The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 99: Elimination

Lumière never expected the answer to be Hugues Artois.

The Sava Party and the Sting Gang, both competitors, were actually supporting the same candidate?

If Hugues Artois were to be elected, would he help the Sting Gang deal with the Sava Party, help the Sava Party completely oust the Sting Gang, or demand both sides peacefully coexist?

The more Lumière thought about it, the more it seemed something was off: if the Sava Party and the Sting Gang were both backed by the same person, Hugues Artois, things wouldn't have escalated to the current level of conflict!

Although some of this was Lumière's doing, he was merely following the instructions of his boss and Baron Brignell.

Besides, Hugues Artois wasn't even a city councilman before, and he hadn't actually been elected as a member of parliament yet. How could he protect both the Sava Party and the Sting Gang?

The only plausible explanation was that the Enlightenment Party's influence was at play, but even then, it didn't make sense for the Enlightenment Party to support two gangs and allow them to fight each other to the death.

Lumière, lacking experience in this area, thought about it for a long time but couldn't come to a conclusion. He sighed regretfully: I can't mobilize Sava Party members to covertly threaten voters against choosing Hugues Artois!

He looked at Louis and asked in confusion, "Why wasn't I informed that the Sava Party supports Hugues Artois?"

Louis became visibly nervous. "I thought the Baron had already briefed you, boss. Isn't that the point of delegation?"

Baron Brignell had been in a foul mood ever since losing control of the profitable Wind Dancehall, so he had likely neglected to remind Lumière, figuring that Lumière would find out when the time was right. Lumière grumbled inwardly, left the Wind Dancehall, and made his way back to the Golden Rooster Inn.

He headed straight up to the third floor, stopping in front of Room 305, where Anthony Reid, the information broker, lived, and knocked on the door.

The sound of knocking echoed, but no one responded.

Not here...Well, it's not like an information broker would stay home all the time...

Lumière pulled out some notepaper and a fountain pen from his pocket and used Anthony Reid's door as a makeshift table to quickly jot down a message: "I've received word that Louis Lund will appear on Market Avenue this Saturday and Sunday. Please keep an eye out for him and inform me immediately if you spot him. I'll either be in Room 207 at the inn or at the Wind Dancehall. Payment will be made as agreed upon. – Charles."

After sliding the note under the door, Lumière returned to the Wind Dancehall and settled into the café to wait for any news.

As dusk approached, one of the gang members who had been watching near 126 Market Avenue rushed into the dancehall and up to the second floor.

Have they spotted Louis Lund?Lumière stood up abruptly, staring at the gang member.

The man was visibly nervous, like a prey animal cornered by a hungry lion.

Before Lumière could ask, the gang member stammered, "B-boss, something's wrong!

"I-I saw a group of police officers heading to the yard!"

The yard? Isn't that owned by the boss?Oh, and near the yard is the warehouse belonging to 'Rat' Christo... Is this the result of Franca's 'tip-off'?Lumière quickly considered the possibility.

He felt a deep sense of disappointment.

Whatever mirror entity or potential danger might be lurking, none of it compares to a single strand of Louis Lund's hair!