Chapter 30: Ambush
After sending Lilith out the window, I sat beside the sleeping Barry for a long time, my head swirling with the snippets of conversation she had shared with me.
“The Church hasn’t distributed new publications in the city for ages… It seems the entire Southern Region of Silgaya is in the same boat. I’m not sure about the North, but a cousin of mine all the way in Philadelphia wrote to say that they haven’t seen a new issue around there for a long time either because of the ongoing war…”
“…I know the Holy City is working on a new tax plan that mainly targets those reluctant Northern nobles and merchant associations, plus some merchant ships from the Eastern Continent… It seems they started this year, and part of the first batch of taxes has already been allocated to city and estate development. The Currency Exchange is managing the funds, but as of now, no one’s seen a single coin… Meanwhile, the labor situation in the city is getting worse and worse…”
“As for the Knowledge Association, I’ve heard some things from my mother… They are ardent supporters of the current Pope and aren’t directly under the jurisdiction of the Holy Church, yet it seems they still take orders from some folks at the Currency Exchange… In short, they’re a very complex and bizarre organization, and I don’t quite grasp what they’re really up to… But one thing I can confirm is that the people I asked to send Barry away are definitely not from the Knowledge Association…”
“Let me think about their characteristics… Hmm…”
“They always hide beneath big cloaks, so it’s hard to see their faces. But once, I accidentally caught a glimpse of the potential leader’s hair—it was green, like the grass in a garden. Not too long, but extremely eye-catching and rare, so I remember it clearly…”
Green…
Lost in thought for a moment, I slowly got up from the bed, took off my mask, rummaged through drawers until I found a filthy rag. After wiping off the bl**d, I set it ablaze with Infernal Fire, turning it to ash. I then tossed my bag on the small cabinet by the bed, gave Barry another look, and seeing him deep in slumber, I walked over to a corner by the door to sit down. I covered myself with the cloak, leaned against the weathered wall, and closed my eyes, feeling drowsiness wash over me.
Green hair…
Could it be…?
Surely it can’t be that guy…
He wouldn’t have a reason to come to a place like this…
What an absurd thought…
Could he actually be looking for me…?
Vido…ia…
My mind was a jumble of thoughts. I expected to have a hard time falling asleep again, but before I knew it, I drifted off.
…………
When the warm sunlight streamed in through the window, I wrinkled my brow and slowly opened my eyes.
I was awakened by an intense argument coming from downstairs.
It seemed like a fight was breaking out—a table had been flipped, accompanied by a woman’s shouts that sounded like street cursing. Rubbing my forehead groggily, I stretched, got up from the corner, hung the cloak back on the nearby wooden stand, and glanced over at Barry.
He was still sound asleep, not moving an inch from the position he had maintained since last night.
I couldn’t help but pout.
Who on earth…
Making such a ruckus this early in the morning.
What energy they have…
I tucked Barry’s blanket in and stood at the door for a moment. After confirming there was no one outside, I quietly unlocked the door, slipped the cloak back on, and stepped out of the room to peek down the corridor.
That’s probably the drunken man from last night…
He seemed to have gotten into a scuffle with the tavern staff because he couldn’t pay for his stay after waking up this morning. He was now bloodied and curled up on the floor, surrounded by several men. The maid from the bar stood among them, hands on her hips, angrily pointing at the man, spouting, “I can let the debt for my services slide, but you dare try to run out without paying for your drinks? Are you looking to get yourself killed? Do I look like a charity worker?”
As she continued shouting, she seemed to sense something and lifted her gaze toward me.
I turned on my heel and left.
I had no interest in such chaotic matters, so I hightailed it back to my room and locked the door.
Before Barry wakes up…
It’s best to avoid drawing attention.
Thinking this, I made my way to the window, closed it, leaving a small crack open, pulled back the hood, and took out a piece of bread from my bag. I ate while peering through the crack at the street below.
The street looked just as desolate as yesterday, with hardly any people around. Behind a low building across the street, I could vaguely see the outlines of several ragged figures.
Some stood in the shadows while others slumped on the wooden stairs, their hungry eyes staring longingly toward the tavern.
Soon, someone came out from downstairs carrying two buckets. Sloshing the contents—kitchen scraps—into the narrow alley, the ragged figures surged forward, scrambling for the filthy ground, and before long, some were already fighting over it.
From my perch on the second floor, I continued watching this scene.
My face remained expressionless.
As the sun gradually rose from the east, casting a gentle glow on the street and buildings, and with the scattered pedestrians slowly increasing, a girl in maid attire walked down the street, entering my line of sight. She glanced around before spotting the tavern sign and stopped, looking up at the second floor.
…Hmm.
That must be her.
Finishing the last bite of my bread, I considered not jumping straight from the second floor. After all, it was broad daylight, and such a stunt would attract unnecessary attention and suspicion.
So, I shut the window, pulled my hood back on, unlocked the door, and stepped out of the room. As I turned to lock the door behind me, I suddenly realized that when I checked in yesterday, the woman at the bar hadn’t given me a key or anything.
I frowned slightly.
…Ah, well.
It’s only a temporary absence.
I closed the door tightly, stood outside for a moment to ensure that the sturdy wooden door wouldn’t be easily blown open by the wind, then wrapped in my cloak, hurried downstairs.
At this moment, the injured man was being carried by two burly fellows, seemingly on their way to dump him behind the tavern, while the maid had returned to the bar. When she saw me coming down, she greeted me with a smile, “Hey there, little girl! Did you sleep well last night?”
I waved at her, ignoring her question as I stepped over a small pool of bl**d and headed straight for the door.
The air outside felt so refreshing as I exited the tavern. I couldn’t help but take a couple of deep breaths, quickly scanning the street. After a few coughs, I picked up my pace and walked up to the young maid across the street. She seemed a bit nervous as I approached, stepping back slightly, and asked, “Who are you…?”
“Where’s Lilith? Why isn’t she here?”
“Phew—”
Upon hearing my words, she sighed in relief. “This morning, the lady left late, so Miss Lilith couldn’t just come out before her…”
The girl glanced around furtively before quickly pulling out a small package of parchment from her garment and handing it to me, followed by a larger bundle from beneath her skirt.
“I’m the young lady’s personal maid, and she never hides anything from me… She asked me to sneak these things over. The small package contains herbs you can crush and apply to the wounds… The large one is food; if you save a little, it should be enough for two people for two days…”
I took the items one by one, stashing them under my cloak, and said, “Thank her for me.”
I didn’t say anything else, avoiding further contact, and turned back towards the tavern, while the maid hurriedly left, her head lowered.
Pushing open the tavern doors, I walked past some men loitering about, realizing the woman who had been behind the bar was gone. I thought perhaps she went out to deal with the drunken man, so I didn’t pay it much mind. Clutching the two packages of parchment, I headed straight up the stairs to the second floor. But just as I was about to push the door open, my raised hand suddenly froze.
…There were tense breathing sounds coming from behind the door.
Who?!
In the next moment, I retracted my hand and bam, kicked the door open, ducking low and darting inside with lightning speed. Just as I did, I heard the whoosh of air beside me, and in my peripheral vision, I saw a hand swinging a candleholder at my back with all its might!
