51 A Pity (2/2)

”Call me Hermes. I like that name.” When the blonde youth said the name, his eyebrow arched, and his expression became lively. ”As for rules, I’m sorry. I’ve been away for so long that I’ve forgotten everything.”

Ghost Hand’s expression became even colder. Hermes reached into his sleeves and pulled out a thick packet, and tossed it down. ”Don’t be so impatient. Let’s talk after you take a look.”

He caressed the twin snakes on his cane, saying softly, ”With me, everything is priced fairly. I never make people lose everything when trading with me.”

Without replying, Ghost Hand opened the packet. Illuminated by candlelight, he could see ancient papers. They seemed to have been burned in a fire. More than half were damaged, but one could faintly see blurry words and pictures.

These words and pictures caused Ghost Hand’s irises to contract.

”Avalon’s map? Which Avalon?”

”The real one…For all these years, the Royalty has been looking for it. You can also sell it for a good price. Without the Shaman, no one’s protecting you. Divide it between everyone for a retirement fund. The money should be enough for you all to spend the rest of your life in a brothel or a casino.

”But my condition is—forget about this case.”

Ghost Hand looked up at him. After a long pause, he shook his head and returned the packet. ”I can forget about the girl, but not the boy.”

There was silence. Suffocating silence.

In the silence, Hermes’s smile disappeared bit by bit. His expression became cold and dark, his sharp eyes piercing Ghost Hand like daggers.

He stared at the old man in front of him. His voice gentle, he uttered each word clearly, ”Ghost Hand, don’t take my kindness for granted.”

”This was an order given personally by the Shaman.” Ghost Hand said softly, ”He came back a few days ago.”

Hermes’s expression changed. His face overcome with shock.

But Ghost Hand’s expression did not change. ”Seeing you today, I can let the matter go. I won’t even care if he’s in your shop. But you must know that as long as the Shaman’s order stands, that boy will be our enemy.”

”So that’s how it is?” Hermes pondered it. As if finally and suddenly understanding something, the iciness in his eyes melted. He laughed again, bright like the sun. ”I suddenly know what the old man’s thinking now.”

Saying this, he threw the packet back into Ghost Hand’s arms. ”Take this back and give it to the Shaman as a gift. Tell him I hope he gets poisoned and dies in his toilet.”

”I will tell him.” With one last look, Ghosthand turned to leave, the underlings following suit.

--

When Hermes went back above ground, it was already dawn.

The endless night was finally over.

The sky was dark, but one could still sense weak sunlight filtering in through the mist.

Hermes stood by his carriage and accepted the jacket from Setton. Without a care, he threw his sparkling formalwear, now tainted with the smell of sewage, into the sewer.

Setton sat in the driver’s seat, his large body almost squashing the seat.

After Hermes was done changing, he pulled out a bottle of perfume and used up almost half of it. Finally, he let out a breath. ”Ugh, it smelled disgusting…Was there any trouble?”

”Some people noticed and came over, but I took care of it.” Setton pointed at the corner of a wall. There were two bags that looked like they were filled with soft mud. Faint red showed through, catching the attention of two stray cats.

Hermes nodded and asked, ”Where are they?”

Setton pulled open the carriage door. ”Sleeping.”

Hermes stood outside, looking at the children in silence.

The wretched boy and girl leaned back in the seat of the ornate carriage, fast asleep. In their sleep, they had almost fully slid down the seat.

Bai Xi leant against Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder. Their white hair was almost entangled.

It was spacious inside the carriage, but they only took up a small corner, supporting each other. Weak sunlight washed over their peaceful features, as if shining into a dream. Their lips seemed to be smiling.

Hermes had saved up so many weird complaints and things to say, but seeing them like this, he could not bare to disrupt them.

After a long time, his gaze drifted to Bai Xi and his eyes softened.

”What a pity. You’d be such a beautiful girl when you grow up.”

Taking one last look at Bai Xi, he closed the door and sighed. ”What a pity. Not only do you have a saddening talent like ‘Zhaodang’ [1]…You also met someone you’d willingly give yourself up for.”

[1] Zhaodang: wandering