Chapter 2
QQAZShoara city.tWtsJG3
oLHR1YShoara is one of the three cities owned by the family of Count Bayezid and always bustling with people.WqzFCyG
GUASkIt was not only the central hub of northern logistics where two rivers converged, but also a city that thrived by the power of the Bayezid family, a prestigious family in the northGuMbB
71uuTherefore, people often referred to the Shoara city as the “lighthouse of the north” because it shone as brightly at night as it did during the day.gMtyQKp
f5jRHowever, there were always shadows under the lamp.OMcyICD
j7Fw5vNThere was one area in the city where everything was concealed under the radiant city lights, and everyone knew it but turned a blind eye.PNqQmdB
wNhThat place was the slum area, where all the dirty and filthy things of Shoara were gathered.PqRs
c8ncixq“The candle of the second floor cost 20 silver, and the third floor cost 30 silver.”B5FjW
9UW“….Is there a discount if I buy a lot at once?”0jNdg
hdOF“20 silver, 30 silver.”GrW
FeIWl“Hey Vlad, remember how many loaves of bread I gave you when you used to beg on the streets? Can you give me a little extra!”lfUt1
RdFA middle-aged man with half of his head shaved shouted in a tongue-twisting accent, but the blond boy paid him no mind.3aAWXt
lW4W“If you don’t have money, go home and rub your wife’s ass.”IXE
oBSz“Ah~! Look at this little punk. Is it because you don’t have parents to teach you? Don’t….”I5x
5fCwdgUThe air was damp with desire and lust.OtH
8gj3uYThe continuous music and people’s shouts filled the extravagantly decorated four-story building, but…JiZnV
Tiawse“…..eyes, what’s with your fucking eyes!”tcO
X5QQThe middle-aged man, who was now quite drunk, could no longer hear any sounds.aAQvv
AuWK3The only thing all his senses could see was the blue eyes of the blonde boy sitting in front of him.WwUxE
HwEHe had eyes that carried a strange heavy weight that did not look like that of a boy who had just turned 16.SKJa7
q8b“…..Maybe because you don’t know who your father is, and your mother died a long time ago, you turned out like this.”nkNQBq
B1LaqVlad lowered his head and tapped the table with his fingers.ruuR
1cd0Ia8“Your children also hope that their father lives a long and healthy life, so they don’t end up like me.”I0QWGuY
J8o5mt9“Give me 3 candles for the second floor!”taohxX
U3xjdtLThe middle-aged man regained his composure after avoiding Vlad’s gaze. He quickly grabbed the candles and dropped the silver coin as if tossing it away.FOdK
z8o“Customer-nim, this is a 100-silver coin, you know?”bXY
cpPD“Just take it, you bastard!”DV3n
QGgkAtX“Have a good night, customer-nim!”IyXm3i
d2284J“You blue-eyed bastard!”3gcADwO
hVcY2Earlier, Vlad had been looking at him like he was going to eat him, but with the unexpected tip, Vlad didn’t hesitate to bow deeply.lRPKY
Fwg“….Tastes good.”R2qLUY
o2uuKIbVlad said as he looked at the 100-silver coin in his hand.kH0x
3EKlgAlthough Shoara was a developed city with numerous brothels, there were few places as renowned as the “Rose’s Smiles.”Bi7G
ZCYZnp2This place was famous not only for the exceptional beauty of its owner and madam, Marcella, but also for the quality of its drinks, women, and occasional services.mLNwnJ
Xy9rTherefore, even someone like Vlad, who simply sat here and sold candles, had no difficulty collecting a penny or two in the name of tips.Rl3ECT
ixB8Of course, the process could be quite rough.6fSHHjr
9dC“Aaaaargh!”mPqWL
uOiiHS“You damn bitch! Just sell your body quietly, why are you scamming people!”lqMJLa
j3hsiqoIn the corridor on the second floor, one of the prostitutes was being dragged out by her hair and beaten by a customer.9aa5Sg8
McUg5M6“How did I scam you?”7ue0
Pyb“I’ve been a mercenary for 20 years! You’re selling useless drugs!”LMs
1HRI4JThe brown-haired prostitute had her arms stretched forward as if she was more afraid of the man’s fists swinging in front of her than the shame of her exposed breasts.Q3fHWCg
FhS“There’s never a quiet day.”Z9k
WRmCNgDVlad sighed and picked up the candles in front of him, then headed upstairs to the second floor.k5w7n0
Lkr“Customer-nim, what’s going on?”MLx
uMQ“Vlad! Please save me!”AMVTU
2VLQYp“Why’s this damn little kid here? Call your Madam over here, you bastard!”8Uug
ZplVlad quietly placed the tray he was holding in the corridor and sighed.5qZ5C
B7sG“If you want to meet our Madam, you’ll need gold coins, not silver coins.”Va7n
jnS“What kind of gold coins are you talking about when you are running such a shitty business! You bastard! Bring your mother if madam is not here!”24ZP2y
oiSyNSeveral people who were drinking in the first floor lobby began to watch with interest as the commotion that had started in the second-floor corridor spread throughout the building.3ySw
7t4fyProstitutes were engaged in debauchery while being on their knees.t7cAg7
Xa1oe3LEveryone was holding beer in their left hand and cigarettes in their right, as if eager to watch the most entertaining fight in the world.CpMRqn
qfyk“…Tell me your problem.”mi96D
BisBMZzVlad asked the man who claimed to have been a mercenary for twenty years while covering his eyes with his palms.cy9h7gr
m49P6TY“This candle!”lwN8ef
eiq7kDBThe man, frustrated with Vlad’s questioning, threw the candle and yelled, “Isn’t this a 7-minute candle? Why the hell is it burning all the way down just after I take my pants off!”VkqRZfl
hGoG97cVlad watched the slowly rolling candle with indifferent expression.zwVAm
8KlM7The rose candle is used as a timekeeping tool.ceOalSP
Ov6EcIt took seven minutes to burn completely. The candle served as a standard for measuring time between customers and prostitutes, as well as the means of transaction.wyG
ipBLdg“Alright then.”rf5q
lJpUEVlad rummaged through the box he had put down and picked up one of the candles used on the second floor.fcT0Sa
do1lH9p“Do you see that clock over there? I will light this candle and let’s see if it lasts for exactly seven minutes.”NPeV7
XwPPUThere was no clock to tell the passage of time in the lobby of the first floor, where people had to have fun, but there were clocks on the second and third floors where people were sensitive to time.56oJSl
YInu5f“Why should I listen to you swindlers?”lZ0oRI9
k6lThe man, who had claimed to be a mercenary, crossed his arms and refused Vlad’s proposal, but…4anj6zr
u0FFBN“Let’s do it.”Y5hVWs
wob1“…?”QGRM6V
918dThe man could not help but nod his head as he looked at the blue eyes of Vlad.Anuf0
J0dmsThose eyes that could dominate anyone with just a glance.mlG
DFRddJorge, the boss of the organization, had once commented on Vlad’s eyes that he could be the boss of any alley just by looking at people.BmnPW7
GBCX0W“If it doesn’t last for 7 minutes, you can decide whether to spare the girl or not.”v3QL
pV23P1pVlad muttered as he struck a match against the sole of his shoe.G9gwRwm
oNbv“But if this candle lasts for 7-minutes, then I will beat a shit out of you.”Q8AD
7w4BWZ7“…What?”5Xux
NKvBefore the mercenary could react, Vlad lit the candle right in the middle of the corridor, then put it down.Dj8pw0
GKWR“Vlad…”LVUDui
sIMOnly the pitiful prostitute, who seemed anxious, was looking at Vlad instead of the candle.zyGsTU
hGm1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes passed.304o
vX3u1cAs time went on and the attention of everyone gathered in the corridor began to focus…udtx
tMkLjdA“Huh?”egW19
o1O7The eyes of the mercenary widened in surprise but he was still holding onto the prostitute’s hair.zEDHh
7L3tw“It’s been 7 minutes, you bastard!”C1CH
FNhzMVlad swung the club he had slung around his waist with lightning speed.VXgawWq
PPUBah!LCfS
rehEURed blood splashed from the mercenary’s head because of a fierce blow.Fv1deCT
pvz“Aaargh!”3d2lzAc
7221QThe mercenary loosened his grip on the hairs of the prostitute because of Vlad’s sudden attack and she managed to escape.2CId17y
mVxejT“You’re done for today!”ouy7sha
YjSpqvrVlad grabbed the mercenary who was still unconscious by the collar and dragged him into the room they had just left.ITaPDgc
44PDVi6Click!HlMtq4T
8xog6“You tried to deceive us first! A 20-year veteran mercenary like you has grown this much of a belly, how?”60a56qJ
B1BCHzZCrack! Crack!UJ9OOw
wxtdAjE“Kwaaargh!”2I51TyV
6fY“And why are so many people looking for my mother today of all days? Do you think I would live in sorrow under the sky without parents?”eUri23
mvPY3CThe door locked.xAuu
7ZpdjrLEveryone heard the sound of blows and a man’s screams from the room.cS3O58w
WQHUAAVlad, with all the anger he had suppressed earlier, focused on beating the man in front of him.mCDr
1eSckf“Ah… stop!”yA7
Nvkh“Shut your mouth, you bastard!”pe6WWpJ
U03bSjHThe spectators, who had been hoping for a fight, turned their attention back to the prostitutes when they couldn’t see what they had expected.nOKtdY
ylgBah!l1lHEx
GLjk3UXThe sound of the club and the man’s screams.ueAsc
jUF2The music from the band grew even louder when a black-haired woman on the fourth floor gestured downwards.hN7Kg2I
JMg3gtSome people shouted, others seethed with anger, but all of it was drowned out by the loud music.kzOd
DqWon5JThis is Shoara.6e6WkPJ
1kQThis is Rose’s Smiles.t78
YdPdIt was just a place where passing lives gathered and stagnated for a moment.y0BNLMW
rSx0d***ADXFA
1MwAfter a noisy night, the quiet morning sunlight settled over the Rose’s Inn.A1UN2
HJJDTRThe morning atmosphere, decorated with elegant ornaments, gave the feeling of a noble’s villa.59PZaSE
YkTJggEach luxurious decoration contains the tears and sweat of the black-haired woman, but few would recognize it.jdV4GVy
FqPO“Vlad.”CY1vVs
ISdF“Oh, Anna.”cVgl
9tZLuDxThere was a woman calling Vlad, who had brought the last remaining customer and placed him politely on the alley floor.zbFB4
aMU5“The area around the eyes has turned blue. You should take a few days off.”nwQ
dkC“That’s true. But nothing’s broken, so it’s fine.”bjq
QUgwENShe was the brown-haired prostitute who had suffered from the mercenary’s violence the previous night.Kg1
974“Thanks.”Iu4B
XOflqThe woman with swollen and bruised eyes smiled faintly and handed something to Vlad.5ER
KVlVlad watched with a blank expression as he waited for her to offer whatever it was.dA5Hl
La48h“I’ll eat it well.”IPj
p5yGIt was an egg.xFTD
3olE45“Eat it here now. It’s a boiled egg.”iUi
2uA“Hmm…”v8D
1fkAVlad observed Anna, who was smiling at him with a meaningful look.RNEFlfw
6oBV“Alright.”XzRi
mSVWjgVlad cracked the bottom of the egg using his fingers and started eating the yolk.AP1hQ
YNxHAnna watched with satisfaction as Vlad’s Adam’s apple moved while he swallowed.TihC4
cPGuZIg“Men these days have become rough. At times like this, I need a man I can trust for sure…”GEF
0GXDl“I’ve eaten well.”U8fWmzL
xGGDlAnna looked at the eggshell on her palm with a bitter smile.y6DsopI
dNA88f9“….. Let me know whenever you change your mind. I won’t charge you more than that little red-head brat.”qqYd4E
pPx“Maybe I will.”lXsQ
tpE7kB3With those words, Vlad changed his direction and started walking away.9qe
NfWP27w“Oh, by the way, Anna!”kKOws8K
VacuN“Yes? What is it?”Unl
HQaPAnna looked at Vlad with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but…6vv
Dyu“Aren’t you opening your front door too much? It’s still winter, and you should take care of your health.”3HiKg9
hoWN“…This is also a sign of gratitude.”eBJ
PkMx4fCAfter Vlad pointed it out, Anna covered her breasts.7RG6VMr
xnSVlad had disappeared down the end of the corridor when she looked up again.EXySU6
dfuL44“The only thing that I can sell is my body, but that won’t bring in much…”2FiDu
NG5MUXUIn the middle of an empty corridor, a woman with nowhere to turn sighed and smiled sadly.1FtvHV5
l0101gv***jHLYU
iayvc5d“Jorge, I think someone messed up with the candles.”bwrE
intxv4The first floor was the lobby where they sold drinks and food.328
kg7IkF9The second and third floors were for customers and prostitutes.tSi
XLYThe fourth floor was the living quarters for prostitutes and employees.gSnCb
ehMuf7Vlad reported to a man in the dining area on the fourth floor, where he was having breakfast.1Ole
DyEy“It wasn’t seven minutes.”AG9uo
IrnNtz“Is that so?”7HnV
PxyJorge, a man with a massive build, didn’t seem to care much about Vlad’s report.WTKk8mk
3Npd“It wasn’t seven minutes.”wCxIq
rgUPn“Yeah. That’s right. That’s what you said.”2Q6a
pFQaxFried sausages, black pudding, hash browns, and white bread.QYG8
Lb1DNrJorge’s breakfast was always the same, and he himself was a man who didn’t change.BLQ
IRbqPw“Do you understand what I’m saying? Someone put candles in our meal.”mpR
qF9“No, who dared to do that!”IxPcN
J9BPlzNThe black-haired woman who was preparing breakfast in front of Jorge interrupted with a mischievous smile.AZLgdcO
nHUh“We have to find out who did it.”2tjVAM2
zcsS“Of course, we have to find out!”OMKG
jpunMXh“Should I look for it?”D9H
9u1DVMK“You look for it!”yOiSHTZ
OquEUI“What should I look for?”N7Fh1
i6ArSgz“To be honest, I’ve already found it.”QyS
knR“Who is it, Marcella?”ubSa
mRx0uJSMarcella, the owner of Rose’s smiles.VV5l
qSgFnShe possessed exceptional beauty that is ranked among the top five in Shoara.rh5q
flHWM9And despite being in her mid-30s, she still maintained her beauty. She was a woman who had the appearance of a voluptuous lady and the smile of an innocent girl.eeAdiFk
9saNHAq“It’s me. I messed up with the candles. I wanted to suck some honey easily from drunk people.”KmMh7
mHGATrashy words came out naturally from the plump red lips that any man would lust for.x2Yn0k
0CF“Ha…”5z0n7
xDskVlad lowered his head as if he couldn’t believe it.2swT5d
5d1o“I just screwed over that stupid guy…..”9dg
7GWThe owner said that, but what can the employee say?Rkfw
t3v“…. If I had put the candle on the railing instead of the corridor floor, it would have caused a commotion.”aJ0kO
y1LCtVlad deliberately placed it on the floor just in case.Fnl
tiS5SqIf he had not done that, all the onlookers on the first floor would have realized that the candle did not last for seven minutes.NgjO14
ZRk5GkkHaving heard Madam’s explanation, Vlad weakly rose from his seat.qE1p
nGma“Where are you going? Eat and then leave.”AhrYR
G6Zt8“I’ll be back in a moment.”r0kk4f
5jDVN“Why?”uztyv
NmHIm“…I’ll go and give a blanket to the guy I just threw out.”ByAXotk
BdkC“You are so kind!”erv
J0xe86Vlad walked down the stairs with hesitant steps. Even though he felt no remorse for bashing an innocent man’s head, it was one of Vlad’s beliefs that he should still do the bare minimum as a human being.ifvYx
KEWFgcIt was the law of the back alley that one gets swept away quickly by dark waves if one’s beliefs were not firm.7pz1s
quuRoag“Hey! my proud junior!”b5PXBS
sRlAzpSomeone shouted and grabbed Vlad as he came down to the first floor.sMBent
kzKkj“Don’t touch me. I’m tired today.”hfE
Z7G5“I heard you did something yesterday, right? As expected of my proud junior!”Y4i
Qtpn03EHe was a man named Burleigh who belonged to the Jorge family.1mK
i7Ae“You got some tips while selling candles yesterday, right? We need some money right now.”Jy898iA
avlkRFVlad’s gaze finally fell on the members of the Jorge family.Crr57
Wiom6“Screw off.”A662px
T7tgFW“No, don’t say that, just listen to me. We’re not scumbags who forcibly take money from our juniors.”sreb5m
IkfjBurleigh approached Vlad and put his arm around Vlad’s shoulder.9Ejo
4ex5wD“What kind of nonsense is this?”a8Rp9e
OJyW8py“It’s about giving and receiving. If you give us money, we’ll give you something in return. That’s what I mean.”GVeJ6g
wMqJt“What is that?”yWQOg
qYpVBurleigh narrowed his eyes as if his words were finally getting through.rvO0C
KagvJ“Come with me.”BcYeaWJ
Fz0RWhen Burleigh gestured with his chin, other members of the Jorge family made way for them.1zK
Q6z5I7V“It’s in the basement.”Za9zO
f0o74Following Burleigh’s lead, Vlad walked with him into the basement of Rosa’s smiles.U4TzDi
iZC5This place was essential for operating Rosa’s smiles, as it stored alcohol and food supplies, and was managed by Burleigh, who was highly regarded by the Jorge family.xYiZo
cuflfvIn other words, this place was Burleigh’s territory.z4cgFaP
tSJT“What the hell…”fZdybi
7XN0Qa“How is it? A familiar face, isn’t it?”3vJj
fX1MVlad was still the youngest in the Jorge family and needed Burleigh’s permission to take something from this place.nXyk0
3f7zl“How about this? I’ll give it to you for just 40 silver. It’s really cheap. Where else can you find such a generous senior?”9lr
BRNooThere was something wriggling behind Burleigh, who was smiling mischievously.lDrZRH
b8oOCIt was a child who had dark skin. He looked at Vlad with a pitiful expression and blood dripping from his forehead.SG2pNHi
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