The bloodstained Gold Coin dissolved in the cup.
Annan fished the Gold Coin from the bloody water, wiped it dry on his clothes, and glanced at the grim-faced Mercenaries waiting for him. He was about to get up and go with them when Knight Girl suddenly rose.
"I'm coming with you!"
Lonely Man stood too, making his intentions clear without a word.
Were they looking for trouble?
Then Annan saw Knight Girl's expression darken. Mist clouded her bright eyes. "My family was tortured by Vampires for a hundred days. They drained their blood, tore their bodies apart, and fed them to Swine while they were still alive..."
Her voice brimmed with hatred and grief, but Annan still wondered why Knight Girl had suddenly decided to help him. After all, these Mercenaries looked ready to kill him once he had led them there.
"You have to pay us."
Mute Boy, whom Annan had always thought was unable to speak, suddenly spoke up. Joan followed, reaching out and cutting through his hesitation.
"I'm going too!"
Annan clutched the Gold Coin and dodged Joan's lunge, but she kept coming. Knight Girl and the others joined in, and a scuffle broke out before the counter over the Gold Narl.
“We're investigating a Village, not going out to play in the mud,” an ugly Warrior said with a curl of his lip.
The struggle grew fiercer until—
“Enough!” the White Wolf Warrior barked, stopping the chaos. He pointed at Annan and Joan, who had picked up the cup and were about to bring it down. “You two lead the way.”
Knight Girl and Lonely Man stopped fighting for the coin and returned to the table, disappointed. Astolfo swung his legs beneath the table. Joan had been sent by Olmedo, so he wasn't worried.
"I