Unexpected

"Even at a time like this, you can still laugh. Perhaps I underestimated how shameless you are."

Black Snake even found himself admiring these poets' innate optimism.

"Either way, I'm going to Dragon Gold City. If I get arrested, at least I can save the fare for the ride there.

"And from that teasing tone of yours, I'd say you're no worse."

Tang Qi had not expected him and Black Snake to become fellow sufferers.

"I told you before, pushing me forward as a shield doesn't mean you can wash your hands of everything."

Black Snake said irritably, "But what if I didn't do anything?"

"What do you mean?"

He first glanced at Catherine behind Tang Qi.

Then he sighed and slumped down onto the stacked hay bales:

"For the past two years, the caravans always arrived at noon during the Harvest Festival and stayed in town for three days.

"But yesterday, they arrived early, in the middle of the night.

"Then, after immediately inspecting the Star Plums, they were supposed to return to Dragon Gold City--

"I wasn't prepared at all and got caught red-handed."

"And then you told them everything?"

"Dragging two people down with me makes me look less negligent, doesn't it?"

"What a pity. I was just thinking about how to drag you into this."

There had never been any contract between Tang Qi and Black Snake.

Nor could he expect a mercenary notorious throughout the town to keep his mouth shut for outsiders.

Aside from grumbling inwardly, Tang Qi could not really criticize him.

Complaining would only waste more time, so he seized on the key point and asked:

"Immediate inspection... They weren't this rushed in previous years, were they?"

"Nor were they this efficient. Otherwise, why would I have agreed to your lousy plan?"

"So something might have happened to them on the way here..."

Was Twilight Forest really that ominous?

First, it had let the Kobolds inherit the legacy of a fully equipped adventuring party led by a Spellcaster.

Then, it had made a caravan of dozens rush back and forth without stopping, as if they were afraid of running into even the slightest trouble...

As Tang Qi pondered this in silence, he suddenly heard Catherine calling him.

When he turned around, he saw her bowing to a richly dressed man:

"Only the annual Harvest Festival can bring us the pleasure of your company, Manager Hus."

Hus was a tall, slender man with a little mustache. His nose was somewhat sunken, forcing him to repeatedly push up the gold-rimmed spectacles that kept sliding down his oily face.

He paid no attention to Catherine's greeting.

Just breathing the same air as these impoverished commoners made him want to sneeze.

He simply passed the stables and walked toward the Star Plums that the mercenaries had carried into the center of the courtyard.

Ordinary Star Plums were pitch-black, revealing their purple color only under light. Pinching one and holding it toward the sun, he immediately saw the difference:

"As expected, they're inferior goods--Catherine, you've disappointed me."

Hus spoke in a shrill, affected, and arrogant voice:

"Originally, it was out of consideration for your mother's simplicity and your difficulties that Lord Mel rented the best land to your tavern at the lowest possible price every year--

"And yet you chose to collude with this gang of villains, repaying His Lordship's kindness with deceit?"

He should never have dragged Catherine into this.

Since he could not escape being taken to trial anyway, Tang Qi said bluntly:

"My lord, I only told this lady to help transport a batch of Star Plums. She's innocent and knows nothing about the truth."

Hus snorted coldly:

"Even if this villain deceived you, you should have maintained the most basic loyalty to His Lordship--

"When you realized this batch of Star Plums was being transported to the Manor, you should have become vigilant!"

Trying to explain himself to an overly self-important noble's steward would not earn him any understanding.

"Manager Hus, your lecture has been truly deafening. I am utterly ashamed."

Catherine understood that showing off or explaining herself would do no good at a time like this. She quickly bent at the waist, looking weak and remorseful.

That allowed Hus to feel even more superior.

Hus was about to say more when a younger voice interrupted him:

"Enough. She is merely a profit-driven merchant, with neither loyalty nor honor to speak of. How can you hold her to noble standards?

"Father has always been benevolent. Surely he can't be bothered to pursue her mistake."

The owner of the voice was a young man dressed just as lavishly, though shorter and noticeably more corpulent.

He was actually rather handsome, if he could lose weight in the future.

But his broad body had its advantages, too.

It allowed a bottle-shaped "eye" with two gear-like wings attached to it to stand steadily on his shoulder.

It seemed to be a miniature construct, also a product of a Spellcaster.

"Is he the lord's son?" Tang Qi asked softly.

Black Snake merely snorted.

"His build is exactly the same as his father's. Isn't that obvious?"

"Young Master Melard, it may have been three years since we last met. But every time I see you, I am reminded of your generosity and benevolence."

Catherine's smile was always flawless when dealing with people she was not close to.

No one could find the slightest fault in it.

"If those words hadn't come from your mouth, I would have thought you were mocking me. But Catherine, you know that I have never been stingy with my tolerance toward you."

Melard spread his arms and made a gesture as if embracing her.

"So when will you agree to become my bride?"

Beauty was both a blessing and a curse--

Tang Qi had naturally been curious.

If such an extraordinary Dawn-Dusk Flower had appeared in his own territory, perhaps, as a lord, he would not have been able to restrain his desire to pluck her, allowing her to bloom brilliantly in this secluded town...

How could Lord Mel bear not to "cherish" such a charming young woman?

But now he understood.

There was only one Dawn-Dusk Flower, and the father and son had to choose between them.

He glanced toward Black Snake at the right moment.

Being humiliated in public was hardly pleasant.

For the first time, Tang Qi saw a furious, bristling expression on that disheveled face.

"You know, Young Master. I won't abandon this tavern or my family."

"But my tolerance has limits."

Melard's round face was filled with worry.

"I'll come of age next year. That is the final deadline I am giving you.

"When the time comes, I will marry you no matter what and open a [Golden Oak] for you in Dragon Gold City.

"You can still inherit your mother's business and do whatever you want."

"Then please allow me to leave the decision until next year."

Seeing how stubborn she was, Melard did not want to say more. He waved his hand.

"All right. I know you must have been deceived by these villains, so I won't pursue your responsibility--though you know I could use this opportunity to take you to Dragon Gold City by force, don't you?"

"Thank you for your mercy."

"So while I still don't want to make things difficult for you, go back to your tavern."

Melard beckoned Manager Hus forward and gave him a few instructions.

Hus stroked his little mustache and reluctantly obtained the key to the shackles from the mercenaries. As he unlocked them, he said:

"You should remember Young Master Melard's kindness and offer him your loyalty in return."

"I will."

"Hmph. A merchant who doesn't mean what she says."

Merchants were profit-driven and had no loyalty whatsoever.

As the steward who had served Lord Mel for decades, Hus had always been an excellent judge of character.

And in Catherine's humble smile, he could not see the slightest bit of sincerity.

While they were talking, Explosive Wolf, clad in plate armor, kept pacing back and forth impatiently.

Seeing that things were finally about to end, Catherine was still hesitating over whether to leave when he hurried forward and looked at Melard.

"Done chatting? Then get the goods onto the wagon and hurry up. We need to leave."

Hus frowned.

"Mercenary, watch your language. And don't try to influence the employer's decision!"

"Shut your mouth, Little Beard. I'm thinking about his safety--

"You know perfectly well about the accidents we've encountered along the way.

"Returning a day earlier means one less day of risk!"

Tang Qi Keenly caught the word "risk."

So something really had happened?