Chapter 103: Old Friends

This light, slightly hoarse, and somewhat magnetic voice made George feel very familiar with it. Besides, in Karada, there were only a few friends who could call him by his name directly. Combined with such a unique voice, even though they hadn’t seen each other for nearly a year, George could still tell who was coming without turning around.

“Dear Green! Didn’t you go on a study tour to the south? Why are you back so soon?” While speaking, George turned around based on the sound’s source and immediately stepped forward to give the other person a bear hug.

The young man who was suddenly hugged struggled a bit. Realizing it was useless, he saw George’s slightly mocking smile and had to raise his hands in surrender: “I’ve only been back for a few days! I haven’t had time to notify you yet.”

Seeing the other person give in, George finally let go and released him: “It’s rare for you to return. Let’s go find a Tavern and sit down together in a bit!”

“Good idea! I originally planned to wait a few more days until everyone was gathered to have a get-together. I didn’t expect you to come to Karada so early this time.” Green was also surprised by George’s sudden appearance. He had been about to ask a question, but unfortunately, George took the initiative first in this conversation, making it hard for him to dig deeper.

The young man in front of George was tall and graceful. His skin was as delicate as a woman’s, and his naturally curly light yellow hair beautifully outlined his pale and noble forehead. However, those wild eyes and his stubborn, arrogant mouth managed to weaken that bit of effeminate air on him. But the way he struggled just now made the soft hair on his head fall untidily over one eye, bringing back that sissy feeling.

His deep red tight leather jacket studded with brass buttons, mid-gray leather pants, and iron-palmed boots, along with the calfskin gloves on his hands, made him look like someone who had just returned from an adventure. The satchel at his waist and the slender sword further deepened this impression.

George looked him up and down, stroking his chin as he asked: “This outfit of yours doesn’t look like someone who has only been back for a few days.”

Although Green had undergone this kind of inspection many times, he still felt a bit creepy under George’s gaze that treated him like merchandise. He quickly waved his hand at George: “Go on, don’t be so surprised. I wore this every day when I went to the south. After a long time, I got used to it. When I came back and tried to wear those light and airy silk clothes, they just felt wrong no matter how I wore them. Clothes with some texture like this make me feel secure.”

“Hey, have you two finished your chat? And you young man who just handed over the nameplate, if you want to borrow a book, hurry up. Old man, I’m waiting for you to finish early so I can read!” George turned around to see the old radish head who had been sitting behind the counter standing up. He was waving the nameplate George had handed him, protesting that George was wasting his time.

Knowing he was in the wrong, George had to shrug at Green and lean on the counter to handle the interrupted business: “Sir, do you have any books about the writing of the Continent of Karatu here? But I need ones that are not in the Inner Hall.”

“The writing of Kalatu? And ones not recorded in the Inner Hall? You really know how to give me a hard time.” The old radish head looked down and thought for a while. The beard wrapped around his fingers was already completely tangled, yet he still couldn’t come up with an answer. There were no electronic management systems like in libraries before crossing over here, and since it wasn’t a self-service borrowing method, it really tested the internal administrators and front desk receptionists.

After plucking out a few more hairs from his head, realizing his shallow knowledge in this area, he turned to ask for help: “Ultrad, I have a question for you!”

Seeing no response, he called out again: “Ultrad, I have a question for you!”

Still getting no response, he had to lean out from the counter, grinning mischievously, and reached out to grab the small iron hammer hanging in the middle-lower section, giving it a hard shake.

“Bang—” This time the bell rang much louder than the three times George had rung it before. You know, George had specifically controlled the volume then. But this old man was determined to make himself uncomfortable and not let anyone else be comfortable either. Didn’t you see Green behind George covering his ears?

The scene just happened again, except there was one less middle-aged or elderly person staring at them. However, when they discovered that the one who disturbed their reading was that old radish head, the old man closest to him spoke up angrily: “I say, Zechariah Innes, did your brain suddenly fill with water or what?”

That old and cunning radish head naturally wouldn’t let himself become the target of everyone after his scheme succeeded. While his head was still outside the counter, facing the bronze bell, and while all the bookworms couldn’t see his face, he put away his cunning expression and put on an innocent look. Facing everyone’s angry questioning, this old slippery fellow just said: “The book this young man is looking for is something only Ultrad knows best. But I called out several times and he didn’t respond at all. And this young man seems to be in such a hurry, so in a moment of panic, I impulsively rang the bell.”

‘Which of your old eyes saw that I was in a hurry?’ George, who was being used as a scapegoat by that old radish head, was naturally very unhappy. But since he didn’t plan to offend anyone casually outside, he could only grumble in his heart.

As the saying goes, old people become cunning. The old radish head’s attempt to shift the blame couldn’t hide from the old bookworms present. Look, the one he just named immediately started to refute: “I was too absorbed in reading just now and didn’t notice what you said. But why didn’t you just come over and call me directly? Do you have to ring the bell and disturb everyone’s peace? Or are you so old that you can’t even walk these few steps?”

Seeing someone step up to take the conversation, and it seemed like there was an intention to teach that old nuisance a lesson, everyone else immediately turned back and buried themselves in the mountains of books and seas of literature.

The tall and thin old man, realizing there was no audience left, didn’t make any further moves. He directly asked George outside: “If that old nuisance can’t handle your problem, just come ask me.”

“What do you mean ‘if that old nuisance can’t handle it, just come ask me’? It’s just that I haven’t paid much attention to Kalatu literature. And what does that phrase ‘old nuisance’ mean?” Sometimes old people were like children, and this one started to argue back immediately.

However, sometimes ignoring was the best way to deal with others. Ultrad simply ignored the protest and continued to ask George: “So, young man, what kind of books or documents do you need?”

“I need books about the writing of the Continent of Karatu that are not in the Inner Hall.” Seemingly prepared, George’s answer this time was much more concise than before.

“Not in the Inner Hall? Let me think about this carefully.” This old man stroked his beard and began searching in his memory. At the same time, his other hand never left the books placed on the counter.

When that old radish head saw someone take over his task, he quickly threw the nameplate in his hand to the other person and immediately entered reading mode, thinking “better the friend die than the poor.” Taking this opportunity, George and Green also moved to Ultrad’s window.

Looking at George, Ultrad’s eyes faintly glowed. He closed the book in his hand and said: “According to your needs, we only have three books in our Outer Hall that meet the criteria. They are Isolt Farak’s ‘Comparison of the Common Tongue of Kalatu’, Caesar Avery’s ‘On the Differences between Dragon Tongue and the Common Tongue of Kalatu’, and Jasmine Hard’s ‘Grammar Features of the Various Countries of Kalatu’.”

‘Right! How did I forget that although the Common Tongue of Kalatu evolved from Dragon Tongue, there are still some differences, just like British English and American English before crossing over.’ Having an answer in his mind, George immediately made his choice. Smiling, he said: “Then I’ll borrow ‘On the Differences between Dragon Tongue and the Common Tongue of Kalatu’ and ‘Grammar Features of the Various Countries of Kalatu’ first.”

“Then the deposit for two books is 30 Gold Coins, and the rental fee is 2 Gold Coins. If they are damaged, the deposit will be deducted according to the rules.” The slightly thin Ultrad quickly gave the quote and used a Quill Pen with a silver tip to make notes on the parchment.

When George took out 32 Gold Coins from his money bag and handed them to the counter, Ultrad counted them and then pulled open the drawer to sweep them all inside. Afterward, he said: “Wait a moment!” and then turned around and disappeared into the rows of bookshelves behind him.

With nothing to do, George leaned back against the counter and chatted aimlessly with Green. After all, the two of them rarely saw each other even once a year. In the past two years, if Green had time, he could visit Bolerum Territory, but this year, most of the time the other was on a study tour in the south, so there was even less chance to meet.

“By the way, when you wrote to us before, didn’t you say you would be back by early next year? Why are you back so soon?” George immediately raised the question in his mind.

“Last month, when I was exchanging ideas with fellow enthusiasts in the Kingdom of Coruz, I found the local atmosphere seemed a bit off. It felt like many people were becoming nervous, which is not a good omen. Didn’t you once say: People like us with status won’t put ourselves in dangerous situations for no reason. For safety, I naturally came back to the country first.” Green wore an expression of lingering fear, and his words revealed a bit of helplessness and regret.

George deliberately put on a mocking expression and spoke in a strange voice: “Is there going to be a civil war? Good thing you left in time.”