A Sentimental Age

This day, Ethan discovered a fourth way to enter the town—being escorted in as a pimp to the town's jail. The only drawback was that this method severely limited his movement, confining him almost entirely to a cramped interrogation room.

Fortunately, he wasn't alone. The old butler who had previously questioned him was being interrogated in the adjacent room.

Despite Fireplace Bay being rife with darkness and illicit dealings, most of the town's Guards were former members of the Kingdom Army and still adhered to certain principles. For instance, they prohibited any illegal activities in front of minors. Ethan, a righteous young man, wholeheartedly approved of this rule.

"See, I really am an Elemental Shaper."

Ethan snapped his fingers at the Guard interrogating him. Seeing the flame ignite in his palm, the Guard finally believed him a little and carefully re-examined the advertisement card.

Although the accompanying illustrations were suggestive, the information registered on it was legitimate.

The Guard rubbed his forehead and said, "Next time, don't use cards like this that are easily misinterpreted."

"Bro, business is tough these days. You gotta have a gimmick, right?"

Hearing this, the Guard could only nod helplessly.

They were all ordinary people just trying to make a living here. Why make things difficult for each other?

He waved his hand. "Alright, you're free to go."

"Thanks, man."

Ethan bowed to the Guard. However, the old butler who had been brought in with him wasn't as fortunate. As Ethan left, he overheard the butler mentioning his twelfth visit to the "Pink Ladies" this month. A young girl, who clearly had some background, was waiting for him at the barracks entrance. Seeing this, Ethan walked straight towards her. "See, the Guard let me out. Now you believe I'm not some weird bad guy, right?"

This could be considered a blessing in disguise. After this ordeal, he was officially recognized as a good guy by Fireplace Bay. Ethan suggested that everyone else should show him some respect.

The young girl lowered her head, her golden bangs obscuring half her face, as if she were carrying a sorrow beyond her years.

"If you have any troubles, feel free to tell me. My prices are fair, and I'm honest with everyone."

"Sigh, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

The young girl finally looked back at him and said with an air of precocity, "You'll understand when you're my age."

?

Ethan was filled with awe. Could this girl be an elf or some other long-lived race? Although she looked no older than ten, perhaps she had lived for centuries?

He asked, "Miss, how old are you?"

"I'm eleven this year."

No wonder.

Ethan understood. Eleven years old, a melancholic age. It reminded him of his own youth, when his heart was often filled with sorrow, like spending an entire night upset because he didn't get to play the role of "dad" in their pretend games.

"That's precisely why I need you to explain it to me since I don't understand. Maybe I can help. Here, look at this."

Ethan conjured a flame in his palm in front of the young girl. She was indeed captivated by the flickering flame, her eyes lighting up. But then, a sad memory seemed to surge back. She said faintly, "Seeing as you've never been in love, I'll mercifully explain it to you."

?

I have no quarrel with you, why the harsh words?

At the same time, Ethan couldn't help but fall into deep self-doubt. He had to reread the information on the advertisement card. He, the great Heisenberg, whose name sounded like someone who lived on the edge, a ruthless smuggler of dangerous goods, why was he only receiving love-related requests?

Did he look like someone who was good at romance?

The young girl said, "The person I like is about to go to the front lines, and I want to see him. But an evil Magician has broken into my house and won't let me go."

Ethan had to admit that from the moment the young girl spoke, every sentence she uttered required careful consideration to grasp the astonishing amount of information. When these words were pieced together, they delivered an incomprehensible impact.

"How old is the person you like?"

"Fourteen," she replied, a blush appearing on her fair cheeks at the mention of her crush. "He's already a Knight in the Kingdom Army who can hold his own."

As she spoke, Ethan began to imagine the truth.

This client was likely the daughter of a prominent Noble family who had fallen for a poor boy struggling in the Kingdom Army. Her family discovered their relationship, accused her of early romance and neglecting her studies, and hired a Magician to watch her, preventing her from going to the barracks to see her beloved.

"So, you've come to Fireplace Bay to find a way to defeat this evil Magician?"

"The Magicians here all claim to be experts and masters, but as soon as they heard the name of that evil Magician, they got scared and ran off. A bunch of liars!"

"What's his name that's so frightening?"

"The servants in the Western-style mansion all call him Mr. Silver Fox."

"Hmm, that is indeed rather tricky."

Although Ethan had never heard of the title Silver Fox, if it was a personal title bestowed by the Empire or the Astrology Society, it meant he had made significant contributions or held high prestige among the Magicians. It was understandable that the experts in Fireplace Bay were unwilling to provoke a renowned Grand Magus.

The young girl immediately wore a look of disdain. "See? You're scared by his name too."

"I'm just saying that this commission is tricky, so the price cannot be the same as originally agreed."

"Young lady, he's a con artist. Don't waste your time on him."

The old butler, emerging from the interrogation room, happened upon this scene. He adjusted his slightly disheveled tailcoat and spoke.

While the accusation of being a pimp was a misunderstanding, his request for more money after hearing the name Silver Fox indicated he was a swindler trying to swindle some cash and run.

Conjuring a flame in his palm was nothing special; it was a trick even novice Elemental Shapers could perform.

"I can make nine magic scrolls for you. If you don't trust me, you can pay me after the job is done, and the reward for the commission isn't money."

The butler was indeed taken aback by Ethan's words. He gave Ethan a "let's talk outside" look. Ethan understood and walked out of the barracks first.

Before the butler who came out later could speak, Ethan asked first, "Before that, you have to answer one question for me. If I understand correctly, the 'evil Magician' was hired by her parents to discipline her. Are you bringing her here against their will?"

Everything about this matter seemed suspicious, and he couldn't figure out what kind of butler would dare to oppose the head of the household.

If the young girl had truly escaped from the Magician, the butler would surely be held accountable later. After all, a sheltered young lady of only eleven years old wouldn't be able to use Teleportation Magic to end up in a place like Fireplace Bay.

"That's because the master didn't tell the young lady the truth."

The old butler's face was a mixture of emotions. After a long pause, he sighed, "They were given a one-way mission. That child was destined not to return."