129 – Mutually beneficial transaction.

Étienne guided us to a warehouse-like space to trade the bigger pieces of loot.

I saw a few individuals working on stuff in a few forges. I may have binged a few shows about smithing back on Earth, but that didn't give me any insight on what was being created. There was a lot of hammering of glowing orange stuff, the smell of a lot of things burning and sweat, and the murmur of uninterrupted conversation.

We stopped at the opposite side of the warehouse, near a large pile of boxes and crates. Next to them was a big, white bowl on the ground.

Étienne stood next to it and gestured at me. “Let's go with the Luminous Caps first, shall we?”

I nodded and extended a hand over the bowl, then dropped ten plants.

Just like in Mountroad with the ores and hides, the plants shrunk to the size of a pebble when they entered the bowl.

It's good to see consistency, I commented in my head and squinted at the bowl. I wonder what would happen if I put my hand in it... I thought and, well, did it. I lowered my arm into the bowl.

Étienne's hand moved incredibly fast for a man who said his back was in no condition to bow. He grabbed my wrist and tried pulling it away.

Alas, the required strength to force my hand was higher than what he possessed.

I looked at him and arched an eyebrow.

He closed his eyes and sighed, then released me. “Apologies, Your Excellency. I momentarily forgot you are a Halve.”

Bonte slapped my shoulder. “Don't do that. It'll crush your hand.”

I shrugged. “If it does, I'll just drink a healing potion,” I pointed out and lowered my hand further.

Both sighed and took a step back.

The moment my hand entered the realm of the bowl, a cosmic pressure clasped it.

I lack in comparisons to make, but I will try to describe it nonetheless.

It was uncomfortably similar to the feeling of having slept on one arm and then waking up and trying to move it. A slight annoyance, but no crushing of limbs as Bonte said.

My hand didn't shrink, much to my disappointment. It didn't hurt, and the numbing sensation that replaces my physical pain wasn't there either. It felt incredibly heavy, though.

I wiggled my fingers and made a fist, then leaned into the bowl and touched the bottom. I hummed and pulled my hand out. It felt like lifting a massive object, and my muscles strained a little.

Cool, I nodded. Is it that thing in my information thing? I wondered and gave it a quick read.

Under my Halve Species information, a line stated: The E'er at your disposal won't decrease unless you allow it.

“Hmm...” I tilted my head in confusion. That makes no sense, though. Am I not understanding something very obvious? Doesn't it just mean it can't be stolen, drained, or whatever? I pursed my lips and pinched them. Yeah... that 'whatever' is what I'm not getting... I think. I looked at the ground and clicked my tongue. Oi, Galeia! A tutorial would've been nice, you know? Then, it hit me. Was it the turkey? Did I skip the fucking explanation without realizing? Nilenna called it a Sentinel and nobody recognizes the turkey even though it's just a fucking turkey. Fuck me blind, I sighed and shook my head.

Bonte placed a hand on my shoulder. “Does it hurt?”

I looked at him and nodded. “Perfect condition,” I replied, flexing my fingers. “Just wondering about things.”

The catboy squinted his eyes at me. “Hmmm...” He sighed and shook his head. “Are you satisfied now? Can we move on?”

I nodded. “Yeah,” I replied and put the other 3021 Luminous Caps in the bowl.

Étienne counted them and nodded. “That'd be 151 gold coins and 55 silver coins.”

“Next is the Mag-Noyath,” Bonte continued.

I frowned and produced the three massive carcasses. The wrapping wasn't for the purposes of hiding their shape, so it was blatantly obvious the things were spiders.

I turned around and walked a few steps from the nightmares.

Bonte stayed with the carcasses and started unwrapping them.

Étienne stood next to me, facing the monstrosities. “Not to your liking?” He inquired.

I shook my head. “They're gross.”

The man smiled and chuckled. “They make quite the noise, don't they?”

A few Scouts approached the spiders and started dismantling them, by the sound of it.

“That, and they're just disgusting,” I huffed. “Too many legs, too many eyes, just... no.”

He nodded. “There are worse things out there, Your Excellency,” he told me. “But that's something that changes depending on the individual. Some don't like Tentelu, others love them.”

I nodded. “I know,” I sighed. “Elena, one of my companions, has a soft spot for insects and bugs in general.”

“Elena Pazh'Khun,” the old man hummed. “Quite the mysterious lady. Met with Halves, then went missing when she was left alone.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Some information is being kept hidden, Your Excellency,” he informed me. “I'm telling you this because you might not know. Information is important.”

I nodded. “I already spoke with the Embassy... but I assume you already know that.”

He nodded, then leaned close to me. “Some people have been asking questions, Your Excellency. About your companions.”

My eyebrows went up. “I... see.”

He looked into my eyes for a few seconds, then sighed. “Your Excellency has the eyes of a predator... but you don't strike me as a cautious person, pardon the insolence.”

I was taken aback for a second. “Eyes of a predator?”

He nodded. “Perhaps you should work on smoothing the violence within you,” he started, but quickly added, “that's just coming from a Scout, Your Excellency. Our view is more about tricking and subverting. I'm not a Warrior, so I don't see things like one. I'm too used to teaching young people, is all.”

“What have people asked?” I inquired. “I assume it's not harmless since it's you who's telling me.”

“A few individuals asked about your companions places of birth,” he shared. “There's plenty of room for assumption, and I'm not one to think the worst first... but people have gone after your life already.”

I bit my lips. “Do you think their families are in danger?”

“In danger? Hard to tell,” he said while shaking his head. “Under investigation? Without a doubt.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “How safe is O'lu Keer Ren?”

Étienne raised an eyebrow. “Well, I think saying they have no concept of visitors is enough.”

I nodded. “Can you keep track of them? Like, sneakily and shit?”

“I already am, Your Excellency,” he replied as if stating the obvious. “Bonte's family is involved in this.”

Yikes. “Shouldn't you tell him?” I asked.

The old man smiled. “He already knows. I got a letter a month ago, informing me of the attempt at your life. Bonte asked me to keep an eye out for people extending their animosity to his family.”

That was quite the surprise to hear.

“First time I know of this,” I commented.

“He's a good Scout, after all,” Étienne praised the catboy. “He likes to play the fool too much. We all do, to some extent.”

“Right,” I muttered with a nod. “Subverting expectations and all.”

“Correct,” the man chuckled.

“And how safe is the Queendom of Maaruhk?” I asked next.

“Well, they managed to teach Desseyr without outside intervention,” he simply said, then shrugged. “I'd say House Pofeta is one of the safest thanks to Lady Lapia. What happens outside its borders, however, is a different story.”

“You know what happened to her?” I wondered.

Étienne nodded. “We also heard about a Cleric in Riverfield by the name of Clara. She was held at bladepoint to spill your information. The one responsible tried fleeing but was caught by Crusaders, and killed shortly after.”

“The information managed to get out, though,” I commented.

“The Bond does not require breathing to send a message,” the old man pointed out.

I rubbed my temples and nodded. “Did anything happen in Mountroad's Church?”

“They tried, but there's a Dungeon in that city,” Étienne supplied. “People around Lady Yolin's level guard the Church. Nobody was in harm's way.”

Fucking hell, I sighed.

“We know of Bernard Roy, and will keep an eye on him,” the old man added. “That includes his daughter and the two Tiny Laples.”

I shook my head and looked him in the eye. “Thank you, Étienne.”

“This is us giving back, Your Excellency,” he said with a smile. “Your kind allowed for everything you see to happen. It's our turn, in a sense.”

“You people know more than the Royal Family,” I sighed.

Étienne shook his head. “The Scouts working for the Royal Guard are part of our community. We know as much as the Royal Family, and sometimes a bit later or a bit sooner.”

“Gordon didn't mention any of this,” I pointed out.

The old man nodded. “That's a King saving face,” he retorted. “It's embarrassing that things like this happen in this day and age. He did move his people around and found almost every single individual involved in it, so that's a point for him in my eyes.”

“It's a bit... discouraging to think the people I interact with might be targeted,” I admitted.

Étienne placed a hand on my shoulder. “I'm sure it is, Your Excellency. We regular folk got your back, though.”

I chuckled and nodded. “Thanks again, Étienne.”