35: Entrapment!

"Oh my god! Matthew, is this still the barren Ironthorn Territory?"

"If I remember correctly, the last time I passed through here, it wasn't nearly this lively."

At the very front of the caravan, a rugged-faced middle-aged man dressed in fine clothing spoke with a face full of amazement.

Beside him, a middle-aged man with a weathered face responded, "Indeed, Belloc. I didn't expect such earth-shaking changes to occur here in just over a month."

"Especially the inspection measures when we entered the town—they are simply night and day compared to before."

"Oh right, and this..."

As he spoke, he pulled out a small rectangular piece of paper and said with great interest, "And they even came up with this thing called a 'Temporary Identification Card'."

"Although the registration was a bit troublesome earlier, thinking back on it now, I think it's a brilliant idea. It can save us a lot of trouble in transactions."

"The person who could think of this method must be extremely wise."

At this moment, a tender-faced youth in the middle of the caravan heard their words and thought to himself, 'Good thing I wasn't born here, or I probably couldn't even manage to be a thief.'

While feeling fortunate, he couldn't help but recall an encounter from many days ago, a look of lingering fear quietly surfacing: 'Why were those people chasing me? Could it be because of this scroll?'

Looking down at the parchment scroll in his pack, he fell into deep thought.

At this time, the enthusiasm of the Ironthorn Town residents forced the caravan to stop, as they crowded around wanting to buy various goods.

As the caravan owners, the two middle-aged men felt no displeasure; instead, their faces were full of smiles.

After all, their goods were meant to be sold in the Western Frontier Territory anyway. If people were willing to buy them along the way, it was even better. As long as there was money to be made, it didn't matter who they sold to.

At their signal, the caravan's handymen nimbly set up stalls and began to hawk their wares loudly, including that youth.

Not far away, Lister sat at an outdoor table of a tavern, quietly watching it all.

Since the divination information only provided the divination itself and wouldn't help him lock onto the person he was looking for,

he had just instructed the staff member registering the caravan's information to bring all the data to him.

However, the name from the divination was not among them, which didn't surprise him.

How could someone who had lived by stealing since childhood reveal their true name so easily, especially when he was currently at risk of being hunted down?

Lister was in no hurry. He sipped his malt beer while observing the appearances and expressions of the handymen in the caravan.

Finally, through rigorous analysis and his sixth sense as a man, he locked onto the youth handyman who was currently organizing goods.

Among all the handymen, he was the only youth, and he gave Lister a strange feeling—the kind of 'thievish vibe' that leaked out from time to time.

But now that the person was identified, how could he reasonably take him for his own? Lister was momentarily stumped.

Just arrest him?

No, he was a Lord now. If he arrested someone without a proper reason, what merchant would be willing to come here for business in the future? They might not even want to pass through.

Buy him with money?

That wouldn't work either. Living by theft meant he wasn't a Slave, so there was no such thing as buying or selling him.

After thinking it over, Lister felt it was better to give him a taste of his own medicine, and incidentally, provide an early education to this youth with bad habits.

With a slight wave of his finger, he signaled Red to lean in, and Lister whispered a few instructions.

After finishing, Red respectfully complied and turned to leave.

Soon, a man dressed in commoner's clothing approached the youth and asked, "Little brother, how much for the hoe in your hand?"

"8 copper coins each," the youth said in a calm tone.

"I'll take one." The man pulled out a coin pouch, took out 8 copper coins, and handed them to the youth.

After taking the hoe, he 'casually' hung the coin pouch on his waist and turned to leave, but because his movements were too wide, the loosely hung pouch fell directly to the ground.

He seemed not to notice and continued walking in the opposite direction.

Seeing it at a glance, the youth didn't hesitate and shouted a reminder: "Hey! You dropped your coin pouch."

Hearing this, the man paused, then turned around to 'thank' him: "Thank you, little brother."

Picking up the coin pouch, he quickly walked toward a corner of the street.

Witnessing this from outside the tavern, Lister felt surprised.

Did this kid change his nature? How could he not even take money that was right in front of him? This doesn't fit the way of a thief.

Or has he already turned over a new leaf and doesn't plan to be a thief anymore?

Although it was strange, Lister still felt something was off.

At this time, the departed Red returned to his side. Just as Red was about to speak, Lister waved his hand to indicate he already knew.

He then gave a few more instructions. Red showed a respectful expression and turned to leave once more.

Before long, a man wearing a robe of high-quality fabric came before the youth and asked, "How much for the longsword beside you?"

"30 silver coins each," the youth answered respectfully.

Hearing this, the man said with some displeasure, "Why is it so expensive? Fine, give me one."

Money was exchanged for goods, and then the man hung his coin pouch on his waist. With a turn, the pouch fell again.

This time, the youth didn't shout immediately. Instead, he looked around furtively to observe the people nearby.

Finding that no one was paying attention, his lips curled up. With a quick swipe, he snatched the coin pouch from the ground and hid it in his bosom.

Seeing this from not far away, Lister was amused: 'Good lad, so you pick your targets. You don't steal from the poor, only the rich, eh?'

'Not bad, at least there's still hope for you.'

At this moment, receiving the signal, the man suddenly started shouting: "Where is my coin pouch? It's gone! Who stole my coin pouch!"

The youth instantly panicked, but before he could make a move, several patrolling Soldiers suddenly lunged out and surrounded him directly.

"Since you dare to steal in Ironthorn Territory, come with us," one of the Soldiers said with a stern and severe expression.

The people around were instantly drawn to this sudden commotion. The caravan owners, Matthew and Belloc, hurriedly pleaded, "Oh, sirs of the patrol, we know this boy. He's hardworking and diligent; he definitely wouldn't be a thief."

"Yes, he's young and an orphan. Where would he get the guts for that?"

The youth's face showed a look of being moved upon hearing this, but the self-reproach and shame in his eyes were plain to see.

At this time, Lister and Red slowly walked over. Seeing the former's appearance, the surrounding residents and patrol Soldiers consciously and respectfully greeted him.

Lister nodded slightly, then said with a faint smile, "This youth probably isn't a thief. I just saw him pick up the coin pouch that fell on the ground; perhaps he was going to return it to that resident but didn't have time to speak up."

Saying this, he looked at the youth with a sharp gaze and said in an inscrutable tone:

"Young man, wouldn't you say so?"