Thieves (Part 1)

Because most of the town's officials were connected by blood or marriage to the baron who ruled the land, beyond the authority of their offices, they still held considerable power to intimidate ordinary townsfolk.

The moment Bakasi, the tax officer from the mayor's residence, walked in from outside with an unmistakably hostile expression, everyone in the leather shop immediately headed out.

However, they did not leave at once. They gathered nearby outside, cautiously and curiously watching events unfold, pointing and whispering among themselves. After all, Romon was a fifteen-year-old boy who had only just become a Druid Apprentice, yet had swiftly offended the Druid Jefa. There were simply too many "highlights" about him for people to discuss over tea and meals.

Now even Tax Officer Bakasi had come looking to make trouble for him. Naturally, the onlookers were consumed with curiosity.

Seeing Romon turn toward him, the capable-looking middle-aged man smiled faintly. "Romon, did that boy Fafier not pass my message along to you? If not, I do not mind saying it again. The town does not permit the buying or selling of wild cattle. Do you understand this time?"

"Yes, Mr. Bakasi, I think I understand. I also ran into Fafier just now, and he relayed your words to me. So I no longer intend to sell those two calves. I only want to dispose of this cowhide now. Mr. Bakasi, is that not allowed either?" Romon asked respectfully.

"Yes, it is not allowed. Young man, do not try to play clever tricks. I have already heard about your affairs from the people at the temple. Why was Master Jefa angry? Was it not because of your willful recklessness? Fine, I have said all I need to say. Romon, under the town's tax laws, privately trading wild cattle or wild cattle hides will result in the confiscation of all proceeds. Since you have not completed the transaction, hand over your hide."

At that moment, there was none of Bakasi's initial friendliness toward Romon left. His face was stern, and he was all business.

"The town's tax laws?" Romon froze slightly. If he remembered correctly, the town did not seem to have any such tax laws at all. Of course, saying there were none was not entirely accurate. More precisely, in this town, all laws came from those who governed it. Apart from the various mandatory taxes stipulated by national law, the baron had the final word on most other taxes. What prohibition on privately trading wild cattle and wild cattle hides? Was that not simply whatever this tax officer said it was? But what ability did a powerless, insignificant boy like him have to resist? At least, not yet.

"Very well, Mr. Bakasi. Since the town forbids the sale of wild cattle, and also forbids the sale of wild cattle hides, I am willing to accept punishment. I will absolutely not make such a mistake again in the future. Here is the hide." To Bakasi's surprise, despite such obvious harassment, Romon did not argue his case. Even though the boy's objections would have been useless in the end, Romon's calm demeanor still startled the tax officer somewhat.

"If there is nothing else, I will be leaving first. Goodbye, Mr. Bakasi." Romon calmly placed the hide into Bakasi's hands, gave him a farewell salute, and walked out.

That calm expression, that seemingly humble attitude, made Tax Officer Bakasi narrow his eyes again. Almost out of habit, he touched the ring on his right index finger, then watched the boy's receding figure with a complicated expression.

Although Romon truly was a boy of humble birth and merely a Level 1 Druid, with the talent to become a Druid at fifteen, along with a temperament clearly more mature than that of his peers, in the future he might well...

Although Romon truly was a boy of humble birth and merely a Level 1 Druid, with the talent to become a Druid at fifteen, along with a temperament clearly more mature than that of his peers, in the future he might well...

Even if Priest Tennis had been displeased because Romon had grown too close to Miss Eileen, and the temple had suppressed him because of it, he was a Druid now after all, and still so young...

Thinking of this, the tax officer, who had always been known for caution and an ability to trim his sails to the wind, sank into deep thought. Since he had already forged a grudge with this boy, if he did not crush him completely, the boy might become a future calamity!

Then... this was how it would be.

While Bakasi was still pondering, Romon had already entered the forest once more.

It was November. The plants in the temple were still growing lushly, but the grasses and trees in the forest already bore a heavy air of decline.

Romon casually took out a piece of dry bread from the Shennong Horn space. As he ate and walked, he sorted through his thoughts.

He did not have much money left. Since things had turned out this way between him and the Druid Jefa, he would likely have to repay the three hundred silver coins he owed him very soon. Adding other expenses and costs, he needed to obtain at least four hundred silver coins as quickly as possible to get through this immediate crisis.

Moreover, whenever he thought of Tax Officer Bakasi's deliberate harassment just now, Romon felt uneasy. If he had not misjudged him, that ever-smiling middle-aged man was a typical smiling tiger. He normally would not involve himself in grudges that brought him no benefit. There was probably someone else behind his hostility toward Romon.

Romon shook his head.

Romon shook his head.

Although that Druid had always been neither warm nor cold toward him, and had now resolutely driven him away, overall Jefa was not an evil person.

Then was it Priest Tennis, the fellow who had always disliked him? Romon pondered for a while and felt that this possibility was not small.

Or perhaps there were others who could not stand seeing a man without any backing like him become a Druid and rise upward? That was not impossible either, he thought to himself.

Romon thought this with some irritation. Still, he had never felt much attachment to this town anyway. If the oppression and exclusion became unbearable, he could simply leave. With his little bit of martial skill and his ability to sense nature, starting over somewhere else was not impossible. The only problem was that he might then bear the stigma of a debtor fleeing his obligations.

Romon thought this with some irritation. Still, he had never felt much attachment to this town anyway. If the oppression and exclusion became unbearable, he could simply leave. With his little bit of martial skill and his ability to sense nature, starting over somewhere else was not impossible. The only problem was that he might then bear the stigma of a debtor fleeing his obligations.

So, once he had finished the bread, Romon began searching as he walked for plants that his space did not yet contain.

His mood gradually calmed, and he leisurely admired the scenery before him. Along the way, he even caught a wild rabbit, found an open patch of ground, roasted it, and ate.

Just as he entered the town, someone suddenly stopped him. "Hello, are you Romon?"

"I am. And you are?" Romon stopped and looked the person before him up and down.

"I am. And you are?" Romon stopped and looked the person before him up and down.

"Haha, it is like this. I am Jieke from the Thieves' Guild. Our branch leader has something he would like to discuss with you." The man leaned close to Romon and spoke in a low voice.

"Haha, it is like this. I am Jieke from the Thieves' Guild. Our branch leader has something he would like to discuss with you." The man leaned close to Romon and spoke in a low voice.

Romon frowned. "The Thieves' Guild?"

In the memories Romon had received, there did not seem to be much impression of this guild.

Seeing Romon stop with a thoughtful look, Jieke hurriedly explained in a low voice, "The Thieves' Guild generally operates in medium and large cities. There was originally none in this town; we have only just established a branch here. I am a guild member, and this time I came to invite you over to discuss a business deal..."

"That is correct." Romon became even more wary. "What does that have to do with why you came looking for me?"

Jieke chuckled. "Of course it does! I also heard that the wild cattle you hunted have been forbidden from being bought or sold in town, right? Our branch leader wants to discuss this matter with you. We want to buy your wild cattle. And..."

Jieke chuckled. "Of course it has something to do with us! I also heard that the wild cattle you hunted have been forbidden from being sold in town, right? Our branch leader wants to discuss that very matter with you. We want to buy your wild cattle. And..."

Although the man before him gave him a deeply unreliable feeling, Romon was tempted when he considered that, if this deal truly went through, he would quickly resolve his current predicament. Under Jieke's persuasion, he finally decided to go have a look first.

Although the man before him gave him a deeply unreliable feeling, once Romon considered that, if this deal truly went through, he would quickly resolve his current predicament, his heart stirred. Under Jieke's persuasion, he finally decided to go have a look first.

The Thieves' Guild branch in town had chosen a very secluded location. It was not even within the town itself, but outside it, where they had temporarily built a nest: a stone chamber beneath the forest.

The person who discussed business with him was also a middle-aged man, but he looked far more presentable than Jieke. In fact, he appeared even more honest and kind than ordinary people. Romon found it rather unbelievable that such a man was a thief, and even a minor leader among thieves. Only the occasional sharp gleam in the man's eyes during their conversation told Romon that he was certainly no good man.

Even so, as the negotiation was about to end, Romon took advantage of the other side's inattention to remove a listening device from his space and place it beneath the conference table. He had bought this listening device in his original world. Though it was not a high-end item, it could amplify sound. He just did not know whether it would work here.

Even so, as the negotiation was about to end, Romon took advantage of the other side's inattention to remove a listening device from his space and place it beneath the conference table. He had bought this listening device in his original world. Though it was not a high-end item, it could amplify sound. He just did not know whether it would work here.

At that moment, the thieves were all satisfied that they had settled the deal, so none of them noticed Romon's small movement.

Nor did anyone notice that a metal object about the size of a button had already been placed beneath the table.