Chapter 489 - Proposition Ⅱ (2/2)

”That's it?” Mundungus murmured in disbelief, but his hand instantly wrapped itself around the coin.

Bertram flashes the petty thief a warning glance, before Mundungus quickly tucks his coin on his person. Glancing around in curiosity, Mundungus leans over across the bar and asks in a low voice, ”So, where's Sanderson?”

”Away on business,” Bertram coolly replied as he returned to polishing his glass mugs with a cloth.

Seeing that the bartender was not going to speak to him anymore, Mundungus wipes his nose clean with his filthy, but tobacco smelling sleeve. ”Er, I'd like a mug of beer,” he naively asked as he settled down on a bar stool for a drink.

Bertram pauses and glances coldly at the petty thief. ”You have long ago outstayed your welcome, Mundungus, get out,” Bertram ordered, before dismissively turning away and returning to his previous actions.

Mundungus is about to protest when he feels the two violent presences behind him. ”Alright, I'm leaving!” Mundungus hurriedly squeaked, before scampering away with his tail tucked between his legs.

Hyde and Floyd watch the petty thief flee out the door as Floyd flashes the bartender a glance. ”And what did Mundungus want?” Floyd pointedly asked.

”It was nothing just rumors,” Bertram dismissively replied without glancing up.

Floyd narrows his beady little eyes, while Hyde shrugs his large bulky shoulders and says in satisfaction, ”Good riddance, I say. Mundungus is nothing but a waste of space.”

Bertram nods his head in agreement, but Floyd does not leave the subject alone. ”The boss said that Hyde and I were to know as well. He didn't want any accidents, he said, before he left.”

A trace of annoyance flashes through Bertram's eyes, but vanishes by the time he glances up to meet the beady eyed gaze of Floyd. ”Very well,” Bertram nonchalantly answered. ”Mundungus just came to report that he overheard rumors of the goblins meeting with some wizards regarding the Goblin King. And that is all, just simply rumors. Mundungus didn't even get the name of just who they were meeting with!”

”See, it's nothing, Floyd,” Hyde said in a reassuring fashion, before moving away towards an unruly patron.

Floyd however did not look convinced as he followed his brother. It was not that he did not trust Bertram, the bartender had always been the second in command of the boss for as long as he could remember. But there had always been something off about the bartender that just had always rubbed him the wrong way.

The boss had said that it was because Bertram had been a contractor for hire before but had been forced to retire due to some unpleasant business associated with the Prince's. And whatever that had occurred had something to do with the younger female Prince, Georgine Prince. But seeing as the witch was still alive, it could only have been the older Prince, who saved and protected his younger sister.

And yet, Floyd could still recall the conversation that ensured between the old Prince and Bertram. From the sound of it, it had been much more than that. Even more so, it had only been the boss, who had saved Bertram in exchange for a favor owed.

A loud crack causes Floyd to glance up and see his brother, Hyde holding up a struggling figure, being thrown out of the pub to the jeers of the rest of the patrons. Hyde with a smug, violent expression stomps back in satisfaction as Floyd nods his head back in approval at his brother's decisive actions.

The pub atmosphere returns to its previous state as Floyd furrows his brows in deep thought. Personally, he thought that the boss trusted Bertram far too much. In the days, since the boss had been gone, it had not passed Floyd that Bertram seemed to be consolidating his power. The very act of allowing Erie and his men was such a subtle action. Any other would have said such a gesture was extremely merciful, but not in their line of business. Actions like that were the kind that destroyed an entire organization, and got one killed. Such loose ends were better off being trimmed then allowed to fray because fray they would.

It also indicated one other thing, and that was that Bertram was tired of being second-in-command and wished to occupy an even higher seat. And Floyd was many things, but blind was not one of them. He only knew too well as his father had been a small-time dealer that had been killed by his right hand. And the spoils went to the victor including their father's ill-gotten fortune.

And so, only a day after their father's funeral, their mother, and he and his brother had been thrown onto the streets to survive. Their mother had wasted away and died not long after leaving the two boys to fend themselves. And successfully fend for themselves, they did.

It was not until the boss took pity on them and offered them a job. Ever since, then Floyd and Hyde had been his loyal dogs. They would die for him and just as easily kill for him.

Flashing Bertram at the bar a quick glance, Floyd turns away and stares at the ground to hide his menacing glare. He and Hyde would protect the boss and that even included from himself. He and his brother would see to it, but the question was how?