Joseph left the casino to buy the things he was tasked to buy. The first thing he bought was the troll's blood that helped with hemostatic effects and regeneration. This was a pretty popular magic material so it was easily available in the downtown area of Fortren. Next, he looked for the neutralizers, which were easily available at the Magician's Guild in Fortren. After that, the remaining money was around $24 million. The huge amount of money made his lips twitch involuntarily.

“Huhuhu. I've caught a good line.”

As expected, a person should choose a line well. It was unknown if the line would be a good one or a rotten one but he had to pick one anyway. Who would've known that this pie would've fallen from the sky? Joseph made a happy expression because he wouldn't have to worry about the price of milk powder for a while. “I have to eat beef with my wife later. Huhuhu.”

It was amazing that the old man handed over such a large amount of money to him. He wondered what the old man would do in the future. Just thinking about what he had seen and heard so far, the old man was an extraordinary person. Perhaps if his ident.i.ty was revealed, the A.S.L community and all the media would be paying attention to him. 

[Your inventory is full.]

[Please empty the bag.]

“Hrmm. The quant.i.ty is a lot. I will have to get a wagon.”

In Fortren, wagons could only be rented. It was because the trade here in Fortren was always active and if wagons were permanently sold, then there might be problems with doing trading. However, it was a bit expensive to rent. It was $100,000 a day, a complete rip-off when compared to Windia.

“Hah. It can't be helped. Still, compared to the money the old man gave me, it is just $100,000...”

Joseph looked around and found a place to rent a wagon. Just then, a whisper arrived.

-Jackson: Where are you?

“Hrmm? Did something happen?”

-Joseph: I've finished obtaining the troll's blood and the neutralizers from the Magician's Guild. However, there are so many things that I have to rent a wagon.

-Jackson: Yes, you've worked hard. By the way, come here for a moment.

-Joseph: Huh? Did something happen?

-Jackson: Come here and I'll explain. The place is...

Joseph listened to the whisper with a serious look on his face. He didn't know if a pie would fall again.

* * *

I explained to Joseph the location of the place I'm at. This person should have a way. He made a living using blackmail so he was very reliable in this aspect.

Drain asked me, “Oh, who did you send a whisper to?”

“Joseph.”

“Aha, there was that friend?”

Drain hit his forehead like he had forgotten. They were very close because they had the United States as a common ground. He knew Joseph was a paparazzi. 

“That guy should know what to do at times like this.”

Still, Drain frowned slightly. “By the way... has Joseph ever threatened an elementary school student?”

“......”

There was a moment of silence. I coughed. “Cough. I don't know, so let's just wait.”

Thus, we waited for Joseph to come. After a while, he arrived. 

“The two of you are together? What are you doing here?” He stared at us in a bewildered manner but I got straight to the point.

“There's something I want to ask.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Have you ever intimidated an elementary school student?”

“Huh...?”

This time, Joseph frowned severely. Thinking about it, this was out of the blue even for me. I started to tell him Drain's story. Time pa.s.sed and his frown deepened. At the end of a long story, Joseph spoke. “Hrmm. This is a very difficult situation. That elementary school student scammed Drain and he wants to take revenge, but you're hesitating because he is a child. Is that right?”

 “Yes, that's right. More soldiers will also come if I make a fuss now?”

In fact, it was a game so it didn't matter but this was still a young student. For some reason, it felt like I would be chastised if I came out to teach a child a lesson. That's why I wanted to ask for advice.

“Have you tried to get your money back?” Joseph asked Drain and Drain shook his head.

“No, I haven't spoken to him yet.”

“So why don't you try and ask him to return it? Who knows? The kid might give it back.”

It made sense. Yes, he was still young and might give it back. I nodded. “Yes, we should try that. Let's go, Drain.” 

Drain and I walked in front of the signboard saying Venice's Odds and Ends. There were soldiers in front but they didn't stop us. They probably mistook us as customers. I stepped inside and there were a variety of objects. The room was s.p.a.cious and I was a bit surprised. This was a shop run by the little child?

I noticed that Drain, who was walking in front of me, suddenly stopped. I looked ahead and saw the little kid. He had a pen and paper in his hand like he was counting the items. Drain looked at me and I shrugged. Drain took a few breaths before walking in front of the little kid called Venice. “Hey, boy?”

“...?”

Venice stopped counting and turned around. It was a rather youthful face. No matter how I looked, he didn't seem to be a middle school student. He was 12, maybe 13 years old?

“Do you remember me?”

“......”

Venice was speechless. He just stared at Drain's face. The round eyes were pretty cute. However, why did I feel anxious for some reason?

Venice wondered, "Who are you?"

“......”

It was Drain who was speechless this time. I was also stunned. He really didn't remember? I walked up to them. “Kid.”

This time, Venice looked at me.

“I was told that you tricked this friend into buying something.”

“......”

“Won't you return the money? Then we'll go back like nothing happened.”

Silence once again flowed. At this moment, Venice opened his mouth, “I don't remember.”

Drain sighed from the side. He thought it would be like this. Still, I didn't give up. “Kid, you...”

Suddenly, Venice started to walk somewhere. It was to the soldiers guarding the front of the store. The little kid said something to them and then pointed at us. I had an ominous feeling. Suddenly, the two soldiers guarding the entrance walked toward us and spoke, “You should leave while we're speaking nicely.”

“......”

I was silent. What should I do here? Should I beat them up and then spank that little kid? No, then things would become bigger. Looking around, there were more soldiers guarding the store. How rotten. There were no CCTVs but they were everywhere.

-Joseph: I think you failed. Just come out.

-Jackson: Just come out...?

-Joseph: Yes, I have a good idea.

-Jackson: Really?

I moved my gaze outside and could see Joseph waving his hand. He was beckoning for me to come out. I told Drain, “Let's go back.”

“......”

He was speechless. He was just staring into Venice's eyes. I let out a small sigh and led him out of the store. Just then, Drain suddenly turned around and told Venice, “Boy, I don't think you're bad.”

“......”

“Maybe you have your own situation. The money is fine, I just want an apology.”

Venice was still silent. They stared at each other.

“You will know someday. Once you get as old as us, you only live for today. There is nothing I can't forgive, nothing I can't understand.”

Certainly, age was something that was hard to ignore. Drain had his own philosophy toward the world. Drain continued, “I wish we can smile at each other the next time we meet, boy. See you again.”

Finally, Drain left the store. Venice's eyes were shaking slightly. I looked at him and shrugged. What was going on...?

* * *

The wind blew through the rustling gra.s.s. This was the hill right next to Garbage Village. Someone wielded a spear with the shabby village as a backdrop. His name was Kerenos. He was looking back on everything he learnt about the Storm Spear.

'Hrmm. I seem to have discovered something but it is hard.'

There was only one reason why he was here now. It was because he seemed to have a new insight of the Storm Spear. The one who provided it was none other than Punghee, who was floating behind him. Kerenos inserted the spear into the ground and wiped off his sweat.

“Puung! Puung!”

Punghee nodded like it was good every time he wielded the spear. Then once he rested, she would come and supply the wind magic power. He didn't know what to say but with Punghee, it felt like he was receiving infinite wind magic power. Also, did the wind feel more familiar? It was difficult but in any case, it felt like this.

There was the sound of the wind magic power enveloping him. The two of them had been repeating this type of work for a while. Punghee smiled with satisfaction. Kerenos couldn't believe she was born from the egg in his mother's room. Kerenos stroked Punghee's head and Punghee rubbed against his hand.

“Puuuung~♡”

“Haha. You really are great.”

In fact, it took a lot of wind magic power to use Storm Spear and it wasn't something that was easy to fill up. His teacher said he spent a lot of time reaching this point and by chance, he practiced in a place full of wind. However, Kerenos didn't have that chance. Now with Punghee...

“Puung! Puung!”

“Huh? What's the matter?”

Punghee suddenly started yelling at him. Kerenos turned toward her.

“What is it? This?”

A large group was approaching Garbage Village. At first glance, they didn't seem to have good intentions. They were all carrying weapons and their eyes were like hungry beasts.

“A raid...?”

If so, he had to go back immediately. No matter the reason, he had promised to protect this place. At this time, Kerenos' frown deepened. One of the people in the group manifested a giant fire sword and swung it indiscriminately toward the village. The fire sword stretched out and there was a loud explosion. The outer wall of Garbage Village collapsed.

“...It really is a raid.”

Kerenos raised his spear.