The temples of the Nine True Gods also managed cemeteries, as this was traditionally a core function of deities.
What surprised Charlot Mecklenburg was that the Bretagne family’s cemetery was located in the Temple of the Serpent of Fate. This temple, situated in the Lukavaro District, boasted a long history, having been built during the Sherlock dynasty and enduring through six epochs to the present.
As the commander of the City Patrol Guards and head of the Administrative Bureau in the Lukavaro District, Charlot had not returned here in quite some time.
Since the City Patrol Guards had transitioned into the West Wind Knight Order, not only had Charlot been absent, but the entire force had become dormant. The current situation was almost indistinguishable from the days when they were mere placeholders drawing salaries.
Now, the dominant power in the Lukavaro District was the Bard Commerce Guild.
The Bard Commerce Guild wasn’t a conventional gang organization but rather a security coalition formed by seventeen merchant shops. It operated with a slight gang-like character but rarely clashed with others, focusing solely on protecting the business interests of its member shops.
The guild leader, Ross Bard, had made two critical missteps in the past but quickly adjusted his approach. He chose to ally with Charlot and settled into the Machubi Fortress, devoting all efforts to assisting Charlot in expanding commerce.
Charlot’s recruitment drive had resulted in an excess of soldiers, many of whom were not needed for military campaigns. As a result, Machubi had more than enough manpower. The Bard Commerce Guild had recruited many workers, growing tenfold in scale. It now managed far more than the original seventeen shops. Excluding the newly built establishments in Machubi, the guild operated over fifty shops within the Lukavaro District alone.
Two of those shops were Annie Mecklenburg’s bookstores!
Most of the Lukavaro District’s gangs had been persuaded by Charlot to join the West Wind Knight Order, weakening their power significantly. Since the district was Charlot’s territory, the Bard Commerce Guild’s expansion faced almost no resistance.
When Charlot returned to the Lukavaro District, word of his presence immediately spread. A messenger ran to inform the Bard Commerce Guild’s current manager. Ross Bard was out of town, so his son, Little Bard, was now in charge.
Little Bard, who was already in his thirties, personally led a group to meet Charlot halfway. Approaching the luxurious dark carriage, he greeted Charlot with a smile, saying, "Mr. Mecklenburg, you’ve finally returned to the loyal Lukavaro District. If you need anything, just say the word. It’s an honor for us to serve you."
Charlot glanced at the crowd outside. This was the first time he’d been welcomed with such fanfare, but he didn’t particularly enjoy the attention. “Focus on your own business,” he said. “I don’t need all this. You’re Ross Bard’s son, aren’t you? Keep up the good work. The West Wind will only get better.”
Little Bard smiled faintly and bowed respectfully to Annie Mecklenburg as well.
The relationship between Charlot and Annie Bretagne was well-known within the West Wind Knight Order. After all, Annie was Gorgias University’s famed West Wind Goddess, and the knight order bore the same name. Did their connection even need to be explained?
When Annie had expressed interest in entering the bookstore business, Little Bard personally delivered two properties to her. Although Annie insisted on paying for them, this gesture of “loyalty” left a strong impression on her. Little Bard had since taken the management of her bookstores more seriously than his own business.
Even Charlot himself was unaware of the network of relationships forming around him. Though still fragile, it was growing increasingly resilient.
Little Bard, understanding Charlot’s preferences, didn’t linger after paying his respects. Seeing that Charlot and Annie were traveling together, he deemed it inappropriate to follow them further. After a brief meeting, he departed with his entourage, leaving behind a dozen young men to assist Charlot as needed.
Charlot didn’t give it much thought. However, as he occasionally glanced out of the carriage, he noticed the group of young men keeping pace on foot. His gaze tightened slightly when he spotted a familiar face.
Actually, there was more than one familiar face, but most of them were only acquaintances.
One, however, stood out—Yan Melianne from Seagull City.
The youths following him also hailed from Seagull City. Back when Charlot still lived there, he often saw them on the streets.
Charlot pondered silently, “What are they doing in Strasbourg?” He refrained from approaching them, deciding to find an opportunity to ask later.
...
The luxurious dark carriage soon arrived at the Temple of the Serpent of Fate. Charlot helped Annie out of the carriage before casually storing the vehicle into a ring-shaped spatial artifact. The youths trailing behind them gazed enviously. One of them murmured, “When will we ever have such a miraculous treasure?”
Yan Melianne rebuked him in a low voice, “Stop dreaming.”
Having spent some time in Strasbourg, Yan Melianne had become more worldly and realistic. Though life in the city was harsh and full of hardship, he had found a way to survive by leading his group in running errands for local residents. While their days were unstable, they no longer went hungry.
Through his inquiries, Yan Melianne quickly learned that Charlot held significant positions in the Lukavaro District. He brought his group to the district, expecting to meet Charlot soon. However, to his disappointment, Charlot was almost never present. Yet traces of Charlot’s influence were everywhere in the district.
The City Patrol Guards were Charlot Mecklenburg’s. The Administrative Bureau was Charlot Mecklenburg’s. Many goods sold on the streets bore Charlot Mecklenburg’s name. Even the new bookstores were said to be owned by Charlot Mecklenburg.
Residents of the Lukavaro District even preferred buying products from businesses affiliated with the West Wind Knight Order, trusting them to be of high quality and fair price.
Gradually, Yan Melianne abandoned the idea of seeking Charlot. He believed that they now belonged to entirely different worlds.
He also thought he understood why Charlot hadn’t come to see him back then…
Well, he misunderstood.
...
It was Charlot’s first time visiting the Temple of the Serpent of Fate. Though the current era belonged to the Lady of the Black Moon, faith and worship for the other eight True Gods remained unaffected. The Temple of the Serpent of Fate was still bustling with devotees.
Charlot and Annie quietly passed several buildings and reached the cemetery behind the temple. Here, many people were silently mourning their loved ones.
Annie located Sophie Bretagne’s grave. Since Sophie had been killed by her husband, she was not interred in the Yanmills family’s cemetery but rather in the Bretagne family’s burial grounds.
Annie placed a bouquet of white daisies on her aunt’s gravestone. Clasping her hands together at her brow, she silently prayed.
Feeling deeply remorseful, Charlot also offered a silent prayer. He thought, “Lady Sophie, everything was the fault of the former Charlot Mecklenburg. I am Huang Haisheng, no longer that person. If you’ve already returned to the embrace of the Nine True Gods, please don’t hold onto any resentment toward me. I’ve avenged you by eliminating your enemy…”
Indeed, Yanmills had perished at Charlot’s hands.
As Charlot finished his prayers and glanced around, taking in the scenery, a young priest approached with a serene smile. “Oh, favored of the Serpent of Fate! The High Priest wishes to see you.”