One-Eyed Monster

Aliusan remembered the time he limped into Scholar Manjia’s Tavern. Scholar Manjia was meticulously wiping the tables.

Back then, Scholar Manjia did not speak a word, only lifting his eyes to look at him.

Scholar Manjia’s gaze was unfocused, and Aliusan could not discern what he was thinking.

Aliusan was stirred by Mayor Babasha’s mysterious death. He wanted to seize this opportunity to solidify the growth of his own power. He knew his strengths and weaknesses. He planned to compensate for his inadequacies with his greatest asset: gathering and filtering information. As long as he could provide valuable intelligence for the prominent figures of Guru Mountain, his organization could grow steadily. His wings would become fuller and stronger, and eventually, he could soar in the Empire’s sky.

He aspired to make his Black Mountain another Black Crow in the Kayne Empire, or at the very least, establish a renowned organization within the Empire!

He had come to Scholar Manjia’s Tavern because he knew it might contain what he needed.

Aliusan sighed. He would never forget the scenes that unfolded in those days. For the first time, he felt completely seen through by someone, leaving him utterly exposed.

Aliusan couldn’t help but recall those moments.

He hobbled into Scholar Manjia’s Tavern and spat on the floor, a roguish look on his face.

Scholar Manjia wasn’t angry. He slowly got a mop from behind the tavern door and cleaned up Aliusan’s spit.

”I hear the people who come to your tavern aren’t here for the drinks?” Aliusan asked, his tone mocking.

”Some are, some aren’t. Not everyone likes the inferior wine in my tavern,” Scholar Manjia replied, his tone that of a tavern owner accustomed to dealing with troublemakers.

”I also hear you’re a learned man?” Aliusan said, lounging with his arm across the back of his chair, radiating a roguish aura.

”I’m just an old man who’s experienced a bit more in life. ’Learned’ is just an overblown compliment,” Scholar Manjia replied, showing no particular disdain or skepticism towards Aliusan.

”I also hear you’re a scholar?” Aliusan asked, still probing casually. It was as if he were casting a wide net, hoping to lure more fish.

However, Scholar Manjia didn’t take the bait. He responded like a beleaguered tavern owner begging a ruffian not to demand protection money, ”Those rumors are baseless. This old man just wants to live out his twilight years in peace. The only things of value in this tavern are these bottles of wine. If you don’t mind them, help yourself.”

”I didn’t come here to drink, nor am I here for protection money. I am Aliusan of Black Mountain. I’ve come to confirm something.” Aliusan realized that continued pestering wouldn’t get him what he wanted. From their earlier exchange, he was certain the Hunchbacked Elder had a story to tell. Therefore, he figured being frank might yield better results.

Yet, he had still miscalculated.

The Hunchbacked Boss—Scholar Manjia—courteously asked him to leave the tavern.

But Aliusan wasn’t one to give up easily. The more the old man resisted, the more convinced he became that the Hunchbacked Boss knew many undisclosed secrets.

So, whenever he had free time, he would visit the tavern for a drink.

During that period, things were chaotic at the foot of the mountain. His Black Mountain organization was frantically searching for the runaway Bunan, but to no avail. Instead, people from the Alchemy Workshop brought a Dark Wizard up the mountain, claiming to have found traces of the child. Aliusan became a regular at Scholar Manjia’s Tavern. Each time he went for a drink, he would bring Scholar Manjia the latest information, as he could tell Scholar Manjia was interested in these things.

Even now, Aliusan couldn’t understand why Scholar Manjia had decided to help him. Perhaps it was his sincerity, or maybe it was the information he provided. Regardless, Scholar Manjia eventually accepted him as a scholar would and, in doing so, metaphorically stripped him bare.

”The Dark Wizard went up the mountain with his two pets. Those pets... they look like walking skeletons. I don’t understand why such terrifying things can even exist. Shouldn’t they burn to ash when the sun comes out?”

”Are you sure those two things looked like skeletons?”

”I’m sure.” Aliusan took a sip of the inferior wine. He was surprised; the old man had actually initiated a conversation with him.

”You were asking me before if I was a scholar, weren’t you?”

”Yes. Everyone says you’re a man of great learning, that you know many things others don’t. Is it true?”

Scholar Manjia remained silent for a moment. He had no intention of revealing everything he knew.

”A scholar is merely someone sensitive to numbers. For instance, I know that including this visit, it’s the ninth time you’ve come to my tavern. You’ve drunk a total of four bottles of wine. Each time, you have precisely three and a half cups—no more, no less.”

Aliusan was astonished. He had no idea how many bottles of wine he’d drunk or how many times he’d visited the tavern.

”Through these numbers, one can deduce a person’s purpose, their future, the rights and wrongs of their life.”

”Hmm?”

”I know why you’re here, Aliusan. Your ambition is so vast, it’s practically spilling out of you.”

GULP. Aliusan swallowed nervously.

”So, there’s no need for you to put on an act in front of me any longer. I know your ambition. You want your Black Mountain to become powerful. You want to make yourself a legend.”

”You truly are a scholar, to so casually and bluntly lay bare my intentions.” Aliusan dropped his pretense and became straightforward.

Having one’s secrets laid bare is always uncomfortable. Although Aliusan was unwilling to admit it, the facts left him no room to argue.

Moreover, this scholar had exposed every one of his little secrets. He suddenly realized he was completely transparent before this scholar.

What puzzled him most was that the scholar was actually willing to help him achieve that bit of ambition.

And that was how today’s situation had come about.

No one knew what Scholar Manjia had actually said to Kuyi Tulan. But after Scholar Manjia’s in-depth conversation with him, matters seemed to simplify considerably. It was as if all the previous, complicated chaos could completely vanish.

Looking at Rostellum’s astonished face, Aliusan couldn’t help but find it amusing. He wondered what expression Elder Rostellum would wear if Scholar Manjia were to expose his secrets.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get the chance to see it. The Alchemy Workshop was currently clearing people out of the tavern, apparently preparing for some clandestine activity.

”All of you, leave for now. Scholar Manjia and I have a few private words to exchange,” Kuyi Tulan said, standing on the tavern’s second floor and addressing those below.

Within Guru Mountain, an order from the Alchemy Workshop was now as absolute as a command from the King of the Kayne Empire. Everyone departed silently; there was no room for resistance.

Kuyi Tulan smiled at Scholar Manjia, his expression seemingly earnest. ”Now, it’s just you and I, Scholar Manjia. Even Bigas isn’t here.”

”Yes, it is just us, Lord Kuyi Tulan. Is there anything further we need to discuss?”

”A great deal, in fact. I’m just not sure if Scholar Manjia still has the inclination to converse with me.”