Evening time in Westford City, Rowan and Spencer casually walked to downtown. The architecture around them really made Rowan feel like he had returned to post-Victorian era.
(Scholar's note: Western City name changed to Westford City)
The only modern piece of equipment Rowan could see was the streetlights around the main city.
' Are these gas powered bulbs? Because I am sure electricity hasn't been discovered yet.' Rowan pondered inwardly.
The paved stone street was filled with people on both sides, with occasional horse coaches passing by. But they were public coaches, and not the private ones like the one in Aurelius Household.
" Uncle Spencer, you know a lot about Westford City, right?" Rowan suddenly asked. Spencer nodded sagely, " Of course, Young Master. It's been decades since I've been living here."
' Then, let's say…How much does it cost to buy a cursed item?"
Spencer halted his steps when he heard Rowan. " Young Master, I…Can you repeat your question?"
" Cursed items, magical trinkets?" Rowan looked at Spencer. " Ringing any bells?"
Spencer looked around and leaned towards Rowan. " Young Master, you can't utter these things in public. Else you might get noticed by the Royal Police."
" Ah, so you do know." Rowan chuckled.
Spencer thought for a moment before speaking. " Cursed items are the evil items that are both banned by the laws and the churches. Even in the black market, it's hard to find them unless you know the right dealer."
Rowan thought for a moment before asking once again. " Then say, what are the chances of a random hobo from downtown managing to get a real, working cursed tool?"
" It's almost impossible, if not impossible," Spencer spoke matter-of-factly. " Because, let's say, even an ordinary person can tell the difference between a real and fake item, the cost of a real item would make them back off."
" Even the smallest cursed tool will cost two or three gold coins. The one with a sure kill ability will cost even more."
" But why do you ask, Young Master."
Rowan chuckled as he arrived before a house. " You will know, Uncle Spencer."
*KNOCK! KNOCK!*
Spencer nodded as he already spoke in a trained manner. " I am the agent from Golden Vault. Is this Miss Bianca's house?"
Suddenly, the door opened as a girl stepped forward. A loose-fitting white dress, with disheveled hair. It was as if she was engaged in some intense activities earlier.
" Yes, it's Bianca-"
Bianca's body froze when she looked outside of the door. Rather then an agent from the Golden Vault, there stood Rowan, with a bouquet of rose.
Rowan didn't say anything, just keeping his smile.
" Darling, what are you doing at the door for so long? Invite the agent inside."
With lazy footsteps, Ricky approached from behind. " Gosh, you are taking so lon-"
Ricky paused as he looked out of the door, only to freeze in shock.
" Ro-Rowan?"
" Ricky, Darling! Aren't you surprised seeing me back?" Rowan laughed loudly as he stepped inside. " Look, I even brought roses for you."
The first thing Ricky tried to do was to dash out of the house. But Rowan's guard closed the door, standing before it like an iron gate.
" What's the matter? Why is everyone so gloomy?"
Bianca trembled as she rubbed her face. Turning around, she smiled, " Rowan, Yo-You really came out of jail. I was so worried about you!"
" Oh, Bianca, I knew it." Rowan sighed. " Of course you would be. But, why were you waiting for an agent of Golden Vault?"
Complete silence reigned the small house, the only sound was the taps of Rowan's finger on the table.
" Th-That…That's because I wanted to borrow money from them. I wanted to use the money to bail you out!" Bianca suddenly answered.
As she get an elbow to Ricky, Ricky also returned to his senses.
" Ye-Yes, Rowan. Since only you had an account in Golden Vault, we thought…we could borrow money in your name and free you."
" My goodness, I…I never thought you two cared about me so much." Rowan's eyes turned teary.
" It must be tough for you, right, Ricky?" Rowan looked at Ricky. " You must be staying with Bianca to support her, right?"
" What a good brother you are!"
Ricky couldn't help but get flustered when he heard that. " Haha, I guess so…"
" How many times did you fuck her?"
Bianca and Ricky froze when Rowan asked that. Clenching her fist, Bianca lurched towards Rowan.
" Rowan! What the hell are you saying?!" Bianca shouted. " How many times do I have to tell you that Ricky is like my brother?"
" You don't want me to throw you a cold shoulder for another week, do yo-"
*SLAP*
A crispy slapping noise, and Rowan sent Bianca almost tumbling down on the floor. Bianca remained stunned on the ground, her palm trying to sense the burning palm mark on her cheek.
" Bitch, I haven't allowed you to speak," Rowan spoke in a cold voice as he walked towards Ricky.
" Dear brother of Bianca…" Rowan put his hand on Ricky's shoulder with a smile. " Tell me, how many times have you fucked your 'sister'?"
" Ro-Rowan…"
Suddenly, Rowan's hand slipped from Ricky's shoulder to his neck, choking him instantly. His right hand moved as he punched the solar plexus of Ricky.
" KHUGHH!"
Ricky couldn't even let out a groan as Rowan kept choking his neck.
" Hey, grip his neck. I can't punch him freely."
" Yes, Young Master."
Spencer stepped behind Ricky as he choked his neck with his arm. As Rowan freed his hand, he gave it a few swings before punching Ricky again.
*WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!*
Despite having only four points in strength, Rowan's punches were backed by his high constitution and agility. Therefore, for an ordinary person, it still hit badly.
After giving three professional boxing punches, Rowan turned around.
" Hmm, it feels like my body is strong now, but I can't give much output. Uncle Spencer, after we go back, how about we put a bit of strength training?"
" Excellent choice, Young Master." Spencer nodded with a smile, despite keeping Ricky choked in his arm. " I will prepare the training space appropriately."
" ROWAN! HAVE YOU GONE MAD!"
Bianca tried to hold Rowan from behind, but Rowan turned around, slapping her hard once again.
*PAAAA*
" Fuck! You scared me." Rowan grumbled as he almost sent Bianca spinning. Bianca collapsed on the floor, her ear ringing from the second slap.
" Ah, Uncle, leave Ricky. Else he might just croak on spot." Rowan noticed blood coming out from Ricky's lips as he spoke. Spencer let Ricky go as he patted his palms.
" HAAAHH! HAAAHHH!"
Ricky curled on the floor, gasping for air. Rowan sighed as he sat back on the chair.
" My bad, looks like I got a little heavy handed." Rowan looked at Bianca.
" So darling, forgive me. But see, the faster you answer, the better it will be for you." Rowan clenched Bianca's hair, forcing her to look at him.
" Your lucky charm worked very well. Looks like along with your curse, you also really passed fortune to me."
Bianca's heart turned cold when she heard that. She still had some hope, but hearing Rowan, the hope extinguished.
" Yo-You…ARRGHHH!"
As Rowan let go of her hair, he looked at the fistful of black hair in his fist.
" Look, darling, if you don't want me to pluck you bald like a chicken, you'd better confess your own." Rowan sighed. " Who gave you the cursed charm?"
Spencer's eyes turned cold when he heard Rowan. He instantly recalled the pendant he found. Even then, he felt something was off about the pendant, but now, listening to Rowan, Spencer understood right away.
" Yo-You think, I will tell you?"
Bianca's body trembled from the pain of both slapping and yanked hair. She could feel blood seeping out from her torn follicles.
" Listen, bitch." Rowan forced her to look at him. " Right outside, I know a good space where all the beggars gather. What do you think will happen if I toss them a few coins and leave the door of this house open?"
Bianca's heart turned cold as she looked at Rowan. " Yo-You, you are joking, right?! YO-YOU ARE JOKING, RIGHT?"
" Haah, you really have no brains." Rowan got up. "Hey guys, I really wonder what those bastards will do if we threw her naked amidst them?"
" I doubt she can last for an hour." One of the guards chuckled.
" Nah, I bet four hours. But then, those beggars would munch on her like hyenas."
Bianca's body trembled, her fingers almost clawed through the floor.
" How…how did this happen. Rowan…You…"
" The Rowan who loved you died in jail already." Rowan spoke in a cold voice. " Right now, standing before you is Rowan Von Aurelius of the Aurelius Family."
" So, make your choice. You want to get thrown among those beggars, or confess?"
" CONFESS! I WILL CONFESS."
Bianca knelt before Rowan. " I will…confess."