The King and the Rook

[Part 1 · The Big Joker and the Little Joker]

Curiosity Museum · Ms. Wonka's dressing room backstage.

"Remember the eight rules of magic."

"The first is the most important—you must respect your fellow magicians."

"Second, practice every trick diligently. Don't play favorites."

"Third, never perform a trick until you've mastered it."

"Fourth, never teach magic for free."

"Fifth, never reveal the secrets of magic."

"Sixth, never tell the audience what a trick will do before performing it."

"Seventh, never perform the same trick twice for the same audience member."

"Eighth, magic must be developed along the right path."

The magician, hunched over beneath his top hat and hidden behind a mask, explained the rules of magic to Jack Martin.

"I'm just here to see Ms. Wonka."

Little Jack was still rather confused. After entering the Curiosity Museum, the dazzling spectacle had left him utterly spellbound.

All kinds of things drew his attention this way and that, especially Ms. Yekaterina Wanka. People called her the Black Panther Beauty! The Black Pearl! A rare mixed-race girl, Black and white! With a gorgeous figure and stunning looks, she was famous for her touring performances across Arizona.

Jack hadn't come to Sloth Town specifically to help Wen Bucai—at least, his heart wasn't lying.

He couldn't deceive himself or resist these temptations. He was like a wavering fence-sitter in the group, always liable to defect at any moment.

Why? Because that was just the kind of person he was!

He had never been the protagonist, nor was he the sort of man who could loudly declare, "I'm going to be a hero!"

Faced with evil and oppression, he would bow his head and run, stay silent and back down.

Faced with righteousness and moral courage, he would applaud and follow along.

There was no