An Early Morning Encounter

"Fresh chicken! Chicken breast 25 Pfennig a pound, leg meat 40 Pfennig a pound!"

"Cabbage 4 Pfennig a pound! Parsnips 3 Pfennig a pound! Two pounds of big red beets for only 7 Pfennig! Apples 4 Pfennig a pound, buy three pounds and get one free! And we've got freshly imported artichokes, sliced and selling cheap at 18 Pfennig a pound!"

"White sausage with mashed potatoes, plus sauerkraut and dark beer, only 30 Pfennig, just 30 Pfennig a serving!"

Even though Blackwater Town only had about five thousand permanent residents, the morning market street still appeared quite bustling and lively. Although Lude had eaten quite a bit last night, he was still drawn in by the aromas wafting from the street and began to consider whether he should sit down for a simple breakfast.

After all, Lude was a gourmet; keeping him from good food was practically the same as killing him.

As for why Lude was here... it was because he had spent the entire night researching documents, and it wasn't until he prepared to start his practical work this morning that he realized his kerosene and a whole host of other materials had run out.

Thus, he had no choice but to spare some time to visit the market, and while he was at it, see if there was anything else he might need.

Just as Lude was about to find a random shop to sit down in, a small figure caught his attention. After a brief moment of surprise, he walked up behind the figure and tapped her on the shoulder: "Miss Sally?"

"Ah!" Sally let out a startled cry, bolting away like a frightened rabbit.

Watching as she leaped backward into a dark alley, hiding behind a trash can with only one eye peeking out, Lude couldn't help but smile helplessly: "Miss Sally, I don't think I look that terrifying, do I?"

"Ah..." Realizing it was Lude, Sally didn't know what she had remembered, but her cheeks turned red instantly.

She pursed her lips, brushed the dust off her clothes, and ran barefoot toward Lude, saying somewhat bashfully: "I'm sorry, Mr. Hastings, I... I didn't realize it was you."

"It's alright." Lude grabbed a tomato from a vendor and handed it to her: "Want a bite?"

"No, no need..." Sally waved her hands in a panic, but her stomach let out an ill-timed "growl," and her expression became even more awkward.

"Ha..."

Lude chuckled. After a moment of thought, an idea occurred to him, and he pressed his hand onto Sally's shoulder without further argument: "Let's go. Look at how hungry you are; you're at the age where you're still growing, you can't skip breakfast."

"Don't worry, it's my treat."

The phrase "my treat" seemed to have some kind of magic.

Sally's feet, which had been rooted to the spot, immediately began to move, and she followed behind Lude.

The morning market was in full bloom, with early-rising customers swarming in.

Many merchants had moved their tables and chairs out onto the street to expand their business.

Lude quickly chose a storefront.

In this day and age, there was no such thing as pre-made food, so most small eateries only operated with a few types of meals.

Some shops even offered only one set menu, such as the one Lude was currently patronizing.

"Ham sandwich with cheese and arugula, served with a cup of chicory coffee, 20 Pfennig?"

A very reasonable price, Lude thought to himself, then took out his wallet to pay.

Just then, Sally suddenly tugged on the corner of Lude's coat.

"What's wrong?" Lude asked, turning back.

Sally frowned, looking around with some unease: "Mr. Hastings, I feel..."

She stammered slightly before continuing: "I feel like someone was just watching us, and not just the usual passing glance, but... staring intently. You know what I mean, right?"

She added: "However, this is just a feeling I have, I don't have any..."

As she spoke, she lowered her head: "Mr. Hastings, what I mean is, my sixth sense is particularly sharp, so sometimes I can sense many strange situations, but sometimes I can be wrong, so..."

However, Lude didn't pick up on her thread, instead pressing down on her shoulder: "Walk."

"Walk?" Sally was slightly stunned, and before she knew it, she was being dragged away from the vendor by Lude.

"Sir, you believe me?" Sally asked, sounding somewhat incredulous.

Lude nodded and lowered his voice: "Intuition is the soul's warning to the individual; I have always believed in that."

"Not to mention, there are indeed people hunting me, and you might be very familiar with them."

"Familiar?" Sally found that Lude's words always managed to leave her stunned, but before she could react, she had already been dragged by Lude to the front of a more formal restaurant.

At the entrance, the waiter glanced at Sally's bare feet and rough clothes, frowned, and reached out a hand:

"Sir, we do not accommodate people like her here..."

The restaurant host was frowning and about to scold them, but his opening line was interrupted by a roll of purple banknotes.

His expression instantly blossomed: "...Honored guest, how could you lower yourselves to sit in the lobby? As it happens, our private rooms are available. Let me lead the way!"

"To the third floor." Lude looked at the building: "I want a window seat, a private room, not a booth."

"Very well, sir."

Moved by the power of money, the restaurant host wore a professional smile and ushered Lude inside.

The restaurant's staircase was perpetually covered in soot and smoke, making it feel greasy. Sally frowned as she walked up, feeling that washing her feet when she got home today would be quite a chore.

Just then, Lude spoke in a low voice: "Miss Sally, remember, if you feel like you are being followed, you can try to confirm it by entering areas with fewer people."

"Of course, this is on the condition that you are certain you have the ability to deal with the enemy and are prepared to uncover their identity; otherwise, try to stick to crowded places and see if the flow of people can help you hide your tracks."

With that, the two of them arrived at a private room on the third floor.

Lude closed the door behind him and glanced out through the window.

"Miss Sally, do you still have the feeling of being watched here? If so, from which direction?"

Sally looked out the window, frowned, and shook her head. "I can't feel it anymore... I'm sorry, Mr. Hastings, my intuition really is just intuition, so, well, sometimes it isn't that sensitive."

"Even a moment of sensitivity is enough; this is your talent, do not let it go to waste."

As he spoke, Lude reached his right hand into his coat and gripped the handle of his revolver.

The power of firearms was still worth trusting; although they made a great deal of noise and were not as stealthy as Lude's fists, the enemies Lude could kill with a single punch could often be taken down with a single shot.

This point held true for Lude as well.

Ordinary small-caliber pistols had no effect on him.

But if it were a bolt-action rifle, it would be enough to pierce Lude's skin and muscle, and could even shatter his bones.

Lude thought to himself, if only I had the scales of a Lion Dragon.

It would be best if I could get the claws, fire-breathing, and flight all at once.

Bang, bang, bang!

Just then, a series of knocks came at the door, followed immediately by the waiter's voice: "Sir, do you mind if I come in? Your meal is ready!"

"Come in," Lude said, gripping the handle of his gun while preparing himself for an attack.