novelraw Chapter 48 : Chapter 48
Chapter 48 : Chapter 48
Chapter 48 : Contract, A Sudden Interception of Cooperation
"Let me introduce myself. I’m Balwen, one of Big Sir’s right-hand men, previously responsible for managing this area of the black market on his behalf."
The middle-aged man with a striking scar across his eye recounted the past.
His arms were covered with deep knife marks and scars.
Upon closer inspection, both of his palms were metal prosthetic hands.
"About fifteen years ago, Victor hid his identity and joined Big Sir’s ranks. After years of proving himself, he became a right-hand man like me. Big Sir even planned to hand over the northern part of the black market to him."
At this point, Balwen suddenly slammed the table in indignation, his eyes filled with hatred for that man.
"Just when we all let our guard down, the Duke’s Mansion’s soldiers surrounded our main stronghold. Big Sir traded the black market’s control and his life to that bastard Victor in exchange for our lives... but he still didn’t plan to let us go!"
Balwen pointed at his metal palms, then lifted his trouser leg to reveal a metal prosthetic limb.
The empty trouser leg could only be supported by the crutch-like prosthetic.
"The rest of us were hunted down by his men. I had my hands and legs chopped off and fell into a cliff, but luckily survived, hiding here waiting for a chance at revenge."
His metal palm clenched into a fist, sparking fiercely.
Seeing Balwen’s unmasked hatred, Loka suddenly smiled. Lubi was indeed skilled at reading people, quickly finding her a new subordinate.
Balwen didn’t understand why the young girl in front of him suddenly smiled.
He turned and pulled a key from a safe under the wine cabinet. T
he silver-gray key head gleamed even through the dust.
"Your goods are hidden in a place no one could possibly know. Unless you agree to my terms, you won’t find them even if you kill me."
Seeing Balwen’s righteous demeanor, Loka suddenly wanted to laugh.
She gently poked Yiwen, who was sitting beside her, seemingly deep in thought.
Annoyed by Loka’s teasing, Yiwen poked back.
"Relax, Mr. Balwen, no one wants your life. Our goals are aligned. Don’t believe me? Look—"
Loka removed her concealing cloak.
Balwen then recognized her face as strikingly similar to the one on the recent wanted posters.
Due to the dim light and cover, he hadn’t noticed earlier.
"You’re the one Victor is hunting, the Duke’s daughter Loka. He even specified you must be captured alive. What exactly happened between you and him?"
"That’s not important. What’s important is that we share a common goal, isn’t it?"
Just as Loka was about to recruit this loyal talent, Yiwen stood up first, also removing her cloak to reveal her true appearance.
"You’re—the Sixth Princess!"
"Balwen, I can give you the power to control the black market again, but you must pledge to serve me in the future, making Big Sir’s black market work for me."
Hey, those were my lines!
Loka tried to stand, but a gentle force held her down.
Kafu looked at Loka with a slight apology, increasing his grip to prevent her from breaking free.
You master and servant were waiting to ambush me here?
"Why should I trust you royal people? And isn’t that guy Victor one of your kind? A royal showing up in a place like this—aren’t you afraid of getting killed, little princess?"
The black market’s business was mostly conducted outside official channels, inherently hostile to lofty nobles, let alone royalty.
Balwen glanced at Yiwen with a trace of disdain.
"Let me ask you, who’s worth more—you or this guy over here?"
Yiwen pointed at the struggling Loka.
"If I were really with the royals, why wouldn’t I just tie this guy up and claim the reward? Besides, if I go back and rat you out, what could you do?"
Loka held a bargaining chip in Balwen’s hands, but Yiwen not only had no weaknesses, she could also use this to threaten Balwen to work for her.
If she spilled everything about this place, his plans would be ruined.
"And if I say no?"
The next second, Balwen suddenly swung a long sword from behind toward Yiwen, only to be blocked by another dagger.
Loka, somehow breaking free from Kafu’s hold, countered Balwen’s long sword.
"Didn’t you hear she’s going to sell you out along with me?"
"What does my Highness selling you out have to do with me? Not helping count the money is already generous enough. Put your weapon away."
Balwen sat down speechlessly, tossing the key to Loka, lying back as if giving up, then inexplicably burst into laughter.
"Not bad. As expected, you’re worth cooperating with."
As the second-in-command of the underground black market, how could Balwen not have researched all potential partners beforehand?
To avoid startling the snake, he set a test for them.
"Both of you, since the misunderstanding is cleared, can we start preparing for cooperation now?"
According to Balwen’s account, the remnants of Big Sir’s group, including him, had always been active in the corners of the underground black market, with some lurking in other countries.
Perhaps this Big Sir truly had a commanding leadership aura.
Even in death, everyone still thought of avenging him.
"Our people can be at your disposal, but we remain loyal only to Big Sir. After our cooperation ends, whether we become enemies again or otherwise, that’s up to you."
For Balwen, Big Sir was his lifelong object of loyalty, and Big Sir’s black market was a place he had to take back, no matter the cost.
"Agreed. As a sign of cooperation’s sincerity, I promise you that when I reach that position, I will allow the black market to exist in the empire’s dark side, provided you don’t cross my bottom line."
Yiwen knew that a black market surviving in the empire for decades couldn’t be easily eradicated like ordinary criminal forces.
Instead of forcibly breaking their resistance, it was better to use benefits and negotiations to make them work for her.
With Balwen’s help, the group faced fewer obstacles leaving the black market.
However, Loka suddenly sulked, stubbornly walking ahead of Yiwen.
When Yiwen tried to grab her, she was pulled a few meters away.
"What? Upset because I stole your cooperation partner?"
Yiwen took two steps forward and grabbed Loka’s hand.
Loka deliberately turned her head aside, ignoring her.
Though her goal was achieved, the subordinate she worked hard to recruit was snatched away—how could she be happy?
"You’re asking the obvious..."
"Then let me ask you, didn’t he become my subordinate? And you’re my person, so isn’t he also your subordinate? Is that enough, is it enough..."
"Don’t pinch my face..."
Loka, still sulking, turned her head away, ignoring Yiwen’s playful apology, but the flush at the tips of her ears betrayed her inner shyness.