The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 249 Ch.248 Mistress
Roland had been observing for half an afternoon and wandering around the casino for half an afternoon, and he had already sentenced Ram Fiennes to death in his heart.

Hobbies are not a bad thing, people nowadays have many hobbies.

For example, men do hunting, horse racing, football, boxing (beating wives, children, and black servants at home does not count), gambling, art salons, drinking, smoking, musicals, etc. - adjust your hobbies appropriately according to your class and wealth, and allocate your leisure time reasonably. This is what almost everyone does.

But gambling is more than just a hobby for Fiennes.

He does not have enough money and status to support him to wade in this quagmire made of gold, and he does not do it to show off his money, have fun or make friends. He truly craves this exciting "game" that can make people rich one day and poor the next, just like a person craves food and water.

But Roland was not angry or disappointed with Ram Fiennes's behavior. He was more emotional about the dark and rugged sanctuary in London:

Inquisition.

and the Inquisition's Executors.

Over the years, the two sides seem to be competing to rot quickly.

London is just the tip of the iceberg.

Many more are like Bristol.

Completely rotten.

"It's not interesting to watch it alone." Ram Fiennes came out from a gambling table, and the few shillings he had just won disappeared from his palm. "You need to experience it more. Sooner or later, you will fall in love with this elegant, bloodless fighting game."

"I am not at all in the mood, Mr. Fiennes. Oh, are you done?"

Fiennes grinned, showing Roland a mouthful of black teeth, rubbing his hands together, and said flatteringly: "Well, you see, I just lost everything..."

"You want to borrow money from me?"

Fiennes sneered: "Two shillings will do..."

This is no longer a question of decency.

Shandel frowned and interrupted, "Are you really going to take us around the casino for an entire afternoon?"

As Fiennes spoke, he glanced at the gambling table beside him and said anxiously: "I asked, and the number '17' has not appeared today. Believe me, it is definitely, definitely time for '17'..."

Shandel saw Roland take out a shilling and give it to Fiennes.

Interestingly, number 17 did appear later.

But Ram Fiennes bet on 13.

“…I think Thirteen will come first.”

The sullen old gambler lost everything and ended up owing Roland twenty-five shillings—and that was just one afternoon.

So, it is very clear where the hundreds of pounds owed came from.

When they left, the old man was reluctant to let them go, saying that if he lent him a few more cents and won a few more times, he could win back all his losses - but they had another place to go, so the hesitant old gambler took a few shillings from Roland and bought three cups of the cheapest coffee (four pence in total) at the coffee shop at the door.

Called a carriage.

It was still paid by Shandel.

——This person is extremely stingy to himself and everyone else, but he is generous only at the gambling table.

Not only is he shameless, he is even worse than the street thugs.

At least those guys had the guts to pull out daggers from their clothes and stab.

And from what I've observed today, this person doesn't have much courage.

"No, no, I'm not, Mr. Collins. I've been on many missions with the captain and dealt with cultists before." Fiennes talked freely in the carriage, pulling up his sleeves to show Roland and Cinder the scar on the inside of his forearm: "I'm also injured."

"…The Inquisition is no longer effective. You may not know this, but there are many bigwigs in London who don't speak openly about it."

Fiennes didn't know that Roland and Cinder were official executives. He thought they were just apprentices who had just started their careers. He gave them some advice: "In my opinion, you and your friend should submit a letter of transfer and try to be transferred to the church..."

Shandel didn't want to pay attention to him and just responded with a smile.

He went on and on, talking about the past of the local court - where they were going.

A place similar to London's Flower Street.

High-end flower street.

That's right.

It used to be the base of the Inquisition's bailiffs, but as the number of bailiffs in Bristol decreased, the place was gradually abandoned. After being taken back by the church, the land was subleased to the Maelstrom.

They built a huge, fragrant estate of women.

It was hard to tell whether the church did it on purpose. When the carriage entered the street, Roland seemed to see the night scene of West London.

The lights are bright and the flow of people is endless.

This place might be the most prosperous one in Bristol at night, comparable to a salon banquet - except that the guests are all men, and even if they don't know each other, they can still chat with a smile.

The girls waved feather fans and slender waists in the cold wind, with their hair tied up or not, wearing one-line skirts or more revealing ones.

If you like ladies, you can find them here. If you like sluts, you can find them here too.

Fiennes was familiar with the route. He ordered the carriage to stop in front of a small building, asked Roland and Cinder to wait for a moment, and then he slipped down.

A short woman with thick makeup on was waiting for him on the street.

——Holding a long thin cigarette, his lips painted blue.

Roland watched the two of them talk for a few words. Fiennes took a handful of money, smiled and hugged the woman, but was pushed away with disgust and turned towards the carriage.

"You are so social."

"Of course, I help them." Fiennes was proud, weighing the coins in his hand - the denominations were not small: "She helps me sell the 'ritual' as a fee for the use of knowledge..."

ceremony.

"What ceremony?"

Fiennes said seriously: "A ritual to avoid pregnancy."

Roland blinked and turned to look at Shandel.

The latter shook his head.

Miss Shuku had never heard of this ritual - on the contrary, it was indeed easy to hit the target.

Fiennes looked shrewd and rubbed his fingers: "I spent a lot of money to buy it..."

Even Xiandel would roll his eyes at such greedy and shameless look.

The girl expressionlessly took out some money from her purse and handed it to Roland, who passed it on to the greedy guy.

Fiennes accepted it with a grin, showing his crooked black teeth, and then talked about the things needed for the ceremony.

Not a big ceremony, not a small ceremony.

Some are like the 'invisible arts' that mortals can use.

- Grind the teeth of a ewe into powder, apply it to 'that place', light a candle longer than your index finger, pray, and then burn a hair.

This ritual has a certain probability of preventing the birth of life.

but.

This is what is dangerous about the Invisible Art: the person performing the ritual does not know... to whom they are praying.

"It's a very extraordinary ritual. You see, I didn't just invest all my money in 'business'. I also collected a lot of useful rituals." Fiennes was confident when talking about the rituals: "The ones the priest sold me are definitely much cheaper than those in our Inquisition."

Rituals, materials, strange objects, knowledge, anything involving mystery is not free, nor cheap.

The Tribunal has its own unique system.

The same is true with the church.

But Fiennes...

Can I buy the ritual from David?

"You should have met David Cromwell. He has no problem with the Inquisition, and he doesn't want to see factions in the Holy Cross. He is friendly and gentle, but he lacks some masculinity. He used the lowest price... no, no, no, I should say that he almost sold me many rituals for free. He is an absolute..."

Fiennes glanced at Roland and said, "Absolutely. He is more reasonable than any other executive officer I have ever met. To be honest, if I had not been loyal to the Holy Flame, I would have applied for a transfer like those executive officers and joined the church..."

Roland did not comment on his statement, and suddenly asked him: "Do you know that it is illegal for mortals to use the invisible technique?"

Fiennes disagreed, and instead asked Roland with a grin what the price of an "invisible technique" was in London.

He seemed certain that Roland and Shandel were the same as he was, and that the Inquisition was the same as before.

"Selling it to them doesn't necessarily mean they can use it."

He said.

(End of this chapter)