The Golden City remained brightly lit beneath the night sky.
A crescent moon hung high, casting a faint silver glow over the roads of the Temple District; the night wind never ceased its clamor, and the soft chime of wind bells mingled with the dancers' murmured laughter, while a few muffled sobs hid beneath their playful banter.
"Jingle, jingle~"
Camel bells rang as Scarface Elder led his camel ahead, chest out and striding proudly. Even the camel seemed to lift its head with pride, as though returning from a great victory.
Behind the camel came four carriages, each loaded with chests full of Perth Coins!
They had come back with a fortune!
"We should hurry back. A group of slaves calling themselves the Unassigned have been rioting lately. If they catch us, we'll have no end of trouble."
Scarface Elder glanced around as he spoke in a lowered voice.
"But by the Deer of Abundance, you really are something. Derino's an old miser, and you actually got him to hand over money in the time it took to eat a meal. Incredible..."
Xia Lun sat on horseback, one hand gripping the flagpole and the other holding the reins. "Fifty thousand Perth Coins might be a lot to other people, but to Derino, it's probably nothing. You could tell from his expression."
"You've got quite an appetite. Fifty thousand Perth Coins could keep the Green Wall standing for ten years." Scarface Elder looked back. "Deer of Abundance, I'm starting to believe in your plan."
White Line rode at the rear of the group. She had wrapped a scarf around her head and put on an earbud.
When they delivered Derino his "gift," White Line had planted listening devices in his residence. Now she listened for any movement from him while watching