Chapter 018: Victory or Defeat

“Lord City Master… I… I’ll find a way to make things right…”
Hari whispered.
“Make things right?” Gabriel sneered, releasing Hari’s clothes before quickly regaining his composure. “You think you can fix this? Let me tell you… Hari… although you’ve worked under me all these years, contributing little but enduring much hardship, if this situation isn’t handled properly… hmph…”
As he spoke, a servant rushed over to Gabriel’s ear and whispered a few words. After listening for a moment, Gabriel’s expression flickered with joy before he kicked Hari aside and ordered, “Hurry, bring that bastard Simon here.”
A moment later, disheveled Simon was brought in. Upon seeing Gabriel, he knelt on the ground and said, “My lord, I’m incompetent and have brought shame upon you.”
Gabriel snapped, “Look at yourself! Stand up and speak properly.”
Simon nodded slightly and quickly stood up. He knew what to do now and recounted in detail what had happened that day to Gabriel.
Gabriel’s face had still been stern, but after Simon finished speaking, a smile appeared on his face. After pondering for a while, he said cheerfully, “Good, good, Young Master Du Fan… But though you’re capable, you’re still just a child… And what do children like most…”
At this, Gabriel glanced at Simon and Hari and said indifferently, “It seems there’s some hope for today’s events. I’m 80% confident I can calm Young Master Du Fan down. But it will mean causing you some trouble. However, once you complete this task, Simon… you can dismiss your deputy. All of Rui’s city defense forces will be under your command. As for you, Hari… I certainly won’t treat you unfairly… What do you say?”
Simon was overjoyed. He hadn’t gained an advantage with Du Fan, but instead had reaped a great benefit from Gabriel. His deputy, who had been half-monitoring him, would be removed, meaning he would truly be in charge alone!
He exchanged a glance with Hari, and both knelt down again, saying, “My lord…”
“Very good,” Gabriel nodded. “I’ll have to trouble you two today.”
With that, he tapped the sofa a few times and called, “Someone!”
Outside the bell tower, several guards rushed in swiftly.

Gabriel pointed at the two people kneeling on the ground and whispered, “Hang these two, along with all the city guards who caused trouble today, at the entrance. Beat them mercilessly! After breaking both legs of each one, take them to the street in front of the inn where Young Master Du Fan is staying—leave them there until sunset.”

Simon and Harry paled at once and said, “My lord… please…”

Gabriel sighed lightly and said, “If one makes a mistake, they must admit it and then change. After changing, they must not make the same mistake again. This time, I’ll help you admit your fault… so don’t blame me.”

After saying that, Gabriel tilted his head and thought for a moment before smiling gently. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll send someone to the capital to bring the best healers to treat your wounds. Don’t be afraid; you won’t suffer any lasting harm.”

Watching Simon and Harry being dragged away in terror by the guards, screams soon echoed through the courtyard.

Gabriel frowned slightly and murmured, “Given that young master’s temperament, this might just calm his anger—consider it lucky. But if we want him to forget what happened today…”

After thinking for a while, Gabriel sighed again and whispered, “Someone!”

Soon, two more guards entered from the entrance. Gabriel glanced up at them and said in a low voice, “Go to the inner courtyard. Pick out a few pretty girls from those we train—most importantly, they must be pure. Have them get dressed up nicely. Tell them that if they manage to please Young Master Du Fan tonight, I’ll give them whatever they want. But if they fail… there’s no need for them to return to the inner courtyard; they can just jump into the river.”

The two guards exchanged a look and replied in unison, “Yes—”

“And…” Just as they were about to leave, Gabriel waved his hand again. “Send someone to inform the young lady that the third young master of the Green family from the capital will be attending the ball at our lord’s mansion tonight… Tell her to get dressed up nicely too. If those girls can’t cheer up that third young master, then… she’ll have to suffer the consequences.”

The two guards didn’t dare say more and quickly left.

After finishing all this, Lord Gabriel gave a slight gesture. Moments later, a servant brought him a cup of deep red wine.

Gabriel gently rotated his glass. Under the sunlight, the color of the wine seemed to cast a faint red hue on his face. He raised the glass and drank it in one gulp. “Hmph, the nobles of the capital, the true upper class… Do I, Gabriel, really have to be afraid? No matter how much power you wield in the capital, don’t forget that this small border town is my territory… Though… it’s strange. What is this noble young master from the capital doing here?”
With that thought, Gabriel set the glass aside, clapped his hands, and asked, “Are there any new news from the capital recently?”
A servant stepped out of the darkness and whispered something in Gabriel’s ear.
Gabriel looked enlightened and said, “I see, I see. Has that good-for-nothing young master finally achieved something? So, has Duke Green sent his son here to gain experience at the front lines?”
After pondering for a while, Gabriel still couldn’t figure it out. Finally, he sighed and said, “Never mind. I’ll keep this young master happy tonight, then send him back to the capital tomorrow. With him here, I’ll be restricted at all times… If his presence affects my plans, it won’t be worth it…”
At that moment, Gabriel suddenly stood up and said, “Someone, have those good-for-nothing’s legs broken?”
A guard rushed in and said, “My lord, they’ve been broken.”
A cruel smile appeared on Gabriel’s face as he sneered, “Then keep breaking them. This time, break even their hands. After that, send them back. I don’t believe that young master Du Fan will still be dissatisfied… Simon, Harry, don’t blame me… You brought trouble on yourselves by offending the wrong people. If it weren’t for all these years you’ve served me, I would have sent your heads right now… At least your arms and legs are still intact…”
Almost at the same time,
Du Fan drank the entire cup of black tea in one gulp. Suddenly, he smiled at Carol and asked, “Captain Carol, how much is your monthly salary?”
Carol was taken aback and replied, “The regular soldiers in our Northern Legion get five gold coins per month. As a captain, my salary isn’t much higher—just twenty gold coins.”
Du Fan nodded and said, “Twenty gold coins is quite a sum. An ordinary family could live a comfortable life with that amount.”

“Yes,” Carol nodded. “It’s all thanks to the Duke’s care. In an ordinary army, salaries would be deducted repeatedly; getting five or six coins a month would already be considered good. But Third Young Master, why do you suddenly ask this?”
Du Fan smiled and said, “It’s nothing… I just suddenly wanted to make a bet with you… But without some stake, a bet wouldn’t be interesting… How about this, Captain Carol? How about we bet ten gold coins?”
Of course, Carol couldn’t refuse. He nodded with a smile and said, “I wonder, Third Young Master, what would you like to bet on?”
Du Fan said, “Let’s make a bet. If Major Simon appears at the door of this inn again soon, then it’s me who wins. If he doesn’t show up within an hour, then it’s Captain Carol who wins. What do you say?”
Carol replied, “That sounds good… But Third Young Master… why make such a bet?”
Du Fan said calmly, “As I said, it’s to prove something. But wouldn’t it be boring if there’s no stake?”
Carol looked puzzled, but he didn’t dare ask more and could only nod as if he understood.
Du Fan casually took out ten gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the table. He glanced at the few cavalrymen standing around and said, “Well… do any of you want to join in the bet?”
The cavalrymen exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously.
Du Fan looked at Carol.
Carol had no choice but to shout, “Since Third Young Master has given the order, just do as he says.”
The cavalrymen quickly came over. Though curious, they didn’t dare ask too many questions.
Du Fan laughed and said, “Since you all agree, let me give you some advice. All of you should bet along with Captain Carol. Whether we win or lose depends on the mind of Lord Gabriel of Gabriel City.”