblers in the early morning—true uncontrolled madness. Ordinary drugs couldn’t cause such effects. Shiloh suspected some people might have already died.
“If that’s the case, I’m curious about the Lion Family’s motive for visiting this time,” Hall suddenly said. “They’ve always been the pharmaceutical leaders, yet their so-called ally, the Monkey family, has intruded into their field, selling more stimulating and immediate products through unsavory means. If it were me, I wouldn’t let it go.”
“Potions are also magical items, costing far more than regular drugs. They can’t shake the Lion Family in the short term. Moreover, you mentioned public contraband. If such items leave White Bridge, any army will have the right to open fire. However, if the Lions are awake now, it’s enough to make them wary,” Shivers mused. “They may not be here for retribution. They might just be testing the waters…”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Hall said. “Just like the Foxes, we have no objective conflict with the Lions. Why not take the opportunity to talk to the Lions?”
The author has something to say:
Public Contraband: Different countries and regions have varying laws and baselines, but universally recognized high-risk items that are banned from circulation, sale, and use are considered public contraband and must be destroyed.
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