Prologue, and Chapters One and Two

I am a kind person, a pure person, a righteous person, a just person, a compassionate person, a broad-minded person, a benevolent and merciful person, a righteous and incomparably pure good person, a person universally recognized as flawless.

It can be said that all human virtues are concentrated in me!

-- Lin Qi's Self-Description

Winter of the 1465th year of the Revival Era, night.

The cold wind of the Odin Icefield in the far north swept across the Five Great Islands and invaded the Western Continent. The capital of the Gallic Seventh Empire, Berely, shivered in the cold wind under the veil of night, with rare traces of people on the streets and alleys. Occasionally, Imperial Royal Dragon Riders, clad in black short cloaks and holding silver long spears, rode by, their crisp hoofbeats making certain creatures that prowled in the dark uneasy.

The cold wind was like a whip in a giant's hand, lashing the entire city fiercely. Most of the city was immersed in deep darkness, and all law-abiding citizens had already fallen asleep to the howling of the wind.

But from the Victory Palace, the heart of Berely, heading west, past the Champs-Élysées Street, known as the 'Pearl of the Continent', along Green Avenue and White River Avenue, all the way to the end of Fleet Avenue, there was a large area of buildings brightly lit. Berely First University, Second University to Fifth University, the Imperial Army Academy, the Naval Academy, the Architecture Academy, the Imperial Administrative College, and the Berely Seminary – dozens of highly specialized academies were gathered here, forming the 'Berely University City' that the entire continent looked upon with awe.

Thirty years ago, the hundred-year-long land-island war, after exhausting the last bit of vitality of the Western Continent, quietly ended. The Sun King Louis XIII, who rose to prominence in the latter half of the war, was a rare and outstanding ruler. As the main battlefield of the land-island war, the Gallic Seventh Empire received enormous economic aid from European countries after the war. With this aid, Saint Louis XIII vigorously developed education, and in just thirty years, he established this university city, unprecedented in European history.

In just thirty years, it had cultivated countless elite talents, replenishing the empire's depleted ranks with a continuous stream of fresh blood. Driven by these elites, the vast empire, like a awakened lion, occupied the westernmost part of the continent, its powerful national strength making the entire continent tremble.

This was the best of times for the empire, and the worst of times. This was the most ambitious and progressive era for the empire, and also the most decadent and corrupt era.

Lights flickered in various buildings within the university city. Some were diligently studying in lecture halls and libraries. On the training grounds of several military academies, the neighing of warhorses and the clashing of lances could be heard from time to time. In the workshops of the industrial academy, the continuous, high-pitched, and ear-piercing sound of metal being struck constantly stimulated people's eardrums.

In an era that lacked nightlife, ordinary citizens would go to bed shortly after nightfall. However, in the university city, such a lively scene would only gradually subside around midnight. The vast university city, like a vibrant heart, brewed youth and passion, and the elite students were accumulating strength and enthusiasm for the future of the empire.

But just as there is always a shadow under the sun, within this enthusiastic and upward-looking university city, there were always a few unusual characters.

While his classmates were striving for the empire's rise, Lin Qi swaggered out of the gates of the Fifth University. His expression was gloomy. The four-year students on duty at the school gate saw his stiff face and turned their heads away, pretending not to see this third-year accounting student who was violating the night curfew.

Lin Qi had just completed his eighteenth birthday ceremony last month. He had been studying at the Accounting School of the Fifth University for three full years. With black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, he had typical Oriental physical characteristics. But unlike ordinary Orientals, Lin Qi had a physique comparable to the strongest youths on the Western Continent, with both height and shoulder width far exceeding the norm.

But as outsiders commented, all accounting students at Berely Fifth University were parasites of the empire. Lin Qi, this parasite, had undoubtedly absorbed enough nourishment, his robust body even appearing a bit bloated. When he walked, he looked like a bear that had just woken from hibernation, his swaying gait conspicuous.

Enzo stood at the street corner opposite the Fifth University, hiding most of his body behind a golden acacia tree. He wore a popular wide-brimmed, gold-edged tricorn hat, a brown short cloak in the style of a dragon rider, and tight-fitting trousers made of black satin from the East, which hugged his long legs, prominently highlighting his well-defined muscle groups. Undoubtedly, these tight-fitting trousers made of black satin were also the most popular style in Berely for the past three months.

His strong jaw muscles worked his gums, forcefully squeezing a mixture of tobacco and betel nut. The strong, stimulating taste made Enzo energetic. Just like his hat, cloak, and trousers, chewing a mixture of tobacco and betel nut was also a fashion trend that had recently become popular among the lower and middle classes in Berely.

Seeing Lin Qi slowly walk out like a big bear, Enzo quickly spat a mouthful of blood-red saliva onto the ground and let out a suppressed whistle. He poked his head out from behind the tree and waved at Lin Qi, "Boss, over here, over here!"

While calling out to Lin Qi, Enzo tightened a black cloth roll he held in his left hand. The black cloth roll, about four feet long, was tightly wrapped. Enzo kept touching it, and even while greeting Lin Qi, he vigilantly looked left and right from time to time.

Lin Qi also looked around. He quickly crossed the street, his sturdy figure disappearing into the shadow of the golden acacia tree.

Glancing at Enzo's chiseled face in the distant lamplight, Lin Qi squeezed the black cloth roll he held under his arm. Beneath the thick black cloth was a hard metal object. Its unique feel and shape confirmed it was what he needed. Lin Qi grinned silently and made a gesture with his hand.

Enzo nodded. He took out a wad of tobacco and betel nut mixture, stuffed it into his mouth, cautiously looked around, and then quickly walked north along the street, sticking close to the wall. Enzo, with his sturdy and tall physique, moved without a sound. He hunched his back, appearing and disappearing in the shadows like a ghost.

Lin Qi looked back at the four-year students standing at the school gate, smiled silently, and silently followed Enzo, also without making a sound. The two were separated by nearly fifty meters, deliberately choosing complex and winding alleys to navigate. Soon, they left the brightly lit university district and arrived at the most chaotic old northern district of Berely City.

As they passed a courtyard gate on a nameless alley, Lin Qi let out a few cat meows in a muffled voice.

The courtyard gate opened silently, and four burly figures joined the small group. They followed Lin Qi at a distance of more than ten meters, unhurriedly trailing Enzo as they continued forward.

In the northern part of Berely, the vast Seine River flowed silently. Thin ice collided on the river surface, which was miles wide, making barely audible crisp sounds. Along the riverbanks, dozens of artificial docks extended like arms. This was the dock area of northern Berely, and also the most chaotic area in the Berely region, striking fear into the hearts of law-abiding, upright people – a gathering place for all villains and scoundrels.

At the northernmost part of the dock area, near the confluence of the Seine River and the Mana River, stood an old tavern.

From the narrow, muddy road upwards, past a few dilapidated steps, the tavern's main entrance was two heavy stone slabs, covered in mottled paint and greasy dirt. On either side of the door were two large flower pots, containing a few withered saplings. A dead mouse was tied to a branch on the left, and the bones of a poisonous snake hung from a branch on the right.

A dark wooden board hung crookedly above the stone door. Only by straining one's eyes could one barely make out the messy characters on the board – "The Cripple's Shop"!

Entering the stone slab door, there was a large open space in front of the tavern. To the left of the open space were two rows of stone houses, currently filled with burly men sleeping haphazardly. They might be stray sailors from the docks, dockworkers, warehouse guards, or perhaps tough guys making a living in the dock area. Muffled snores echoed in the spacious stone houses, and occasionally someone would mutter in their sleep, letting out deep, hearty laughter.

To the right of the open space was a pen of livestock. Nearly a hundred cattle and horses stood quietly inside, nibbling on the sparse dry grass. Near the livestock pen, several simple flatbed carts and four-wheeled carriages were parked haphazardly. More importantly, several carriages that looked unremarkable but were actually made of high-quality materials and craftsmanship were parked there.

Facing the entrance at the front of the open space was a three-story stone building. Dim lights flickered within the stone building, making these rooms appear even darker and more somber. To the right of the stone building, there was a stone staircase leading underground. Descending several meters down this staircase led to an underground tavern.

The three-story stone building above ground was the inn attached to the tavern. As long as one could pay, even an imperial fugitive could find their most comfortable lodging here. The underground tavern was the owner's main operating venue. Even though it was late at night, it was still brightly lit and bustling with people.

Descending the stone steps, pushing open a heavy, ancient oak door, the heat and smell of alcohol rushed out, almost knocking one over.

Behind the oak door was a huge bar large enough to accommodate hundreds of people. Along the west side was a row of wine cabinets, where several flamboyant women stood, laughing boldly. A group of drunken patrons were leaning on the counter, also lewdly flirting with the women.

In the center of the tavern was a circular wooden stage. Three scantily clad girls were energetically twisting their bodies on the stage. Dozens of red-faced men, dancing wildly, surrounded the stage, shouting slogans excitedly. Their powerful feet stomped hard on the rough stone floor, making a uniform, loud "slap-slap" sound. Occasionally, a few excited men would take out shiny copper coins from their pockets and throw them onto the stage. The three dancers would twist their bodies even more fanatically, their long hair flying around them, their scarlet lips and shining eyes releasing boundless heat. Their youthful, hot bodies trembled, making the men almost explode with excitement.

The Cripple stood in a corner behind the wine cabinet, holding a very large copper wine cup in one hand and a white cloth in the other, grinning and vigorously polishing the cup, making it shine inside and out. He had a large cigar, smuggled from overseas, in his mouth, and wisps of faint smoke continuously puffed out.

The Cripple was the owner of "The Cripple's Shop." His real name was known to very few; everyone called him "The Cripple." Just like his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, and even more ancient ancestors, they were all called "The Cripple" and were the owners of "The Cripple's Shop."

On the wall behind the wine cabinet, on the wall stained black by smoke and dust, hung a painting about two feet square. It depicted a burly man wearing a red bandana, his left hand severed at the wrist and replaced with a sharp iron hook, his right hand holding a large saber, and his left leg cut off at the knee, fitted with an iron prosthetic. This man had a fierce face, and a colorful parrot perched on his head.

The person in the painting was the first generation owner of "The Cripple's Shop," an ancestor of "The Cripple" from many generations ago. Some legends said the first owner of "The Cripple's Shop" was a pirate chief who once roamed the three seas, but "The Cripple" always told others that his ancestor came from a respectable, scholarly family.

A burst of hearty laughter suddenly erupted in the tavern. At a long oak table in a corner of the tavern, a dark-bearded man wearing a black tricorn hat, adorned with a thumb-sized white skull emblem on its brim, suddenly stood up laughing and raised a wine cup as large as a human head.

"To the deceased Old Jack, may he rest in hell!"

Around the oak table sat more than twenty burly men with their chests bared. Each of them had a rough and savage face, and every one of them exuded a bloody and ferocious aura from their bones. They grinned and laughed loudly, raising their wine cups and cheering in unison. This was a group of thorough thugs; every hair on their bodies was branded with the word 'thug'.

Wine cups clinked together, and the pungent, cheap wine spilled all over the table. The men drank heartily, laughing and boasting, bragging about their gains from a recent "big deal." They boasted and bragged wantonly, so everyone in the tavern knew they had just plundered a ship, killed everyone on board, and all the cargo had become their spoils.

It was a lucrative "big deal," with the only loss being their old comrade, Old Jack, who unfortunately had his abdomen pierced.

He heavily placed the copper wine cup in his hand back on the cup rack behind him. The Cripple picked up another cup and began polishing it vigorously. A strange smile appeared on his equally rough and fierce face. He shouted loudly, "Good fellows, welcome back, welcome back for remembering my dear 'The Cripple's Shop.' Drink to your heart's content, eat to your heart's content. I have prepared a batch of fiery girls for you, they will absolutely satisfy all your demands!"

The pirates sitting in the corner let out excited whistles, and the other patrons in the tavern also made loud noises. The smell of alcohol and people filled the air, making it even more stifling.

The Cripple grinned excitedly. These bastards who made a living at sea, more than half of their hard-earned spoils ended up in his hands every time. He loved these guys with strong limbs and simple minds; he absolutely loved them. It was because of them that "The Cripple's Shop" became wealthier and wealthier.

Just then, a copper bell under the wine cabinet at The Cripple's feet rang.

The Cripple paused and muttered in a low voice, "Is that kid here? What good stuff did he bring me this time?"

Putting down the wine cup and the white cloth, The Cripple retreated into the shadow of the wine cabinet.