Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 557 - 332: Code_2

Lavinia frowned as she looked at the hand Losa extended.

After hesitating for a moment.

She still reached out her hand, letting him hold it.

"Losa, I’m quite puzzled, are you really just a corner of the Saluzzo Family?"

Lavinia lightly furrowed her brows. In her eyes, Losa’s aura was overwhelmingly strong, akin to someone who had long been in a high position. Even if he claimed to be the Clan Leader of the Saluzzo Family, she would only marvel at how young he was rather than question his identity.

"Of course, I never deceive a beautiful lady like yourself."

Losa smiled and tipped his hat in greeting.

Watching Lavinia’s departing silhouette, Losa suddenly stepped forward to open the door for her and whispered:

"Miss Lavinia, there’s a saying in the East: A gentleman is not a tool, meaning that a person with exceptional abilities should not be restricted by their profession. In my opinion, Miss Lavinia is entirely capable of accomplishing more."

Lavinia widened her eyes in surprise, paused for a moment without saying a word, and hurriedly left the restaurant.

Elmer chased after her, somewhat puzzled: "Losa, she didn’t agree to free the person, did she?"

"No."

"Then why are you being so eager? Surely you’re not seriously interested in her, are you?"

Seeing that Losa didn’t refute, Elmer raised his voice: "You’re crazy, Losa, this is an important task given to us by Miss Valentine. If we go back empty-handed like this, how will she perceive us?"

"Otherwise?"

Losa retorted: "Miss Valentine also mentioned that together, the two of us are no match for the others. Do you really intend to use force?"

"No, I mean..."

"She must have a weakness, like friends, colleagues..."

Losa paused, then raised his hand and patted Elmer’s shoulder: "Did you often do things like this in the past?"

"No, I’ve only heard of these methods, which tend to be quite effective."

"Don’t do it."

Losa shook his head: "At the very least, don’t do it when partnered with me."

"Oh..."

"Wait, why should I listen to you? We are on equal terms!"

"Because I don’t like it."

Elmer said somewhat defiantly: "Are you teaching me how to handle things?"

Losa smiled at him, his expression calm.

Elmer paused for a moment, then reluctantly nodded: "Alright, I’ll give you some face, but the responsibility for this matter, I’m definitely putting it all on you."

For someone like Elmer, a corner of the family’s periphery, it’s rare to encounter an opportunity valued by those above. That he conceded so easily was quite unexpected for Losa.

Losa chuckled: "Let’s go, inform Miss Valentine of what happened here, along with our speculations."

"What speculations?"

Losa replied irritably: "Of course, it’s about how to characterize this incident. Most likely, this lady judge acted independently, with no direct orders from the Bologna Family behind her."

Elmer looked bewildered: "How can you tell?"

Losa pointed to his eyes: "I see it with my eyes."

The two chatted casually as they walked through the narrow alleys where the restaurant was located.

"Elmer."

"Hmm?"

"Do you sense anything off?"

Elmer shook his head, everything around seemed normal. On the balcony overhead, a middle-aged woman was hanging clothes, humming a currently popular tune.

BANG—

A gunshot rang out.

Rubble scattered.

In a critical moment, Losa pulled back the astonished Elmer.

The woman overhead dropped her clothes, expertly slammed the window shut.

The nearby restaurants in the alley, still serving customers, also slammed shut their doors and pulled down the blinds—dealing with such underworld feuds had become far too familiar for them, their responses practiced to perfection.

"Damn it!"

Elmer scrambled up from the ground. The assailant wore a gray hat, a covered face revealing only eyes filled with surprise, seemingly not expecting that two corners could evade his lethal shot.

"Looks like this task is far from simple—in fact, someone doesn’t want it to be simple."

Losa sneered and instructed: "Elmer, go inform Miss Valentine to be cautious."

Actually, it wasn’t necessary.

Losa merely felt that having someone like Elmer as an assistant at his side wouldn’t just be unhelpful but potentially a liability.

Elmer’s expression changed slightly; though not very clever, he wasn’t a fool.

"Can you handle him?"

Those who wield such a Magic Energy Gun aren’t usually top-tier experts, but in Elmer’s view, they weren’t ones Losa or himself, as peripheral corners, could deal with.

...

Lavinia’s steps were somewhat heavy.

Losa’s words left her feeling confused—more precisely, this sense of confusion had always been present within her.

Her law mentor was initially a very upright person.

Until later...

At first, he merely opened doors of convenience for his family members and relatives. Gradually, this favor extended to various so-called "friends," transforming him into a runaway carriage barreling towards the abyss of corruption, acquiring unexpected wealth along the way. To this day, he’s climbed into the Upper House of Turin City’s Council, becoming a mouthpiece for the Bologna Family’s influence.

Her classmates, during a gathering on one occasion, drunkenly ranted: "The conscience, duty, and responsibility he taught us, he completely disregarded when it was his turn—he’s a fraud."

Later, this classmate, similar to her actions today, tried to seek justice for a civilian oppressed by family members in court, one rainy night, was throat-slit on the street.

At the memorial service for this classmate, she encountered her mentor.

The mentor tearfully recounted that he once attempted to adhere to his sense of justice and goodness, but the morning he saw three severed fingers of his son neatly arranged beside his pillow, he gave up.

"What could I do?"

"Lavinia, we aren’t like family people such as yourself; we are ordinary folks, unable to change anything."

Lavinia didn’t forgive her mentor but didn’t harbor much blame either.

"This Losa is right."

"But what should I do?"

BANG—

Startled, she suddenly lifted her head.

A yellowish light shield appeared in front of her, a bullet embedded within, its powerful kinetic force causing the metallic bullethead to fracture and deform upon impact.

The assailant promptly retreated, after yielding to the pursuit only a few steps, Lanivia halted.

"Could it be from the Saluzzo Family?"

Lavinia furrowed her brows, immediately dismissing this theory—as just a bit of investigation would reveal her capabilities, which ranked among the top three even within the Bologna Family.

How could a mere gunman threaten her safety?

Her steps suddenly halted, swiftly turning back.

If the attacker’s aim is to provoke conflict between the Saluzzo Family and the Bologna Family, then it’s very likely that the two Saluzzo Family envoys she encountered just now have also faced an attack.