Strange Person

Not long after Edward and Princess Andrea turned and left the pier, a passenger ship from Middle Earth arrived at port.

The gangplank was lowered onto the deck, and passengers began disembarking one after another.

The big-bearded captain still stood at the gangplank, bidding farewell to each passenger. Until two people passed by, he turned and asked the purser beside him:

"Those two weren't stowaways, were they? How come I don't remember seeing them? Dressed so oddly?"

The purser leaned close to the captain's ear and whispered:

"First-class cabin number one. Never came out since boarding. Always ordered meals brought to the room. Also, those two were quite the handful. They called up every one of the ship's 'flowers.' Word is, those flowers were utterly worn out every morning when they came out..."

Miss Harris was on duty at the VIP passage today. She yawned boredly and said to the tall security guard John beside her:

"Immigrants from Middle Earth have dropped off a lot lately. Even fewer VIPs are coming."

John replied:

"Places like the White Hawk Duchy with its harsh climate aren't the first choice even for nobles fleeing Middle Earth. The Myriad Islands to the south are their top pick. Summer all year round there. Aside from the heat and a few more storms, everything else is a benefit."

"What benefits? Tell me?"

"According to the sailors in the taverns, the land there is fertile—just scatter seeds and crops grow. It's relatively safe too. Clear the magical beasts off a small island and you can live worry-free, no fear of beast hordes attacking cities. Plenty of mercenary groups have started doing 'island-clearing' work. They wipe out all the beasts on an island and sell it directly to those noble families fleeing their homes. Those nobles usually bring their serfs along. With a bit of thrift, they can build a decent manor in just a few years."

But he didn't mention that what the sailors bragged about most was how passionate and fiery the girls on the islands were—passionate enough to carry a man straight to heaven...

"You make it sound so nice, I want to go south too..." Miss Harris said wistfully.

"But we have our advantages here too. Winters are cold, but diseases are rare. In the south, especially places like the Rainforest Country, you can catch some plague if you're not careful. Some islands have malaria outbreaks, and one slip-up and the whole island..."

John stopped mid-sentence, closed his mouth, puffed out his chest, and stared straight ahead, turning into a human statue. Miss Harris knew a "VIP" was passing through customs, so she put on her practiced smile.

Two oddly dressed people approached. Both wore intricately tailored black tailcoats, with shirts featuring elaborate lace ruffles. Gold pocket watch chains hung from their breast pockets, and they carried slender canes.

Both wore tall black top hats pulled low, hiding even the hair at their temples. Large round sunglasses sat on their noses. Their faces were gaunt, their complexions deathly pale, as if slathered with thick white greasepaint. Their lips were painted bright red, looking extremely strange. They resembled circus clowns.

The two stepped up to Miss Harris's window. One handed over two passports. Miss Harris glanced down and read aloud:

"Two gentlemen from the Duchy of Transylvania... Count Jacob and Count Frian? Oh, this is my first time hosting two counts at once. What an honor." Based on her years of experience, despite their bizarre makeup, the passports were genuine.

The two outside the window nodded but said nothing.

"Are you gentlemen here on official business or for pleasure? Should I notify City Hall to arrange a reception?"

Miss Harris found it odd that these two "bare counts" had no attendants. These days, even a minor noble from Middle Earth arriving at White Eagle Port came with a retinue, and even spoke through their servants.

One of them shook his head, his face twitching unnaturally, showing impatience.

Miss Harris quickly stamped the blue customs seal and watched them leave. Puzzled, she asked the tall security guard:

"John, did you smell something strange?"

"Perfume. Very strong perfume," John replied.

"I know men in Middle Earth are into wearing perfume like women these days. But did you smell a stench? Like... like mutton gone bad in summer?"

"I didn't smell anything. Maybe it's because I smoke—my nose isn't as sharp as yours." The security guard John shook his head.

The two strange men left the customs building but didn't go far. They stood in the shadow of the Customs Building, as if they hated sunlight. One said to the other:

"Jacob, you bastard, be careful! I saw you almost lost it back there. You have to control yourself. Can't show any weakness."

"Yeah, Frian. I was about to lose it. The scent of a New Continent maiden! Her blood must be full of health and sunshine. Tsk tsk. Jiejiejie..." The strange man named Jacob let out a sinister laugh.

"You'd better rein it in. You know why we came to the New Continent. If you weren't such a pervert with a better nose than the rest of us, I wouldn't have brought a troublemaker like you." The other man gritted his teeth.

"I know, I know. The Pureblood, right? I've already caught a faint whiff of her scent. That woman is damn careful. We followed her all the way from Transylvania across the entire Middle Earth, and we haven't even seen her shadow."

"Even if we have to chase her to the ends of the earth, we will. You know how important a Pureblood is to us! If His Excellency the Grand Duke were still here, how would those nations dare to shit on our heads! Now all of Transylvania is a battlefield. I don't even dare to go into hibernation, afraid some stray shell will smash me into meat sauce!" The strange man named Frian continued through gritted teeth.

Just then, a black rental carriage slowly approached from behind them. The carriage body bore yellow lettering: Delton Carriage Company.

But the driver wasn't Old Delton with the red hair, nor Harry with the freckles—Harry was still watching Edward's shop.

The driver was a thin young man in jeans and a cotton coat, his nose red from the cold air. He saw the two figures from behind and called out tentatively:

"Gentlemen, would you like a rental carriage?"

The two strange men turned around at the sound, letting the young coachman see their faces. The young man's face went white instantly, as if he'd seen the most terrifying thing in the world. After a second's pause, he immediately shook the reins and shouted, "Hyah!" The two Quarter Horses pulling the carriage broke into a trot. The carriage passed the two strange men and bolted toward the city gate.

"Jacob, looks like we've run into an old acquaintance," one of the strange men said.

"Then let's go have a look."

The moment the words stopped, their figures vanished. And beside the young coachman, two people appeared, flanking him left and right.

The carriage slowly came to a halt. The young coachman shrank back, not daring to move.

The strange man called Jacob sniffed the stiff, cowering coachman up and down, then grinned and said:

"Never thought we'd run into a fellow countryman after crossing the ocean. You ran away from that bitch Gianna's place, didn't you? What's your name?"

"Lo... Lobby. Wha... what are your orders, sirs?" the young coachman stammered.

"Don't worry, we won't be here long. Be a good boy, and maybe we'll give you a little something when we leave." The strange man named Jacob grinned and patted the trembling coachman's cheek, as if appraising livestock. "Now take us to the best inn in this city. Let's go!"

The two strange men vanished from the coachman's side as soon as they finished speaking. At the same moment, they reappeared inside the rear carriage.

The young coachman, trembling, drove the carriage through the city gate.

"Stop for a moment." As they passed the intersection of City Gate Street, the strange man named Jacob called out to the young coachman, Lobby. He gazed toward the end of City Gate Street and asked:

"That white building over there—what place is it? Do you know?"

"I... I know, sir. That's the city's Alchemy Shop. Seems it's also the Alchemist Association's Branch now. My cousin works there as a clerk."

The young coachman dared not lie; from the depths of his bones, he seemed to fear the two strange men in the carriage, like a mouse encountering its natural predator.

The two strange men then began whispering among themselves.

"Frian, that must be the place."

"Are you sure?" The strange man named Frian couldn't believe such a stroke of luck had fallen into their laps.

The strange man named Jacob sniffed the air again and said:

"Should be no mistake. The scent is strongest there. And I caught another Pureblood's smell inside. Looks like that woman has an accomplice. This time, it's double the harvest. So, shall we head over now?" As he spoke, he moved to push open the carriage door and step out.

The strange man named Frian grabbed Jacob and said:

"That woman's strength is no joke. If she's got an alchemist with her, we might not have the upper hand. Don't forget the old saying: Better to storm a knight's manor than step into an alchemist's home. We'll come back at night. Darkness is our domain. If we can lure them out, even better."

Then he turned to the coachman driving the cart and said:

"Keep going, Lobby. You said your cousin works there as a clerk? Don't you run off when we arrive—we'll need to have a good chat." A low, sinister chuckle echoed from inside the carriage...

PS: Thanks to everyone for your continued support. Shamelessly begging for votes and collections again! Also, just four more investors and we'll hit 100. Though this is my first time writing a novel, I promise I'll do my best to keep going.