A brave man may not live, but he cannot die

Chapter 267 Black Hand
The second basement level of the Golden Wind Casino.

"Where are they?! Where are they?! Damn it, it's been almost a week!! They're practically out of the Southern Continent by now—"

Bonner, the second-in-command of the Golden Wind, was in a rage, roaring angrily, the scars on his bald head seeming ready to devour anyone who dared to touch him.

The second basement level houses a boxing ring beneath the casino, where bloody battles erupt every night. Orcs, black men, and even venomous crocodiles from the swamps and wild bulls from the plains clash. During the day, this most famous underground boxing ring in Eswell is where Golden Wind conducts its business. Upstairs are offices, mostly staffed by accountants and clerks. Some unavoidable "business" within the gang requires a quieter setting, such as…
An elderly man, strapped to a boxing ring, looked like he was on his deathbed.

If Quinn were here, he would recognize this as old Hunter, the doctor from the Seaville shady clinic.

His son, Hunter Jr., is a member of Golden Wind, but he stole the "cargo" he was responsible for transporting, an incident that alerted Ike. However, as things stand, Hunter Jr. and the stolen cargo haven't been found yet.

The exhaust fans creaked and groaned. Only one light was on in the boxing ring, which could hold two thousand spectators; the pale gas light illuminated the ring, shutting out the noisy casino. Old Hunter's wife and daughters were being held captive; they didn't appear to have been mistreated, but seeing how he had been tortured, they were already sobbing uncontrollably.

Old Hunter looked strange, appearing dazed and confused, drool uncontrollably dripping from the corner of his mouth. Borna didn't look at him; he couldn't get any more information from him. He truly didn't know his son's whereabouts and could only roar at his helpless subordinates.

Ike sat on the referee's high chair, slowly smoking a cigar, staring at the empty stands, lost in thought.

A chubby hand was massaging Ike's shoulders, very ingratiatingly. The boy massaging his shoulders was the pillar of the Yenge government-in-exile, the only "prince" who had inherited the direct bloodline of the Yenge royal family.

In March, the little prince was still quite chubby, but in less than four months, he has lost a lot of weight. Although he is still chubby, he has finally developed some of the heroic spirit that a royal descendant should have, and his originally fair and delicate face has gained more color, it seems that he has been spending a lot of time in the sun with Ike these days.

The interrogation continues below.

An arcanist in a long black robe was preparing potions under the boxing ring, with glass syringes, gleaming silver needles, and murky liquids constantly boiling in bottles and jars. He drew a vial of the potion, climbed onto the ring, and grabbed old Henry by the neck.

Several needle marks were visible on the other side of his neck, a result of the potion in the syringe. The arcanist who prepared the potion was Foe Douglas, who had interviewed for the academy's teaching assistant position and had also met Quinn briefly at the Mirror Lake Restaurant.

Phil found the right spot and prepared to give the injection. Seeing that old Hunter was about to be pricked again, the two women struggled excitedly, but their mouths were covered and they couldn't move. When the needle touched their skin, Phil hesitated for a moment and asked Borner, who was standing next to him, "Another injection might kill him."

“If we can’t find Little Hunter, we’re all going to die,” Borna said coldly.

Phil nonchalantly pushed the needle in. He was educated at the Clock Tower, where the arcane mages were different from Grindelwald, adhering to the strictest and most rigid arcane spirit and not having much worldly morality.

Just as he was about to push the medicine in, Ike, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. He put down his cigar and shook his head.

"Forget it, he's already given so many injections. If he knew where his son was, he would have told us long ago. We can't get anything out of him by giving him more injections. This old man is still alive."

Upon hearing this, Phil pulled out the needle, and blood slid down his neck like a shocking line. He turned to the two women and asked, "Then should we treat these two?"

There was a hint of resentment in his words; he felt that his boss was questioning the potion's efficacy.

Ike looked at the two trembling mother and daughter.

Their eyes were filled with fear.

For no apparent reason, he suddenly thought of the woman he had driven away. She had come to his door more than once these past few days, including to her mother. Ike was puzzled as to why he would think of these things at a time like this.

He paused for a moment, then blurted out, "No need, they probably don't know anyway."

"Let's give it a try, who knows?" Phil was eager to give it a shot.

"Take them to the warehouse and lock them up."

Ike said this to the boy behind him.

The little prince immediately nodded and obsequiously climbed down the ladder. These things were both novel and interesting to this boy who had been fleeing since childhood and constantly on the run; he had already begun to adapt to how to be a gangster.

“Although Little Hunter did something wrong, this old man has saved a lot of brothers in the gang over the years.” He said, cigar in mouth, his words muffled, “One thing at a time.”

“Boss,” Borna said menacingly, “if we don’t find him soon, something bad will happen.”

"But the problem now is that we can't find it."

Ike didn't show much emotion, remaining calm and unhurried, as if discussing how to find a lost gold pound.

"His family doesn't know anything about it. He's stopped going to his favorite brothels and pubs, and he's nowhere to be seen at the city exits, the airport, and the train station. These things can't be disposed of by Eswell; he can only try to find our buyers, but he hasn't found any."

"Clearly, this wasn't something he did on a whim; someone instructed him. Aswell is such a large place, how could we find him if he wanted to hide? Or is he already dead somewhere?"

He exhaled a puff of smoke and said slowly, "It's not about finding someone anymore. But the other party hasn't told the academy about Starlight either, so we can only wait and see what they want to do."

Borna clenched his fists in frustration, but had to admit that Ike was right.

He looked at the young man sitting calmly in the coach's chair, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

Although he was only 26 years old, Borna felt like a young boy in front of him.

His innovative methods, seasoned experience, rich background, and composed personality were all striking. Most remarkably, he possessed an unflappable calm. These qualities seemed contradictory to someone so young and accomplished; it would have been more believable if he were an elderly, septuagenarian underworld tycoon sitting there.

"Ah—" came a woman's panicked cry from the side.

Hearing his daughter's call, old Hunter's cloudy eyes flickered, but he couldn't react. The little prince over there grinned mischievously, seemingly up to no good.

But soon, seeing Ike's slightly furrowed brow, the boy awkwardly withdrew his hand and beckoned someone to take the family of three, who had been harmed by Little Hunter, away.

"You all go ahead and get busy. Keep looking for the person, and if you can't find them, that's fine," Ike said, a sharp glint in his eyes. "The priority now is to eliminate those barbarians from the Northern Continent who dare to harm our respected councilor."

Bonner shrugged.

"I don't care about going to war with the Razorfen Downs; these old bones of mine can't be expected to go out on the streets and chop people up."

After his men left one by one, Ike, sitting in the coach's chair, finally showed a tired expression.

He rubbed his temples and stared blankly at the light.

He certainly knew what the theft of "Starlight" meant. The thousands of people in the gang, whether they had contact with the government-in-exile in Jengen or not, the dealers outside, and even the pimps recruiting for the casino a few blocks away, would all become victims used by the council to quell the college's anger.

Ike started talking to himself.

"Ha, yes, I'll take back your broken coffin and run away. But what about my men? Leave them to die in Axwell?"

"'I was born a demon, is this all destined?' Fuck you."

"Who do you think is after Starlight? Heh, just like me. Those old fogies from Yangen still won't behave themselves."

"But we still need to take precautions, so we can only let Quinn figure out a way. He's involved in this too, we're all in the same boat now. Don't you always spout nonsense like 'a community of shared destiny'?"

Footsteps approached from behind.

Ike glanced at it from the side, then burst out laughing.

"They really do come true whenever they're told!"

He leaped from the referee's chair with the lightness of a feather landing. The mob boss in the white suit stood under the lights, greeting the guest with a bright smile: "Quinn, my brother, I thought I'd have to wait until Thursday to see you—"

The white man who walked over corrected him, "My name is Shelby, don't call me that again."

"Oh, sorry, look at my memory."

"So, what is it?"

He took out the letter that Golden Wind had sent to his doorstep. "It's nothing, just a small matter. Come, have a seat."

Ike put his arm around his shoulder and sat on the edge of the boxing ring.

Quinn hesitated slightly, somewhat displeased, but did not resist Ike's affectionate gesture.

The flashy black guy had a strong perfume scent on him. Quinn's gaze was fixed on the boxing ring floor, where the accumulated bloodstains had turned a deep black and could not be removed.

"Actually, we've run into a little trouble."

Quinn said coldly, "Don't tell me it's about the Star Flower."

"of course not!"

Ike smiled sincerely, revealing a bright white smile. "It's about the congressman."

"A congressman?"

"Recently, those parasites in the council who don't want to see our city improve want to hold a hearing against Mr. Elon."

Ike succinctly explained that Elon and his father Reeve needed to attend the hearing together.

"Mr. Elon's problem is that his father, Reeve, is not in a convenient position to get involved."

Looking at Quinn, who remained silent and acted as if it were none of his business, Ike said in a low voice, "Mr. Elon urgently needs an actor who is skilled in disguise, can transform his appearance to match Reeve Branson's, has a similar height, can change his voice, and is familiar with laws and regulations so that no flaws will be detected—"

Quinn thought to himself, "Why don't you just give me my name instead of babbling on like that?"

Elon was besieged by members of parliament in the assembly?
Why didn't Xia Dai'er tell me about this?
He recalled how Chaldale had abruptly changed the subject when talking about her father, and how Amamiya Nene had given him a reading about Reeve Branson last night. Quinn calmly replied, "No. The risk is too high. I'll lose my job if I get caught."

"How could that be?" Ike admired the flawless face of the middle-aged white man and praised, "It's too perfect. The council is full of ordinary people. How could they possibly see through it?"

"When did you become so close to Elon?" Quinn glanced at Ike, "You've been taking on all this trouble for him?"

“People always need someone to rely on in order to gain a foothold in this society,” Ike said wistfully. “Especially in our line of work.”

Quinn was silent for a long time.

"It's not very convenient for me to go into the Branson's house."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to pay more."

Ike was taken aback, and said helplessly, "That ten thousand gold pounds is all gone already?"

"I gave it to my buddy to use to pick up girls."

"I'm not as wealthy and powerful as you think," he said helplessly. "I just surrendered, and I'm too embarrassed to ask the Branson family for how much they'd have to pay to get you involved in this mess."

Quinn thought for a moment and held up five fingers.

Five thousand gold pounds?

Ike thought that even if he robbed the jewelry store again, it would only cost five thousand gold pounds.

Quinn shook his head.

No, I wasn't referring to the money.

"Then what do you want?"

“The Fifth Hero.” Quinn looked into Ike’s bewildered eyes, trying to decipher his emotions.

"I want to know something about the Fifth Hero, like the swastika pendants you gave to your dealers and waiters."

"You're interested in the Fifth Hero?"

"It's for picking up girls," Quinn explained. "My girl is very interested in heroes."

Ike's eyes flickered slightly; it was something anyone with a discerning eye could easily find out that the eldest daughter of the Branson family liked heroes.

"The swastika originated from a religion established in Jiangnan."

"But that religion didn't last long after his death, and there are no followers of his in the world today."

"Religion? What god does he worship?" Quinn asked.

Ike shook his head.

"Who knows? This symbol is from my hometown and is said to bring good luck. As a casino owner, I just want peace of mind. That's all."

Ike offered a seemingly reasonable explanation.

"So, the reason why his deeds have all been erased is also related to that religion?"

"I think it would be more convenient for you to investigate within the college than to ask me."

Ike grinned: "My historical knowledge comes entirely from listening to people brag in bars, but if the academy doesn't record his religion, then it means his religion is so dangerous that no related knowledge should be passed down to future generations."

"I can confirm that the seven major sects have joined forces to block everything about Jiangnan."

How did Jiangnan die?

Ike looked up at the incandescent light bulb and casually said, "Who knows?"

"I can help, for five thousand gold pounds."

"Isn't answering your question enough?" Ike's smile was more like a grimace.

"Judging from the fact that your casino business is so good, you don't seem like someone who would have difficulty coming up with five thousand pounds."

“…I hesitated.” He agreed through gritted teeth.

“To play Reeve, I have to have seen him in person,” Quinn demanded. “Otherwise, forget it. Relying on photos and information will give me away.”

“Sure, I’ll talk to Elon and have him arrange it.”

"it is good."

“Oh, right,” he called to Quinn as he was getting up to leave, “If any of your friends hear anything about the Starflower at the school administration, tell me immediately.”

"Don't overthink it, better safe than sorry. Oh, have fun at the casino with Miss Chaldale, just keep track of the gang's expenses."

Ike smiled broadly, and Quinn stared at him for a long time before turning away without saying a word.

(End of this chapter)