### Chapter 27: The Strange Stranger
Despite Duke Skarlij’s best efforts to lower his voice, trying to sound more gentle, kids will be kids. None of them had ever seen such a scene before; they all huddled up, trembling in fear that the imposing adults behind them might lop off their heads at the slightest displeasure.
Only the boy in front was a little defiant, glaring at the Duke without uttering a word.
“Hey, I’m talking to you!”
Valar delivered a sharp kick to the boy’s knee, making him stumble. As he went down on one knee, the boy quickly straightened up, his gaze toward the Duke filled with even more stubbornness.
The Duke rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
“Valar… they’re just orphans from the orphanage, not criminals. Just step outside for now.”
For a moment, Valar’s smile froze.
“Duke, they’re trying to sneak into the workshop’s warehouse! Who knows if they’re spies sent by neighboring countries—”
“Valar. You’re the captain of Shanter Army’s first squad, responsible for guarding the most important warehouses. When judging the essence of a matter, you can’t let your emotions blind you. Only then can you remain true to your heart. Go outside and think it over.”
“Duke—”
“Out.” The Duke waved his hand dismissively without looking.
“… fine.”
As I watched Valar leave the room with discontent etched on his face, I couldn’t help but clap silently in my heart.
People like Valar are hard to win over. In comparison, Duke Skarlij seemed like a wise ruler who would treat even helpless orphans as equals, never exploiting his power to oppress the vulnerable.
Sometimes, the differences between people are shown in these minute details.
I silently gave him a thumbs-up in my mind.
But according to the Duke, those cowering in front of him seemed to be the children from the orphanage in Winter City?
I remembered the two boys who tried to rob me back in Silgaya—what was the leader’s name again? Right, Abe.
And those ragged little girls hiding in the dark, damp, abandoned buildings.
They were all sent to the orphanage in the end; I wondered how they were doing now.
Looking closely, the clothes these kids wore, though plain, were relatively clean, and I didn’t see any obvious patches. They did seem to have someone taking care of them. They might not be living luxuriously, but at least they wouldn’t have to worry about their next meal, right?
Carlos had also mentioned that at the orphanage, there were people specifically teaching these children essential life skills, and once they learned, they’d even help find them jobs. These were almost entirely unprofitable charitable endeavors, yet the Church still invested heavily to set up such places in every major city.
With that thought, I couldn’t help but find a bit of fondness for the Church.
Those who do things for free, be they individuals or organizations, deserve admiration.
Of course, the Duke wouldn’t know what was swirling around in my little head. He looked awkwardly at the boy meeting his gaze.
“You see, if you don’t tell me the reason, how can I find an excuse to let you go? Let’s all step back a little—what do you think?”
He sounded as if he were coaxing a child.
“Hmph! Don’t get cocky! Since we have the misfortune to be caught by you, we never planned to leave here alive!”
The boy had a fierce attitude, turning his head away like a righteous hero ready for beheading, willing to accept whatever fate lay ahead.
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
This boy looked to be about my age, thin enough that a gust of wind could blow him away, yet here he was, boasting in front of so many hunters.
Have you read too many knight novels? Who ever said they would k*ll you? Please don’t take this so seriously.
Sure, you’re committed, but have you thought about how your little buddies feel about all this?
As expected, upon hearing the boy’s words, the children, who had gradually calmed down, suddenly began to cry out loudly.
“Wah!”
“I don’t want to d*e!”
“Don’t… don’t k*ll me—ah!”
For a moment, the room sounded like a nursery, with kids wailing like hungry infants.
But I certainly wasn’t going to share my precious snacks with them—not when there were only two pieces left.
Seeing the chaotic scene, Lucas quickly realized he had misspoken and tried to remedy it, saying, “No, let them go! I’m the one who encouraged them to come here. You can take it out on me!”
“Uh, please stop crying. It’s giving me a headache. We’re not planning on doing anything to you kids.”
Pagos, who had been comparing blueprints and materials at the workbench, also couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward to try to calm the children down. But when the kids looked up at the imposing, fierce-looking Pagos, they seemed even more frightened and began to wail even louder.
The situation became very awkward, even the several hunters standing in the room exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
Although they were all decisive warriors from the Shanter Army, facing these orphanage kids now while looking at the Duke’s unreadable smile, no one knew how to act.
Just then.
“Hey!”
I clapped my hands and called out sharply, startling the crying children, who immediately turned to look at me.
Seeing they were focused on me, I leisurely pulled out a coin from my pocket, pinching it between my thumb and forefinger and showing it to the kids.
The tear-streaked faces lit up with curiosity, not quite understanding what I was up to. Seeing this, I swiftly covered the coin with my other hand and blew lightly into my palm.
When I drew my hand away, the coin had vanished.
The kids’ eyes widened in disbelief, their wailing reduced to soft sniffles.
When I blew into my hand again, the coin suddenly reappeared between my fingers.
“Wow—how did you do that?”
“Big sister, you’re amazing!”
Of course, hmph!
But really, it was just a simple magic trick, a sleight of hand to hide the coin in my fingertips. I’d found the tutorial online in my past life, though practicing it was a bit tricky. I remember learning it to amuse Little Xi, but now it was coming in handy.
No matter what, their attention was successfully diverted, and it appeared they had forgotten their fear. Even Pagos looked over, his bald head scratching as he wore an amazed expression.
Pfft, look at this bumpkin who has never seen anything!
While secretly mocking Pagos, I smiled sweetly at the kids.
“Want to learn?”
They nodded eagerly, like little chicks pecking for grain.
“Tell me why you came here, and I’ll teach you. Sound good?”
After a brief moment of hesitation…
“I’ll go first!” It was the little girl, who suddenly raised her hand high after finishing her snack. “Sister, we came to steal weapons!”
“Aili! You traitor!” The boy, who had been quiet until now, suddenly gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with the tragic betrayal by his companion. “How could you! You’ve crushed my deep trust in you! This is simply too disappointing!”
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh again.
This boy was so entertaining!
“I’m not a traitor! This pretty sister isn’t a bad person; maybe she can help us!”
“Coward! It was you who ran too slow and got us caught! We heroically accompanied you to be captured, and now you want to sell us out!”
“But stealing is wrong…”
“Where’s the wrong in it?! For the sake of justice in our hearts, I’d gladly d*e!”
“Lucas, stop talking.”
“They don’t seem to be bad people…”
Some of the other kids couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Stop it! I know for a fact that nobles are all bad! They’re all rotten inside! Hmph, don’t think I’m as easily fooled as you guys.”
“But they really don’t seem bad…”
“She did a magic trick for us.”
“Let her help us, please?”
“I said I’ve already told them to let you go; you guys…”
Lucas, the boy, looked so indignant he seemed on the verge of tears from feeling betrayed by everyone.
He was so brave just a moment ago, but it turns out he was sensitive all along.
Seeing they were about to continue bickering, I stepped forward two paces, standing before the instigator, and clapped my hands on either side of his cheeks, forcing his mouth into an “O” shape.
Leaning in closer, I looked him in the eye and earnestly said, “No more fighting.”
Lucas stared blankly for a moment.
“You… you…”
He stammered, unable to articulate a single coherent thought, nervously glancing around, reluctant to meet my gaze, his face turning as red as a monkey’s bottom.
I then released my hands and chose to ignore him.
Hmph, little boy. Dealing with you is as easy as taking care of Carlos.
I turned toward the little girl instead; she seemed the more clever one.
“Why steal?”
“We want to rescue our friend!”
“Rescue your friend?”
“Yeah, the Dean of the orphanage is a bad person! He wants to hand our friend over to an even worse bad guy. Sister, please let these hunters help us!”
The little girl looked at me sincerely, not appearing to be lying at all.
“Can you give me more details?” The Duke, who had been quiet all along, finally spoke up after watching me calm the children.
“We found out that the Dean has been secretly sending our friends to a strange person.”
“I discovered it!” one child piped up, eager for credit.
“Shut up… anyway, every month someone comes to the orphanage to take people away!”
“This time it’s our friend’s turn…”
After a whole cacophony, I finally grasped the general idea.
These kids had discovered that the Dean of the Winter City orphanage seemed to take a few children every so often and handed them over to a supposedly strange stranger under the guise of adoption.
After those kids left, they never returned, and no one knew where they had gone; tonight, it was their friend’s turn.
So, they came up with a terrible idea to sneak into the workshop and steal some powerful weapons before going to rescue their friend.
