137: a child

"Find a place to sit, Baron," Wild Dog invited. "Once our witch finishes the ritual, we can talk properly."

Arthur chose a seat and turned to watch the ongoing ritual.

"She is my daughter, Varana," Wild Dog introduced. "She can see the threads of fate."

"In this dark and sunless land, knowing something in advance is always a good thing, isn't it?"

Arthur nodded in agreement.

The light from the crystal ball on the table gradually dimmed.

The woman behind the table began to nervously mutter a string of obscure, incomprehensible words.

Wild Dog was long accustomed to this, his face showing no ripple of emotion.

After a long sigh, the woman returned to normal.

"They are preparing to leave," she said.

Duke Wild Dog nodded, then turned to Arthur: "Your luck isn't very good, Baron; our prey is about to leave."

"From now on, you'll have to fight alone."

"Oh, and about that favor, my daughter insists you still owe us one."

"You can talk to her about it."

Arthur narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, unable to help but question, "I came here to speak with someone who can make decisions."

Duke Wild Dog laughed, pointing a finger at the woman behind the table: "She is the one who makes decisions; her will is my will."

"Relax, Baron."

"We've discussed it—you see, I'm an old man, and you're a young man; we simply don't see eye to eye."

"I agree with that point."

"So I think it's more suitable for you two to deal with each other."

With that, Duke Wild Dog stood up and walked out of the tent.

Arthur let out a long breath and asked the woman, "What the hell are you people doing?"

Just then, a graceful young woman emerged from the shadows.

She had bright, wolf-like eyes, but her smile was as cunning as a fox's.

"You're even more captivating than Mirabelle described, Baron," she said. "Tea?"

"Why not?"

Varana took a teapot from another table and placed it over the campfire.

While waiting for the water to boil, she put away the crystal ball on the table.

"If you wish, I can tell your fortune, Baron."

"I don't need that," Arthur said. "I'm here to discuss our cooperation."

"Then you must have heard my father; we have to go."

"Our cooperation with you is also coming to an end."

"Although it's been a pleasant collaboration, we must say goodbye."

"However, before we leave, perhaps you could repay the favor you owe."

"Let me say this again—"

Arthur swallowed his words as he saw Varana take off her coat.

Her already thin clothing became even more scant; in the firelight, her figure was almost completely revealed.

She approached like a wildcat, still wearing her fox-like smile.

"You must give me a child," she said.

"Whoa," Arthur raised an eyebrow. "That's quite unexpected. May I ask why?"

Varana stopped in front of him, then spread her athletic legs.

"Do you really care?"

Arthur could smell the faint scent of spices on her. He reached out and clasped her slender waist.

The woman obediently tried to sit down, but he held her suspended in mid-air.

The smile faded from her face, replaced by a deer-like confusion.

"For Freke's sake, you haven't really turned over a new leaf, have you?"

Arthur chuckled: "Let me tell you a story. Esputa, do you know Esputa?"

Varana shook her head: "I've only heard merchants mention it."

"It's the largest city in eastern Amn, home to a bunch of well-dressed scoundrels."

"Like you?"

"Exactly, like me." Arthur nodded. "I slept with the mother of one of the local scoundrels."

Varana looked surprised: "You what?"

"If you keep interrupting me, this story will become very long."

"As I just said, I slept with the mother of the biggest scoundrel in that place."

"The woman was at least fifty years old, but very well-preserved, looking only in her early forties."

"So, before you start going around saying I'm no good, I need to make it clear—you are a beautiful woman, and I'm not exactly a righteous person."

"But I know which women I can sleep with and which I cannot."

A cackle of laughter erupted from Varana's rosy lips, like a burst of mad lightning.

If it weren't for her bright, piercing eyes, Arthur would have truly believed this woman was insane, and quite severely so.

Her shrill laughter left Arthur momentarily at a loss for words.

He waited quietly for the laughter to subside before asking, "Tell me, why do you want to do this?"

Varana forcefully sat on Arthur's lap and whispered in his ear: "It's simple, Baron. We are not like you; we don't live in Amn, nor in some Esputa."

"We live a precarious existence in this cursed place, so it is a woman's duty to leave behind sufficiently strong offspring."

"Otherwise, we would have long disappeared into the river of history."

"Strong?" Arthur sniffed her hair lightly. "I'm not exactly associated with strength."

A foxy smile returned to the woman's face:

"Strength isn't just about the body; it also includes the mind."

"My father's warriors are all brave, but he only has one witch: me."

"It used to be my mother, now it's me, and in the future, it will be my child."

"Don't tell me you knew I was the right candidate through prophecy?"

"Yes, yes." The woman nodded, as if agreeing with Arthur's words. "The divination showed that a noble person from the west would come to Qingfeng Valley, and that person is you."

"Tell me, Baron, am I not to your liking? Or do you prefer older women?"

Arthur reached out and grasped Varana's restless hand: "Alright, if that's the case, I need to tell you something, lady."

"It's not always possible to conceive successfully."

"Don't worry, I'll keep you hard."

"I have plenty of remedies for that. Oh, you say no, but your body might not mean it."

Arthur exhaled resignedly and said, "I have a better proposal than giving you a child."

"Tell me," Varana lightly bit Arthur's ear. "I don't think you can impress me."

"Mist Town will become your supply station."

"Whatever manpower, equipment, or food you need, you can get it here."

Varana stopped moving.

Arthur put his arm around her waist and pulled her forward so her ample breasts pressed against his chest.

"Everything the Little Finger Merchant Guild and the Black Blood People agreed upon, the future Mist Town can also provide you."

"But let me be clear, I will not provide slaves, nor will I let you take people away at will. However, criminals and prisoners of war are yours to choose from."

Arthur leaned forward and whispered in her ear: "With these, Lady Varana, you won't have to live a precarious life anymore."

"You also won't have to rack your brains for the continuation of your clan at such a young age."

A smile flashed across Varana's face.

If Arthur could have seen it clearly, he would never have thought it was a fox's smile.

"You know what?" She kissed the Baron's neck. "Your words excite me."

"However, I imagine you nobles probably care a lot about so-called dignity and face."

"I respect your choice, Baron."