"Who are you?" He asked with great courage. He doesn't know what would happen next and why did the person in front of him removed his mask. He's like a clueless kid who doesn't know how society ran.

"We first met a few years ago. I gave you a few bronze coins after you tried to steal from my pockets .", Allen said.

"Umm..." Edwin dug deep into his memory. "You're Allen?" He said as he recalled the kid that gave him ten bronze coin. However, he couldn't match the look of the cold-looking person in front of him to the warm and friendly kid that he first encountered.

"Good." Allen nodded. "Help me put everything I throw to you into this bag." He threw the extra enchanted satchel to Edwin.

The boy got hold of the spatial storage and could only nod in submission.

Allen started to raid the carts and carriages of the caravan, finding rare herbs, plants, food, weapons, even some magical and enchanted objects, though they could only be cla.s.sified as trash.

While Allen searched, Edwin put the things that the former found into the bag. One searcher, one storer. This process has been going for some time and only stopped after all of the remaining carts and carriages were checked.

"Give me the bag.", Allen said and Edwin followed it.

The shop owner then took out a white robe from the bag and gave it to Edwin, "Wear that, we'll be going towards a secret pa.s.sageway. Just follow what I say and go ahead of me so I could hide our tracks."

Edwin obeyed again. After wearing the robe, the two of them set off after they freed the other horses that were left.

***

It was already afternoon when the two of them returned to the shop. As soon as they entered the shop, the cold from outside was no longer felt, and Edwin sensed the addicting smell of the plants and herbs in the air inside the shop.

The both of them took off their robes, meanwhile, Allen brought out a mask from the counter and told Edwin to wear it to prevent the addictive scent entering his nostrils.

"Why were you with the smugglers' caravan?", Allen sat down and replaced his eyepatch with a leather one while signaling Edwin to sit down on the chair by the door.

"It's because I had no choice.", Edwin shrugged.

"What do you mean?"

"It's because that the whole Crescent Town is in chaos.", Edwin answered. Avoiding eye contact due to Allen's suppressing look.

"Why is it in chaos?", Allen asked.

"It's because the mayor was killed three years ago at the start of winter that time. The government still hasn't sent a replacement for him. So, some of the merchants took the opportunity to raise up the prices of goods. The guards tried their best to arrest and suppress all of them, but it only did a little bit of help. Without the leaders.h.i.+p of the mayor, even the new chief guard became loose and beared his fangs. It's all a mess now.", Edwin explained and shook his head in dismay.

"How did the mayor die?", Allen asked.

"It wasn't opened to all, but because my grandfather was once the chief guard, some of his fellow guards told me that he was probably tortured before he died. His eyes were plucked out of their sockets, his ribs were out of his body, and many more.", Edwin s.h.i.+vered as he imagined the scene. "They said his guts were almost everywhere!"

On the other hand, Allen unconsciously touched his eyepatch and thought of Mr. Sanchez.

'They did that?', Allen thought. Referring to "them".

"Do you know a tavern named Three Heads Tavern in Crescent Town by those times?", Allen asked.

"No.", Edwin shook his head.

'It seems that they were not implicated.', Allen thought.

"When did you leave Crescent Town?", he questioned.

"About the start of fall, sir.", Edwin said.

"Don't call me sir, I'm not a n.o.ble.", Allen said.

"Okay.", Edwin nodded. However, he suddenly lowered his head, hesitating to say something.

Meanwhile, Allen noticed it and asked, "What is it that you want to say?"

Hearing Allen's question, Edwin gathered his bravery and worded out, "Can you... teach me how to fight?" A few words, yet, he began to sweat crazy and looked like he just took a bath.

"What do you mean? Just say what you want to say.", Allen added.

"When I saw those dead people earlier. I figured out that you are really good at fighting. Can you teach me how to fight?", Edwin's fist curled up tightly and finished the sentence. "It's because, I want to find out who killed my father... and kill whoever that was.

"Do you want to get killed?" Allen suddenly interjected.

"What?", Edwin was startled by the other's words.

"Do you even know who are you up against in the first place?", Allen forcefully made Edwin to look straight to him by grabbing his face.

"No.", Edwin said. "Ow, ow, please not too tight."

"Then you can easily die if you don't have a single clue.", Allen replied again. His grip on Edwin's face became tighter, almost causing the boy to shout in pain.

"Nevermind. I'll teach you then." Allen let go of Edwin and walked in front the door.

"Thank you!", Edwin almost jumped in joy. The ecstasy that he was feeling right now due to his request being granted overshadowed the pain on his jaws.

"We'll start tomorrow.", Allen flipped the wooden tab on the door to 'opened'.

***

Hours pa.s.sed...

It was already getting dark when James returned to shop after touring Anna. As soon as the kid returned, he noticed Edwin who was sitting beside the door.

"Mr. Morgan!", James called out.

Allen showed himself to James, the former was behind the shelves checking some plants.

"Who's this beggar here, sir? Should I kick him out?", James asked. The boy was still wearing his worn out clothes, it's no wonder he was suspected as a beggar by the kid.

The corners of Edwin's mouth twitched as he thought, 'This kid's mouth is untamed.'

"No, and where's Anna, didn't you tour her around the city?", Allen asked.

"Well, she said she would just rest inside an inn instead so that she won't be a burden to you.", James said.

"I think you should go find her, somebody will get into trouble if she stays out." Allen said.

"Alright sir! You won't worry about her when I look for her! She won't get into trouble!", James saluted, as he was about to go out, he suddenly heard Allen's voice again.

"No, I'm not worried, neither did I say she'll get into trouble. I mean is that there are those people out there who have weird preferences will get into trouble.", Allen corrected.

James didn't understand what kind of people are those 'weird people' Allen mentioned.

"Actually, don't go look for her. It'll just serve as a warning for those immoral men.", Allen paused and added. "You can go home now."

"Alright, sir!", James left the shop and walked towards the direction of his family's house.

***

At another location in the city.

Anna entered a tavern to dodge the cold outside, actually it wasn't just a tavern but also an inn. She approached the counter and asked, "Is there a free room for tonight?"

"Yes, there is at the second floor. 40 crown bronze coins for one night.", the man on the counter said.

"Alright.", Anna gave the said amount of money and inwardly complained, 'How expensive, but once those two gold mines that the government found will become fully operational, it'll become cheaper, just like what those old men from the Alchem Town said.'

"Oh, can I have roasted chicken legs too, and some soup?", Anna asked.

"That'll be another 20 crown bronze coins.", the man said.

"Here.", Anna handed out money again. Afterwards, the man on the counter gave a room key to the girl and a number plaque for the order. She found a seat somewhere at the corner of the tavern and waited for her order.

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However, not even a long time has pa.s.sed and a man with a stocky build approached her. Anna's eyes were closed at that time because she was circulating her mana throughout the body to fight against the mana that became chaotic within her body, 'I hope that pill would finish faster.'

"Oh?", she sensed that somebody was coming for her and saw the man with the stocky build. The man didn't hesitate to look towards Anna, but she felt that there was something weird with his gaze.

"What do you want?", Anna asked, but the man didn't answer and kept looking at her.

The girl sighed and grabbed the man's hands like a romantic person... and dragged him to the floor with a loud thud. The commotion attracted everybody inside the tavern and looked over towards Anna and the man.

The girl kept walking while dragging the man on the floor. The man tried to resist but couldn't do so. Even though magicians had weak bodies, it wasn't really weak comparing to normal people, it was only considered weak if compared to the non-magicians with the same strength as adepts!

When one reached Adept realm, their bodies would strengthen and become a bit more powerful than most buffed normal humans due to the body absorbing excess mana; and that's also the reason why when she reached Adept, chaotic mana appeared in her body, and that was the waste of the body after its strengthening!

Even though she was just a new adept, and a young one at that, it wasn't still suppose to be underestimated.

"Erm... ma'am here's what you ordered.", a waiter placed the dishes that Anna ordered on the table.

"Oh? Guard it for a few minutes, I need to take this man somewhere.", Anna said.

"W-where are you taking me?", the man asked with a frightened tone while still being dragged. He tried to resist, but couldn't even do so! It was extremely humiliating for such a thing to happen to him; in fact, he felt he should hide his face under a mask for his whole life after this chastening occurrence.

"To the guards, Mr. Pedo.", Anna answered while hitting the man's head with her staff and fiercely dragged the man towards the door.

"Help!", when they reached the door, the man got hold of the door beam, however, after a few moments he was still dragged away.

The scene that just happened stupefied the people inside the tavern, specially to those who were like the man. Those kind of people thought at the same time, 'Am I dreaming? Is this era finally changing?'

***

Several minutes later, Anna dragged the man towards a dead end of a dark alley.

"Hey wait, weren't you going to take me to the guards?!", the man frantically asked as he was thrown to the wall of the alley.

"No, the guards will come for you instead... after you're cooked.", Anna's eyes suddenly became like two fireb.a.l.l.s and her staff was suddenly lit on fire, melting the snow around her.