Chapter 38: The Rose of the East District

Chapter 38: The Rose of the East District

A few mornings later, Youli received an arrest warrant from Stoke. Taber signaled them, indicating he would never allow them to pass, nor even to linger in the City of Violets.

"He knows full well we won't leave, that we can't leave." Gar folded the arrest warrant into a bird with only one wing and handed it to Belle to play with. However, the young one was discerning in taste, turning up its nose at the bird. Gar remarked, "He's declaring war on you. Are you going to agree on a place to duel again?"

"Certainly not." Bog sat on a nearby chair, "Fighting solves nothing. I'm tired of his provocations."

Gar tilted his head, "You just can't beat him, you actually enjoy solving problems with brute force."

"You're really quite friendly towards Tabor," Bog observed.

"No," Gar said, "Violet is involved in the serpent-man trade, and I have no fondness for anyone involved in that business. Since we can't solve this with a fight, then how do you propose we make him open the gates for us, allow us passage?"

"Allow." Bog tasted the word, "We're not his dogs, we don't need his permission to go out for a pee."

"We've hijacked their serpent-men," Vanni said. "Taber has been holding back because he's been looking for this batch of serpent-men, which they bought from Randolph at a high price, and he wants them back. Before we leave, we must send the serpent-men into the wilderness."

"Still haven't found a suitable caravan?" Grey swallowed his beer with a belch, "Seems like money doesn't make everything easy."

"Taber must have issued a warning," Vanni said as she donned her leather gloves. "Aside from greed, people are also greatly afraid of death."

"Actually, I have a way," Gar coughed, "I meant to mention it yesterday. Maybe my friend can help?"

"Your friend?" Grey said. "You haven't introduced us!"

"A private friend," Bog said, tapping his fingers on the back of the chair, "I think I know who you're talking about."

"Leave it to me, brothers," Garl said. "I will ensure the serpent-men safely depart from this crowded human place."

Garl's friends were quick; the serpent-men mysteriously vanished two days later without stirring a ripple in Violet. When the serpent-man, who had escaped from the Baron's clutches, was about to leave, he turned back to look at Garl.

"You seem familiar to me," he said.

"A huge misconception," Garl replied, smiling from beneath his cloak. "We've never met. I'm just a hunter filled with a sense of justice, and saving the world is my dream. You just happen to be a part of it."

"I've heard from Sall," the serpent-man looked at him. "You're a friend of Shaun's."

"Yes, a friend," Garl said frankly. "So this is what I should do... for my own sake."

"Where is Shaun?" the serpent-man said. "He hasn't appeared since Gran died."

Garl fell silent for a moment.

"Let me say a bit more on this occasion of farewell," Garl stepped forward, swung himself to the outer edge of the wagon, and addressed the serpent-men inside, "Gran was the best leader, who once led the serpent-men to defend the forest against several human invasions. He was a noble and admirable serpent-man, but he's gone. Shaun may not seem so upright, but he remains a Knight of the Abyss; his sword is his oath, and his heart forever loyal to the Abyss. After Gran's departure, he will continue to protect the forest and the serpent-men like Gran did—perhaps not so visibly, but folks, Shaun might sometimes be late, but he is surely on his way. He is protecting you. Well, goodbye everyone, I hope we meet again. Lastly, allow me to ask, where is Carol?"

Carol was Gran's young daughter.

"Saint Foss." The serpent-man caressed the rose tattooed on the back of his neck, "That Greenlander left her in a brothel in Saint Foss. Her resistance was valiant; she bit several distinguished Greenlandic guests, for which she was punished... broken. I know not if she still lives, but like her father, she too stood firm till the very end. Should she return to the forest, I shall hold her in the same esteem as her father."

"That day is not too far off," Gar declared as he hopped off the cart. "Let's go, friends."

As the carriage started to rock, the serpent-man continued to gaze at Gar. Suddenly, he pressed himself against the glass and mouthed a silent 'thank you' to Gar.

But it was too heavy a burden.

Garl thought.

Perhaps he'd never be worthy of that phrase until his dying day.

"You won't leave them in the wilderness for too long," Borg approached from a distance, very gentlemanly not joining their conversation and even standing apart.

"The home of the serpent-men is in the forest," Garl said as he draped his cloak over himself, "even if it has become a wasteland."

"After retrieving the Twin Wings, will you head to Saint Foss," Bog inquired, "or the Grassland Greenlands?"

"The heart can wait, but I must ensure the serpent-people leave posthaste," Gar walked with him into the dimly lit alley, "Before the storm, the innocents must depart."

Yet, neither task was easy. Pressing issues loomed, the heart being the most vexing; its seal lay partly in the Pope's hands, and any touch would alarm him. This meant Gar was bound for a head-on conflict with the Pope.

"Being the Devil is no easy task either," Borg glanced at him sideways. "One must often sit on a scorching throne."

"If I had a choice," Gar remarked, "to hell with it, let whoever desires it take it. The position is indeed unbearable, and not a soul has awarded me a badge in commendation. When do we depart from here?"

"Soon," Bog said, "but before that, we've an anticipated guest arriving."

The Greens finally had a visitor.

Despite their anticipation, nobody expected the arrival of the Green family's regent, the Rose of the Eastern District, Randolph's sister, Rosanna. Her carriage didn't reach their inn but stopped at an ordinary restaurant. As they sat down, Rosanna even treated them all to fries.

"Please don't mind my abruptness," Rosanna smiled. "Borg, it's been a while since we last met, and I've missed it. You seem even more splendid than you were in the academy."

She was beautiful, different from Heloise, with a lazy yet seductive allure. Voluptuous with curly brown hair and sensual red lips. Her black eyes were like deep-sea pearls, and when she lit her cigarette, they resembled a fog-enshrouded night, her emotions inscrutable.

"I've already sensed your sincerity," Borg ordered another drink.

"I hope so," Rosanna blew a smoke ring, her crossed legs subtly revealed beneath her slit long skirt. The necklace at her bosom held a ruby rose, accentuating the alluring curve of her cleavage. She looked at Borg, "Our time is short, tell me your price."

"I want one hundred million gold coins," Borg leaned back, arms folded. "That's the toll."

"Even roads paved with gold aren't worth that much," Rosanna said. "You're too humorous, Borg."

"Your sincerity doesn't match your actions," Borg sipped his drink. "Vanni."

"As we understand it," Vanni put on her glasses, spread a ledger on the table, and started jotting down with her pen, "the first time Randolph reached the Wanzhi Forest, he took three hundred serpent-men. Passing through the wilderness, he caught another hundred rat-men. The bounty was plentiful; the first batch of serpent-men made his brothel business exceptionally lucrative, each serpent-man netting him at least thirty thousand gold coins. While the rat-men couldn't attract with beauty, their outstanding labor endurance brought Randolph a total of nearly ten million gold coins."

"Your investigation is thorough," Rosanna tapped the cigarette between her fingers, "but don't just focus on these details, my girl. We have to pay taxes to the king and settle accounts with the temple wizards."

"Please don't question my capabilities," Vanni adjusted her glasses, "The first three serpent-men trades were just tests. His Majesty didn't take a penny in taxes from Randolph, and the temple only took a tenth. They all underestimated the popularity of the serpent-men."

"That's just the beginning," Rosanna spoke, "Even if you bring my ledger here, I still can't accept a price of a hundred million gold coins. Bog, we could have a long-term partnership. You need facilitation within the kingdom, and I need to build a storage facility outside of it. A warehouse shouldn't cost an arm and a leg."

"Self-satisfaction is your most appealing trait," Borg said as he took a fry from Garl's plate. "Greasing palms here isn't a necessity for me, but a warehouse is exactly what you urgently need. The temple and His Majesty have realized they've underestimated this golden road. They believe they've given the Greens enough time to make money; now they want to revel in the joy of gold piling up too."

"If your prices remain steep despite this," Rosanna's red lips parted slightly, "why should I bother seeking far and wide? Compared to you, His Majesty is a better fit for the Greenlanders. Don't pretend it doesn't affect you, you're also underestimating the Greenlanders' capability. You left the kingdom, carved a den in the wilderness, and built a private empire at a huge expense. The legendary Bog Mountains of gold are probably not much left, and with winter approaching, you should consider a sustainable living for your siblings at home, instead of a rash demand."

"I'm not short of money," Borg declared. "Building a private kingdom was just a passing interest for me; it can't exhaust all that I have. Greed is a human sin, and the Greens should learn to pay a fair price. I'm not a watchdog at your feet; don't try to open my door with a mere pittance." He set down his glass. "Time is running out, don't let your little sincerity vanish."

"I agree," Rosanna extinguished her cigarette, her tone shifting. "And I can add another fifty million gold coins for your provisions. But you must ensure my goods are intact and undiscovered. I will send people to transport on schedule. I only want healthy serpent-men; any loss must be fully compensated by you."

"Seems serpent-people are indeed valuable," Gray interjected.

"Don't think about raising the price," Rosanna said gently, enunciating each word, "The contract must remain confidential, to everyone."

"It's a deal," Borg stated.

Vannie immediately began drafting, while Rosanna glanced at Gar.

"You have a lover?" Rosanna looked at Garl's black hair, "This hair color is quite rare."

"Your eyes are even more exquisite," Gar looked up, his green eyes twinkling at her, "You are countless times more beautiful than Randolph."

"Praise for a man should use other words," Rosanna said. "I hear you've had a delightful time with my brother."

"Very delightful," Garl responded. "He's the most unique person I've met."

The most unique fool.

"I think I have one more request," Rosanna leaned forward, pointing at Garl, "Borg, I want this brat... to be severely punished."

"Hm," Garl laughed, "Because I've seen Randolph's behind? Excuse my frankness, miss, but the whole wilderness has seen it."

"You should pay for your arrogance," Rosanna's fingertip tapped lightly on the table, her hair by her ear falling down as she pronounced clearly, "Despicable thief."

Grey's bite of fried potato got stuck midway, his face turning red as he failed to cough it out, looking towards Borg.