Chapter 95: A Familiar Face

Nick pulled a letter from the inner pocket of his coat and handed it to Saul, “This is a letter from Mentor Rum for Grindsail Town. I need you to take a small detour and deliver it. The coachman knows the way.”

Saul took the letter and noticed that it wasn’t sealed—it could be read at any time.

“Is there anything sensitive in here? Can I read it?”

“Of course. It’s written for ordinary folks. Grindsail Town barely has two First Rank apprentices, and they’re pretty pathetic. You could take them out with one hand if you were serious,” Nick reassured him.

“Grindsail Town is located on the border of the Kema Duchy, right next to a disputed area bordering the Kenas Duchy. The situation’s a little complicated. But every year, they send a local specialty, the Grinding Sound Fruit, to the Tower. In return, the Tower offers them some protection.”

Nick gestured for Saul to open the letter and take a look.

Saul unfolded it and saw line after line of elegant cursive. In his mind, he instantly pictured Mentor Rum’s long, three-jointed arms.

The letter’s message was simple: it reprimanded Grindsail Town for the recent decline in both the quantity and quality of their tribute. If this continued, the Golza Wizard Tower would withdraw its protection.

“Do I need to go collect the tribute?” Saul asked, unsure whether his 14-year-old appearance could carry enough weight.

“No need for that. A Third Rank senior goes every summer to collect it. After all, the stuff still has some experimental value,” Nick said, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice despite knowing no one dared to eavesdrop.

“There are two ways to go about this mission. First, just head there, scold them on Mentor Rum’s behalf, then enjoy yourself a bit—take what you want.”

“Or, you could dig around and figure out why their Grinding Sound Fruits production’s dropped. Then show up, take what you want, and report your findings back to Mentor Rum. No need to punish them yourself. But if they show you any disrespect, just remember—you represent the Wizard Tower. You’ll know what to do.”

With that, Nick handed the task off to Saul and departed with his team.

Saul stayed behind with the coachman and resumed the journey along the original path.

Grindsail Town wasn’t far from where they had split off. Saul traveled for just one day and arrived at the town’s eastern outskirts before nightfall.

The mission Nick gave him had two completion routes—and correspondingly, two different rewards.

Saul wasn’t exactly a detective, but he did have his eye on the second reward, so he decided to try the investigation route first.

He told the coachman to wait outside the town and cast a minor illusion spell, changing his clothes.

Now he looked like a ragged vagabond from the wilds. His hands were no longer black, but a normal flesh tone.

Before he left, the coachman silently handed him a small pouch of coins.

Inside were a dozen silver coins and a few scattered coppers. The coins bore intricate engravings—far too refined for the local tech level, likely crafted with some arcane assistance.

Saul kept a few coppers on him and tucked the rest into his coat.

He didn’t yet know the local purchasing power and didn’t want to blow his cover by flashing too much cash.

After parting with the coachman, Saul picked up a stick from the roadside to use as a walking cane, trying to embody the role of a wandering beggar even more.

There weren’t many people outside Grindsail Town.

Saul mimicked the expressions and gait of the passersby, slowly approaching the nearby town.

From the outside, Grindsail Town looked rather large.

There was a surrounding wall, weathered and battered by wind and sand, making it look old and worn.

Outside the wall were several rows of run-down houses, their appearance a clear sign of poverty.

A small patch of farmland was under cultivation just beyond the town, though it wasn’t very large.

As Saul passed by the fields, he saw a dark-skinned young man turning over the soil with a hoe.

When the boy reached the end of a furrow, he straightened up and wiped the sweat from his brow with a sleeve—only to make direct eye contact with Saul.

Saul saw his face and figured he was probably still in his teens.

Saul turned away indifferently, gripping his stick and preparing to leave.

“Saul?”

The voice behind him called out uncertainly.

Saul stopped and turned, puzzled.

Someone had called his name?

When Saul looked back, he saw the young man already running toward him, hoe in hand, his face lit up with excitement.

“Saul, it really is you! When we didn’t see you after that charge from the village, I thought you got killed by barbarians.”

“And you are?” Saul asked with a confused look, though he was already guessing this was someone from the original Saul’s past.

“It’s me, Ada! Haha, crazy how much I’ve changed, huh? You haven’t changed at all—still skinny like a monkey. But seriously, how’d you get out of the village? I really thought you were dead. I cried for days, you know?” Ada slapped Saul on the shoulder without hesitation, beaming.

But seeing Saul still looking confused, his smile faded a little.

“You don’t remember me? I lived right next door. You were ten back then, said you were gonna marry my little sister when she grew up. Then I beat you up for it… Remember now?”

“I… really don’t remember,” Saul said through gritted teeth.

That was the original Saul’s business—not his.

Normally, he wouldn’t bother with this sort of thing and would just walk away. But he thought of the town up ahead, and his tone shifted—warm, with a hint of probing.

“Ada, do you live in Grindsail Town?”

Noticing Saul’s look, Ada hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. My sister and I live there now. Just rent a small yard. Life’s been tough.”

Saul lit up. “That’s perfect! Ada, I was just looking for a place to stay in Grindsail Town. But I’ve been wandering a long time and don’t have much money. Could I crash with you for a few days? I swear I’ll move out once I find work.”

The sudden, blunt request left the honest young man unable to say no.

“Uh, well, we don’t really have space…” Ada gripped the hoe tighter and tighter until it looked like he was about to drill it into the ground.

Saul drew a sharp breath, rubbing his flat stomach and putting on a pitiful face. “I can sleep on the floor. I haven’t eaten in days. I heard Grindsail Town’s a good place, so I rushed here for days. If I can’t stay in town, I might just die out in the wild…”

He looked up, his eyebrows and mouth scrunched together miserably.

“Please, Ada… for old time’s sake.”

Ada glanced at Saul’s dirt-covered clothes, gaunt face, and pale lips. His expression turned complicated, as if he remembered something.

“…Alright. But I can only offer a place to sleep. As for food—we’ve only got green flatbread. You’ll need to find work in town as soon as possible.”

“Yes, of course!” Saul agreed immediately, breaking into a bright smile.

Ada looked at the fields, then at the setting sun.

“Forget it. I’ll call it a day.” He went to grab a wooden basket hidden beside the furrows, then returned.

“Come on. Sigh…”

Ada walked ahead, sighing heavily.

Saul, feeling no guilt at all for taking advantage of an honest man, followed cheerfully, looking around as they headed toward the town.

Other farmers were also out in the fields. Some greeted Ada. Others just glanced over disinterestedly and kept working.

“Ada, your town is amazing! It’s so much more peaceful than where I used to live,” Saul said.

Ada paused, then replied in a low voice, “It’s not as great as you think. Just keep your head down and work hard. Maybe one day, you can build a house outside the town and find a wife.”

(End of Chapter)

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