A Kindergarten Lesson for the Grown-Ups

Brockman had not overstated the prowess of his Wyvern Carriage; indeed, they arrived above York Town precisely one day later.

York Town, renowned as a haven for adventurers and a lawless territory beyond the purview of any single power, certainly lived up to its reputation. Most of its inhabitants were worldly individuals, and the sight of the Wyvern Carriage descending from the sky immediately drew gasps of astonishment. To possess such a magnificent vehicle implied a personage of undeniable influence and power across the Three Continents, at least possessing extraordinary wealth.

Though dubbed a mere town, York Town was in truth a vibrant nexus, a temporary haven and gathering place for adventurers from all corners of the world, including various intelligent races. Consequently, its architecture was an eclectic tapestry of styles, each building unique, utterly devoid of the uniform planning and distinctive characteristics found in conventional cities.

Parking the Wyvern Carriage outside the town, Brockman instructed his servants to guard this symbol of status and wealth, entering the town proper only with Sinos and Du Chen.

As they walked, admiring the disparate architectural styles, Brockman chuckled, "Lord Francis, I presume this is your first visit to York Town? Then allow me to impart a piece of advice. This town, owing to its singularly unique geographical position as the gateway to the Misty Forest, abundant in Aberrant Beast Soul Crystals, belongs to no single nation or power! It's a true melting pot, a labyrinth of intertwined forces where even the most unassuming individual might possess formidable strength. Hence, here, even nobles like ourselves receive no special privileges. Paradoxically, it is this very mélange of chaotic factions that maintains a semblance of order, so you must remain exceptionally vigilant! Even with your formidable Battle God bodyguard, caution is paramount. Heh heh, should you encounter trouble here, or suffer any losses, reporting it to the authorities will yield no results—for this town possesses no government-appointed officials, only a multitude of underground powers!"

His deliberate warning to Du Chen about potential theft stemmed entirely from an overweening self-confidence, a conviction that Du Chen was entirely at his mercy. He savored this preliminary amusement at his opponent's expense.

*My dear Lord Francis, you are quite finished. I shall ensure you thoroughly appreciate my perfect 'art.'*

Upon hearing this, Du Chen's heart surged with unbridled delight. *Gods, this place is practically a criminal's paradise!*

*Brockman, you are utterly screwed! Tonight, I'll give you a show you won't soon forget!*

Arriving at the inn, Brockman enthusiastically dispatched Sinos to arrange rooms and meals, ensuring all expenses were charged to his account. He then cordially invited Du Chen to dine with him.

"Mmm, excellent!" Brockman elegantly savored a morsel of beef, exclaiming, "Only in York Town can one find such fresh, top-tier Flame Ox rib steak! Ah, it has truly been too long since I tasted such a delicacy!" To impress Du Chen with his generosity, Brockman spared no expense, ordering anything that was costly or projected an air of prestige. Yet, the restaurant genuinely lived up to its reputation; while undeniably expensive, the flavor was exceptional. Even Du Chen, whose palate had been refined by Alex's culinary artistry, gave his approval, though he admitted it still fell short of Alex's cooking.

"Lord Francis," Brockman boomed, "do invite your Battle God retainer to sample this feast! Sinos, you too, come have a taste!" Sinos, however, merely took a perfunctory bite before addressing Brockman. "Lord Brockman, I have a request for Lord Francis. May I have your permission to ask?" Once permission was granted, Sinos turned to Deboning, his expression serious. "Lord Francis, your retainer, Mr. Brook, possesses an extraordinary aura; he must be an exceptionally potent Battle God. I wish to solicit his guidance on certain aspects of battle qi. Would you be agreeable to this?"

This was a transparent attempt to isolate Deboning.

Du Chen, "cooperating" perfectly, glanced back at Deboning. "Brook, since Mr. Sinos shows such sincere intent to learn, why not spar with him?" Though Deboning disdained playing games with a youngster he could defeat in a single blow, he recalled Du Chen's instructions from the Wyvern Carriage. He nodded arrogantly, then led Sinos out as if guiding a mere student.

With the greatest obstacle removed, Brockman's gaze now settled on Harry—*A Shieb's nose is sharper than any guard dog's!* "Ah, Lord Francis, we venture into the Misty Forest tomorrow. Since you intend to bring your daughter, it would be prudent for your servant to acquire some moisture-proof clothing. After all, your lovely little beauty is not an adult, and the Misty Forest is notoriously damp… should our precious little darling fall ill, neither your heart nor mine could bear it!"

Du Chen continued his joyful "cooperation," obligingly sending Harry away.

After their meal, the two retired to their rooms, the hour now perfectly suited for a dark and blustery night.

Du Chen sprawled on the bed, Beibei perched on his shoulder, the father and daughter giggling into each other's eyes. Beibei whispered into his ear, "Daddy, the bad guy's here!" "Alright, let's sleep. We've waited long enough, I'm tired!" Du Chen and Beibei truly fell asleep, and as the faint click of the window latch signaled the intruder's entry, Du Chen began critically evaluating Brockman's technique. *Prying open such an old, Western-style round window with an audible sound? A failing grade! Hmm, no sound upon landing, breath control is decent. For that maneuver, I'll give you fifty-nine points! Still failing. Heavens, you're so careless when rummaging! When opening a wooden box, you should first apply a drop of oil to prevent noise, then wipe away any traces with an absorbent cloth… only thirty points for trace management, utterly pathetic.*

Just as Brockman, after much painstaking effort, approached Du Chen's bed, Beibei suddenly rolled over, muttering drowsily, "Daddy, Beibei needs to pee-pee!" Brockman's body jolted, and he swiftly darted under the bed. "Mmmph!" Du Chen yawned, as if still half-asleep, groggily propping himself up in bed. With bleary eyes, he embraced Beibei. "Dar…ling, go ahead and pee. Daddy remembers a chamber pot under the bed…" Beneath the bed, Brockman despaired completely. *Dear chamber pot, where are you? Gods, Lord Francis, you've got it all wrong!*

After immense toil, Brockman finally secured Number Six, carefully crafting the illusion that a common thief had sought wealth and absconded with Du Chen's belongings, thereby concealing his true objective!

Before long, Sinos, Deboning, and Harry returned.

Estimating that Sinos had also retired for the night, Du Chen quietly rose, smiling at his daughter. "Sweetheart, what follows isn't suitable for children. You go back to sleep!" With that, Du Chen summoned a Precious Lotus Scripture. Guiding the now miniaturized lotus, Du Chen gracefully floated out, yet he did not make for Brockman's room first; instead, he beckoned Deboning…

That night, Brockman and Sinos lost a great deal.

The next morning, Du Chen surveyed his ransacked room and his "missing" possessions, feigning outrage. "Damn it! A thief! Innkeeper, there's been a robbery in your establishment!"

The innkeeper was nowhere to be found. A cynical serving boy delivering breakfast spoke in a peculiar tone. "Dear guest, we merely provide lodging; everything else is your concern—this is York Town!" He mused that since Brockman had ordered the rooms and meals last night, this man wouldn't face the issue of being unable to pay after a theft. Thus, he was still a paying guest, and according to York Town's rules, his tone softened slightly. "If, my lord, you have 'friends' in York Town… I mean *that* kind of friend, you understand, yes? Then go find your friends to resolve this. If not…" He shrugged, leaving the implication hanging.

"Damn this York Town, I truly wish to leave immediately!" Du Chen fumed, then suddenly "exclaimed" in alarm, "Oh dear, my friend is in the next room! Could he have encountered the same trouble!? No, I must go check on him at once!"

*Creak.* Du Chen pushed open Brockman's door, revealing a scene precisely as he had anticipated.

Brockman sat disconsolate on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, his naked shoulders exposed beyond its confines, looking utterly like a forlorn concubine. His room was utterly bare save for the inn's furniture; everything was gone, including all of Brockman's clothes! This encompassed his Golden Silkworm Silk undergarments and even his luxurious Ice Silkworm Silk briefs. Heaven knew why Brockman would wear such extravagant underclothes; if his briefs had been more ordinary, Du Chen surely would have left them.

"Heavens, how could this be!?" Du Chen cried out, feigning "heart-wrenching grief," as if genuinely distressed by his friend's plight. "My dear Divine Grant Earl Brockman, I cannot believe you, you too have suffered the same misfortune as I!"

Brockman remained oblivious, his mind ceaselessly questioning, *How could this be? I am the most formidable thief in the organization—no, the most formidable thief in all Three Continents… yet last night, even my underwear was stolen…* He was filled with profound regret. *Why did I wear Golden Silkworm Silk undergarments?! But this thief is too cunning, and utterly devoid of decency. How could you steal everything, even the briefs, even if they were made of Ice Silkworm Silk…?*

"Ah!? Lord Francis, you… please quickly close the door!" Brockman's gentlemanly demeanor forbade more people from witnessing his humiliation, so he hastily urged Du Chen to shut the door.

Du Chen approached the bed, observing Brockman with feigned surprise, and sighed. "Alas, I never imagined your misfortune would be even greater than mine… that despicable thief truly took everything! Hmm, wait, some things were left on the floor!"

Brockman had been so utterly dejected since morning that he hadn't properly inspected his room. Now, following Du Chen's gaze, he saw it: the thief had indeed left a few items on the floor—small jewelry boxes, an empty coin purse, some inexpensive trinkets… and also, "Number Six"!

From Brockman's own thieving expertise, this was clearly the work of a master burglar who, after successfully completing the heist, naturally took everything of monetary value and left behind all the worthless items!

"Huh? Isn't this the rotten stone I lost last night? How did it end up here?" Du Chen picked up Number Six from the floor, wiped it, and looked at Brockman with feigned confusion.

Brockman's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily explained, "I imagine the thief first ransacked your room, then mine, and perhaps discarded some worthless trinkets in my room… Heh, Lord Francis, since this item is yours… please take it back!" His heart was filled with bitter anguish. *This entire night was for naught! Damn that thief! Don't let me catch you! I will… I will strip you bare too!* Brockman was no longer sure what he was thinking.

"Oh, I suppose that makes sense!" Du Chen retrieved "Number Six" and, after another glance at Brockman, quickly called out, "Harry, bring me a set of my clothes at once… Oh, heavens, I forgot, I lost so many things last night too, including my clothes… But that thief is truly skilled, he even managed to steal Brook!"

"No, no matter! Please inform Sinos; he still has some spare clothes!" Brockman urged anxiously.

Just then, the inn worker entered, knocking on the door, and spoke in a drawling, sardonic tone. "Mr. Brockman, your retainer Sinos has suffered the same fate as you. Furthermore, word from outside town reports that someone attacked your Wyvern Carriage last night, killed all your servants, made off with all your valuables, and severely wounded your four Winged Dragons…" Brockman's face contorted in horror. "Then I…" "Yes, you guessed it!" The worker smirked. "Currently, you are a pauper without a single copper coin—oh, save for that Wyvern Carriage which can no longer fly… Sir, your banquet yesterday cost a considerable sum of gold. You'd best figure out how to repay your debt! Otherwise, for defaulting on your lodging fees, you will become our collateral. We will parade your naked self through the streets for the residents of York Town to admire. Your physique is quite commendable, I'm sure many would be willing to purchase the rights to your body! This town has many with… particular tastes! Including many women, and also men, very strong men…"