Chapter 50
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Theodore replied grimly.
"It would be quickest if I just came in alone."
"No, but you should think of your status."
"I don't need status for this shit."
He said with a dark look on his face, then turned to Jan.
"What about the ones who were running away?"
"We got them all."
"Good."
Theodore replied bluntly and turned to look at Paul.
He had barely recovered from the blow, but he was staring up at Theodore, dazed, unsure of what was going on. The others were the same way.
"Drop your weapons. I don't mind if you keep them, but if you want to reduce the risk of accidental death or injury."
There was no one who didn't understand.
Here and there, there was a clatter of clubs and knives being thrown down. The men dropped to their knees in defeat.
Theodore set down his club and jerked his chin at one of them.
"Open the window."
"Yes, sir?"
"The cigarette smoke is terrible."
The picked one scurried over and opened the window.
Theodore sat down on the sofa, looking bored. Jan was followed by four attendants, each dragging one of the bloodied gang members in and throwing them on the floor.
"Come here and sit down."
Paul's eyes widened at the order, but he rushed over and sat down across from Theodore. He didn't dare disobey the order.
The man in front of Paul was clearly a noble. No nobleman would dip his hands into an organization like this. Even the behind-the-scenes work would be done by hired hands, but to come and do it himself?
Furthermore, none of the entourage was ordinary people. They must be knights.
"Ha."
Theodore sighed. This was really getting to him.
As he nodded, Jan pulled a document from his pocket and held it out to Paul. It was an oath of allegiance to Count Lutgard, and a delicately crafted silver paper knife rested on it like a paperweight.
Paul's eyes widened and he looked at Theodore, but when Theodore didn't seem to want to answer, he turned to Jan. Jan explained.
"We’re going to take over your organization and your business, but we’re going to keep your name."
"What?"
"It's exactly as you heard. We'll continue the business under your name, but we'll be directing it from here. The goal is to take over all the theaters and markets in the capital, and that's not something we can do in the Count's name."
Paul stared at Theodore in shock. Theodore looked back at him, his eyes deeply sunken.
"I've been doing some research. I've learned the names of a lot of scum in the world, and you're one of the better ones."
When Olivia had first brought up the idea of recruiting gangs, Theodore had been against it. But Olivia looked at him with an unreadable expression and said.
"We need an organization that can move goods and people without anyone noticing, and even wield a knife if need be, but if we start from scratch, we'll be exposed before we can build up the strength to fight the underworld. Is there another way?"
Theodore had to admit that her method was the most efficient.
But they disagreed on the specific means. Olivia wanted to bribe them with money, but Theodore shook his head.
"You think they'll honor their word just because they're paid to sign a contract? It's harder to get them to keep a secret."
"Then what?"
"Break them."
It wasn't his intention to dip his toes into this, but he couldn't let Olivia deal with these people herself.
Besides, the fewer people who knew a secret, the better, and an armed group must be kept under the control of someone trustworthy.
That was not to say that Duke Klaus's vassals and other loyal nobles couldn’t be trusted, but they had their own reasons for following Olivia. Only Theodore himself and Duke Klaus could be completely trusted.
‘I don't know what Olivia thinks.’
Perhaps she didn’t trust him, which was why she ran away without telling the truth in the first place.
Perhaps it was his father she trusted, not Theodore himself.
At the thought, Theodore's heart grew heavy and he felt like he was trapped in a cave with no way out.
What had Olivia asked him that night, when she asked if she could kiss him? His thoughts swirled and dug deeper and deeper, until finally he began to doubt. Was she testing him?
Or was she trying to manipulate his mind in that way? As she had seduced Ezekiel Schwaben?
Perhaps connection he felt was an illusion from the start, and the night was a fantasy, or maybe the woman he knew and loved never existed in the first place.
But none of that mattered in the real world. Sirah would get back the lost Princess, and he had sworn his allegiance.
It was his duty to move for her, even if the path was muddy.
Theodore looked down at Paul Bauer. He felt bitter.
'Well, I'm not in a position to judge the morality of others.’
After all, Theodore was still a man of his word. He seemed to take pride in it.
"You have only two choices. Be loyal to me, or die. If you choose to be loyal, I'll make sure you won’t disappoint with your reward."
He glanced at Jan again. Then Jan pulled out a check and laid it on top of the pledge.
Paul's eyes widened. His lips trembled. He had never seen such a large sum of money written on a single check before.
He swallowed hard. The idea of controlling both the theaters and the markets of the capital began to sink in. It was a staggering prospect, the idea of controlling the back streets of the capital.
He should consider himself lucky. If the nobleman hadn't been the first one who had found his organization, surely his little business would have been crushed to dust.
Paul picked up the paper knife with trembling hands. Theodore looked down at him, not changing his posture in the slightest, as if he didn't expect to have to deal with it.
Paul gently pricked the tip of his thumb to draw blood, then pressed it firmly against the pledge.
Jan took it from him and held out a handful of contracts. Paul put his still-bloody thumb in his mouth and sucked on it once, then read the contract. It stated that he would be guarding several troupes and theaters, including the Marel Troupe.
"Hmm."
"Sign it."
Jan handed him a pen this time. Paul took it and signed it dutifully.
"Uh, what do I do from here? My men can't handle a contract of this size."
"You don't have to do anything, we'll provide the manpower."
From here on out, the Knights of Lutgard would be replaced their staff and the factions they would be absorbing, including Paul Bauer, as they grew in size, but there was no need to share those details right now.
Then Theodore changed his tune.
"No, I have a job to do. Call your men. Make sure they leave before midnight."
Hearing Theodor's order, Paul and Jan spoke up at the same time.
"What?"
"Leave... where do you mean?"
"To the home base of the faction most hostile to you. We don't need to waste time."
Paul's eyes widened, then realized what that meant. Theodore spoke in a stern voice.
"I need a few heads to make it look like a war, so let’s take over one more place tonight."
"Oh, I see!"
Paul quickly looked around and shouted to his gang.
"If you understand, go quickly and find every single one of them, whether they're sleeping in their houses or killing in bars!"
His momentum pierced the air as if he had a real beast on his back.
"We're going to kill every Becker today!"
Hearing that, the gang members immediately rushed out. Jan let out an empty laugh.
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