Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

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"Alright, alright." Benwei responded to Winters helplessly.

There was a moment of silence between the two, only interrupted by the constant croaking of toads in the small pond outside the courtyard,

"I've heard about the dock situation." It was Winters who broke the silence, "Since when did working at the docks require forming gangs?"

Leaning lightly against a tree trunk and gazing into the distance, Benwei said, "It hasn't been that many years. Anyway, back when my dad worked there, it wasn't like this... Essentially, it all boils down to fighting for work. More and more people have been flooding into Sea Blue City over the years. Despite the hard labor, if you have the strength, you can work at the docks, so the competition has become fiercer. Maliciously undercutting others is the least of it; it's common to beat people half to death in the alleys. If you don't band together, you'll get bullied by those who do, forcing you to form your own group."

"You are creating an oppressor for yourselves, this kind of..." Winters bit his lip, struggling to find the right word, "...gang, organization, club, whatever you call it. Although now it's just to avoid being bullied, it will inevitably corrupt and become a monster that feeds on you through violence."
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"You're right, there are signs of it starting already," Benwei said with a self-deprecating laugh. "But after the docks were divided into territories, the malicious underbidding among the porters came to an end. Outsiders aren't allowed to just come to the docks and take our jobs anymore, and the porters are earning more. Even the order imposed by thugs is better than no order at all, right?"

"Let's drop it, why should we care so much about this? It's the customs office's problem, not mine." Winters dropped his smile and asked Benwei seriously, "How do you Vaughan People intend to resolve this situation? Are you going to keep hiding? Is there anything I can help with?"

Benwei burst into laughter and patted Winters on the shoulder, "No worries, you're taking this too seriously, it's not like two countries at war. The Montans bark louder than they bite; they raise a lot of noise, but it's really just to occupy more territory. Once this cools down, I won't need to hide anymore."

Winters frowned and said, "From what I know, the Montans have purchased quite a few real weapons, including over a dozen matchlock guns; they seem intent on exacting revenge."

According to the cripple's words, the usual dockside brawls involved sticks and bats, not edged weapons, and certainly not firearms.

Dock workers are not soldiers; their fights are over work, not to kill, and they certainly don't want to escalate matters. The cripple thought that this time the Montans meant business and their intentions were far from simple. It was likely they intended to make a big move to smash the other two factions and monopolize the docks.

"Don't worry, we've got guns too. Actually, showing guns is just for intimidation; we don't even load them with bullets," Benwei said angrily, punching his thigh. "Those Montans have screws loose! Blaming their own man's death on us Vaughan People and insisting my family killed their guy, it's just..."

"Uh, so it wasn't you and your brother who did it?" Winters suddenly noticed a blind spot.

Although the Vaughan People denied it, everyone—whether it be the cripple, Field, Moritz, or Winters—believed that it was Benwei and his brothers who had killed the Montan leader.

Because... it made too much sense. Almost two hundred homicides happen in the city each year, with revenge killings accounting for a third of them.

Enemies encountering each other and drawing swords is far too common in Sea Blue City.

Revenge is one of humanity's most primal emotions, and a culture of revenge is universally acknowledged. Although the law has monopolized the right to revenge within the ruling class, in the "wild lands" south of Sheltering Mountain, blood feuds are still highly revered by most.

Benvenuto seeking revenge for his uncle's death, despite breaking the law, would still be cheered by the citizens of Sea Blue City.

But just now, in the past few seconds, the implication in Benwei's words didn't seem to be the case.

"Of course not!" Benwei's tone was extremely exasperated, "My brothers and I had indeed planned to avenge our uncle, but Big Scar's death really had nothing to do with us. Sigh."

"Not you?"

"Of course."

"Nor your brothers?"

"On the night Big Scar died, my entire family was attending my uncle's wake. It definitely wasn't my brothers."

"Then how..."

Benwei sighed, "That's the biggest problem. Everyone thinks my family killed Big Scar for revenge. It's not just the Montans; even Vaughan People are convinced, including distant relatives of mine. No matter how I try to explain, it's useless."

Benwei had no reason to lie to Winters, especially not about this matter. Although Winters had initially thought Benwei was responsible, he still stood by Benwei's side, and Benwei was aware of that.

So, since Benvenuto claimed it wasn't him who killed the Montan, in Winters's view, it truly wasn't him.

"Isn't this going to become an unsolvable issue then?"

Benwei snorted, "It doesn't really matter. Even if Big Scar hadn't died, I would still have had to avenge my uncle. It actually makes no difference, it just saves me some trouble."

"There's a big difference!" Winters objected frantically, "If this gets pinned on you, you could at least be sentenced to exile."

"It won't get pinned on me," Benwei smiled crookedly. "My neighbors are my alibi. Since the constables can't just take me in for trial, the Montans are so eager to seek revenge on me. Besides, I didn't do it, and I will never admit to it."

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