Chapter 62

Evening.

The full moon hung high, and the moonlight poured down like water onto the gray stone walls of Black Wolf Castle, covering this ancient building that had weathered a hundred years of wind and rain in a layer of silver gauze.

The spire of the clock tower pointed toward the star-filled sky as if to pierce the night. Below the spire, a young man with black hair sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, facing the bright moon.

Tonight was a good time for meditation, and Xia Mingyu, who was bent on increasing his magic power, naturally would not let it pass.

And in the main building of the castle not far from the clock tower, the windows were still bright, even bright enough to sting the eyes.

Castle Hall.

On the towering ceiling, the huge iron chandelier was covered with burning candles, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.

From early morning until late at night, old Xiao En, who had been running around all day, returned here, dusty and tired.

And before him, Kalen was sitting quietly on the main seat of the hall, while Lady Danielle stood beside him, holding little Haidun, who was still an infant.

"Master Lord, according to your orders, I have investigated all the brothels and gangs in the Black Wolf territory, as well as the number of villages in the midst of famine."

Old Xiao En knelt on one knee on the carpet and said respectfully.

"Report." Kalen waved his hand.

"In the three towns of the Black Wolf territory, there were originally six brothels. Among them, the largest brothel located in Ore Town has already been cleared by His Highness, leaving five."

"They are two in Langya Town, one in Yingguo Town, and one in Ore Town. According to the investigation, without exception, they all possess behaviors of forcing prostitutes and boy-prostitutes into prostitution."

"As for gangs... some petty hooligans don't count; the only gang with scale is the Wolf Gang. Its headquarters is located in Ore Town, and all six brothels in the territory seem to be related to it, or are simply managed by it."

"As for the villages in the midst of famine, because you kindly lowered the taxes, there are currently only two. The reason for both is that they were deceived by a certain Kelai merchant during the harvest season, took on the Wolf Gang's debts, and so some people starved to death or were sold as prostitutes or boy-prostitutes."

Old Xiao En reported truthfully.

Wolf Gang.

Kalen frowned slightly. He usually didn't manage the territory much and was only focused on practicing martial arts and hunting; he really didn't know when such a gang organization spanning three towns had appeared in the territory.

However, there were indeed no laws in the Kingdom of Suoxia that made running brothels and forming gangs illegal, or rather, even if there were, basically no one had ever cared.

After all, brothels were also a major profit for territorial taxes, and even many brothels in the territories were the lords' own businesses.

And Danielle, who was holding the child on the side, narrowed her eyes slightly after hearing the name Wolf Gang; she had a guess in her heart.

"Master Lord, the identity of the Wolf Gang leader has been investigated; he is..." Old Xiao En looked hesitant.

"Speak freely." Kalen said lightly.

"He is the child left behind by the eldest young master, Eli Hius, who is also your nephew." Old Xiao En answered cautiously.

Once these words were spoken, Kalen's expression suddenly froze, while Danielle revealed a look of realization.

When she was in Twilight City, she had helped her mother handle official business quite a bit; she knew very well that whatever rampant gangs or brothels, in the end, were all pieces of flesh connected by blood on the nobles!

"Nephew... that is truly a distant memory!" Kalen sighed long, his rugged face full of melancholy at this moment.

A long time ago, after practicing martial arts one time, he returned to his bedroom and found his elder brother molesting his wife.

In a fit of rage, he hacked his brother to death, and his father, the previous Viscount Hius, also died of illness from pent-up frustration not long after. After he inherited the title, he "invited" his little nephew out of the castle.

And after many years passed and he gradually matured, he discovered that the events at that time were full of suspicious points; it was very likely his wife... sigh, no matter what, she had already died of illness.

"According to the oath required by His Highness, Eli is someone I must kill, but..."

A struggle appeared on Kalen's face. His palm gripped the armrest of the seat tightly, and the iron armrest was almost crushed by him!

It wouldn't matter if all those unrelated evil people were killed, but Eli was his own nephew toward whom he already felt guilty, and he was also one of the bloodlines of the House of Hius...

Looking at the struggling expression of her husband who was caught in a dilemma on the side, Danielle's eyes turned cold.

She didn't care about any nephew or not; anyone who blocked her son's path had to die!

"Little Haidun, bear with it..." Looking at the sleeping infant in her arms, Danielle cruelly pinched his small, delicate feet hard.

"Waaaaah!" The infant, feeling the pain, immediately burst into loud crying.

"Don't cry, little Haidun; rest assured, Mommy and Daddy swear we will definitely make you His Highness's godson!"

Danielle comforted him in a flurry of heartache.

Under Kalen's gaze, as if by a miracle, the infant stopped crying soon after hearing Danielle's words and fell into a deep sleep again.

"Kalen, little Haidun must be able to understand our words. If we give up this opportunity that concerns his life's destiny for him, he will hate us for the rest of his life!"

Danielle held Kalen's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears.

"Kalen, I want to be a good mother, and you must also want to be a good father..."

"Say no more, Danielle; for little Haidun's sake, I will not go soft."

Kalen took a deep breath, the struggle on his face disappeared, replaced by coldness and killing intent.

"Xiao En, tomorrow morning, gather Knight Solin and Knight Lei Mi, as well as all the soldiers, on the training ground."

"Yes, Master Lord."

"Darling, love you, I'll accompany you tomorrow~"

Top of the clock tower.

Xia Mingyu slowly ended his meditation.

He knew nothing about what happened in the castle main building not far away, only that he was shivering a little from the cold wind of the late night.

"I'll wrap myself in a blanket next time I come to meditate."

Xia Mingyu sneezed and thought secretly.

Afterward, lying on the soft bed in the bedroom, he entered his dreams before long.

Spark Hall.

On the crystal dome, epic wars filled with tears and fire were still being played tirelessly, with artillery fire roaring.

Thirteen sat alone at the long table, holding that literacy book and writing and drawing on the desktop with his thick fingers.

"Your Highness." Seeing Xia Mingyu walk over, his massive body bowed.

"Tamerlane asked me to tell you that because he has to patrol during the day, he can only stay here for a while at night before leaving." Thirteen said calmly.

Staying in the Spark Hall all night, although it was no burden on the body, could not completely replace sleep.

"En, let's continue with yesterday's content."

Xia Mingyu snapped his fingers, and sheets of white paper and a quill pen appeared on the long table.

"The meaning of these two characters is freedom; this is equality, justice, civilization, integrity..."

During the teaching process, Xia Mingyu unexpectedly discovered that, unlike his fierce appearance, Thirteen's memory and comprehension were very strong. He could firmly remember almost any character after Xia Mingyu taught it two or three times.

At this speed, Thirteen would be able to learn all common characters in at most a month.

By then, perhaps it would be time to give him a real name...

(End of chapter)