Two Scum

"Oh? Is that so?" Renard raised his hands slightly, looking at his clothes. They were well-tailored and suited his style. "It is indeed very nice, just a bit expensive."

"As expected of Saint Brieuc Fortress's most handsome man, these clothes make you look even more perfect." Ben chimed in with flattery at the opportune moment, still managing to give two thumbs up despite holding a metal skewer.

Renard's cheeks twitched slightly. The flattery was too blatant, giving him goosebumps, yet upon reflection, being praised felt surprisingly good.

However, he was a practical person and didn't get lost in the praise. Instead, he began to ponder a crucial question: "What about Madam Tamara? I mean, regarding her temper."

Ben thought for a moment and replied uncertainly, "I've heard she's kind, but she can lose her temper sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Renard instinctively stopped, his brows furrowing as he stared intently at his lackey beside him. "When is 'sometimes'?"

Ben felt a bit guilty under his gaze and took a while to answer, "Like... now."

As he spoke, he raised the metal skewer in his hand, presenting the half-cooked chunks of roasted meat to Renard without reservation.

"Sigh!" Renard couldn't help but lament. He slapped his forehead hard and continued walking towards the villa at number sixteen Vanilla Street, muttering as he went, "I hope our arrival doesn't ruin Madam Tamara's good mood."

The lackey swallowed hard, not daring to reply, only showing a slight hesitation in his steps.

Vanilla Street was very quiet. This was, after all, a wealthy district, free from smelly ditches and muddy puddles, from hawkers and peddlers. Entering it, the clamor abruptly ceased, as if stepping into a different dimension.

Ben led Renard along the clean, tidy street. They occasionally saw lost pet posters, the dense notices clearly indicating the owner's anxious state.

The animals depicted on the posters resembled large teddy bears from Earth, but with a fierce appearance.

"Seeking lost pet. Those with information, please inform Madam Tamara. A reward of ten to twenty copper coins will be given depending on the importance of the information. If the pet is found, a one-time reward of five silver coins will be granted."

Ben softly read the words on the poster, then looked at the roasted meat in his hand, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. "Why didn't I see this notice earlier?"

Renard ignored his complaint and quickened his pace to the small villa marked as number sixteen Vanilla Street, reaching out to knock on the courtyard gate. "Knock, knock, knock!"

A response soon came from inside the villa: "Please wait a moment."

Immediately after, an old woman in her sixties, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, emerged from the villa. Judging by her demeanor, she must have been a rare beauty in her youth.

Upon seeing the two men, the old woman's expression suddenly tensed. She then forced a smile and asked, "Young Master Renard, Mr. Ben, what brings you here?"

Presuming this was Madam Tamara, Renard adjusted his attire, trying to appear as dignified as possible, and replied with a heavy tone, "We do have some matters to discuss with you."

Madam Tamara's face showed hesitation. Finally, she mustered her courage and approached the courtyard gate, meeting their gaze across the not-so-tall fence.

Renard felt a bit flustered by her stare. He took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts, and then, in the calmest and gentlest tone he could manage, asked, "Are you the one who posted the notices around town about the lost pet?"

Madam Tamara nodded in confusion and replied, "Yes, is there a problem?"

"Could it be..." Her face suddenly lit up with joy, and she asked with a hint of urgency, "Have you found Katyusha?"

Katyusha? Renard blinked in surprise, then quickly realized this must be the pet's name. He hurriedly nodded, "Yes, I have news about Katyusha. Would you like to hear it?"

"Of course!" Madam Tamara immediately dropped her pretense of reserve and nodded vigorously.

She then opened the fence gate and invited them in for a detailed discussion. She inadvertently glanced at Ben beside her, or rather, at the roasted meat in his hand. For some reason, an ominous feeling suddenly arose within her.

Renard did not step forward. Instead, he extended his right hand, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

Then he remembered that this gesture wasn't common in this world and simply held his hand out, moving it up and down.

Madam Tamara finally understood what he meant and immediately took out a few copper coins from a small purse sewn into her bodice and handed them over.

Renard looked at the pitifully small number of copper coins in his hand, and the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

But even a mosquito's leg is still meat. He pocketed the coins and said with a mournful tone, "The dear Katyusha fell into the hands of some wanderers. When we found her, they were about to eat her."

"Oh! Gods above!" Madam Tamara's eyes went dark at the news, and she nearly had a close encounter with the cold ground.

Renard quickly stepped forward to support her, helping her to a sofa inside the house. He continued his report with relief, "Don't worry, thankfully my subordinate arrived in time. Things aren't as bad as you might imagine."

"Really?" Madam Tamara's expression instantly turned joyful. She grabbed Renard's hand and said gratefully, "Thank you for your help. If I lost Katyusha, I don't know how I would go on living."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she rambled on about the past, "My two sons are not with me, and Katyusha is my only spiritual support. The past six years have been spent with her..."

Renard listened to her story, a helpless twitch at the corner of his mouth. He then forced a smile and said, "We brought Katyusha back whole. Regarding my reward..."

Madam Tamara, still sobbing, took out five silver coins and said, "Thanks to your help, Katyusha was able to return home safely. Please accept these silver coins as my reward."

Renard snatched the silver coins with extreme speed and then shouted towards the door, "Ben, bring Katyusha in. Madam Tamara is waiting to be reunited with her."

After a moment, the lackey reluctantly walked in, holding the roasting skewer. He approached the old woman and slowly placed the metal skewer with the roasted meat on the table.

The old woman looked at Renard with confusion, then at Ben, her gaze finally settling on the roasted meat.

At first, she was puzzled, then, as if she had guessed something, her eyes widened. "Ka... Katyusha?"

"That's right!" Renard nodded with feigned grief, while signaling Ben to quickly escape the villa. Before leaving, he couldn't resist adding, "Don't be too sad. Although Katyusha's physical form is destroyed, her spirit will remain with you."

The two of them ran for over a hundred meters before the heartbroken cries of "You two despicable scumbags" finally echoed from behind them.