Chapter 15: Love My Sister or Love Gold

“This isn’t the place to talk.”

I didn’t directly answer the fox lady’s question.
I had fired a shot during our earlier scuffle.
Although there were few pedestrians here, I couldn’t guarantee that someone wouldn’t come looking after hearing the sound.
It would be more appropriate to talk somewhere else.

She wasn’t stupid either.
She understood the meaning behind my words.
After wrapping herself up tightly, she gestured with her head for me to follow her and walked out of the alley.

I followed the fox lady at a distance of about ten meters, not too close, but close enough for us to see each other.
Actually, when she said “a little girl with blue hair and pink eyes,” I was stunned for a half-second before I realized.

This fox lady’s master… is very likely one of Little Nia’s family members, and probably a close relative.

The fox lady led me through the streets, back to the main street, then to the food street, and finally, when we were almost at the port, she walked to an inconspicuous alley entrance.
After observing her surroundings, she took out a key, opened a door, and swiftly entered the house.

I wasn’t slow either.
I followed her closely into the small house.
The furnishings, as ordinary as they could be, came into view.

A dining table with a pot of flowers, a neat and clean stove, utensils and dishes arranged in an orderly fashion on a wooden shelf, and not a single wrinkle on the sofa.

So clean.

Of course, this small house, which was likely the fox lady’s “secret base,” couldn’t be that simple.
For example, the hanging lamp at the entrance.
This lamp didn’t light up, but it was filled with black gunpowder.

I believe there are probably many similar things in this house.

The fox lady walked to the wooden table and pulled out a chair.

“Please, sit.”

The two of us sat opposite each other at the wooden table, but neither of us spoke.
The fox lady took off her hood and cloak, revealing a beautiful face and a head of reddish-brown long hair that matched the color of her ears.

Then, she was the first to break the silence.

“Well then, Miss Witch, can you tell me about the condition of the little girl by your side?”

“Why should I trust you?”

“You already do, don’t you?”

Another silence fell.
The room was frighteningly quiet.
My eyes met the fox lady’s across from me, both of us trying to read the emotions in each other’s eyes.

This kind of probing won’t get us anywhere.
It’s too wishy-washy.
Are all foxes naturally suspicious?

“Why don’t you introduce yourself first? How about it?”

Hearing this, she gave a faint smile and spoke without much hesitation:
“Nadiesse Camboya, a foxkin, from the City of the Sea of Trees.”

“Your master?”

“The Blade Witch… Coevid Lavillia. You should have heard of her.”

“Heh~” I chuckled lightly, straightened my back, and looked out the window with a profound air.
Seeing my action, the fox lady, Nadiesse, got up to draw the curtains.

But… that wasn’t my intention…

The Blade Witch… heard of her my ass!

How long have I been born?
Not even a year old yet.

From her tone, that Blade Witch seems to be a big deal… and the name… the same last name as Little Nia…

“Do you have a token to prove your identity?” I asked.

“I do,” Nadiesse took out a badge from her bosom and handed it to me.
“This is the emblem of our merchant guild. You can also show it to the child. She recognizes it.”

I took the badge and examined it carefully.
It was silver-white, with a flower pattern engraved on the front, which I didn’t recognize.
The back was engraved with a scythe…

“You are very cautious, but please believe that I, we, have no ill intentions towards Little Conia.
On the contrary, we have been looking for her for the past few years that she has been missing,” Nadiesse’s amber eyes looked at me with sincerity and seriousness.
The emotions in her eyes didn’t seem fake.

Playing with the bright silver badge in my hand, the answer was already clear in my mind.

“I will give this to the child. When should we meet?”

“I will be here every evening. If you can’t find me, you can go to my ship.”

“Alright~, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Wait…”

My movement to get up was stopped.
I looked at Nadiesse with confusion.
Her expression was solemn.

“You were the one who killed Marolin Leni, correct?”
Although it was a question, Nadiesse’s tone was very certain.
“I’ve seen that gun before. That beast Marolin used it to kill many of our people… many, many.”

As she spoke, her two fox ears drooped.
It was clear that Nadiesse did not hold the Grand Inquisitor who had “ripped out my heart and lungs” in high regard.
In fact, she hated her.

“That beast is one of the six Grand Inquisitors of the Holy Tribunal of the Church of Mancius.
She is powerful and cruel, and has always been hidden within the Holy Nation.
Our assassination plan against her had no way of succeeding.”

Does she mean… I did a good deed?

“Let me be clear, I have no intention of assassinating the high-ranking members of the church.
The Marolin you mentioned brought it upon herself.
If you’re thinking of recruiting me as a strategic weapon… I advise you to give up that thought.”

After saying that, I continued to get up to leave.
But this time, the fox lady directly grabbed my wrist.
I didn’t expect her to dare to do that.
Is she trying to keep me here by force?

“I think you may have misunderstood.
I just want to express my gratitude.
And, I promise that you can enjoy a ten percent discount on any goods purchased from the Scythe Blade Merchant Guild in the future.”

Is she trying to win me over?
First, extend a small olive branch to establish a connection, and then gradually get closer.
Very well, the condition she proposed has successfully moved me, but~

A cunning glint shone in my heterochromatic eyes.
My eyes darted around, and I said:
“Let’s make it forty percent off.”

“Miss, you really like to joke. A forty percent discount is basically the same as robbery… fifteen percent off.”

“Forty percent. Do you understand what sincerity is?”

“…Fifteen percent. I can’t go any lower.”

“Small profits and quick turnover. I’m not unreasonable either… thirty-five percent.”

“Twenty percent.”

“Forty percent.”

“…Twenty-five percent.”

“It’s a deal~!”

Hmph, hmph~ Actually, I never intended to haggle it down to forty percent from the beginning.
That’s not realistic.
It’s better to quit while I’m ahead and settle for twenty-five percent.

I can always extort more later if I have the chance.

Although I don’t know how big the Scythe Blade Merchant Guild is, I am considering going into business.
No matter what, it’s always good to establish a relationship with a merchant guild first.

But… Nadiesse didn’t seem to understand my “good intentions.”
She was looking at me with a forced smile, her fox ears standing straight up.

“I must admit, you are quite an impressive witch.
Perhaps you are the only witch who likes to calculate and haggle over money.”

Tsk~ this fox is being passive-aggressive with me.
What’s wrong with liking money?
Is it a crime to like money?
I had a hard life in my past life.
I’m just preparing for a rainy day.

I raised an eyebrow and replied to Nadiesse with a beaming smile:
“You’re also very special, Nadiesse.
Perhaps, oh! I mean perhaps, you are the most honest foxkin there is.”

“Hehe~ you’re the honest one.”

“Likewise, likewise.”

Seeing the veins gradually popping on Nadiesse’s forehead, I thought it would be better for me to make a run for it now.
This time, my departure was finally unimpeded.

I pushed open the door and was greeted by the crimson afterglow of the evening.
The sun was setting, like a deep red eye slowly closing, with the mountain range as its eyelid.

So, we had been talking for so long without realizing it.
I should hurry back…

Wait! During the fight earlier, I left all the things I bought in the alley!
It’s all that fox’s fault.

…She probably hasn’t left yet.

I’ll go back and make her compensate me.