Chapter 595: The Tenth Powerhouse

ARC: Curse of the Royal Tribulation

Chapter 95: The Tenth Powerhouse

After a short silence, Morris scratched his chin and looked at Thales with a strange expression.

“So, you came all the way here just to give me a lecture on politics?” he questioned.

“You want answers,” Thales said confidently, putting his fist down, “and I’m giving them to you.”

Morris looked around the room, thought for a moment, and then looked up again.

“If that’s true, then these answers are too far-fetched for us, too impractical.”^[1]

Thales chuckled in response.

On the other side of the pharmacy, Yanni and Grove whispered nervously to each other while Glover made earnest attempts to pacify Kohen, who was eager to charge ahead and confront Layork.

Yet, as if an invisible barrier stood before them, everyone abided by an unspoken agreement, refraining from crossing that line and intruding upon the conversation between the Prince of Constellation and the Brotherhood’s powerhouse.

“Yeah, I know, ‘Politics feels too distant to me’, or ‘Politics seems too impractical for me’, people say that all the time.”

Thales’ expression changed,

“Being it the neat freaks who feel it’s too far and ignore it, thinking they’re better than it, avoiding public politics like it’s a deadly disease; or those who think it’s too far and become bitter and cynical, spending their lives in pursuit of knowledge, firmly believing that it contains everything—the bookworms; then there’s those who think it’s too far and don’t care about anything, living in a numb and indifferent way, thinking that basic needs are all that matter in life—the sceptics; or even the ones who think it’s too far away, so they freely express their opinions online without any filter, acting like they know it all about the state of the world—the keyboard warriors.”^[2]

“Then there’s you, living each day as it comes, not worrying too much about anything, living a reckless and carefree life, like some kind of thuggish slacker.”^[3]

Morris arched one side of his lips, exposing his bare teeth.

But Thales ignored him,

“Whether they mean it or not, consciously or not, they all express the same thought: Politics is too far away.”

“But excuse my directness; they either have some misunderstanding about ‘politics’ or they really don’t know what ‘far’ means.”

Morris stayed quiet.

“Look at it now; I’m right in front of you,” said Thales, his voice turning bitterly cold.

“And yet, you think that, as the Brotherhood rises, the concerned authorities have truly turned a blind eye to you; just let things be?”

Morris squinted his eyes.

“Concerned authorities?” he stormed.

“Heh, you’re talking about those mysterious ones that are never around when they should be helping the people but suddenly show up when it’s time to act patriotic?”

Morris made a dismissive sound, his words dripping with mockery.

“We have our own ways of dealing with them—like pieces of shit. Every time I finish squatting in the pit, when I stand up to wipe my ass, that’s when I see them, in the shit pit, all hot and sticky.”

But Thales shook his head, ignoring the burst of emotion.

“Why did you order a retreat earlier? Why didn’t you listen to that guy, Aoschok? Were you supposed to gather your forces and go attack the Blood Bottle Gang to settle the debt, no matter who’s behind the kidnapping? The Brotherhood just needs to kill to showcase their power.”

Morris’ rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.

Thales turned around and walked to the next row of shelves, sometimes picking up a medicine bottle to play with.

“Politics isn’t far from you, Morris, even if you treat the Kingdom as your playground and break the law without thinking. The high walls and strong barriers don’t just trap those who are fine with being there; they also limit those who think they’re outside the cage.”

“It’s like an invisible net that blocks all colours we see and fills every gap in the air. And we’re stuck in it with everything we do, say, and even breathe. We can’t escape.”

Thales looked at the medicine bottle in his hand, feeling its sturdy glass surface, lost in thought.

Morris stayed quiet for a few seconds before letting out a low grunt.

“Maybe I should let Lance hear this,” the fat boss of the Brotherhood said, squinting his eyes. “He knows this stuff better.”

But Thales let out a mocking laugh.

“The same goes for you, Morris.”

The Prince looked up, locking eyes with Morris.

“After all, you’re the one who handles the money and keeps track of accounts.”

In that moment, a flash of severity crossed Morris’ eyes.

But it quickly disappeared, and the Brotherhood’s big shot chuckled dismissively, waving his hand carelessly.

“Ah, forget it. All this fancy stuff you’re talking about means nothing to us street thugs. We don’t understand it, and we don’t care—”

However, Thales suddenly raised his voice, interrupting him.

“If you guys really aren’t interested, Morris!”

“Then all of you—you, Black Sword, and the mercenary group known as the Nine Powerhouses at the time—wouldn’t have come all the way to the capital city.”

His voice gradually grew softer, his pace slowing down, but the intensity in his words made Morris wince.

“And if you’re not interested…”

Thales took a step forward.

“You wouldn’t have agreed to work for Prince Horace.”

In that moment, Morris’ eyes quickly changed!

“And you certainly wouldn’t have stayed rooted in Eternal Star City, lurking and moving forward even after his defeat and death,” Thales gently twisted the medicine bottle in his hand, speaking slowly.

“There must be something else in it.”

Silence enveloped the two of them.

It wasn’t until Morris recovered from his shock, composed his face, and exhaled,

“Who did you just mention?”

Having achieved his objective, Thales shrugged casually, turned around, and put the medicine bottle down.

“Miss Yanni!”

The Prince suddenly spoke loudly, shattering the barrier that separated the two conversations and drawing the attention of the others in the drugstore.

“Have you made up your mind?”

When Yanni heard her name, she trembled.

Confused, she looked up and mechanically turned her gaze towards Thales.

“W-what?”

Grove, the drugstore owner, wore a mournful expression, anxiously glancing at his wife and then nervously at Morris.

Thales remained calm with a gentle smile.

“An opportunity.”

“I meant it; I want to give you a chance to find a new path and have a better life.”

Thales glanced at Grove next to her, his eyes filled with a coldness that almost made Grove’s legs give out.

“At least better than what you have now.”

Yanni stood still, absentmindedly wiping her hands on her apron.

Kohen frowned, wanting to speak up, but over time, Glover had found the trick to keep him from interrupting.

Layork looked at Morris, seeking answers with his eyes, but Morris was lost in deep thought and didn’t react.

Only Grove wore a pained and desperate look, vigorously shaking his wife’s arm.

Yanni remained in a daze for a while, her gaze blankly passing over the apothecary shop where she had worked for more than ten years, then looking at Grove, who used to be her boss and now her husband.

Finally, she slowly turned her head, her eyes meeting the gentle and kind face of the noble young man.

Thales didn’t rush her; he simply waited in silence.

And then, after what seemed like an eternity, Yanni took a deep breath. She slowly and decisively pulled her arm out of her husband’s grip.

She wiped her hands and took a few tentative steps forward, positioning herself in front of Thales.

Thales smiled back at her.

Grove looked devastated, his body wobbling and his face drained of colour.

Morris’ mind was in turmoil, and his brows furrowed deeply. Kohen stared in disbelief with wide eyes. Glover remained motionless, showing no expression. Layork leaned against the wall, coldly observing.

Yanni cleared her throat and spoke firmly,

“Sir… I really, really appreciate your offer.”

“But I have thought it through.”

Thales arched an eyebrow.

Yanni stated firmly,

“No.”

“I don’t need the new life you are offering me.”

With those words, the whole medicine shop fell into silence.

Even Grove wore a look of complete surprise.

Thales lifted his brow a little and asked, “What?”

Yanni forced a smile and said, “I mean, my life right now is already the best choice for me.”

“The best choice?” Thales muttered to himself for a while and gestured with his chin at the trembling Grove.

“You mean him?”

Grove shuddered even more.

But Yanni looked back at her husband and confidently said to Thales, “Yes, him.”

Thales remained silent for a while.

He lowered his head and chuckled.

“Tell me, will your old husband, Mr. Grove, hurt you?” he asked.

Yanni trembled ever so slightly.

Morris snorted from the side, and Grove turned pale as a sheet.

Thales lifted his gaze, trying to peer into Yanni’s heart.

“Tell me, Miss Yanni, or should I say Mrs. Grove, are you really happy here?”

Yanni’s eyebrows went up, and she thought about the question while torn between anguish and uncertainty.

Maybe it was because the two strong bodyguards by the young man’s side looked intimidating, or maybe it was the serious way Thales carried himself, or perhaps it was Morris’ important presence. Either way, the whole drugstore fell quiet as everyone waited for her answer.^[4]

Finally, after a long half-minute, Yanni’s eyebrows relaxed.

She slowly looked up, brushed her hair back, and gave Thales a pretty smile that showed a hint of tiredness beyond her years.

“I really appreciate your offer, young sir,” she said seriously.

“But you may not be aware,” Yanni looked right at Thales, speaking with a sense of relief and weariness in her voice.

“I come from Lykenan Town in the Western Desert. Over ten years ago, the war took my father and brothers away. My mother and I had to leave our home and find a new life.”^[5]

Thales’ gaze dimmed.

“And this city, Eternal Star, even though people say it’s the richest and busiest capital, it’s actually… not really friendly to outsiders.”

Yanni took a deep breath and looked around the humble drugstore that had been her home for almost half her life.

“This street might look chaotic, rough, and unsafe, and this shop might seem plain, old, and worn-out…”

“But this place has become the closest thing to a home for me in the capital.”

the closest thing to home.

Thales clenched his fist.

On the other side, Glover scowled, Morris let out a scoff, and Layork buried his face deeper into the shadows.

Yanni sighed, revealing a bittersweet smile.

“And Mr. Grove… I mean, my husband.”

Yanni turned her head to steal a glance at Grove, her gaze filled with complexity, while he nervously looked back at her.

“Yes, he’s older than me, a bit overweight, and easily gets upset.”

“He can also be a bit cheap, always counting his money, lacks patience, and only thinks about himself. At night, he snores so loudly, it shakes the heavens.”^[6]

Yanni took a deep breath and continued with difficulty,

“And yes, it’s true, if I try to wake him up when he’s had too much to drink, he might hit me.”

Thales gave Grove a cold, piercing glare. The latter was first horrified, then showed a fawning and remorseful expression.

With a frown, Kohen raised his index finger, ready to speak, but for the third time, Glover’s intense gaze and firm grip, which seemed to say, “Do it, and you’re dead meat,” forced him to a quick retreat.

Slowly, Yanni turned around and whispered,

“But he took me in, took care of me, gave me a job, gave me a place to get medicine, and treated my typhoid-sick mother.”

“Just when I was at my lowest, completely desperate, and almost willing to do anything to find work on Red Street Market…”

Grove’s eyes brightened with happiness.

“He didn’t do it out of kindness, much less love.”

Thales snorted coldly.

“He did it only for your looks and youth.”

Yanni trembled slightly and suddenly looked up.

“Yes!”

Thales was taken aback.

At some point, Yanni’s eyes had already turned a fiery red, and with a blend of resentment and fervour, she spoke up,

“Of course I know! He liked that I was pretty and young, and because I worked hard… that’s why he…”

Her voice quivered as tears streamed down, her tone cracking,

“But who isn’t, after all?!”

Yanni’s sudden eruption caught everyone off guard.

The young woman took a deep breath, dabbing her eyes.

“You’re young, sir, and have a privileged and worry-free life. Maybe you don’t know how it feels when hunger drives a person to the brink of madness, when they’re willing to let a man undress them for a single piece of bread without a second thought.”

Thales stared at her, speechless.

“But I do know.”

Yanni squeezed her fists on her apron.

“I know.”

She looked back at Grove, and in that glance, there was a sense of sadness.

“Yes, my husband has a lot of problems and annoying traits—he’s definitely not the perfect man every girl dreams of.”

Grove forced an extremely ugly smile at his wife.

Yanni let out a soft snicker, though her laughter carried a bitter undertone and her voice was low,

“But the truth is, which woman in the world has a husband as perfect as the ones in stories?”

“Especially here.”

Thales stayed silent in response.

“Yeah, maybe I’m somewhat attractive, and I’m younger than him. That’s why he, who has money and success, chose me, making me work for him, and whether I agreed willingly or not, half-heartedly or confusedly, I ended up marrying him.”^[7]

Yanni sniffed, her voice filled with sorrow.

“But isn’t it a well-known truth that a man’s talent should match a woman’s beauty? Isn’t that what makes a happy marriage?”

The young woman nervously turned her head, looking at the others in the pharmacy: Kohen, Glover, Morris, Layork…

But no one responded to her probing question.

Overwhelmed, Yanni’s emotions began to slip out of control, and she sobbed softly,

“Just like the ballad in ‘Isabelle’s Husband Hunt’: Men pursue success and wealth, trading for youth and beauty’s health. Behind a tearful, blushing bride, love and passion tend to hide—from common folk to noble birth, in every home, it’s the same sad worth.”

“… same sad worth,” she uttered with a sigh.

Yanni rubbed her red nose and straightened her dull, lifeless hair, which had lost its shine after she got married. She chuckled and casually said,

“Men only need fame and wealth to cover up any flaws they have. It doesn’t matter how imperfect they are.”

“But for us women, the only things that matter are youth, beauty, and being capable and helpful. Nobody cares if we’re happy or not.”

Thales, sensing the turbulent emotions in Yanni, couldn’t help but feel remorse creeping into his heart,

“Yanni…”

Yet Yanni turned a blind eye to his concern.^[8]

“In the plays, Princess Isabelle only considers a few things when choosing a husband: fame, reputation, and exceptional talent. And she only uses a few things to attract candidates: beauty, being virtuous, and cleverness… That’s the only match that counts.”

Yanni said absentmindedly,

“As for the specific husband she chooses, like the handsome knight Needham, the graceful elf Cahill, the brave General Ruhr, the powerful Prime Minister Morall, the devoted Duke Maidael, the noble Prince Jules, the cunning Scholar Vitas, or the evil Black Knight Uther, does it really matter?”^[9]

“I took off my skirt just to get his bread.”

Yanni’s eyes glazed over, her voice distant,

“This is what everyone sees as a fair trade and match.”

Thales looked at her quietly and suddenly realised that the person in front of him wasn’t the same familiar and kind-hearted Yanni anymore.

After six years, the once shy and modest girl had gone through too much and seen too much in this unforgiving neighbourhood. She had become wise to the ways of the world.^[10]

With that heavy feeling weighing on him, he began to doubt his decision to come to the Lower City District.

“It’s like this scale,” Yanni said with a sorrowful smile, reaching out to take one of the scales and adjusting its weights.

“Everyone only accepts the left side as medicine and the right side as weights.”

“The left and right can’t be mixed up, and the things on each side can’t be changed.”

Yanni stared blankly at Grove, who was in a similar daze.

“And my husband and I, we simply follow the rules of the scale.”

On the other side, the unfolding scene caught Morris off guard, as he had other pressing matters on his mind. He didn’t pay much attention and simply waved his hand impatiently, saying, “Grove, your family matters—”

But immediately, Thales raised his hand and motioned for silence.

Morris choked on his words.

Thales let out a sigh and tried to speak in the gentlest way possible to Yanni, sizing up his words,

“But, Yanni, I just wanted to—”

Yanni snapped out and chuckled dismissively, completely forgetting about the possible position and power of this mysterious young man who was close to Morris.^[11]

“And how are you, sir, any different?”

“Whether you force or tempt me, you use—probably the status and power of some important family—wealth and success, as if they were weights on a scale, in exchange for my body and looks, obedience, and service. Maybe there’s even the honour of carrying on your family line. And then everyone would think it’s a good deal, like it’s the only fair trade in the world, as if it’s just a normal thing.”

Thales’ breathing suddenly became uneven.

“Yes, maybe you’re better than my husband—more attractive, richer, younger, and even kinder, young sir.”

“But even if you were a king…”

“To me, it’s just taking off one skirt and getting for it a piece of bread.”

Yanni shook her head with indifference; her tears had already dried up, revealing the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes from years of hard work.

“The skirt is still made of cloth, and the bread is still made from ground grains… When it comes to weighing things, it’s still the same old scale. Nothing has changed.”

Thales felt his heart skip a beat.

nothing has changed

“This is the tragedy of being a woman: throughout our entire lives, we must and can only strive to diligently weave and dye our own dresses, just so that we can barely have the option to take off the dress and choose between a plain and slightly better bread—even if you think one particular bread is the most delicious ever.”

Yanni glanced at Thales and smirked,

“On this matter, you’re even worse than my husband, even if he’s old and ugly.”

Grove initially felt a flicker of joy, but upon seeing Thales’ expression, his heart sank in bitterness.

“At the very least, I have spent many years with him. I understand him, and I know how to handle him.”

“At least I know that here I can be a shopkeeper, living a normal life without worries. Even if things don’t go smoothly, I won’t end up in dire straits, having to work hard or even sell myself just to survive.”

“And that’s better than hooking up with some rich and powerful noble young man, enjoying a luxurious life for a while, and then being abandoned without any explanation.”^[12]

Thales, without knowing what to say, tightened his fists.

All his persuasive arguments and clever words lost their shine when Yanni, in her moment of despair, poured out her heart.^[13]

“It’s because in this world, I can only trade my skirt for bread. There’s a big barrier in between, and I can’t cross it.”

“So, it’s the same no matter which man I choose—just bread to fill my hunger.”

Yanni shook her head, looking lost, a bitter smile on her face,

“There will never be better choices or a better life.”

Thales stayed silent, and all that filled the air was the soft sound of Yanni’s quiet sobbing.

Morris sighed quietly, Layork’s eyes became sharp, Glover lowered his head in deep thought, and even Kohen wore a sorrowful expression.

“It’s not your fault, Yanni.” After a while, Thales finally gathered himself and shook his head. “It’s just that these scales are too old-fashioned; they don’t measure your worth.”

“But you really do deserve better.”

However, Yanni didn’t budge. She watched Thales cautiously, with a stubbornness that didn’t waver.

Seeing her like this reminded Thales of the past, and it stirred up a myriad of emotions inside him.^[14]

He mustered a feeble smile, his lips curling slightly,

“Good-girl Yan.”

Good-girl Yan

In that moment, Yanni was stunned.

She stared at Thales’ pained eyes, her own filled with confusion and lingering in disbelief.

‘Good-girl Yan.’

This way of addressing her…

A memory from a long, long time ago—when she was just a girl—suddenly rushed back.

“Here, take these, black-haired boy. These are medicines for typhoid fever. Remember, kids should only take half the amount…”

“Thank you. Now Coria will feel better. Here, is this money enough?”

“Oh, it’s not enough. The price of the medicine went up… It’s okay; I’ll add a bit more and fix the money. Hopefully, Mr. Grove won’t find out.”

“Don’t worry, you said there are rich people on Red Street Market, right? I’ll try my luck there; maybe I can ask for money and give it back to you… If the boss hits you, I’ll smash his fancy sign!”

“But that’s where the Blood Bootle Gang controls… Okay, you better go quickly, or else he’ll really find out… Oh, wait, here are some extra clothes; take them. It’s very cold this winter…”

“Thanks, thank you so much. Sinti and the others will be really happy. Well, I’m going now… Hey, good-girl Yan!”

“I told you not to call me that! What else do you want?”

“Do you know, girls like you will definitely be happy!”

“Hehe… That’s all you’ve got, even if you sweet-talk!”

“No, I mean it. I’ll make sure everyone in the nearby area knows there’s a good girl named Yanni here! Good men will be lining up to marry you!”

“Pfft, hahaha… alright, hurry up and get lost, you slick-tongued boy!”

“Believe me, a girl like you,” Thales turned his head and sighed deeply.

“Good men will line up to marry.”

Yanni stared at the young man in front of her, her eyes fixed.

Taking a deep breath, Thales’ voice trembled, “But… sorry, maybe they just want to give you bread in exchange for a skirt.”

Yanni and the teenager stood silently in the medicine shop, facing each other.

Finally, after a while, Yanni’s eyes softened.

“Maybe,” Yanni smiled warmly. “But I’ve known that for a while.”

“That’s good enough.”

She whispered softly,

“You slick-tongued boy.”

slick-tongued boy

Thales took a deep breath, lowered his head, and pressed on the bridge of his nose.

“Is that so?”

Thales rubbed his nose, awkwardly turned, and walked between the shelves.

“In that case, let’s forget about my suggestion.”

“Good-girl.”

Yanni stared blankly at Thales as he turned away.

Behind her, Grove heaved a relieved sigh but was startled by the fierce gaze of the assassin, Layork.

After the dramatic scene, Kohen pondered with a lowered head, while Glover looked around cautiously, afraid the Brotherhood might turn against them or the police officer would act on his sense of justice and cause trouble.

Only Morris, with a wry face, closely followed the Prince towards the shelves.

“What do you really want to do?”

Hearing the voice behind him, Thales looked up.

‘What do I want?’

Thales turned back and met Morris’ gaze, already the calm and distant Prince, his usual self.

“As you can see, I’m just flirting around,” the young man smirked.

But inside, his heart was far from calm. It was an unsettling surge, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within his chest.

“No, I couldn’t care less about whose tasty wife catches your fancy and who you want to flirt with or, heaven forbid, force yourself onto—what I really want to know is…”

Morris let out a furious snort, inching closer to Thales, his voice seething through gritted teeth.

“What exactly do you hope to gain from us?”

“What do you want?”

“Surely the rightful heir to the throne wouldn’t go as far as strolling through the Red Street Market and teasing women just to get us to pay attention to the Kingdom’s politics after some random meeting with the Black Sword in Eckstedt, right?”

Thales’ eyes held a haunting glimmer.

‘What do I want?’

“As I said, winter is on its way, and the snow is about to fall,” the Prince said, raising his gaze, channelling his discontent into a source of reflection.

“Be ready to withstand the chill.”

Morris felt a wave of confusion wash over him.

“I don’t quite—”

However, Thales’ voice grew stern.

“Horace.”

Morris stumbled with his words.

“The late Second Prince, the Sword of Reversing Light, Horace Jadestar.”

The young man abruptly raised his head, his gaze biting as he locked eyes with Morris.

“During the Bloody Year, what did he want from all of you?”

Morris widened his eyes.

For a second, then two, the fat man’s eyes changed, showing both coldness and slyness, decisiveness and ferocity.

But Thales remained unmoved, silently holding his gaze.

After a moment, Morris, standing among the shelves, had a fierce expression and spoke in a low voice,

“Then what you asked for is a little too much.”

‘And far too risky.’

A chill settled in the fat man’s heart

Seeing Morris’ expression, Thales already had his answer.

“Well then, we won’t be in a hurry; we’ll take our time,” the young man said calmly, self-assured.^[15]

“Firstly, I want to know what you guys know.”

Morris looked confused.

“What do we know?” he asked.

Thales nodded, struggling to shake off the lingering sense of disappointment from having found Yanni but still failing to repay her kindness.

“Politics is everywhere and affects everything,” he said. “But not everyone knows everything, especially when it comes to the disparity between Horace and your group. I don’t think he would tell you all his plans, nor do I expect him to.”

“Especially during the Bloody Year.”

Thales’ eyes sharpened as he said this.

“So, I just want to know how you got to know Horace,” he continued. “I want to know about his relationship with the Black Sword.”

Every time the Prince spoke, Morris’ eyelid twitched.

Thales voice grew colder and colder,

“And aside from sneaking into Renaissance Palace, carrying out a coup, and assassinating the Crown Prince… what else have you done for him?”

At that moment, Morris seemed almost like a sculpture, firmly rooted in place like an ancient tree.

He stared fixedly at Thales, his expression changing with each passing moment.

The shelves became quiet again, and only the sound of Yanni tidying up the drugstore and Kohen angrily scolding Layork could be heard.

After a moment, the fat man from the Brotherhood gave Thales a raw, intense look, like a hawk peering down,

“I get it… yet another ambitious Jadestar, driven by hidden motives, using the Secret Department’s operations to find out about our secrets and reach…”

Thales furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

Morris grinned mischievously.

“Well, what can you give us, Your Highness?” he asked with cunning.^[16]

Hearing this, Thales sneered.

“Survival,” he replied.

In a surprising turn, Thales suddenly spun around.

“Yanni?” he called out.

The Prince raised his voice, grabbing everyone’s attention once again (Grove, once again frightened, slumped onto the counter).

“I need some typhoid medicine,” he said.

Yanni turned back, and though her eyes were still red, she no longer appeared fearful or in pain.

The young woman gave a faint smile, her voice gentle.

“Sure thing, young sir. I’ll pack it for you. How many do you need?” she asked.

“Here, take these, black-haired boy. These are medicines for typhoid fever…”

Memories from the past seemed to blend with the present.

“All of them,” Thales said, bowing his head and rubbing his nose bridge, hiding his eyes from view.

“I want all the fever medicines available in the store today,” he explained.

Grove, who was sitting behind the counter, was stunned.

‘All of them?’

He went from surprise to overwhelming delight, hastily opening the account book to calculate the numbers.^[17]

Kohen and Glover were equally surprised.

Thales turned back and resumed his conversation with Morris.

“After your many years of victories, the situation has changed again,” he said.

“The problems you and the Blood Bottle Gang faced are just the tip of the iceberg for the Secret Department’s next plan.”

Morris, like a fierce and alert hunting dog, urgently asked, “What changed? What plan?”

Thales lightly curled his lips.

“I did,” he whispered.

“I’ve come back,” he added.

Morris was a bit confused at first, but after a few seconds, his eyes cleared up.

“Because… you returned to the capital, to the Kingdom, from the north?” he asked.

Thales nodded with excitement in his eyes.

“Everyone says that under the Black Sword, the toughest fighter is Cenza, the trickiest is Fischer, the most mysterious is Lance, the most domineering is Roda, and the most ruthless is Anton,” Thales began.

“But they forgot something,” the Prince sighed sincerely.

“The one who handles the accounts is Morris.”

A wicked smile appeared on Morris’ face.

“That’s right,”

Thales decided to be straightforward and spoke plainly,

“Just like six years ago, when I appeared from thin air and changed the political situation, now I have returned.”^[18]

“The whole Kingdom will witness a change in power.”

Morris, puzzled, asked, “What do you mean? How so?”

Thales gave a small smile.

In that moment, images flashed through his mind—Fakenhaz, the Prime Minister Cullen, the young Duke of Iris Flowers, One-Eyed Dragon Koshder, and the weathered and thin Duke of the Northern Territory, Val Arunde…

The scene then settled on the conference hall, at the far end of the deep corridor, where the supreme throne stood.

Thales’ smile quickly faded.

“You don’t need to know the details,” he calmed himself, meeting Morris’ gaze directly.

“All you need to know is…”

“The Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department, which reports directly to the supreme throne, has always been far-sighted and with high aims. They never waste their time on useless tasks.”^[19]

Thales recalled what he had seen and heard in the Secret Department and winced. Morris mirrored his seriousness.

“They do everything in a way that’s deceptive—plan one thing, say another, do something entirely different, report a different story, hide their true intentions, and perhaps even have additional secret plans locked away. But their goal isn’t just to scare or control specific people or gangs through threats, kidnappings, arrests, and crackdowns. They involve themselves in various unrelated activities that seem unconnected but actually affect the two gangs that have an influence on the Kingdom’s lower levels,” Thales explained earnestly.

Morris listened intently.

“From what I can tell, they are gearing up for a major operation,” Thales said with a cold tone.

“The clashes between the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood are just the beginning. They’re using these events as a warm-up, honing their strategies, and preparing for something much larger.”

Morris wore a puzzled expression on his face.

“What do you mean? Us? Are they planning another big fight like the ‘One Night War’? Do they want us to fight the Red Bandanas again?” he asked.

Thales shook his head, unsure of all the details, as he thought about the information he knew.

“I don’t know,” Thales said, thinking carefully.

“But if I had to guess, the Secret Intelligence Department might have three possible targets,” he explained.

Morris raised an eyebrow, wanting to know more.

“What are those three targets?” he asked.

But this time, Thales didn’t give a direct answer like before. Instead, he stared at Morris with a serious look, as if waiting for something.

“What’s going on?” Morris asked, feeling more confused. “Just tell me.”

Thales kept looking at Morris silently, then suddenly smiled.

“Yes,” he said, looking into Morris’ small eyes. “tell me.”

Morris looked confused for a moment, but as the experienced leader of this territory, he quickly understood and gave a dark, questioning look to Thales.

“Your decision,” Thales shrugged like a wise and calm merchant, “Well, it’s not my business, and the people they kidnapped aren’t mine anyway.”

Morris continued to stare at him, seemingly incredulous.

Thales blinked his eyes, trying to appear friendly and innocent.

After a while, Morris sighed and grumbled reluctantly.

“Fine, one mission,” he conceded.

“What?” Thales furrowed his brow in confusion.

Morris raised his head, looked out the window at the muddy and chaotic street, and spoke in a soft, serious tone.

“The answer you’re looking for comes from one of our missions,” he said.

“A long time ago, when our group, the ‘Nine Powerhouses’, was just starting out, we took on a sky-high paid task.”

Thales asked further, “What was the mission?”

Morris scoffed and crossed his arms, looking back with a nostalgic expression.

“We were looking for someone,” he said.

Thales was thoroughly puzzled, urging him to continue with an expectant look.

Morris clicked his tongue and shook his head, as if he had turned back into his stingy, money-hungry, mercenary old self.

“The client stayed anonymous but offered a big reward. We just had to join in, and if we succeeded, the final bounty would have been enough to grow our group to a hundred members…”

“To be honest, we were just one of the hired hands. To get the reward, we had to compete with many others. There were famous mercenaries, bounty hunters, and even private soldiers of noble families in the mix. But we were young and carefree back then. Leich was driven by money; Jay was arrogant and full of himself; Quel was only interested in his next meal; and even Black Sword wasn’t any better than that dumbass police officer.”^[20]

Morris was engrossed in his narration. He shook his head with a sigh,

“Actually, the biggest trouble wasn’t the others…” He started with a dismissive tone, then broke into a big smile, as if he were turning the page of the most interesting story.

“To put it simply, we travelled from one end of the land to the other. We went from the Central Territory to the Western Desert, from the Great Desert to the Dragon-Kissed Land, from the Three Kingdoms of the Mystery Sea to South Coast Hill. We covered almost half of the Western Peninsula, always chasing and running away, fighting and killing, facing one chaotic situation after another,” he narrated.

“If we were to turn our encounters into ballads, they could be sung in ‘My Home’ for twenty years,” he added.

Listening to Morris’ enthusiastic storytelling, Thales’ mind wandered back to their days at the Blade Fangs Camp, remembering the tales of the Golden Age Of Mercenaries shared by their leader, Tampa. Lost in his own thoughts, he couldn’t help but be intrigued.^[21]

“And when we finally completed the tough mission and returned to claim our well-deserved reward, we realised that it wasn’t just any ordinary task.”

Thales’ eyes flickered with curiosity, and he asked, “So you’re saying…”

Morris sighed and explained, “Because of the sky-high reward for the mission, we were told to go to the military camp at Broken Dragon Fortress.”

“The one who put up the bounty had a very important position.”

Thales’ eyes widened.

military camp… a very important position…

Morris stared out at the busy street, his words tinged with a medley of wariness, contempt, and regret.

“That’s right.”

“That’s where we first met Prince Horace.”

Morris hissed and said with anger, “At that moment, the jerk raised his glass and generously gave us crates full of money…”

“Only to casually order us to be silenced, every single one of us.”

Thales was dumbfounded.

‘Horace …’

He suddenly remembered the nickname given to him by the Northerners.

The Butcher of Constellation.

“Silenced? Then,” Thales frowned, “how did you…”

“Black Sword,” Morris sighed.

“He and Horace go way back—especially after he held his sword to the Prince’s throat. They couldn’t get even closer.” He deadpanned.

Thales silently pondered over this long-buried story.

So, that was how the Nine Powerhouses met Horace.’

Full of ups and downs, thrilling, and heart-stopping.

Thales was suddenly struck by a thought,

“So, the mission…”

“What was the mission you got from Horace?”

Morris’ eyes twitched slightly.

In that instant, he broke free from the weighty atmosphere, and a smile reappeared on his face,

“That trip was also when we first met her.”

“Her?” Thales felt a spark of curiosity.

Morris nodded,

“A noble young lady had been kidnapped, and her honour was at stake. We had to quietly and secretly rescue her, bringing her back unharmed.”

Morris gave a playful pat on his arm and grinned,

“But let me tell you, we soon realised that the damn kidnapping was just a load of bull!”

He sighed helplessly,

“She’d do anything to avoid getting hitched—going from playing a hooker to hiding in a freakin’ toilet. That girl was our biggest pain in the ass!”

“Escaping marriage?” Thales recalled something.

“Damn right.”

Morris exhaled deeply, gazing into the distance with a smile that was hard to read,^[22]

“Beautiful, sexy, sharp as a tack, and as stubborn as a mule. That’s Princess Constance for ya, the ‘Little Disaster’.”^[23]

His voice softened, as if he were afraid of waking someone up.

Constance

‘Little Disaster’…

In an instant, a small urn filled with ashes appeared in Thales’ mind. His emotions swayed.

“But you know, after spending so much time together, us Nine Powerhouses, we gave her another nickname.”^[24]

Morris’ eyes showed a hint of longing and sadness.

“The Tenth Powerhouse.”

[1] 太远 is translated as ‘too far’, ‘far-fetched for us’ or ‘too distant from us’, so what he means is that answers are ‘too far’ to be realistic/practical for them.

[2] I don’t even know if I translated this as it should: ‘better than it’; 自命清高, to think of oneself as high and pure (idiom); smug and self-righteous; ‘cynical’; 愤世嫉俗, detest the world and its ways; ‘don’t care about anything’; 破罐破摔, smash a pot because it’s cracked—let things slide; ‘basic needs’; 柴米油盐, fuel, rice, oil, and salt—chief daily necessities; ‘without any filter’; 夸夸其谈; indulge in exaggeration (or verbiage); shoot off one’s mouth; spout (off); windbaggary; ‘like they know it all’; 指点江山, to talk idly about important matters (idiom), to pass judgment on everything. And yes, he really said keyboard warriors.

[3] ‘reckless’; 醉生梦死, as if drunk or entranced (idiom); leading a befuddled existence.

[4] ‘quiet’; 鸦雀无声, (idiom) Not a crow or sparrow is heard.—silence reigns; all is quiet; no birds sing

[5] ‘leave our home’; 背井离乡, to leave one’s native place, esp. against one’s will (idiom).

[6] ‘always counting his money’; 斤斤计较, haggle over every ounce—be calculating.

[7] ‘half-heartedly or…’; 半推半就, half willing and half unwilling (idiom); to yield after making a show of resistance.

[8] ‘turned a blind eye’; 视若无睹, (idiom) take no notice of what one sees—shut one’s eyes to; turn a blind eye to; ignore.

[9] ‘Cahill’ like in ‘Cahill’s Falling Leaves Poetry Collection’, but I’m not saying they are the same. ‘Morall’, same characters as Moriah Walton.

[10] ‘unforgiving’; 吃人不吐骨头, devour a man without spitting out the bones—ruthless and cruel.

[11] ‘close’; 称兄道弟, (idiom) call each other brothers; be on intimate terms.

[12] ‘luxurious life’; 锦衣玉食, brocade garments, jade meals (idiom); a life of luxury.

[13] ‘lost their shine’; 黯然失色, be cast into the shade; overshadowed; eclipsed; pale into insignificance.

[14] ‘stirred up a myriad of emotions’; 百感交集, All sorts of feelings well up in one’s heart.—mixed feelings.

[15] ‘self-assured’; 胸有成竹, (idiom) have a well-thought-out plan, stratagem, etc.

[16] The ‘you’ used here is informal.

[17] ‘overwhelming delight’; 大喜过望, overjoyed at unexpected good news (idiom).

[18] ‘appeared from thin air’; 从天而降, lit. to drop from the sky (idiom). I tried and failed to leave the literally meaning without looking weird.

[19] ‘far-sighted’; 深谋远虑, (idiom) think deeply and plan carefully; be circumspect and far-sighted; with great vision and farsightedness.

[20] Leich Malone, Justice ‘ J.’ Desmond and Queldimo ‘Quel’ Fenway, Morris mentioned them in chapter 115, official translation. ‘driven by money’; 见钱眼开, to open one’s eyes wide at the sight of profit (idiom); thinking of nothing but personal gain.

[21] ‘enthusiastic’; 神采飞扬, (idiom) glowing with pride and happiness; showing an exuberant and triumphant expression.

[22] ‘smile that was hard to read’; 似笑非笑, like a smile yet not a smile (idiom).

[23] ‘little disaster’; 灾星, star of calamity—sb. Or sth. That brings disaster, normally is translated as plague, jinx, etc… Star of calamity imply many things so I can’t translate as such, ‘little star of disaster’ is redundant because etymologically ‘disaster’, means ‘bad star’.

[24] ‘spending so much time together’; 朝夕相处, to spend all one’s time together (idiom), together from morning to night; associate closely.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep