Chapter 86: Have You Heard of Roulette? (Two-in-one)
“Joker.”
“Strange name.”
The voice did not come from the two people on the bench but from the gloomy shadows. Shaya looked at the thing in the shadows and sensed a strong Spirit World aura from it.
Shaya raised an eyebrow, “Spirit Medium?”
“You could say that, but I prefer the title Witch Doctor.”
The hoarse voice came from afar and then returned to the black-robed woman sitting on the left side of the bench. The woman’s face was vaguely visible, shrouded in the shadow of her black robe. She spoke in a hoarse female voice, “I originally wanted to introduce myself to the leader, but it seems the leader prefers codenames.”
She stood up and gave Shaya a military salute, “Military codename ‘Dark Crow,’ specializing in undead and Spirit World beings as familiars.”
On the other side, a maiden with similar but more immature features to Dark Crow, and who appeared to be slightly younger, also bowed and gave Shaya a standard knight’s salute, “Directorate codename ‘Nightingale,’ specializing in stealth and assassination.”
“Are you from the same family?” Shaya glanced at Dark Crow and Nightingale before him. “I thought the descendants of the legendary Knights of the Round Table would all be sunshine-loving, righteous heroes. I didn’t expect one to be a necromancer and the other an assassin.”
“We are descendants of the Furen family. Our ancestor’s title was ‘Dark Knight,’ and his specialty was spirit mediumship and reconnaissance and assassination.”
“Or rather, among the original Round Table, our ancestor’s role was that of a scout.” Dark Crow spoke in her hoarse voice, “But as you said, leader, in the former families of the Round Table, those righteous envoys who shone like the sun, gleaming with golden spirit, were the mainstream, and we were the outliers.”
“Unfortunately, in these past few hundred years, those proud and powerful Round Table families have either been destroyed or fallen into decline.”
“Only the outliers of the Round Table families, like our Furen family and two others, survived.”
“What a bunch of survivors…”
“However, it suits my taste.” Shaya nodded.
Although the style of these two descendants of the Knights of the Round Table was a bit off, Shaya was quite satisfied. Whether it was spirit mediumship, stealth reconnaissance, or assassination, these were all rare and useful abilities to him, much better than some brutish simpletons. When it came to brute force, no, when it came to a brute wife, he had Little Ai, who was obedient, loyal, pleasing to the eye, and capable. She was far better than any stray cat or dog out there.
However… Shaya’s gaze swept over Dark Crow and Nightingale. He felt as though there was something hidden beneath their respectful expressions.
“Why do you seem so practiced?”
A moment of silence fell in the air. Dark Crow hesitated for a moment but never spoke. Nightingale, who had remained silent except for her introduction and had been listening to her sister, spoke first. She blinked and looked at Shaya with her emotionless, light green eyes, “After the fall of the Sword Holders, the Royal Family attempted to re-establish the Sword Holders twenty-seven times in the past one hundred and fifty years.”
“The last attempt occurred four years ago.” The outcome of that attempt four years ago was self-evident. If it had succeeded, Shaya wouldn’t be standing here as the new leader of the Sword Holders, delivering an inauguration speech.
Good heavens, so the position of leader of the Sword Holders came with a soul ring. However, this also made Shaya understand his current situation. Dark Crow, Nightingale, and even the Sword Holder members who were not currently in the Imperial Capital truly showed him respect, and they would carry out his orders. But this was merely because of his current position. Their loyalty was to that Second Princess. After so many failures over a hundred years, these descendants of the Knights of the Round Table had long lost confidence and morale.
“So be it. Since I’ve accepted their help, I have to do some work.” Shaya stood up and walked out of the lounge. Aerora and Diris followed Shaya closely, one on each side. After exchanging a glance, Dark Crow and Nightingale also followed. They wanted to see what made this new leader different from the failed ones before him.
…
Imperial Capital, outskirts.
Diwell Port District.
Compared to the solemnity of the Upper City and the youthful fashion of the Black Lily District, Diwell Port District was the most complex and chaotic area in the entire Imperial Capital. According to the files Shaya found in the military intelligence department, many titled experts from enemy countries had infiltrated the port district to gather information in this mixed crowd. The Ash Cult had also chosen to infiltrate through Diwell Port District when they attacked Saint Roland Academy.
Casinos, secret black markets, white houses, supernatural gatherings… Theoretically, with enough money, you could find anything you desired in Diwell Port District.
The Sleepless City – “Thorns of Sin.” Nominally, it was just a bridge club. But in reality, its area was as vast as its nickname suggested, resembling a city within a city. Magic Lamps reflected the neon lights on the glass, illuminating the faces of gamblers, filled with greed, ecstasy, or despair. Brilliant, yet decadent.
Viscount Lori sat in the highest level of the entire luxurious building. His favorite pastime was looking out from this huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at everything happening in the decadent world below. This was his castle of sin, built over decades of effort, through interests and wealth, a castle that belonged only to him. It was through this notorious den of vice in the Imperial Capital that he, a fallen noble, was able to climb into the Four Rings and become a true Beast Master, despite his age as a Beast Tamer.
Therefore, Viscount Lori would never allow anyone to destroy his castle. Just like the uninvited guest before him.
…
Viscount Lori looked at the black-haired youth wearing a half-white mask through his relaxed eyelids. A fierce glint flashed in his aged eyes. Many gamblers wore masks to conceal their identities, but in Viscount Lori’s eyes, they were all just sheep, big or small. None of them had ever made him feel so wary.
Splash—
A faint radiance of magic flickered. A bright beam of magic light projected from the projecting crystal on the table, and lines of text, accompanied by images and video clips, were cast onto the wall. Viscount Lori squinted, looking at the images on the wall. The more he looked, the more alarmed he became. These were evidence of the crimes committed in this Sleepless City. Illegal detention, organ trafficking, slave trade… Although most were indirect evidence, the sheer quantity was astonishing. If revealed, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar in the entire Imperial Capital.
“What do you want to do?” he asked the masked youth before him, his voice still calm.
“Nothing, I was just thinking—”
“If all this information were exposed in the newspapers, wouldn’t you be in a difficult position as well?”
“Just some baseless rumors,” Viscount Lori narrowed his eyes, gazing at the black eyes beneath the pure white mask, but found he could still discern nothing. Those black eyes were like a silent deep pool, swallowing all light, making it impossible to fathom the youth’s thoughts.
“I admit they would have some impact on me, but if you think you can threaten me with this, you’re dreaming.”
“Of course, otherwise these materials would have been sent to the court, and I wouldn’t be here.” Shaya picked up his tea and took a sip. “With these materials, even if public opinion in the Imperial Capital caused a storm and forced Parliament to pass a search warrant, by the time the warrant is issued, nothing will be found here.”
“However…” Shaya paused slightly. “If that were to happen.”
“Do you think your family behind you might think that their ‘white glove’ isn’t doing a good enough job and consider replacing them?”
Viscount Lori nodded. “You’re very smart, and you understand the procedures for some things very well.” His originally somber voice became somewhat amiable. “I admit, you have the qualifications to sit at the negotiating table with me.”
“So, what do you want?”
“Money, women, even the status of an honored noble…” Viscount Lori smiled, a smile full of unfathomable depth.
“I’m a businessman, and I believe in making money through harmony.”
“Since you chose to come here instead of directly submitting those things to the Directorate, it means you’re here for the same purpose.”
“For example—” A gentle smile, as he saw it, appeared on his aged face.
“How about exchanging this projecting crystal and all its backup data for fifty thousand Rhine gold coins? How does that sound?”
Despite his words, Viscount Lori kept scrutinizing Shaya. He had already decided that once the youth accepted the money, he would have him followed, ascertain his background, and then act at the opportune moment. After all, only God knew how many backups there were for projecting crystals and their data. And how could a verbal promise of secrecy be more reliable than a dead man?
Viscount Lori had to admit that Shaya’s words had made him waver. While the Borgia Family could protect him, even if solid direct evidence, let alone the indirect evidence presented, was submitted to the court, their influence could certainly quell any disturbance. However, even if it was settled, the fact that it required the intervention of those behind the scenes to clean up the mess would mean that he, the ‘white glove,’ was incompetent. If the Borgia Family lost patience with him because of this and decided to entrust the Thorns of Sin to someone else, it would be a catastrophe for him.
…
Fifty thousand Rhine gold coins…
That’s all they’re offering? Shaya couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. He had thought that as the owner of this infamous den of vice, Viscount Lori would at least be a wealthy man who could help him pad his pockets with some gold coins. But on second thought, Viscount Lori was just a ‘white glove’ after all. The real profits from this Sleepless City were regularly funneled to the powerful figures behind him, leaving little for Viscount Lori himself. Offering fifty thousand gold coins was already a sweet bait thrown out by Viscount Lori to play along; if he were truly forced to pay, it would be difficult for him to even come up with thirty thousand Rhine gold coins.
Thinking this, Shaya gave up on further negotiation. Compared to Comrade Norton in the Historical Echo, who had lofty ambitions and wanted him to be the “Left Hand of God” and “Vice-Lord of Heaven,” this old fogey Lori was stingy even with his promises. There wasn’t much oil to extract from him, no wonder he was only a Viscount.
“No, forget the gold coins.”
“Since you’re the manager of a casino, let’s do things by the rules of the casino.” He closed the projecting crystal and played with it in his hand.
“Let’s gamble.”
“After the bet is settled, regardless of the outcome, I will destroy this projecting crystal and its backups.”
“Haha, interesting.”
“Very interesting.” Viscount Lori’s face suddenly became flushed as he scrutinized Shaya.
“The highest gambling table in the Thorns of Sin is indeed open to outsiders, but only distinguished guests are qualified to sit at my table.”
“This place has hosted Grand Dukes of the kingdom, leaders of merchant guilds, high-ranking members of cults, and even apostates wanted by the Holy See.” Viscount Lori took a step closer to the table, meeting Shaya’s gaze directly across the table, exuding an unparalleled powerful aura. His aged eyes gleamed with a cunning like that of a cunning fox. This was the only thing he could be proud of in his life. It was precisely through his masterful gambling skills that the former Lori, a fallen noble son, had climbed to his current position. If he could continue to accumulate wealth in the Sleepless City, coupled with the Borgia Family’s blessings, he might be able to advance to the Five Rings not long from now. He would become a figure renowned even on the Western Continent.
“What do you want to bet against me?”
“And what can you offer as a stake to bet against me?”
But then, Viscount Lori saw—
Shaya, on the other side of the table, calmly took out a metal object and placed it on the table.
“Don’t worry, what I’m offering as a stake is something everyone has, and it’s unique. It’s fair.”
It was a silver-white revolver. And a box of yellow bullets.
Shaya’s voice echoed throughout the room.
“After all, you are the manager of a casino—”
“So, you must have heard of…”
“‘Roulette,’ haven’t you?”
I was a bit busy on New Year’s Eve and the first day of the new year, so the update schedule was a bit irregular. I’ll post a chapter tomorrow morning and then resume the normal double updates at 9 PM and 12 AM. Happy New Year.
