The Black Iron Glory
Confrontations on the Road

Chapters 103.Confrontations on the Road

Claude took a different path. Partly because he did not want to walk down the same gloomy passageway, not because the other gloomy passageway was much different, and partly because he could not be sure someone was not waiting for him, she said, paranoid as it may sound.

He has two choices. One headed downtown, a crowded area where he could disappear. However, not many walked there, so he could not blend in on the way there and everyone who saw would notice his arrival. The others headed to the seedy side of the pier. He had walked the last part of that route several times before. It was a detour, but worthy of the wisdom it offered.

He wondered how he would handle the trade as he walked. He could not just walk into the store with all the money, especially in the form of a shaliun. The risk of discovery was too great. Not to mention that the Hurian, even before the dark side of his trading was revealed, was never the most ethical trader. He had a greedy side to him, and his penchant for acting on that basis. Even if he didn't directly rob her or do something else, if he discovered Claude's identity, he might just decide he could get more out of her.

He had yet to purchase some items, so he could not walk around in a hidden place like this right now. He knew his own limitations, and, as strong as his age, he was still a teenager. He did not have the strength to haul the bag all the way home alone. He could not leave the horses and carriage nearby, as everyone instantly recognized him. Disguised or not, everyone would know who he was when they saw him on the train.

He certainly can't go during the day. Other than the fact that he should have been at school at that time, just appearing in a certain part of the slums during the day would have arisen suspicions, not to mention doing so by carrying a large sack on his back.

It turned out that the biggest problem for him was one thing he thought would not be: transportation. He had hoped to struggle to get the items, or struggle to bargain for them at a reasonable price, but he had never even thought about the matter of shipping the items home.

He also had to think about how to go home with the things he bought. Should she go straight home, or stop by her parents' house for dinner? If he did the first one, he would have to hide his journey from his family or they all complained about him coming to the city without visiting them. However, if he stopped by for dinner, his father would urge him to come for dinner two days in a row and be lazy at work.

He pushed all of it out of his final thoughts, unable to find anything useful, and headed to the lake. The alley was almost deserted and one or two people he met disappeared in thin air when they saw his clothes.

He turned to another corner and faced off against several people who were all blocking the road in front of the dilapidated two-story building. The group was actually two groups, each blocking one end of the passageway while the two people among them, perhaps their leaders, argued.

His steps slowed down, and he approached as quietly as possible. Surprisingly, no one from the buildings on either side of the alley showed any interest or reaction to the argument. The windows were lit with candles, so there must be someone at home.

He stopped and hid in a dark alcove between two buildings about ten meters behind a nearby group. He listened to the argument for a few minutes and made a picture of what was going on.

The one slightly larger than the two groups was the Blacksnake gang. The other side is the Shark gang. The smaller group had about five people, some of whom were women, while the larger had eight, all of whom were men. The men tease and annoy the women and urge the men.

Between the two groups they ruled most of the slums. Blacksnake is mostly from Windmoon Street and the surrounding alleyways. They were mostly involved in extortion, especially with all the pimps and prostitutes working on the street.

They are known as Whitestag moles. Both tumors fed the good people of the city. However, for all their ferocity, they did not have the strength to expand their reach beyond the slums themselves, and did not have the strength to face the city's watch, and they knew that. The only reason they had not been swept away was because they knew they had to stay in the slums. No one really cared about keeping the place, partly because the place was secluded, and partly because keeping it was impossible.

However, the Sharks, over all their inclination to be violent, tend to be a somewhat friendlier gang. Well, just like a bunch of sailors and dockworkers can. They generally take care of themselves as long as the tavern pays their dues and the smugglers abide by their deals. They love fights, but do not involve people who do not seek quarrels with them.

The Blacksnakes, however, are much more uncontrollable. They consider themselves more cultured than Sharks, as they focus on more sensual activities. However, their victims did not have the same opinion. The Blacksnakes are notorious for looking around for prostitutes for fun and wealth, and for often raising their demands with little hint of improvement in store situations. And, while they mostly lived in slums, disputes with city watches were unheard of before. They are the biggest source of crime and violence outside the slums.

However, they had supporters in the town hall, so few in the watch dared to be too eager to teach the gang his place. Not to mention the baron, Baron Robert, has this annoying little hobby of standing up to gangs.

As for the current argument, it has to do with the convoy heading for Nubissia. Most of the shark gang dogs, and their best fighters, all go with it, including their leader, Ironaxe Hanbas – who serves as the overall escort commander. The city government had promised Hanbas that they would ensure peace and the status quo between the two gangs was maintained in his absence. While Blacksnakes are not afraid of Sharks even with full power – let alone now they are not the strongest – with the local government involved, they should stay put.

Blacksnake's second lieutenant, Slanteye Kamadi, was on his way back to Old Sreet with a few accomplices when he met Jerad, Hanbas' brother, who was returning home with his girlfriend. That boyfriend is Kefnie's older sister.

He once stabbed Kamadi once to grab his ass at the tavern where he worked, and he came out for revenge. With the loss of the elite Shark, Jerad lacks the usual escort strength, which means Kamadi has an advantage in number and quality.

Kamadi knew better than to start a physical fight, however, since even with Shark in a weakened state, it could still defeat Blacksnake if all the troops were counted. A fight with them here would spread to an open war on the streets, and Blacksnake would not come out well. So Kamadi decided to urge the group to vent his anger.

Jerad was also unable to engage in physical confrontation. They may win a gang war with Blacksnake, but they will be seriously injured and that may give some wannabe gangs enough chance to step in and take over as they lick their wounds. So he restrained his men no matter what the other party did. However, Kesline was on the edge, barely holding back his anger.

The result was a stalemate where neither side was willing to take the final step and end the fight, but neither side was willing to retreat and appear the weaker of the two.

Claude glanced at the sky. Probably around nine o'clock at night. Shit, if they are going to fight, then fight, if not, then be prepared! He has a place to be!

He watched them for about a minute, then sighed, and stepped out of the shadows.