Chapter 47
Vodka was nowhere to be seen. It looked like he had run somewhere, maybe after seeing something in the snow.
‘Still, I should come back here after I finish my work.’
Vodka might be waiting for me. Thinking that, I neatly folded Calyx’s cloak and hid it where it wouldn’t stand out, then walked toward the street lined with houses.
The village near the Lukru Kingdom felt different from Setos and Derilf.
Since it was close to the Rutru Kingdom, people’s clothes were different too. They wore outfits reinforced with leather, unlike the usual clothes worn in the Saventry Kingdom.
First, I headed to the market where many people were gathered. I planned to look for someone wealthy or someone selling rare items.
‘Please let the scammer still be here.’
I quickly looked around the nearby shops. There was a shop selling frozen fruit, one displaying fine leather, a place selling unidentified grilled meat, and another selling herbs.
Even when I almost reached the end of the market street, I didn’t see any place selling jewelry or expensive goods.
Thinking it might be on another street, I entered the first shop I saw. It seemed to be a place that repaired carriage wheels. Iron and wood were scattered everywhere.
The owner was hammering the iron rim of a wheel. I walked up to him and asked,
“Do you know where I can find a place that sells jewelry or rare items?”
The owner looked up at me. He didn’t answer right away and slowly looked me up and down. It felt unpleasant.
It had been a while since someone openly looked at me like that. I was briefly flustered before he finally spoke.
“You’d need a lot of money. Can you even afford it?”
I almost laughed. But when I thought about it, I really didn’t have money. Still, I couldn’t give up on finding the scammer.
“It’s for my master. He’s new here and is looking for such a place.”
With how I looked, he probably wouldn’t believe me, so I mentioned a master who didn’t even exist. After hearing that, his eyes changed slightly, though his tone was still rough.
“What’s your master’s name?”
This man had been speaking casually the whole time. Anger rose in me, but I didn’t want trouble, so I calmly replied,
“That’s not something I can tell you.”
The shop owner laughed.
“This is why I don’t tell people about such places easily. Lots of liars try to rob them.”
“I’m not a thief. I plan to use it properly.”
It was true I was lying, but it was to catch a scammer.
“And if anything, I’d be the one catching thieves there.”
When I emphasized my words, he snorted and waved his hand.
“Leave. There’ve been too many incidents lately because of outsiders. I don’t want to talk.”
He started hammering the wheel again.
Bang! Bang!
The sound was even louder than before. I didn’t care and raised my voice.
“What kind of incidents?”
It was almost a shout. He looked at me, surprised.
“You just mentioned it earlier.”
“That’s none of your business. Go.”
He muttered quietly while hammering.
“My master is a very noble person. He might be able to solve those problems.”
Where there were many incidents, there were many people. The scammer might be mixed in among them. The shop owner frowned at me.
“You won’t even tell me your master’s name. Why should I trust you?”
“Well, if you don’t trust me, that’s fine. Still, it’s unfortunate. If there are many incidents, you’d need someone to mediate.”
I glanced at him. The hammering slowed.
Holding back a smile, I said clearly,
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
I was about to leave when I heard a voice behind me.
“W-wait!”
I hid my smile and looked at him.
“Can your master really mediate?”
“Yes. If you tell me what’s going on, my master can step in. But you need to tell me where the expensive goods are sold.”
“Let me think about it. Come back tomorrow.”
After saying that, he went back to hammering. At least there was a possibility. If I said more, he might realize I was lying.
When I stepped outside, the sunlight was especially bright today. Squinting, I looked around and saw people murmuring and pointing somewhere.
I followed their gaze and saw a fine carriage. Soldiers were guarding it.
‘Isn’t that the Royal Knights’ emblem?’
Just then, someone stepped out of the carriage. I quickly turned my body and walked away. I shouldn’t get involved with the royal family. I still didn’t know much about them.
‘Why is the Royal Knights Order here?’
I quickened my pace. Were they here to find the scammer? That would be a problem. I had to find him before they did.
If the Royal Knights found him first, the matter would be buried. Worse, they might blame everything on me. Then I wouldn’t get my money back and would only suffer longer.
I turned a corner and checked behind me. No one was following.
To hear some rumors, I looked for an inn. If the Royal Knights were here, something must have happened.
After walking for a while, I saw an inn with many people coming and going. Inside, there was a dining area. I heard loud laughter and the sound of people hitting tables.
Even though it was morning, it was crowded. I looked around and found an empty seat, then sat down.
When I worked as a mercenary, inns were very helpful. Many people gathered there, so it was easy to hear rumors and learn about others.
As soon as I sat down, someone approached.
“Would you like to order?”
“Um, can I order later?”
I only wanted to listen to rumors.
Unlike my awkward expression, the employee answered bluntly,
“There are too many people who just take up seats. If you don’t order, you’ll have to leave.”
“Ah, I…”
I hurriedly checked my pocket. Only a few coins came out. No large amount.
In this situation, I needed to at least buy water to avoid being kicked out. I put all my coins on the table.
“Can I at least get water with this?”
As if used to it, the employee swept up all the coins from the table.
Now I was completely broke. Just as I was about to sigh, a glass was placed in front of me. The employee poured water and quickly left.
I took a sip and listened carefully. If I could find the scammer, I wouldn’t have to live like this.
As my grip on the glass tightened—
“I heard the Royal Knights came early this morning. Is something going on?”
“Not sure. I heard even the prince came. Maybe they’re building a villa here?”
“A villa? With how bad his relationship is with Duke Demerut, why would he build one here?”
“Maybe just to annoy him.”
“Before that, our duke wouldn’t sell the land.”
Their laughter was loud. They seemed drunk even in the morning.
I carefully looked around. No one seemed particularly suspicious. Then one person met my eyes and quickly looked away. Unlike the others, he had no drink or bowl in front of him—not even water.
‘Why was he allowed to sit there?’
Earlier, the employee came as soon as someone sat down. But that man had nothing.
‘Did he bribe them?’
My heart started pounding. It always did when I felt something was wrong.
I looked back at that seat. The man was gone.
‘What?’
My heart beat wildly. Was he one of Calyx’s people? Just then, someone’s words caught my attention.
“I think the prince came to find someone.”
“Who?”
The man leaned forward and whispered. I couldn’t hear everything. I only caught bits like, “Ah, that person?” and “First time hearing that.”
From what I gathered, the prince seemed to be searching for someone.
‘The princess? Or the scammer?’
When I was at Calyx’s castle wall, the prince didn’t know about the princess yet. But I almost died, and there was the necklace. Things might be different now.
Of course, the one who tried to kill me had been captured by Calyx, so he couldn’t inform the prince. Still, you never knew.
There was always a possibility.
I had heard enough. I finished my water and stood up.
Now I truly had no money. I left the inn without caring. In times like this, desperation made the body move faster.
‘I’ll find that bastard scammer no matter what.’
With sharp eyes, I looked around. From what the carriage repairman said, there must be a group selling rare items.
But they probably traded secretly and didn’t reveal themselves to ordinary people.
My head felt complicated. The repairman told me to come back tomorrow, but I couldn’t just wait. There was no guarantee he would tell me.
I didn’t even have money now. I couldn’t pretend to be someone wealthy either.
‘Is there any other way?’
While walking and looking at nearby shops—
“Alain!”
I quickly looked around. Then I stopped in front of a shop. Large letters were written on a wooden board.
[Looking to buy fresh Berok corpses.
We will pay well according to market price.]
From the surroundings, it seemed like a place that made medicine using Berok blood and liver.
‘Is this a characteristic of Duke Demerut’s territory?’
