The Dark King
Page 36
Aunt Dai spoke in worry: "It would take a lot of money to redeem them. You should know than if more than a silver coin is stolen, people are sent to prison. You can't be silly, ah!"
"This is my own money." Dudian knew that he had to explain the source of his money as they were not aware of his status. He took out his guard medal: "I have been selected as a guard, the monthly salary is very high."
Dai Li stunned, said: "You, you are a guard?
Dudian took the medal, said: "Yes."
Aunt Dai recovered a bit as she looked at Dudian in surprise: "Good. Good! I've taken care of the orphanage in the past few years, you should be one of the most promising kids in here. Well, you remember Lisa, do you? She was adopted the same time as you were. She was adapted by the gardener of the Mel family. But she was clever and was appreciated by the Little Miss of Mel family. She was chosen as her maid. Last year, she came back once and also asked about you. She is good person, so if you have any difficulties later on perhaps you should find her for help!"
Dudian was surprised to find out that the girl who launched a verbal attack on him years ago had been successful in Mel family. She seemed cute and silly but her true nature was hidden deep inside. However, things have been much better for him in the past few years so he didn't care to much.: "I may."
Aunt Dai smiled as turned and went into the orphanage. Soon three children came out. It seems they were sleeping earlier as their eyes were gooey and crusty. They were Joseph, Kroen and Barry.
They were amazed when they saw Dudian.
In the last three years all of them had changed. But because of good nutrition Dudian had the greatest change. His body had a strong development and was totally different to his original thin appearance from 3 years ago. Joseph had also changed. He was a head taller in comparison to three years ago. However his face's lump was more bloated and he was looked very scary.
Kroen had congenital malformations. His arms had only grown to half the size of a normal. Few of his fingers had stayed as baby fingers.
Barry was in good shape. On surface there was no problems. But Dudian knew that he had sarcoma because of the condensation of radiation in his stomach.
Living in the orphanage, their life experiences were stronger than Mason, Zach and Sham. Soon, they recognized Dudian and quickly approached. Joseph stuttered: "Di, Dean... Are you doing well?"
Dudian smiled as he replied: "I'm doing very good. This time I've opportunity to take you back with me. By the way, you don't have to bring your clothes as I'll be getting new ones for you. As soon as we finish with the registration we gotta go and take Barton. "
They were stunned as Joseph stuttered more: "You...You mean... Want... To take us away?"
Dudian laughed: "Don't you believe me? "
Kroen was the fastest to strain himself.: "Of course we trust you but Dean. Do you have money?"
"I've enough to redeem all of you" Dudian looked at their eyes filled with hope and excitement. He knew that they were eager to leave: "I'll go and pick the household registration documents."
Three looked at each other and quickly nodded. Then they turned and ran back to the orphanage.
Dudian came to the front yard of the orphanage and immediately saw the chunky woman, who had helped him with the procedure. She was sitting behind the counter, yawning, listless. There was a dark-skinned boy next to her.
The little boy was quite alert. As he saw Dudian, he gently gestured to the chunky woman.
The chunky woman opened her eyes and saw Dudian walking in. She sat up and smiled. "Excuse me, who are you?"
"I'm here to redeem children." Dudian said in brief.
Chunky women shook her head: "adoption. To adopt you have to... ..."
"I now." Dudian interrupted her. Everyone had to wait till the so-called adoption day. The purpose was to increase the possible monetary benefits from the adoption.
"We have such a rule ... ..." chunky women quickly explained.
Dudian was too lazy to listen, took out the guard medal and said: "I know that the rules can be bent. So you better proceed immediately..."
Although, he looked like a youth but has long been polished in the training camp. So his talk resembled more of a nobility rather than a normal guards. The woman replied immediately after some hesitation: "I know... Give me the names of children."
"Joseph, Kroen and Barry." Dudian reported the names.
Woman was stupified after hearing the names but still went with the registration. It didn't take long before the procedures were complete. Each of them cost him two silver coins.
When the woman saw Dudian taking out a gold coin she realized that he was not someone to be neglected.
At this time, aunt Dai came in and saw Dudian putting away the contract. : "How? Finished?"
Dudian nodded slightly.
"They've been waiting for you out there," aunt Dai laughed. "I hope they remembered the kindness and will pay you back."
"You are wrong, this is my gratitude." Dudian replied. He signed the household registration contract and left.
Chunky women looked at the back of Dudian and asked: "Dai sister, who is this man, you seem to know him?"
Dai smiled and said: "Remember three years ago, there was a child called Dean. That's him!"
Woman's eyes went wide: "That's why he was a little familiar. He actually had become a guard?!"
...
...
Dudian saw Joseph and the others standing in front of the orphanage looking uneasy. They seemed to be worried about the case if Dudian bulged out. He gave them the contracts: "We should go now. This is your own household registration."
Their bodies slightly trembled as they saw the genuine contracts in their hands. Joseph's eyes reddened and tears flowed out.: "Dean.. I... I...."
Dudian looked at their appearance filled with gratitude. He was embarrased as he said: "Oh come on... Stop being so polite... Let's go Barton still waiting for us."
"Dean, this, I really want to thank you!" Kroen spoke heavily.
"Well, otherwise, we will have to... like Barton ... ..." Barry tightly clenched his fists.
Dudian smiled, said: "Do not be so nauseating. Let's go."
They no longer said anything as they saw Dudian's expression. Before leaving all four of them looked deeply back at the orphanage. They also saw aunt Dai and the chunky woman by its door. They didn't know but their lives will be completely different after this!
Similarly, no one knew but in the annals of later generations... All historian's will depict the name of this crew in scarlet red - 'Devil's Cradle'
Chapter 88: Taking out
Colin Mine is a company owned by the Mel family. It's controlled by the Chamber of Commerce. It was located in the western suburbs of the slums. Dudian hired a carriage and went away with the three of them.
Carriages were very few in the slums. Usually the people working in good positions at Chamber of Commers or some other factory's management would hire them for easy travel.
It was first time for Joseph, Kroen and Barry to ride a carriage. They were nervous and trembling as if not to tamper with the carriage. They feared that they would dirty the armchairs.
Dudian didn't say anything. He knew that they had gone through very hard times and it was not so easy to adapt. Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Colin mine. It was the most prominent business in the slums. It had an impressive building built by Chamber of Commerce for its office use.
Dudian was the first to get out of the carriage. He gave the coachman a copper coin as a fare. He called the trio to follow him as he went into the building.
Two sluggish young guards were standing by the door. They stood up but when they saw the children coming over, their lazy look was restored. One of them look up and down at Dudian. After seizing him up: "This is the office building of Colin mine under Chamber of Commerce. What do you want?"
"Tell the top official here to come and see me," said Dudian.
Two people surprised a moment, one of them turned over and said: "Little brother as the residents if you are here to buy minerals, or maybe on your house master's orders, then we will be responsible to receive you. As for you wanting to see our president, I'm sorry to tell but he won't be able to take care of you."
Dudian took out the guard 's medal, said: "You only need to pass the message that I'm representing Mel family"
Both of them were startled as they saw the medal with crossed swords. They carefully looked at it and determined that it was not forged. One of them hesitated before talking: "You wait here while I go to ask them. What's your name?"
"They don't qualify to know it. " Dudian said indifferently.
The guard heard Dudian's tone but didn't take it his heart as Dudian had previously said that he had come on Mel family's behalf. Moreover, he didn't have the right to intervene on Chamber of Commerce's business.
Soon, Dudian and the others followed the guard inside.
No other guard stopped them on their way in.
Doudian had seen all kinds of luxurious place and offices in the commercial district. So the hall of Chamber of Commerce's entrance was not anything in his eyes. It was a bit scrappy. He casually looked towards the couches before coming to sit and rest. Joseph, Kroen and Barry followed him in silence.
The trio's hearts were nervous as it was the first time for them being in a luxurious and clean place such as this.
Soon, guard came back with a tall woman.
The guard saw Dudian and rest sitting on the couch so he respectfully said something to the woman who was behind him.
The woman looked at Dudian but her brows wrinkled when she check the trio sitting besides him. She came over: "Excuse me, you are the people sent by Mel family?"
Dudian noticed the trace of contempt in woman's eyes as she was questioning them: "Are you the president here?"
"I am in charge." Woman's brows wrinkled up as she saw Dudian didn't answer to her question.
Dudian's face turned cold but he was lazy to pursue her: "I'm here to take a person who was assigned as a miner not long ago. Can you call the shots?"
There was an expression of displeasure on her face as she replied: "All the miners have slave status. If you have a backing of an aristocrat then I can give them to you. Otherwise you must deliver high compensation to purchase. But even if you purchased them they will still be a slave. There won't be any compensation in instance they are killed by others?"
Dudian took out his hunter medal: "Do you know what this is?"
Tall woman shook her head: "Never seen."
"Then let your sub-president come!" Dudian said.
Tall woman stifled her anger as she spoke: "You are just a guard! If you weren't working for Mel family's main house, I wouldn't even talk to you. The president is busy with the work and not every passer-by can meet him. You are a guard and have no right to interfere with out Chamber of Commerce. "
Dudian looked at her eyes: "I can only tell you, as long as I say a word you will have no work to come tomorrow. You don't qualify to know my identity, be sensible and call over you president. Otherwise, you will be shouldering all the risk and peril! "
Tall woman was so angry that she wanted to laugh out loud at Dudian's words. But as she looked at Dudian's cold eyes, she suddenly thought of his cold tone. Maybe she really didn't know his background so she said: "You should wait here while I help you to inform the president."
Finished, she turned and left quickly.
Joseph and rest were shock at Dudian's tough and overbearing attitude. It was too different from the reicent boy that they remembered.
After a while, a middle-aged man in black suit following the tall woman came back. His brows wrinkled when he saw Dudian and the others from far away. But he still maintained the etiquette and endured the temper: "Hello, I am the president here. May I ask who you are?" He looked at Dudian. It seems that as long as he was not satisfied with Dudian's answer, they would be immediately thrown out.
Dudian naturally felt the questioning and intolerance in the other side's eyes. But was lazy to answer so he raised his hunter medal: "Do you know what this is?"
Middle-aged man's sharp eyes focused on the pattern on the medal. He eyes shrank as he watched Dudian in horror. He was quick to react as he bent over in respect: "I know."
"I want to mention a man named Barton. He is a miner who was assigned to you shortly before, and you will let him come at once," said Dudian.
Middle-aged replied: "Yes. Immediately. " He waved back at the tall woman, motioned her to deal with immediately.
The tall woman was stunned as he saw the president to act that way. President showed such attitude when General manager of the Chamber of Commerce came to inspect. She remembered Dudian's words as her hair slightly erected. She was fortunate in holding back the impulse or they were likely to lose their jobs.
Half an hour later, the tall woman came back with a boy who was as dark as a monkey. She was enduring the unbearable smell of the boy who was brought in front of Dudian: "This is the man misters wants."
Dudian had noticed the Baron since they entered the building. His lame legs made him look like an old man. Barton's body was very thing as rows of ribs could be seen from the side. His hair was messy and there was no trace of meat on his face, making his eye socket's deep into the skull.
Barton was shocked as his eyes fell on Joseph, Kroen and Barry.
Joseph was the first to recognize Barton so he jumped up from his seat and stepped forward: "Hey Barton, I, we came to get you."
"You, how come you are so lean?"
"Do not miners eat anything?"
The three looked at thin Barton in surprise as their hearts ached.
Barton throat was hoarse: "How did you come?"
"Dean brought us," Kroen pointed to Dudian who was sitting on the couch and said, "Dean redeemed us all."
"Di, Dean?" Barton looked at Dudian.
Dudian did not expect that a miner's life of just one year would torture him into this: "I was late, you okay?
Tears flowed form his eyes as Barton said: "You also, you remember me, I thought, thought ... ..."
Dudian sighed and said, "I've been away for three years and I couldn't leave, or else I could have redeemed you in advance."
Middle-aged man was more convinced of Dudian's identity as he heard Dudian talk. He respectfully said: "Mister Barton is the smallest miner here and he has been very well taken care of, but the living conditions of the miners are poor. So you know, so for him to change this way... we have no way to... its just above the requirements."
"You shut up," said Dudian, glancing at him.
Middle-aged silenced without showing slightest temper. He knew what kind of monster he was facing.
Tall woman suddenly thought that she had underestimated Dudian's identity.
"Let's go." Dudian got up. Although Barton had not been "well taken care of" by the middle-aged man, but at least there was nothing wrong with the other.
Moreover, the weak can only comply with the conditions.
Chapter 89: Awakening
Dudian took Joseph, Barton and other with him as they left the Chamber of Commerce. They came to nearby tavern. The table was full of dishes, after all every was hungry.
"Di, Dean, this is so much. So much that we can not eat." Kroen looked at the table full of dishes while he swallowed his saliva.
Dudian smiled and replied: "Eat on. "
"We will." Four of the couldn't stop at gobbling up.
At this time, a waiter wearing a white skirt came over. Clutching her nose she looked at the other before talking to Dudian: "You owe us a total of 68 copper coins for these."
Dudian frowned and said: "We have not finished yet."
"Pay the bill and eat as much as you can." Waiter girl spoke in cold voice.
Dudian was unhappy, but too lazy to care about. He took out a silver coin and put into the tray in her hand: "Three more of these."
"So expensive." Barton, who heard the words of the girl, began to eat in embarrassed manner.
Dudian waved: "Money is not a problem, as I don't lack any. Eat up as much as you want, if not enough we can continue to order more."
Barton and the others saw that Dudian was really not distressed and care so they were little assured. They continued to wind and sweep to chew.
"Dean, your money is from ... ..." Barry was about to ask but saw the other guests come in the pub, suddenly shut up. He continued to eat the food in front of him.
After they were finished, Dudian took them out from the tavern and found a small backalley near its vicinity. There were no people passing by so he was at ease while he talked to them: "What's plan for the future?"
Barton and Joseph looked at each other. Joseph stammered: "I, I do not know, I think I can go and find a work. I should be able to find something with enough pay for food. "
"Me too," Barry said.
Dudian looked at Barton and Kroen as he saw the expression on their faces he nodded and said: "I have redeemed you guys but you are free to do whatever you want. Naturally I won't force anything upon you. Now, there are three options for you to choose from. First, I can find you jobs such as gardener and housekeeper. You can serve in these positions and help me look after my house. I will not really treat you as servants but on name only."
"Commercial district house?" Barton and the rest stared on as if they were sheep.
Dudian nodded: "Yes, the second option is that I'll give a sum of money to each one of you. Do whatever you want as I will not interfere how you spend it. While the last option is to be assistant. "
"Assisstant?" Barton questioned.
Dudian spoke in serious tone: "Yes, but things what I'm going to do are very dangerous. It's a bit illegal and you may end up losing your life. "