Chapter 54: Flower Street: Forced Arrest [VIP]
"ah--"
After a heart-wrenching scream, Lisa collapsed from complete exhaustion, with a large pool of blood and a bloody mess emitting a foul stench of decay beneath her.
"Lisa... Lisa..."
Lina shook Lisa's arm anxiously and looked at Xiao Yun pleadingly: "Master Claude, Lisa..."
"She's just a little tired. She'll be fine once she wakes up."
Xiao Yun gently touched the girl's head, and his eyes unconsciously fell on the golden Rosa Marie flowers by the simple window. Thanks to Lina's careful care, they were still blooming brilliantly after being away from the branches for several days.
(What is my brother doing now? Is he being harassed by the Dragon Emperor again?)
(If I were stronger, maybe I could...)
"——Master Claude also likes Rosamari?"
The girl's clear voice brought Xiao Yun's thoughts back to reality.
"Reiner is such a bad guy! He took all those gold coins from Lord Claude, but he only asked Lisa and Lina to take one thing each when they left Flower Street!"
"Lina chose Rosa Marie because Lisa said, as long as there are flowers, there is hope for the future."
"As long as there are flowers, there is hope for the future."
Xiao Yun repeated in a low voice.
At this moment, Lina suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed Xiao Yun: "Master Claude, you are Lina's hero. Lina will be your servant and serve you."
"What did you say?"
"Master Claude, please allow me to stay by your side as a servant in the future. This is a once-in-a-lifetime request. If you can let me be your servant, Lina will faint with happiness. Please!"
Lina folded her hands and pleaded sincerely.
"Lina, it's an honor for me to hear your words. But if I treat you as my maid, Lisa will be very sad. Moreover, Lisa needs your care and company more than I, who am strong and healthy."
"So—Lena, can we discuss this after Lisa is done and healthy again?"
"If Lisa agrees, will Lord Claude..."
The girl's eyes lit up.
"It's getting late. I have to go to the 'Sea Fairy' shop to sing and earn some money. Please take good care of Lisa."
"Don't worry!"
Lina's cheeks flushed with joy, and she happily sent Xiao Yun out: "The next time Lord Claude comes, he will definitely see a Lisa who is healthier than Lina."
"I believe it."
Xiao Yun smiled knowingly, walked out of the small house that the mother and daughter temporarily rented, and walked towards the "Sea Fairy" shop with his musical instrument on his back.
…
…
Today, the "Sea Fairy" shop is more lively than usual. The tavern is packed with people, including many red-light district women and men with heavy makeup. The air is filled with the cheap fragrance of red-light district.
But because everyone present - including the men and women from the red-light district - looked solemn and serious, it was completely impossible to associate it with the frivolity and vulgarity of the red-light district.
“Here it comes! Here it comes!”
"Lord Claude is here!"
As Xiao Yun appeared in the field of vision, the crowd burst into cheers. People were swept up in the fanatical emotions and looked at him excitedly, as if they were looking at a statue or other similar sacred objects.
Many people even shed tears, choked and sobbed.
But when Xiao Yun approached, everyone stopped cheering and quietly made way.
——In the young and beautiful bard, they felt the nobility and dignity of a god.
Moreover, unlike the statues enshrined in temples overlooking the world, the bards exude a more approachable and more receptive sacredness.
(As if the Son of God walking among men.)
People thought about this with reverence, and lowered their heads consciously when Xiao Yun approached, not daring to look directly at the bard's beautiful face that shone like the sun lighting up the night.
Xiao Yun was slightly startled, then felt the admiration and love surge in the hearts of the people gathered there. He walked through the crowded crowd, trying hard to suppress his excitement, and walked into the "Sea Fairy" store. In a voice as clear as spring water, he asked, "What do you want to hear tonight?"
…
Rustling like the breeze on the grassland, as clear and melodious as the singing of birds in the mountains, Xiao Yun's singing echoed in the crowded "Sea Fairy" store.
People were immersed in Xiao Yun's singing, with knowing smiles on their faces.
Sudden--
“Ahhhh!”
Someone screamed at the entrance of the "Sea Fairy" store, followed by more people screaming in fear and shock.
"What is that!"
"what happened!"
"What's going on!"
“…”
Xiao Yun, who was surrounded by the crowd, looked up and stared ahead, and saw a team of cavalrymen in red armor led by Reiner breaking into the tavern.
"Reiner?"
"Lord Kerela!"
Reiner pointed out, "This is the guy who stole the gold coins!"
"What?"
Xiao Yun was surprised.
The female boss saw this and said, "Rila! Reiner! What are you going to do?"
"On official business!"
Kerila roughly pushed the female boss aside and said to Xiao Yun
"Why?"
"You are suspected of stealing
Reiner shamelessly said, "The gold coin you gave me has the portrait of the city lord on it!"
"What did you say?"
Xiao Yun was extremely surprised: "This is the common gold coin of Kukuchia City!"
"You've only been in Kukuchia for a few days?! And you're just a bard who sings and doesn't do anything else for a living! How could you possibly earn so much Kukuchia gold in such a short time?"
Reiner roared with foam flying at the mouth: "It must be a thief! It can only be a thief!"
"These gold coins were collected by me and the customers in the store."
The female boss tried to help Xiao Yun.
The guests at the scene echoed that they were the ones who raised the money for Lisa and Lina's redemption, and that the bard Claude was absolutely innocent.
"You're lying! You and Lisa are good friends. If you could raise the money to redeem Lisa and Lina, would you wait until today?"
Reiner shouted.
"Hu--"
"Cadres, shut up!"
Carilla looked at the field with a haughty look and declared arrogantly:
"Claude Shaw entered Kukuchia City as a bard but failed to promptly pay his respects to the City Lord in Paradise City. He is also suspected of stealing Kukuchia's wealth and violating Kukuchia law by practicing medicine on the Red Street. These are three serious crimes! Anyone who dares to protect him will be taken away with him! This is the City Lord's order! Do you understand?"
"You are so lawless!"
The female boss was shaking with anger.
"It doesn't matter. I believe the city lord is a fair and just person."
"What!"
The female boss was going crazy.
The guests also made trembling sounds.
One of the middle-aged men grabbed Xiao Yun's sleeve and said, "You have no idea how terrifying the City Lord is... He... He... He not only loves beautiful women, but he's also a pervert who enjoys torture... If someone as beautiful as you falls into his hands... He will definitely..."
"Harry, I will remember what you just said and pass it on to the Lord Mayor."
Kerila shouted mockingly, "The human-animal duel show can have fresh blood food again."
"And you—"
Carilla grabbed Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun stepped back, avoiding his hand.
"What an arrogant fellow!"
Kerila said angrily, "When the Lord Mayor gets tired of you, I'll definitely cut your face into pieces—Come on, Bard, follow me to Paradise City. We can't keep the Lord Mayor waiting for too long!"
"--etc!"
Xiao Yun spoke.
"What? Don't you want to leave?"
Carella said sarcastically.
The accompanying knights drew their weapons.
Everyone in the tavern glared at him when they saw this.
"Don't make unnecessary sacrifices for me."
Xiao Yun turned around, dissuaded everyone, and told the female boss, "If Lisa and Lina ask, just say that I have left Kukuchia and gone to another city."
"But--"
"Protect them and don't let Reiner succeed."
"—No! Claude!"
"Lord Claude!"
The crowd cried out in pain, women covered their faces and cried, and some even fainted on the spot.
"Kerela! Reiner! You two bastards who betrayed the gods!"
The female boss let out a painful whine.
Carilla didn't care and looked at Xiao Yun rudely: "Come, bard, the city lord is waiting for you. If you keep him waiting for too long, he will hang you up and whip you severely."
…
Just like that, at midnight when the moon had risen into the sky, Xiao Yun, under the coercion of Carella and others, walked out of the "Sea Fairy" shop, sat in a dark carriage, passed through the city of Lower Kucukia, arrived at Upper Kucukia, and entered the Paradise Palace, which was decorated luxuriously and expensively but also revealed vulgarity and obscenity.
In fact, when Xiao Yun was surrounded by heavily armed knights and walking through a corridor covered with soft carpets, the decorations on both sides of the corridor were too vulgar and frivolous, and the maids who passed by him were all wearing translucent clothes. At one point, he suspected that he was walking into the most luxurious brothel in Kucukia.
At the end of the corridor, there is a huge door with dozens of lifelike monsters carved on it. The monsters are painted with gold and colorful. It does not feel solemn and serious, but rather like a circus performance is about to begin.
"—Lord Count Talese, the great ruler of Kukuchia, the City of Joy, and the judge appointed by the Sea God, by your order, we have brought here the bard Claude Shaw, who has recently gained acclaim in the Flower Street area! We await your summons!"
Kerela shouted as she stood in front of the giant gate.
A repetitive voice came from behind the door.
Then, another repetition sounded from deeper inside.
…
After repeating this five times, the huge door slowly opened, and a page boy, about 1.6 meters tall and dressed in gorgeous attire, walked out with his head held high. "Are you Claude Shaw?"
"yes."
Xiao Yun lowered his head so that the cute-looking boy could see his face clearly.
The boy's eyes flashed with surprise, and he muttered, "She is indeed very beautiful, but in Paradise City, being pretty doesn't guarantee you will be loved by adults."
Then the boy turned around and said, "Follow me in."
As he led the way, he emphasized, "Remember, lowly bards like you must kneel down at the designated spot upon entering, then crawl to the Lord! You must not raise your head until the Lord allows you to! And you must not speak on your own initiative! You must keep your head down, and answer every question the Lord asks! Do you understand?"
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