Tianqi City's Golden Terrace was the foremost of Northern Li's four gambling houses. The other three were White City in Qingzhou, the World's Fair, and Beauty Manor in Three Visits City.
Golden Terrace took its name from the towering platform at its center, which had been built with a fortune in gold.
Today, the gambling house was hosting a banquet, and its host was Xiao Se, who had just arrived in the Capital.
Unfortunately, the banquet had been underway for quite some time, yet no one had come to attend. Most people were clearly wary of King Bai and the Scarlet King and didn't dare show up.
Of course, some people simply didn't take this prince, newly returned to Kyoto, seriously.
Just as Lei Wujie was starting to feel awkward on Xiao Se's behalf, the first guest arrived: Jiujiu Dao, owner of the Heavenly Mandate House in the Capital. He represented the forces of the underworld sects, the Three Gates and Nineteen Houses of Tianqi City.
Though these forces belonged to the lower echelons of society, they could handle matters beyond the reach of the authorities and run black-market businesses that even the richest merchants couldn't touch. They could even uncover leads that Dali Temple couldn't find.
He had come out of gratitude for Xiao Se's recognition of his talent. Back when everyone looked down on him, Xiao Se had been the only one to support him, and that was how he'd managed to establish himself among the Capital's underworld.
But by coming, he'd put himself in danger. He was, indirectly, defying the orders of the Scarlet King and King Bai.
Xiao Se personally stood at the entrance to greet him, and said cheerfully, "I knew you'd come, but I didn't expect you to be the first!"
Jiujiu Dao knew