Chapter 31
The Unexpected Role-Playing
Chapter 31 The Unexpected Role-Playing
Kind people are easily bullied in the East District, and it's even less likely that there will be any kind people among the gang members in the East District.
So when Hobart and Hugh saw Darkholm's kind smile, they knew it was a facade.
Hobart said to Darkholm, "If you can take us to see Zachary, I can promise you that he will never be able to affect your position as the boss of the Cuckoo Bar again. I believe that's the best price."
Darkholm shook his head, then chuckled and bargained: "My lord, I am a man who is very loyal to Boss Zachary. I will only betray him if I see tangible benefits."
Hobert's lips twitched. "I need to pay more?"
He said, "Alright, alright, how about 2 pounds?"
"10 pounds!"
Hobart laughed, "Zachry's life isn't even worth that much, 3 pounds!"
"Sir, as a gentleman, you should not argue with a lowly person like me over such a small amount of money. Eight pounds, that's the lowest I can go, or my conscience will break."
"Who told you I'm a gentleman? You're the gentleman, your whole family are gentlemen! Five pounds, no more than a penny." This time, he was spending his own money, and Hobart was not as carefree as when he spent the firm's public funds before.
Hugh watched as Hobart, who was haggling with Darkholm without regard for manners, wondered, "Aren't lawyers supposed to be rich? Why does this lawyer look so poor?"
Then she realized that she was also saving up to buy the Sequence 8 "Sheriff" potion recipe. It seems that poverty is a common problem for "wild extraordinary beings".
While Hugh was reminiscing, Hobart and Darkholm, after some friendly negotiations, finally settled on a deal for Zachary's hiding place for £5.10. Upon meeting Zachary in person, the payment was made immediately.
Darkholm broke out in a cold sweat: "I've never seen such a gentleman as good at bargaining as you, sir. I have one more small request. You don't have to pay me the commission immediately, but please let me see your wallet to prove that you have the ability to pay the commission."
Hobart, a little impatient, pulled out a five-pound note and a one-pound note: "Hurry up, it'll be dark if we keep dawdling."
"As you wish," Darkholm said, a kind smile returning to his face after seeing the money. "Please follow me."
He led the way in a slightly humble manner, introducing the streets and features of the East End to Hobart and Hugh.
After walking for a few minutes, Darkholm led the two men to a small, round courtyard.
Several families lived in the courtyard. When they saw Darkholm, they hurriedly dropped the clothes they were washing or the matchboxes they were half-pasting, and ran back into their houses, closing the doors and windows behind them.
Darkholm's expression changed, and he said coldly, "Come in, all of you!"
A dozen or so thugs appeared outside the courtyard gate, completely blocking the entrance.
This courtyard is peculiar; the walls are very high, and there's only one exit, as if it were providing these scoundrels with a perfect place for extortion.
They either smirked at Hugh, or glared at Hobart as if trying to intimidate him with their eyes.
Darkholm smiled and said to Hobert, "I'm sorry, sir, I hope to get more commission. I don't want to be rough with you or this lady. Please hand over all your money and valuables. Also, please leave behind your decent trench coat, finely crafted shirt, and genuine leather wallet. To ensure your dignity, we will leave you a pair of trousers."
Hobert immediately realized that Darkholm probably didn't know anything about Zachary at all, and that he had just pretended to betray Zachary just to make sure he didn't have any cash on him worth robbing.
Because he had haggled with him, he suspected he might be broke, so he specifically checked his wallet.
If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely have suffered a setback this time, but Hobart and Hugh were not flustered.
Hobart handed the cane to Hugh: "Miss 'Arbitrator,' I think you need a suitable weapon."
Hugh took the cane: "And what about you?"
Hopper took a revolver from his holster: "My marksmanship isn't great, but at this close range, six bullets should be enough to take out two or three enemies. Give me some time to reload."
When Hobert pulled out his pistol, Darkholm's men visibly panicked.
As gangsters, they also had handguns, but they didn't carry them because they didn't have "gun licenses." Carrying guns on the street in broad daylight would be tantamount to handing money to the police.
The key point is that Darkholm never expected Hobert to have a handgun. This is Backlund, and the wealthier the area, the better the security. Furthermore, a gun license isn't easy to obtain. In the middle-class neighborhoods of Joewood and St. George, very few people own guns.
Queens and the West End are home to many wealthy and aristocratic people, and most of them have gun licenses. However, it is impossible for aristocratic gentlemen or wealthy people to come to the East End.
For Darkholm and his group, the fact that their "prey" had a gun was definitely a "black swan event."
"He only has one gun!" Darkholm reacted quickly. "But he has dozens of pounds in cash on him, worth more than your lives! Charge in and take the gun!"
bang~
Hopper fired a shot; the bullet grazed the thugs' hair and embedded itself in the wall. "This shot is just a warning," he said. "The next one will be aimed at your heads!"
His palms were already sweating; it was the first time he had ever fired a gun at a living person, and he was still somewhat nervous.
Fortunately, the scoundrels' fighting spirit was completely shattered by this shot, and they rushed out of the courtyard gate, wishing they had two more legs.
Darkholm also ran outside, but Hugh had already stepped forward with his cane, aimed at Darkholm's back, and knocked him to the ground.
The "Arbitrator" path has excellent combat abilities at Sequence 9, while the "Lawyer" path only has its verbal skills enhanced at Sequence 9.
Hobart strode forward, pointing his pistol at Darkholm. Suddenly, an idea struck him: "Mr. Darkholm, everything that just happened is evidence of your extortion. I'm filing a lawsuit with Ms. Hugh, the 'arbitrator.' According to the relevant provisions of the criminal law, you will face two to five years in prison. If you have any objections, you can have a lawyer communicate with me."
Darkholm, sitting on the ground with his hands raised, was dumbfounded: "Huh, huh?"
Hugh looked at Hobart with a strange expression, not understanding what the kid was doing.
Hobart continued, "Given the numerous impracticalities of the disciplinary procedure against Darkholm, I suggest a simplified approach: break one of Darkholm's legs. Miss 'Arbitrator,' please make the final decision."
Hugh assumed this was Hobart's method of coercing a confession: "My arbitration is: your punishment plan is precise, execute it immediately!"
Hobert took a deep, blissful breath, sensing for the first time that the potion was showing signs of loosening.
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(End of this chapter)