The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 90: The Messenger's Reacti

As Lumian approached the entrance, two gang enforcers stationed there quickly greeted him, "Good evening, boss."

Wearing a white shirt with a black vest, sleeves rolled up, and exuding youthful energy, Lumian smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

Louis and Sacota, who had been waiting for their new leader's return, immediately left the bar and approached him with broad smiles.

"Boss, why didn't you bring us with you? You might lack protection that way!" Louis expressed his loyalty through this plea.

Amused, Lumian responded, "You two protecting me? I'm more worried you'd get yourselves killed if something happens, and I'd have to pay compensation."

Louis awkwardly laughed, "I know you're strong, boss. You dealt with 'Hammer' Ait and 'Evil Wolf' Maggot on your own. But as the saying goes, 'Two fists can't fight four hands,' and besides, we've got guns. Our shooting skills aren't too bad."

"Two fists can't fight four hands? Isn't that something Emperor Roselle said? How has it become a saying?" Lumian mused. He recalled that Aurore suspected much of the local slang came from Emperor Roselle, though no one had ever confirmed it.

Lumian glanced at Louis, who looked like a tough guy but had a sycophantic smile, and at Sacota, with his slightly curly red hair, sturdy build, and thick lips. Nodding lightly, Lumian said, "When I ask you to follow, you follow. When I don't, you watch over the ballroom for me. If anyone causes trouble, shoot them."

"Where's the shooting range?" Lumian asked.

"Right under the ballroom," Louis pointed at the floor. "Other bosses' people come here to practice too, but they bring their own bullets."

"Good," Lumian nodded in satisfaction. He had a pressing need to practice his shooting, lacking effective long-range attack methods.

Louis then asked, "Boss, the Golden Rooster Inn has such poor conditions. Would you like to move here? There are several rooms on the second floor you can choose from. Or do you prefer staying in the room Baron Brignell used for his temporary rests?"

Louis was eager to show his loyalty. After all, he and Sacota had been close to Baron Brignell. If they failed to gain the new leader's trust, they might end up doing gatekeeping duties, lowering their status and making them targets for other Savoie Party members they didn't get along with. Their income would also significantly drop.

Lumian thought for a moment and said, "Show me the rooms."

They would be perfect for summoning the "Magician" lady's messenger. Lumian had no immediate plans to vacate his room at the Golden Rooster Inn. His strategy was to randomly choose a place to sleep each night—either the ballroom's second floor or Room 207 at the inn—after sending Louis and Sacota away. This would help him avoid night-time attacks. Occasionally, he might add the safe house on White Coat Street to the mix.

Lumian was sure the Poison Spur gang wouldn't let him off so easily after he'd killed three of their leaders and provoked them to the extreme. Once the official crackdown relaxed, they'd likely try to assassinate him in revenge.

While Lumian wasn't too worried about being ambushed by Poison Spur's leaders like "Black Scorpion" Roger, he did have Mr. K's finger, an item equivalent to Sequence 5. Extraordinary individuals like Susanna and Mathis would have a good chance of dealing with them, let alone Roger, who hadn't yet become a "Seeder." His only concern was that if a real fight broke out, Mr. K might kill Roger, which would mean Louis Lund would never show up again, cutting off the lead.

On the second floor, after passing through a café and into the hallway, Lumian inspected the rooms. He pointed to the one closest to his office and said, "This one."