Chapter 181 - 181 The Loyal Ciel

181 The Loyal Ciel

Lumian settled back into his seat, taking a casual stance. His gaze locked onto Giant Simon as he inquired, And whats the matter?

Giant Simons cast his light-blue eyes over Louis and Sarkota standing behind Lumian.

Arent they Brignaiss men? Why would you allow them to tail you?

If it were me, Id put them to work as bouncers.

Louis and Sarkota exchanged anxious glances when Simon hit the nail on the head.

Lumian wanted to applaud, grateful that Simon had provided him with an opportunity to win their trust.

However, he couldnt entirely trust Louis and Sarkota. He had no desire to become a mobster, but he didnt want to be shot in the back, riddled with bullets someday.

Lumian smirked once again.

What do you mean Brignaiss men? I used to work under Brignais!

Were all members of the Savoie Mob, loyal to the Boss. As long as I remain faithful, theres no need to worry about them turning against me!

Louis and Sarkota nodded repeatedly, impressed by Ciels broad-mindedness and demeanor.

Thats right. Baron Brignais changed our status in the Savoie Mob and gave us a lot of trust, but were still members of the Savoie Mob. Betraying the Boss is out of the question. And it was the Boss who commanded us to follow Ciel and obey his orders!

Simon choked on Lumians words. After a few seconds, he finally said, You may be loyal to the Boss, but others might not be. Brignais is ambitious.

You find Brignais unloyal to the Boss? Hidden Blade Uh Red Boots Franca mentioned that Brignais hasnt been obedient lately Lumian suddenly felt pity for Gardner Martin, the boss of the Savoie Mob.

His most capable subordinates lacked loyalty, and his favorite mistress had ulterior motives. The newcomer he had recently promoted turned out to be a spy from another organization

Realizing he couldnt shake off Louis and Sarkota, two thugs who often accompanied Baron Brignais and had knowledge of various matters, Simon steered the conversation back on track.

I came here to discuss the dancers basic salary.

F*cking dammit, why the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l do we have to give those s.l.u.ts money every day, even when they dont have a single customer?

Franca is overbearing. Just because shes the Bosss mistress, she convinced him to agree to such an unreasonable demand!

Were mobsters, not a charity. By Steam, when I handed money to those women, I felt like a b.l.o.o.d.y priest!

Thats fine by me. I only need to give them a few licks each day. But its 1 verl dor a day for Salle de Bal Brise. The textile workers in Quartier du Jardin Botanique earn only 1.5 verl dor a day, and they work from morning till night!

No wonder Francas beautiful dancers refused to work on Rue du Rossignol. The prices there are low, and the base salary is meager Why are you cursing like Franca and Jenna? Can vulgarities be contagious? Aurore seemed to curse in the same manner during her occasional bouts of madness Lumian deliberately ignored Louiss suggestion and asked with a smile, Whats your plan?

Simons fury remained etched on his face.

You, me, and Black, well go to the Boss together. We must make him change his mind and rein in Franca!

Which of the other mobs pays their dancers a base salary?

Is he trying to take advantage of my recent takeover of Salle de Bal Brise? Is he inciting me to rebel against the Boss? Heh heh, as Aurore once said, the early worm gets eaten by birds, and ravens who stick their necks out get shot Lumian raised his hands, cracking his knuckles with a sly smile.

Its pointless. Franca is the Bosss mistress. The Boss will undoubtedly heed her. If you want him to change his mind, theres only one waybecome the boss yourself!

Is this something you should say in front of so many people? Louis, Sarkota, and the others behind Lumian were so terrified that they almost covered their leaders mouth.

Giant Simon also appeared taken aback.

What nonsense are you spouting?

Most of his thugs trembled with fear.

What I mean is Lumian suddenly seized the tables edge and flung it at Giant Simon!

Clang!

The table crashed to the ground, and the cups upon it shattered into shards.

Giant Simon had already retreated two steps, his expression darkening. His subordinates instinctively reached for their revolvers. He looked at Lumian and demanded,

What do you want?

Lumian stood behind the upturned wooden table, seething with anger.

You wretched dogsh*t, does the Boss mean anything to you? How dare you plot a mutiny in secret, attempting to force him to change his orders!

Do you truly aspire to be the boss?

The Bosss commands must be carried out, whether theyre good or bad. If theres an issue, you can address it with the Boss privately, but you cannot conspire with others to coerce him!

The question exposed Giant Simons true intentions, leaving him unable to explode in anger or continue inciting Ciel.

He spat out his words. d.a.m.n it, is there something wrong with your brain? When did I say I wanted to force the Boss? I merely suggested that everyone should approach the Boss and explain that providing a dancer with a base salary is unreasonable. It places a heavy burden on us.

With that, Giant Simon waved his hand, wearing an expression that conveyed difficulty in communicating with Ciel. He turned and departed, his subordinates trailing after him, descending the staircase.

Observing their departure, Lumian inwardly chuckled.

Thank you so much. Tomorrow, no, tonight, the Boss will come to know how loyal I am!

Lumian had stumbled upon an opportunity to earn Gardner Martins trust, and he seized it without hesitation.

Putting on a show, he simulated an angry exhale, restraining his emotions. Pointing at the mess on the floor, he commanded Louis and the others, Clean this up.

Just as Lumian finished speaking, a figure emerged from the shadows near the staircase.

It was Jenna, having finished her performance in the dance hall.

Jenna wasnt wearing a revealing outfit today. Her rose-colored dress, supported by a petticoat, made her resemble an upside-down flower. Her brownish-yellow hair was tied in a simple bun at the back, with some loose strands cascading gently. The dark circles around her blue eyes were less p.r.o.nounced, lending her a touch of elegance. A mole adorned the middle of her left cheek.

This symbolized elegance.

Observing Jenna, Lumian couldnt help but chuckle.

Do the folks in the market district appreciate this style?

He was referring to Jennas less provocative attire.

Jenna smiled smugly.

It works surprisingly well from time to time. Franca mentioned that sometimes, the more unattainable something appears to men, the more they desire it. F*ck, I cant quite fathom that mentality.

Whats the matter? Lumian glanced at the waiters tidying up and found another table to sit at.

Jenna took a seat opposite him and smiled.

Im here to discuss the singing fee for next week. Previously, it was 10 songs per night, 4 verl dor, and a third of the money thrown onto the stage.

Lately, it seems Ive become more popular than in the past few months!

Lumian pondered for a moment before responding.

Has the Poison Spur Mob grown suspicious of you, making it difficult for you to perform at their dance halls?

F*ck, that infuriates me! Couldnt you have disguised yourself better? You were identified so easily, and it ended up implicating me! Jenna replied indignantly.

A mischievous grin played at the corners of Lumians mouth.

Starting from today, you will still perform 10 songs per night, but the fee will be increased to 10 verl dor. You can keep two-thirds of the money thrown onto the stage.

Louis, who stood behind Lumian, felt a pang of sorrow.

Although Little Minx didnt sing here every night, she frequented the place several times a week. This change would result in Salle de Bal Brise earning 2,000 verl dor less annually!

However, it seemed that Little Minx had played a significant role in the a.s.sa.s.sination of Hammer Ait, the mob leader. As a consequence, she had lost the opportunity to perform in Poison Spur Mobs territory, amounting to a loss of over 1,000 verl dor per year.

Jenna appeared quite content.

Receiving 10 verl dor for 10 songs and keeping two-thirds of the money thrown on stage was the most generous treatment in the underground singer industry.

She smiled and said, I can only come for three days next week, from Friday to Sunday night.

Seeking opportunities at dance halls in other districts? Lumian inquired casually.

Jenna shook her head.

No, I dont have that much time to b.l.o.o.d.y sing. I have other things to attend to.

Isnt being an underground singer your profession? Lumian inquired curiously.

This is just a part-time gig! Jenna emphasized with a smirk. My main job is being the shared mistress of Lion Ciel and Red Boots Franca!

Louiss legs nearly buckled at the jest.

In his mind, Franca was a possessive woman. She had taught a lesson to any man who dared to s.n.a.t.c.h Little Minx away from her.

If the boss truly became involved with Little Minx, he would undoubtedly face Red Boots fury!

This fellow has other ident.i.ties? Lumians thoughts raced as he asked thoughtfully, Is Jenna your real name or an alias?

Part-time underground singers often adopted an alias to avoid impacting their other occupations.

Jennas lips curled up, and she blinked before replying, What do you think, Monsieur Ciel?

She deliberately emphasized the name Ciel, implying that he, too, used an alias.

With that, Jenna rose from her seat, leaned across the wooden table, and whispered into Lumians ear, After hearing your conversation with Giant Simon, I have a sincere suggestion. The less loyal someone is, the more they boast about their loyalty. Your performance went a bit overboard, hehe.

Jenna straightened up, wearing an air of pride, and confidently walked toward the staircase.

Finally, it was her turn to educate Ciel!

Is that so? Lumian pondered as he watched Jennas departing figure.

Arent you wearing perfume today?

Jenna turned around, her expression br.i.m.m.i.n.g with delight as she inquired, So you didnt notice me ascending the stairs?