Chapter 150: Seventeenth Episode: Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 150: Seventeenth Episode: Chapter 5
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Vielonna is prosperous. It is situated in the Serevan District, which is inhabited by nobles and the main street of ”Broken Dream”, where the rich merchants gathered. Crowds who are dressed up extravagantly stride among the towering, majestic buildings. The leisurely diners idled their time away under the shade of umbrellas in the coffee shops by the streets. The laughter of children rang out from the gardens and parks that dotted throughout the lofty blocks. The children played hide-and-seek around the thicket. Every once in a while, they would take a bite off from the frozen desserts in their servants' hand.
”Really just forget about the ways of this world!” Oscar muttered as he was mounting the carriage with his adopted daughter.
The world's most stunning girl tugged at her adoptive father's arm anxiously and then quickly closed the carriage door.
”Have you seen it?” O'Neil Andrew Morisette motioned towards the buildings that were suspected to be a mental hospital outside the carriage window. ”Why should they build orphanages to resemble prisons? Heh, there are even wire nettings! Do you know how expensive those are? Do you know what an important military supply it is? I really don't understand why they would want to place the children... I mean to say...”
”To cultivate lifeless prisoners and sly beggars!”
Oscar glanced at Elizabeth in astonishment, ”that's right, it seems to be that way!”
Elizabeth gave a bitter laugh. ”From what I gather, this is the fate of these children when they grow up. Prisoners... beggars... nothing else!”
That was how the orphanage was. Those pitiful children were merchandise. The more pitiful and miserable they were, the more donations the orphanage received. Moreover, each of the children has the lowest living compensation from the government and are forced to provide forced labor. Once the boys have grown up, they have to enter the military and get posted to the most remote and dangerous positions. As for the girls... no one was exactly certain about the girls' circumstances because they would vanish from the orphanage before they became adults.
”Is it like that?”
”Wouldn't you know if you just go and ask Lady Monia Amerson?”
Oscar nodded, and then shook his head. Monia was also a soldier despite everyone saying that she wasn't.
After a perceptible amount of time has elapsed, when the scenery on both sides started to gradually tower over them, the prince finally couldn't take it anymore, ”I say... is there a need for us to still visit the convent? Wouldn't it do to just hand the donations over to the archbishop?”
”I noticed that... there is some conflict between you and the God of Light and the attendants of the gods!” Elizabeth sized up the young prince apprehensively.
”It's not like that,” Oscar denied. ”The gods should be revered in our hearts, not talked about all day like certain people... Okay, let us not talk about this and let's go shopping!”
There were two places to shop in Vielonna. One was Tailor Street and the second one was Empress Sutton Street. There were a few hundred years of history for the formation of these two places. The stores that lined both sides of the street appeared extremely ancient. The merchants depended on the prestige accumulated over the years to gain customers.
As for a customer such as His Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette, the merchants were naturally overwhelmed when they caught sight of the Andrew Family's luxurious carriage that was of the best workmanship. In order to enable the entire street of jewelers to reap profits, the owners of the buildings convened for a meeting. They put forward plans and ideas for the young prince who was seated erect on the master seat and displayed jewelry designs that have never appeared on the market to the prince.
”Actually... my demands are simple. Each shop design a piece that can match up to the Lady beside me!”
In the end, Oscar instructed them that way and later dragged Elizabeth, who was brimming with pride, away. The Lady gave the young prince a few furious kisses and asked whether her adoptive father noticed the expression on a few of the great jewelers.
The Prince replied that he of course noticed. ”Their expressions were as if they have stumbled across a miracle! Creating a jewelry that can match up to you will be enough to keep them fretting over it for a while!”
The carriage passed the mouth of two streets and turned onto an avenue and lastly came to a halt at the T intersection on the avenue. The knights guarding the prince flanked onto both sides of the street and only opened the carriage door for His Highness when his personal bodyguard, Mister Paul dismounted from the other carriage.
”Babua Singha? Is this the shop's name?” Oscar lifted his head and peered at the tailor shop that didn't look too impressive. He even noticed that a few carriages engraved with the nobles' crest were parked in front of the store. His knights were negotiating with those coachmen.
Soon, there was a response from within the store. First were the nobles who reached slightly earlier than the prince. They didn't say much, merely stopped to greet the prince and hurried on their way. Oscar appreciated this modest and prudent behavior. He indeed didn't like to have a crowd of busybodies observing from the side when he chose clothes for his girl.
”Okay, these few!” Oscar indicated the few clothing clutched in his hand towards the storekeeper.
”Just these?” the storekeeper stared incredulously at the young prince. He was a little skeptical about His Highness' tastes.
”Respected Highness, are... are you sure? These are... these are the cheapest goods in the store.”
Upon hearing the storekeeper's explanation, Elizabeth's two adorable eyebrows twitched accordingly. She shot a look that harbored ill intentions at her adoptive father.
”I know!” Oscar spread the few cheap goods onto the tailor's counter. ”So I don't want all of these. Wrap up the rest of them!”
The shopkeeper was momentarily dumbfounded and only registered what His Highness Prince was saying after a few seconds!
”Oh, God of Light! Respected Highness, your taste is excellent! But... but there's a problem with this!”
”What problem?” Oscar's eyes widened.
The shopkeeper bent his back to form an arc. ”We still do not know the Lady's figure. After measuring, we need to modify the finished products.”
”Understood!” Oscar snapped his fingers. He took hold of Elizabeth's slender waist and instructed his daughter under his breath. ”Child, go with him. If he makes a move on you, scream loudly.”
Elizabeth didn't utter a word but merely rolled her eyes at the youngster and then followed the unctuously fawning shopkeeper to enter the back room.
”You are infatuated with her!” Paul who had nothing better to do, finally slunk up.
”Hehe! I think so too!” Oscar gave a contented sigh.
”There's a problem here!” the King of Assassins lowered his voice.
Oscar shot a glance at the attendant who was changing the tea for him. ”I know!”
”And you're still sitting here?” Paul leaned against the prince without interest. He was actually using his body to shield a side of the prince.
”Engaging in activity once in a while isn't bad!”
As if responding to His Highness Prince's words, the doors and windows of the store shattered onto the ground. Thick iron bars immediately barred all the exits and entrances.
The attendant vanished. Steam was rising from the tea. Sunlight streamed through the frames of iron bars and spilled onto the floor. The leaden silence in the room was sufficient for one to hear a needle strike the ground. However, if there really were a slight stir, the assassins hiding all over the room would have launched into a frenzied assault.
***************
The special soldiers outside were observing the situation in the room. Although they were a little anxious, they didn't lose their common sense. The officer leading the soldiers have received a report that both the windows at the front, back and on all levels of the store were already sealed off by iron bars. The unusually cool-headed officer only curled his lips and hurried towards his soldiers, instructing. ”Find a suitable position and blow off the ceiling!”
In the end, he added, ”no one can harm our Commander in our presence. Seize the troublemakers and drag them behind the carriages!”
Oscar didn't act rashly. He simply wiggled his bottom that was slightly stiff from sitting. A helpless groan came from the sofa as if protesting against the youngster's weight.
An iron arrow suddenly penetrated through the wall! The explosive force of the crossbow caused the iron arrow to still maintain its high-speed momentous force after penetrating the wooden wall. Oscar inclined his head slightly and the arrow caught in his hair.
”Determining position by sound?”
Another arrow came in response to the King of Assassin. Two distinct arrow holes appeared on the opposite wall.
Paul finally moved. There was no way to dodge this sharp arrow and he could only break away from his original position. This didn't matter, the sound of boots trampling on the ground immediately brought on even more iron arrows! For a moment, arrows flitted past and the whole room was filled with whistling sounds!
Oscar dropped and rolled on the ground, having no idea just how many arrows he has avoided. He only knew that the unseen assassins were relying on their sense of hearing to determine his position and not only that, their ability in pinpointing was miraculously accurate. For that reason, he basically couldn't stop at a position for more than a second.
It seemed that the floor wasn't that simple as well! A broad knight sword pierced out continuously, following the track that the young prince rolled. Sawdust and the gleam of the sword continued to dance underneath the youngster's body! Oscar righted his body abruptly. The steel blade pierced through the ground, but the prince already drew out his dagger and used the sharp edge of the blade to hook onto the point of the sword. The arrows arrived right on schedule and Oscar felt the whip of the wind beside his face. He turned his head and caught the iron arrow in his mouth. At the same time, he exerted a powerful twist to the edge of his knife and he knew that he has gotten rid of the assassin hidden beneath the floor.
The prince gave a powerful thrust and the long sword burst through the ground. Snowstorm plowed forwards without caring about priorities and in a blink of an eye, the sword was in his hand. Oscar got up abruptly and straightened his back, using his body to protect Paul. He then brandished his dagger, forming a bright white full moon. A smile was playing on his lips. He did a backhand on the sword and its tip immediately sunk into the ground. The dull sound of a body being pierced was music to his hears!
With a loud cry, the King of Assassins lifted the long sword. The tip of the sword that had a body suspended on it broke through the ground. The tremendous splintering sound filled the room. Paul then swung the tip of the sword and the body of the assassin glided off. The lifeless shell slammed heavily against the wooden wall that was full of arrow holes. After that tremendous sound, the arrows stopped. Once again the room resumed its silence whereas the prince and his assassin have vanished without a trace.
A dull rumble sounded from the roof. It was the sound of the knights who were guarding the prince pounding against the tiles and bricks using battle-axes and iron hammers. The assassins tried to distinguish every sound in a panic but to no avail!
Finally, someone lost his patience and peeked into the room through the hole made by the iron arrow. Sunlight stung his eyes and when he once again opened them, a dagger was deeply embedded into it instantly.
This tiny sound immediately attracted a group assault by the assassins. However, a long sword was the first to thrust through the wooden wall and yet another assassin was pierced. His comrade released a seemingly frantic wave of arrows towards the opposite wall.
When the sound of iron arrows being loaded onto the crossbow rang out, the broad knight sword already sliced open the wooden wall. Following that came another loud boom and a body broke through the wall and entered! The assassins' reactions weren't slow and arrows were practically released immediately! Five to six iron arrows found its mark on a body and without a sound it fell onto the floor and then only did the assassins see clearly that it was actually their comrade who hid beneath the floor.
Oscar and Paul waltzed into the hidden room behind the wall.
”Good afternoon, sirs!” the prince greeted the assassins who were complete strangers to him, warmly.
A dull rumble came from the ceiling and sunlight fought to pour into the room. The assassins who were accustomed to darkness reflexively shielded their faces. The swirling dust and dazzling sunlight seemed to have robbed them of the ability to function, but their sharp hearing still allowed them to distinguish the sound of a heavy object landing.
The resistance practically crumbled in an instant. The special soldiers who descended from the skies struck the vital parts of the assassins accurately with the hilt of their swords and sledgehammers in their hands. Oscar shrugged and turned to confront the only man still standing in the room.
”Storekeeper, where is my little daughter?”
In alarm, the storekeeper tightened his hand on the crossbow directed at his target, but he had forgotten that he hasn't reloaded an arrow onto his crossbow. The crossbow let out a helpless twang. One of the knights impatiently gave the storekeeper a kick; a pretty forceful one by the looks of it! The sound of bone cracking indicated that his knee was done for!
”Thank goodness you didn't chop off this tailor's hands,” Oscar went forward, ”he still owes me a hundred dresses!”
”Sir, I've found the Lady!” A knight reported to Oscar.
”Oh, that's great! Let us go see her! My little daughter has definitely been given a fright!”
Elizabeth was stuffed into a pile of materials in the basement of the store. Oscar and the knights untied the ropes binding her hands. The adopted daughter of the prince was whining. The knights hurriedly removed the lump of cloth that was stuffed into the girl's mouth.
Oscar embraced the gorgeous teenage girl. She appeared to have suffered quite a fright. ”It's that old thing coming for me! They are coming for me! He wants to kill you! He will never let me off!”
”It's okay, it's okay. I'm here, no one can harm you.” Oscar caressed the girl's back. She seemed to still be unable to calm down at that moment and the prince could only lead her away from that wretched place.
***************
Irut Manzonola and his younger twin brother, Huber Manzonola observed everything that just unfolded from an attic opposite the Babua Singha Tailor Shop. When old Irut saw that the completely unscathed young prince walks out of the store with his little kitten in his arms, the financial big shot rapped the walking stick in his hand so loudly that it shook the heavens.
The younger Manzonola brother was aware that his elder brother was in an extremely terrible mood, but didn't know how to comfort his brother. In the end, he could only say. ”Is there a need to arrange for it once more?”
Old Irut nodded his head with a snort. He didn't expect that the meticulously planned assassination operation would end just like this! He thought those unlucky soldiers would carry out a few corpses from the little shop. They indeed did carry out a few corpses, but those were all that of the hitman hired by the younger Manzonola brother.
The younger Manzonola brother crouched down awkwardly. He gripped the armrest of the recliner and tried to gaze at his brother with sincerity.
”Irut, look at me! After squatting down like this, I need half a day before I can stand again. We are both old! What's more is that our opponent is the Prince of the Empire, a Marshal of the guards who controls a secret army in his hands. We...”
”Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Old Irut screamed madly. ”Coward! Weakling!”
The old man's cane fell onto his younger brother and he watched with satisfaction at his brother who dodged to one side like a mouse. ”Weren't all of the enemies who stood before us as stubborn as the Alps? But still, we were victorious in the end! If you are afraid of a puny little boy, then it's best if you return to the countryside and retire!”
The younger Manzonola brother didn't utter a word. He crawled up with difficulty from the corner and then silently stood behind his brother.
”Weakling! Where did your previous zeal go to?” Old Irut chided on.
***************
Oscar helped Elizabeth onto the carriage and closed the door for her. At that moment, Baron Messier already hurried over. He embraced his young master elatedly and proceeded to whisper excitedly in his ear.
”Take a guess where the old chaps of the Vielonna Trading Hall are at.”
”Where?”
”The opposite attic!” the Baron exclaimed while gesturing towards the open window of the attic across the street and old Irut, upon witnessing that scene, was so frightened that he threw away the cup in his hand.
Oscar led Paul and the Division Head of the Military Intelligence to ring the doorbell of that store. Behind them were soldiers of the Guards who lined the whole street.
”I would like to speak with the old mister in the attic!” Putting on a kindly air, Oscar sized up the manager of the shop. He noticed that it was an antique shop that sold famous paintings.
”There... there's nothing in the attic!” The boss of the antique shop whispered.
”Do you know who am I?” Oscar found it amusing.
”You're... Marshal of the Guards, His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette.”
”Then do you know what you are saying?” Oscar was no longer smiling.
”I... I...”
”Invite His Highness up!” An old voice traveled out from the attic.
Oscar knitted his eyebrows but still trudged up the stairs with his two followers. The attic was unexpectedly huge, but only had a fireplace and a few high-backed chairs. Old Irut occupied the huge recliner that appeared quite cozy while his younger brother stood behind him as before.
If both of them were rag dolls, they would definitely be extremely adorable! Oscar had no idea why he thought that way. He was still a little dubious. Didn't these two old chaps have any upbringing? Could it be that their parents didn't tell them that they should kneel with one knee upon seeing the top-notch Imperial Household member?
”What are you two doing here? You have to pay up for enjoying the show!” Oscar helped himself and dragged a chair to sit across the old man. The old man's face didn't have much rosiness to it. The pale lips appeared a little dry; his nostrils gave off forceful huffs like an angry old horse.
”You've taken away something that belongs to me!” Old Irut again rapped his cane on the floor.
”Oh my God of Light!” Oscar clutched at his chest as if having been startled. ”This is the first time someone spoke to me this way. Considering that you're still using honorifics, I will forgive your impertinence this time!”
The youngster pressed closer to the old man who was etched with wrinkles as if scrutinizing him.
”But... I'd like to ask. Have you become a dotard or do you really deem yourself as amazing? You're not foolish to the degree that you'd ask me for compensation, right? Don't tell me you'd like to battle it out in court with me? Just like what you did at the trading hall.”
Old Irut wanted to knock his cane with all his might, but the younger Manzonola brother placed a hand on his shoulder.
”My brother would just like to explain to you...”