In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 9 Son of the Witch King
"Aren't you worried at all that Marcus might betray you?"

Inside the tavern, Chen Qichang, having finished a day's work, was wiping wine glasses, while Jian, who was diligently learning to write, posed a question to him.

“You are now the leader of a violent gang of over a hundred people. If Marcus reports you, they might send the Guards or even the army to wipe us out.”

“Marcus is just an ordinary guard, and he’s only been with us for a day. Are you really comfortable letting him do intelligence work in the city?”

“We have no choice, that’s our trump card. Marcus is the only person we’ve contacted who’s willing to help us and expand our influence in the city.”

However, Chen Qi knew very well that he had no right to be picky at the moment. Marcus was the only intelligence source he could win over and trust.

"not to mention……"

Chen Qi paused, his mood becoming complicated as he recalled Marcus's impulsive gesture yesterday, a gesture that would have landed him in jail in some of the countries of his previous life.

"...I think the person who is the first to make that gesture may be more enlightened than we imagine."

"?" Jian tilted his head, puzzled, unable to understand Chen Qi's implied meaning.

But soon, Jian also gave up thinking.

...Forget it, why should I dwell on this?
Schemes are something a clever person like Qi should think about; she just needs to trust him and fulfill her duties as a warrior.

—Tsk, why is this Letanian script so hard to learn? When is this guy finally going to teach me about acupoints?
Just as Jian was tackling the difficulties on his learning journey, the tavern door, which had already been closed, was pushed open again.

The person who walked in was someone both of them knew very well, and who was extremely excited.

"Marcus?"

"Yes!"

At Chen Qi's soft call, Marcus, who considered himself a soldier, immediately responded with a resolute voice and a familiar demeanor.

Chen Qi has already gotten used to this.

After all, during his speeches at the pub these past few days, he had noticed that many of the members who had joined his organization had begun to spontaneously learn Marcus's gesture and salute him.

It seems that after I talked with Marcus a few days ago, Marcus started enthusiastically promoting his self-created salute to others at his speech that day.

The scene was noisy, and Chen Qi couldn't hear everything.

Marcus seemed to be saying something like, "The different salute represents our rebellion against the Twin Queens and their lackeys."
It must be said that this reason is very convincing to those in the slums who have no goodwill towards the Twin Queens or even Letania.

Even in the slums, it seems to have become a new culture, sweeping through the city...

"Thank you for your hard work, Marcus."

After responding to Marcus in the same manner, Chen Qi also inquired:

"So, you came here so excitedly because you've obtained some important intelligence?"

"Fortunately, I did not disgrace my life."

Marcus, whose mental state had been completely renewed compared to a few days ago, hurriedly reported his work results to Chen Qi.

“In the past few days, I contacted several people in the guard brigade who had similar experiences to mine. I have a good relationship with them, I can trust them, and they are all willing to join our operation.”

“One of the brothers, whose jurisdiction was in Viseheim, told me some very valuable information.”

“The old lord of Viseheim, Earl Strolo, was purged as a remnant of the Witch King after his downfall, and now only his two children can inherit his title.”

“My brother heard from the locals that the count’s son was cowardly and was so scared that he wet himself on the day the Golden Law Guard raided his house. On the contrary, the count’s daughter seemed to be very dissatisfied with the actions of the Twin Queens.”

"I think this count's daughter might be a valuable asset that the organization needs!"

Chen Qi: "This is exactly what we need. It's a huge help, Marcus!"

Chen Qi was overjoyed; everything was progressing much more smoothly than he had imagined!

Intelligence gathering is always the most expensive but not guaranteed to pay off, so Chen Qi initially approached it with the mindset of losing everything just to build his network of contacts in the city.

Unexpectedly, the intelligence Marcus brought this time was extremely valuable. It not only built a simple intelligence network, but also extended his connections to the noble district, an area that Chen Qi found extremely difficult to intervene in.

Chen Qi immediately offered his reward for this unexpected achievement.

“Jian, go to the cabinet and get me 200, no, 800 Ducates as payment for Marcus’s hard work this time.”

Jian: "...Our tavern only makes so much money, but since you put it that way..."

Just a second before Jian was about to get up to take the money, Marcus's expression changed, and he immediately and righteously refused:
"No, sir, please forgive me for not being able to accept this money."

"If we want to overthrow the Twin Queens' rule, money is essential. Right now, the organization is struggling to operate, relying solely on this tavern for profit, and I don't want to cause any trouble for the organization."

"My brothers and I are fighting for a better Letania, not for money!"

Wow, they've got pretty high awareness.

Chen Qi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected that Marcus, who had joined the organization in a fit of anger because he was dissatisfied with the infringement of his personal interests, would suddenly become indifferent to money and profit after joining.

Who would believe that?

He dared to say something that even Chen Qi wouldn't believe.

"Well said." Chen Qi suppressed his thoughts and still praised Marcus.

But the next moment, he changed the subject and said:

"However, although our organization is facing some difficulties and doesn't have enough money, it won't leave our comrades without any reward for their contributions."

"If you have made a contribution, you should be rewarded. That's our principle. I order you to take this and distribute it to the other comrades who have contributed."

Marcus: "—Yes, sir!"

Marcus was excited, looking at the money in his hand that was more than two months' salary for him, and even felt that it was all too easy and unreal.

He didn't actually intend to take the money; he hoped that this lord would remember his contributions and, if he were to overthrow the Twin Queens in the future, reward him with a title in recognition of his hard work.

But now... looking at the real gold and silver in his hands, Marcus's belief became even stronger.

I will follow this person for the rest of my life!

“By the way, Marcus, could you and your brothers find an opportunity for us to have a face-to-face talk with that count’s daughter?” Chen Qi didn’t know what Marcus was thinking, but he was certain of Marcus’s reliability, and then proposed his new plan.

Those who harbor resentment towards the Gemini Queens might be the ones to succeed him as Earl. Chen Qi wouldn't let such a valuable asset slip by.

“Of course.” Marcus nodded quickly in agreement.

"I will have my brother help us contact the count's daughter."

Chen Qi: "This is troublesome—by the way, what's the count's daughter's name?"

Soon, Chen Qi heard a name that sounded quite familiar from Marcus.

“I remember, her name was Gertrude Strolo.”

……

Gertrude is very resentful and anxious lately.

The reason was simple: her father, a loyal subject of the Witch King, was arrested and investigated almost immediately after the Witch King's death by the "Voice of the Queen," sent by the Twin Queens.

Based on the confession of her cowardly and weak father, the Twin Queens captured many of the Witch King's remaining followers with ease.

But this did not save him from disaster.

One day, her father was found brutally murdered in the sanctuary. Based on the traces left at the scene, the "Queen's Voice" concluded that it was the work of the remnants of the Witch King.

The Gemini Queen's "Black Queen" originally intended to uproot her family and reclaim all her territory.

However, the "White Queen" remembered that her father had provided a lot of valuable information, so she retained her family's title of count and continued to enjoy the patronage of a count, but transferred their territory in Viseheim to the control of the city council.

The Gemini Queens felt that their decisions were impeccable.

It's a classic case of giving a stick and a piece of candy.

What they didn't know was that Gertrude was not grateful for their tolerance and generosity.

Instead, she harbored resentment because they had harmed her interests.

Viseheim is the territory that their family has ruled for generations, and the twin queens were not even created when their family fought for Letania.

This is the territory our ancestors fought for for their descendants. What right do you have to take it away?
But Gertrude's anxiety wasn't limited to these things; the death of his bastard father was another major concern.

Because the title is retained, she and one of her brothers will inherit the position of earl.

But Gertrude was clearly less competitive than her brother in every aspect.

First of all, she is young.

Secondly, her brother was timid and too easy to control.

If she were the Gemini Queen, she would definitely support a cowardly, incompetent, and obedient person like her brother to be the Earl—he was just too easy to control.

At that time, unable to inherit the earldom, she would likely marry a viscount and become a virtuous wife who could only chat and socialize with other noblewomen like herself every day.

This is definitely not the life I want!

Gertrude wanted power and wealth, but even more, she wanted to have her life firmly in her own hands!
She would never allow herself to be slaughtered!

For this reason, she will use every means at her disposal, and she will not hesitate to feed her conscience to the beast of Pero!

And a terrifying idea began to form in Gertrude's mind...

"Now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to think of a way... to kill my cowardly brother."

"However, a crude approach will only lead to ambiguity. The Twin Queens will definitely suspect that I killed him, and her group of perceptive Pero-things (Queen's voice) will definitely find some clues."

"I must find a way to kill my brother without leaving a trace, so that even if the Twin Queens suspect me, they won't be able to get any evidence..."

But just as Gertrude was pondering this, there was a sudden knock on her door.

"do not bother me!"

Gertrude was very impatient and annoyed. But then she heard the butler's voice from outside the door.

“Young lady, a guard outside has brought a letter, saying it’s from the judge.”

"From what he said, it seems to be about the inheritance of the title, and you and the young master need to appear in court together for the court to make a judgment."

The court has ruled on the inheritance rights?
So fast?
Wouldn't that leave me with no time to even act?!
Upon hearing the news, Gertrude was immediately drawn to it. She opened the door, took the letter from the butler, and opened it.

But when she was halfway through her action, she realized something was wrong.

—When the court pronounces its verdict, shouldn't a court official be the one to deliver the summons? Why is a guard being sent to deliver the message?

With these questions in mind, Gertrude opened the envelope.

As expected, it wasn't a court appearance notice at all; it was just three sentences written rather hastily, as if by someone with a low level of education.

"If you wish to inherit the title of Earl, then please do me the trouble of visiting the Bigbrook Keller Tavern, deep in the slums."

There, we might be able to help you inherit your title.

"Of course, once it's done, we would also appreciate your help, Madam Countess. We will certainly repay you afterward."

The inheritance of the title. It must be said that this alone made it impossible for Gertrude to refuse the invitation.

However, none of these things attracted Gertrude.

What truly made Gertrude's heart tremble was the impolite signature in the lower right corner.

"—Entrusted by the son of the Witch King, please convey my respects."

These few words made Gertrude's eyes glaze over, but after a moment of distraction, her heart pounded and she was overjoyed.

Son of the Witch King.

Regardless of whether this identity is real or fake, I have to find out for myself.

She wanted to see just how anyone dared to claim to be the son of the Witch King under the current power of the Gemini Queens!
(End of this chapter)