Why are you looking at me like that?
He turned to glance at Pighead Kent and suddenly understood.
Don't tell me she's taken me for some thug who extorts people?
So I was the clown all along!?
Chapter 32: The Iron Fist Strikes
The outer city.
The Sewage Flats.
This area lay on the edge of the city's sewage system, near an enormous drainage canal.
Calling it a canal was less accurate than calling it a broad "moat."
Huge drainage pipes, each as large as a railway tunnel, lined the embankment below, discharging the city's sewage day and night.
The sewage flowed along the canal out of the city, into the rivers, and ultimately to the ocean in the east.
But inefficient drainage had left vast quantities of sewage accumulated in the Sewage Flats for years, filling the neighborhood with a foul stench. Amber City's residents also called it the "Stench District."
Although people shunned the Sewage Flats, and anyone with even a little status or wealth would never set foot there, it still drew countless people from the lowest rungs of society to settle in crowded clusters.
Whether they wanted to avoid traveling between the city and its outskirts every day or took pride in living within the city year-round, the Sewage Flats was their best choice.
Of course, the combination of poverty and a mixed population made the Sewage Flats a breeding ground for crime. Even patrol guards and police officers refused to enter, leaving the area largely to fend for itself.
It was also the shadow beneath this great city.
The Bird-and-Flower Tavern was the only tavern in the Sewage Flats.
It was one of the few places where residents of the Sewage Flats could find some fun, partly because it was cheap. For just one Copper Crown, anyone could join the crowd, whether to admire the scantily clad maids or cheer on a brawl.
The tavern was packed with customers, noisy and stifling, while maids carrying trays wove through the crowd.
A man in a short leather jacket and tight striped trousers pushed open the door and walked in.
"Hey, Lenny."
The heavily made-up proprietress greeted him warmly when she saw him.
"I've got business to take care of. I'll come play with you when I'm done..."
The man gave her a leering grin and a grope, then headed straight inside.
The drinkers hurried out of his way when they saw him.
One oblivious fellow bumped into him and was about to unleash a string of curses. Once he saw who it was, he immediately backed away and bowed in apology.
Fortunately, the man had no intention of wasting time. He merely gave him a cold glance and walked on.
The drunk who had bumped into him broke out in a cold sweat.
He's with the Iron Fist Gang! If I offend him, I'll really be in for it!
The Bird-and-Flower Tavern was Iron Fist Gang territory. Anyone having fun here had to keep their eyes open. Otherwise, there was no telling whether their corpse would be floating in the drainage canal tomorrow.
The man in the leather jacket passed through the kitchen into the rear courtyard. A large open space held several wooden target posts. They wore ragged clothes and straw hats, apparently meant to imitate human bodies.
A tall building and two warehouses enclosed the far side of the open space.
He strode into the building, where dozens of gang members dressed in leather jackets and tight trousers like his were gathered.
A hulking man sat on an extra-long sofa at the very back. Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, his hair slicked back, he was smoking a cigarette.
"Boss Gary, I've finished looking into it."
The man in the leather jacket bowed respectfully.
"Talk."
The burly man exhaled a cloud of smoke and unfastened a button on his waistcoat, looking uncomfortable.
"That kid's an outsider who arrived here by carriage. He has a very pretty girl with him, apparently his younger sister...
"They're both well dressed, but they only rented a room at 7 Danton Street."
"Good work."
Gary offered a word of praise, took one final drag, and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
"Sounds like a couple of youngsters who came to the big city to stay with relatives or study..."
As though something had occurred to him, he suddenly grew irritated.
"Outsiders like these, with no status or connections, make the best targets...
"Find an opportunity to kill the man and bring the girl here!
"But keep it under control. Don't make too much noise. The outer city may be chaotic, but the Iron Fist Gang doesn't call all the shots."
"Got it, boss."
The man in the leather jacket answered, called over a few of his fellow gang members who were playing cards, and left the building.
Gary slowly leaned back on the sofa and let out a long breath.
"Hopefully, this will persuade Lord Feldman to give me a little more time..."
Click, click, click!
Snap!
His fingers pushed a secured row of lead bullets into the magazine and slid the cover shut.
Chen Lun looked with satisfaction at the four Flintlocks and two pairs of Iron Gauntlets laid out on the table.
"Too bad I'm running low on ammunition, too... Those investigators couldn't even think to carry more with them. Stingy little losers!"
Chen Lun's face was full of indignation.
He pitied their misfortune and resented their failure to do better!
He was merely concerned for their safety, certainly not complaining because he hadn't managed to scrounge enough bullets.
"Here, take this gun to protect yourself."
Chen Lun placed a Flintlock in Froy's hands.
Froy accepted it, ran her fingers over its engraved patterns, and smiled.
"Thank you."
Chen Lun put away the weapons and equipment on the table, stood up, and checked the clock on the wall.
It was exactly twenty past nine in the morning.
"Come on, it's time to eat."
"Are we going to Mrs. Caroline's on the second floor?"
Chen Lun nodded in surprise.
"Of course. We paid for it!"
Although he also knew that one Silver Crown was nowhere near enough to cover their meals, Mrs. Caroline's lavish food and hospitality were things money couldn't buy.
Chen Lun would remember her kindness.
If any fool came to cause trouble at the flower shop, he would be sure to carve a flower into their asshole.
Preferably, whoever came to cause trouble would know where Dolly was.
It would be even better if Dolly himself came.
And told him Viscount Pompey's address while he was at it.
Getting something for nothing-what a wonderful thing!
Chen Lun raised an eyebrow, finding himself eagerly awaiting the arrival of some troublemaker.
He left the room with Froy. As they reached the third floor, they suddenly heard an argument.
"I'm not going! How many times have I told you? There's definitely something wrong with that medicine from the Red Apple Church! Why won't you listen, Dad?"
A girl shouted angrily.
Then the door slammed shut with a bang.
Chen Lun saw the chestnut-haired girl from last night storm into the hallway, apparently about to head downstairs.
Her looks weren't stunning, and she even had a few freckles, but there was something enduringly appealing about her face.
Tear tracks still marked Connie's face. She looked surprised to find two people her own age in the hallway.
Then she saw Chen Lun, seemingly remembered the scene she had witnessed last night, and shot him a fierce glare before turning away without so much as a friendly look.
"..."
Chen Lun felt helpless, but couldn't be bothered to explain himself to her.
He brought Froy down to the second floor, where they happened to meet Mrs. Caroline.
"Oh, little Jack, and lovely little Froy... Come on in. I was just about to go upstairs and fetch you."
"Sorry for the trouble, Mrs. Caroline."
They followed her inside. Mrs. Caroline had already set the prepared breakfast on the dining table.
Mrs. Caroline's rooms had the same layout as those of the other tenants, but her decorations made them feel more elegant and refined.
With a touch of girlish charm, too.
Vases of neatly trimmed flowers in every color stood everywhere, filling the rooms with a fresh fragrance.
"Dig in. I put a lot of care into this fish-and-egg rice dish. I'm sure you'll like it."
Mrs. Caroline walked over to the dining table and lifted the cover from the platter.
A rich, creamy aroma wafted toward Chen Lun, instantly whetting his appetite.
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