Chapter 49 : Cain Terence

Cain Terence

Half an hour later, Linda arrived as agreed, carrying a rosewood box as she walked into the room.

"Honorable guests, please check the goods."

Saying this, Linda handed the box to Lola, who opened it directly.

The moment the box was opened, Serea could clearly feel a surge of energy. She looked into the box and saw a hexagonal blue gemstone radiating a faint glow.

After observing it carefully for a while, Lola nodded to Linda.

"Yes, this is exactly what we need."

"Very well, dear guests. It now belongs to you."

After securing the mana crystal, Linda led the group of four downstairs.

At the same time, Serea was receiving updates from Little Black. Because the Ailera Empire was still at war, Jones City would be sealed off at six in the evening.

Watching the city gates slowly closing, Little Black used the "Reaper's Shadow" cloak to sneak beneath a cargo wagon, managing to slip into Jones City as well.

With that, the city gates of Jones City closed. If one wanted to leave, they'd have to wait until the following day.

"Looks like we'll have to stay here for the night. Fortunately, everything's gone rather smoothly."

But just as Serea was thinking this, because Linda was engaged in conversation with Lola, she failed to notice the person appearing around the corner of the stairs, and ended up bumping straight into a man dressed in a noble's evening suit.

"Ah!"

Staggering back a few steps after the collision, Linda nearly toppled Lola with her.

In that instant, Lola's hood slipped off, and the man, just happening to look over, spotted a pair of elven pointed ears under the hood.

Celia reacted the fastest. She immediately pulled Linda and Lola back and yanked Lola's hood up again.

Lola quickly adjusted the hood with both hands to hide her ears, while Linda was already apologizing to the man.

"My apologies, sir. Are you all right?"

Linda's tone was extremely sincere, yet the nobleman didn't so much as glance at her, for his gaze was locked solely on Lola.

Noticing his gaze, Lola shrank away and hid behind Serea.

The man's eyes followed Lola and landed directly on Serea, who was also wearing a mask.

The moment their eyes met, his gaze narrowed dangerously.

Those were very dangerous eyes!

"Are you blind?"

The noble locked eyes with Serea, and his attendant stepped forward, shouting at Linda and Lola.

"I'm truly sorry, sir. My deepest apologies."

Linda apologized repeatedly, but the man refused to let things go.

"Sorry? 'Sorry' can't fix everything! Do you even know who you just bumped into? This is none other than Young Master Cain Terence of the 'Terence Merchant Association'!"

"Lord Cain!"

Hearing that name, Linda started to panic. She knew very well what that name and surname meant. Right now...

"Lord Cain, I am deeply sorry. If I have caused you any losses, I will fully compensate you. Please forgive my mistake."

Linda's voice was humble and submissive.

And the reason for her fear...

This was the Ailera Empire, where nobles were everything. As a commoner, Linda had just crashed into one of Jones City's most powerful nobles. All she could do was beg for mercy, or else face the grave crime of offending a noble.

"Hmph, do you think our young master would care about your compensation? Today—"

The attendant kept talking, but Cain suddenly interrupted:

"Did I give you permission to speak?"

"Huh?"

Receiving a sidelong glance from Cain, the attendant immediately wilted.

"You've embarrassed me. Get back."

"Y-yes!"

The attendant stepped back, and Cain glanced at the still-bowed Linda standing before him.

"For the bump just now, I forgive your rudeness. Now go."

"Yes, yes sir!"

Seeing that Cain was willing to let her go, Linda quickly withdrew.

Watching his young master's unusual display, the attendant was puzzled. In all the years he had followed Cain, he had never seen him act so 'gentlemanly.'

After Linda left, Cain's gaze subtly shifted and locked onto Lola behind Serea.

"You're a commoner too, aren't you? Why haven't you apologized for bumping into a noble, like she did?"

Cain spoke, and Lola seemed frightened. The reason for her fear was the badge pinned to Cain's chest.

That gold badge was the insignia of a slaver!

Serea also noticed the badge, and the engraved pattern on it was exactly the same as the one on Dohr's badge!

Not only did Serea notice this, but both Vina and Celia at her side recognized his identity too.

Serea and Celia remained relatively calm, but upon seeing that badge, Vina clenched her teeth tightly.

It was them—it was them who took away her kin!

Though Vina felt deep hatred, she couldn't make any rash moves.

Now, this man named Cain had let Linda go but was deliberately making things difficult for the rest of them. Serea guessed he must have caught on to something.

But Serea showed no sign of timidity as she met Cain's gaze.

Although this was the Ailera Empire, where slave trading was legal, any intelligent race who wasn't a slave could become a citizen—elves included!

In other words, even if he realized Lola's identity, there was nothing he could do to them. However, if Lola was now charged with the crime of offending a noble, that would be a different story.

"Respected Lord, my companion bumped into you just now. On her behalf, I offer you our apologies."

With those words, Serea performed a noble's salute to Cain.

Right now, her first priority was to take the mana crystal back. As for whether the man named Cain had discovered Lola's identity—

Serea already had her own 'solution' in mind.

(To be continued...)

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Hopefully the solution is what I think it is...

Also, changed Shadow of the Reaper to Reaper's Shadow...