/
Chapter 203: Forcing a fight
The sky had completely brightened and the air had grown cooler. The sun, the size of a disc, was slowly rising in the sky. A resplendent sunrise stood tall and upright over the inky blue clouds and sparkled with a soft red light, ripping apart the clouds covering the heavens.
Small groups of people traveled on the morning streets in the Valley of Sunshine as they wandered out of the dens of temptation from the various alleys off the streets, yawning with sleepy expressions. It was apparent that they’d expended great effort on the bodies of women last night.
“There are truly so many disgusting fellows with no taste!” Emily wasn’t in the best of moods as she flicked a cold glance at those walking out of the alleys with untidy clothing, speaking with a look of distaste on her face.
Han Shuo wasn’t overly tired by the chase that had lasted all night. He looked around interestedly and didn’t respond.
“Oh, right, Phoebe came to find you last night, I said you were out of business!” Emily drew her coat together tightly by the neck and turned her head to speak to Han Shuo.
“She didn’t say anything?” Han Shuo started slightly and thought of what Phoebe had gone to do.
“No, she likely doesn’t have anything to say to me!” Emily responded, paused, and suddenly drew close to Han Shuo in a gossipy fashion. She lowered her voice, “Did you do… that to her?”
Shaking his head, Han Shuo was all business as he said righteously. “How could I do that? We’ve only met for a few months. Am I someone in that much of a rush?”
“Pfft, you violated me the day you met me through raping me, you shameless villain!” Emily was quite disdainful of Han Shuo’s response and snorted with contempt.
Han Shuo couldn’t help but laugh at her words. He didn’t feel awkward, but rather retorted, “Our circumstances were rather special. Besides, you were so alluring, how could my hot bloodedness withstand your temptations?”
“Villain! All you know is how to talk nonsense!” Emily’s breath was caught in her anger, but was rather satisfied by his answer and she didn’t continue the conversation.
When he saw that some happiness was marking Emily’s brows, Han Shuo knew that she wasn’t actually angry. He suddenly thought of a problem and asked, “Oh right, how did the Cairo mercenary band know of that place? Is it that they know the Dark Mantle controls the shop?”
Contrary to Han Shuo’s expectations, Emily actually nodded her head. She explained when she saw his look of befuddlement. “The Valley of Sunshine is different to a town or city of the Empire. The Cairo mercenary band holds control here. Since there is limited land here, they’ll thoroughly investigate any comings and goings. It’s a completely unrealistic thing to want to stay here and remain a secret.”
“However, although they know that we’re the Dark Mantle, they don’t interfere with our operations at all, because we target those with designs against the Lancelot Empire and won’t purposefully make trouble for them.”
“Bryan!” Han Shuo and Emily were walking towards to the Cairo mercenary band when they heard Trunks’ voice at this moment.
Han Shuo turned his head to see the manticore riding Trunks appear from the direction of the entrance to the valley. There were some indistinct traces of blood on him and the manticore. Behind them, the Rainbow Sickle experts had on looks of anger. It seemed like they’d come off worse in a fight.
Han Shuo patrolled sharp eyed over Trunks’ bodies, but didn’t discover any traces of ripped clothing on him. It looked like the fresh blood on him and the manticore were from those of the Rainbow Sickle mercenary band.
“Are you alright?” Han Shuo asked with a slight smile when Trunks had made it over on his manticore.
“Just a few cowardly traitors, how could they possible harm me? Oh right, how did it go on your side? Did you kill that pathetic Florida?” Trunks responded confidently and looked closely at Han Shuo.
Spreading his hands out with resigned expression on his face, Han Shuo sighed, “His men saved him at the entrance to the valley. However, I think he’ll have to spend at least a month or two to fully recover from his injuries!”
“Haha, that’s good enough. I came to the Valley of Sunshine for his life this time, and it looks like you’ve already done half the job for me, I thank you!” Trunks laughed heartily and then looked back at the Rainbow Sickle members behind him with a coldly imposing expression. “Traitors, go back and tell Florida that I, Trunks, have returned again. I must take revenge for Annie this time, he’ll die in my hands!”
The Rainbow Sickle mercenaries all had looks of hatred and anger when they heard these words, but they seemed to know that Trunks wasn’t someone to be trifled with. They only snorted coldly a few times and circled past Han Shuo and the others, moving towards another direction.
“Trunks, why are you here, and what enmity do you have with Florida?” Han Shuo couldn’t help but ask at this point.
The merchants had already awakened on the streets of the valley and the streets began to bustle a bit. Trunks looked around with a slightly dismal expression, saying, “This isn’t a place to speak, let’s find a place where we can chat and I’ll tell you in greater detail!”
“Alright!” Han Shuo nodded.
“Wait, Laureton of the Cairo mercenary band has reached out to us. Why don’t you have a good chat after we return?” Emily couldn’t help but speak up in reminder when she saw that Han Shuo and Trunks seemed to want to immediately find a quiet place to chat.
Han Shuo only reacted after Emily had spoken and said to Trunks apologetically, “Laureton of the Cairo mercenary band sent people to find us early this morning, asking us to pay a visit. Why don’t we chat later?”
Nodding understandingly, Trunks walked side by side with Han Shuo and said dashingly, “Let’s go, I happen to know Laureton as well, let’s go together.”
“You know him?” Han Shuo started and asked Trunks with surprise.
“Of course, I spent some time in the valley back in the day and I know many people here!” Trunks responded matter-of-factly. Emily revealed a surprised expression and looking thoughtfully at Trunks.
There were no established streets of shops within the valley, just a few soaring cliff faces and some towering trees that blocked the sky a bit. Trunks seemed very familiar with this area as he led Han Shuo and Emily inside.
“The terrain is quite precarious within the depths of the valley, but there’s a vast expanse of plains after making it through a narrow tunnel in the cliffs. The strongest power within the valley has always lived there. It used to be the Rainbow Sickle mercenary band living there a few years ago, if it wasn’t for Florida’s evil scheme in killing the old chief, the Cairo mercenary band can only live else where at this moment!” Trunks started introducing the area around them as they walked.
There were members of the Cairo mercenary band standing guard at certain intervals along the path. However, the distance between the guards were a bit far away and they weren’t afraid of others hearing their words.
“Right, Trunks, just what kind of enmity is there between you and Florida?” Han Shuo couldn’t help but ask when he saw that the surroundings were quiet enough.
“I was actually part of the Rainbow Sickle mercenary band to begin with, and I was a senior swordsman then. The old chief had always taken care of me and the chief’s daughter Annie treated me like a brother. I was very comfortable in those days until Florida appeared. The young Florida brought with him a dazzling aura and enjoyed special treatment as soon as he joined. Not only did the old chief value him highly, but even Annie quite admired him. I myself had good relations with him as well.”