The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 40

Chapter 40. A Bit of Theater

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“Young lord, please stay inside from here. It could be dangerous.”

“Very well.”

I closed the window without argument.

“It’s quite brutal here.”

I said while looking outside through a gap in the curtains.

“Yes, the slum dwellers tend to hate nobles more than anyone.”

Peter, who was far more knowledgeable about slums than Olivier, said.

“Indeed.”

How could I not understand?

The hostile gazes from people on these streets. Or their vague admiration and awe. Perhaps the abstract jealousy toward someone born of good blood living in luxury…

Weren’t these all emotions that Karzan, once an orphan wandering the slums, had harbored?

“How do you like the scenery?”

I answered the coachman’s voice calmly.

“The city’s prosperity is truly remarkable.”

“Haha! I’m glad!”

But I didn’t come out just to look at scenery.

‘I received important information through Josef yesterday.’

If, as he said, survivors of House Eisenach are hiding in this city’s underground?

That’s one more reason why I need to enter the underground.

‘But it’s impossible to extend influence to the underground right away.’

My domain is still just one tiny annex, and Grünewald Castle itself is like a siege net with countless watching eyes. It’s impossible to break through all that and connect with the underground.

The same goes for my current situation, surrounded by the human barrier of royal guards and coachman escorting me.

‘Though he agreed to cooperate with my plans, Olivier isn’t completely my man yet.’

After all, he’s still a member of House Borgardt and a vassal of Grünewald.

Therefore-

Even my purpose for going out that Olivier and Peter knew about was actually an elaborate deception.

‘They probably think I’m trying to establish connections with useful smugglers to find the herbs that the survivors of my mother’s family are distributing.’

Not a chance. How long would it take to find people that way?

‘But it’s enough justification to deceive Olivier.’

Today, while pretending to be out for casual sightseeing, I planned to observe the smugglers lurking around the docks.

Why smugglers specifically? Think about it. Smuggling isn’t something you can do without solid backing.

‘Therefore, knowing useful smugglers is no different from finding a bridgehead into the underground.’

It was perfect justification that even I would believe completely if I were Olivier.

But who could fully guess my intentions? Without having stepped into the murky darkness of the underground.

To unknowing eyes, I’ll look like a young lord out for sightseeing; to those watching me, like someone trying to do something suspicious; and even to Olivier’s eyes, like someone trying to make connections with smugglers.

‘They’re all wrong, that’s what I’m saying.’

Hiding true intentions in confusion.

This was a technique of scheming that Karzan had learned by observation while living as the Dark King’s blade.

* * *

Word that Allenbert had gone out with five royal guards also reached Verdzich’s ears.

“Unexpected.”

He wondered what Allenbert’s purpose was for going outside at this point.

‘Is he trying to get a foothold in the underground?’

If successful, he could gain some backing. But if caught, it could become a fatal weakness leading to downfall. Dealings with the underground had to be that secretive.

‘It’s strange to attempt something so reckless when he doesn’t even have people to use.’

Verdzich stroked his chin.

‘It would be truly futile if he’s trying to make his own people out of those worthless ones without lineage.’

It’s the same whether in noble houses or the underground. It’s impossible to gain proper allies without any connections.

Then could there be another purpose?

From his position, not yet knowing about the information regarding House Eisenach’s survivors, it was hard to think Allenbert would fixate on underground connections without clear benefits.

‘He doesn’t have any means to connect with the underground in the first place.’

That was the logical inference.

‘He didn’t even take the mask.’

It remained in the annex. Of course, this information was known because of the tracking magic subtly installed, just as Allenbert had suspected.

‘What are you trying to do, Allenbert?’

Did he literally go out for fresh air?

It would be foolish to take that at face value.

‘That can’t be it.’

Meeting him in person showed that Allenbert’s mind was quite deep. Above all, he was the type of person difficult to predict.

“Watch his movements carefully and report.”

“We are tracking his route without gaps.”

The answer came from behind him.

“Report immediately if he does anything suspicious.”

“Yes.”

What could he be planning?

Or what is he trying to confirm?

‘Interesting.’

Verdzich walked to the window.

The annex where he stayed was itself like a massive mansion. Above all, it had an open view overlooking the entire city.

The distant docks were visible. Among the ant-like crowds of people, Verdzich’s superhuman eyesight easily spotted the familiar style carriage.

“Ah, going to the docks. I wonder why?”

He felt a slight anxiety at the fact that he still couldn’t read Allenbert’s intentions.

But-

‘Little brother, whatever you do, you’re in the palm of my hand.’

There’s a certain entertainment in observing what the ants in one’s palm are up to.

* * *

After crossing several bridges, we arrived at Grünewald Port. Massive sailing ships flying flags of various nations were busy docking and departing.

“Wow.”

Truly impressive. This is where goods from all continents gather.

“Woah…”

Peter gaped in amazement.

“It’s becoming quite magnificent.”

It was a spectacular sight to see the overwhelmingly large sailing ships docked at the pier, unloading cargo.

The cargo on just one ship was enormous in quantity. Dozens of such ships were lined up, pouring out massive amounts of cargo.

“Yes, it’s tremendous.”

The place was filled with merchants in various national formal wear, brokers, mercenaries and sailors, laborers unloading cargo, and peddlers walking around with miscellaneous goods and food.

It was on a completely different level from the port where I lived in my previous life. Seeing this, I understood why Grünewald enjoyed such wealth and prosperity.

“How much money is all this worth?”

Olivier answered my muttering.

“It’s hard to calculate. The value of goods moving in just one night is enormous.”

Unlike Olivier who felt pride as a Grünewald vassal, I was thinking from a completely different perspective.

‘At this scale, the smuggling operations must be beyond imagination.’

If the underground men who grew up scraping these crumbs have accumulated their power over a long time, the scale would be truly terrifying. Then surely among all those cargo loads, there must be plenty of smuggled goods mixed in.

They would buy and sell alcohol, illicit goods, medicines and elixirs.

Also jewels, accessories, paintings, crafts, sculptures, poisons and drugs that destroy humans, horses, cattle, and even people.

‘This is a vast sea of desire.’

Look at the sailors crossing this sea, the merchants receiving them, the men carrying loads, the women wearing strong perfume and those selling beer, pickpockets, shabby orphans, and nobles holding fans and swords while covering their noses from afar.

‘It’s amazing anew. Just how many people make their living from this one port?’

Meanwhile, desperate lives who crossed over here seeking blood and money must be quietly disembarking mixed among the passengers. The city’s darkness constantly sucks in people.

Some will be stabbed and discarded, while others will do the stabbing and stand atop others’ corpses.

‘But they will never reach the deepest depths of the abyss.’

Monsters live there. They each rule their nocturnal domains, looking down on this sea from comfortable mansions as if they were nobles.

‘Trash, all of them.’

It’s remarkable that even they must bow at the feet of my father, Georg Grünewald.

And I have now come down to these docks from the upper levels of that grand hierarchical tower. To this furnace of desire where the most base and most noble gather.

‘…My shadow too shall take root.’

For that, I first needed to melt in as a thorough outsider.

“Well then, I apologize but please wait here for a moment.”

The coachman looked at the royal guards and Olivier.

“I’m sorry, young lord.”

The captain said carefully.

“That place is too crowded for proper security.”

“But I see many nobles sightseeing here even without them.”

I pointed to nobles fanning themselves under parasols on the high ground overlooking the docks. Some of them even went down to the docks themselves.

“That’s true, but the position of Fourth Prince of Grünewald Duchy is special.”

“Are you saying public sentiment is so bad that someone so special should fear unexpected attacks in a place like this?”

“…That’s not it.”

“Let’s do this.”

I made a suggestion to the troubled captain.

“I also don’t want to trouble people by acting overly dramatic. So I’d prefer if just one or two people stay close to guard me while the rest naturally escort me from nearby.”

“Hmm… But our attire and weapons are obviously unnatural to anyone who sees them.”

“The security forces also move around in groups, so how conspicuous would it be for a few royal guards to walk around?”

Above all.

“Wasn’t the butler’s order to guard me, not control me?”

“…!”

“If I’ve misunderstood something, please tell me.”

“That’s not the case.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t asked your name yet.”

“Oh? Ah, my name is Jeffrey.”

“Good, Jeffrey.”

I pointed at Jeffrey.

“Then let me ask again. Is there any other reason I should follow your restraints when there’s no significant security concern?”

Jeffrey bowed his head to me.

“You are right, Young Master. I apologize.”

“I should be the one apologizing for being somewhat unreasonable.”

“…You must have had your reasons.”

Look at this? Such a probing tone.

“Not particularly. I just felt suffocated after being in a cage for so long.”

I turned around with a slight smile.

“Peter, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

…Now that the bird has met the vast sky, how could it not want to spread its wings and fly?

‘Well then.’

Who will guide me to my longed-for homeland?

I slowly walked into the sea of people dressed in all manner of attire.

* * *

I walked slowly along the bustling dock.

For now, no one approached me. It was natural. I must look like a noble’s son at first glance.

‘I’m not interested in petty merchants either.’

Although my real purpose lies elsewhere, I still planned to talk to some smugglers wandering around this dock today.

‘But most people who deal in small-scale smuggling are trash.’

On the other hand, to operate on a large scale, proper skill and credibility are essential.

How do you find such people?

‘This kind of thing is usually intuition.’

Who’s all talk? Who’s garbage? Who has a snake’s tongue that will exploit others…

Those who cannot discern these things cannot survive in this land. And I am a man who survived long in that realm, living as a mad dog that even those guys feared.

‘Let’s see. Right now my posture is too guarded.’

I squared my shoulders like a naive, arrogant young master. I walked with a slight waddle, hands behind my back.

Some people reveal their sense of authority just by their walk. Moreover, with splendid clothes and a shining face added to that, who wouldn’t see me as a noble’s son?

“Hey, look over there.”

“Who is that?”

I felt everyone’s gazes gathering. Admiration, question, curiosity, jealousy, greed, irritation, fear, and…

Look. Aren’t there gazes of desire mixed in? Eyes wanting to grab onto the thread of being a rich and precious young master.

Squawk?

Even seagulls landed beside me, tilting their heads. Even beasts can tell who is noble and wealthy. How could humans not recognize it?

“Peter, do you have any snacks?”

“Ah! Here they are!”

“Good. You’re an excellent servant.”

I walked leisurely while lightly tossing them into the seagulls’ mouths.

I had to smile. Drawing in seagulls with bait. Isn’t this a perfect allusion to what I’m trying to do today?

Squawk!

The seagulls that were waddling behind me wanting more suddenly flew away when kicked by a passerby’s feet. How pitiful.

‘They’re not approaching yet. That means they’re being cautious.’

That’s even better. If someone had approached and spoken to me right away, they would have most likely been a pathetic amateur.

Actually, it was also because of how menacing the expressions of the royal guards standing behind me were. Even now, Jeffrey’s gaze was piercing through the back of my head.

‘It’s quite warm.’

And that’s not all. There might be eyes twinkling like stars somewhere, watching me on someone’s orders.

‘Sorry everyone. Making you waste your effort.’

Nothing is more foolish than showing signs of having ulterior motives when everyone is watching you. Even Baklava wouldn’t do such a thing.

‘Would they? Anyway.’

I exchanged glances with Olivier and Peter.

‘Are you ready?’

‘Yes.’

‘I am!’

‘Good.’

From now on, we were planning to put on a bit of a show.