Kays Translations

Chapter 6: True, Pure Brother-Sister Relationship

If one were to look down from the sky, the scene would be immediately clear: the twenty-eight lower-class half-wolf families had built their modest wooden shacks almost precisely at the very center of the plot where Marlon intended to construct the orphanage.

Even if Marlon had used nothing but pure instinct—or even his rear end—he could easily deduce that these twenty-eight lower-class half-wolves, along with that clumsy, earthbound orc chieftain-like figure Scar-Twison, were being manipulated like pawns in some larger scheme.

But Marlon, though not formally experienced in life’s battles, had lived in a world—Earth—where, thanks to modern information, he was well-acquainted with all manner of conspiracies, both overt and covert, classic case studies, and even the thirty-six stratagems. Was he the kind to play by someone else’s pre-set rules? Hardly.

As the old saying goes, “You play your game, I’ll play mine.”

So, no forced evictions occurred.

Instead, three hundred robust, energetic young men were set to work, surrounding the slum-like settlement of the twenty-eight half-wolf households, brimming with vigor as they began their construction task.

Yes. Marlon’s solution to the problem was simple, yet genius—build a wall.

Around the shanty area where the lower-class half-wolves lived, Marlon had Old Trist direct the three hundred strong young laborers he had recruited. In less than three days, they erected a three-meter-high, roughly hundred-meter-perimeter brick wall—a “mini-walled city” of irregularly shaped red bricks.

According to Marlon’s generous wage system, these young men could earn an extra two hundred Lants every morning for meeting quality and quantity standards in their wall-building.

Heavy rewards attract brave hearts—why bother fighting and risking one’s life when a simple paycheck could solve the problem just as effectively?

Adding a final touch, the friendly Claw Druid Master, Conchita Bowden, used her nature magic to make plants grow over the wall’s exterior, transforming it into a verdant “green Great Wall” sturdy enough to endure at least a decade without any risk of collapse.

Marlon, ever thoughtful, had also left a passageway through the walls for the twenty-eight half-wolf families—wide enough for two and a half people abreast, stretching about fifteen hundred meters to the outside.

Because the walls were so high, allowing only glimpses of floating clouds and twinkling stars, Marlon jokingly dubbed the passageway “Starlight Avenue.” Unfortunately, the joke fell flat in this alien world—no one understood it.

With sufficient financial backing, Marlon had successfully resolved what could have been a serious conflict using his own methods.

The only side effect? “Starlight Avenue” had transformed the orphanage’s planned rectangular layout into a “U” shape on paper.

This, naturally, became the subject of an immediate and vivid news report by the ever-diligent Nikola, a reporter from the spirit-cat tribe, who covered the story around the clock.

Curious citizens of White Sand City flocked to see the Starlight Avenue in person, a steady stream of visitors coming day after day. Even the mayor praised the project: “Ah, our prodigious young writer Marlon Lister has added another iconic landmark to our city.”

Yet not a single word about Marlon Lister being a one-in-a-million born mind sorcerer made it into the newspapers.

Similarly omitted from Nikola’s report was the foolish lower-class half-wolf, Scar-Twison.

This idiot had attempted to attack Marlon physically and, as a consequence, was mercilessly beaten by the conveniently arriving Claw Druid Master Conchita Bowden, suffering seven or eight broken ribs.

Afterward, the hapless half-wolf was thrown into the slum precinct’s holding cell by Police Chief Bernard.

Even if Nikola had reported it, no one could have caused trouble over the incident for either Claw Druid Master Bowen or Chief Bernard. Bernard had acted strictly according to the law when arresting the druid, who then simply paid for medical expenses with gleaming gold coins and secured her own release.

After all, everyone lacked something in this world—except, of course, for shiny gold coins.

And thus, the matter ended…

“Marlon, aren’t you going to find out who’s behind all this mischief?” Chief Bernard asked once the dust had settled.

“What’s the point?” Marlon replied cheerfully. “It’s just a clownish scheme that won’t ever make headlines. Wasting time on it is just wasting money. Hehe… I’m a prodigious young writer who can earn five hundred Lants in the time it takes to finish a cup of coffee, you know.”

It was summer, and savoring a cup of coffee took only fifteen minutes. In fifteen minutes, Marlon could dictate nearly ten thousand words with ease. So why would he waste his time facing off against some hidden schemer?

Pausing for a moment, Marlon grinned at Chief Bernard and added playfully, “Besides, that Scar-Twison half-wolf is still in your custody, Uncle Bernard, right? So having you help track him down is perfectly convenient! I hear that tracking cases and punishing the bad guys is, after all, a policeman’s duty.”

“You little rascal!” Chief Bernard glared, clearly displeased. “You’re trying to make me, your Uncle Bernard, do all the hard work for free!”

“Uncle Bernard, come on, we’re family, but if you keep saying that, I’ll have to sue you for defamation,” Marlon continued, pretending to be serious while still joking. “See, I’m always telling stories for free to both you and the lovely Miss Amy every day.”

“Rubbish! My little Amy baby cooks delicious meals for you every day, you little rascal!” Bernard leapt up, brandishing an imaginary police gun at Marlon with a terrifying intensity. “And the worst part? Since listening to your ridiculous stories, the best, most beautiful portions of her meals always go to you!”

Getting angrier by the second, Chief Bernard gritted his teeth, jabbed a finger at Marlon’s nose, and added, “Damn it! At this rate, my little Amy baby will eventually be completely fooled—heart and soul—by you, you little rascal!”

Huh?!

Marlon blinked innocently, thinking to himself—this really isn’t my fault. And isn’t the outcome supposed to be a happy one for everyone?

But seeing Bernard’s gnashing teeth, Marlon wisely decided not to push his luck…

“Uncle Bernard, it’s not that serious. Amy and I… we’re still purely like brother and sister, really,” Marlon clarified meekly.

Marlon could never tell Bernard that from the day he first entered this small villa, he had been hopelessly in love with the adorable little fox-girl Amy, and that he was steadily scheming to win her heart.

Apparently convinced, Bernard’s expression softened. “Hmm, I suppose that’s true. Considering you’re still a boy without even a full set of pubic hair, you’re not capable of anything improper yet anyway.”

“…Without a full set of pubic hair…”

Marlon’s eyes welled with tears.

He wanted so badly to tell Bernard that he almost had it, but he had been restraining himself out of respect for the adorable Amy, who was only just beginning to mature…

At that moment, Bernard suddenly reached out and grabbed Marlon by the neck.

“Listen, you little rascal! As long as you can prove not only that you can earn money, but also that you can protect it from thieves, I… won’t oppose you and my little Amy baby being together in the future!”

Ah-ha?!

Was Bernard serious? Could a father really say something like that?

Marlon, stunned, tilted his head to look at him—could it be that Bernard was a secretly excellent father?

“What are you looking at? My little Amy baby will grow up eventually, get married eventually, and I want to pick a man for her I approve of. What’s wrong with that?!” Bernard’s eyes widened again.

“No, no, no—that’s completely, absolutely fine!” Marlon nodded vigorously, like a little chick pecking at rice. “Absolutely necessary!”

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