The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 55: Shadow of the Fire Pig

- Chive Street·Underground -

"Great King, our poison has indeed taken effect. Otherwise, 'Four Fingers' wouldn't be making such a frantic fuss while hiding himself away. That's completely against his usual habits and style."

In the dim underground room, the figure with a rough bird beak reported to the Fire Pig, who sat on a wide stone seat.

"Hmph, it took effect, but the target didn't die. If he had, the guys around him would have scattered long ago." The massive, fiery red boar sitting on the stone seat trembled its fat and thick tusks, letting out a voice as dull and rumbling as thunder.

"I always felt this roundabout scheme was useless." His mood was foul. Although Four Fingers was poisoned and unable to move, the orders he gave had kept the Fire Pig scrambling for nearly a month.

It had been a long time since anyone dared to scold him like that. But recently, he had tasted that long-forgotten feeling again, and it was just as unpleasant as he remembered.

"During this time, have them keep a tight watch. Don't screw up again. Not just here, but keep an eye on Four Fingers' side too. If they pull any more tricks, just start a fight and pin the blame on them."

"Yes, Great King."

Having said this, the Fire Pig leaned back on the stone seat and calmed down for a moment before opening his eyes to continue asking.

"What about the Fox Family? How's the investigation going?""We've managed to bribe a few of the Fox Family's servants. But these people are uneducated and have no understanding of the Fox Family's history. Their daily work is just menial labor."

"If we truly want to learn the Fox Family's secrets, we'd need to target their personal maids or butler. But bribing those people would easily alert them. Besides, most of them come from generations of master-servant relationships, making it very hard for outsiders to infiltrate." The bird-beaked old man explained in a hoarse voice.

"The Fox Family is quite a prominent household. With generations of servants maintaining it, it's indeed difficult for outsiders to squeeze in." For once, the Fire Pig didn't lose his temper.

"It's just a possibility anyway. Their family might not even still possess the 'Dragon Eye' Aspect treasure anymore."

"Unfortunately, I don't have suitable allies among the higher academy circles. The beastman races I'm familiar with aren't cut out to be mages."

"Before you came, I once sought out a down-and-out academy mage. He looked down on a beastman like me. Fortunately, he was in a difficult spot at the time, which gave me a chance to offer him sponsorship and help. That mage then planned and laid things out for me."

"The 'Feast Ritual' I've been waiting for, he was the one who helped me organize the ceremonial procedures. In the end, he told me that 'Dragon Eye' Aspect treasures are hard to come by. If I really wanted to find one, the most likely places within the Mage Alliance would be the 'Origin Hourglass' and the 'Bionics School.' Both have research projects on ancient creatures with remarkable results."

"But with my status, I can't go to those higher academy districts, nor can I offer anything that would make those noble mages think highly of me. So all I can do is keep waiting for an opportunity."

"Over the past ten years, I've managed to accumulate quite a few Fourth Tier treasures of 'Bloodline' and 'Beast Fang.' They're my most valuable possessions. Unfortunately, even with them, without a 'Dragon Eye' Aspect treasure of the same tier, I can only keep them locked away in my cabinet." The Fire Pig spoke slowly. He never used to talk about such secrets, but today, his state of mind seemed to have changed.

Sensing this unusual state, the bird-beaked old man didn't interrupt, but listened in silence.

"Old man, you don't have much longer to live, do you? I can see the edges of your beak are worn smooth."

Hearing this, the bird-beaked old man nodded mournfully.

"What the Great King says is true. But my wisdom remains, and I can still serve you."

"Heh." The Fire Pig didn't comment on that and continued with his thoughts.

"I wasn't in a hurry before. In fact, I'd grown a bit complacent these past few years. But recent events have made me realize again that only by advancing can I survive the next ten years." After saying this, the Fire Pig bared his thick tusks and let out a sneering laugh.

"A pig that's grown fat is meant for slaughter. I've seen the impatience in those officials' eyes when they look at me."

"Hatred? Resentment? No, it's none of that. They just ignore us like always, like a rag in the toilet. They never want to think of it until they need to use it."

"If they always overlooked us like that, it would actually be a good thing. Both sides would be at peace."

"But now they've started to get annoyed. They think I'm in the way. Although I know they haven't formulated any plan yet, once that thought takes root, it's like a small spark, slowly spreading."

"First, they impatiently block all applications from my subordinates. Then, after conflicts break out, they stop taking our side. After that, they keep finding minor issues and mistakes to scold us, exhausting us. Finally, they watch me spiral into frenzy, and then strike hard to eliminate me, replacing me with a new headman they prefer." The Fire Pig stared at the dim flames in the room and murmured about what the future held.

"No matter how powerful a headman is, they're just a dirty rag in their eyes. But if people like us don't do the dirty work, they'll have to get their own hands stained with grease and filth."

Having said this, the Fire Pig lifted the wooden plank by his feet. His thick fingers grabbed a smoked pig leg from inside, brought it to his mouth, and tore off a large chunk of light pink smoked meat and fat.

He chewed loudly, the sound echoing clearly through the room.

Two minutes later, he tossed aside the gnawed-clean bone and casually threw it away.

"So delicious..." The tone of this sentence carried both the comfort of release and a sense of nostalgia.

"I love this feeling of filling my belly." He leaned back in the stone seat, his eyes half-closed.

"If you had seen your own brothers starve to death before your eyes as a child, you'd share the same feeling and preference."

"Great King..." The old man lowered his head.

"When I first came to the Asra District, I just wanted to fill my stomach. I never thought that over a decade later, I'd become a 'Headman' with a whole bunch of people under my command."

"This feeling is wonderful. And I've been enjoying it."

"Until now, I've finally gotten a bit sick of it. It's like playing house as a child. Once you grow up, you can't get immersed in it anymore."

"Those without enough power don't deserve freedom. I've filled my belly. Now it's time to think about other things."

"Old man, among all my subordinates, though you're old and limited in intelligence, you're still one of the few I can talk to."

"The others, every last one of them is just like a pig. Impossible to teach, only train and use."

"Think of another way to get that 'Dragon Eye' treasure. Not only will I be able to leave alive, but you can also restore your strong body from your youth, soar across the clouds again, and return to your homeland."

"Sigh, Great King." The bird-beaked old man sighed and bowed.

"I will find it. I will find that rare 'Dragon Eye' treasure."