Chapter 15: Bounty Z

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter

Chapter 15: Bounty Z

The rich man came, and the rich man left.

Taking the vampire assassin with him, he activated his hundred-gold-piece directional teleportation scroll. With a flash of dazzling light, he vanished from Charlie’s sight without a trace.

Before leaving, he turned back and waved to Charlie. “I’ll be back in half an hour. I hope, Mr. Blaze, that you won’t lock the basement door and make me suffer the same fate as this vampire assassin.”

Charlie understood the moment he said it. When he used the directional teleportation scroll to return, he would reappear at the exact place where he had vanished—in the basement.

Then why not teleport upstairs before leaving?

Was he afraid of leaving obvious traces of magic that someone might detect? Or was this another pointless test?

Charlie thought about it for a while until he got a headache. Catching sight of a little blood the vampire assassin had left on the floor, he simply went upstairs, fetched some cleaning supplies, and got to work.

Ben’s skull came rolling down the stairs. “You’re cleaning up the scene again?”

Charlie handed him a rag. “You too.”

“Huh?”

After a moment of stunned silence, Ben muttered, “I don’t know how.”

Charlie said, “Learn from me.”

Pinecone Tower didn’t keep idle people, much less idle skeletons. Ben didn’t know how to refuse, but after thinking it over with his empty skull, he decided there probably wasn’t any harm in learning.

Master said I should be diligent and eager to learn.

“All right, wait a moment. I’ll go get my brothers.” The skull hopped and bounced back upstairs, fetched the rest of his parts, and returned to humbly learn from Charlie how to clean up a crime scene.

Charlie was very pleased.

Once the cleaning was done, with nothing else to occupy him, Charlie began preparing afternoon tea. Today’s treat was a new recipe he’d learned from a street vendor while buying materials the day before—almond milk.

All he had to do was bring water to a boil in a pot, add almond powder, sugar, and salt, then let it simmer over medium heat. The only troublesome part was that ready-made almond powder was rather expensive, so Charlie had bought whole almonds and decided to grind them himself at home.

He took a small cauldron from the alchemy laboratory, washed it clean, put in the almonds, and carefully pounded them. Before long, the rich aroma of almonds filled the air, and Charlie’s hand began to ache.

Charlie wasn’t one to make life unnecessarily difficult for himself, so he handed the mortar over to Ben.

Ben asked innocently, “Do I have to learn this too?”

Charlie leisurely set the water to boil and spoke to him in a gentle tone. “If I become an alchemist, you’ll become my assistant.”

Ben didn’t need to eat, but he happily swallowed the empty promise Charlie had painted for him anyway. His skeletal arms pounded away at the almonds at lightning speed, much faster than Charlie could have managed himself.

That gave Charlie some free time, so he got up and checked the alchemical materials Vic had brought.

Of the five ingredients needed for the Talent Awakening Potion, Vic had brought three: luck root, henbane seeds, and salt-crystal powder. As for the swan feathers and elf tears, which were much harder to find and far more precious, those were still unavailable.

Vic had admitted that he was a black-hearted merchant, but he also claimed to be a man of his word. Charlie had no idea whether the two remaining ingredients would actually make it into his hands.

Still, it was far too early to worry about the Talent Awakening Potion. Charlie’s alchemy hadn’t even reached the beginner level, so there was no way he could make a high-tier potion yet. He still had plenty of time to maneuver around Vic.

After putting the materials away, Charlie returned to the kitchen. By then, Ben had finished grinding the almonds. Charlie removed the impurities, poured the almond powder into the pot, and settled down to enjoy his leisurely afternoon tea.

“Mr. Blaze, what a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.” A familiar voice sounded behind him before long.

Charlie didn’t turn around. He calmly took out the white teacup he’d prepared earlier and poured in the almond milk. When Vic approached, he raised a hand. “Please.”

Vic sat down across from Charlie without the slightest hesitation. “I didn’t know you were skilled in the kitchen as well.”

Charlie simply lifted his cup and took a sip before answering. “I’m an adopted son, not a biological one.”

The real Charlie Blaze had known how to cook, but it wasn’t because Lord Lully had deliberately made things difficult for him in that regard. It was because Lord Lully’s biological son, Young Master Armand, enjoyed cooking.

An adopted son was essentially a glorified study companion and attendant. Whatever Young Master Armand wanted to do, they were expected to do as well—but they could never be better at it than he was.

Therefore, keeping his abilities hidden should have been part of Charlie’s established persona. Showing off a different skill now wouldn’t seem out of place. In fact, the smarter and more thoughtful someone was, the easier it would be for them to believe it.

Vic smiled and said nothing more. As he savored the sweet almond milk, he glanced from the corner of his eye at the skull beside them, which was pretending to be a lampshade.

Ben shuddered and silently turned away.

Vic looked at Charlie with a hint of helplessness. “It seems to dislike me.”

Charlie picked up the skull and placed it on his lap, giving it a reassuring pat. “He’s timid. He’s afraid of strangers.”

After saying that, Charlie took the initiative to ask, “Let’s talk about the jewelry-model job. We’re both connected to the theft case, and now that you’ve established contact with me, are you sure it won’t arouse any unnecessary suspicion? Captain Salomon has piercing eagle-like eyes.”

Vic remained perfectly composed. “They already have more than enough suspects. Who knows how many people are investigating in secret where you can’t see them? And you, Mr. Blaze, are the least conspicuous and have the clearest background of everyone connected to the case.”

Charlie followed up smoothly. “And where are you from, Mr. Vic?”

Vic answered, “Pato City. It’s famous for producing all kinds of gemstones—and, naturally, jewelers like me. I came to Magipo a little over three months ago to seek opportunities. I’ve only been here a little longer than you.”

Three months ago. That was more or less consistent with what Charlie had learned about Vic while shopping in the street the day before.

All in all, this jeweler seemed to be quite wealthy. He frequently mingled with nobles and influential figures, and his conduct could hardly be called discreet. He loved jewelry, he loved beautiful things of all kinds, and, of course, he loved money even more. No one knew his actual surname. Everyone simply called him “Mr. Vic.”

Then Vic smiled again. “Besides, Mr. Blaze, you don’t seem to have a very clear idea of how attractive you are.”

Charlie fell silent. Was that a compliment? Still, he wasn’t offended. The way Vic studied his face was exactly the same as the way he had looked at that emerald ring.

“Jewelry needs a beauty to bring out the strongest desire to buy. Isn’t it a waste to leave jewelry sitting on rigid display stands? Beauty in motion has much more life to it. In a few days, I’ll be holding a banquet at Marguerite Gardens. The nobles and mages of the city will all be there, and I need the right person to showcase my most beautiful and expensive jewelry. As long as the banquet ends successfully, you’ll receive three hundred gold pieces.”

Three hundred gold pieces was an enormous sum for an ordinary person. But for Charlie, who was about to become a mage and an alchemist… well, it was still extremely tempting.

He asked, “What if something goes wrong along the way?”

Vic leisurely set down his teacup, and a dangerous glint flashed through his eyes. “That depends on what goes wrong. If a careless servant accidentally spills a drink on a guest, of course it won’t matter. But if someone deliberately causes trouble… believe me, Mr. Blaze, the banquet will always end successfully. Anyone who fails to appreciate jewelry will have their heart devoured by a greedy giant serpent.”

Charlie lowered his eyes to the skull on his lap, seemingly weighing Vic’s words. After a long while, he looked up. “Then I wish Mr. Vic’s banquet every success.”

Vic raised his cup. “Thank you for the good wishes.”

Soon, Vic got up to leave, and Charlie escorted him to the door. The dutiful coachman opened the carriage door for him. As Vic climbed inside, he turned back and said, “I’ll send a carriage to pick you up tomorrow.”

Charlie paused. “For what?”

Vic replied, “To try on the jewelry.”

With that, he closed the door, and the luxurious carriage slowly departed from Gray Hat Street.

Charlie didn’t hurry back inside. He watched the carriage disappear into the distance, frowning slightly. Just then, the door next door opened, and Mrs. Macken poked her head out curiously. “Little Charlie, who was that?”

Charlie turned around. “A jeweler. He came to… offer me a job.”

“That’s wonderful news, little Charlie. Now that you have a job, you’ll be able to eat something nutritious and get your strength back. Just look at your complexion. Oh, dear, it’s still no better after all these days.” Mrs. Macken continued speaking to Charlie in her usual exaggerated tone. Her concern sounded genuine enough, but the curiosity in her eyes gave her away.

Clearly, she was much more interested in the luxurious carriage, the person inside it, and how the two of them had met than in Charlie’s health.

Charlie simply said they’d met at the Black-Armored Knights, then selectively shared a few irrelevant details. He spoke slowly, looking pale and melancholy. Even after landing a new job, he still couldn’t seem to smile.

Mrs. Macken looked at him with an expression full of affection.

The next day, a new rumor began spreading through Gray Hat Street.

Oh, poor Charlie. He couldn’t become a mage, and alchemy was such a money pit. Now even a black-hearted merchant had set his sights on him. Even the dogs passing by seemed to look at Charlie with sympathy.

They said all those big merchants were rotten to the core.

Jeffrey even came to persuade Charlie. “Why not try somewhere else? This may be the holy city of magic, but Totolando is huge. If there are no opportunities here, perhaps you’ll find them somewhere else!”

Charlie gently but firmly declined. “Jeffrey, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Jeffrey was deeply moved.

What a steadfast person he was. No matter how many setbacks or cold looks he faced, he remained true to himself and never lost sight of his original goal. Jeffrey knew it. He hadn’t been wrong about Charlie.

“Charlie, don’t try to tough it out. If there’s anything you need help with, you have to tell me. I’m only a humble shoemaker’s apprentice, but I’ve managed to save some money!” Jeffrey placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder, his gaze so solemn it was almost as though he were worshipping a god.

Charlie was seized by a pang of guilt and repeatedly assured him that he was simply going to do an honest job.

Jeffrey looked suspicious. “Really?”

“Ahem. Really.” Charlie turned his head away as the harsh midday sunlight hit his face. Pretending to change the subject casually, he said, “It’s noon already. You rushed over here, so you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’m hungry too. How about we go to Lily House?”

At the mention of Lily House, Jeffrey couldn’t help swallowing. He’d been far too busy lately and hadn’t had Lily House’s honey bread, cheesecake, newcatto, or cherry pudding in ages.

Oh, right! He’d heard Lily House had a new item because the berries in the Black Forest had ripened!

The two of them promptly headed for Lily House. The owner’s daughter, Miss Daisy, happened to be there that day as well. She wore a floral-patterned headscarf, with two freshly picked wild daisies dangling from her ears. Wearing an apron as she bustled around the shop, she looked beautiful and full of vitality.

After a busy morning of customers coming and going, she had clearly heard the rumors spreading through the street as well, and she gave Charlie a concerned look.

“Long time no see, Charlie. What can I get you today?” Understanding as ever, Miss Daisy didn’t casually bring up those baseless rumors. Instead, she recommended the shop’s new items as usual, then naturally mentioned that they were looking to hire someone.

Jeffrey eagerly stuffed berry pudding into his mouth while nodding emphatically. “Working at Lily House would be pretty good too!”

“Thank you, Miss Daisy.” Charlie nodded as well, a smile appearing at the corners of his lips. Much of the gloom in his eyes faded. Jeffrey and Daisy were the two people on the street who treated him with the most genuine kindness and sincerity. They weren’t particularly close, but they could always exchange a few words and were happy to lend him a hand.

However, he still declined and explained seriously, “That jeweler knows the Legendary Mage of Mindo Tower. If I work for him, I’ll have a chance to meet him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I don’t want to miss it. Besides, the commission he’s offering is quite generous. We met at the Black-Armored Knights, too, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Hearing this, Jeffrey and Daisy exchanged a glance, realizing there was no point trying to persuade him further. Still, if things really were as Charlie said, Jeffrey had to admit that it was indeed a good opportunity.

Daisy asked what the job involved. When she heard it was to model jewelry, her eyes brightened slightly. “Then that jeweler certainly picked the right person.”

Speak of the devil.

The carriage sent to pick up Charlie arrived. Apparently, it hadn’t found him when it reached Pinecone Tower, so it had come all the way here looking for him. It was the same coachman as yesterday. He greeted Charlie respectfully and observed all the proper courtesies, but did not waste a moment.

In the end, Charlie climbed into the carriage under Jeffrey and Daisy’s concerned and worried gazes.

Meanwhile, Captain Salomon hurried down the steps and entered the dungeon.

He swept through the solid prison cells like a cutting cold wind. When George, who was standing guard outside one of the cells, saw him approach, he hurriedly opened the door and saluted.

The person inside heard the commotion and slowly raised her head, revealing a dirty, rather unremarkable face.

Salomon got straight to the point. “Are you Bounty Z?”

Before the prisoner could answer, George exclaimed in shock, “What? Bounty Z? The legendary thief who’s been missing for years? Isn’t she the guru at the market who lives on Gray Hat Street and makes a living by cheating and swindling peo—”

In a flash, George remembered the clues they’d uncovered at the city lord’s residence.

The treasury hadn’t been robbed just once. It had been visited repeatedly, many times over, before anyone finally discovered what was happening. Whoever was responsible had extraordinary skills—far beyond those of an ordinary thief. This meant that the guru was no ordinary thief.

If she was the legendary thief who had spent years appearing on the bounty rankings, then everything made sense. But someone like that had been hiding in Magipo, living as nothing more than a local guru who made a living through petty fraud?

Good heavens.

“How much have you stolen?” George couldn’t help asking.

“Shouldn’t you be the ones asking yourselves that?” The guru—or, more accurately, Bounty Z—stopped pretending. She sat up a little straighter, and the change in her eyes transformed her seemingly ordinary face into something far less ordinary.

Salomon frowned deeply. “You’ve been lying low for years. Why did you suddenly make a move? Did someone hire you? Who’s behind it?”

Bounty Z smiled faintly. “Protecting Magipo is the duty of your Black-Armored Knights. But not revealing the names of my clients is part of my professional ethics.”

Salomon asked, “Then who is the barber?”

Bounty Z countered, “Did you arrest him too?”

The answer was no.

Bounty Z saw the answer immediately and shook her head disdainfully. “Looks like you didn’t get your information about me from him. Let me guess. The Mercenary Guild? Or perhaps one of my old acquaintances? The moment I reappeared, quite a few people must have become restless, especially my enemies.”

“What kind of commission was important enough to make you expose yourself? Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you?” Salomon remembered that one of the major reasons Bounty Z had disappeared was because she’d been targeted for revenge.

“But aren’t I already under your thorough protection now? Surely the famous Black-Armored Knights can protect a mere thief, can’t it?” Bounty Z spread her hands, making the chains around her clink. Yet she looked perfectly at ease, as though none of this bothered her in the slightest.

George stared at her. “So you deliberately let us capture you?!”

No wonder. The legendary Bounty Z had been captured far too easily.

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter