The Bard is Fantasizing Again

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"To still be able to laugh at a time 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 become fellow sufferers with Black Snake.

"I told you before—throwing me out as a scapegoat doesn't mean you can wash your hands clean."

Black Snake said sourly, "But what if I didn't actually do anything?"

"What do you mean?"

He first glanced at Catherine behind Tang Qi.

Then he sighed and slumped onto a pile of stacked hay.

"The past two years, the merchant 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 immediately 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 me makes me look less incompetent, doesn't it?"

"What a pity. I was just figuring out how to drag you down with me."

Tang Qi and Black Snake had no contract between them to begin with.

And there was even less reason to expect a mercenary 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 time; he seized on the key point and asked:

"Immediate 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 some 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... Get full chapters from novel(ꜰ)ire.net

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 me to be in your presence, Steward Huss."

Huss was a well-built man with a small mustache. His nose bridge was somewhat collapsed, so he had to constantly push up the gold-rimmed glasses that kept sliding down his greasy face.

He turned a deaf ear to Catherine's greeting.

Just breathing the same 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 mercenaries 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, immediately seeing the difference:

"As expected, inferior goods—Catherine, you've disappointed me 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 Merle 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 judgment 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 ashamed."

Catherine understood that showing spirit or making excuses at this moment 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 merchant, after all—naturally lacking any loyalty or honor. How can we hold her to the standards we expect of nobility?

Father has always been merciful. 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 handsome—if he could slim down someday.

But his broad frame had its advantages.

It allowed a bottled 'eye' with two gear-shaped wings to rest steadily on his shoulder.

That seemed 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 Melade, we haven't seen each other in perhaps three years. But every time I see you, I'm reminded of your generosity and mercy."

For those she wasn't particularly close to, Catherine's smile was always perfect.

Not a single flaw could be found.

"If those words came from anyone else's mouth, I'd think they were mocking me. But Catherine, you know I've never been stingy with my tolerance toward you."

Melade spread his arms in a gesture of embrace.

"So when will you agree to become 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 Merle 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 timely glanced at Black Snake.

Being cuckolded in public didn't feel good.

For the first time, Tang Qi saw something 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."

Melade's round face was full of sorrow.

"I'll come of age next year. That's the final deadline I'm giving you.

When the time comes, 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 me to leave that decision for next year."

Seeing her so stubborn, Melade 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 mercy."

"So while I still don't want to make things difficult for you, go back to your tavern."

Melade 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 mercenaries. As he unlocked the restraints, he said:

"You should remember Young Master Melade's kindness and offer him your loyalty."

"I will."

"Hmph. Insincere merchant."

Merchants were profit-driven, utterly lacking in loyalty.

As a steward who had served Lord Merle 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 Melade:

"Done chatting? Then get the fucking cargo loaded onto the wagons and let's get moving."

Huss frowned:

"Mercenary, 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 something really had happened?