Abraham Brooks glanced at the intensely focused Grace searching for ants and said, “Let’s talk outside.”

Ethan Sullivan nodded, then touched the small knife at his waist, sinister thoughts swirling in his mind.

If there were officers waiting outside, he would kill Abraham Brooks before being captured.

There was no ambush outside. Ethan Sullivan released his grip on the knife, and the feeling of escaping death made the air seem especially fresh.

Abraham Brooks stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Ethan Sullivan, and said in a deep voice, “You are very bold.”

Ethan Sullivan was a bit shorter than him, so he looked up slightly. “If I weren’t bold, from last night onward, my sister and I would have been like rats in the street in Bianliang, with everyone out to get us. May I ask, Abraham Brooks, what crime have I committed? Why would you even want to kill me for it?”

There were some age spots on Abraham Brooks’s face, making him look a bit old.

“I arrested two vendors and questioned them thoroughly about your methods from start to finish…”

His gaze grew sharper, his voice colder: “You’re only fourteen, yet your manipulative tactics are chilling. I haven’t slept well these past few nights. Even when I doze off, I wake up startled. Do you know what I dream about?”

Ethan Sullivan was thinking about what to eat for lunch, and just nodded absentmindedly when he heard this.

If rebellion were that easy, the Song Dynasty would have been overthrown long ago.

“I dream of flames of war everywhere in the Song, warhorses trampling peace to pieces. The people wail, and for a thousand miles, not a rooster crows…”

Ethan Sullivan was still lost in his own thoughts.

This so-called incorruptible official before him was just a harsh bureaucrat, with no story of being raised by a sister-in-law, no execution blade or legendary cases… those were just tales.

Just stories!

The Song Dynasty really could be engulfed in war, with no peace left.

But that would be the hoofbeats and blades of the steppe tribes…

Instead of finding ways to deal with threats from the grasslands, they spent their days fighting among themselves. Such an “incorruptible official” amused Ethan Sullivan.

“The screams seem to ring in my ears, the glint of blades right before my eyes. So, if I ever hear of such tactics again… even if I have to die crashing into the palace gates, I will see you cut to pieces.”

From these words, Ethan Sullivan could tell that Abraham Brooks probably hadn’t pleased the emperor and was likely in disgrace.

He was no different from the others, all claiming to serve the Song Dynasty.

A whole crowd of “pillars of the Song” had held power for years, yet the dynasty was still barely hanging on.

“Does Abraham Brooks have anything else to say?”

Ethan Sullivan suddenly found these voices grating; he much preferred listening to his little sister’s sweet voice.

Abraham Brooks swore that no one had ever interrupted him so rudely before. Even in court, he dared to grab the emperor’s sleeve and scold him to his face.

But since meeting this youth, he’d already been put in his place twice.

Ethan Sullivan cupped his hands and said, “I’m just a boy trying to survive in Bianliang. If someone managed those bullies, I wouldn’t have had to use tricks to get the vendors to act… But what I care about most is the money I got from them. I just want money.”

Abraham Brooks’s old face flushed as he said, “The people from the Inspectorate were just arrested. I swear I’ll make them pay…”

This was his attempt to make amends after being summoned to the palace, but Ethan Sullivan saw no trace of guilt.

Just indifference!

In the eyes of officials, a commoner had no status—just an ant!

That look was like a god gazing down at ants!

Ethan Sullivan bowed slightly and said, “In that case, I’ll naturally keep my head down and live quietly.”

I don’t cause trouble, but trouble had better not come to me.

Back in the courtyard, Grace was still looking for ants, occasionally glancing up at the tree trunk, frowning and muttering to herself.

Ethan Sullivan felt like he had escaped death.

From these two encounters, it was clear that Abraham Brooks didn’t care about killing him, simply because he’d shown some ability to sway people.

But the threats from the Liao and Western Xia were far more urgent—why didn’t he go after them?

Ethan Sullivan smiled contentedly.

Abraham Brooks hadn’t managed to kill him; instead, he’d been left embarrassed, and even his reputation as an incorruptible official was a bit tarnished.

For the first time, Ethan Sullivan felt a sense of goodwill toward Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Brooks’s arrival was surely due to pressure from Abraham Lincoln; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered talking to a commoner.

It really was Abraham Lincoln!

“Brother, did you catch an ant?”

Grace had caught an ant and ran over joyfully.

Ethan Sullivan smiled and said, “Slow down! Don’t run so fast!”

Chapter 0007: Leveling the Imperial Street

“Brother, where’s home?”

What Grace missed most was their home in Xiongzhou; every few days, she would bring it up.

In her mind, home meant warmth and safety.

As Ethan Sullivan did her hair, he fell into deep thought.

They really needed a home!

He looked around the shabby room, feeling it was even more cramped than a pigeon cage in modern times.

“Grace, let’s save up to buy a house.”

Of course, saving up would never be enough; only making big money could buy a house.

But Grace shook her head, blinking her big eyes, and said, “Brother, I mean home.”

Under the gaze of those big eyes, Ethan Sullivan felt a little guilty.

A thousand mansions, but no home in your heart.

A shabby room, but warm because of you.

Grace was very content with their current home; she was just missing her father, Brian Sullivan.