The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  The middle-aged man continued: "I'm coming on behalf of the magistrate to arrest you because of 'theft'!"

  "Stealing?" Dudian was ignorant.

  "You got it wrong. I haven't stolen anything. I am a hunter and I have just came back from the outside!" Dudian tried to explain himself.

  Middle-aged man was impatient: "Little long-winded. You are going to prison!"

  "Prison?" Dudian was angered: "There was no interrogation and investigation! Are you qualified to imprison me? "

  "If I say qualified then it means qualified." Middle-aged man sneered.

  Dudian heard and looked at him: "So, you do not arrest the order?"

  Middle-aged man suddenly face sank, cold channel: "Of course there is. Its just we were afraid that you will run away so today we came to capture you! " He waved to apprentice knight of light: "Open the door!"

  The apprentice knight of light nodded. He pulled out the key and went to open the cage.

  Dudian came to realize that he was in deep problem. He slowly stood up and went forward as the apprentice knight of light opened the door. He looked up at the middle-aged man: "You are from the Mellon consortium. How come you are imposing charges on me?"

  Middle-aged man frowned and shouted to the people next to him: "Get him!"

  Dudian did not resist but raised his hand out as he stared into middle-aged man's eyes: "Even you have confirmed my guilt on your own you can't capture me without an offical arrest from a judge or probation officer. I still have the right to prosecute you because of ignoring judical process and abusing the law!"

  Middle-aged man raised his hand and gestured to that person to stop taking Dudian. He looked down at him who was about the age of his son. He didn't expect that a child in face of such a situation would be calm and retort back. He felt that it was going to be difficult to handle him this way. After a long silence he said: "Boy, count yourself lucky!"

  "Lucky? Ha" Dudian sneer.

  Middle-aged man slightly frowned as he didn't want to wrestly words with Dudian.: "You should wait for tomorrow when we came with an arrest to take you away. Look after yourself well!" Then he waved, gesturing the others to leave.

  Apprentice knights of light and the man's companions looked at each other. They didn't think that they will be forced back by Dudian's words. They felts useless and went back depressed.

  Dudian looked at them leave but didn't feel any joy of victory. His heart was full of unspeakable anger and killing intent. He rapidly thought: "I have evidence that I was absent all the time and I haven't stolen antyhing. Even if they have framed me maliciously, as they can perfure the facts, but the consortium is aware that I was outside. This can't be concealed!"

  He was in peace as he thought of this.

  Another three days passed.

  Dudian went out from the castle. His heart sank as he saw a caged carriage with few people were waiting for him. Moreover the previous middle-aged man was present too.

  "I had to be present in the cage for seven days. He came to arrest me apparently he didn't have an official order." Dudian was thinking about what was about to happen and the ways out of it. In the last three days he thought that something strange that he was not aware of had happened. " He didn't qualify to take the first time he came over. They couldn't even take me to the prison in that state according to the law."

  "He wasn't planning to take me to prison at all but wanted to kill me in secret. So that consortium would register my death as an occurrence out of the giant wall. There would not be even a trial. "

  Dudian's brows wrinkled as he saw middle-aged man rush over, "Now he dares to come so he should have an arrest order. But the trial did not interrogate me, how could he a warrant for arrest?"

  Middle-aged man took out a warrant and said: "Child you are coming with me now!"

  Dudian'd heart sank: "You are not timid at all as you have forged a warrant for arrest!"

  Middle-aged man was surprised for a moment,: "Boy it is not forged. You will know when the time comes. If you dare to resist now, I have the right to kill you on the spot!"

  Dudian was not planning to resist. In case he did so, he would become guilty even if he wasn't guilty at all. He would be included in wanted list of the city. N one inside the walls would want to shelter him.

  "Go on," the middle-aged man opened the door of the cage as he said to Dudian.

  ...

  ...

  Chapter 141: Awakening

  Dudian looked at him but didn't say anything as he slowly went into the cage.

  The whole carriage was made of extremely strong steel. Even with his current power it would be difficult to break open.

  Middle-aged man was bored as he saw Dudian didn't resist. He locked the cage and jumped to sit in front. The coachman was wearing the same armor: "He's better than the ones sent in the past."

  "So little in age but so good at scheming down. He dared to get his hands on an aristocratic lady. He is just a frog in the well!"

  "Ridiculous! He dreams of stepping up! Ha! "

  "It's alright thou! Its been a long time that new stuff has not been passed over. The brothers are itchy!"

  "This kind of tender skin is the most popular. "

  "Still a young child, ha ha ... ..."

  The two talked and laughed as the carriage drove away. There were four apprentice knights escorting them.

  Dudian sat cross-legged as he looked at the scenery. After leaving the castle, they went through desolate radiation zone. Along the way they encountered occasional beast attacks but the apprentice knights easily beheaded them.

  After they passed the inspection by the border fortress they came to a remote wilderness.

  The carriage stopped in front of the prison, the middle-aged man opened the cage and said, "Come down."

  Dudian jumped out of the carriage and said, "I'm going to appeal."

  "You can only groan." Middle-aged sneered: "Do you think you will have the opportunity to do anything? No one will hear you! The decision has been passed down and you won't have a chance to stand up. If you want to blame, then blame that you were born poor. It was alright that you were a hunter and earned some wealth through consortium. But why did you go and get involved with a noble lady?"

  Dudian coldly stared at him: "You are not a warden, right?

  Middle-aged sneered: "Do you think the governor personally see you so that you can complain? You don't have the right identity kid! You are just a trainee in the magistrate, but nothing else. Do you think you could bluff using that? "

  Dudian took a deep breath and clenched his fingers: "Thank you for your teachings." Then suddenly he punched the man's face.

  Bang! The man's nose got fractured and the blood spewed out as he fell down.

  All of them were stunned because of sudden attack as no one had expected it. Dudian even dare to attack in front of the prison.

  Middle-aged man covered his face with one hand to stop the blood. He was angry and madly looked at Dudian. His body was shivering as he screamed: "Kill him!"

  The apprentice knights pulled out their weapons. They had spears and swords.

  However, Dudian didn't act the way they had imagined... Instead he turned and ran! He ran to the prison while shouted in high-pitched voice: "They want to kill me!"

  Because of the sound many people rushed out from the prison.

  "Stop!"

  The prison's door was opened and seven or eight people ran out. They were led by a woman wearing glasses. She saw that knights were about to attack Dudian so she had ordered them to stop.

  Apprentice knights stopped and looked at each other.

  Dudian immediately ran to the woman: "They have been bribed to kill me. I want to appeal! Are you the warden?"

  The woman looked at him and frowned: "I am the judge's secretary. You have the right to appeal. I can help you but I don't know if it is going to be approved."

  "Thank you! Thank you very much!" said Dudian.

  Middle-aged man cam
e over as his hand was clutched over his nose. His face was ugly as his eyes locked onto Dudian. In anger and with killing intent he said o the woman: "Miss secretary, this wicked villain attacked us and obviously wanted to escape. He even attacked prison guards. He should be immediately executed!"

  The woman's face sank as she said in a cold tone: "Look at your own embarrassed look. Disgraceful. Also, be careful and attentive of what you talk. We are only responsible to keep the prisoners. We don't have the right to kill them. Don't talk nonsense!"

  Middle-aged people knew his tongue slipped so his face immediately changed as he bowed: "Yes."

  The woman turned towards Dudian: "From now on your are being held in custody. If you repeat such a thing again, no matter the reason, you will not be tolarated!"

  Duddian nodded in a very sincere manner.

  Woman saw his expression as she turned towards the middle-aged man: "Send him inside but you won't be responsible for monitoring him. I will arrange someone else and send the person over." Finished she turned away and left.

  After she left, the middle-aged man turned around and fiercely looked at Dudian. He spoke in a low voice: "Little devil, don't think that you have escaped from my clutches. As long as I'm here, you will definitely die!"

  Dudian replied in a cold manner: "Aren't you going to lead the way?"

  Middle-aged man clenched his fists in anger but still hold on to his nerves as he stepped forward and led the way.

  ...

  Detention House, a luxury office.

  "Oh, this kid turned out to be a hunter." A clean shaved bald man sat in the chair while the secretary from before handed him out a document. He skimmed through the information.: "A hunter from Mellon Consortium had commited theft? Funny...Funny... Moreover, the Mellon consortium also supports his imprisonment... Interesting, they are ready to cut down their own cash cow. It's the first time something like this happens. Now contact Mellon Consortium about this matter and check their heartbeat to see how they react."

  Warden's secretary was puzzled: "What about appeal?

  "If the Mellon Consortium wants to kill him then we have to give them face. Of course, it won't be cheap. It's a good opportunity, we gotta take hold of it." There was joy and happiness in bald man's eyes: "Moreover, this matter should be useful for our consortium too. "

  "I know." Secretary nodded.

  ...

  ...

  Dudian sat in an independent cell as he waited quietly.

  "I don't know if that middle-aged man has informed the Mellon consortium about the news." Dudian was worried, "I must think of alternate ways to get out. As long as I get the opportunity to complain then I'll have a chance to prove that I was wronged. "

  "Unfortunately, there is no one with a little bit of background who could bail me out. "

  "However, the people with that level of power would collapse after being pressured by the Mellon consortium."

  "I don't know how Jura and Gray will be affected as they were involved in my upbringing. "

  "Damn it!"

  He couldn't think of anything. He was angry but at the same time there was a trace of fear.

  Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

  He didn't get any meals but water and break in this three days. He knew that the person responsible to look after him was someone else but that middle-aged mad could buy him off for a silver coin. At the end of a day he was a prisoner.

  However, the worries in his heart increased as in the last three days there was little movement.

  "There should be no hope of appeal ... ..." Dudian looked at the dim light shining from the window. There was desolation in his heart. But despair and anger were lurking around making him crazy. "The only option is jailbreak. Otherwise, I'll be trapped in this dungeon and die here. There is only suffering and humiliation in here."

  "If I escape, I won't be able to live in light but the darkness is only choice. "

  "In that case, I'll never see aunt Jura, I cant see Mason and the others, also I can't see... her!"

  Dudian was sad but his instinct of survival inspired and increased his determination to live. He began to seriously think about methods that could get him out of here.

  Another two days passed in the blink of an eye.

  On this day, the cage suddenly opened.

  A familiar smell drifted into his nose. He was a bit surprised.

  "Dean!" a sweet trembling voice echoed: "You, How did you become like this? "

  Dudian was startled when he heard the voice. His eyes were wide open as he saw Jenny wearing a white skirt standing on the other side of the cage. Her white fingers were grabbing onto the thick steel pillars of the cage.

  Dudian stared at her almost doubting his eyes. He thought that he was seeing an illusion because of hunger.: "Jen...Jenny, how did you come here?"

  "My father sent me over. Did they abuse you?" Jenny's eyes were red.

  Dudian hurried up and grabbed her hand. He spoke in excited: "Are you alright? You father didn't hurt you, right? "

  Jenny immediately broke free from his hand and backed away a few steps. She rubbed off the tears on her eyes. : "Why would my father want to hurt me? I just wanted to ask you. Why? Why did you want to steal?"

  Dudian was startled. His blood was boiling up because of meeting her but he suddenly calmed down. The coldness invaded his heart as a piercing pain hit him hard. His heart was bitter as he thought: "Of course he won't hurt you. You are his baby daughter. Why should I worry about that?"

  He looked at the white girl: "Do you really believe that I will steal something?"

  Jenny clenched her teeth: "The evidence has been conclusive. They have found Milan family's Longshan (Dragon mountain) Ruby in your safe. It is one of the three treasures of Milan house. There is no second identifcal piece. Why did you do something like that?"

  "If I say that I never knew about the existence of Milan family and have never seen the ruby that you were talking about. Would you believe it?" said Dudian. He clutched onto iron pillars as his body trembled.

  "Why do you have to lie to me!" Tears flew down Jenny's eyes: "I have inquired about everything. I know all the truth regarding this matter. Why do you want to lie to me now?!"

  Dudian was full of bitterness: "I never cheated you. It it is done by your father who wants to break us up. He deliberately framed me. Why don't you want to believe me? Why are you acting like this as if you are alien to my character after the year that we have spent together?"

  Jennifer crouched down: "At first I also thought so but I asked the people of Milan family. Two months ago Miss Milan had invited you to their house for a visit. At that time, I again thought that you won't something like that. Even when they said that ruby was found in safe at your house, I still believe that someone else has framed you!"

  "But the deacon took the case and personally investigated it, he had confirmed that you had stolen the ruby! "

  Dudian suddenly understood everything. No wonder there was no interrogation and the order to capture him was released so easily. It was a deacon level judge who had accepted the case and made the investigation.

  However, even though the whole world was against him he was aware that he had never seen that Milan family's Miss. All of this was fictitious. He was being framed!

  "This deacon should also be bought by your father." Dudian said in a sullen tone.

  Jenny raised her head in anger, "You must utter a word about my father!"

  Tears almost fell down Dudian's eyes: "Do you believe your father?"

  Jenny replied: "You may not understand this. Although Burong family is very large but bribing a deacon is absolutely impossible! The judges are pure, noble and aren't confounded by money. The deacon has never had contact with us. So he has no reason to slander you!"

  "No one is going to be tempted by the money. Not even the judge os magistrate, not even the Knights of Light from the Holy Church," he said.

  Jennifer looked up at him. She rubbed of the te
ars. Her expression slowly calmed down: "Its all because you are a thief! You love money, so you think everyone loves it too! The book of light says that in the eyes of despicable everyone is despicable and in noble eyes, everone is noble!"

  Dudian firmly held onto iron pillars: "If you no longer believe me then why have you come here?"

  Jenny's body trembled: "I just want to hear you admit your sins. As long as you admit, I won't care about anything. I will still be with you. I can forgive your crime. But you are still obsessed. You even try to frame my father. Moreover you are slandering the deacon to cover your own crimes. I am really... disappointed with you!"

  "Disappointed?" Dudian laughed as tears slid down his face. "You'd rather believe an outsider, a deacon at the magistrate than trust me. You're right. I'm guilty. I'm too silly and too na?ve to think that we can break the shackles of the system. An aristocratic lade and a common man's love! My sin is that I am too self-righteous in believing that you can follow me to the ends of the earth!

  "Even if they fall in love, bird and fish can not be together!

  Suddenly, the door was pushed open as a stalwart middle-aged man entered. He had extraordinary temperament and was full of dignity as he said to Jenny: "Child, lets go back!"

  Dudian looked up at the man with eyes full of resentment: "If you want to break us up why not do it openly? You could give me a request, a target! If I couldn't do it, I would leave. Why? Why do you use such underhanded means?"

  "It's enough!" Jennie interrupted Dudian's words and looked at him bitterly. "Why do you refuse to admit that you have been wronged? Until now, I had to shout at my father! If a man is innocent, who can get you wronged? Is the entire consortium corrupted? I asked, your magic ability is tracing by smell, right?"

  Dudian stared at her.

  "You knew about my identity at the first encounter, right? You had used your sense of smell time and time to deliberately arrange coincidences to get close to me! The time when you sent me back at rainy night and later accompanied me to attend the examinations...And over and over again! It was all deliberately done by you to get close to me..."

  Jenny contined, "Even if I knew all of these I still loved you. I loved the tone of your voice, I loved your maturity. I knew that you were not disguised. But why? Why do still not admit it? Why did you want to be a thief?"