Chapter 58: The new Soara (2)
Du8o7The sounds of animals resonated throughout the place.JAHr2YS
iZmTwo men walked, stepping on the sticky red mud and the smell of blood that permeated everywhere.o2abMjV
DeR“No matter how many times I come here, it’s hard to endure.”srgFq0
Qc0hE“Yes.”Kqnug
eOeOtar responded briefly to Vlad’s complaint.tXhm6l
lkHAlso because he agreed with what Vlad was saying.qwdgiY
X3J4PspThe church did not appreciate those who handled the blood of the dead.ixT
kPqIzBut most people had no choice but to eat meat and drink blood to survive.Tjlf
yTRHere, in this place, the bright word of God and the uncomfortable coexistence with uncontrollable instincts coexisted.ASemfX
53Ax9An alley ruled by a pig butcher and a black bear. A street full of red blood.ijFay
uH2OAncient and intricate streets, mixed with all kinds of smells, the stench of blood, and the looks of those who coexist with death.HYRSr
enPj“The smell is suffocating.”XI3
z5W8dh“···.”5NrFU
GGSWith the weather getting hotter, the smell of blood accumulating on the ground increased.5wdWLQ
tJoVlad walked between them and stood in front of the largest building on this street.VOfC6jb
6RyaFiIt was decorated with bones everywhere, it would be difficult for most people to even look at it, but the boy raised in the alleys was already used to this environment.nucHJ00
F39Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!YIu
WehQ5aA latch made of bones.uXI5PZ
KkcVlad pounded the latch heavily, announcing his arrival.zgx7Yh
7sYwv“Who’s there?”CW8gE
k92hY“You should have heard by now.”4TQayHO
HyoJzgR“···.”j5Up
wqzohUVlad and Otar noticed the stares following them since they entered the Black Bear Alley.MpdJsE
PI4TQThe appearance of the boy carrying a flag and bright blond hair was worthy of attention anywhere, not just in an alley.rfOvH
KeAm2Z“Wait.”LVUr
DUEPA man barely visible through a small crack opened the door with force.u9xDEYc
kKYn6c1“···.”G4J2g
cwP4qWBut five minutes passed, ten minutes, and no sound was heard indicating they could enter.k7eVv5p
M1aqBW[They’re going to fight.]Npb
LUyiVlad, accustomed to the contempt he would normally face in the alley, raised his head and looked up at the sky.aj3fw
QTDvmAThrough the chaotic buildings, he could only see the blue sky.zbBHpmM
gLg0Ix3‘I shouldn’t let myself be looked down upon in this way.’PiEY
dPquUThe boy was lost in thought as he looked at the small sky.pM3
jINhnw3If he were the Vlad of the alley, this would be common, but what should Soara’s Vlad do?44b5h
0oaThe boy, who had recently heard about honor, was stuck in his thoughts.uvx
6OcDThe clouds passed.pngQV
OK9As the sky began to turn red.Finally, at that moment.ABGOtpg
rrP9HaClack!ITeqR
vUaaXf“Come in.”u9L
XStaRF4The Black Bear building finally opened its door.F6c3L
3Ad“······.”maw
xX1vThough they had waited a long time, Vlad was still looking at the sky.Jq7Fm
RUwUd2tHe looked at the sky, now tinged with red, and made a decision.zl1
4NrJThis cannot be overlooked.VqgL2Zu
vDK“I won’t go in, will you?”87X
KKw3Bc“···Yes, I won’t go in.”5U3
ZyJ“Really?”s6zb
XeW0YThe doorkeeper laughed as he saw the boy standing outside.POvJ
2JNWho dares here?6xrcS91
5tq81The alley was under the rule of the slaughterhouse boss, the Black Bear.VyQb2
sHzP“Then, leave.”9IeAWr9
3ZbjSfBut the doorkeeper should have known.tMnkks0
TPeThe boy in front of him was not simply defending his pride.SecwfV
RCmTJDoThe boy, standing here, carried with him not only his own name but also that of another person.pR7S2
RLyAMY2“If you close that door right now.”Lp33C
OHxJwJDThe boy’s voice sounded behind the doorkeeper, who was about to close it with a mocking laugh.6h1
3zzIt was a voice that radiated a strong presence for his age.nl90D8d
t669jn“You won’t be able to handle what happens today.”bnP3Knx
QkDaP“What?”OxjA3Kb
5aJxP4The doorkeeper felt an inexplicable chill at hearing those words.N2m6
8sMFA7Blue eyes.OYw54e
mrpIt didn’t contain the emotions like anger or fear that the gatekeeper expected.l1A
TpjFrCIt only showed the calm attitude of someone who was willing to fulfill his duty.rcD
x7Au7B“You started it first.”gqdHb
c75qAInstead of answering the gatekeeper’s question, Vlad tossed Otar’s flag to the ground.s4b
1ODheBoThe flag, which was empty in some places, had the Bayezid family emblem engraved on it, albeit small.ri1W
HxHe“…”J8tmK4L
tUK93SThe gatekeeper thought as he looked at the boy standing unshakably next to the flag.14i5D
q6SxkM8Perhaps the rumor that he had ended those who made money with his own hands was true.4LChK10
ZcjyThat kind of presence flowed from the boy’s blue eyes.Kfr0u
xFCK“…Come in. I apologize.”WkRXO
M1xo20The boy saw, learned, and grew more in the six months he was away from Soara than in the 16 years he lived in the alleys.KWF
ZmpWhat is needed right now is a cause, not anger or violence.JS1BcgH
1w0jC“Tell him to come in person.”ZLcjvC
HdVOOh“…Who?”5vJ
UMmjaHow to bring someone to their knees with power instead of violence.nHh5
VK4jThat was the noble way.7GwbS
dRhzOQ“Go in and tell the Black Bear to receive the legitimate representative of the Bayezid.”8O1PR
lVhqThe legitimate representative of the Bayezid.fvR
rslThe last knight of the prostitutes.rzjcfO
Nz6OL7JThe boy who brought down an organization by himself clearly understood his position.T40iUge
17Q7“This is the last chance Vlad of Soara is giving.”ydCAs
kjKbThe alley bosses no longer had the right to keep the boy waiting.ixJ9iG
ojSThe flag that Vlad had planted on the ground was silently waving.wkAm4g
jtpOnly those who had proved their honor could carry that flag.wL61D
DhM***m86GIx
4Rt6roA procession of carriages stretched outside the town hall of Soara.mRgD0sO
iR5As newcomers mingled with those leaving.Lx2
h8TiKnights and soldiers who had been assigned to Soara were returning to their hometown, Sturma, where their lords were once again present, along with the former mayor of Soara, slumped inside the carriage.ZuNr
JT86XYV“I’m very sorry for what happened, although I’m only bearing the consequences of my own actions, Lord Joseph.”wNmlz
LaHJoseph, looking out the window, turned his gaze away from the spectacle and glanced at the sky with a slight smile.HNSL1
nHgL“My regret is hastening this stage.”ZSpK6b
I5KUnlike the sky created by God, the city of Soara was created by imperfect humans, so it could not shine without a single imperfect thing.OuUJP
xHl5Cv“I was rushed too, there wasn’t much to be done about it.”dwT
SLW2WThe former mayor of Soara, now facing the consequences of his flawed administration, would receive severe punishment upon returning to Sturma.yDb6
V9y0However, these mistakes might have gone unnoticed at another time.Polt
VAFMKAhHe had delegated authority to a alley boss to manage the area, focusing on security for common citizens rather than minor criminals, and the funds from powerful sponsors coming from all over could have helped in city administration, or at least that’s what the former mayor believed.uWg
GGh26jIf it weren’t for Joseph’s staunch opposition and Peter’s tacit consent.hvQ5N
x3Oo“What did the chief called Black Bear say?”tQVM
bEnh5“He says he’ll cooperate as best as he can.”uux1
WEoJoseph smiled at Vlad’s report coming from behind.d2i
jlymn“Although he had his pride and stubbornness, it seems everything went quite smoothly.”ZYX9Rs4
cpWZ“…Seems being from the same alley worked well.”ygt
5TG6UvPIs that possible?92d
O15sSJoseph knew he would have faced his own difficulties. But even if it was unusual for the boy, he had admirably fulfilled his task.52J
q8mJoseph’s intention to raise Vlad not just as a mere swordsman, but as a complete knight, was succeeding.eDOc
Mzw“Good. Well done.”iJP4UC
6NOFVeJoseph glanced back, his back to him.R02j3
pJVcThere were men waiting for Joseph’s next words.CD6y4
HTmUjs“As you know, I haven’t fully mastered Soara yet, and I need to dedicate a lot of time to that. Besides that, I don’t have time for anything else at the moment.”5vWxAqZ
PqeZThe men behind Joseph. Several men of different ages stood in his study.egwG5
1bw77Five knights, a mage, ten administrative staff, and thirty elite soldiers.7nb
R8kGAnd even a squire.3kML
3rXhThey were all vassals of Soara that Joseph had formed in Sturma.C9pW1n
84hXvAnd from now on, Joseph had to control Soara’s politics, administration, security, and military force through them.lWzJ
ltr5For now, this might be the last chance given to him.Du6
bpt“In anything, getting used to it for the first time is the most important and the hardest.”S7b
ZiCDSjmJoseph’s vassals were people sharing the same boat.0d45
5KrtKbuIf Joseph became the next head of the family, they would be honored by the Bayezid family. And if Joseph failed in the competition, they would be like crew members of a sinking ship.oAa
fTe0umFor everyone present, Soara was like the last stepping stone.GOHZJpM
tKDrGrm“Now I will focus on governing Soara smoothly. I will do my best, but for now, I have no room for anything else but this.”NVL1rI
EzsGeAlthough darkness had covered Soara, Joseph was still not ready to face it completely. But one couldn’t be completely prepared for everything.GkW27
irbWhat he had done so far had been kicking, but from now on, he had to walk.iJkiZEc
7Gr“So regarding this task, I’ll leave it in Mr. Gregory’s hands. Pick a member of the research team right here.”nnu4
lI2VGwWith Joseph’s affirmation, a small but sturdy knight stepped forward and nodded.ZgR5
Id86x“Thank you for entrusting me, Lord Joseph. I will do my best in my mission.”e3WLx7
Fq9Vr0Although it wasn’t his, Joseph chose Gregory as the person responsible for this task.8FlFvAO
CyWzGregory, who had always remained neutral within the family, wouldn’t be influenced by the sibling rivalry.Fm2u
QQt6pxw“I’d like to bring Knight Cade with me. I think there will be many situations where we’ll need to track someone this time. So I want to be with someone with excellent tracking skills.”ypAI
8wA9lurAlthough it had only been Cade who had suffered serious injuries in the last campaign against the cursed witch, now he had another chance.0Ycl
2DOLTwaCade, feeling a joy he couldn’t hide, clenched his fists tightly.1QD
k6CA“Please allow me.”t6mbwBv
ZAMJ“And…”CCxkbE
vev81Gregory stroked his thick beard and pondered for a moment.ptJ
HUTOtofAlthough there was a preconceived combination he had thought through Jager’s advice, he wanted to try something a little different. Indeed, he had been intrigued for a while.DMe
rrF9T“I would like to choose Vlad, Mr. Jager’s squire. After all, he was the one who first discovered this matter.”LJJ4
2jOi“Hmm.”Je2b
KFZ7Although Joseph seemed surprised by Gregory’s choice, he nodded. Gregory’s choice wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.DAJ
SneR9Gregory’s nomination and Joseph’s permission.zmY8N
762BeQYThe boy standing at the end of the retinue looked at the knight who had pointed him out.AhrlFWA
GbHyFHis sturdy build and short legs, which could be used as pillars, reminded Vlad of someone he knew well.Bgmz
3JNYf“I’m counting on you. Promising lad.”jYA
sFjnKnight Gregory.a5F
WBJ88zJA man who had been watching the boy from the Bayezid family.x1KC
0yflyThe knight, who was also Portly Kannor’s master and guardian, looked at the boy and smiled.qgQYBE
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