What the hell just happened? I still couldn't quite believe that, in the end, I was somehow allowed to leave the compound unharmed.
However, the absurd order I was given as a parting gift still loudly echoed through my mind. …Woo her, my ass, as if something like that was even remotely possible!
Rowan couldn't apparently accept the fact that someone like Sara would stand up for a random slum rat like me, so he made a grossly misguided assumption about the sort of connection we had—which was none, and I was hell-bent on letting it stay that way.
Still, what mattered the most was that I bought myself some time, and I had every intention of using this misunderstanding in my favor.
Before I left the compound, I stopped by my former bunk, but just as I expected, all my things were already gone, most likely stolen the moment when the rumors about my presumed death began to circulate. Whatever, it was all repurposed junk anyway.
With that, I threw one last ugly look at the sorry assortment of shacks that had been my home for the past two years before I walked away with my head held high—as a free man, at last!
Now that I was finally free of that crippling debt, I could begin to put all my bold plans into motion. But first... Right then, my stomach grumbled as if on cue, reminding me I hadn't eaten anything for almost a whole day.
So, I carefully retraced my steps back to the market area, where I began searching for something cheap to sate my growling stomach.
Before, I had hoped I would be able to indulge myself in the fancy food from the upper floors that only people like Rowan could usually afford. But since I was now down to my last fifty tokens, I had to be once again frugal with my funds.
That’s why I passed the Outskirts’ only pub with great regret and instead headed for one of the shabby-looking food stalls along the main street.
Even if I couldn’t afford the good stuff, I wanted to at least buy a bowl of rat soup and a loaf of stale bread to accompany it rather than the regular scoop of grovel I usually settled for.
Huh? How come they now cost three tokens? Didn’t they cost two just a few days ago? I furrowed my brows, looking at the outrageous price tag scribbled on the bread lady’s handcart.
“What are you gawking at, boy?” The old woman snapped at me.
“Ehm, nothing… I was just wondering about the price; it looks a bit too high.”
“The price is what it is! Take it or leave it!” She barked out angrily as if she had this exact conversation too many times today.
“Alright, alright! I was just asking, that’s all. I’ll take one loaf, please.”
Seeing that I was actually willing to buy, her demeanor changed drastically, and a weak smile appeared on her wrinkled face. “Here you go, lad! One fresh loaf, straight from the oven!”
I looked dubiously at the miserable loaf of bread she was giving me, thinking that the only fresh thing about it were the tiny spots of mold slowly spreading across its crust.
Still, I was on a tight budget, so I couldn’t be too picky. Let’s just hope there isn’t any sawdust in it.
I hurriedly swiped the offered loaf from her outstretched hand and counted out the required tokens, handing them over with a strained smile.
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However, when the bread lady saw that I still had plenty of tokens to go around, she suddenly leaned over, whispering. “If I were you, I’d buy an extra today. Who knows, it may be your last one for some time.” She said, flashing me a toothless grin.
Hmph! As if I rise to the bait of such a cheap trick… I scoffed inwardly, but a small worm of doubt had already nestled itself inside my mind. “How come?”
“You didn’t hear it from me, but there was apparently some kind of accident on the fourth floor, and a portion of their harvest got spoiled. We were already getting too little as it was, but I’m afraid that things are only poised to get even worse from now on.”
Ah! So that’s why the price has increased so much all of a sudden. I nodded to myself, but then I paused, wondering whether I should trust her words or if it was just an elaborate ruse to sell me more bread. Hmm, she doesn’t strike me as someone who would risk their reputation for a quick profit.
I didn’t know her well, but I remembered that the old bread lady used to be quite kind to us orphans. She never chased us out of the market like some and, from time to time, even gave us leftover scraps for free.
That’s why I was inclined to trust her on this and buy extra. After all, I could always sell more mana crystals later, but if there is a food shortage, everyone starts hoarding, and I won’t be able to buy anything.
“Oh? Is that so? I’ll take one more then, please!” I said to her after a few moments of pondering. “And one bag of hardtacks,” I added as I remembered I also needed to replenish my rations in case I would need to lay low for a time.
Done with the expensive purchase, I then went into the nearby general store to buy myself a few cloth scraps so I could, in my spare time, patch up my poor clothes, which had many new holes in them.
The fact that they were still holding up after everything I’d been through in the past few days was already a small miracle by itself. While I was at it, I also bought an extra bottle, a new sack, and a few sturdy ropes in case I came across another opportunity to take in some sweet loot.
With my final two tokens, I bought a steaming bowl of the questionable soup from the corner stall, one of the most popular ones in the market, as in the Outskirts, hot meals were hard to come by, given how expensive fuel was.
At least the water is free. I chuckled as I carefully refilled all my bottles with the precious liquid from the communal well in the center of the tiny market square.
With a sigh, I sat down on a nearby empty crate, soaking half the bread in the soup and leaving the rest for later. Ah, finally, some peace and quiet! Let’s dig in…
It tasted almost as bad as it looked, but it got the job done. Experiencing the pleasant sensation of having a full belly after such a long time, I couldn’t help but smile.
Still, there was one glaring flaw spoiling this wondrous occasion. Which were the eyes that now watched me from the shadows, following me everywhere I went.
It looked like Rowan still didn’t fully trust me and wanted to make sure I held my end of the bargain. It's that stupid girl's fault! Why did she have to go out of her way and meddle in other people’s business?
And it was not like they were unsubtle about what they were doing. It was almost as if they wanted me to see them. That could be a problem; I need to shake them off.
Having sated my hunger, I made my way into a dark, narrow alley that ran parallel to the main street. The thugs' heavy footsteps echoed somewhere behind me as I expertly weaved my way between the piles of trash and puddles of runaway water, or worse, by the smell of it.
At the next junction, I darted left and immediately doubled back right, pressing myself flat against the grimy plank wall. I smiled, watching as Rowan's thugs ran past my hiding spot, their steps fading into the distance.
I let out a breath. That was close, but it seemed I'd lost them for now. Yet I had no doubt they would be back soon enough, given the chance. Well, tough luck. I smirked.
After all, I had no intention of staying here any longer than I needed to. The threat of the next monster raid into my strange new Domain loomed over my head like an executioner’s axe.
Yet, my main goal to buy some powerful equipment in preparation for it was utterly thwarted by that bastard Carson and his untimely appearance.
I was once again left with nothing, going straight back to square one. Well, at least I managed to restock on food a bit, so I won’t be going hungry anytime soon. I tried to comfort myself.
Still, things weren’t as bad as they might seem at first glance. For I still had my glorious pile of scrap safely hidden inside the Domain, just waiting to be transformed into shiny tokens. Alright, let’s go make some real money!
