61 The Ape Kings Banque (1/2)
Once he had left the warehouse, Corco shied back, for the sunlight had launched an attack on his face. Out in the open, his eyes had to take some time to readjust to the world of the day walkers. Squinting to fight back the UV-rays, he looked over his shoulder to make sure the kid had followed along. Only then did he go on his way.
”Crown Prince... Is it truly prudent to walk in the open like this?” his companion asked.
”Not a problem. I've been away for seven years, so who's gonna recognize me? Just... stop using my title please. That would be helpful,” Corco said with a troubled smile as he looked around the bustling street.
Murmurs of the Argu River to their feet were overpowered by the babble of the masses in the streets. Unbelievable, since the two main roads of Arguna were built along either side of the forceful strean. Not only was the water drowned out by the street's customers, but also by the various shops and stalls they frequented.
Along the road, one could find tea shops, restaurants, lecturing halls, shrines, diviners, chess shops, bath houses and brothels, frequented by all manner of folk, many of them as luxurious in their decorations as the shops themselves. However, merchants in simple clothes and bald headed priests found their wishes fulfilled just as much as the show-offish nobles. From all of them, Corco could hear the same topics of conversation:
”Did you hear? The emperor has been desecrated...”
”Unbelievable!”
”At his banquet, the crown prince...”
”...salted!”
”Impossible.”
”Shhhh... don't let the guards hear you.”
”...salted!”
”To speak about the emperor like this! The commoners should be ashamed,” Primus complained.
”You really can't deny the people their gossip. It's all they have, really. Not like there's much entertainment here otherwise. Did you know that the Ancestral Hall even banned open air theater in the common quarters? Apparently it's considered improper now.”
”But Crow... but master, the gossip is still-”
”I released the news.” Corco decided to go with the truth so he could interrupt his companion's whining. Feeling the presence in his back disappear, the prince turned around to find Primus frozen in shock. His eyes stared wide ope, as they swam all over Corco's person in search of an explanation. After a light sigh, the prince obliged.
”Look, my father isn't coming back. I thought it would be best to keep the news of his mummification a secret until we can find the killer, but it's no longer an option now. It's already become public knowledge among the nobles,” Corco said with a bitter smile.
On the day after the banquet, news of the emperor's state had already spread all across the inner city. To him, this was an obvious attempt to make his search for the culprit even more difficult.
”So this is our next best move. Instead of telling the truth to a select few, the culprit among them, just let everyone know instead and have the people make their own guesses. After all, there aren't too many who could have ordered the desecration, so they'll find an appropriate target soon enough.”
”...the princes.”
In response to Primus' whisper, Corco smiled. At last his companion had reset his program and followed Corco's steps, just as he followed his thoughts.
”That's right. Could have been one of the princes. Which one? Sure as hell wasn't me, I wasn't even in the country. So I'll just let the rumor mill turn for a bit. Now you might think the commoners have no influence on the lords, that it doesn't matter what they do. But the commoners influence the warriors and the warriors influence their lords. It's subtle, but this will put pressure on middlest and the littlest prince.”
”But Prin... How could lord make word spread this fast?” Confused, the kids head whipped around to keep up with the buzz of gossip all around them.
”I have my ways.” Rather than burden the kid with knowledge which would only harm him in front of his own father, Corco chose to remain vague. Luckily he didn't have to deal with the details, since the conversation had run its course.
”Eyes up front. We're here.” Since they had reached the goal of their journey, they walked up the wide steps towards the entrance of the Ape King's Banquet, the greatest restaurant in all of Medala. With the dexterity of cultivators, they snaked their way through the crowd of onlookers and onsmellers spread across the steps. This was a sporadic phenomenon on these steps: Sometimes, crowds would form in front of the famous restaurant and could only be broken up by the city guards. Corco could already spot them in the back, ready and waiting until they could earn some extra coin for their troubles from the helpless restaurant staff. After all, the guards of Arguna would never work for free.
As he climbed up further, Corco grasped his money pouch. Not only the guards would make a killing on days like these, the pickpockets would also run rampant. Finally, the two reached the top of the stairs, where a bamboo fence had been erected to prevent any disturbance for the guests inside. A few more steps through the crowd and at last they would find access to the establishment and be able to leave the discomfort of the masses. Corco really didn't like crowds much.
”Prince Corco!” The voice created a ripple in the harmonious chaos of the mob. Everyone reordered themselves as all eyes followed a stout, red robed man and his attendant step towards Corco and Primus.
”Lord Betucio. The shaven beard suits you well,” Corco joked to his former debate partner.