Chapter 707: Hidden danger (1/2)
GDK 707: Hidden danger
When Cage arrived at Celestial Pearl Pharmacy with a group of divine guards, all he saw was that the place was bustling with construction work.
Anito who was overseeing the reconstruction of Celestial Pearl Pharmacy, upon observing that Cage was charging forward as though he had eaten gunpowder, stepped to the front door and blocked Cage’s path. With a cold and displeased face, he asked, “Young master Cage, what is this you are doing?”
“Where is he? Where is the owner of the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy? Where is Bryan? Tell him to show himself!” Cage, standing at the front door, yelled into the pharmacy.
“I’m sorry, the shop owner isn’t around. Please come back later,” Anito was unperturbed. With just a whistle, a group of divine guards from the Third Corps rushed over and formed a line outside the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy. Their cold eyes were fixed on Cage and his troops.
Cage’s heart that was filled with wrath slowly cooled off when the divine guards from the Third Corps drew their swords and held up their bows. Cage was a little smarter than his sister Eve. He knew that if he were to start a physical conflict with Anito, the person who would lose out was himself. He would accomplish nothing if he were to escalate the hostility further.
Cage had no choice but to repress the anger in his heart and give up. After yelling a few nasty words, he left with his Lavers Family divine guards. He pondered where Han Shuo would be whilst wearing a gloomy face.
“Young master, are you going to let it pass just like that?” a divine guard said. He felt angry for Cage.
“Of course I won’t let him off so easily. But we don’t know where that scoundrel is hiding now. We can’t do anything without first finding him,” Cage was still flushed with anger. He turned around and gazed at the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy before instructing, “Come with me, I’ll go look for my father.”
Cage made a beeline for the Fifth Corps of City of Shadows Divine Guards.
Inside a secret chamber in the Fifth Corps, Avery’s expression grew darker and darker as he listened to Cage explain the whole story to him. Then, when Cage finally finished giving his account, Avery stood up and gave Cage a big slap which caused him to stagger a few steps backward.
Cage covered his red, swollen cheek without uttering a word. He merely looked at his enraged father with a wronged expression.
“How many times have I told you not to provoke that man? Why must you be so stubborn? Look what happened now. Three of our shops have been destroyed and we have lost so many crystal coins. And now again I have to clean up the mess for you. Can’t the two of you learn from Donna and her brother and be less of a nuisance to me?” Avery yelled at his son who knew nothing but to stir up conflict while slamming his table.
“Father, I’m telling you, we did not actively provoke him after you told us not to. This time it is he who provoked us. I had merely shouted a few words at him but I couldn’t have guessed that he would be so barbaric to destroy three of our shops in one night. He obviously thinks that he can ride on our heads because he has the backing of the House of Sainte!” Cage said with a voice choking with sobs as though he was wronged.
“Did you or did you not order men to wreck his Celestial Pearl Pharmacy?” Avery bunched his brows and sternly questioned.
“No, I did not do it. I dare not disobey father’s words!” said Cage.
“Then, are you sure that it was this fella who destroyed three of our shops?” Avery continued to question.
“It’s definitely him. I merely incited him with a few words back at our family residence before he left angrily without saying a word. Then on that very night, all this happened to our energy stone stores. Who could it be if not him?” Cage answered in a hateful tone.
Avery nodded and waved his hand. He instructed, “Go home and look after your good-for-nothing sister. Do not leave our family residence for the moment. I will handle the matter. You shall not intervene!” After a short pause, seeing that Cage was still standing there with his gaping mouth, he shouted furiously, “Did you hear me?”
Cage was thrown off balance. He had rarely seen Avery so furious. He hastily nodded and replied in a low voice, “Understood!”
“Get lost! Now!” Avery grew more furious in his heart to see that appearance of Cage’s and he roared at Cage yet again. Cage, covering his cheek with one hand, scurried out of the secret chamber.
After Cage left the room, Avery vented his anger by loudly cursing over and over. He finally calmed down after some time.
After thinking for some time, Avery suddenly uttered, “Number Three, investigate the ins and outs of that kid. Find out if he really had something to do with the explosion of the three shops!”
“Yes, my Lord,” an emotionless reply sounded from the darkness behind Avery. A shadow distorted for a short time before suddenly disappearing.
***
Han Shuo, on the third floor of Celestial Pearl Pharmacy, asked as he watched Anito coming up, “Has he left?”
“Yep, he’s gone. Don’t worry, with us watching over this place, no danger will befall you,” Anito replied respectfully. After a short pause, he asked in a fawning manner, “Is the renovation of this gymnasium of the third floor up to your satisfaction?”
“Yes, I quite like it. I will have to trouble you for the next two days to decline every visitor. I need some time to refine more medicines,” Han Shuo instructed.
“Don’t worry, Sir, that’s no trouble at all!” Anito immediately promised with his chest puffed. Shortly after, he put on a smile and started to talk yet again, “Our Lord Erebus is also very interested in your medicines. His Lordship has instructed me to purchase some medicines on his behalf. Prices are negotiable. Will Mister Bryan please be so kind?”
Han Shuo long knew that Anito must have gained Erebus’ approval, tacitly or expressly, to be stationed in the vicinity of his shop for such a long time. As Erebus had taken the initiative to actively express his goodwill, Han Shuo naturally knew how to respond appropriately. Immediately, he nodded smilingly and said, “I know what I ought to do. Please thank Lord Erebus for me and send his Lordship my kindest regards.”
“Haha, thank you, thank you. Definitely!” Anito knew that these words of Han Shuo’s meant that he could complete the task that Erebus assigned him without any issue and immediately dismissed himself with a big smile. He then started yelling at the workers renovating the second and third floors, “Be more attentive in your work or none of you will get a single crystal coin!”
Han Shuo shook his head and laughed at Anito’s actions from the third floor. Such action of Anito did not make Han Shuo feel more favorable of him. However, Han Shuo did not say anything about it as Anito had been very helpful all this time.
Who is it that destroyed the other two shops? Han Shuo wondered.
Of the three energy stone shops owned by Avery Lavers, Han Shuo had merely destroyed the smallest shop to retaliate against Cage wrecking his Celestial Pearl Pharmacy. However, Han Shuo heard that soon after he left, the two other shops were destroyed in a similar fashion. Han Shuo’s heart was filled with doubt. He had no idea who was behind it.
Perhaps there’s another enemy of the Lavers Family? Han Shuo thought. Although he was rather puzzled about the matter, he did not truly take it to heart. As Han Shuo was in a hurry to produce more medicinal pellets, he did not think too deeply about it.
*** At a pharmacy called ‘Godswamp’, inside a secret underground chamber surrounded by boundaries.
An elderly man with white hair and a face as translucent as jade was softly inquiring a man crouching before him. That crouching man was merely a meter tall and looked like an elderly dwarf. His face was covered with wrinkles and he had a pair of eyes glistening with infernal rays.
“How’s the scheme doing so far, Steiss?” that elderly man whose head was covered white hair asked softly.
“Rest assured, master, everything is happening as planned. Avery has dispatched his men to investigate what happened yesterday. I believe he definitely will discover evidence pointing to that kid Bryan! Master, should we add fuel to the fire?” that dwarf Steiss replied respectfully.
“That won’t be necessary. With things having progressed to this stage, we can now do nothing at all. I know Avery. He’s the kind of person who won’t easily strike but once he does, he wouldn’t let anyone live. He had restrained himself the last time and he definitely will not continue to tolerate this time around. We just have to sit and watch. Perhaps by tomorrow, both Celestial Pearl and the youngster will disappear from the City of Shadows without a trail. Hehe…”
“About the medicines that the youngster makes, should we…” Steiss asked suggestively.