Chapter 75: Ninth Episode: Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 75: Ninth Episode: Chapter 2
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The sunlight rays streamed down from the sky. Up in the skies, the clouds lingered above the heads of the people. The wind had changed its course, now headed toward northwest rather than southwest. Sometimes the clouds were stationary, other times they shot across the sky towards the opposite horizon with a tremendous speed.
The shift in the temperature and scenery reminded the people that it was time to put on their autumn wear. The gentlemen and ladies had already prepared beforehand. Although fur coats were a little extreme at this time, the delicate waistcoats and the cloaks set with fur were actually pretty good choices. The destitute naturally would not purposefully dress themselves up. They had to wear their autumn wear at least until the first snowfall, they did not mind wearing less, it was good enough for them as long as they didn't freeze to death.
The early autumn was the season for wormwoods. The people of Dulin hurried to and fro, chasing away the grey leaves. However, this situation would take a turn quickly after the wormwood condensed and fermented, causing the whole city to be engulfed in the thick aroma of liquor. Furthermore, as the origin of Absinthe, its desirability that soared in the Red Light Street was as well-known as this cheap beverage it produced.
It was still noon, but men and women had already lined the street. The women used cheap materials to dress themselves up into brightly-colored candies and were unselfconsciously washing their hair by the public pool. The flimsy clothing was already soaked through, and they clung tightly to the bodies that were as fair as albinos.
As for the men, it was a fresh sight. They were also a group lured in by the riches and desires of the Red Light Street. With their faces smeared with lipstick and low-cost cosmetics, it seemed like they did not regard themselves as men. The way they waved their hands at the passersby, one could barely tell them apart from experienced prostitutes.
This was the Red Light Street and although the well-renowned lights have not lit up, the street's point and purposes were already revealed in the broad daylight.
This filthy, narrow road was heaped with all sorts of garbage. Wild dogs scampered in and out among the women's skirts and occasionally their bottoms would receive a kick from the high heels. However, they did not mind as in this was the Red Light Street, suffering humiliation was something expected. Moreover, it was not easy to get by here, if one wanted to earn a living, then they had to strip themselves of their dignity.
The street at noon was somewhat deserted but some of the diligent ladies were already awake. This was a distinctive schedule in the Red Light Street, its splendor only shone in the night, but an air of arrogance still hanged during the day. The women would condemn and compare among each other at the top of their voices. The evening before, one of the sluts received two thousand gold Tis from a generous client; and the evening before yesterday, a lady addicted to marijuana had passed away at the corner of the street; and the day before that, an old fool gave birth to a little rascal, a girl who would one day turn out just like her lowly mother!
All of these were the subject of the women's insults and condemnations, for everything in this world appeared as if they were against them. The street gradually became crowded and the women who have just gotten up hurried out of their brothels. They were busy cleaning their hideous and peculiar faces and searching for topics more suited for their insults.
The facades of the houses were close. These mason houses built of adobe were generally not tall; the three-story ones were already scarce, and most of them were two-story with a rooftop. On the rooftops was a wide assortment of signboards and lights of different sizes. The women who rose early would dry their clothes there, and at first glance, it would appear as an indistinct painting of scenery. A cold breeze would cause the fishy smell in the back alley to waft into one's nostrils while the scenery would turn into one resembling dancing rags. The women's sharp cries caused the whole street to become unbearable.
The Dog Biting Club was one of the few three-story buildings in the street. Its appearance was like a tiny, half-sealed building. The rooftop was connected to the reddish-brown brick wall, and to one side of the beams stood a low-rise attic.
At 11 in the morning, a man with a massive build would open the huge doors of the Dog Biting Club right on time. A few of the ladies would come forward and offered a cordial greeting to this huge man, yet he would only respond with grunts. This was a mute, also, the manager of the thugs in Red the light Street.
”Fat dog! Give me a hand!” Someone shouted the huge man's name.
The fat dog glanced towards the door and rolled up his sleeves. Inside stood a few young girls. They were undeniably still young as one could tell from their voices. However, the gaudy makeup had completely masked their young faces, making it difficult to distinguish their age.
He carried out a long table and the girls arranged some huge, wooden pots filled with bread, soup, and spicy spinach atop the table to be sold. On the opposite side of the table, more and more women from the streets had gathered. They were no longer making a racket and were gripping the plates tightly in their hands. If there were any order in the Red light Street, it would undoubtedly be during the meal distribution at Dog Biting Club.
”Thank you, Madam!”
”Thank you, Madam!” All the women would offer up these words once their plates were brimming with food.
In their eyes, although these words held little concrete meaning, at least it could ease their minds a little; the Red Light Street still had Zoera, and her presence meant that they would not starve to death.
”Hold on!” One of the girls in Dog Biting Club snatched back the bread that was just handed out.
”You haven't paid your security fees for half a month already! And it seems like you didn't pay up your fees for your well being too! On what grounds do you have the audacity show up here?” The girl shot a glare at the woman.
”Lady Mirandez, oh… Forgive me just this once. I was ill, so…”
”So you can violate the rules that the Madame has set?” Lady Mirandez of the Dog Biting Club questioned while weighing the bread in her hands.
”Oh no! How would I dare? My dear Mirandez, please explain to the Madame on my behalf, that …”
”Get lost okay? Stop hindering our sisters!” Mirandez had lost her patience and flung the bread into a muddy puddle. ”You must at least send some over latest by this hour tomorrow. It's not that I'm being unreasonable, but there is really nothing much that can be said about these matters. Rules! Rules, my dear ladies, no soul can defy the rules of the street!”
Mirandez watched the woman pick up the bread from the mud and turned her head away in disgust, ”Next!”
It was a girl with delicate features and a face shining with radiance! Mirandez of the Dog Biting Club eyed this fresh blood with jealousy. She dared bet two silver Tis that this was definitely a fresh blood! The girl standing before her appeared as if she did not even understand what men were.
”I have never seen you!” Mirandez once again weighed the bread in her hands and looked on with satisfaction as the girl gulped with difficulty.
”I… I only arrived in Dulin five days ago… I… They said… that there is a relief here!” The girl stuttered; she was aware that the people here harbored malicious intentions towards her.
”Hahahahahahahahaha!” Mirandez laughed in exaggeration, so much so that she was already out of breath, ”Oh goodness! A relief… Have you guys… Have you guys ever heard of this?”
The women who surrounded the long table followed and broke into laughter. They already realized that this girl was definitely deceived into coming here. It was not that Red Light Street had no relief, but the fact that to earn a living here, one had to blend in.
”Oh god!” MIrandez beat her chest, still laughing, ”Oh… Goodness, gracious! Who was the one who told you that? I would like to reward him a Golden Ti on behalf of the Madame! I have already forgotten how long it has been since I last encountered a situation like this! Oh, god! How can there be anyone in this world who still doesn't know what kind of a place the Red Light Street is?”
The girl eyed the bread, then looked at the senseless woman and decided that it was better to be a little more honest.
”It's the owner of Ruhr pub. I… I have spent all that I have in his shop and he suggested that I come here...”
”Haha! So it's that old chap!” Mirandez laughter finally ceased. She did a quick glimpse out of the girl of tall stature and long, light golden hair. ”The finest quality!” Before long, Mirandez had already drawn a conclusion. She was already looking forward to the girl being made up to look like a dog-girl.
”So… Does anyone know her? Or has any Madame taken her in?” MIrandez called out to the women in front of the table for she did not intend to take possession of another's source of income.
The women's mumbling was indiscernible; a few of them offered to say that they had seen the girl walking from the direction of the city earlier in the morning.
”Very well then!” Mirandez shoved two pieces of bread and a bowl of thick wheat soup into the girl's arms, smiling. She stretched out her hand and tugged at Fat Dog's ear, ”Hey! Go check and see if the Madame has time. Tell her that I have a very rare breed of a little female dog that just arrived.”
***************
”Old friend! Cheer up!” Oscar withdrew his gaze that was looking out of the carriage window and turned to look at the sea creature by his side, who was like a debilitated pulp and could not help but feel a little sympathy.
”Cheer up? How can I cheer up?” The Sea Creature lifted his eyelids, bewildered. ”Of course it doesn't matter to you! But what about me? Those lowly peasants will destroy my few abundant mines in the southern mountains! What is more irritating is that they have cut off the trading route that led to Faran and Italia! My investment and goods have all probably been looted! Please tell me, how can I cheer up? I am now just itching to resign from the government office and joining the army. That way, I can send off all those lowly pigs into hell.”
Oscar shrugged his shoulders indifferently, ”Suit yourself, it is said that the army in charge of quelling the rebellion has already set off from several military regions close to the South.”
”Ah… I understand that you are trying to console me, but the effort is futile. The rebellion this time around is far different from that in history,” The Sea Creature suddenly adopted an expression full of remorse.
Oscar perked up his head without any countenance, ”Oh? Could you explain it to me?”
The Sea Creature did not utter a word; the only sound heard in the carriage was the rumble of the carriage on the surface of the road.
”Young lad,” After a protracted silence, the Sea Creature suddenly let out a sigh. ”I am already very wealthy. Moreover, my position before the Emperor is unshakeable. However, why do I still scheme and seek for even more wealth by all every possible means?”
Oscar nodded his head earnestly, he was utterly curious.
”It is the fear of tomorrow!” The Finance Minister of Titan Empire, Sir Marquis Almodovar Godzilla took on a look of deep-rooted hatred.
The Prince felt a sudden chill and wanted to sit further away. This man sitting opposite of him was not just a fatty who indulged in the pleasures of life and accumulated wealth; he was a Sea Creature! He was the most terrifying, ferocious creature of the abyss. Although he was the laughingstock of the entirety of Dulin, those who had the courage to truly mock this Finance Minister had all descended into hell.
”You have not answered my question,” The Prince ducked his head away; he did not enjoy facing the swollen and warty face of the Sea Creature.
”The merchants of the South! They have deserted the trust of Alfa III and I, you know? Those merchants actually participated in the ranks of the insurgents and they even possess their own army and flags.”
”I do not have much knowledge of the Southern merchants, I know they are extremely wealthy.” Oscar gazed at the Finance Minister and could not help but find it a little amusing; Alfa III was unlikely to mind that much about the merchants, the one who was truly betrayed was this monster in front of him.
”Well Godzilla, why were you looking for me? I am aware that now is not the time to visit the club. However, since it was you who invited me, I came!” Oscar felt that it was now time to play his cards; he knocked lightly on the window of the carriage, ”You have received the amount of gold agreed upon and my father has also received your remuneration, indicating that our business has ended. I got onto your carriage as a friend, I think…”
”No, My Imperial Highness!” The Sea Creature stared at the youngster with scorn, ”you are being opinionated; I received news that His Majesty had already permitted the secret service to conduct a series of arresting operations. Even the list is out!”
”What does that have to do with me?” Oscar stared back unrelentingly, yet he was still far more comfortable than the Sea Creature.
”Hmph, hmph!” Godzilla snickered. He knew that the lad was not as bright as the external rumors claimed. ”Do you still remember Count Levis Sakya who operates the gold mines in the southern mountain area?”
Oscar nodded his head, ”Yes, I remember. He is your business partner.”
”Unfortunately, this Count Sakya and his family are being investigated.”
”What is the problem with that?”
”Of course there's a problem!” The Sea Creature was already losing his patience with the youngster's unperturbed manner, ”How can it not be a problem? He made a duplicate of the letter you wrote to the Crelini Family of Cecil Island, that is the problem! Do you need me to elaborate? That is a special investigation personally put together by His Majesty Alfa III, and no one will be able to help the Crelini family! If, at this moment, they were to reveal the letter, then I believe both you and I would be sent to the Ministry of Justice's secret service for interrogation!”
Oscar was momentarily stunned. He recalled that he indeed had written a letter to the Crelini family for the purpose of smuggling gold and stamped on the letter was the coat of arms of the Titan's King of the Underworld. At that time, he had handed the letter over to Count Levis Sakya; this way, he could carry out trades with the pirates that were under the Crelini family's control.
”So that is to say… you are in trouble?”
”No!” Godzilla leered at the youngster with resentment, ”Your Imperial Highness, WE are in trouble! Remember, both of us!”
”Your distinguished Finance Minister, let me remind you, it is indeed you who are in trouble!” Oscar no longer had on the look of indifference, ”I have never seen the letter, and moreover, I am completely clueless about its contents. What's more, it is merely a printed duplicate; don't tell me that fabricated lies of this standard will be admissible by the secret service department?”
”You…” Godzilla was suddenly rendered speechless; this lad actually did not fear his threats.
”Let it go, my finance minister!” Oscar broke into a carefree laugh; ”Don't tell me you actually take me for a fool! Don't tell me you actually think that after being released from Damorga, I will again return. However, it is just a vessel of gold, nothing too big; I believe that you and your companions can handle it.”
”Your Imperial Highness” Godzilla realized that he had made a bad decision, but did not expect the prince to be this shameless. ”Everyone is clear about what you have done; I have to remind you, if you really avoid the actual blame you should receive, then you will lose a group of your most loyal allies.”
”Most loyal allies?” Oscar simply scoffed, ”Count Sakya was also a loyal ally, but what about now? My distinguished Finance Minister, aren't you just itching to swallow his flesh into your belly? Are you expecting me to believe in things such as allies? You can really forget about it!”
The little Prince did not have any misgivings in expressing his disdain towards these so-called allies. However, indeed he did not have to worry, based on the current situation. Unless Alfa III had another one of his mental spells, otherwise, no threat against him existed in Dulin.
Godzilla's expression suddenly softened; it seemed that no one was that foolish!
”I say, young friend, you should still at least think for my body of fat!”
Oscar debated momentarily; he had no interest at all in the finance minister's fat.
”My dear Godzilla, what else do you expect from me? Do you want me to get off the carriage?”
The Sea Creature stared blankly for quite a while; he had the mind to kick this little one out of the carriage.
”Very well, you win! Let us speak in another manner, okay? You little rascal, even when speaking with elders, you refuse to exercise a little humility. You really are too arrogant!”
”Godzilla, now this is the proper way of conversing!” Oscar gave a mischievous laugh. He would not compromise easily, but meeting this highly connected fatty who also had a sense of propriety, he actually did not mind lending a helping hand during a crucial hour. After all, if that letter was really revealed, then regardless, the Emperor would start pondering.
”So do you suggest that we destroy the letter… or destroy Sakya?”
Now, it was the Finance Minister who was at a loss on how to react, ”Are you suggesting…”
”I mean, let us go by the old practice, you provide the funding, and I the manpower. Let us join hands once more! However, Godzilla, it seems that we should both increase our vigilance, the secret service department had been on edge due to the armed rebellion in the south.” Oscar suddenly gave the stout man a pat on the shoulder.