Grove listlessly sent away a battered brotherhood thug, recorded his credit account in a book, and then lazily sat down behind the counter, warming himself with a bottle of wine and looking at his wife.
Organize shelves.
Not to mention the occasional street robberies and petty thefts, even if everything goes well, there is basically no profit in opening a drug store in Xiacheng District, but he, the versatile Grove, still takes root in this notoriously chaotic place.
It has been operating safely for more than ten years, which is really not something ordinary people can do.
In addition to the good connections his father made during his lifetime, the good cooperative relationship with the Underworld Brotherhood is also one of the reasons - now in the underground street, he is considered a big figure, who dares to look down on him?
Every time he thought of this, Grove felt a little proud, which made him look at his shop more contentedly, taking a sip of warm wine from time to time.
Dad, my foundation is much better than when you cheated and kidnapped me, right?
The door of the store was pushed open, causing the bell behind the door to ring.
And a cold wind seeping in from the street.
A visitor is coming.
Grove shivered under the cold and reluctantly raised his head from behind the counter - not to mention those blind little thieves who have not stopped for more than ten years.
"It's winter recently, and there's a shortage of medicinal materials, and there's not enough medicine for typhoid fever! If you insist on buying it, the price won't be convenient—"
Grove, who was repeating himself mechanically, was stunned for a moment when he saw the guest.
The person who opened the door was a tough guy with a strong build but a cold face. He lifted up his cloak to reveal the sword hilt at his waist, and looked at Grove condescendingly.
Behind him was another big man of the same stature. The latter was unlucky to be hung up by the rope of the doorbell and was startled. Then he held the weapon on his waist and looked around unhappily.
Grover was a little puzzled.
Haven't you heard of these two guys in the fraternity?
newcomer?
Or a robber?
Having lived in downtown for a long time, Grove's first reaction was to reach for a knife under the counter, but the appearance of a third person made him give up his mind:
He was a young man of average stature, with a childish face, and was obviously still growing.
I saw him lifting his hood and scanning the store blankly.
strangeness.
Grove muttered, he has seen a lot in these years, he has encountered all kinds of customers: those who are casually shopping, those who are sincere in bargaining, those who are poor but pretend to be wealthy, those who are rich but stingy...
But he couldn't tell the details of this young man. He couldn't tell whether he was a second-generation aristocrat from a wealthy family or a commoner in the lower city who was used to living a tight life. He couldn't tell whether he was a beaten gangster.
He is still a harmless and cute young master.
The young customer ignored him and just stretched out his hand to touch the rows of shelves, like a wanderer returning home for the first time.
On the other hand, his two strong men followed him. The first one was very wary and looked back from time to time. The one behind him lowered his hood and stared directly at Grove, hesitating to speak.
Grove saw the latter's appearance clearly, and his expression changed drastically.
"Damn it, it's you again," the drug store owner blurted out with a look of disgust and boredom:
"Stupid vigilance officer?"
Cohen, who was about to say hello to the boss, was startled:
"What did you say?"
Grove coughed, but the contempt in his eyes did not diminish at all.
"I mean...Karabyan Vigilance Officer."
Cohen's eyes lit up, and he ignored the young man walking around in the store and approached the counter:
"Well, I'm here today—"
"Okay, okay, don't come here to stir up trouble! I really don't sell any illegal drugs here," Grove sighed before he spoke, "and I have nothing to do with those gangs.
…”
Boom.
Holding the door open with his other arm, a short, fat man walked into Grove's pharmacy and looked around with interest.
Seeing the person clearly, Grove trembled all over and his words were choked!
"Ah, ah, Mo, Maurice?"
Grove looked at the new guest in front of him in horror.
But he reacted quickly and quickly adjusted himself and walked out of the counter. He forced a smile and spread his arms as if to hug:
"Maurice, Morris, Morris! A great friend is here!"
But Morris reached out mercilessly and pressed Grove's chest, preventing him from hugging him.
"Grove."
The big brother of the fraternity just nodded lightly and slowly but irrefutably pushed Grove back behind the counter.
The latter could only smile awkwardly and nervously.
Cohen's eyes widened.
"You... didn't you say you don't know each other? You and this fraternity scumbag!" Cohen said angrily.
But the two people chatting ignored him.
"Huan, welcome, Maurice, you, uh...do you have anything special to do?" Grove nervously looked at the fat man with an indifferent face, his words revealed humility and flattery.
"Relax," Morris squinted and patted the drug store owner on the shoulder: "Old man."
"I'll take a walk."
Grove was shocked when he was photographed, and then he reacted and forced a smile:
"Of course, of course!"
"Come on, take a walk! Honey, clean up the floor! Then bring out the pie you made!"
Grove's wife nervously grabbed the broom beside the shelf.
But Morris grabbed the boss's shoulder!
"Don't bother, just go see your friends and leave in a while." Morris said calmly.
But the more indifferent the brotherhood boss was, the more frightened Grove became.
"Okay, okay..." Grove waved his wife back and cautiously approached Morris. He first looked at the angry Cohen, and then pointed at the young man who was lost in thought by the shelf:
"What...what's going on? Why is there a security officer? And, who is that?"
Morris raised his eyebrows and turned around: Glover stood at the door and stared at him, his right hand holding the weapon, and the warning in his eyes never diminished.
"bodyguard."
The majestic fat man snorted:
"My friend's bodyguard."
Grove was stunned: "Friend?"
"Ah, a kid," Morris turned to look at the young man between the shelves and said with profound meaning:
"And a 'big' friend."
Grove blinked and looked at the boy with a change in his eyes.
He quickly shouted:
"Oh, uh uh, that customer had a great time shopping, haha!"
After saying this, Grover rolled his eyes, rubbed his palms together, and said with a smile:
"It just so happens that you're here, Maurice, the person I want to pay in advance for next month! Jenny, bring me the money bag!"
Morris frowned.
"Member?" Cohen's reaction was faster, and he immediately said angrily:
"Hey! How dare you charge protection money in front of me——"
Grove turned to the vigilance officer, serious:
"What the hell, protection money, don't talk nonsense! This is the money I owe my friend, I'm just paying back the money! Do you understand what I owe my friend?"
"Repay the money? Is there any "participation" in repaying the money?"
Cohen jumped to his feet and then said earnestly:
"I'm telling you, don't be afraid. The security officer is here to provide you with justice -"
From the shelves on the other side, the shop owner’s young wife came tremblingly:
"But, dear, we just made friends last month..."
Grove seemed to have found a breakthrough, turned back fiercely and said:
"There's so much nonsense, bitch!"
His wife shrank from his yelling.
"Maurice is our good friend, why do we care so much!"
Grove looked generous and waved his hand:
"Just bring it!"
He then turned to look at Morris, who had a complicated expression, and became friendly and flattering again.
"Hey! Do you think I don't exist?" This is the indignant Cohen.
"But our income this month..." This is poor Yanni.
boom!
Morris slapped the counter and suppressed all the sounds:
"As I said!"
Morris looked around. The fraternity leader's eyes were so powerful that he forced everyone to shut up.
"Groff, I'm just here for a walk."
Morris smiled and put his palm on Grove's shoulder:
"Relax."
The pharmacy owner nodded subconsciously, but he obviously couldn't relax. Instead, he was restless under Morris's palm, dripping with cold sweat.
Morris raised his lips and chuckled:
"We have a rule: since it's next month's money, then pay it next month."
Grover exhaled.
Morris glanced at Cohen from the corner of his eye:
"Or, don't pay?"
As soon as he said this, Grove broke out in cold sweat again:
"Ah? That's not what I am..."
But Morris smiled softly, let go of him, turned around, and walked between the shelves.
Keep up with that young man's pace.
"rule?"
Cohen came to the counter and gritted his teeth in disbelief:
"Hey! Grove, you don't have to pay, and you don't have to be afraid of him! I promise, as long as you are willing to testify against Morris's gang's criminal behavior, bullying and extortion, I will definitely send him to prison..."
Groff, who was frightened and confused, looked at him confusedly.
At this moment, another figure passed by the counter lightly, but it brought a chill for no reason.
Grove shook his head!
"Hi Leyock!"
Grove nervously looked at the backs of people passing by, forcing himself to smile:
"The medicine I sent last time is still suitable..."
But the Silent Killer didn't even look at him, he just crossed the counter and followed his boss.
Tuliu Grove's greeting palm was awkwardly stretched out in the air.
Cohen looked at Leyock's back and then at the stunned Grove, feeling that all his previous words were in vain.
He angrily chased after the Silent Killer:
"No, you did it on purpose! Let me tell you, Leyock, you still have three unsolved murder cases. When my colleagues find all the evidence..."
But Leyock didn't even look at him, his face expressionless:
"Move over, I'm going to the kitchen to eat pie."
Cohen was startled:
"Eating pie? You, you are really here to embezzle people's property——"
But before he could take action, Glover next to him covered Cohen's mouth.
"Uh! Uh-huh! Don't--I want--oooo!"
The zombies kept their expressions on their faces and pushed and bumped each other, squeezing the security officer into a dark corner.
The store finally became quiet.
At this moment, next to the shelves on the other side, the young man who was silently visiting Grove Pharmacy suddenly turned around and called out to the boss's wife.
"Your name is Yanni, right?"
The proprietress, who had just been wronged and was sorting the shelves with her head down, was startled and raised her head.
"Yes, yes, this...guest, how can I help you?"
The young man who was leisurely visiting - Thales saw the other party's appearance clearly. She was a young woman with gentle eyebrows and a young body.
"Are you a helper here?"
The young proprietress obviously knew that the people in the store were members of the fraternity. She had not recovered from the atmosphere just now and said cautiously.
"Yes, I, I have always been a helper here..."
Across a shelf, Thales looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar young woman in front of him, his eyes filled with confusion for a moment.
"But the boss calls you 'honey' and 'smelly bitch'?"
Thales felt that Morris was walking across the shelves towards them, and other people in the store also turned their attention to their strange conversation.
But Thales didn't care.
Jenny briefly looked back at her husband on the counter - Grove was frightened again - a glance.
"I...I am his wife. I married him a few years ago."
Yeah.
Thales looked at Yan Ni in front of him softly but with disappointment - the helper Yan Ni in the pharmacy who used to help beggars when she was a child, distributing food, medicine, and even warm clothes. For this, Yan Ni was discovered and beaten by the boss more than once.
Ni.
And the stingy, vicious, ugly and smelly pharmacy owner.
Thales lowered his head, feeling depressed in his heart.
[I...I am his wife. I married him a few years ago.]
Things are different and people are different.
But it's not all a happy ending.
The prince then raised his head.
"You know, Jenny, you are very beautiful and young."
Yanni was startled and surprised:
"Ah I……"
But Thales thought of the past and looked at her with extremely warm eyes:
"Gentle and kind, hardworking and capable."
Yanni blushed for a while, then glanced at the people around her nervously, shaking her head anxiously:
"No, no, I..."
But Thales continued before she could speak:
"As for your husband, he is old and ugly, with yellow teeth, a weird temper and a bad temper."
When I was a child, I came here to "do business" and was often beaten and scolded by him.
Grove on the counter heard these words and froze on the spot.
Jenny seemed to be frightened too.
But Thales was serious and said to her word for word:
"Listen: He's not good enough for you."
Yanni's face turned redder and she lowered her head in panic.
At this moment.
"Hey!"
A broad and fat figure inserted itself between the shelves, interrupting this strange conversation.
"Why don't you clean up the shelves over there, Jenny? There's some dust."
Morris said with a smile.
As if she had received amnesty, Yanni hurriedly avoided Thales' fiery gaze and hid on the other side.
The fat man from the brotherhood looked at the lithe proprietress's retreating figure and snorted:
"I think a person like you doesn't come here to go shopping or tease women?"
Thales sighed and turned to face Morris:
"What if it really is?"
Morris's expression changed and he became passionate:
"Then the Lower City and the Brotherhood welcome you at any time!"
"The same goes for Hongfang Street."
Morris stopped laughing and his eyes were clear:
"After all, not every nobleman likes to see mud on his boots."
Thales stopped paying attention to Grove and Jenny who were whispering, and answered equally meaningfully:
"Mud is the foundation for building a house."
Morris picked up a jar of potion, threw it away, and shrugged:
"But for some people, building a house is about not seeing mud."
Thales smiled coldly, decisively snatched the potion from his hand, and carefully put it in its place:
"Then their house will collapse sooner or later."
Morris was a little surprised by the boy's actions.
"Please forgive me," the fat man said apologetically:
"We girls don't understand the culture very well."
Thales suddenly spoke:
"It's not just your family."
Morris's ears perked up:
"Um?"
I saw Thales raising his head and looking at the dazzling array of objects that were once familiar but now unfamiliar:
"It's not just you. During this period, the Blood Bottle Gang has also been tampered with, and many financial businesses have been cut off internally and externally - such as bootleg liquor trafficking, such as smuggling, such as the grain market, such as iron smelting, etc.
, and they have deep relationships with the nobility and officials, and are closely connected with the market on the surface, so they are more affected."
Maurice's face turned solemn. He turned around and stared at Grove and Jenny, who were paying attention at the counter. They shrank their heads in fear and did not dare to listen anymore.
The fat man then looked at Thales and whispered:
"I don't understand……"
"Of course you understand," Thales interrupted him and walked to another row of shelves:
"What did Belicia tell you? Who kidnapped her?"
Morris' eyes were slightly focused, alert.
"So, you are here on behalf of the kingdom's secret department?"
"Or simply, this matter is due to your instructions, and the Kingdom Secret Department is just following orders?"
Thales smiled.
"Look, you understand."
But Morris's expression changed. He stared at Thales coldly, tutted and shook his head:
"I'm so flattered to receive such favor."
The fat man thought silently, where did he or the Brotherhood offend the little prince?
Or maybe it was Black Sword who offended him in Longxiao City six years ago?
Is it worth it for him to launch the secret service to seek revenge?
What hatred and resentment!
Seeing the effect, Thales shook his head easily.
"On the contrary," the prince stopped in front of another row of shelves selling typhoid medicine and said seriously:
"I have nothing to do with the Secret Service, and they don't know: I came here behind their backs."
Morris' eyes moved.
"you sure?"
The fat man looked suspicious:
"The secret science is pervasive..."
"I'm sure." Thales turned around decisively and interrupted him:
"When I say they don't know..."
The prince's expression was stern, and he could not refute:
"They don't dare to know."
Morris was silent for a while.
"You are quite confident," he stared at Thales' face intently:
"Just like countless opponents who fell at the feet of the Black Prophet."
Thales was also silent for a moment.
The opponent who fell at the feet of the Black Prophet...
For some reason, he suddenly recalled many people: the late King Eddie, Crown Prince Midir, King Nunn...
"I don't know about the kingdom's secret science, and I don't know what the dispute is between the Black Prophet and your 'Sleepless Eye' Lancer," Thales collected his thoughts and spoke again, but Morris frowned again:
"But I know that your relationship is complicated and you are in a delicate situation."
Thales stared at Morris intently, feeling the fantasy of the transformation of the two parties' status six years later, while trying to dig something out of the eyes of this fraternity boss.
"If Lancer doesn't like the Black Prophet," the prince said calmly:
"Tell him, I don't like it either."
"This should be the basis of our dialogue."
Morris was thoughtful.
Thales turned around, no longer caring about the fat man, but walked to the counter and restarted the previous conversation.
"He forced himself on you?"
"Ah!" Jenny at the counter was startled, and then she realized that the young man whose eyes were so intense that she couldn't bear it, had already looked at her again.
Thales stared intently at Grove behind the counter, and suddenly found that he was looking at him and at the same time looking at Morris behind him, who had already shrank into a ball out of fear - he was no longer the vicious, cruel and stingy boss he once was.
image.
"You used to be a helper here, and he was the boss. So, he forced you to marry him?"
Yanni was stunned.
Thales looked sharply:
"For example, if you don't marry him, you won't have a job?"
Grove behind the counter trembled:
"No--"
Seeing her husband's fear, Yanni also came to her senses and said in a trembling voice:
"I, of course not!"
"I, I volunteer."
"Volunteer?"
Thales raised his voice and looked at Grove, but he had the illusion of being condescending:
"You could have made better choices."
"It doesn't have to be him."
Cohen, who reappeared from a hidden corner, happened to encounter this scene and was stunned for a second: "Huh?"
Grove was about to speak, but when he saw the size of Cohen and Glover, he was so frightened that he couldn't even speak.
Yanni bit her lower lip and held her husband's hand:
"me--"
Thales turned around and looked at Jenny with gentle eyes:
"Exactly, I need a maid."
"You can have a better job, a better life, a more decent environment, and even a better destination."
Yanni was stunned.
Grove's face suddenly turned pale.
Thales smiled and said:
"how do you say?"
Cohen realized what was happening.
"Hey, Tai, uh, Huaiya," the security officer said with a look of disbelief:
"I'm going to tell you this, you are robbing a girl..."
But he couldn't finish.
With a look from Thales, Cohen was once again covered by Glover's grasp and dragged into a corner, becoming silent again.
At this time, another disruptor's voice came from behind.
"Cough cough cough!"
"Tai, Dian, Wang, uh," Morris coughed and finally found a suitable title:
"My little friend!"
He came forward with a smile on his face.
"You know, the customs here are different from those in the North. This is not fashionable..."
But Taylor ignored her and just stared at the dazed young woman.
"What do you say," the prince said softly:
"Yanni?"
Yanni was stunned, fear, surprise, and countless emotions flooded her at the same time, and she seemed a little unable to react.
Morris frowned, and Grove on the other side almost cried.
"Don't be anxious, think about it slowly."
"I'll walk around for a while."
Thales smiled happily, turned around and walked back to the shelves.
Morris frowned and looked at Jenny and Grove, then at Thales.
"Why?"
The fat man kept up with Thales and spoke in an unhappy tone, revealing the displeasure of the leader's authority being interfered with.
Thales, who was among the shelves, didn't even look back and chuckled:
"I like."
Morris took a few deep breaths and his expression returned to normal.
"No, what I'm asking is..."
The fat man narrowed his eyes, showing the shrewdness of a businessman:
"Why did the Black Prophet do this? What does the Kingdom's Secret Department want?"
"The Kingdom's intelligence agency did not investigate Exeter's military trends or understand the political trends of the Three Fog Kingdoms, but instead mobilized manpower and material resources to engage in the gang business of a few street gangsters?"
Thales looked back and was somewhat impressed by the black boss's ability to control his emotions. His quality was as high as that of a high-ranking person.
The prince looked at him:
"You really don't know?"
Morris shook his head:
"I don't understand why a dignified prince would condescend to come to a muddy place like ours to 'talk' to us mud-legged people?"
There was doubt in his tone.
Thales looked at him quietly, recalling the moment when the other party revealed his identity.
Even if he comes from a humble background and lives on the streets, there are still people who cannot be underestimated.
What's more...
Strictly speaking, this is the Black Street Brotherhood.
It's Black Sword's territory.
Black sword.
Thinking of the man who was as powerful as a magician, Thales lost his contempt and did not dare to neglect him.
"First of all, although the Black Prophet is still alive, the specific affairs of the secret department have long been no longer arranged by him."
The prince returned to the negotiation state and said solemnly:
"The successor is not well-known, but he is young, energetic, enterprising and unpredictable."
Morris frowned, rubbed his chin and began to think.
"Secondly, we all understand that maybe the Black Street Brotherhood has risen too fast and its personnel are mixed, good and bad. Maybe the Blood Bottle Gang has become too old and too old to be strong anymore..."
Thales' eyes turned cold:
"But you, neither of you are just simple street gangsters."
"Whether it's the Black Sword or the people behind the Blood Bottle Gang."
Morris' fingers rubbing his chin paused.
This damn prince.
How much does he know?
"As for why the Secret Service did this and why it targeted the two gangsters who are closer to the bottom, I don't know."
Thales stood calmly between the shelves, crossing his arms:
"I neither care nor care about the details of the Secret Service's operations."
Don't like it even more.
Morris rolled his eyes:
"have no idea?"
He sneered:
"So what exactly do you want to talk to me about? How can you help me?"
"When you come here, are you really just like an ordinary dandy, saying a few harsh words, strolling around, looking at the scenery, and teasing and teasing women?"
Morris glanced at the counter, showing a fleeting viciousness:
“One day trip to Xiacheng District?”
But Thales smiled,
"I'm looking for medicine."
Morris had a meal:
"What?"
"You know, winter is coming again," Thales sighed:
"Prepare clothes to keep out the cold, and prepare medicine to treat illnesses."
Morris was silent for a moment, then smiled again, looking tacky, honest, rude and straightforward:
"Stop playing riddles, we really have a girl culture."
At this moment, Thales suddenly raised his head and said loudly to Jenny, who was whispering to Grove:
"Are all the typhoid medicines here?"
Jenny and Grove were startled.
"Yes, yes, there are still some in the warehouse..." Yanni said tremblingly.
Thales showed a smile:
"very good."
The young man lowered his head again and picked up the goods.
Morris raised his head and frowned:
"You don't look like you have typhoid fever."
Thales nodded, then shook his head: "It doesn't look like it for the time being."
Morris snorted lightly:
"And there is definitely no shortage of doctors in the palace."
Thales hummed and suddenly said:
"Why?"
"In the past six years, you have been growing stronger and stronger in your battle with the Blood Bottle Gang. Have you ever thought about why?"
Morris was stunned.
"You, the Black Street Brotherhood has only been around for more than ten years. As a rootless, self-organized, um, civil society organization," Thales raised his head and said seriously:
"Why is it developing so smoothly?"
After hearing the news about himself, Morris became serious again. He thought for a moment and sneered: "We are young, better organized, less burdened, stronger willed, and strategically further ahead."
He took a step forward:
"Moreover, six years ago, we had a big battle in Hongfang Street, and the Blood Bottle Gang——"
But Thales shook his head decisively and interrupted him:
"No."
Morris hesitated.
The prince also took a step forward, met Maurice's eyes, and said decisively:
"Because the Kingdom needs you."
Thales said slowly:
"The situation calls for you"
"The times need you."
Morris was stunned.
What?
The kingdom needs?
But Thales didn't give him a chance to ask questions, and turned around and continued:
"As an underground force entrenched in the kingdom, and a black glove that is not afraid of dirt, the Blood Bottle Gang has been unclear with many local powerful people for decades, and the transfer of interests and the bundling of relationships are even more entrenched."
When it comes to this, Thales' eyes must be:
"For example, the Iris family of South Shore: Kevin Deere."
Morris was thoughtful.
Thales stopped and looked carefully at a jar of typhoid medicine.
"That's right, between the king and the princes, between the central and local governments, between the royal capital and the entire territory..."
Thales' eyes gradually became lost:
"The Blood Bottle Gang, which started off by smuggling across borders, chose or fell into the side with the most extensive influence and the deepest roots from the beginning, but it was also the side that was hardest to eliminate."
"Being a pioneer is the way to win people's blessings."
Thales stared at the potion in his hand:
"This is something I have just figured out after many years of entering politics."
"This is also the reason why they have grown tall and deep-rooted for decades, and have been severely damaged by the Kingdom's officials many times, but they are still flourishing and standing tall."
Morris didn't speak, he just frowned and thought deeply.
"Otherwise in the 'One Night War' six years ago, you would have captured the entire Hongfang Street, and you could even pursue the victory and seize more," Thales put the potion back, thinking of the experience that changed his fate that night.
, chuckled and said:
"Why should we vomit back half of the territory we grabbed, and then make peace with the severely damaged Blood Bottle Gang and draw a line to rule the country?"
Morris scratched his chin, and his confused eyes returned to clarity:
"That sounds really interesting."
"It's more fun to play." Thales said decisively.
He turned around sharply and looked directly at Morris.
"Although we are both members of a gang, wandering the streets and working hard, the Blood Bottle Gang has a deep foundation for its great cause, while the Brotherhood has its roots in grassroots," Thales' eyes were piercing, as if burning the air:
"Logically speaking, you can't be their opponent - when the referee and the dealer are on the same side, you are still playing nonsense."
Morris pursed his lips and looked serious.
"But we are winning," he hissed back.
"Yes." Thales nodded and admitted.
"You are winning!"
But then his eyes became more intense, and his words became like swords:
"Nothing else."
"It is precisely because of a series of things that have happened in recent years..."
Duke Xinghu’s voice is like magic:
"Because there is already a successor to the throne..."
"Because the royal rule is gradually becoming more stable..."
"Because the political situation of the kingdom is gradually becoming clearer..."
"Because the national power of the stars is recovering..."
"Because of the inevitable decline of the Kingdom of Exeter..."
"Because the turmoil on the border is no longer there, the stars have to be freed from the heavy pressure..."
"Only you can win."
Thales said categorically:
"In six years, or even in the eighteen years after the Bloody Year, the chess game in the entire star changed suddenly, and the offensive and defensive positions changed."
"The center, the south bank, the north, the east sea, the west wasteland, the blade, when the traditional powerful people in these places either bow their heads or surrender, restrain themselves, or collapse from exhaustion..."
Morris was a little casual at first, but as Thales' words deepened, he gradually became serious.
"When grain farming, sea trade, iron smelting, wine industry, salt production, tobacco, these huge chains of interests that were once scattered across the country's borders were reorganized and redistributed due to the weakening of the royal family and the chaos of the kingdom..."
"When a place like the Blade Tooth Camp, when the local lords, nobles and officials are shuffled again and again with the arrival of the royal standing army and the king's officials, it will no longer be the same as before..."
Morris' brows moved back and forth and couldn't stop.
"When the Blood Bottle Gang, which has been drawing gray nutrients from these holes, when they lose their local connections and protective umbrella, when they lose their source of flesh and blood and food, when they lose their backer and confidence..."
"When the letters they wrote to the Kevin Deere family asking for help disappeared as Iris re-surrendered to the nine-pointed star and never returned..."
Thales's voice became calmer and heavier:
"How can the Blood Bottle Gang, the 'gangster aristocrats' who have been powerful for hundreds of years, not become weak, decay, or fall?"
He stared intently at Morris's obviously shaken eyes:
"How can you, the new challengers, not win and grow stronger step by step?"
Morris swallowed, his eyebrows serious.
Thales turned his eyes, exhaled, and looked at the small medicine shop. He could tell that it was an exquisite decoration made by the hostess:
"After the kingdom's chariots ran over you, the Black Street Brotherhood, as representatives of the desire and struggle of the kingdom's bottom class, as a new underground force without roots, as the official department that has long been eroded by local nobles, and finally
Supernumerary forces who don’t follow rules..."
Thales raised his hand towards him and slowly squeezed it in the air.
It's like crushing something.
"With the acquiescence of the royal power, it is natural to eat away at the body of the Blood Bottle Gang after its collapse. It is natural and unimpeded, and it will become even more devastating when it is done."
Morris stared blankly at Thales's hand.
"This is the truth that allowed your underworld brotherhood to completely shake their underground hegemony and usher in a golden age in more than ten years."
Thales' fist suddenly vibrated, and his voice tightened:
"You win, for no other reason."
The prince's gaze was like a sword, stabbing forward silently: