Chapter 9: The Assistant Priest

The name 'Crazy Swordsman' Enzo was earned at the cost of the serious injuries of nearly one hundred military academy cadets

Enzo exclaimed in astonishment: "Boss, you said your father is 'just a miller'!"

With a click of his tongue, Lin Qi said meaningfully: "A single move yields a gold bar, quite a fortune, Enzo. They are rolling in wealth! Uncle with a limp is being unreasonable; does he want to monopolize everything?"

The fingers made a cracking sound as Enzo's attention was diverted by Lin Qi's words. He no longer dwelled on the fact that Lin Qi had not returned to his hometown for three years, and with great enthusiasm, he laughed and said: "That damned cripple, boss, we need to find a way to get a piece of this windfall. Hmm, it's that guy named Jiang Yong; if we chop off his right hand, those few rings will be enough for the brothers to enjoy for a long time"

Right in front of the school gate, a clear and melodious sound of bells rang out. A priest dressed in a black robe, holding a copper bell in his hand, called out to Lin Qi. "Hey, Mr. Lin Qi, it's been several days since we last met. You seem to be in good spirits!"

Lin Qi had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyes darting around restlessly, glancing at the bulging belts of the passersby on the road. Based on their clothing and adornments, he speculated about how many shiny golden or silver treasures might be hidden in their belts. He did not answer Enzo's question, but merely muttered softly, "Have Vic keep a close watch on the limping shop, and be careful not to let that group of Easterners find out."

With an impatient glance at Enzo, Lin Qi gritted his teeth and said: "Of course, he is just a miller. But who says a miller cannot commit robbery"

Father Barin, an assistant priest at Brelly University V, a guide to the faith of the students, a mentor to their souls, and a close friend of Lin Qi. Father Barin is of short stature, with a not-so-slim waist, and his fair face is round and smooth, resembling a peeled egg. His eyes sparkle with a lively and cunning glint.

As the two entered the university town area, the meal they had just enjoyed was nearly digested. Lin Qi sneezed forcefully, feeling much more refreshed. He enthusiastically greeted the students from various colleges along the way, but the female students avoided him as if he were a venomous snake, while the male students responded cautiously as if they were facing a formidable beast. Only a very few male students had the courage to meet his gaze without reservation.

Father Baling, having carelessly stuffed the indulgence into his sleeve, nodded in satisfaction and smiled: "God will bless you, dear young Master Lin Qi. Well, I happen to have some good news to share with you."

Lin Qi walked over to Father Balin with a smile, tossed the last twenty coins from his purse to him, and received two church-issued "indulgences" in return

Seeing the fearful gazes of those trainees, Enzo couldn't help but break into a grin; this was his territory, and he relished the feeling of being revered.

The two of them strolled leisurely along the main road towards the university town, walking slowly for quite a while. Enzo finally let out a big burp and asked, "Boss, I've always been curious, why haven't you returned home for three years? With the Seine River waterway, it should only take about two days to travel from Burelli to Dunkirk, right?"

Especially those cadets from the Imperial Military Academy, dressed in tight uniforms and wearing swords at their waists, completely disregarded Lin Qi. However, when these proud and spirited future officers of the Empire saw Enzo beside Lin Qi, they could not help but show signs of apprehension.

Enzo merely sneered arrogantly, his chin raised at a forty-five-degree angle as he provocatively gazed at the military academy cadets marching by. His hand was tightly gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist; should any cadet dare to show him a challenging look, he would not hesitate to issue a duel challenge.

Like this time when the Hammer came to Burleigh, he only dared to appear in the chaotic and mixed dock area, and he absolutely would not dare to step out of the dock area. The secret police under the Burleigh Security Bureau, along with those Dragon Knights, are not mere decorations; if the Hammer were to attract their attention, it would surely lead to significant trouble

Enzo gazed silently at the sky, having made up his mind. This time during the university town's winter break, when Lin Qi returned home, he was determined to accompany Lin Qi to his house for a visit. He was very curious about what Lin Qi's family situation was like.

After burning the letter in the candlelight, a slightly tipsy Lin Qi glanced at the gray, snow-laden sky outside the tavern. He rubbed his hands together and greeted the crippled man before stumbling out with a belch. Enzo, feeling quite satisfied, patted his round belly as he followed Lin Qi. The cripple had arranged a lavish banquet to welcome the Iron Hammer, featuring fine wine, exquisite food, and beautiful women, all without spending a dime. Thus, Enzo indulged himself to the fullest, and now he felt a bit short of breath.

"How boring, these good students!" Lin Qi mockingly whispered to Enzo, "They all seem to be shivering like frozen quails. Is the future of the Empire really going to depend on these timid fellows? I see no future for the Empire; these so-called elites of the Empire don't even dare to face a bad student like me. How can we expect them to be willing to sacrifice for the Empire's interests in the future?"

With a gentle wave of his hand, Lin Qi said with a sullen face: "I know, I know, of course I know this. Have Vic keep a close watch, and don't let anyone find out. The idea is tricky, and it's not so easy to act on. First, figure out what they are doing in Burleigh, then clarify their background. And then, well, if the rewards are substantial enough, I wouldn't mind letting my father's people take a share."

The blacksmith, having drunk half-drunk at the cripple's shop, took a favorable boat down the Seine River, returning to Dunkirk

The two individuals walked to the entrance of Fifth University, one in front of the other. From there, turning right and walking another two miles would lead to the side entrance of the Military Academy. Lin Qi and Enzo parted ways here; Enzo was to inform Vika to send someone to monitor the Cripple's shop, while Lin Qi needed to attend to some of his daily affairs.

Lin Qi squinted and smiled, gently patting Father Barin on the shoulder before striding into the school gate

Lin Qi, who is also a cripple, recounted several of Tie Chui's glorious deeds at the welcome banquet for Enzo. As a prominent figure ranked among the top ten on the wanted list of the Boleili Security Bureau, Tie Chui has a bounty of 1,000 gold coins hanging over his head, regardless of the consequences. Therefore, Tie Chui has spent the past few years primarily operating around Dun Erke, rarely approaching Boleili.

Looking around, Father Baling lowered his voice and murmured: "A new troupe of Gypsies has arrived outside the city, and the lead dancer is quite impressive. The esteemed Director of Education, Mr. Gran, is very fond of her. If you can introduce Mr. Gran to her, Mr. Linqi's credits for this year will not be a problem."

Lin Qi swaggered along the main road, attracting the attention of everyone around him, yet few dared to meet his gaze directly

The letter from Lin Qi's father only urged him to return home during this year's vacation, without mentioning anything else. Tie Chui, the most trusted aide of Lin Qi's father, took the risk to personally deliver the message to Bareilly, which also indicated Lin Qi's father's stance—this time, Lin Qi must return home; otherwise, the consequences would be severe