Chapter Seventeen Bitterness

  John smiled and said, "The Knights' Code has two clauses: protecting one's home and the weak. I think I haven't violated them, and Sir Vain must understand that. In comparison, your gang's words seem untrustworthy."

  "You have no evidence!" Jackson said menacingly.

  Many people know that making all witnesses unwilling or afraid to testify is a specialty of the gang, and the church generally does not intervene in such matters. Moreover, the big shot behind Aaron's gang also has influence within the church.

  Lucien burst out laughing, recalling the various villainous lines of nobles and knights he had heard and seen before, and said in a superior tone: "Evidence? He is a knight's attendant, you are a gang leader, that's all the evidence!"

  From the Copper Crown Tavern, Lucien knew that in the Principality of Valoret, knights were true nobles and their formal attendants, although not high-ranking, were absolutely not low-ranking either. Therefore, he believed that Jackson, a small-time gangster, was not qualified to slander an attendant knight, after all, neither he nor John had any other great benefits that would make Aaron's gang excited.

  It was John who had been influenced by the chivalrous spirit and code of honor, and Aunt Eliza also thought so, that he couldn't help but be taken in by Jackson.

  Jackson was shut down by Lucien's words and fell silent, framing a knight attendant, for Aaron's gang, it is indeed possible, but the relationships and resources that need to be mobilized will be very many, how could Aaron eldest possibly take action for his own small head, especially recently Altor's atmosphere seems to be a bit strange, under the calm surface there seem to be many undercurrents surging, even Aaron eldest has been mysterious in his whereabouts all day, don't know what he is planning, so he was just intimidating John earlier.

  Besides, this matter is not a deep-seated vendetta, there's no need to stake one's future and life on it.

  After becoming the leader, Jackson naturally lost his own momentum.

  "So Jackson spoke up with difficulty: 'How much compensation do you need? I only have two silver nails on me.'"

  Lucien, seeing that he had successfully scared off Jackson, turned to John and let him decide, while looking towards the distant end of the street, said in a low voice: "It seems like the sheriff is coming with his men, let's leave quickly, lest things get out of hand."

  As for Aaron's gang, they won't be short of excuses when dealing with law enforcement.

  Although Lucien was worried about the gang's revenge, he occasionally thought about thoroughly suppressing or cutting off the possibility of future troubles, but at this time, neither his own nor John's strength were sufficient to complete it, and killing on the street would really get John expelled.

  John kept his knight's oath and hadn't thought of extorting Jackson, nodded: "Alright, then compensate two silver nails."

  Lucien was robbed of only forty-odd copper farthings and some unprocessed trash, the rest of the money was carefully hidden in a corner of the witch's ruins, due to fear of the witch, fearing being cursed, the thugs didn't dare to get close, so they didn't find it, plus the broken furniture, at most one silver nal more or less, compensating two silver nals is considered double.

  Jackson laboriously pulled out his purse and tossed it to John, empty except for two silver nails: "Copperfield gave them a reward just now."

  John poured out two glittering silver coins and handed them to Lucien, then tossed the pouch at Jackson's side: "Want to search those rascals and get your stolen copper farthings back?"

  Taking over from Silvernal, Lucien jerked his chin at the approaching constables and their deputies: "Too late for that, let's move."

  Although caught red-handed by the constable, he may not have received any punishment, but it's better to be safe than sorry, Lucien didn't dare gamble with John's future, so he abandoned those lovely copper farthings without much heartache.

  "Alright!" John picked up the wooden stick, leaving no evidence behind, while Lucien picked up the dagger that Jackson had dropped.

  Then Lucien and John took off in a sprint down another major street, darting into an alleyway and quickly disappearing into the market district.

  …………

  "Hey, stop running, that's enough, take a rest." Lucien finally felt at ease when he ran back to a secluded corner of the slum, panting heavily with his hands on the wall for support. He then realized his legs were extremely weak and thought to himself that he had indeed run quite a distance that morning. So he simply sat down on the ground, smiling slightly as he said, "Hehe, no energy left."

  John panted similarly, seeing that the two wounds on Lucien's body were not deep and the bleeding had stopped. He also sat down next to him, leaning against Lucien: "I'm almost out of energy too. Being surrounded by them for just a few dozen seconds was more exhausting than running for half a day. But it's been a long time since I've had such a refreshing fight, it feels great!"

  The two of them sat on the ground, panting and recovering their strength.

  "Ah, it's so refreshing." Lucien narrowed his eyes and looked up at the clear blue sky. The argument just now had a cathartic effect on him, as if he had released all the repression, pain, confusion, and wandering of this period of time. His mind was clearer than ever before, and he truly appreciated John, his good friend. He couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Hahaha..."

  Laughter is unrestrained and delightful.

  John looked at him strangely: "Lucien, what are you laughing at?"

  "I'm thinking that in the future, after I've learned to read and write and earned some money, I'll travel to various places on the mainland, see different landscapes, try different foods, visit different countries and experience all sorts of wonderful legends."

  Lucien didn't respond, instead gazing up at the sky, opening his mouth slowly, but in his heart, he continued to speak silently:

  "I want to learn magic, I want to travel across the continent, to explore the knowledge and laws of this world, to penetrate the truth of this world, in order to find my way back home."

  "No matter whether it's successful or not, this is the direction I'm striving for, for my parents and friends like John in the past."

  "It's already been three months, and no matter what, even if I have to borrow from a usurer, I must gather the remaining funds as soon as possible so that I can start learning magic in the shortest time. The Aaron gang doesn't dare to retaliate openly, but they are also skilled at making secret moves."

  If it can be said that Lucien's decision to learn magic under the influence of Aaron's gang was due to external pressure, negative emotions, and yearning for strength, status, good life, and wonderful enjoyment, then now, it is a thorough and heartfelt decision.

  John smiled and said, "Travel to various places on the mainland? Hehe, Lucien, although the eastern countries of the empire have almost exterminated dark creatures and magical beasts, it's still not safe in the wild. Those dog-headed people, earth spirits, and wolfmen are like rats, they can breed quickly, even if you kill them all, soon another group will appear. With your strength, I'm afraid you won't be able to travel alone."

  "Ghouls, kobolds, werewolves... uh, are they edible?" Lucien asked subconsciously, his first thought on eradicating this rapidly breeding creature being to eat them.

  John was somewhat perplexed and couldn't understand Lucien's train of thought: "Should...can't be, right?"

  "Never mind," Lucien said with a hint of disappointment.

  John didn't ask much, also raised his head to gaze at the sapphire-like sky, and said with a sigh of longing: "If I can become a formal knight, I will also travel across the continent, I don't know what it's like outside Altro, is it as wonderful as those minstrels say?"

  "By the way, Lucien, be more careful recently, try not to go outside the city or quiet places, those rascals are real scum."

  "Ah, John, when you see Sir Vane, be sure to bring up today's events and ask for punishment." Lucien instructed John.

  John was taken aback, then nodded heavily: "Alright. Ah, what a pity that I can only learn some military-related texts after becoming a senior knight attendant, otherwise I could have taught you."

  The two of them chatted happily, exchanging sentences, until they regained their strength and stood up to head towards Aunt Elisa's house.

  …………

  Alicia had gone to the administrative district to find Joel and brought him back, pacing back and forth anxiously. Only when she finally saw John and Lucien walking side by side with smiles on their faces did she let out a long sigh of relief.

  Joel grinned and opened his arms wide: "Welcome home to our two heroes, you remind me of the passionate youth."

  John and Joel hugged: "Dad, you guys have to be careful these days, I'm worried that those rascals are doing something bad behind your back."

  "This rascal is actually the most timid, you beat them hard for a while and they don't dare to do anything." Joel smiled and then turned serious, "Actually, such things, you should ask Sir Vain first, you are his attendant, your every move is related to his dignity and honor."

  John also knew he had been too rash: "Yes, Father, when I return to the manor, I will ask Sir Vane for punishment." He was initially worried that Sir Vane would not agree.

  Aunt Elisa took out a clean old cloth and bandaged Lucien's wound.

  After a while, Lucien saw that there was nothing else to do, so he stood up and bid farewell. He planned to go to the Copper Crown Tavern an hour before lunch to borrow money from the usurer to make up for five silver nails. Learning words and learning magic were currently the most important things.

  "If I can learn magic smoothly, then usury should be no problem. If not, it's more dangerous. However, there is no gain without risk."

  Lucien was already prepared to bear the consequences of borrowing at usurious rates.

  "Little Evans, wait." Joel suddenly called out to Lucien.

  Lucien turned around in confusion: "Uncle Joel, what else is there?"

  Jorel pulled out a very old and simple purse and handed it to Lucien: "This is eight silver nails, you take it."

  "Uncle Joel, Aunt Elisa, you guys?" Lucien was somewhat at a loss. In his heart, he had always thought that Uncle Joel's family should be just as poor as himself, and Evan wasn't even grown up yet, so he had never considered the possibility of borrowing money from them.

  Elisa smiled and said, "Little Evans, your Uncle Joel doesn't have much money, these were all saved up over the past two years. Although it's not a lot, it should be enough for you to start learning how to read and write."

  "But this is all your savings......" Lucien felt his eyes a little sour.

  Joel burst out laughing and patted Lucien on the shoulder: "In the past, because of Little John, we had a hard time, your father often helped us. Once you learn to read and write, you can find a decent job with a good income, won't you repay us? Or are you worried that you won't learn to read and write?"

  "I'm very confident, Uncle Joel." Lucien nodded heavily.

  "Although this money, plus your own, can only allow you to study for two months, but we all work together, at least guarantee that every three or four months, you can study for a month's worth of text. So, Lucien, it's up to you to work hard and see how much you can learn." Joel's words made Lucien's learning into a family affair.

  Lucien's eyes were a bit blurry: "Thank you, Uncle Joel, Aunt Elisa, John." At the same time, he secretly made up his mind to make Uncle Joel's family live a better life, and after mastering certain magic, leave Alto as soon as possible, and not let them get involved in such dangerous things.

  When leaving Elisa's house, Lucien's destination was still the Copper Crown Tavern, but not to borrow money, but to find a scholar and learn letters.