Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 145
“I won’t cause trouble as long as I know Jim is alive,” Jason said.
Eugene sat opposite him, legs splayed out, watching a few men squatting together in the distance, fervently discussing something. After a long while, he finally said, “Do you plan to persuade him to come back?”
Jason remained silent.
If he could persuade Jim to return, Jim wouldn’t have left in the first place. Everyone knew what the inner city was like. For people like them, dignity and respect didn’t exist. To the two major families, the value of a living person was far less than that of a pet carried off a merchant ship.
But even with this knowledge, once an opportunity presented itself, people would still leave continuously—Jason knew why.
Paradise Island was simply too impoverished. Any energetic young person with hopes for the future wouldn’t choose to tread in their ancestors’ heavy footprints, repeating this endless life of hunger and hardship.
Jason had experienced that phase too. Even now, he hadn’t settled for the status quo. He chose to make Paradise Island his starting point, no matter how minimal the progress. He respected his brother’s decision, but hearing those terrifying stories passed down through generations was one thing; witnessing his fellow people being systematically registered as various fatal accidents was another.
“I want to ensure his safety,” Jason finally said. “I just can’t trouble you with my matters, and I have no means to pay anyone to do this for me.”
……
“Let him come,” the Duke said after hearing Eugene’s report. “Lend him some clothes so he won’t be thrown out—under such circumstances, even if you guarantee finding his brother, he won’t believe you’ll genuinely try.”
Eugene thought the same, but—
“People on Paradise Island are already planning to infiltrate the inner city. Some don’t believe the list, while others are so angry they’ve lost their reason. Without Jason, there won’t be anyone to restrain them,” Eugene cautiously said. “If conflict breaks out between Paradise Island and the inner city, things could spiral out of control.”
Having spent the most time on Paradise Island, Eugene had felt the sudden shift in atmosphere the deepest over the past two days. The originally planned actions to incite anger weren’t even necessary. Public resentment had already started boiling over. Even the mild-mannered who had placed all their hopes in Aquinas’s promised afterlife were becoming infected with hatred, their language growing more radical.
“Then you’d better prepare for a fight,” Hall said firmly. “After everything that’s happened, you don’t think Paradise Island and the inner city will calmly sit down to negotiate compensation and boundaries, do you? They don’t even have a seat at the table yet. If it makes you feel any better…”
Hall patted him on the shoulder. “Just think of it as helping them gain that seat.”
Shiloh also wanted to encourage Eugene. After all, he had taught him swordsmanship for so long, and if it really came to a fight, it would be his first actual combat! The teacher was looking forward to it!
But before he could step up and pat Eugene’s shoulder too, the door opened from the outside, and Shivers walked in, causing everyone in the room to turn and look at him.
“I didn’t know you had friends here, Captain,” Hall said, clearly teasing. “But we’re pressed for time, so matters of the heart should probably—”
“It’s not what you think,” Shivers cut him off stiffly, presenting a letter to Dwight.
The Duke tilted his head, not immediately reaching for it.
“This should be a letter for you,” he said slowly. “Have you confirmed its contents?”
Shivers felt a bit embarrassed at this. He could use authority and fists to silence the knights, but he had no such power over the Duke.
Who could blame him for spending an entire night out without a good reason, returning covered in noticeable marks? In this house devoid of women, secrets were hard to keep among the Brandenburg Knights, who had grown up together.
Especially the youngest, Shiloh, who exaggeratedly exclaimed every time he saw him. If not for their pressing tasks, he would have surely faced a beating. To make matters worse, a servant from the Green Shade Villa had returned the vest Shivers had worn to the banquet, along with a verbal message.
He went back but didn’t see Yitzfa. Instead, he found a letter in the place Yitzfa had indicated.
Dwight knew that if the letter contained only romantic drivel, Shivers wouldn’t present it this way. But with the knights making a fuss for so long, he wanted to join in the fun.
“It’s a letter from the Foxes, subtly mentioning their plans with the Lions in White Bridge,” Shivers said formally. “From the drugs the Monkeys are selling in the gambling houses, it’s clear they’ve encroached on Lions’ core interests. The Lions might act this time, but with limited personnel in White Bridge, they need temporary cooperation. This way…”
They could cover their blind spots on the Monkey end.
Dwight raised an eyebrow and finally took the brightly colored envelope—which still had a faint scent of perfume, typical of romantic gestures.
Those nearby could smell it too. Even Hasting looked at Shivers with interest.
And you say you’re innocent?
The letter’s contents were concise compared to its elaborate packaging, suggesting that more details needed to be discussed in person. Ideally, the rabbit-headed shopkeeper, with his charm and proficiency in various coded languages, would be the best negotiator. But he was busy shadowing Louis to master his behaviors and mannerisms (and to bond as brothers per Charlie’s insistence), making him unavailable. Even using Louis’s name for a private meeting with Lion could draw unwanted attention.
Dwight knocked on the table. “I’ll go meet them. Shivers, you’re with me. Eugene, support Jason. Hasting and Shiloh, inform Erica before returning to Paradise Island. Tell them to keep a low profile—things might get unstable in the inner city in the coming days.”
“And keep an eye on Aquinas. He might run,” Dwight added as if recalling an unimportant detail. “That old coot has a knack for reading the room. He might have sensed something from your actions—make sure to keep him in check.”
Shiloh was surprised but agreed. He hadn’t noticed anything off about the seemingly timid old man, but the Duke’s assumption made sense. The atmosphere on Paradise Island was tense, and Aquinas, known for shifting with the wind, should be closely monitored. If their “spiritual leader” disappeared, it would be challenging to mobilize those who had resigned themselves to a passive life.
Shivers felt conflicted. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see Yitzfa again. He had been eager to talk that morning, but as time passed and he calmed down, he felt an unusual fear. What would he say? Apologize for his loss of control and recklessness? Did Yitzfa need to hear that? If he wanted to hear those words, he wouldn’t have left before dawn.
Though drunk, he hadn’t blacked out. Reflecting on that night, he realized that initially… Yitzfa had made the first move.
So what was this? Shivers was thoroughly confused. He thought Yitzfa didn’t think much of him. Despite often mingling in high society, Yitzfa sometimes showed disdain for the wealthy nobles, which conflicted with his one-night stand with Shivers.
“What are you thinking about?” Dwight finally spoke up. “Is that Fox so beautiful that just thinking about him twists your expression?”
Shivers realized he had zoned out next to the Duke. Since when did the Duke care about his subordinates’ gossip?
“I thought you were used to this sort of thing,” Dwight continued. “But you’re acting strange this time. Were you the one who got dumped?”
The blonde Knight Commander was almost like an idol for girls in Lemena, even famous across the Empire. Meanwhile, the renowned Duke of Brandenburg, despite his striking beauty, was equally famous for his unapproachable demeanor. Apart from his sister Priscilla, no one had seen him show any warmth to a woman.
This reputation was somewhat exaggerated. Dwight was always courteous to women, but Shivers’ gentle nature often made Dwight seem stricter and colder by comparison. Seeing Shivers face rejection was quite novel for Dwight.
“Sir, it’s not like that between us.” Shivers coughed. “Compared to that, isn’t the upcoming meeting more important?”
Dwight snorted.
Meeting with the Black Gold Family felt degrading, and he had no other feelings about it. If it weren’t for the dire circumstances—
The young Duke fumed at the thought, feeling that Rabbit Head’s friend, like Rabbit Head himself, was prone to causing trouble. If only he hadn’t foolishly been dragged back to White Bridge by the Wolves… but with the threat of the World Dragon looming, Khalif still needed to die.
Before heading to White Bridge, he had written to the Empire, and the Emperor had taken the matter seriously. Support from Constantine was on its way, but it wouldn’t arrive in time. Once the auction ended, the astrologer would be taken away, potentially causing a power struggle at sea.
In short, it was all a mess.
“Does Rabbit Head know about this?” he asked. Louis’s identity gave them insight into many internal affairs of the Wolf Family, but they needed to supplement their information on matters outside the inner city. The sparrows had been busy traveling between the two places these past few days.
“I’ve already sent a messenger. If things go smoothly, we might receive a reply before the carriage arrives,” Shivers said. “Speaking of which, Mr. Charlie is a genius. His Gray Sentinel’s short-range communication speed is incredibly fast. When connected directly to him, it’s almost like using a magic stone, but at a negligible cost.”
He sincerely praised, “This invention alone could make any mage famous. Even though he never performs elemental magic and always modestly claims he’s just a trickster, he’s actually far more capable than most.”
But these words made Dwight’s face darken. He turned to the window, and by now, the sky had already darkened, reflecting his elegantly shaped profile in the black glass.
“Yes,” he said coldly.
This tone made Shivers pause, and then he realized something, so he said nothing more.
The author has something to say:
Priscilla: Gentle Shivers, how about switching guard posts among the knights occasionally?
Shivers: ?
Priscilla: Because I’m worried my brother will live alone if you follow him all the time.
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