"That works too. The Secret Treasure isn't much use to us, and holding on to it would only draw the attention of other factions."
"Do you know what the Secret Treasure is?" Annan asked Faster.
"No."
Faster, who ran the Tavern, yawned. He was going back to sleep.
Faster's words won agreement from the Dwarf and Ingrid. Compared with a Secret Treasure that every faction was fighting over, stability was Star-Moon Bay's real wealth.
Rona returned after settling the children in the Mansion. She suggested Annan find someone to look after them, but he seemed to be staring out the window, not listening.
"What are you looking at?"
"Your silhouette is in the window," Annan blurted out as he came to his senses. "Because I don't dare look directly at your beauty."
The room suddenly fell silent. Rona raised an eyebrow.
"You... I never thought... Ugh..." Surprise and disgust warred on her face before disgust won out. She rushed away.
Evelyn covered her mouth, startled and excited. "Did something happen between you two in Betar City...?"
"No!"
"I misjudged you." But Copperbeard only wanted to tease Annan. "Jack, I thought you and Rose were a couple."
"Lately, strange things keep coming out of my mouth for no reason..." Annan said helplessly.
At first, he had thought the female warrior's habit had rubbed off on him. And since it had brought the Blue Dragon to Star-Moon Bay, he hadn't paid it much mind. But now that things were still slipping out unconsciously, it clearly wasn't a coincidence. Luckily, he had only said it to Rona. If he blurted something like that out to the Elf Mentor... Annan didn't dare imagine what would happen.
"When did it start?"
"After I got back from the Haunted Gold Mine."
"I suggest you visit the