shadow of britain

Chapter 20 The Taste of Betrayal

Arthur followed Officer Dennis all the way through the streets and noisy crowds of Greenwich.

As time passed, Arthur noticed that there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road, and the street in front of him became narrower and narrower.

The sky above his head began to be blocked by low and crowded shacks, and domestic sewage and excrement could be seen everywhere on the wet floor tiles. These filth flowed all the way behind Arthur along the terrain until it was dumped into the already overwhelmed Thames River.

The world was so quiet, so quiet that Arthur could even hear the whistle on the Thames.

The world is also very noisy, so noisy that Arthur's blood is surging, he is dizzy, and he can't even tell the truth of the world, so that he wants to raise his fist and punch Dennis beside him.

He stopped in front of an alley that was barely big enough for the two of them to pass side by side.

"Arthur, you, why don't you go?"

Officer Dennis wanted to pretend to be calm, but the sweat on his forehead had already given him away.

Arthur took out the newly purchased pipe from his pocket and put it in his mouth, but he didn't light it.

He didn't say anything, but just looked at Dennis with his eyes. There were complex meanings in his eyes, some angry, some sad, but the most heartbreaking indifference.

Dennis didn't dare to look at him, he just stood there with his head bowed and his waist bent.

He was so embarrassed that he didn't look like an upright police officer, but like a prisoner who was caught.

Today's weather is gloomy, but there is no rain.

But this still didn't prevent something from dripping down Dennis' chin to the ground.

The clean water dripped down his chin into the sewage pool on the floor tiles, stained with the filth of the world, making it hard to tell its original color.

Officer Dennis gasped for breath, as if someone had pierced his lung tube with a knife.

"I don't want to make excuses, and I don't deserve to. Yes, yes, I'm a coward, that's my nature. I'm not as good as Tony and Tom, and I'll never be as good as you."

Dennis took a deep breath: "Arthur, give me two punches. This will make you feel better, and I will feel better. Come on! Give me two punches!"

The red devil clung to Arthur's ear, and he laughed, making Arthur upset.

"Arthur, what are you waiting for? This bastard betrayed you, peeled off his skin, and hung it on the roof of Scotland Yard. Only in this way, others will know how to fear you, and will understand the price of betraying you .”

Arthur was silent for a while, he took out a box of matches from his pocket and handed it to Dennis.

Dennis' eyes were dim, and he looked up at Arthur in surprise.

Arthur still didn't speak, he just pointed at the other party with the pipe he was holding in his mouth.

If Dennis realized something, he took the matchbox tremblingly, and then tried to light the match again and again with trembling hands.

He was clumsy with his hands, and it wasn't until the fifth attempt that the flame finally lit.

After a while, a thin wisp of smoke rose in the alley.

Arthur took a deep breath.

Today's shredded tobacco is still so bitter, so astringent, and so throat-choking, but fortunately, he has gradually gotten used to the taste.

He finally began to understand why those people liked this unique hobby.

Arthur exhaled a puff of smoke ring, looked at the roofs of the sheds on both sides of the narrow alley that almost covered his face, and sighed sincerely in his heart.

"It feels so good to smoke..."

Looking at Dennis's familiar yet unfamiliar face, he said, "Is your child almost one year old?"

Dennis froze for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Arthur pressed him heavily against the wall of the alley, and the sudden force knocked his hat to the ground.

Dennis stared blankly at Arthur with a gloomy face. Just when he thought he was going to be beaten hard, Arthur's voice rang in his ears.

"You are the worst co-worker."

Dennis closed his eyes, nodded with a smile, and he felt a little relieved: "That's right."

"But that doesn't stop you from being a great dad."

For a split second, Dennis was heartbroken.

Arthur bent down and picked up the hat that fell on the ground and pressed it on his head again. The brim of the hat covered his face, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.

"Go back, go back and take care of your family members. I'll just walk the rest of the way by myself. The road ahead is quite dangerous, and it's not suitable for a man like you who has a family."

Arthur put his hands in his pockets, his back was dragged very long in the alley, but it made people feel a bit lonely and desolate.

"Arthur!!!"

Dennis' voice penetrated the entire alley: "Don't go, he is waiting for you in front."

Arthur's footsteps only paused for a moment, but it didn't take long before footsteps sounded again in the alley.

"If you must go, take this thing with you!"

Dennis screamed almost with all his strength, he took off the police officer's knife from his waist and slammed it to the ground.

"Take it! At least you deserve it better than I do!"

Arthur stopped, and he looked back at the police officer's knife that fell to the ground.

This time, Arthur did not refuse.

He bent down to pick up the officer's knife, and lightly flicked his fingertips on the gauntlet.

With a choking sound, the sharp sword was unsheathed.

The sword body is white and shiny, and it can be seen that it is well maintained at ordinary times, just like the one he owned before.

It is so clean that it can be used as a mirror. It can not only reflect the faces of Arthur and Dennis, but also reflect the various states of the world and the coldness of the world.

Arthur took the police officer's knife, turned around and walked towards the deepest part of the alley.

Officer Dennis watched his back, his body slid down the dirty wall little by little.

The few words just now almost drained all the strength in his body, his legs were weak, and even his lips couldn't stop trembling.

Sitting in the sewage, panting heavily, he muttered to himself: "God! Dennis, look what you have done?"

……

At the end of the alley, there was also a man leaning against the wall.

The brim of his hat was pulled down as low as Arthur's, and the simple casual clothes couldn't hide his strong and hideous muscles, let alone the shallow scar on his neck.

He tilted his head back and kept banging the back of his head lightly against the wall.

Boom!Boom!Boom!
All the patrolling constables in Greenwich knew it was best to stay away from him at this time, because it was a sign of his impatience.

And all soldiers who have served in the No.15 Royal Hussars also understand what this means.

It's just that they have a different opinion from the patrolling police officers, because the soldiers think this is a sign that he is ready to kill.

Willox didn't travel with a police officer's knife today. He wore a saber that had been treasured for many years on his waist.

His identity was engraved on the pommel of the handle - Willox Roberts, Sergeant Squad Leader, No. 15 Royal Hussars, Third Squadron.

(End of this chapter)