One-Eyed Monster

Kadi’s idea was quite simple; he felt that Igor and his group always tended to complicate simple matters.

Thus, Kadi began tapping in the carriage, expressing his own thoughts.

Coban Kangen understood Kadi’s meaning and smiled faintly. He appreciated this young friend, who speaks his mind without delay. Such a straightforward personality is indeed easy to deal with.

”We are doing this now; heading to Bayes Avenue will completely shake off those tails.” Coban Kangen said calmly, and as he spoke, the carriage’s speed quickly slowed down.

Igor stared at Coban Kangen, thinking to himself, wondering where the previous caution had gone, why the talk had become so open, and why the coded language wasn’t being used anymore.

Kadi was much calmer than Igor. He turned to look outside the window, then was surprised to find no other carriages around.

”What’s going on here? Why does it feel like we’ve entered a restricted area? There’s nobody here,” Kadi asked outright, without the slightest hesitation, always eager to find answers to his questions.

”Welcome to Bayes Avenue.” Coban Kangen said, spreading his arms wide, clearly mimicking the welcoming slogan of Xinbal’s platform. He was still somewhat disgruntled about Igor’s previous enthusiastic perspective.

In Coban’s mind, Xinbal wasn’t exactly enthusiastic; at most, he wasn’t indifferent.

”Did we arrive at Bayes Avenue?” Igor curiously glanced outside.

”Yes, we’ve entered the realm of Bayes Avenue. It’s the gathering place of the Empire’s professional world, where representatives of various professions have fixed residences here.”

”Uh... is it that complex? Isn’t it just an avenue?” Kadi retorted with some disdain, feeling that this place looked no different from ordinary streets, seemingly less lively. It was dead silent, lacking even a shred of vitality.

”We are currently passing by Bayes Avenue No. 1—territory of the Martial Clan. They couldn’t set up their headquarters in Xinbal, and have to establish an office here. But this small office is larger than our Bistal City’s Administrative Office. Speaking of its size, just within this towering building, there are countless High Rank Fighters…”

”Oh, so they are the shield of this street, right?” Igor analyzed.

”No, they’re just a member of Bayes Avenue,” Coban Kangen denied without hesitation.

”Hmm? So, you’re saying everyone on Bayes Avenue is pretty impressive?”

”Naturally so. Everyone here has the ability to protect themselves. But those who enter must constantly be aware of their own safety.” Coban Kangen said.

Igor looked out the window again. It was only then that he noticed a grand building with a large two written on it.

The carriage had only completed the journey through Bayes Avenue No. 1 after all this time. Just how massive is Bayes Avenue?

Bayes Avenue is the central area of Xinbal, or more accurately, the center of power. Bayes Avenue completely encircles Kayne Palace, with the palace aligned to Bayes Avenue East Street, Bayes Avenue West Street, Bayes Avenue South Street, and Bayes Avenue North Street. The entire range formed by these streets is known as Bayes Avenue.

Each street has around forty grand buildings. Carriages can only enter Bayes Avenue from the outer perimeter because these magnificent buildings never open their back doors to outsiders. All carriages wanting to reach the palace must enter from the outskirts of Bayes Avenue and then be introduced to the palace by an organization or family from Bayes Avenue. With an introduction, one can roam freely within Bayes Avenue. Without it, without any identity, one can only wander the avenues, waiting for an entry point, and then from the west side of the palace enter Bayes Avenue, traveling from west to east, lining the large buildings from One to Forty, this being Bayes Avenue North Street. Following North Street south, one finds Forty-One to Eighty, Bayes Avenue East Street. The end of East Street turns westward to Eighty-One to One Hundred Twenty, which is the entirety of Bayes Avenue South Street. Lastly, heading from south to north, the final count of One Hundred Twenty-One to One Hundred Sixty belongs to Bayes Avenue West Street.

Bayes Avenue is squared off, aligned to Kayne Palace’s four directions, seemingly guardians of Kayne Empire’s four sides.

”After so long, only arriving at No. 2—how long until we reach No. 52?” Igor exclaimed with mouth agape, clearly shocked by the vastness of Bayes Avenue’s architectural complex.

”Not too long, just an hour or two!” Coban Kangen chuckled, being quite familiar with Bayes Avenue, having lived here in the past.

Yet what puzzled him more was the carriage driver, who had directly entered Bayes Avenue without halting. This indicated the carriage was quite known across Bayes Avenue. Otherwise, he’d have been forced to stop at No. 1 Martial Clan’s office, as entering Bayes Avenue wasn’t a simple matter.

This carriage’s ability to avoid stopping revealed that this driver was familiar with most officials within Bayes Avenue—more than just familiar.

Moreover, the carriage driver didn’t interrogate them, simply escorting them inside, which was quite unexpected.

Perhaps this carriage driver has a discernment for outsiders, able to distinguish between good or bad intentions.

This was Coban Kangen’s speculation, as any carriage driver capable of entering Bayes Avenue surely wasn’t ordinary.

Coban Kangen naturally considered the possibility that the carriage driver could be an enemy, yet this driver had shown no flaws thus far.

Coban Kangen could only take it step by step.

Nonetheless, the Martial Clan’s domain not questioning them didn’t mean other domains would be as lenient.

Soon, they would enter the territory of the Dark Cabinet, where they might be stopped.

Of course, anything could happen in Bayes Avenue. They only need to find someone from the Kangen Family for an introduction to navigate freely. Otherwise, they’d be stopped for questioning at every turn.

Igor and Kadi shrugged at each other, unable to fully grasp Bayes Avenue. They couldn’t fathom how a secluded street could dictate the direction of the entire Empire.

Is it possible that these individuals enclosed in a cage could devise any good methods, or has the Empire always been advancing amidst a mysterious confusion?

Igor’s question, alike most, was marked on his face, waiting for Coban Kangen to provide a reasonable explanation.

”I understand you perceive Bayes Avenue as a closed-off place. The reality, however, is quite the opposite; it’s free-spirited. Just, the threshold is high; everyone tends to be very arrogant.”