The Simpleton and the Madman (Part 3)

Du Chen truly struggled to grasp the madman’s peculiar thought process. Just because he 'looked seasick'? What kind of logic was that? Nine out of ten individuals suffering from seasickness were usually retching and utterly drained. Truth be told, while Aliza's seasickness was profound, his current state mirrored that of almost every other poor soul afflicted by the malady.

Does that mean every seasick person is a friend of this madman? Thinking this, Du Chen mentally assessed the man before him—powerful, but with a somewhat muddled mind. Calling him a madman was no stretch of the imagination.

Still, he couldn't afford to offend him. Du Chen adopted a placating smile, sweet as though coaxing a child. "Might you enlighten me, good sir, on what manner of trifle or trinket I might offer in exchange for my loyal servant's return?"

"Ah, that's not pressing," the madman retorted, a wide grin splitting his face. "First, tell me, where did you *acquire* this peculiar fellow?"

Aliza was merely a simpleton Old Foye had acquired from the bustling slave market. The tale went that the child, then a mere five years old, had been bought for a pittance, his mind slow but his strength prodigious. Slave traders had used him as a brute laborer, but Old Foye, seeing his pitiable plight, had purchased him cheaply and brought him home to be a companion for Lord Francis.

Du Chen, without hesitation, candidly explained Aliza's background. There was nothing to conceal, after all, and the tale was well-known amongst the populace of Saint John City.

To Du Chen's utter bafflement, the madman, upon hearing the story, exploded into peals of raucous laughter. He bent double, then backward, convulsing with mirth until he finally collapsed onto the ground, clutching his belly in sheer comedic agony. "Hahaha, blast it all! That's utterly hilarious! The finest jest I've heard this entire year!"

In that moment, he seemed every inch the lunatic his moniker implied.

After what felt an age, the madman finally subsided, settling beside the crude wooden post to which Aliza remained bound. Taking a long swig from a flask, he declared, "If my friend were to learn you treated this fellow as a mere slave, and what's more, made him endure a sea voyage, he'd surely wring your scrawny neck!"

His tone was menacing, and through the disheveled chaos of his hair, a pair of eyes abruptly blazed with a fierce, cutting light. Du Chen's heart gave a sudden lurch, and he instinctively reached for his own throat.

"Esteemed Battle God—"

"Silence!" Roland snarled, cutting him off. "I am no damn Battle God! My name is Roland!"

"Ah, then, my esteemed Mister Roland," Du Chen smoothly resumed, "I fear there might be a slight misunderstanding." Du Chen remained unconvinced that Roland was entirely deranged; keen intellect was paramount for cultivators of great power, and true lunatics rarely mastered advanced battle qi. With meticulous patience, he elucidated, "Observe, my servant suffers from seasickness, and your friend, you say, shares this affliction. Yet, does this singular commonality truly establish a connection between them?"

"You speak with some logic, I'll grant you that!" Roland admitted, taking another heavy swig from his flask, a cynical twist to his lips. "However, there's something you don't comprehend. His kind, when afflicted by the sea, display a unique characteristic. Here, look at his wrist!"

Following Roland's pointed finger, Du Chen cast his gaze upon Aliza's wrist. The simpleton, already robust, usually boasted prominent veins across his forearms. Now, however, intricate, fine golden-yellow lines had emerged on his powerful arms. These delicate patterns were subtly masked by Aliza's dark complexion, almost impossible to discern without careful scrutiny.

Was this Aliza's racial characteristic?

But what *was* Aliza's true lineage? The slave traders who sold him had claimed the child was seized from a Beastkin encampment, possessing a partial Beastkin bloodline. Yet, the specific tribe or lineage among the Beastkin Warrior remained an impenetrable mystery.

"Mister Roland, could you tell me, what race is Aliza?"

"And why, pray tell, should I divulge such information to *you*?" Roland sneered, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Du Chen. "Lad, I've had enough of your senseless chatter. I now have strong suspicions that your servant is connected to my friend, and this matter demands thorough investigation. From this moment forth, he is mine!"

Utterly unreasonable, the bastard! Du Chen, however, remained composed. "And who, precisely, is this friend of yours? If he genuinely proves to be Aliza's kin, I would gladly—"

"Think what, precisely?" Roland cut him off, once more. "And why should I reveal the identity of my friend to the likes of you?"

Roland remained stubbornly unreasonable, yet Du Chen's composure deepened. Judging by their exchange, the man's mind, despite his erratic demeanor, was remarkably clear and agile. He might appear utterly mad, but he was certainly no true lunatic.

If Roland's words held truth, then he must have stumbled upon the scion of a cherished friend, unable to bear the thought of Aliza remaining a slave, and now desired to take him under his wing.

This was, in fact, an opportune turn of events. For Aliza to form a bond with a 'Crystal-tier' Battle God — the benefits for Du Chen himself would be far from negligible! Why stop it?

"Mister Roland," Du Chen offered with a knowing smile, "I believe I grasp your intent. It is perfectly acceptable for him to remain in your esteemed company. However, might it not be prudent to first inquire as to his *own* wishes on the matter?"

"Hmm, that sentiment is not unpleasing to my ears!" Roland grunted, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. For this young man to consider the opinion of a mere slave spoke volumes; it meant he hadn't truly ill-treated the boy!

He kneaded and rubbed at Aliza's body with surprising vigor, and after a considerable stretch, the unconscious simpleton finally stirred awake.

"Young Master? Why am I bound?" Aliza questioned, casually flexing his body. With an almost imperceptible strain, the thick hemp ropes constricting him snapped like brittle twigs. He then stumbled to Du Chen's side, rubbing his bewildered head. "Who is this fellow?"

Roland interjected before Du Chen could reply, "Lad, do you recall your kin?"

"You're the silly one!" Aliza chuckled, patting Du Chen's shoulder with a booming slap. "My kin is right here!"

Roland rolled his eyes with exasperation. "I'm asking if you remember relatives of your *own race*, you dimwit!" he bellowed.

"Race? What race am I?" Aliza mumbled, shaking his head with a vacant stare. Witnessing his utter cluelessness, Roland sprang up with an enraged roar, delivering a sharp crack to Aliza's bald head. "You thick-skulled lout! Mark my words: counting you, only *two* remain of your entire clan! You can forget everything else in this wretched world, but never, *ever* forget your lineage!"

Du Chen nodded subtly to himself. So, aside from Aliza, their race had dwindled to a single other individual. No wonder Roland was so utterly convinced of Aliza's connection to his friend.

"Aliza," Du Chen said, a persuasive smile playing on his lips, "this gentleman wishes for you to stay by his side for a time. Would you be agreeable to that?"

"No!" Aliza declared with unwavering resolve. "I'm staying with Young Master!"

"You little brat!" Roland roared, leaping up once more to deliver another resounding thwack to Aliza's bald pate. "Countless souls yearn to serve by my side, only to be promptly kicked into the sea by my own boot! And *you*, you're reluctant? Were it not for the debt of gratitude I owe your old man, I wouldn't waste a breath on you! I'd let you wallow as a slave for the rest of your miserable life!"

"Aliza won't leave Young Master!" Aliza clutched Du Chen's arm tightly.

"Careful, careful!" Du Chen murmured, glancing between Aliza's determined grip and Roland's furious expression. *This simpleton,* he mused inwardly, *why won't he accept a clear boon when it's offered?*

"Aliza," Du Chen coaxed, "have you not always yearned to learn battle qi? This gentleman here can instruct you!"

"I'm a slave, I can't learn battle qi!" He still refused.