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"To still be able to laugh at a ti like this—perhaps I've underestimated just how thick-skinned you are."
Black Snake even felt a touch of admiration for these poets' innate optimism.
"We're going to Longgold City either way. Getting arrested at least saves us the cost of a ride.
Besides, judging from your mocking tone, you don't seem much better off yourself."
Tang Qi hadn't expected to beco fellow sufferers with Black Snake.
"I told you before—throwing out as a scapegoat doesn't an you can wash your hands clean."
Black Snake said sourly, "But what if I didn't actually do anything?"
"What do you an?"
He first glanced at Catherine behind Tang Qi.
Then he sighed and slumped onto a pile of stacked hay.
"The past two years, the rchant caravan would arrive at noon during the Harvest Festival and stay in town for three days.
But yesterday, they arrived in the middle of the night ahead of schedule.
Then they wanted to imdiately inspect the starberries and head right back to Longgold City—
I didn't have any fucking preparation at all and got caught red-handed."
"So you just confessed everything?"
"Dragging two people down with makes look less incompetent, doesn't it?"
"What a pity. I was just figuring out how to drag you down with ."
Tang Qi and Black Snake had no contract between them to begin with.
And there was even less reason to expect a rcenary with a notorious reputation in this small town to keep silent about outsiders.
Tang Qi could only grumble internally—there was nothing to actually reproach him for.
Complaining would be the biggest waste of ti; he seized on the key point and asked:
"Imdiate inspection... In previous years it wouldn't be this urgent, right?"
"Or this efficient either. Otherwise, why the hell would I have agreed to your shitty plan?"
"So they might have encountered so kind of trouble on the way here..."
Was Dawnmist Forest really that ominous?
First it let the kobolds inherit the legacy of a fully equipped adventuring party with spellcasters.
Then it sent a caravan of several dozen people rushing back and forth nonstop, afraid of encountering even the slightest trouble...
Just as Tang Qi was mulling this over in his mind, he suddenly heard Catherine calling out.
Turning his head, he found her bowing respectfully to a sumptuously dressed man:
"Only the annual harvest allows to be in your presence, Steward Huss."
Huss was a well-built man with a small mustache. His nose bridge was sowhat collapsed, so he had to constantly push up the gold-rimd glasses that kept sliding down his greasy face.
He turned a deaf ear to Catherine's greeting.
Just breathing the sa air as these poverty-stricken commoners made him want to sneeze.
He simply swept past the stable and walked toward the center of the courtyard, where the rcenaries had moved several crates of starberries to the clearing.
Ordinary starberries were dark in color, showing purple only under light. He pinched one of them and held it up to the sunlight, imdiately seeing the difference:
"As expected, inferior goods—Catherine, you've disappointed greatly."
Huss's voice was high-pitched and shrill, affected and arrogant.
"Originally, out of respect for your mother's simplicity and your difficulties, Lord rle rented you the finest land at the lowest price every year—
And you actually chose to collude with these villains, repaying his lordship's kindness with deception?!"
I knew I shouldn't have gotten Catherine involved in this.
Since they couldn't escape being taken for judgnt anyway, Tang Qi simply said:
"Sir, I only told this lady to help transport a batch of starberries. She's innocent and knew nothing of the truth."
Huss snorted coldly:
"Even if this villain deceived you, you should have maintained basic loyalty to his lordship—
When you realized these starberries were being transported to the manor, you should have been alert!"
Explaining things to a noble steward who thought highly of himself wouldn't bring understanding.
"Steward, your teachings are enlightening. I'm utterly ashad."
Catherine understood that showing spirit or making excuses at this mont would do no good at all. She quickly bent at the waist, looking weak and guilty.
This allowed Huss to feel a fuller sense of superiority.
Just as Huss was about to say more, a younger voice interrupted him:
"Forget it. She's a profit-driven rchant, after all—naturally lacking any loyalty or honor. How can we hold her to the standards we expect of nobility?
Father has always been rciful. I'm sure he can't be bothered to pursue her fault."
The owner of that voice was an equally sumptuously dressed young man, though with a much more rotund and short build.
He was actually rather handso—if he could slim down soday.
But his broad fra had its advantages.
It allowed a bottled 'eye' with two gear-shaped wings to rest steadily on his shoulder.
That seed to be a miniature construct—also a product of spellcasters.
"Is that the lord's son?" Tang Qi asked quietly.
Black Snake only snorted coldly:
"You can tell from his body type—identical to his father's."
"Young Master lade, we haven't seen each other in perhaps three years. But every ti I see you, I'm reminded of your generosity and rcy."
For those she wasn't particularly close to, Catherine's smile was always perfect.
Not a single flaw could be found.
"If those words ca from anyone else's mouth, I'd think they were mocking . But Catherine, you know I've never been stingy with my tolerance toward you."
lade spread his arms in a gesture of embrace.
"So when will you agree to beco my bride?"
Beauty was both a blessing and a curse—
Tang Qi had of course wondered before.
If such a peerless Dawnbloom appeared in his own territory.
As the lord, he might not be able to resist the desire to pluck her, to let her bloom brilliantly in this remote little town...
How could Lord rle bear not to 'care for' this charming young lady?
But now he understood.
There was only one Dawnbloom. Father and son had to make a choice.
He tily glanced at Black Snake.
Being cuckolded in public didn't feel good.
For the first ti, Tang Qi saw sothing like bristling indignation on that decadent face.
"You know, young master, I won't abandon this tavern and my family."
"But my tolerance has limits."
lade's round face was full of sorrow.
"I'll co of age next year. That's the final deadline I'm giving you.
When the ti cos, I'll marry you no matter what and open a Golden Oak for you in Longgold City.
You can still inherit your mother's business and do what you want to do."
"Then please allow to leave that decision for next year."
Seeing her so stubborn, lade didn't want to say more and waved his hand:
"Fine. I know you must have been deceived by these villains, so I won't hold you responsible—though you know I could use this opportunity to carry you off to Longgold City, right?"
"Thank you for your rcy."
"So while I still don't want to make things difficult for you, go back to your tavern."
lade beckoned Steward Huss forward and gave him a few instructions.
Huss was seen stroking his little mustache, reluctantly taking the key to the shackles from the rcenaries. As he unlocked the restraints, he said:
"You should rember Young Master lade's kindness and offer him your loyalty."
"I will."
"Hmph. Insincere rchant."
rchants were profit-driven, utterly lacking in loyalty.
As a steward who had served Lord rle for decades, Huss was very good at reading people.
And in Catherine's humble smile, he saw not a trace of sincerity.
During their conversation, Explosivewolf in his plate armor kept pacing back and forth impatiently.
Seeing that things were finally about to conclude, and with Catherine hesitating without leaving yet, he quickly stepped forward and looked at lade:
"Done chatting? Then get the fucking cargo loaded onto the wagons and let's get moving."
Huss frowned:
"rcenary, watch your language. And don't try to dictate the employer's decisions!"
"You shut the fuck up, little mustache. I'm thinking of his safety—
You're not unaware of the trouble we ran into on the way here.
The sooner we get back, the less risk we face!"
Tang Qi keenly caught the word 'risk.'
So sothing really had happened?
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