Be crowned king

Chapter 0008: The sorcerer Capozzo

The people of the town were taken aback by this sudden change. No one knew what was going on, and it was around this time that Foster's news spread.

Hey, have you heard? It turns out that the land in the slums is the government's future development area. I heard it's a railway station. That's why Count Carver was willing to build big houses for the outcasts.

Taking other people's land in the name of charity, Count Carver, that great philanthropist, seems like a joke. Poor us, we've been deceived by him for so many years.

Foster was lying on Alice's bed, enjoying the tenderness after passion, his head in Alice's arms. Alice, it won't be long before we come into a large sum of money. I will take you away from here to a place where no one knows us. I will open a tavern and that will be enough for both of us.

Alice stroked Foster's head, cuddled the man in her arms and kissed his head. Foster, you're such a good man. I thought no one could love a dirty leper.

Foster looked up, covered Alice's mouth with his finger and shook his head, 'Alice, please don't say that. You're like a holy lotus in my heart.

They looked forward to a bright future together. After Foster had dressed and left, Alice got up and pondered how she could get the wealth from this man that he had mentioned, and then get rid of this poor sap. As a firefly, she had never believed in love. To hell with it, only money was real.

Since her father had sold her into p**********n out of poverty, she would never trust a man again. Only money was real and trustworthy.

The news spread like wildfire. It was almost common knowledge that the city's high officials had taken bribes to facilitate business for a merchant. This drove the people of the slums completely mad.

Arovia had already begun to plan how he would spend his money when he got rich. He would throw bundles of Caesar in the faces of those who had looked down on him and regain his dignity.

He would buy the biggest house he could find, live in it, surround himself with three or four women and make them grovel at his feet like slaves.

Once those at the bottom of society, who had been looked down upon and despised, had money, they would lose control of their hearts and become the kind of people he had hated the most. That was human nature. Only a few people could keep their hearts pure, and Alovea was obviously not one of them.

Just as he thought that, he couldn't help but indulge himself a little and celebrate the fact that he would be rich in the future.

After leaving the slums, Alovea went to the town tavern. When someone who didn't have the money to enter the tavern suddenly walked in, everyone understood what was going on.

This poor boy will become a rich man in the future, and it would be unwise to alienate him now.

The tavern owner, who usually looked down on Alovea, greeted him warmly: "Alovea, come in, I can't wait to serve you.

Alovea felt a little uncomfortable. He tried to imitate the rich and sat in a conspicuous place. Many people came up to him to chat, but Alovea was indifferent, which made the enthusiastic people feel uncomfortable.

Arovia, this drink is on me," said the tavern owner, enthusiastically serving a glass of wine.

A young man entered the tavern and sat down opposite Arovia. Everyone watched, curious to know who this person was.

The young man was no stranger to Arovia. It was this young man who had questioned Count Carf at the banquet that day. If it hadn't been for this young man, she might have been fooled by the cunning Carf at that very moment.

Give this gentleman a drink, on my account.

Arrowea said to the tavern keeper, not stupid enough to show indifference to his benefactor.

Downing removed his hat and bowed. Arrowea, your stupidity truly frightens me. It's a pity you're still in the mood to sit here with a wine glass in your hand.

Arrowea's face flushed. Sir, I'm grateful that you spoke up for me at the banquet, but that doesn't mean you can insult me at will.

Even the poor have tempers.

Downing laughed contemptuously. 'You didn't think you could get rich just by drinking, did you?

Arowea's face grew uglier.

'If that's the case, I shouldn't have helped you in the first place. I regret what I did that day. Downing finished the wine he was served and left the tavern.

'Catch up, Alovea, I know you.' Downing finished the wine that had been brought to him and left the tavern, walking down the main street of the town, hoping that his purpose here was simple. He needed a large crowd to draw attention to himself, and Foster alone was clearly not enough.

As he reached a secluded spot, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him. It was Alovea, following him as Downing had suspected. Evidently, his plan had worked again.

"Sir, please stop. I think you have something to tell me,' Alovea panted, stopping in front of Downing. "Please tell me what to do next.

Downing played with the ring on his finger. "You are a clever man. Someone has deceived you and tried to take away the wealth God gave you. Are you just going to let that happen? Only by completely defeating him can your wealth truly belong to you and not be taken from you.

Arovia thought for a moment, put her hands on her chest and bowed respectfully. I believe you are the messenger sent by God. I know what I must do.

Looking at Arovia's receding back, Downing thought to himself, 'I am not a messenger sent by God. I represent darkness.

***

The Mayor, Sheriff and Prosecutor of the Court had all been arrested. Although Count Carfax had not been imprisoned, he had been fined a large sum of money for bribing officials, and that had settled the matter. But his reputation, which he had worked so hard to build up over the years, was now completely ruined.

He could not even hold his head up when he went out, and could only hide in his mansion. Yet he could hear the servants in the manor secretly cursing him in the most vile language.

Wrapped in a blanket, he shut himself in his room. With a pale face and trembling body, he now realised that it was all a trap.

The damned young man had deceived him. He had no help and no family. He had used a lie to get him to betray his own people, the officials he had supported with large political donations, including the mayor, the head of security and the public prosecutor. His protection was completely destroyed.

Without this protection, his estate became insecure. The pariahs outside the estate, who had almost been deceived by him, were now angry and threatened to take his head and cut out his heart. The leader was the Pariah representative Alovea, who had once thanked him.

It's all over, Carver thought, the Pariahs are capable of anything.

After a few days in hiding, Carver's spirits were low, but he was not completely defeated. He thought maliciously that he must strike back at the young man who had destroyed him.

Sitting here waiting to die, Carver finally found the courage to strike back after a few days of silence.

Damn you, Downing, I'm going to turn you into a stinking rat and throw you down the drain. Carver left the house, ordered a carriage to be prepared and went out the back door. There were quite a few doors in this mansion, which obviously came in handy now.

The night was quiet. Outside Shining Town, in an abandoned tower, dewdrops still hung on the cobwebs. The carriage stopped. Carver, wearing a black cloak, walked up and knocked on the door.

There was an eerie sound, and soon the dilapidated door of the abandoned tower opened. Someone stood in the doorway holding a lantern, hunched over, his hideous face illuminated by the dim light, sending a shiver down Carfo's spine.

'Is Mr Capozzo here, please?' Carfo asked, trying to calm himself.

The stooped doorman gave way at the door and motioned for Carfo to enter.

He followed the old, almost crumbling staircase that seemed to go on forever and would never have set foot here had Downing not cornered him. It had been decades since he had last been here, and that time he had come because he had had a difficult deal and the strength of his opponent had forced him to come here.

He remembered that the last time he had stepped into this abandoned tower, Carver had secretly sworn in his heart that he would never come to this hellish place again in his life, never...

But now he had broken his promise, for his opponent seemed even more terrifying than this tower. Breaking his promise was better than losing everything.

He reached the top of the tower, pushed open the old door, and a pungent, almost suffocating smell filled the room. There were no windows, so the fresh air from outside could not enter.

The short man in the black cloak looked excitedly at the bubbling black liquid in the crucible in front of him and didn't turn around. Dear Mr Carver, I was worried I wouldn't find anyone to share my latest creation with. You've come just in time. Come in.'

Carver walked in, shut the door, covered his nose with a white silk scarf and stood in the doorway looking terrified. 'Mr Capozzo, I'm in trouble...'

Capuzzo, wearing a black cloak, turned around. His skull-like face was frightening and suffocating, and his bony fingers, sticking out of the wide robe, caressed Carfo's old cheeks.

Mr Carver, I feel sorry for you, looking at your emaciated face. Let me see what would make you come to this ghostly place against your will.

Carpo's fingers gave off a strong odour, and Carver became extremely distressed and stood trembling in the corner, as if he had seen the devil of hell.

Inside the room, all that could be heard was the sound of the unknown black liquid boiling in the crucible.