Enforcer Manual
Chapter 649: Knight Cain_1

Chapter 649: Chapter 649: Knight Cain_1

On the eve of the impending Ceremony, Lu Xiang received an urgent summon from his peers.

Cain had contacted each one of them and set the gathering place at a high-class bar on the outskirts of the castle, one of the favorite spots for consortium members and also one of the most luxurious and decadent venues in District 2. In the words of the aristocrats, they’d rather keep all the morally corrupt activities outside the castle walls.

This was a bar established for consortium members, where only guests who passed identity verification could get through the strict security and explore the interior of the bar.

The area around the bar was swarming with paparazzi.

Providing scoops to media companies or leveraging social media for attention was one of their main sources of income, as they often encountered big shots near the bar who could only be seen on the net or television.

With a day off, Ivan used the intelligence network of Military Intelligence Section Seven to gather a lot of information about Cain’s identity, because Lu Xiang had specially mentioned that this youth was eager to make his mark among his contemporaries, aspiring to become the leader of this group.

According to the records, the Cain Family could barely claim some connection to the consortium.

If one were to trace back three or four generations, focusing on the period before the Third War, they could be considered distant relatives of the Capello Family. Cain’s parents and other family members also proclaimed this outwardly, actively attending various high-society balls, hoping to make their way into the consortium through the Capello Family and become one of its members.

However, the Capello Family seemed to look down on their attempts at ingratiation.

All signs indicated that the Capello Family didn’t even regard them as relatives; their several attempts to join the consortium through "bloodline theory" had been rejected.

After moving to District 2, they had never set foot inside the castle.

So, Cain’s parents thought of an indirect method of salvation.

They had Cain take part in the consortium’s assessment open to the entire District 2 and even the whole United Government. If their son could make a name for himself in the Knight Group and be granted the title of Lord, then the Capello Family would have no reason to shut them out anymore.

Ivan’s assessment of this was that they were yet another group of people immersed in the dream of aristocracy.

Such people were all too common in District 2.

The various families of the consortium always encountered some "poor relatives" who emerged from nowhere; some were genuine, but the vast majority formed small groups of daydreamers. Among them, the Cain family stood out as one of the best, at least they had produced a son good enough to pass the consortium’s assessment.

Lu Xiang was the second to arrive, with only Cain having arrived before her.

At this moment, Cain seemed somewhat uneasy, pacing back and forth in front of the bar in an anxious manner.

The information provided by Military Intelligence Section Seven also included details about this bar.

It was said that after much brainstorming and spending a substantial amount of money, Cain’s parents had finally become certified guests of the bar.

Unfortunately, their encounters in the bar were not very satisfactory; they hadn’t made many genuine aristocratic friends.

From the gaze of the security staff, it wasn’t difficult to see that they recognized Cain but didn’t take him seriously.

"What’s the matter?"

Lu Xiang glanced at the time.

23:17, they should have been resting at this time because tomorrow early morning, they had to enter the castle to participate in the Ceremony.

"Good news, this is terrific news!"

Cain’s tone of speech had changed significantly from usual, "I really didn’t expect you to be the first to arrive here."

"I happen to live nearby."

"Once everyone is here, I’ll tell you a big piece of news."

Seeing Cain’s agitated demeanor, Lu Xiang didn’t press further.

Because in front of everyone, she still had to maintain her role as a silent and uncommunicative beauty, she just nodded her head and retreated to a spot near the corner to avoid being too conspicuous with Cain on the main street in front of the bar.

It was a quarter of an hour later when the last of their group arrived.

Everyone wondered about the reason for Cain’s summons, some of them having been sound asleep when they were awoken by Cain’s urgent ringtone.

Cain once again played coy with everyone.

As he walked up the steps amidst the somewhat scornful eyes of the security staff—who had intended to embarrass him by refusing entry to everyone but Cain as per the bar’s rules—their expressions changed immediately when Cain mentioned a name, their reserved demeanor appearing quite comical to an observing Lu Xiang.

But this was the norm in District 2.

The notion of social strata was deeply etched into everyone’s consciousness, and it was also one of the cities with the most severe discrimination issues.

Civilians living in District 2 could enjoy good public order and a wealth of material conditions but had no status to speak of.

Everything they received was seen as alms from the aristocrats, and so they had to be grateful to those residing in the castle.

Having entered the bar’s gateway, Cain led them upstairs, through dark corridors, and finally to a door.

He didn’t go in right away but took a while to compose himself at the entrance.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

When the door to the booth was pushed open, Lu Xiang finally understood the reason for Cain’s restraint.

The face that appeared before everyone’s eyes was a familiar one; she believed no legal citizen of District 2 would be unfamiliar with it.

Colin Capello.

The future heir to the Capello Family.

Apart from Colin, the compartment contained some unsightly scenes,, such as two female knights bound in nearly humiliating postures on the ground. This wasn’t a role-playing game,, because Lu Xiang noticed the crimson lines on their armor,, which were the insignia of the Scarlet Knight Group.

As a Knight of high status,, one should never engage in such vile acts.

Yet, like tamed pets,, they maintained their current state until Colin’s command, allowing everyone who entered the room to appreciate their humiliating situation.

"...Cain."

It took Colin Capello and Cain a long while to make eye contact before he seemed to finally recall his name,, "A toast to you, my friend."

A glass of champagne was handed to Cain.

"I have a favor to ask of you, more precisely, of all those present."

"Please, speak."

Cain, flattered, took the glass of champagne from Colin. His own parents had not even been received by the future head of the Capello Family,, let alone addressed as friends.

The peers following Cain showed various expressions.

Most of them looked at Colin with the same eyes as Cain,, some were covertly observing the female knights crawling on the ground in the compartment,, and of course,, there were those like Lu Xiang who averted their gaze,, not wishing to take another look at this scene of moral decay.

"As you know,, the castle has been a bit unrestful lately,, and all Knight Groups are in need of upright people. I hope you will apply to join the Scarlet Knight Group directly at the Ceremony tomorrow,, and I, Colin Capello,, promise never to treat you poorly in the future."

Without almost any hesitation,, Cain readily agreed.

In his eyes,, this was a boon from the aristocrats,, and clearly, many of his peers thought the same. Emulating Cain,, they shouted their willingness to follow the Capello Family right away.

Colin Capello’s gaze lingered for a moment on the few who remained silent,, then he squeezed out a thin smile, "With that settled,, I can rest assured. I have some other matters to attend to. See you tomorrow."

Lu Xiang had never seen such a brazen way of asking for help before.

He drew a large pie and then immediately issued an eviction order as soon as the other party agreed,, almost as if to wear his disdain on his face—even companies take more care when giving their employees the runaround with false promises.

Yet, facing Colin’s undisguised contempt,, the group led by Cain relished it.

Considering the shameful postures of the two female knights in the compartment,, Lu Xiang couldn’t help but wonder if a large number of masochists had infiltrated the knights.

It was Song Lan who had introduced her to this term,, which broadened her horizons and made her comprehend once again that the world was full of wonders.

The entire meeting didn’t last more than five minutes.

For Colin Capello,, meeting them seemed to be just a minor episode,, as his true purpose for coming to the bar was not to discuss business with them.

And the moment he stepped out of the bar,, Cain questioned the others, including Lu Xiang, with a complaining tone, "Why didn’t you respond to Young Master Colin in the room just now? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"...But,, I heard that the Scarlet Knight Group doesn’t have a good reputation."

One of his hesitant peers spoke up.

His words garnered agreement from the rest.

This was still putting it mildly; calling them notorious would not be an exaggeration. Compared to noble knights,, the Scarlet Knight Group was more akin to a band of mercenaries or war profiteers.

Alcoholism,, substance abuse,, and corrupt morals,, all of which were closely related to the current Lord of the Knight Group.

It was rumored that the Scarlet Lord himself was a drunkard who loved liquor above all else.

Every time he was drunk,, he often committed actions that severely violated the spirit of knighthood. If not for the backing of the Capella Family,, he would have likely been demoted or even removed from the knights due to his scandalous behavior.

"Besides,, I don’t want to end up like them," another Female Knight said. In the compartment,, she, like Lu Xiang,, had shifted her gaze elsewhere,, not wanting to take another glimpse of the scene.

"What about you, Gao Shang? What do you think?"

Cain suddenly threw the question to Lu Xiang.

"I’m heading back."

Lu Xiang refused to answer such an utterly pointless question,, and she even began to regret coming out late at night for this visit. "I’ve already decided which Knight Group to join."

"I see."

Cain’s face darkened,, as he noticed Colin’s gaze in the compartment. Although he did not explicitly say it,, it was clear that the young master was quite unhappy with those who declined his proposal.

It was his dereliction of duty.

Because it had never occurred to him that anyone would refuse an invitation from the successor of the Capello Family.

"However,, if we can’t be assigned to the same Knight Group,, then we are no longer comrades."

Cain surmised the purpose of Colin’s summoning.

It was not only to let the Capello Family stand out at tomorrow’s Ceremony but also to amass power for future internal corporate struggles.

"Maybe one day,, we’ll be facing each other with blades drawn."

"Then I hope we never meet on the battlefield."

Lu Xiang gave Cain a faint glance and was the first to leave the group,, heading towards her temporary residence.

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