Chapter 317- Eyeing a few enemies

Eyeing a few enemies

Merchant Pebb slammed his tankard onto the cured table. Half of the ale sploshed onto the drunkard-beaten boards while he swayed on the chair. Scratching and slapping his uncomfortable beard that sprouted during his journey, he rolled his eyes at the group drinking around the table.

"Dis...How often do I need to holler? I'm a well-known figure around Seastone City and only just arrived from there. I'll tell, I'll say it again. Last time I checked, I left no bigshot Wills Clan out there. From what I be hearing, no Clan with money like the sands on the shore exists. The richest nobles in Seastone City earns his keep by sending out little fishing boats to catch fish and oysters. We don't hear of any Wills or Bills Clan."

The rotund trader snorted in his tankard before yelling for a fresh jug. Since arriving yesterday, he had now found the opportunity to let loose after over a year on the road. As one of the rare travelers servicing the trading route from Frost City direct to Seastone City, his dried fish, and smoked oysters earned him a sizable fortune on each trip.

Tonight he had dispersed his guards and mercenary escorts to enjoy themselves while he drowned his earnings in ale. What raised his temper was the constant rumors in the marketplace and in this very tavern gossiping about some young master Will of Seastone City. Fumbling to his portly feet, he waved his drained mug while his body swayed to the brink of toppling over.

"I tell you I never heard of some young spendthrift master. We deal in fish, what the heck does that bastard use for money? Fishbones? Tomorrow I'll raise a ruckus in the market until I see this so-called young spendthrift."

Merchant Pebb swallowed his spit on eying the serving girl shaking her wide hips over with a full pair of jugs. Recalling his need to groom and wash away the grimes of the road, he smacked his fat lips. Seeing her smooth action on placing the full jugs of ale onto the table raised his daring. He swore to gather the courage of a drunken man to woo this unfettered unicorn. A family man to the bone, traders braving a year of travel required certain wants.

Late at night, Merchant Pebb staggered out the doors of the tavern. The belle chose a younger man while merchant Pebb's spending pouch had run dry for the night. With no advantage to be claimed with coins, even a blind man would have picked the victor.

He raised his swaying fist to the stars and vowed tomorrow night he would walk with a pouch double in weight. Truly the fault lay with him since he should have walked with more coins from his guarded stash at the inn. He had only swaggered a few paces along the street when a few kind gentlemen lent their support to guide him down a deserted narrow alley...

At the crowing of the rooster in the early morning, Merchant Pebb stood on his wagon to wholesale his goods. His voice wavered slightly while his eyes kept darting around the rented stall in the marketplace.

"Take them before they're all gone! This is the last batch of dried fish from Seastone City before winter arrives. Special prices for bulk sales for stewards and servants of nobles! Come and get them!"

"Ah, are these Fara fishes?"

"Oh, a man who knows his fish. No, no, my friend, these are not from the north but come directly from the warm southern waters of Seastone City. These are quality Codds. As a fish connoisseur, surely you can see the fatty marbling waiting to be melted in the pot."

"Sir speaks the truth. On behalf of the noble house of Giles, I request ten boxes. Oh, didn't you mention you arrived from Seastone City? Do you also know young master Wills of the Wills Clan?"

Merchant Pebb stiffened on hearing the name. A shiver ran down his spine and nearly buckled his short legs. The hazy so-called discussion that sobered him up late last night still remained crisp in his memory. Composing himself with a deep breath, he then forced a smile.

"Ahaha! Of course! Who doesn't know of the famous young master Wills. Don't say he has also arrived at Frost City? Clan Wills is well-known as one of the richest clans in Seastone City."

The steward nodded on listening to the acknowledgment from the merchant. This gossip confirmed the rumors floating around young master Wills. News from a fellow traveler originating from Seastone City should earn him a few coppers from the master of the house.

Handing over the payment, he raised an eyebrow.

"I say Merchant Pebb. That's a real shiner around your eye. Ah, you also seem to have a limp. Did something happen?"

"Haha! No worries, steward. Just a little bruise from falling off the wagon. Don't forget to spread the word if anyone wants to restock their cellars for the winter..."

***

Late evening.

To the south and east of Frost City lay large swathes of cultivated lands. Most of these estates belonged to wealthy nobles or merchants who entrusted farmers to deliver a yearly quota for their private granaries with the excess sold as profits. The farmers usually occupied little hovels located near the main exit roadway.

Most of the large acreages held by nobles spanned a generic layout. The private road exited from the main thoroughfare and dissected the land so as to provide the landlord with an unending view of fields of corn or wheat. It then ran through the hovels of serfs or renting farmers who bowed their heads in submission. After which, it meandered in isolation until arriving at the gates of the sprawling countryside estate of the owner.

On a small already harvested hill, just out of sight from the gates of one such villa, a massive wolf yawned while lazily lounging on the matted grass. Reclining comfortably against the broad furry shoulders, a redhead twiddled the toes inside her leather boot while slothfully chewing at a long grass stalk in her mouth.

"Maybe we should call it a day, Boss. We've already scouted around the estate and now have a good grasp as to their guards and patrols. We can wait at our hideout from now until the time of the meeting."

Chong said while sitting a little distance away and watching the empty road.

The young girl leisurely waved a hand in dismissal.

"City life has turned you soft, Chong. Did you forget the thrill of the hunt lies in the wait? Hehe, don't worry, we plan to return to the hideout as soon as night falls. We don't want the wolves to attract eyes during the daytime."

The lean young man rolled his eyes in reply. This young Boss of his remained rooted in her position ever since he received a report early this morning that the owner of this estate would arrive today. Knowing the temperament of this young Boss of his, Chong regretted purchasing this information from a poor serf.

Slow to move, swift to kill, his little Boss always operated at the end of two extremes.

Recalling the motto Jim imparted to them when hunting, he made a rue face.

"Boss, you're not thinking about confronting them today, right?"

His face fell on seeing the girl turn her calm eyes toward him and curl up her lips.

Chong berated himself for not asking Lucy or Sakura to also join them for this reconnaissance venture. Thank heavens he flatly refused to allow Miki to accompany them. With these uncontrollable girls, he could only cry. In the midst of thinking how to reign in Dyna should she decide to deviate from the plan, he noticed her body shift slightly

"Ah! See how patience bears fruit."

Dyna advised while pointing to the head of the large wolf beside her.

Chong followed her emerald eyes to detect the faint twitch from the pair of furry ears. The wet nose raised slightly and sniffed before a near undetected grumble originated from its throat. The short-haired man watched the wolf push a front paw towards a wooden tile. With a raised eyebrow, the redhead pocketed the line of small tiles placed before the wolf into the small pouch tied to her waist belt.

"Hehe, a good hunter would never position himself upwind. Being careful and downwind of the road served us well because of an unexpected visitor..."

Dyna placed a finger on her mouth before she laid flat on her stomach.

An unlikely combination of man, girl, and wolf peered in silence over the low knoll.

The dust on the summer road rounded the bend first before the rumble of a wagon sounded. The clop of horses announced the arrival and passing of boisterous travelers. Unaware of the spying eyes, the group made their way slowly to the gate while chatting merrily.

Chong narrowed his eyes on scanning the faces before whispering and pointing.

"The bald slightly fat man riding in the center behind the guards at the front. He is known as Lord Arash, the one who chairs the Bloodnight Society. The gruff-looking fellow with those unnaturally large eyes is Boss Dermal who handles the largest stables in the city. He had demanded the hand of our Behemoth Gang's Boss as recompense."

An expression of fury flashed across his face as Chong narrowed his eyes while shifting his finger to another location.

"That lanky man there, Boss. He is the one who killed Lin. Clean-cut Harky. A Sersen and right-hand man to Lord Arash. Because of him, we also lost a few recruits when we tried to covertly expand into the bordello streets. The short fat man on the wagon is Boss Jink, who runs numerous establishments in the bordello district. He dared to feed Lin's hand to the pet Jaga sitting in the cage."

Dyna nodded while watching the travelers enter and disappear beyond the gates. Viewing the empty road, she returned to her position leaning against the wolf.

"Looks like that Lord Arash is chummy with those two Bosses."

"Besides them, there are others he also has close ties to. During our meeting after the setup, there were a couple of other Bosses who demanded and obtained compensation from us. I suspect they will arrive later on as the day for the gathering grows near."

"Well if we obtain information on when the others are arriving we can take a look. This one is contented since spotting that Lord Arash and his Sersen lackey. Did he also have another Sersen?"

Chong stroked his chin while recalling the earlier procession.

"Did you notice the burly grey-haired man riding behind the wagon? He was chatting and pointing to the Jaga in the cage."

"Ah, yes. We remember him now."

"That's the next Sersen accompanying Lord Arash. The middle-aged man he spoke with is also a Sersen for Boss Jink."

"Seems like the majority of members in the Bloodnight Society hold Sersen supporters. Then again, for a group that controls the underground of a massive city, having a Sersen is probably a requirement. We really admire you, Chong. For you all to attract the eyes of such a powerful group without having a Sersen backer speaks wonders about your skills."

Dyna praised while licking her lips.

"We look forward to this gathering indeed..."