Quadruple split.

Chapter 2863 Cleverness

Game time 23:29 PM
Liberty City, Nightless Zone, [Coins and Dancers] Terrace

"Brother Cole, Brother Cole!"

The man in charge of Snake Tail Alley, who not long ago had a very gloomy demeanor but now maintained a cheerful smile and sunny disposition, raised his glass with a flushed face and said loudly, "Come on! I'll toast you again!"

"I can't drink anymore, I really can't drink anymore."

Despite his attempts to refuse, Cole Shulen, a junior butler at Caeves Estate, raised his glass high in a toast to the other party, saying, "To the [Corruption Society]."

After saying this, the young man, who had not touched a drop of alcohol until six months ago, boldly drank the wine in his glass in one gulp and revealed a sincere smile.

"Respect to Caworth."

Oil Claw Lead, the president of the Corrupted Water Society, also readily downed his drink. Then he turned to the white-haired girl who had been standing next to Cole, eating at an incredibly ladylike yet incredibly efficient pace. She had already devoured 60% of the food on the table without slowing down at all. He poured himself another glass of wine, raised it, and said, "To our beautiful guardian."

"Ah."

The beautiful guardian nodded, then turned her attention back to the table in front of her, which was filled with various snacks (even Mr. She didn't think anyone would be hungry and come here specifically to freeload, so he hadn't prepared any main dishes). With lightning speed, she stuffed a pancake into her mouth and completed the entire process from chewing to swallowing in half a second, without even drinking any water in between.

"Ahem, excuse me, Mr. Oil Pliers."

Cole immediately gave Oil Claw an apologetic smile, who was unsure whether he should drink or not. He quickly walked up to Oil Claw, raised his own glass which had been filled without his noticing, and said somewhat helplessly, "Our beautiful guardian has been quite busy lately, and she's also rather reserved. She doesn't usually give much face even to our Countess, and we have to coax her into doing things, so..."

He gave a wry smile, didn't continue, and simply downed a drink with great sincerity.

[You're a bit busy and tired after cutting staff for seven days in a row last week, right?]

Oil Claw, who had just had two of his men killed by that beautiful guardian three days ago and could only chat with Cole with a forced smile, also downed a drink heartily and laughed, "I understand, I understand. All masters have their own personalities. I think Lady Black Snow must be a pure-blooded human. To be able to step into the epic realm at this age, she has a bright future ahead of her."

"You're right."

Cole laughed and nodded, saying, "That's why our Countess values ​​Lady Black Snow so much. Unless there's something urgent, she almost never makes any demands on her."

"To be honest, Cole, my friend."

Oil Pliers rubbed his nose and said with a grin, "Actually, I have long admired this Countess of the Caeves family. If it is convenient, please allow me to pay her a visit another day and have a brief chat about what our [Rotten Water Society] can do for you."

Cole nodded slightly and said repeatedly, "Of course, of course. I will inform Her Excellency the Countess about this matter and see when it would be convenient to arrange a time to have tea and chat."

“Brother Cole—”

Carter, who was standing nearby, chimed in with a laugh, "I've been planning this for a while now. You can't just help Oil Claw make appointments for him alone because he's so quick to talk."

"Me too."

“Brother Cole.”

"This is just a small token of my appreciation. No, no, no, this isn't for Her Excellency the Countess, it's a gift for you, my brother. As for the Countess's gift, I'll bring it with me next time I visit Bella Street."

"And me—"

"Here you are, Brother Cole."

……

"Humph."

At the other end of the relatively quiet long table, David Tu Tu, the boss of [Pig Head Butcher] and the person in charge of Cammy Street, curled his lip and secretly glared at the people who were crowding around Cole, each one more attentive than the last, and said irritably, "These guys are really enthusiastic."

"Aren't Brother David coming along?"

One of the only two people sitting next to David, a gaunt bat-orc man, turned to look at him and said, "Anyone can see that this young man Cole is definitely not a simple person."

"Likewise, Nighteye."

David shrugged and said casually, "But I'm too lazy to go. Firstly, we've never had any ambitions or interest in opening a branch outside Cammy Street, and secondly, it's a bit too close to Bella Street... so let's not be so hypocritical."

Nighteye grinned and said chuckled, "I thought you didn't like the Caeves family, Brother David."

"I wouldn't dare."

David waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "I know my own limitations very well. Putting aside everything else, just the fact that I killed more than a hundred people on 13th Street in our East District in a week is enough to make me grovel like a pig. But groveling is fine, but I don't think it's necessary to go over there and wag my tail at them."

Nighteye shrugged, his expression subtle, and said, "I'd love to wag my tail with them, but... sigh, my dead father had a really good relationship with the Bloodwing Clan, the Bloodseekers Clan that was wiped out by Caeves recently. So after I took over the family, I've maintained a good relationship with those useless bastards, and as a result... sigh."

"understood."

David suddenly realized and laughed, "You're afraid of being blamed by others."

"If it were you, wouldn't you be afraid?"

Nighteye stood up with a bitter face and said helplessly, "They are the kind of people who can send people to slaughter through Thirteen Streets at will. After that conflict, they didn't leave a single survivor for the Bloodwing family. Don't be fooled by how amiable that young deacon is. Who knows if I would have my head chopped off by that hungry girl as soon as I got there."

David shook his head and said very sincerely, "I think now is the best opportunity if you want to test the waters or show goodwill. After all, no matter how arrogant the Caworth family is, they wouldn't be so disrespectful to the Gold Coin Merchant Guild as to start a massacre in their administrative district stronghold."

"good idea."

Nighteye nodded vigorously and patted David on the shoulder: "Then I'll go wag my tail and take a look!"

"go."

David waved his hand, and only after Nighteye had walked away did he turn his head without making a sound to look at the young man who hadn't dared to greet either of them, nor had he greeted Cole, but was just sitting in the corner of the table reading a book, and said softly, "Looks like there's no problem."

"That's normal."

Junwu replied without looking up, saying indifferently, "Although your idea of ​​deliberately pretending not to have much affection for the Caworth family, trying to attract a few people with the same idea to band together, and then betraying them is very good and cunning, there are obviously no fools here who can't see the situation clearly."

As the first street-level leader in the 13th Street of the East District to be bullied by the "Clowns" and also the first to surrender to the "Clowns," David Tu Tu simply clicked his tongue and said nonchalantly, "Anyway, there's no harm in trying. I'm not a very ambitious person, but since the opportunity has been presented to me, it would be too stupid to do nothing."

"Chance?"

Junwu raised an eyebrow and casually asked, "What kind of opportunity?"

"An opportunity to invest in the future."

David didn't hide anything from Junwu and said without hesitation, "Just by looking at Brother Cole's style of doing things, you can tell that the organization behind him is definitely not an honest guy who is content to guard a street and bully others, with no ambition and living in a corner. Add to that the Black Snow girl who makes your hair stand on end just by looking at her... and you, if I don't take this gamble, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep well until I die."

"Oh?" This time, Junwu finally looked up from the book in her hand and turned to David's face, which was quite rugged even among the boarmen. She asked with interest, "I understood everything before, but what did you mean by 'and' just now?"

However, this time David did not answer directly. Instead, he coughed lightly and asked hesitantly, "This... is it really convenient to say?"

"Mr. She undoubtedly respects me, so he won't listen to or look at things indiscriminately."

Junwu smiled and said casually, "As for the others, they wouldn't dare, so if you don't mind, please satisfy my curiosity, Mr. David."

"Well... okay."

David nodded upon hearing this, then asked with a somewhat subtle expression, "Mr. Jun, what you're wondering about is why I directly included you, who 'should' have a cooperative relationship with the Caworth family, in the forces behind young Mr. Cole, right?"

Junwu slammed the book shut and said noncommittally, "Perhaps."

"Well... it might just be my intuition. Although there's no evidence, I always feel that your rise to prominence has been a bit too fast."

David licked his lips and said somewhat awkwardly, "Of course, I don't mean to question your abilities, but please forgive my bluntness, it would be almost impossible for someone like you, with exceptional abilities but no theoretical foundation, to reach your current position in just a few months, yet you have done it."

Junwu narrowed her eyes slightly and said with a half-smile, "You really gave me a surprise, Mr. David."

“I am not an ambitious person, and I am well aware that I do not have enough courage and boldness.”

David, fully aware of Junwu's implication, spread his hands and said earnestly, "In my opinion, having a few shops of my own on Cammy Street, and not having to live in constant fear like I did when I first came to the City of Freedom, is already very satisfying, but..."

"But what?"

Junwu raised the corners of her mouth slightly and asked the question at just the right moment.

"But I still underestimated the greed in my own human nature."

David spread his hands and said helplessly, "As I just said, Mr. Jun, if I miss this opportunity, I might really regret it for the rest of my life. Since the power behind Brother Cole can support you, why can't I try to fight for myself?"

“You’re a little too smart, Mr. David.”

Junwu casually took off his glasses, slowly wiping them with the hem of his robe, and said absentmindedly, "If you really do lack the courage and boldness you claim, this intelligence might very well be your downfall."

David took a deep breath and said seriously, "What I just said to you was my last bit of courage and boldness."

"You're a cowardly gambler, so the main reason I let you go all in with me is..."

Junwu put her glasses back on, turned to look at David, whose forehead was already sweating, and said softly, "It's probably because you've already studied us 'otherworldly people' in detail and think that this method has the highest safety factor, right? Just like the advice you gave to Mr. Nighteye just now."

David didn't speak, but gave a somewhat stiff, but genuinely sincere, smirk.

"They are able to embody the principle of seeking advantage and avoiding harm, possess a sufficiently intelligent mind, and dare to take a gamble at crucial moments, even at the cost of their own lives."

Junwu took a deep breath and slowly nodded, saying, "Most importantly, even at a time like this, you didn't act rashly for a single moment... That's right."

"Mr. Junwu!?"

David's eyes widened immediately, clearly realizing the implied meaning behind the other person's comment.

"Keep doing what you think is right."

Junwu didn't explain anything, but simply reopened the book on her lap and said as she read, "I will mention you a few more times when necessary and on certain occasions."

"Thank you, Boss Jun! Thank you, Boss Jun!"

David, almost suffocating with excitement, suddenly had bloodshot eyes and, panting heavily, said in a deep voice, "I will definitely do my best to cooperate with everything we plan here..."

"Oh, by the way, there's something I need to remind you of."

"Please speak!"

"It's best not to try to be clever in front of anyone other than me, even if it's a reasonable and well-intentioned trick."

"Uh……"

"Just do your best in what you can. After all, what you just said only works for dealing with normal people like me. It doesn't work for some crazy people."

"madman?"

"If you want to follow behind and get some benefits, and they actually think you're fun, then you'll most likely be played to death by them. Believe me, that's not the future you want."

"I see--"

"That's settled then. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. David."

"It's a great honor, Mr. Jun!"

……

after an hour

Game time: 00:35 AM
Freedom City, Nightless District, Fallen Leaf Street
"I go first."

Mu Xuejian turned to look at Cole beside him and said calmly, "In a couple of days, come with me to test your sword skills."

"Yes."

The clown gracefully bowed to the Ace of Spades and said with a smile, "It's my pleasure."

"Thanks for your hard work."

After casually leaving behind those words, Mu Xuejian patted Cole on the shoulder and vanished into the night in an instant.

The next second, a slightly piercing gaze instantly dispelled the last trace of Cole's drunkenness.

"Xiao Ai!?"

He turned around abruptly to look behind him, only to find that the long alley was completely deserted.

The burning sensation that seemed to be focused on his face vanished without a trace, as if it were an illusion.

Chapter 2854: The End