Old Gods, Rapid-Fire Guns, and Prohibition

Chapter 270 [Morma's Children]

Johnny Blackbird eventually drove to a slum in the West End.

Yes, there are slums in the West End as well.

The western district was developed the latest, and although it is now touted as a hub for universities, art institutions, and museums.

However, the kingdom's financial resources were limited, making it impossible to cover the entire western district, leaving many blank areas.

These places may have been inhabited by people before, or they may have been occupied by people later.

For example, the western part of the West, where the Western gangs are now most rampant, was originally just a gathering place for the lower classes. It was only after the Western gangs moved in that it transformed into the Western-style area it is today.

The place that Johnny Blackbird took Ethan and the others to had a more central feel to it.

Or, to put it more bluntly, this is an area where indigenous people live.

The indigenous people also wield considerable influence in the capital, and they almost coexist with the city.

The original inhabitants contributed a great deal of effort when the city was first built.

Many years have passed, and the indigenous people have taken root in the capital, which is no longer what it used to be.

They split into two factions.

One group consists of the original inhabitants who have become completely integrated into the capital. They are often people whose ancestors grew up in the capital. Initially, they may have been just nobles, important figures, or servants of capitalists. However, as times changed, these people gradually gained status, either becoming capitalists themselves or becoming the core confidants of nobles and important figures.

Some of the indigenous people were even important figures in the royal palace.

For example, Phyllis the Vulture, a trusted attendant of His Majesty Lucien II, is an indigenous person.

Lucien II doted on Phyllis, often referring to her as "my Phyllis" and saying that there was nothing in this world that his vultures couldn't bring back.

Aside from those who rose to prominence thanks to the favor of royalty and nobility, most indigenous people seized the opportunity presented by the industrialization and steel revolution to rise to power.

In particular, the development and construction of the northern district has led to the relocation of a large number of original residents.

When the North District was built into the kingdom's largest steel manufacturing center, the indigenous people also benefited.

Indigenous gangs grew up in this environment.

They now control the underworld of the North District, with businesses spanning automobile manufacturing, smuggling, and arms trading; they are no longer the slaves they once were.

Therefore, they look down on their fellow villagers, those indigenous people in the central region, and feel that those people are a different kind of people from themselves.

As a result, those natives who could not survive in their hometowns and wanted to come to the capital to seek refuge with their relatives and clansmen were often ostracized and bullied, and had no choice but to band together again.

These people then went to the West District.

Johnny Blackbird led Ethan and the others to the area where these people lived.

As soon as Johnny Blackbird got out of the car and stepped into the dark and filthy alley, some thin and weak-looking indigenous children surrounded him, calling out "Johnny, Johnny" while looking at him with longing eyes.

"Oh, children, I'm so sorry, Uncle Johnny came in a hurry today and didn't bring any candy. Next time, I'll definitely bring some, okay?"

Johnny Blackbird's tone softened as he spoke, teasing the children with his hands.

Although the children were disappointed, they still cheered around him.

Johnny Blackbird coaxed them for a while before they dispersed.

"Is this what you wanted to show me?"

After the children had left, Einbetz asked a question. She didn't show any disgust or discomfort, after all, she often did charity work and helped the poor, and she had been to slums before.

"Of course, that's not all. Come, Your Highness, I'm going to show you something else."

Johnny Blackbird snapped his fingers and continued walking forward.

After passing through a filthy, dark alley, I arrived at a cramped little house. Then, without knowing which mechanism I turned, I opened an entrance leading underground.

"Come on, Your Highness, this is what I'm about to show you."

Einbeze hesitated for a moment, but seeing Ethan standing silently to the side, she suddenly felt at ease for some reason and followed Johnny Blackbird downstairs.

The underground passage was quite long, and it took quite a while to reach our destination, which appeared to be a very large underground space.

As soon as you come down, a breeze blows, but it doesn't smell very pleasant; it carries a strong, rotten, and decaying odor.

Seemingly hearing the commotion, someone immediately appeared in the underground space. It was a woman dressed like a nurse, wearing a mask so her face couldn't be seen. But the moment she saw Johnny Blackbird, she said, "Thank God, Johnny, you're finally here. We're out of that medicine again. We need to restock quickly. Dudu in bed 7 and Passa in bed 34 are both dying. Who are they?"

Immediately afterwards, the nurse saw the people behind Johnny Blackbird, especially Einbetz. Her aura was so unique that it didn't arouse any wariness, but rather curiosity.

“They’re my friends, Mona. You go ahead and get busy. I understand. I’ll get it done as soon as possible. I’ll show them around first.”

Johnny the Blackbird comforted the nurse.

Although the nurse named Mona was very curious about Einbeze, she had to leave; she had many other things to do.

"So this is an underground hospital?"

Judging from Mona's attire and what she said, it's not hard to tell.

"You can say that."

Johnny Blackbird nodded, then began leading Ethan and the others deeper into the underground hospital.

The space here is indeed large enough, probably with hundreds of beds, and simple curtains are hung everywhere to cover the patients inside.

Johnny Blackbird casually lifted a curtain, and a stench immediately rushed out.

Even more terrifying than the stench was the appearance of the patients inside.

It looked like a child.

The word "seems" is used because the person's entire body was rotten, like a lump of mud stuck in the bed, making it almost impossible to recognize his original appearance.

Judging from his physique and the fact that his hands were still relatively intact, he seemed to be a child, not very old.

"What's up with him?"

Einbezee finally changed color.

"As you can see, he has a serious illness, and everyone here has this disease, but this is far from all of them. In their hometown, there are many more people suffering from this disease."

Johnny Blackbird seemed oblivious to the scent of revenge. He grasped the hand and whispered, "Hey, Oda, little boy, I've come to see you. How are you today?"

Where are they from?

"I think you've already guessed the answer, Your Highness? They are from... Morma."

(End of this chapter)