Malin was afraid that Clovis might not understand if it was too profound.
"Let’s just talk about Alchemy!" The Bunny Girl completely lost her temper.
Malin lost his temper — it was over, he feared he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
The elder stepped out of the teleportation gate and smiled at the Half-human shaving: "Are you planning to remember this terrible humiliation, Jefflyn."
"Remember what? Who they are, who I am, and besides, if my own little brother asks for it, what can I do after being hit," said the Half-human as he put down the razor and cleaned his face with a towel before washing it off with clean water.
"The person I asked you to find, have you found him?" The elder asked while looking at the painting on the wall.
"It’s not that easy to find him, that guy escaping from Naples itself is no small feat, Lord Catalia. He’s the first Shadow Thief to pass through the City of Shadows in 50 years, not some street-level pickpocket, and I heard Ding Qi is also looking for your target. Can I know what he stole that made him so memorable?"
"Something better left unknown to you, Jefflyn. Sometimes, the more you know, the more painful it gets, don’t you think?" The elder scrutinized Jefflyn, the Half-human.
The Half-human spat out and grabbed a bottle of wine and two cups from a nearby table: "You told me the same thing twenty years ago. Back then, you also told me that I could go back to being a human after a few more years."
"Who asked you to suddenly become a team leader back then? Look how well you’ve done these past twenty years; you’ve even become the boss of Pozzuoli. Maybe in another twenty years, I should call you ’Your Majesty’ of the Brotherhood."
"To hell with that, why did I believe your lies back then," the Half-human cursed and then clinked his cup with the elder’s.
The two men downed their drinks in one go, and the Half-human glanced at the elder: "I won’t ask when I can go back anymore. I just want to know who we are catching this time, what wrong has our target committed, and if my men catch the target and hear something, will they be silenced? I’ve already lost five brothers today!"
"They are not your brothers," said the elder, looking at the Half-human in front of him.
"I am the boss now, Your Excellency! If I can’t protect my brothers, the Brotherhood of Pozzuoli won’t need me! This time I can still use the excuse that Malin is the Lord of Justice’s favorite and they were the first to provoke to get by. But what if we catch the target?! Should I tell the brothers in the Brotherhood’s Round Table, ’Sorry, they were silenced by Catalia Hemingway, the royal hound!’?"
The old man and the Half-human faced each other in silence until the elder shook his head: "He stole an artifact from the old days. No one knows how to use it, but he just shouldn’t have stolen it. Do you understand?"
"That’s better, Your Excellency. I really can’t afford any more losses. Among the five people who died today at noon was someone I wanted dead, but the rest are loyal to me. They are my support to climb higher. If you expect me to truly become ’Your Majesty’, then you’d better help me instead of making me lose my people and power. This job is dangerous, Your Excellency."
"I know," said the elder, extending his hand and smiling as he shook hands with the Half-human: "You’re the first person who has had the courage to speak to me and whom I think isn’t wrong in doing so."
"Thank you, Your Excellency. Forgive my previous unguarded words," the Half-human smiled and said: "I still remember who the real brothers are, but... You should also know, it’s been so long in the Brotherhood that I’ve almost forgotten whether I’m a man or a ghost."
"The organization appreciates your sacrifice."
After the conversation concluded, the elder opened the teleportation gate: "By the way, Jefflyn, come to The Capital for the New Year, I’ll cover for you. Go home for a meal, how’s that?"
"...Sure, I haven’t eaten canteen food for 20 years. How’s our Thainan cook?" The Half-human asked with a smile.
"He left last year. That’s the bad news. The good news is his son has continued to cook for us," said the elder, patting his chest: "Invincible in battle."
The Half-human also patted his chest: "Unbeaten in battle."
The elder stepped out of the teleportation gate and saw an old man nearby: "Ding Qi, the news of your manhunt has stirred the whole city. As the steward of His Majesty, I want to know who you are after."
"A petty thief. He stole something belonging to our family. If you catch him, I’ll personally give you two thousand Mowish. How about that?"
"Ha, my time can’t be bought for a mere two thousand Mowish, old man," said the elder as he walked over to the table, looking at the old Mage: "Fadom, aren’t you dead yet?"
"You would be dead before I ever am." The Mage said while noticing the smell of alcohol on his old friend: "Have you been drinking?"
"I ran into an old friend before coming here and had a drink. No worries, alcohol can give courage. What game are we playing today?"
"Let’s play poker. By the way, Catalia, my old friend, you’re hardly ever free, so what made you suddenly say you wanted to get together today?" asked Bishop on the Mage’s left side with some curiosity.
"I just felt that we old folks hadn’t seen each other for a long time. From our generation, only the four of us are left."
"...Yeah, I saw Mr. Malin yesterday, and last night, I dreamt of everyone," Ding Qi reflected.
"That’s nice, you still dream. I haven’t dreamt for a long time," said the elder as he took his seat: "At our age, we are long past the age of dreams."