After years of professional training, Liam had become exceptionally observant. In his eyes, the three men had each reacted to the situation quite differently.
Wenrick's eyes held the relief of someone who had narrowly escaped death. Harlan Sweete's feverish gaze carried a hint of envy, along with a murderous look that still lingered toward the pirate who had fled. Flynn Fairwind wore a fawning smile, but beneath it lurked deep wariness.
Flynn had been the first to realize that Liam's appearance here might not be good news for them. There was no way he had come all the way to such a remote place by chance. It meant he might have been following Flynn the whole time, only choosing to show himself now. Going to so much trouble over a small-time thug like him surely meant he wanted more than just information about someone.
But Flynn was a clever man. He wouldn't voice his concerns outright. Instead, he did his best to look grateful.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me. Even if that guy's hiding in a Quillboar cave, I'll dig him out for you."
Watching Flynn put on a whole show, changing faces and acting his heart out, Liam couldn't help finding it amusing. "Good. Just remember, I'm no 'easy mark,' and I'm not that easy to fool. Do your job properly, and don't try to cut corners."
With that, Liam waved and turned to leave, leaving Flynn standing there in stunned disbelief, along with his two curious companions, who had no idea what had just happened.
Liam wasn't some grizzled veteran who had spent years working the streets, but he knew that some people couldn't be cowed with a few words. Flynn was one of them, and so was that pirate.
If you wanted to play peacemaker—especially the kind who was obviously taking the wrong side—you first needed to have the muscle to back it up. Liam had no trouble keeping them in line on that front.
But solving problems with your fists always led to a backlash, so Liam wasn't foolish enough to think the matter was settled. With his keen eye, he'd easily noticed that the pirate hadn't gone far and was still prowling nearby. That was why he'd scattered money around so generously earlier and quietly set a little trap here. If the man was greedy enough to be blinded by the lure of money and refused to let the matter drop, then he'd be doing Liam a favor.
The walk back to the inn was uneventful, but seeing Jaina gave him a start. The girl, who had been in high spirits before, now seemed rather gloomy. Her little face was all scrunched up, and her eyes were a little red, as though she was about to cry but couldn't quite manage it.
Jaina really wasn't in a good mood. To be precise, she felt awful.
Not long after Liam left, Jaina grew bored and wanted to sneak out to have a look around. But she remembered promising Liam she wouldn't sneak off, and after a brief struggle, the girl decisively tamped down her curiosity.
Still, staying inside didn't mean she couldn't see what was happening "outside." Hunters had Eagle Eye, Priests had Mind Vision, Shamans had Far Sight, and Warlocks had Kilrogg's Eye. Mages, who spent all their time cooped up in their towers, had their own ways of keeping tabs on the outside world, too.
All a mage needed was a crystal ball. With a simple spatial spell, they could create a clear projection and see whatever they wanted.
Jaina's talent for spatial magic was no less impressive than her talent for water magic, and she mastered it far more easily than other schools. So, with her curiosity getting the better of her, she quickly learned this entry-level "little spell," which wasn't difficult for her at all.
But when she took a closer look at all of Freehold, she discovered that even Kul Tiras had places this impoverished and chaotic—places too painful to look at.
Jaina had been born and raised in Boralus, its greatest city, so naturally she imagined the world as a wonderful place. To the north, Stormsong Valley enjoyed springlike weather all year round, with vast plains and the finest farms. To the west, though Drustvar was divided from the rest by snow-capped mountains, its people were hardy, and it boasted the best fishing harbors and pastures in all of Kul Tiras. And Tiragarde, at the heart of Kul Tiras, was rich in mineral deposits and sat astride the sea routes connecting it to the Eastern Kingdoms.
In young Jaina's eyes, such a kingdom was perfect. Naturally, its people all lived in peace and prosperity, united in supporting her father as he governed this paradise among the seven kingdoms.
Unfortunately, where there was light, there was also darkness. That day, Jaina had gotten a vivid glimpse of the things lurking beneath the surface of Kul Tiras.
Just as the sea wasn't always calm beneath clear skies, cruel storms could leave many people without homes, cost them their lives, or force them to become refugees. Many women were driven into serving drinks for a living, while homeless children became street urchins—the next generation of Freehold's thugs.
Kul Tiras had official measures for dealing with such problems, of course, but there would always be some people who took the opposite path from the one everyone hoped they would follow. They gathered in Freehold and spent their days drinking and carousing. They weren't pirates, but they did much the same things as pirates.
The worst offenders were the three major gangs of Freehold. Though they didn't dare commit major crimes under the might of the Proudmoore family, they were always bullying merchants and committing lesser crimes on the side.
After spending the evening reminiscing with Jaina, Liam talked with her until it was getting dark. Only then did the girl get to the point.
"Father always says my eldest brother is a hero, and that it's only because heroes like him made sacrifices that we can live such peaceful lives now. But... but I thought..."
Jaina was disheartened, unable to find the words to describe how let down she felt.
"You thought everyone in the world was a good person?" Liam teased. He thought a word he remembered from his past life described Jaina perfectly right now: "naive."
"Of course not. I'm just disappointed, and I don't know what I can do to help... They're Kul Tirans, too. Even if Father won't do anything, I have a duty to help them." Jaina was angry. Her little face flushed, her cheeks puffed out as she glared at Liam.
Liam slapped a hand to his forehead. Now he finally understood why, years later, this girl would take a group of people and set up on her own in Theramore. This was where the trouble had started!
Liam honestly couldn't decide whether to call her "innocent" or "stupid." But to keep this silly girl from making any more reckless decisions in the future, he decided to teach her a proper lesson.
As it happened, the sound of flapping wings came from outside the window just then. Coral's harsh, drake-like voice suddenly rang out. "Liam, that guy's leaving!"
"Come on. We're going out." Hearing Coral, Liam stood up and spoke to Jaina, who had tried to reach out and pet Coral, only to get a glare that sent her hand back.
"Where are we going?" Jaina looked up and asked, puzzled.
"To class!" Liam's answer was full of conviction, but also terribly chuunibyou...
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