Chapter 373: The Black Emperor
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“From now on, I am the Severed Fingers Gang’s new leader! Marcus, after this meeting, I’ll have to trouble you to get all the Severed Fingers Gang higher-ups scattered throughout the kingdom.”
Watson stood in the middle of Count Gray’s manor. The burly and honest Marcus nodded respectfully and knelt on one knee with the other two high-ranking Severed Fingers Gang members.
“I have another task for you. Later, I will send you a batch of high-quality peak gold-tier weapons and armor. Please bring those weapons and armor to the City Defense Department and sell them! I will give you three days. If you can sell the items within three days, I will give you a new batch of weapons of higher quality.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Count Gray, bring me all the wine in your hands later. I’ll help you fuse them! It’s the same, also for three days. I want you to sell all the drinks that I’ve fused. Since the other higher-ups haven’t returned yet, I won’t start the internal competition for the time being. When everyone returns, I’ll issue a new policy—the one with the top monthly profits will receive generous rewards. That benefit will be deducted from the one with the lowest amount, who will also be subject to additional penalties.”
When Watson was in Blackmoon Castle, he formulated many plans to manage the Blackmoon Knights. He only managed soldiers who obeyed strict orders to become vicious criminals. There was not much of a difference.
“Don’t worry, Master. I will fulfill your request.”
Just like Marcus, Count Gray replied respectfully to Watson’s orders.
“In addition, we need to prune and reappoint some of the Severed Fingers members on the agenda. Any Severed Fingers Gang members who have committed major crimes are not allowed to be a leader in the organization! I believe that you are more familiar with what each of you has done. I hope that you will not hide it. If anyone dares to hide their crimes, they will be severely punished. Those who shield them will also be punished. On the contrary, I will reward those who take the initiative to expose the crimes of others. Do you understand?”
Watson looked at the tens of thousands of people in front of him. None of them showed any sign of disrespect. Instead, they looked at each other, and their eyes were shining.
As long as they reported the others’ crimes, they would be rewarded. Most of them were ruthless and selfish. Watson had also shown miraculous abilities that made them determined to carry out his orders. Perhaps Watson would be so happy that he would give them a bottle of fused wine or a weapon.
“We understand.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“We understand, Young Master Watson!”
Tens of thousands of people shouted in unison, causing the entire manor to shake. However, the voices did not reach the outside of the estate. Furthermore, that manor was Gray’s secret location, and it was protected by soundproofing magic. Watson had also added another layer of the same type of magic. Even if a platinum-tier elite were there, they would not be able to eavesdrop on the conversation in the manor.
He nodded in satisfaction. Watson said, “Excellent. From now on, the Severed Fingers Gang will take on a new path. I look forward to your performance. Before I leave, I’ll remind you of one last thing! I’m a low-key person. I don’t want the news of me leading the Severed Fingers Gang to be known by outsiders. Therefore, it’s best to pretend that you don’t know me when you see me outside. When you mention me, don’t call me by my real name.”
“Then what should we call you?”
Someone pretended to be brave and asked that question.
“Call me the Black Emperor,” Watson said after a few seconds of silence. Even though his tone was calm, his words seemed to contain an invisible pressure that made it difficult for everyone present to breathe.
If King Landhar III were the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s ruler, Watson would rule over the underground forces. One was in the open, and the other was in the dark. That might expose the ambitions in their heart.
Then, Watson slowly left the manor under everyone’s revered gazes. The moment he walked out of the manor, his lips moved as he said, “Absolute Cure.”
A rich aura of life filled Count Gray’s manor with voices of gratitudes.
“My finger is repaired.”
“Thank you, Watson… No, Black Emperor, for healing my disability.”
That day was destined to be a memorable day for the Severed Fingers Gang, and it was also the same for the entire Holy Dragon Kingdom.
After Watson left, he had Donder bring him to the Three-legged Cat tavern. He was prepared to fuse all the alcohol in the tavern. Then, he wanted to go to the City Defense Department and fuse all the fake and inferior weapons made by Marcus.
At the same time, he began to implement his plans.
First, he replaced most of the Severed Fingers Gang members. Some of the gang’s higher-ups relied on their illegal activities to rise to power. However, their crimes were being reported, one after another. Some were reported for murder, and some for adultery. Many of them were not convinced by those accusations and the order of dismissal. They wanted to lead their subordinates to start a riot. Finally, they found out that the person who reported them was one of their subordinates. Naturally, there was no way to talk about a riot.
In just a few hours, the Severed Fingers Gang had undergone a significant change in leadership. Members with lesser crimes were chosen to lead the gang. Some received rewards for the meritorious reports. The rewards were more abundant than they had imagined. It was a set of gold-tier weapons and armor, plus a bottle of red wine that could raise one’s strength to gold-tier.
A person’s strength could directly raise one’s level to gold-tier. The members of the Severed Fingers Gang had never seen such a potion before, let alone a red wine that had the same effect.
The red wine that Watson had fused was hundreds of years old. The members said that one would be promoted to gold-tier when one drank the wine. About a hundred of the higher-ups had already been promoted from bronze and silver to gold-tier. Some went mad because they had not believed Watson’s words or worried about retaliation if they were to make a report.
As the Severed Fingers Gang went through major transformations, a large number of high-quality red wines and weapons poured into the black market. The quality of those red wines and weapons was completely different from before. Many noblemen and adventurers who liked to shop in the black market clicked their tongues in wonder. When those people heard that the weapons and red wines came from the Severed Fingers Gang, they were even more surprised.
Everyone in the capital knew that the Severed Fingers Gang obtained their items through illegal means. They were sold at a high price and of poor quality. How did that change?
The new Severed Fingers Gang was causing a storm in the capital. Watson, the initiator, yawned and rode his unicorn back to the palace. ‘The King’s banquet should be over by now. I should go pick up Master and Nightingale.’
Watson had helped the Severed Fingers Gang’s taverns and the Ministry of City Defense to fuse a large number of weapons and red wine. Some of those items were stored in the warehouse for their internal use. Most of them were taken by Count Gray and Marcus for sale.
All the Severed Fingers Gang’s higher-ups had different sales methods. Count Gray chose to visit his noble friends’ houses to promote red wine. Marcus was much more straightforward and directly put the weapons on the black market. Due to the high quality, he knew that many people would want to buy them.
Watson was not very concerned about those things. As the gang’s new leader, all he had to do was point his subordinates in the right direction. His subordinates would do the rest. He also did not let Snick, the gang’s remaining original higher-ups, stay idle either. He had arranged for the man to investigate the King’s daily life.
Snick furrowed his brows when he heard the order even though the system had fused him into an obedient servant.
“‘It seems that the people in the capital glorify the King. Even those lawless people are afraid of him! I wonder if the King has done anything to my master and the others after I left.’
While he was thinking, Watson had unknowingly returned to the vicinity of the palace.
“Young Master Watson, we are here.”
Upon arriving at the palace, Watson heard a familiar shout. He looked up and found Nightingale standing in front of the palace gate, waving at him. Behind her were Antonio and Denise.
There were a few sparse carriages around them. A few noblemen were chatting with Antonio. Apparently, the banquet had been over for some time. If it were not for the sake of getting close to Antonio, no one would be in front of the palace gate.
“Brat, I’ve been looking for you for a long time. Where have you been?”
Antonio also saw Watson. He nodded to the noblemen who were talking to him and said, “Sorry, please excuse me for a moment. I need to talk to my disciple.” Then he quickly walked to Watson and narrowed his eyes at him. “You didn’t go out to cause trouble, did you?”
“Of course not, Master. Am I that kind of person?” Watson laughed guiltily. He had just taken control of the biggest underground force in the royal city. He did not know if that was considered as causing trouble.
Antonio curled his lips when he heard that. “You think I don’t know you?”
“Even if you don’t find trouble, trouble will always find you. This is the royal city and not the border. If you cause any trouble here, even I can’t help you.”
“I understand, Master.”
“Let’s not talk about that! After you left the banquet, I heard that you went to the Royal Academy and even got a perfect score. I am here to congratulate you on joining the Royal Academy. Later, I will take you to a place.”
“Where is that?”
“To the Sword Saint’s mansion, of course. That is also our main purpose for coming to the capital. ”
Antonio turned to look at a corner and revealed a meaningful smile. “Looks like you didn’t sign up for the Royal Academy’s mage department. Instead, you went with the warrior department.. Since you want to learn about warriors, I’ll just have to help you.”
