Chapter 319- A Gambling Rumor

"Young master Will, you don't have to apologize. Please understand that we represent honorable houses. A little leeway in time or a small reduction in amount is enough. If word went out, people would say us old men bullied a child."

Patriarch Cleft said with a wry smile.

This young lad before him seemed to take his words to the extreme. 

"No, no senior. The Empire and the two kingdoms are well aware of the sacrifices taken by the inhabitants of this city. Just take this as the contributions of a simple merchant boy."

Chu walked over to the desk and grabbed the stack of parchments. Struggling to tear them in half, he handed them over to Russ while wheezing for air.

The old steward shared a wry smile with everyone before ripping the agreements a few at a time.

"My dear Seniors, rest assured, if there is one thing this young master has, it is coins. Consider this a gift for our first meeting. Between us here, Seniors, I confess to a weakness for gambling, so I plan to open some bets for the House competition. I'll let you Elders be the first to know of the odds."

Chu highlighted his charred dentures while supporting himself with his arm on the desk.

His actions and speech portrayed the epitome of a truly uncaring sloth.

Patriarch Cleft shook his head silently. He had seen too many of these types before. Time spent arguing with this lad about honor could be time spent sharpening iron.

The meeting ended cordially.

***

Chu sat on the bench beside the long wooden table in the kitchen. A steaming bowl of hot stew lay before him.

"I agree with Miki, your stew certainly perks one up in the north, Aunty Edina."

He sent praise to the old woman standing beside a simmering cauldron.

The wife of Old Russ beamed at the compliments,

"Yes, but young master, is it ok for you to be here? Please say if you require anything more than a simple soup."

She asked.

The boy sat at the end of the table, packed to the brim with children from the slums. Instead of being served in the empty decorated dining hall, he jostled among the children for the ladle of the serving pot.

The little missus drowned between the ten-year-olds, munching and bickering happily. Yin stood up from not too far from the chattering Hope as she brought over another empty pot for seconds.

Aunty Edina tossed her thoughts aside when the wide door opened. The sight of the disguised raven-haired girl competing with her husband for some simple stew aided her in grasping the characters of these Bosses.

***

In a tavern,

"Did you hear? The foppish young master from The Will clan just threw away free coins."

"I heard he tore apart the contracts, thousands of gold coins gone. Enough to feed nine generations of a family and then some. How stupid could you be?"

"Stupider than handing over a high ranking lifestone, that's how. Word is the guy is a fop and avid gambler. He's supposed to be out in the Pass trying to claim his luck."

"Yes, Instead, he just squanders away the wealth of his clan. Word is, he's putting out some ridiculous wagers."

In the hall of a noble,

"I hear a group of those Ancient Clans went to that merchant place to negotiate."

Wung Ji stated.

"Bunch of old fools if you ask me. My old man would never stoop so low as to dishonor our clan. If that foppish merchant had decided to show his face around our doorstep, the only greeting would have been a beating."

Young Master Roogar scorned.

His Clan was among those who didn't visit that lowly merchant.

"Now, now, you young masters may be among the leaders of this city, but you should realize there are some who are set in the old ways. Those older clans need to understand that true power comes from wealth and the ability to acquire it by any means necessary. Only then can we stand against the beasts from the north."

"Uncle Wang speaks the truth. Even Brother Cleft agreed with us, but his grandfather is a hard rock."

Roogar nodded. Clearing his throat, he brought up the topic hot in everyone's minds.

"If it's one thing that dandy has it's money. Rumor has it he has chests of priceless gems. I bet that gambler is simply asking for someone to win it away."

In a spacious bedroom, Patriarch Gofart struggled to raise himself to lean against the headboard. Already in age, he seemed to have withered another decade. Black splotches dotted his face, under deeper valleys of wrinkles.

"Is what you say true?"

He questioned, a faint glimmer of hope appearing in his despondent eyes. His eldest son nodded while replying with his scarred face partially hidden behind a scarf.

"It's true. Ursus himself went out and squeezed it out from one of the mansion servants. The young master has gems and gold coins worth a clan's fortune."

Biggus Gofart's eyes gleamed while continuing,

" The true goal was for him to lead an expedition, but the coward backed out. He plans to wager half the Clan's fortune during the House Competition. That way once he wins, his patriarch won't skin him alive."

Patriarch Gofart lost himself in thought before facing his son.

"Gather the Elders. We must strike before the others and secure a sizeable bet. it's not the first, nor the last time Frost City hosts a dandy like him."

On the outskirts of the city wall, the faint glow of a candle peeked from behind the closed wooden shutters.

A bald man sat at the head of a table while ripping the meat off a drumstick. A broad-shouldered man sat on his left, while a short fatty munched away on his right. Both looked at him while waiting.

"How reliable is the rumor, Harky?"

Lord Arash asked while chewing.

The lanky man standing at his side stroked his chin when replying.

"More than a glimmer of truth. This merchant master has made himself very well known since he arrived. The informant from the Guild says the registered cargo filed on entry to the city shows a wealth akin to a large clan. The merchant questioned in the square from Frost City confirmed the dandy is well known. An avid gambler."

Lord Arash nodded.

"Very well. Send word to the gang. We'll see what kind of game this young master is rolling. If we can steer him towards a nice mark, place the bets through members and owners. When the little coins add up, he will know too late what's the meaning of true gambling."

***

With the moon high in the starry sky, Chu sat at the table in the great hall. A girl giggled from the seat next to him,

"The baited hook has been tossed. I can't wait to reel in the suckers. I mean fish."

"I take it from Miki's words that everything is done?"

Chu asked.

"I spread the word at the tavern owned by that Jinky fellow."

Ming replied. Doug continued from beside him,

"Merchant Quin says there have been a lot of inquiries concerning young master Will in the Guild. One of the cargo declarations has gone missing."

"Ursus sent word that old patriarch Gofart has taken the bait."

Chong informed.

Chu rapped his finger.

"That old man is at the end of the rope. The loss of his cargo spelled a make or break for him. What do you think about the full moon meeting?"

He turned to the little redhead busily eating.

"Me and Chong had a nice look. Singh is at a nearby farm. I left Lykos and the others with him."

"Mr Thomas?"

"Ishara is with them."

Lucy answered.

"Good. We move for the full moon tomorrow. Dyna will accompany Doug and Singh. Miki and Lucy will serve as her guards. Ming and I will join in later with the others. Sakura and Chong will lead a group of our core members and stand by at the farmhouse."

Chu nodded before turning to face Old Russ sitting at the far end of the table.

"From the meeting with Patriarch Cleft and his group, I agree with what you said about the Ancient Houses. That party had a collective bearing of men of honor. Sufficing to say, this opens a question."

He tapped his finger on the table

"With the one-track mind of what you call true ancient houses, the actions shown by young master Cleft and friends at the Caressing Inn couldn't have been instigated by their elders."

Pausing in thought, he continued.

"Old Russ. There was one named Roogar. What about his house?"

The old man composed himself before answering. Ever since being subdued and assimilated by Doug and his members, Russ learned these young men operated on a level beyond his reach.

The teenagers above them, however, seemed even nigh untouchable.

"Boss. I recall Clan Roogar being a small noble house that entered the Ancient Houses a decade ago. Now that you mention it, there were a few changes back then."

Pausing for a time, he then continued,

"The Willow Clan also came close to losing, if not for their old Sersen who fought valiantly even while injured. There were lots of rumors flying about deals and borrowed Sersens."

Chu hummed for a moment, recalling his memories.

Looking at the elderly man, his face became grim,

"Old Russ. Dig up some information from the past for me. I want to know of any relationships those houses have with the Wung Clan."

Revenge drove them to Frost City. The focus lay on Wung Pigu, and his circle who harmed the Thomas family.

Now, he realized Mr. Thomas may have just been a small side string in a weaving cobweb. The undercurrents ran deep in this city, and juggling so many deceptions, plans, and relations, he lacked the time to prod the depths.

Wung Pigu belonged to one of the countless noble clans inhabiting this city. Not to mention the many branch families in the Empire and the two kingdoms who use the city as a base.

Something about being an Ancient House attracted the Wung clan.

From his meeting with patriarch Cleft and the others, his interpretation led him to believe that unless one possessed a mad level of honor and gung-ho, one had to be crazy to want the title of an Ancient House.

Somebody was after something.

Something big.

The Wung clan had a backer.

"Is there a problem?"

Lucy asked.

Chu nodded while turning to her,

"We need to work extra hard to topple the foundations of those guys."

He raised his head to gaze at the candle-lit cartwheel chandelier above. Wung, Gofart, and that Wu. Their families played a big game.

Yet,

"Back then in the Caressing Inn, that young tightwad named Wung Ji didn't bet a single coin."