Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 329 - 226: The Battle of the Vegetable Garden (Part Three)_2

Chapter 329: Chapter 226: The Battle of the Vegetable Garden (Part Three)_2

And most importantly, the question is, who will be cleaning up after whom at the dinner table in a few years.

It’s really a matter of life and death, whose vegetable garden is this anyway!

......

Malin put down his empty wine bottle, thinking that the wine was sweeter than he’d expected, and quite delicious.

*Burp*, those damn dwarves, couldn’t this be the raw ingredients of an incendiary bomb they’ve just added.

However, on the other hand, Malin didn’t feel drunk at all, just like everyone says, no giant ever gets drunk, and the most annoying opponents at the table for dwarves are giants and their own kind.

"You alright, dear?" Faye turned to look at Malin.

"I’m fine, very fine," Malin responded, glancing at the owner of the vegetable garden, then bumped foreheads with Faye, grinning.

Forget about it, as a wild boar, there’s no reason to drive the owner of the vegetable garden to grab their shotgun.

"Mr. Malin, I heard you had a run-in with the guard of the Underground City managed by Duke Brice today?"

"Yes," Malin recounted the incident without any omission or embellishment—after all, the Church of Justice was there, there was no need for Malin to perform.

"There are indeed some issues with the management of the Underground City, but Duke Brice isn’t in The Capital for many days of the year. While the guard is said to be under his command, it’s actually more under the control of the Noble Council. This time I will find an opportunity to knock some sense into them. If it wasn’t for them hitting a snag this time, God knows how much longer those scoundrels would have stirred up trouble there." Lady Manli’s response surprised Malin; that guy named Jack had never told him that.

Is it because he’s not high-ranking enough, or he doesn’t want to say?

Wrong, he is part of the police system, it couldn’t be that he’s not high enough on the ladder, which leaves only the reason that he didn’t want to talk.

There could be many reasons for not wanting to speak, Malin didn’t blame him, but he still wanted to find out who exactly was managing that area on behalf of Duke Brice.

Don’t even mention the Noble Council, no matter how loud their name rings, someone is always in charge of things.

And in such a vast kingdom, if every noble were like those in history who were willing to fight to the death before the Tide of the Dead... they must think they’re living in heaven, right.

"I want to know, who is in charge," Malin said, looking at the two ladies with a modest expression, a gentle gaze, and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Viscount Sakar Marum, one of the seven white gloves of the council, he is responsible for managing the Underground City market on behalf of Duke Brice," Lady Manli explained, smiling at Malin, "Are you planning to challenge him to a duel?"

"No, I just want to know who has turned the place into such a foul mess," Malin shook his head, indicating that he had no intention of causing trouble for anyone, much less intending to take anyone’s life.

That was not what Malin wanted to do; he asked this time only to know whose will the poison-tipped dagger pointed at him was obeying.

To return a favor tenfold and to repay an enemy a hundred times over; such is life in this world.

"It’s very normal. Sydney formed a union with five hundred-year-old kingdoms to replace three royal families, so in comparison, my rule is almost considered enlightened. Even so, those nobles with a thousand years of heritage have already become tightly intertwined with the economy of certain regions. In the human kingdoms of the North, there are even more troublesome matters," said His Majesty, which made Malin turn around. He looked at him curiously, "Your Majesty, it seems you don’t really like the North."

"That’s because the North truly isn’t pleasing," the monarch said as he sat next to Lady Manli, "the conflict in the North was originally just between our three countries, but there are always some lunatics who send their military observation groups, claiming they want a close-up view of our battle against Chaos. In reality, they want to steal the technology we’ve developed from fighting Chaos. The archery manual you gave to the two legions in the North, there were several times they nearly got their hands on it."

"How did you stop them?" asked Malin, curious.

"There are always many accidents on the battlefield, a stray bullet from an ally or Chaos can sometimes kill a person who shouldn’t die, and a fortuitous cannonball shot can even more easily erase someone from this world," the monarch said, glancing at Malin, "Would you find that surprising, Malin?"

"I’m not surprised. I find it a good thing. I entrusted the knowledge to your legions so they could train more archers to fight against Chaos, not to let this knowledge fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives," Malin shook his head, indicating he was not surprised.

There was nothing surprising about it; everyone must pay the price for their choices. Since those guys wanted to steal the manual, they had to face the guards protecting its safety, "You’re right, Your Majesty, accidents of this sort or that on the battlefield, someone dying there or disappearing forever, it’s all very normal, because it is a battlefield."

Malin’s remarks seemed to please the monarch, "You’re the kind of lad I like, your elder brother is tediously fastidious, I didn’t even want to tell him about these matters. As long as he can be good to Margaret, I’m very satisfied." He finished speaking and patted his daughter’s head. Margaret smiled as she accepted her father’s touch, "Daddy, forgive Colin, apart from his love for me, he has dedicated everything else to the Church."

"I know, children of the Church are always like that, which is why I’m content with him. Loyalty is a virtue, no matter to you or the Deity, Colin is a perfectionist, although he really can’t handle his liquor," the old man said, laughing, then his sides got pinched by Lady Manli, "Darling, don’t worry, Malin will be your best friend at the drinking table."

"You might as well spare this old fellow," he said, laughing with Lady Manli before looking at Malin, "I heard you have a deal with Cohen of the Vanter family."

"Yes, Your Majesty, you truly know everything," Malin smiled while gaining a deeper understanding of the monarch—in the Capital, his word was indeed absolute.

"This youngster is pursuing my daughter, so I think you should be careful," the monarch remarked, looking at his younger daughter, "Faye has been immensely talented since she was young and also has a profound understanding of human relationships. She hates being treated as merchandise, which is why I let her leave the city. The purpose was not to let these walls confine her talent. And you, Malin, you have the strength to bear that gift, but never forget, the sword is before you, and the dagger behind; enemies will not always appear in front of you."

"You teach me well," Malin bowed, not for the king’s status, but because the king was willing to instruct him as an elder on how to face the world.

"Good to know. Remember, Malin, not everyone can possess a heart of reverence. Throughout this world’s history, adventurers and the ambitious who act recklessly for profit are innumerable, and acting recklessly for a beloved woman is too often the best excuse for a young man’s warped mind. So, for the sake of my daughter Faye, you best learn to protect yourself, because I don’t want to face a poor girl in a black wedding dress one day... One tragedy was enough."

After this, the old man stood up, "Manli, I must now go to confront those fools in the council. You will look after the house."

"Go with peace of mind, Goethe. The house has me, Anna, and these obedient children. You needn’t worry about anything," Manli replied with a smile.

Thus the old man chose to exit, and Malin looked towards Faye, unsure of what His Majesty’s last words meant.

Faye didn’t speak but gave Malin a look.

Well, at least not now.