The Most Chaotic Land [Seeking Recommendations]

Liam had a bad feeling the moment he saw the small town Jaina had mentioned from afar. As they drew closer and signs of life began to appear, Liam finally saw the attire of the "residents," confirming his suspicions.

"Long blades, headscarves, tricorn hats—these guys are pirates through and through, and there are parrots everywhere... This crazy girl actually brought me to Freehold!"

Liam had felt a sense of familiarity the moment he saw the town, built across the cliffs on either side of the strait.

The wooden boat-houses, clustered in a dense, chaotic jumble along the sea cliffs, the rotting seaweed left uncleared beneath the eaves, the scent of rum and burning gunpowder that could be smelled from a distance, accompanied by the faint sounds of drunken pirates brawling, and the ubiquitous barrels and disheveled "townsfolk" passed out by the roadside—everything matched the place in Liam's memory.

Glancing at Jaina, who was looking around with curiosity, Liam felt as though he had been played by this girl. If she had ever been to a place crawling with pirates like this, he'd be a ghost. Regardless of the circumstances, they were in big trouble now!

If it were anywhere else, it might be manageable. But the daughter of Daelin Proudmoore appearing in a pirate den? Liam felt that if Jaina's identity were exposed, he would surely be torn to shreds.

Liam hurriedly fished out a headscarf and a hat, shoving them into Jaina's hands amidst her confused gaze. "Cover your hair."

The young girl understood and immediately followed his instructions to create a simple disguise. Jaina knew her brilliant blonde hair was far too conspicuous; in Kul Tiras, a human kingdom dominated by black and red hair, it stood out like a lighthouse. If she didn't hide it, her identity would be revealed the moment someone caught a glimpse.

"At least the Irontide Raiders, that vicious pirate group, haven't appeared yet. The older, established pirate gangs should be easier to deal with."

Liam silently bolstered his own spirits, then put on an indifferent expression and strode toward Freehold.

Fearing that his unique accent might give him away, Liam didn't dare ask anyone for directions along the way. Fortunately, he knew the town's only small inn was located not far past the suspension bridge connecting the two sides, so the pair headed toward their target, intending to gather some information there.

Freehold was filled with taverns, but there was only one inn. It catered to visiting "merchants," as the locals had no need for such accommodations; after a barrel of rum, any place that kept the rain off served as a bed. Fortunately, the coastal climate was warm and humid, so there was no fear of catching a chill.

Just as they reached the entrance, before Liam could push open the swinging doors, they were shoved outward from within. A small figure tumbled out, stumbling as if about to face-plant onto the ground.

Jaina was startled by the sudden turn of events. Fearing the child might get hurt, she instinctively reached out to catch him, preventing the boy from falling and suffering a bloody nose.

He was a boy with deep red hair, bearing the typical features of a Kul Tiran; he was clearly a local. Most striking were his large eyes, which darted back and forth as he looked at Liam and Jaina, as if searching for something.

Liam had noticed the child before he burst out. With his reflexes, he was certainly no slower than Jaina, but he had remained still because the timing of the boy's appearance felt far too convenient.

Once Jaina steadied the child, Liam's eyes lit up. He took two quick steps to their side to help Jaina lift the boy, not forgetting to brush the dust off the little fellow's clothes.

After the child nodded, bowed his thanks, and scurried away, Liam smiled slightly at Jaina. "Let's go. We don't need to go to the inn."

Without offering an explanation, he led a dissatisfied Jaina—who hadn't seen enough of the excitement—back the way they came, crossing the suspension bridge and heading out of Freehold.

Though they were leaving, Liam's pace was unhurried. Like Jaina earlier, he looked around at the sights of Freehold, appearing for all the world like a tourist out for a stroll.

Jaina, however, was completely bewildered and growing anxious, wondering what Liam was up to.

Not long after they left Freehold, Liam stopped by the side of the road to wait. When Jaina could no longer contain her curiosity and asked what was going on, he held out a hand toward her.

Jaina didn't know what he was playing at and moved to swat his hand away. But Liam flipped his palm, and a small, light-blue silk pouch suddenly appeared, embroidered with a Kul Tiras anchor emblem that she recognized all too well.

"My coin purse! How is it here? When did you take it?"

Though Jaina lacked "street experience," she was highly intelligent. The moment the words left her lips, she realized what had happened, and a flush of red immediately spread across her face.

It seemed that whenever she was with Liam, she found herself blushing quite often.

Liam smiled without explaining, tossed the purse to Jaina, and pointed toward Freehold. "Look, the one who stole your purse is chasing after us."

Jaina looked back to see the boy from earlier running toward them, panting heavily. Seeing the two waiting by the roadside, his eyes first widened in surprise, then he hesitated, his pace faltering, before he gritted his teeth and rushed forward again.

"You thief! Give me back my coin purse!"

The little fellow didn't mince words, immediately accusing Liam of stealing his purse.

Liam had already achieved his goal and had no interest in the purse itself. With a flick of his wrist, he produced four more small coin purses and tossed them casually to the boy.

With the help of his storage space, no thief in this world could match Liam's sleight of hand—not even old man Jorach, let alone a small-time country pickpocket.

This action not only left Jaina stunned, but the boy holding the purses was also caught completely off guard, his rehearsed lines rendered useless by the unexpected turn of events. He didn't know why Liam had so easily handed over what he had managed to snatch, but regardless, any situation that deviated so far from his expectations was never good news.

The boy looked at Liam with increasing caution, his feet shuffling backward as he seemed to decide that if things went south, he would turn and run immediately.