Chapter 594: The Kingdom Needs

ARC: Curse of the Royal Tribulation

Chapter 94: The Kingdom Needs

Underground Street, Grove Pharmacy

Grove tiredly bid farewell to a beat-up Brotherhood thug, noting down his unpaid bill in a notebook. He then lazily sat behind the counter, warming himself with a small bottle of wine while watching his wife arrange the shelves.^[1]

Not to mention the frequent street robberies and petty thefts, even if everything went smoothly, it wasn’t easy to make much money running a pharmacy in the Lower City District. But he, Smoothy Grove, still chose to settle down in this notoriously chaotic place, and he has been running his business there safely for over ten years, which is not something most people can achieve.^[2]

Besides the good connections his father had before he passed away, another reason for Grove’s success was his good relationship with the Black Street Brotherhood. Now, in the Underground Street, he was considered a big shot. Who would be stupid enough to give him trouble?

Whenever he thought about it, Grove felt a bit proud. It made him feel satisfied as he looked at his drugstore and took occasional sips of warm liquor.^[3]

‘Oh, dear old man, this business of mine is much better than your days of scamming, isn’t it?’

The drugstore’s door was pushed open, making the bell behind it ring.

And along with it, a cold breeze from the street seeped in.

‘Here’s a customer.’

In the cold, Grove shivered and reluctantly raised his head from behind the counter—hoping it wasn’t those foolish small-time thieves. They had been restless for the past ten years.

“It’s winter now, and we’re short on medicinal herbs. We don’t have enough typhoid medicine! If you still want to buy, be prepared—it won’t be cheap…” Grove mechanically repeated, looking at the customer and pausing for a moment.

The person who came in was a strong and stern-looking man. He opened his cloak, revealing the sword hilt at his waist, and looked down at Grove from a higher position.^[4]

Following closely behind was another towering figure, not much different in size, who unfortunately got caught by the doorbell rope and got startled for a moment before steadying himself, holding onto his weapon, and looking around unhappily.

Grove was puzzled.

‘Have I ever heard of these guys in the Brotherhood before?

Are they new here?

Or are they here to rob?’

Having lived in the Lower City District for a long time, Grove’s first reaction was to reach for a knife under the counter, but the appearance of the third person made him change his mind:

The person was of average height with a young face that clearly showed he was still a teenager growing up.

He pulled down his hood and looked around the drugstore, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

‘Strange.’

Grove mumbled to himself. Over the years, he had encountered all kinds of customers: those who just wandered around, those who haggled sincerely, those who were poor but acted rich, those who were wealthy but stingy…

But he couldn’t quite figure out in which group this young lad was, whether he came from a rich and noble family or if he was a street-smart commoner used to living with limited means. He couldn’t tell if he bore the scars of a hardened street tough or if he was a harmless and somewhat cute-like pampered rich kid.

The young customer, without giving Grove’s presence much more than a thought, just reached out and ran his hand along the rows of shelves like a prodigal son returning home.

It was his two burly companions, then, who caught Grove’s eye. One of them was extremely vigilant, looking back from time to time, while the other one took off his hood and stared directly at Grove, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

That gave Grove a good look at the latter’s face, and his expression changed dramatically.

“Oh, for fuck sake, why is it you again,” the pharmacy owner blurted out, looking annoyed and fed up,

“You dumbass cop?”

Kohen, who was about to greet the pharmacy owner, paused for a moment,

“What did you, what did you just say?”

Grove cleared his throat, but the scorn in his eyes didn’t diminish at all.

“I mean… Police Officer Karabeyan.”

Kohen’s face lit up. Paying no mind to the young man wandering in the drugstore, he leaned closer to the counter,

“So, I came here today—”

“Just do me a favour, okay? Stop messing around here! I don’t sell any illegal drugs,” Grove sighed heavily before he even finished talking, “nor do I have a fucking thing to do with any of those gangsters…”

With a resounding thud…

Another arm propped against the drugstore door as a fat, short guy walked into Grove Pharmacy, looking around with interest.

Seeing the person clearly, Grove trembled all over; his words stuck in his throat!

“Ah, ah, Mo, Morris?”

Grove stared at the new customer in sheer terror.

But he quickly reacted, adjusting his position outside the counter, forcing a cheerful smile, extending his arms as if to give a hug,^[5]

“Morris, Morris, Morris! What a pleasant surprise, my dear friend!”

But Morris heartlessly reached out and firmly held Grove’s chest, denying him the intimacy he sought.

“Grove,” he said.

The big boss of the Brotherhood simply nodded, slowly but firmly pushing Grove back behind the counter.

Grove could only show an embarrassed and tense smile.

Kohen widened his eyes.

“You… Didn’t you claim not to know him? You’re in cahoots with this scum from the Brotherhood!” Kohen uttered it angrily.

Yet the two casually exchanged pleasantries, completely disregarding him.

“W-well, Morris, welcome. Um… Is there something particular you need?” Grove nervously looked at the calm, fat man, his words conveying humility and eagerness to please.

“Relax,” Morris squinted his eyes and patted the apothecary’s shoulder. “Old friend.”

“I’m just going for a stroll.”

Grove shuddered at the pat, but then he quickly reacted and mustered a smile.

“Sure, sure!”

“Come on, let’s take a walk! Honey, clean up the floor! And bring out the pie you made!”

Grove’s wife nervously grabbed the broom next to the shelves.

But Morris firmly held the boss’ shoulder!

“No need to worry; just spending some time with a friend, and then we’ll be on our way,” Morris calmly stated.

But the more indifferent the leader of the Brotherhood seemed, the more scared Grove became.

“Okay, okay…” Grove waved his hand, telling his wife to go back, and cautiously approached Morris. He glanced at the unhappy Kohen and then pointed to the absent-minded young man by the shelves.

“What… What’s going on? Why is a police officer here? And who is that?”

Morris raised an eyebrow and turned around. Glover stood at the door, staring at him intently, his right hand firmly gripping a weapon, with a persistent warning in his eyes.

“Bodyguard,” Morris said.

The pompous fat man snorted, “My friend’s bodyguard.”

Grove was surprised, “Friend?”

“Yeah, a little friend,” Morris turned to the young man between the shelves, his words carrying a deeper meaning, “and a ‘big’ friend.”

Grove blinked, and his gaze on the teenager changed.

He quickly shouted, “Oh, uh, have a great time shopping, Mr. Customer, sir! Haha!”

With that said, Grove’s eyes darted around as he rubbed his palms together, playfully saying,

“Morris, since you’re here, I wanted to pay ahead for next month’s share! Yanni, bring the money bag!”^[6]

Morris frowned.

“Share?” Kohen reacted faster, instantly getting annoyed,

“Hey! Right in front of me, you dare to collect protection money—”

Grove turned to the police officer, all serious,

“What what? Protection money? Don’t spout nonsense! This is the money I owe a friend; I’m just repaying it! Understand?”

“Repaying? Is there such a thing as a ‘share’ when repaying a debt?”

Kohen stomped his foot, then continued with a heartfelt tone,^[7]

“Let me tell you, don’t be afraid. The police officer is here to ensure fairness for you—”

The young wife of the drugstore owner walked over from the shelves on the other side, trembling,

“But, dear, didn’t we just pay our share for last month?”

Grove found a way to vent and suddenly turned back, angrily saying,

“Shut it with all that crap, bitch!”

His outburst made his wife shrink back.

“Morris is our good friend. Why worry about these things?”

Grove acted all grand, waving his hand confidently,

“Just bring it here!”

Then he looked at Morris with a mixed expression, trying to be friendly and pleasing once again.

“Hey! Are you all ignoring me?” This was Kohen, indignant.^[8]

“But our income for this month…” This was Yanni, sounding pitiful.

With a loud bang, Morris forcefully slapped his palm down on the counter, immediately hushing all sounds around him,

“As I’ve said!”

Morris scanned the room, his eyes filled with power that made everyone shut their mouths.

“Grove, I’m just out for a stroll.”

Morris smiled, placing his hand firmly on Grove’s shoulder.

“Relax.”

The owner of the pharmacy nodded reflexively, but his attempt to appear at ease was in vain. Instead, he felt restless under Morris’ touch, beads of sweat trickling down his face.^[9]

Morris raised the corner of his lips, chuckling softly,

“We have our rules: if the payment is for next month, then it can wait until next month.”

Grove heaved a sigh of relief.

Morris glanced at Kohen out of the corner of his eye,

“Or maybe not pay at all?”

The moment he said that, Grove broke out in a cold sweat again.

“Huh? That’s not what I meant…”

But Morris laughed softly, already releasing his grip. He turned and walked his way between the shelves.

Matching the stride of the young man ahead.

“Rules?”

Kohen leaned in, his voice dripping with disbelief and seething anger.

“Hey! Grove, you don’t have to pay, and you don’t have to be scared of him! I promise, if you’re willing to tell the truth about what the Morris’ gang did—how they bullied, cheated, and extorted people—I’ll make sure he goes to jail…”^[10]

Grove, frightened and confused, just stared at him.^[11]

Just then, another person walked past the counter, giving off an eerie feeling.

Grove trembled!

“Hey, Layork!”

Grove anxiously watched the person’s retreating back, mustering a forced smile.

“The medicine we sent last time still works…”

But the Silent Assassin didn’t spare him a single glance, just passed the counter and followed his boss.

Grove was left with his greeting hand awkwardly hanging in the air.

Kohen glanced at Layork’s retreating figure and then at the petrified Grove, feeling like everything he said before was coming to naught.

In frustration, he caught up with the Silent Assassin,

“No, you’re doing it on purpose! Let me tell you, Layork, there are still three unsolved murder cases on your record. Once my colleagues gather the proof…”

But Layork paid him no attention, his face devoid of any expression,

“Move, I want to go to the kitchen for some pie.”

Kohen’s eyes grew wide,

“Pie? So, you really came here to steal from people—”

But before he could do anything, Glover, who was nearby, quickly covered Kohen’s mouth.

“Mmm! Mmmph! Don’t—I need— mmmph!”

With a blank face, Zombie forcefully pushed and bumped him, squeezing the police officer into a dark corner.

Finally, the drugstore fell into a quiet stillness.

At that moment, on the other side of the shelves, the young man who had been quietly looking around the Grove Pharmacy suddenly turned around and called out to the drugstore owner’s wife.

“Your name is Yanni, right?”

Startled by her recent distress, the owner’s wife, who was stooping down to tidy up the shelves, looked up.

“Yes, yes, I’m… I’m Yanni. How can I help you, sir?”

The casually browsing young man, Thales, carefully observed her appearance—a gentle face, a youthful figure.

“Are you a helper here?”

The young drugstore owner’s wife clearly knew that the person was connected to the Brotherhood. Still trying to recover from the tension earlier, she answered cautiously,

“Yes, I… I’ve been working as a helper here…”

From behind a shelf, Thales gazed at the woman in front of him, who seemed both familiar and unfamiliar, with a tinge of bewilderment in his eyes.

“But the boss called you ‘honey’ and ‘bitch’?”

Thales felt Morris approaching them through the shelves, and the others in the drugstore turned their attention to their strange interaction.

But Thales didn’t care.

Yanni cast a quick glance back at her husband, Grove, who once again looked terrified.

“I… I’m his wife. I married him a few years ago.”

‘Oh, really?’

Thales looked at Yanni, his gaze gentle yet tinged with a hint of sorrow—the same Yanni who used to help beggars, give out food and medicine, and often got scolded by the boss for it.

And that stingy, cruel, repulsive, and foul-smelling pharmacy shop owner.

Thales lowered his head, a heavy feeling settling in his chest.

“I… I’m his wife. I married him a few years ago.”

‘Things have changed.^[12]

But not all stories have a happy ending.’

The Prince then looked up.

“You know what, Yanni, you’re really beautiful and young.”

That left Yanni dumbfounded and surprised.

“Huh? Me…”

But Thales, with his mind wandering in the past, looked at her with a warm smile.

“You’re kind and caring, hardworking, and capable.”

Yanni blushed for a moment and then nervously glanced at the people around her, shaking her head in a hurry.

“No, no, I…”

But Thales didn’t wait for her to respond and kept on speaking.

“And your husband? He’s old and ugly, with a full mouth of yellow teeth, a strange personality, and a bad temper.”

When he used to come here as a child to ‘do business’, he would often get scolded by him.

Grove, standing behind the counter, heard those words and stood frozen in place.

Yanni seemed frightened too.

But Thales said to her seriously, carefully articulating each word,

“Listen: he doesn’t deserve you.”

Yanni’s face turned even redder, and she lowered her head anxiously.

At that very moment,

“Hey!”

A broad and plump figure inserted himself between the shelves, abruptly interrupting their strange conversation.

“Why don’t you go clean up the shelves over there, Yanni? They’re a bit dusty.”

Morris said with a sly smile.

As if granted a reprieve, Yanni quickly evaded Thales’ intense gaze and scurried off to the other side.

The fat man from the Brotherhood observed the retreating figure of the slender drugstore owner’s wife and let out a contemptuous grunt.

“I reckon someone like you ain’t here for a casual stroll or to harass women, right?”

Thales sighed and turned to face Morris.

“What if I am?”

Morris’ expression changed, his enthusiasm igniting like a flame.

“Well then, both the Lower City District and the Brotherhood are more than happy to welcome you!”

“The Red Street Market too.”

Morris chuckled, his eyes glinting.

“After all, not every noble takes kindly to their boots getting soiled in mud.”

Turning his full attention from the quiet talk between Grove and Yanni. Thales gave a thoughtful response,

“You sure need mud to build a sturdy house.”

Morris casually picked up a bottle of potion, tossing it in the air and shrugging his shoulders,

“But for some people, they want their houses clean and free from mud.”

Thales smirked coldly and quickly took the bottle from Morris’ hand, carefully placing it back where it belonged,

“Well, their houses will eventually fall apart.”

Morris was surprised by Thales’ swift move.

“Please forgive me,” the fat man said, sounding remorseful, “We don’t quite understand that kind of talk here.”

Thales suddenly said, “It’s not just here.”^[13]

Morris raised an eyebrow, “Hmm?”

Thales looked around at the once familiar, now strange surroundings and said, “It’s not just from your side. Lately, the Blood Bottle Gang has also faced troubles. They’ve lost a lot of their money-making activities. For example, their smuggling, grain trading, and ironworking have all been affected. With such strong, close ties to the noble families and officials and their connections to the legal market, the impact on them is even greater.”

Morris’ expression turned serious, and with a quick glance over his shoulder, he caught Grove and Yanni, stationed by the counter, startled and shrinking back, too terrified to eavesdrop any longer.

Only then did the fat man turn to Thales, speaking in hushed tones, “I don’t get—”

“Of course you do,” Thales interjected, striding towards another row of shelves.

“What did Felicia say to you? Who kidnapped her?”

Morris’ eyes narrowed slightly, wary and alert.

“So, does this mean you’re here on behalf of the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department?” he asked.

“Or maybe you’re the one behind it all, and the Secret Intelligence Department is just following your orders?” Thales laughed.

“See, you get it,” Thales said.

But Morris’ face took on a different expression, and he stared at Thales with an icy look, shaking his head with a click of his tongue.

“Being noticed like this is both flattering and surprising,” he muttered.^[14]

The overweight man silently wondered, ‘How did I or the Brotherhood offend this young Prince?

Or was it Black Sword in Dragon Clouds City six years ago?

Was that why he decided to seek revenge through the Secret Department?

What kind of grudge is that?!’

Thales observed the desired effect, casually shaking his head.

“On the contrary,” the Prince said, stopping near a shelf displaying typhoid medicine and speaking sombrely,

“I have no connection to the Secret Department, and they don’t know that I’ve come here.”

Morris’ eyes twitched.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

The fat man looked sceptical.

“But the Secret Department has eyes everywhere…”^[15]

“I’m sure,” Thales cut him off, turning around decisively.

“When I say they don’t know…”

The Prince’s expression turned stern, and brooked no objection.

“They wouldn’t dare to know.”

Morris fell into silence for a while.

“You sure are confident,” he said, focusing on Thales’ face.

“Just like all those who fell at the Black Prophet’s feet.”

Thales, too, fell silent for a moment.

those who fell at the Black Prophet’s feet

For some reason, he suddenly thought of them all: the late King Aydi, Crown Prince Midier, King Nuven…

“I can’t say I’m familiar with the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department or that I know which ties the Black Prophet and your ‘Sleepless Eye’ Lance hold,” Thales took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking again, and to this, Morris frowned once more.

“But what I do know is that your relationship is complicated, and you’re stuck in a tricky situation,” Thales stared directly at Morris, basking in the surreal sensation of their roles changing after these six years while trying hard to glean something from the eyes of this prominent figure in the Brotherhood.

“If Lance doesn’t like the Black Prophet,” the Prince said calmly, “tell him I don’t like him either. That should be the basis of our conversation.”

Morris pondered over these words.

Thales turned on his heels, no longer paying attention to the fat man as he strode towards the counter, resuming his previous conversation.

“Did he make you do it?” he asked.

“Ah!” Yanni, who was next to the counter, was surprised to see that the intense-eyed young man had come back to her. His gaze was just as overwhelming.

Thales locked his gaze onto Grove, behind the counter, and suddenly noticed that while his eyes were fixed on him, he was also stealing glances at Morris behind, huddled in a fearful stance—an image that contrasted sharply with the once venomous and merciless demeanour of the boss.

“You used to work here, and he was the boss. So, did he pressure you into marrying him?” Thales asked.

Yanni stood there, frozen.

Thales’ gaze grew sharp.

“For example, if you didn’t marry him, would you lose your job?”

Grove behind the counter trembled.

“No—”

Seeing her husband’s fear, Yanni also snapped out and spoke in a trembling voice,

“No, of course not!”

“I, I did it willingly.”

“Willingly?”

Thales’ voice intensified as he locked eyes with Grove, making him feel like he was being looked down upon.

“You could have made a better choice.”

“It didn’t have to be him.”

Just as Kohen emerged from a concealed corner, he stumbled upon this scene, freezing for a second in bewilderment, “Huh?”

Grove was on the verge of speaking, but upon catching sight of Kohen’s intimidating presence, he was instantly gripped by fear and rendered speechless.

Yanni bit down on her lower lip, clutching her husband’s hand tightly.

“I… I…”

Thales looked back at Yanni, and his eyes softened,

“Actually, I’m in need of a maid.”

“You could have a better job, a nicer life, a more respectable place to live, and even a better future.”

Yanni froze in disbelief.

Grove’s face turned pale right away.

Thales smiled and asked,

“What do you say?”

Reaching finally to a realisation,

“Hey, Your… I mean, Wya,” the police officer exclaimed with incredulity, speaking up for what he believed was right,^[16]

“I have to say something about this. You can’t just forcefully take someone against their will…”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

With just a look from Thales, Kohen had his mouth covered by Glover’s strong hand and pulled into a corner, rendering him voiceless once more.^[17]

At that moment, another challenger interrupted with a fit of coughing.

“Prin… Tha, Your… uh,” Morris cleared his throat, finally finding the appropriate address,

“My little friend!”

He walked over with a broad smile on his face.

“You know, things are done differently here compared to the North. This kind of thing isn’t really accepted…”

But Thales ignored him, all eyes on the dumbfounded young woman.

“What do you say,” the Prince whispered softly, “Yanni?”

Yanni stood there, unable to move, feeling a mix of fear, surprise, and many other emotions all at once. She couldn’t quite react.

Morris knitted his brows, while Grove on the other side appeared on the verge of tears.

“Don’t rush; take your time to think.”

“I’ll look around a little longer.”

Thales smiled, turned around, and walked back to the shelves.

Morris scowled as he observed Yanni and Grove, then glanced at Thales.

“Why?”

The fat man matched Thales’ steps, his tone filled with annoyance, revealing the displeasure of a boss whose authority was being interfered with.

Without glancing back from the shelves, Thales chuckled lightly,

“Just feel like it.”

Morris took a few deep breaths, calming himself down.

“No, what I mean is…”

The fatty man squinted his eyes, showcasing his business savvy,

“Why would the Black Prophet do this? What does the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department really want?”

“The all-important Secret Department, instead of gathering information on Eckstedt’s military activities or keeping tabs on the political situation in the Three Kingdoms of the Mystery Sea, chooses to spend their time and resources dealing with some street gangs’ business?”

Thales turned around, somewhat impressed by the gang’s leader’s ability to control his emotions. He had some of the qualities of those in high positions of power.

The Prince looked at him closely and asked,

“Do you really not know?”

Morris shook his head and said,

“I don’t understand why a respected Prince like yourself would come down to our dirty place and have a ‘chat’ with us yokels.”

There was a hint of doubt in his tone.

Thales calmly maintained eye contact with him, recalling the moment when Morris revealed his true identity.

Even if he was born into a humble family and mingled in the streets… Yes, there were still people Thales could not underestimate.

Moreover…

Strictly speaking, this was the Black Street Brotherhood.

It was Black Sword’s territory.

Black Sword

Thinking about the strong man who could stand up to a Mystic, Thales let go of his arrogance and didn’t dare to be careless.

“First, even though the Black Prophet is still around, he’s no longer in charge of the Secret Department’s day-to-day operations.”

The Prince returned to the negotiating state and solemnly said,

“His successor is not well-known, but they are young, ambitious, and hard to predict.”^[18]

Morris furrowed his brow and started thinking, rubbing his chin.

“Second, we all understand that maybe the Black Street Brotherhood rose too quickly, and its members are a mixed bunch—from good to bad. And perhaps the Blood Bottle Gang has weakened with age and a decline in influence…”^[19]

Thales’ gaze turned cold, “But both of you, neither the Black Street Brotherhood nor the Blood Bottle Gang, are just simple street thugs.”

“Be it Black Sword or the figure behind the Blood Bottle Gang.”

Morris’ fingers hesitated as he rubbed his chin.

‘Damn this Prince.

How much does he really know?’

“As for why the Secret Intelligence Department is doing this, why they’re targeting the two gangs that are closer to the bottom of society, I don’t know either.”

Thales stood coolly between the shelves, arms crossed.

“And neither can I bring myself to care about the details of the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department’s actions.”

And he definitely didn’t like them.

Morris rolled his eyes.

“You don’t know?”

He let out a bitter laugh.

“Then what exactly do you want to talk to me about? How can you be of any help?”

“So, you’ve come here just like any typical spoiled brat, to throw a few threats around, go shopping, enjoy the sights, and flirt with women, huh?”

Morris glanced at the counter, revealing a fleeting glimpse of viciousness.

“A day trip to the Lower City District?”

However, Thales smiled and said,

“I’ve come to fetch some medicine.”

Morris hesitated,

“What?”

“You know, winter is on its way,” Thales let out a sigh,

“We need to prepare warm clothes and stock up on medicine.”

Morris fell silent for a moment, then a smile reappeared on his face, displaying an air of simplicity, geniality, and straightforwardness.

“Stop beating around the bush; we really don’t speak fancy here.”^[20]

At that moment, Thales suddenly looked up and loudly asked Yanni, who, in a hushed conversation with Grove,

“Do we have all the medicine for typhoid here?”

Yanni and Grove jumped in surprise.

“Yes, yes, there are some more in the storage room…” Yanni replied, sounding nervous.

Thales flashed a smile,

“Excellent.”

The young man lowered his head again and continued choosing items.

Morris raised his head; his forehead wrinkled.

“You don’t seem like someone who has typhoid.”

Thales nodded, then shook his head slightly.

“Not right now.”

Morris deadpanned,

“And I’m sure the palace has enough doctors too.”

Thales let out a thoughtful sound before abruptly asking,

“Why?”

“For the past six years, as you’ve grown and won in the fight against the Blood Bootle Gang, have you ever wondered why it went so well?”

Morris was taken aback.

“You guys, the Black Street Brotherhood, have only been around for about ten years, a group that formed on its own, ahem, from common people,” Thales raised his head, his tone grave.^[21]

“Why did you succeed so easily?”

When Morris heard news concerning himself, he regained his seriousness. He thought for a moment and chuckled, “We’re young, better organised, have less baggage, stronger determination, and better long-term strategies.”

He took a step forward.

“And also, six years ago, in a big battle on Red Street Market, we brought the Blood Bootle Gang to its knees—”

But Thales quickly shook his head, interrupting him,

“No.”

Morris froze.

In a determined stride, the Prince took a step forward, locking eyes with Morris, his tone resolute.

“It’s because the Kingdom needs you,” Thales said slowly.

“The situation requires you.”

“The times demand you.”

Morris was left speechless.

‘What?

The Kingdom needs?’

Without giving Morris a chance to ask further questions, Thales turned around and continued,

“As an underground force with a longstanding presence in the Kingdom and as a group that isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, the Blood Bootle Gang has established connections and strong ties with influential individuals and families, fostering a network of mutually beneficial relationships.”

At this point, Thales looked directly at Morris.

“For example, the Iris Family of South Coast Hill, Covendier.”

Morris looked thoughtful.

Thales halted his steps and carefully studied a bottle of typhoid medicine.

“That’s right, between the King and the vassals, between the central government and the local authorities, between the capital city and the whole Kingdom…”

Thales’ gaze drifted away, lost in thought.

“The Blood Bootle Gang, who started by smuggling goods across the borders, made a choice early on. They aligned themselves with the most influential and firmly established forces, which are also the hardest to get rid of.”

“By being the first ones to venture into it, they gained protection,” Thales said, staring at the medicine in his hand.

“I only realised this after being involved in politics for many years.”

“It’s also the reason why, despite facing heavy blows from the Kingdom’s officials over the past ten years, they have managed to grow strong and remain standing.”

Morris didn’t utter a word; his forehead creased as he deeply contemplated.

“Otherwise, six years ago in the ‘One Night War’, you would have taken over the whole Red Street Market and maybe even gained more,” Thales returned the medicine to its place and remembered the life-changing experience of that night, and he scoffed lightly.

“Why give back half of the territory you already grabbed, make peace with the weakened Blood Bootle Gang, and set boundaries?”

Morris scratched his chin, his confused gaze becoming clear again.

“That sounds interesting,” he said.

“It’s even more interesting when you actually play,” Thales decisively declared.

He quickly turned around, facing Morris directly.

“Though you’re both gangs roaming the streets, fighting and shedding blood, the Blood Bootle Gang has a strong foundation and a wide network, while the Brotherhood started from scratch without any solid ground,” Thales’ eyes burned with intensity, as if scorching the air.

“In theory, you can’t compete against them—when the referee and the house are on the same side, what’s the point of playing, right?”

Morris pursed his lips, his face serious.

“But we’re winning,” he argued in a hoarse voice.

“Yes,” Thales nodded, acknowledging the fact.

“You are indeed winning!”

But then his eyes grew more intense, and his words became sharp like a knife.

“Not for any other reason.”

“It’s because of a series of events that have happened in recent years…”

The voice of the Duke of Star Lake had a magical quality to it.

“Because there is already a successor to the throne…”

“Because the rule of the royal family is becoming stable…”

“Because the Kingdom’s political situation is becoming clearer…”

“Because the Kingdom’s strength is gradually recovering…”

“Because Eckstedt is inevitably declining…”

“Because the border conflicts are no more, and the pressure on our Kingdom has lifted…”

“It’s because of all these factors that you achieve victory.”

Thales spoke with unwavering conviction,

“In the past six years, and even in the eighteen years after the ‘Bloody Year’, the entire chessboard of Constellation has witnessed sudden changes in the balance of power.”

“In the Central region, the South Coast, the Northern Territory, the Eastern Sea, the Western Desert, and the Blade Edge, as the traditional influential forces in these places either surrender, regroup, or fall from exhaustion…”

At first, Morris was somewhat casual, but as Thales delved deeper into his words, he gradually grew serious.

“Imagine this: when the profitable businesses like farming, trading, ironworking, brewing, salt production, and tobacco, which were scattered throughout the Kingdom due to the royal family’s weakness and the Kingdom’s turmoil, got reorganised and redistributed…”

“Imagine places like Blade Fangs Camp, where local suzerains and noble officials held power, going through changes as the royal regular army and officials arrived, no longer resembling their former selves…”

Morris’ brows fluctuated, showing his restlessness.

“And imagine the Blood Bootle Gang, who had been feeding off these voids, who lost their local connections and protective cover, lost their sources of income, lost their backing and confidence…”^[22]

“And their plea for help to the Covendier Family was ignored, and they were left to struggle on their own as the Iris Flowers submitted to the Nine-Pointed Star once again…”

Thales’ voice became colder and heavier

“So, if you think about it, it’s only natural that the Blood Bootle Gang, the ‘nobles of the gangsters’, who were once powerful, would weaken and face difficulties.”

He stared fixedly at Morris, whose eyes showed obvious signs of wavering,

“And it’s only natural that you, the new challengers, would keep winning and growing stronger.”

Morris’ expression grew solemn, and his mouth went dry.

Thales looked away and took a deep breath. He glanced around the tidy pharmacy, obviously arranged with care by a woman.

“After the Kingdom’s war chariot has passed through, you, the Black Street Brotherhood, represent the hopes and struggles of the less fortunate. You are a new underground power without established roots, separate from the corrupted local nobles and compromised officials…”

Thales raised his hand and slowly closed it in the air, as if crushing something.

“With the royalty’s silent approval and the Blood Bottle Gang’s decay paving the way for you, it was only natural for you to rise unimpeded, breaking down barriers and dismantling the old order.”^[23]

Morris stared, wide-eyed, at Thales’ hand.

“That’s how the Black Street Brotherhood managed to challenge the dominance of the established underground force and bring about a new era of prosperity over the past decade.”

Thales’ fist trembled, and his voice tightened.

“You have won, for one reason alone.”

The Prince’s gaze was intense, his words cutting through the silence.

“Because… the Kingdom needs you.”

[1] ‘beat-up’; 头破血流, one’s head covered with bumps and bruises—be badly battered; be beaten; be crushed.

[2] ‘smoothy’; 八面玲珑, smooth and slick (in making social contacts). It literally means “eight-faced and exquisite,” implying that the person is versatile and tactful.

[3] ‘satisfied’; 怡然自得, be happy and pleased with oneself; feel a glow of happiness.

[4] ‘looked down…from a higher position’; 居高临下, lit. to be in a high location, overlooking the scene below (idiom), occupy a commanding position (or height); look down from.

[5] ‘forcing a cheerful smile’; 强颜欢笑, put on an air of cheerfulness; try to look happy.

[6] Yanni and Grove are both introduced in chapter 1. Is more a mention than anything else.

[7] ‘heartfelt tone’, 苦口婆心, (admonish) earnestly and maternally, earnest and well-meaning advice (idiom); to persuade patiently.

[8] ‘indignant’; 义愤填膺, righteous indignation fills one’s breast (idiom); to feel indignant at injustice.

[9] ‘restless’; 坐立不安, (idiom) feel uneasy whether sitting or standing—fidgety; on tenterhooks; extremely worried.

[10] ‘bullied, cheated, and extorted’; 欺行霸市, bully people of the same trade and monopolize the market—do business in a overbearing way. 敲诈勒索, extortion and blackmail (idiom).

[11] ‘confused’; 不知所措, not knowing what to do (idiom); at one’s wits’ end.

[12] The full idiom is: The scenery remains the same but the people are changed. Or Things are unchanged but the people are gone (物是人非).

[13] The ‘kind of talk’, 妹文化, is a Chinese derogative slang lit. what he said is “Our sister is so cultured that she can’t understand much.” To the Thales’ statement “Is not just about your family.”, so is kinda a punny? Smooth topic transition.

[14] 受宠若惊, overwhelmed by an unexpected favour; feel extremely flattered.

[15] ‘eyes everywhere’; 无孔不入, get in by every opening; seize every opportunity; all-pervasive.

[16] ‘speaking up… was right’; 仗义执言, to speak out for justice (idiom); to take a stand on a matter of principle.

[17] ‘voiceless’; 无声无息, wordless and uncommunicative (idiom); without speaking.

[18] ‘young’; 年轻气盛, full of youthful vigor (idiom), young and aggressive.

[19] ‘from good to bad’; 良莠不齐, (idiom) There are weeds among seedlings.—The good and the bad are intermingled.

[20] Same slang as note 12, basically is a way to call one uncultured, in this case himself.

[21] ‘tone grave’; 煞有介事, make a show of being in earnest; pretend to be serious (about doing sth.); go through the motions.

[22] ‘protective cover’; 保护伞, fig. person affording protection (esp. corrupt), umbrella (a protecting power).

[23] ‘only natural for you to rise unimpeded’; 顺理成章, rational and clearly structured (of text); 水到渠成, When the water comes, a channel is naturally formed. —When conditions are ripe, success is naturally achieved; 摧枯拉朽, (as easy as) crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep