60: The Noblewoman and the Wanted Criminal (Thank you for your recommendation and monthly tickets)

The midday sun slanted across the spires of the Old Temple, casting a warm golden glow over the cobblestone market square.

Catherine, Airo, and Old Joe led a donkey cart, slowly moving through the bustling market streets.

The female thief vigilantly scanned her surroundings; such a lively market was a paradise for pickpockets.

She couldn't let Catherine's money disappear without a trace.

The trio passed a blacksmith's shop, where sparks flew, and quenched longswords hissed steam in cold water.

Apprentices collectively hung newly forged chainmail on wooden racks.

The clang of metal mixed with the dull thud of leatherworkers hammering saddles, creating a constant din.

Catherine was drawn to a spice stall not far away.

The spice merchant pulled back a rough canvas tarp, revealing clay pots filled with cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper; a rich aroma wafted on the wind.

A hawker selling nightingales passed by them, shaking a bamboo cage.

The crisp bird song intertwined with the lute music of a bard at the tavern entrance.

Old Joe frowned, watching an alchemist in a nearby alley.

The fellow had a blue-smoking crucible on a tripod, and mysterious powder sizzled in a copper spoon, drawing several children to tiptoe and peer.

The next second, the powder exploded with a bang, erupting in colorful flames, and the onlookers burst into exclamations of awe.

"It's a trick," Old Joe snorted disdainfully.

Soldiers with pierced swords leaned against a stone wall, sharing bread, sweat beading on their foreheads.

Vendors haggled in accented common tongue, and piles of parchment, bronze candlesticks, and clay pots were stacked high at their stalls…

Catherine was browsing at the spice stall.

Suddenly, a woman's sharp curse rang out from a nearby alley.

She looked over, only to see a beautiful girl throwing a tantrum at a boy.

Judging from the wild flowers scattered on the ground and their conversation, the girl seemed quite displeased with the gift.

Catherine shook her head, picked up a jar, and sniffed it, pondering how to haggle with the vendor.

But she was interrupted again by the shrill female voice: "I told you long ago, don't try to fool me with these cheap wild flowers!"

"These...these are freshly picked this morning."

She heard the boy say aggrievedly.

"Enough!" The girl's voice rose again, "I told you, if you want to marry me, you have to bring something decent.

"Otherwise, my parents won't agree. A ring, gold, with a gem, that kind."

The boy remained silent, looking troubled.

"Ben, do you love me?" The girl's tone softened considerably.

"Of course." The boy's voice was firm.

"But love can't just be words.

"My sister, the butcher's daughter, she married a horse dealer, and that horse dealer gave her a huge string of gem necklaces.

"I don't ask to be better than her, but it has to be respectable, right? Otherwise, other girls will laugh at me."

"But...but I don't have that much money." The boy's tone was clearly anxious.

"Alright, let's not talk about that for now. Do you have money now? Today is my birthday, you should at least buy me a pair of gloves."

"Okay...okay."

"Where's the money?" The girl asked impatiently.

Catherine put down the jar in her hand and looked at the alley again.

Old Joe, sitting on the donkey's back, spoke up, "Mind your own business, little Cat."

But the noblewoman didn't listen to him; instead, she strode towards the man and woman.

Airo followed closely behind.

"Damn it." Old Joe cursed helplessly.

The girl's hand, reaching for the money, was suddenly yanked, and she gasped, turning to glare at the newcomer.

"Let go of me, who the hell are you?"

"Give him back the money." Catherine said coldly.

"What? What are you? So nosy, is it not allowed?"

Catherine tightened her grip.

The girl shrieked in pain: "Ah~ you're hurting me, Ben!"

The boy looked at the scene before him, bewildered, and just as he was about to step forward, Airo pushed him back.

Airo held up a warning finger: "Back off, kid, this is for your own good."

"You damned coward! You just stand there and watch me get bullied?" The girl roared at the boy.

"I'll say it again, give him back the money, don't force me to slap you!"

Catherine warned again.

The girl still wouldn't give up: "Are you two crazy? Aren't you women?"

Catherine pulled a dagger from her waist and held it against the girl's pretty face.

"You wouldn't want a scar on your face."

The girl finally caved, tearfully handing over the five silver coins.

Catherine threw the money to the boy and snapped at the girl, "Get out!"

The girl glared at the trio, then shot a fierce look at the boy.

"Ben, we're over! You useless coward!"

With that, she huffily turned and left.

"She's lying to you." Catherine said to the boy, "She will never marry you.

"Even if you give her a gold ring with a gem.

"She just sees you as a dispensable wallet.

"If you run out of money, she will abandon you without hesitation."

The boy retorted unconvinced, "How do you know? She...she loves me..."

Airo raised a hand and slapped him, to make the boy sober up.

Then she scoffed, "Let me guess, she has a gambling father.

"A mother who's been bedridden for years, and an apprentice brother?"

Ben rubbed his face, looking at Airo in surprise.

The expression on his face said it all.

"This is the oldest scam I've ever seen, yet people still fall for it." Airo said.

Ben's eyes instantly dimmed.

Seeing this, Catherine asked the disheartened boy, "Do you have a mother?"

Ben nodded.

"Buy a bouquet of flowers for your mother." Catherine said.

Hope rekindled in the boy's eyes.

He nodded vigorously and turned to leave.

But Airo pulled him back, leaned in and sniffed, asking, "You work at a spice shop?"

"My...my family is in the spice business." Ben replied.

"Perfect, take us there, can we get a discount?" Airo asked.

"Of course, of course, follow me, ladies, it's not far from here." Ben led the way.

Airo waved to Old Joe, signaling him to follow with the donkey cart.

Then she teased, "I thought you were the savior of women."

Catherine heard the sarcasm in her words,

She simply replied calmly, "I am no savior.

"What I did before was not for these women.

"They are no different from those men who swindle women out of money; they are all a disgrace."

Airo shrugged, "Let's go, I found you a spice shop that gives discounts.

"But, my lady, next time, could you please give me a heads-up before acting?"

Catherine nodded, "Sorry, I was too impulsive."

Airo smiled faintly, "Arthur always says good deeds are rewarded, and it seems to be true."

-----------------

Jessica traversed the streets of Wolf Den City with full concentration, not missing a single possible detail.

He hadn't let Iron Shovel and Newt follow him, because some things had to be faced alone, and he didn't want his companions to defend him.

During his days in Wolf Den City, Jessica had become increasingly adept at blending into crowds.

He wore the mask Catherine had given him and was draped in an ordinary brown hooded robe.

Moving clumsily and slowly would make most people think he was either ill or a hopeless drunk.

Every mercenary group had unique contact signals, and the Longfeather Mercenary Group was no exception.

These marks were most commonly used when they infiltrated enemy cities and went undercover.

Of course, merely knowing these marks was far from enough; you also had to know where to find them.

Therefore, Jessica first headed to the Old Temple of Mother Earth.

His former subordinates would naturally not leave marks on the temple itself.

Such blasphemous acts would easily be discovered by the bustling believers around the temple.

But the buildings opposite the temple were a good, often overlooked choice.

He had once found marks left by survivors on the wall of a tavern beside the street leading to the Old Temple.

However, this time, the tavern's outer wall was covered in graffiti, and what he was looking for wasn't there.

It wasn't until he reached the corner of a funeral parlor's wall that he finally found what he was looking for.

Jessica crossed two streets, headed north past three more, and then found the next mark on the doorpost of a bookstore.

These marks led him into poorer districts.

The next mark was no longer an engraving but a painted symbol, hidden among the local gang's graffiti.

This mark also looked newer.

The painted mark guided Jessica deeper into the slums.

The streets here were overflowing with sewage and dimly lit.

He knew he had entered the territory of the Black Hand Gang, so he became extra cautious.

Aside from considering his own safety, any violent conflict here could attract unnecessary attention.

The last mark was painted on a cheap wooden door.

It was a dilapidated small courtyard, with one wall largely collapsed, allowing a glimpse inside from the outside.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a long while, a white-haired old man tremblingly opened the door and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"Haven, it's me."

Jessica removed his mask.

The old man's eyes widened, and he tremblingly opened the door wider to let his former leader in.

The small courtyard was filled with familiar faces, and familiar voices kept coming.

Jessica walked silently past these people; he couldn't respond.

Because he had failed, he had destroyed what his ancestors had built, and he had let down those who had once followed him.

A half-elf with a scar on his face walked out from the crowd,

He wasn't alone; a red-skinned Tiefling was with him.

"Jessica, by Heim, it's really you, you're alive!"

The half-elf excitedly stepped forward and hugged Jessica.

"My brother, we all thought you...you were dead." The half-elf said with emotion.

"It's good to see you, Aerindor."

Jessica patted his former second-in-command on the back.

At the same time, he nodded to the Tiefling.

Aerindor pulled his former leader's arm and said excitedly, "Come, let's go inside and sit down, we need to have a good drink.

"The news of your return will surely lift spirits!"

But Jessica didn't move; he took a deep breath and stated the purpose of his visit.

The small courtyard instantly fell silent.

Anger appeared on the half-elf Aerindor's face at a visible speed.

"Haven't you seen through the faces of those nobles yet?

"They used us and then killed us like dogs.

"If even the tragedy of that night can't make you sober up, then I can only assume you betrayed us."

Aerindor's accusation was unassailable, because his former self would have made the same judgment.

But now it was different; he had met Arthur, and realized that not all nobles were as despicable as the Falcon Family.

Jessica thought so in his heart.

He opened his mouth and said, "I failed you, yes, that's right.

"But I will never betray you. In the two years since the massacre, I have been seeking revenge.

"Bruce can attest to that for me."

The Tiefling nodded.

"I'm not here to ask you to follow me; I don't have that right." Jessica continued, "But...but please think about it.

"We have nothing left to lose.

"Do you want to live like this forever?

"If possible, I want to rebuild a home in Qingfeng Valley, and then seek revenge on the Falcon Family."

Aerindor sneered and retorted, "You're crazy. All of us back then thought the Falcon Family would give us a home.

"But what happened? Do you really want the tragedy to happen again?"

"Lord Arthur is different from other nobles." Jessica said earnestly, "I know it's hard to explain all this.

"But as long as you spend some time with him, you'll understand."

Jessica's words swayed many people.

Aerindor was clearly not among them; he drew his sword.

It was an old longsword, but well-maintained.

"Stop spreading your deceitful words here, noble's dog!

"We have our own plans. We won't sell our lives for your damned noble."

Jessica sighed, "Joining the Green Hoods in the Serpent Forest is definitely not a good idea; those wood elves are extremely xenophobic.

"Do you really think they will accept you?"

"At least they are enemies with Amn!" Aerindor roared.

Just as the two were at a stalemate, the Tiefling spoke, "We will follow you, Sir Jessica."

Aerindor frowned, looking at the Tiefling in disbelief, "Bruce, do you know what you're doing?"

The Tiefling nodded, "The Fury organization abandoned us, leaving us to die on the battlefield.

"If it weren't for Sir Jessica, we would have died long ago.

"The reason we followed you, Aerindor, was because we might find Sir Jessica."

After he finished speaking, another six people walked out of the small courtyard.

They wore worn-out armor and carried weapons, but determination was etched on each of their faces.

Jessica called out each of their names one by one, thanking them individually.

As the former Fury soldiers declared their stance, more people who admired Jessica chose to follow him.

Among them was the old man who had opened the door earlier.

Aerindor looked at these stubborn people, feeling quite helpless.

Most of those willing to follow Jessica were non-combatants, so it didn't affect him much.

Therefore, he said nothing and let them go.

Finally, Jessica extended his hand to his former second-in-command: "No matter what, brother, please believe that I will never be your enemy."

Aerindor merely sheathed his sword and said coldly, "Leave, you've gotten what you wanted."