Dandi approached from behind, watching the two n slowly leave with a look of confusion on his face.
"I don’t get it. Wesley’s face practically screams ’I need help’. Why can’t he say it outright? And Brother Long clearly saw that he needs help, why didn’t he offer to help? Isn’t Brother Long the type who loves to help others?"
Ai Lin replied, "That’s what n are like."
Dandi was even more confused.
Ai Lin turned around and laughed, "Call it machismo. n might risk their lives, but they won’t risk their pride."
"So, it’s all about saving face even if it ans suffering, huh." Isrile said, carrying a heavy trash bin past the two of them and placing it next to the small courtyard. Soone would co to collect it every day.
Dandi nodded in understanding, "Although we have knowledge about this, seeing it first-hand still makes it hard to believe."
anwhile, Long Yi and Wesley were already at a pub. In a small private room, Wesley started off silent then began to knock back drink after drink. Long Yi didn’t say a word; as Wesley downed one drink, Long Yi would follow. The food on the table remained untouched while they finished a round in silence.
After so ti, a red-eyed Wesley finally spoke up.
"Brother Long! I need your help!"
Maybe it was the liquid courage, but Wesley didn’t beat around the bush.
"What’s going on?" Long Yi knew that while Wesley often acted cheeky, he was fundantally a very prideful person. Unless the situation was dire, he wouldn’t have co to him.
The Observation Dragon on his shoulder flew off to watch for trouble.
Long Yi cast a sound-proofing spell and added a layer of shielding to keep them undisturbed.
"What happened? Speak up."
"Brother Long! My family, we might be in big trouble this ti."
Just like not all descendants of a genius are necessarily gifted, not everyone in Wesley’s family enjoyed the sound of coins falling into their pocket. Wesley had a cousin nad Roslein, who was five years older than him. Roslein had no knack for business, but he was adept at spending money rampantly and recklessly. In the Imperial City, he was considered a big spender, and it was all for frivolous extravagance — in other words, he enjoyed throwing his money around.
Roslein lacked the knack for making money, but he was smart enough not to ddle in the family’s operations. As a result, his family gave him a hefty allowance each month to throw around. Having a few wastrels in each family was way too normal.
As a profligate, Roslein wasn’t able to attract won of his social standing; those below his standards didn’t interest him. As a result, he often wasted his nights in pleasure houses. A while ago, he fell head over heels for a woman, pouring all his generous allowance on her and even vowed to buy her freedom.
But that would require a substantial amount of gold. Even though Roslein had his large allowance, it was, after all, just an allowance.
Asking his family for money was out of the question as they’d definitely refuse.
So, he conceived a plan.
Gamble.
As it turned out, this was an incredibly stupid idea. Within a week, Roslein accumulated a debt so huge even he was afraid of it. The debt was enough to purchase the woman twice over.
As for paying his debts, Roslein knew he was in no position to do so.
So, the debtors pointed him in a new direction.
There were five coffins outside the Imperial City. If Roslein could get them into the city without anyone noticing, not only would his debt be cleared, but the woman could also gain her freedom.
Although Roslein was a wastrel, he wasn’t stupid; he knew that there was definitely sothing suspicious about this job — it might even pose a threat to the safety of the Imperial City. But if he didn’t do it, the debtors would go to his family for money. If his family paid up, they would certainly beat him to a pulp. If his family didn’t pay, the debtors would surely kill him.
"So, he agreed to the plan?"
Long Yi asked.
"Yes, this fool, he agreed." Wesley sighed heavily, "This idiot used his status to manipulate our family’s rchant caravan to smuggle the coffins into the Imperial City using our family’s good credit. When they got there, no one, not even the inspectors, questioned it."
"And then what? They simply got the coffins inside?" Long Yi asked.
"Of course not. Our family elders got wind of it imdiately. They beat the life out of Roslein and got the location of the coffins out of him. However, when they reached the secret underground warehouse, all the coffins were empty, blood was everywhere. My father imdiately sent for to return. I had only just rejoined the army a few days ago. But I knew, my father would never ask for unless there was a dire ergency. I asked my group leader for leave and rushed back. When I entered the secret chamber, I was overwheld by the powerful aura of Hell."
At this point, Wesley didn’t say anything more. The situation was clear. If it were discovered that soone from a certain family had colluded with the Black Dragon Empire to engage in illicit activities during such a crucial mont, even if the Emperor didn’t pursue the issue, Wesley’s family would be finished in the entire White Dragon Empire.
So, that’s why Wesley had to find Long Yi.
In this matter, the only one who could provide help was Long Yi.
"Let’s go. Take to the site." Long Yi instantly pulled Wesley up.
On the outskirts of the Imperial City, there are nurous large houses that are typically uninhabited and used as warehouses by rchants. The Wesley Family also owns a row of properties here, and the house with the coffins has been secured by family mbers - allowing no outsider access. Dragon One, leading Dragon One, arrives to see a middle-aged man standing awkwardly at the door of the warehouse. He is Eisenhoven, the family’s current de facto leader.
"We appreciate your help," Eisenhoven extends his hand.
"Don’t ntion it, we’re all on the sa side." Dragon One shakes hands with Eisenhoven, feeling his nervousness. After all, the existence of the family is now at stake with this issue.
Upon entering the basent, even before opening the door, the power of Hell is already pronounced. The door opens to reveal five large coffins, each standing at a height of three ters.
The fact that five coffins of this size could be smuggled into the Imperial City either attests to the credibility of the Wesley family in the city, or else indicates so lapse in the security checks.
Dragon One is inclined to believe the latter.
The three-ter-tall coffins, obviously, wouldn’t be containing Yakshas. Could they possibly contain sothing fresh?
Dragon One scratches his head and turns to look at Wesley.
Wesley, seeing Dragon One scratch his head, imdiately understands– this is typically an indicative gesture for Dragon One, suggesting he wants to say sothing but feels it might be inappropriate.
"Brother Long, don’t hesitate to speak your mind. At this point, we can agree to anything!" Although Eisenhoven was standing nearby, Wesley’s words reflected his aning as well. If they couldn’t properly resolve this issue, their entire family would face utter destruction!
"It’s nothing much, really. I will help investigate this matter, but I can’t promise to save your family."
This is a fairly subtle remark from Dragon One.
"Don’t worry, we understand," Wesley says.
"Good, as long as that’s clear."
Dragon One nodded and called out, "Dandi."
Almost simultaneously, a girl with blood-red wings erged from Dragon One’s side.
"Why have you summoned ? Hmm? This aura of Hell... So powerful! Is it a Black Knight?" Dandi imdiately noted the peculiarity around them.
The so-called Black Knights are powerful warriors ford by transforming the dead powerhouses using Hell’s mud. A Black Knight inherits the combat skills of the Dragon Knight and no longer requires any other energy; Hell’s power sustains their life. Generally, Black Knights possess intense fighting power, making them difficult opponents.
"No, sothing’s wrong. If these were Black Knights, they’d be too weak. They seem to be Black Knights but not powerful enough," Dandi says.
"Can you track them?" Dragon One asks.
"Of course! Do you need to track them?" Dandi asks excitedly.
"I need your tracking ability... But you seem a bit too conspicuous," Dragon One observes. Indeed, with Dandi’s appearance, going unnoticed would be challenging.
"No problem, I can shapeshift," Dandi says. Right then, she transforms into a small Blood Raven amid a cloud of blood-colored fog.
"Is this less conspicuous?"
"Yes, it’s better this way," Dragon one nods. Almost nobody notices a blood-red crow, thanks to its small size. As long as she stays low, she shouldn’t draw attention. Besides, the Blood Ravens are notoriously sly, they certainly have a way around it.
After the Blood Raven took off, Dragon One turned to face Wesley.
"Dandi has gone to find the Black Knights. Let’s start with your cousin, Roslein," Dragon One commands.
This wasn’t Dragon One’s first visit to Wesley’s house, but this ti, everyone seed relieved at his presence. Everyone understood the weight he carried within this nation. With Dragon One’s involvent, even if things worsened, the cost wouldn’t likely be too steep, right?
Wesley’s cousin, Roslein, was under house arrest and stared blankly out from his bedside as Dragon One entered the room. Spotting Dragon One, he began shouting, "None of you will hurt my lover! None of you!" With that, he charged at Dragon One.
"Thump!"
Wesley stepped in, booting Roslein into a tumbling arc that ended on the bed. Still, from his sprawled position, Roslein continued to mutter angrily.
"Little Zi!"
At Dragon One’s call, Little Zi, who was preparing lunch at ho, imdiately handed her task over to Ai Lin and disappeared.
"Brother Long?"
Little Zi looked puzzled at the current situation. Dragon One generally disliked using the power of the contract unless there were no other options available.
"Extract the mories I need from his head," Dragon One orders. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welco your votes and monthly tickets at qidian. Your support is our greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian to read.)
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