Chapter 25.1: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐๐)
โHey, you b*stard. Whereโs your friend? Where did your friend go?โ
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โI. . . I donโt know! I really donโt know! Sob sob. . .โ
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โIf you donโt know, who does!โ
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โDo you realize how much trouble you and your friend have caused us? And now your friend isnโt here? So, who should we take our anger out on? Tell me. Hey, speak up.โ
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โPlease. . . I was wrong! Please spare me!โ
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โI know you were wrong! But stop talking nonsense that even a goblin could say and say something useful. Something that can calm our anger!โ
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โI. . . I really donโt know. . .โ
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โYou mean to tell me you planned this heist without discussing what to do next? Damn it, this guy is unbelievable. Hey, make this guy think clearer.โ
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โYouโre going to use that? On this guy? The other one is more annoying, use it on him.โ
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โFine.โ
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Even among scum, thereโs always someone more detestable. The focus shifted to Pra. Having mentioned the people of the town earlier, Pra was now trembling uncontrollably, too frightened to even mutter.
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โYou heard everything, right? Donโt say you didnโt. If you say you didnโt hear, weโll beat you until you say you did.โ
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โI heard! I heard it!โ
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โGood. You probably donโt remember, so let us help jog your memory.โ
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โWhat do you mean. . .โ
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As the mercenaries grabbed his arms, Pra shivered in fear. Could it be, could it. . .
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Crack!
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โAaaaaaagh!โ
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โFeeling smarter now? Huh? Are you feeling smarter?โ
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โStop. . . Stop it, you motherf*ckers! Stop it!โ
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โOh. Did your guts grow instead of your brains?โ
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โSob sob. . . Please! Please!!โ
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โLetโs try one more time. Letโs see if it makes you smarter.โ
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โThe city! We were going to the city!โ
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โWhich city?โ
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โI donโt f*cking know! Iโve never been there! It was that son of a b*tchโs idea, why are you messing with me! Sob sob!โ
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As Pra pointed at Burren, everyoneโs heads turned sharply. A cruel smile lingered on the mercenariesโ lips.
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โOh dear. . . It was your idea?โ
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โN-No! It really wasnโt!โ
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โSo one of you is lying?โ
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As the mercenaries turned their gaze back to Pra, he desperately shouted again.
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โAsk the people of the town! That b*stard is the leader!โ
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โOh really?โ
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The mercenaries had already figured it out. Burren clearly looked older. Who else but him could play the role of a leader in such a rural town?
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โWow, this guy. As cunning as an orc. We almost fell for it? Heโs the one who did it and stayed quiet?โ
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โImpressive, huh?โ
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โNo, no, no, no. . .โ
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๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
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As the mercenaries washed their hands in a wooden tub, they said,
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โLooks like Gamson and this guy hit it off. Planning to make a score and run off to the city, huh?โ
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The mercenaries had all been like Burren or Pra at some point. Thatโs why they could immediately understand what these guys were up to.
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Living as serfs in a rural town was too harsh for fiery young men. It was no surprise that seeing a band of mercenaries visit their town tempted them to flee to the city.
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The only difference was whether to run away empty-handed or with something in hand.
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โAll this trouble over a half-witted asshole. . .โ
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They called the newbies who just got into a mercenary job or the country bumpkins who wanted to become mercenaries โhalfpennies.โ It was a sneer, meaning they couldnโt even earn a proper coin.
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Of course, just because they lacked the ability didnโt mean they couldnโt cause as much damage.
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โI hoped there would be a hiding place near the town or maybe connections in another nearby town, but it seems not, Captain.โ
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If that were the case, they could have been caught. But if they planned to run far away from the beginning, finding them was impossible.
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How can they be found in this vast continent?
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โNo. Perhaps they can be found after all.โ
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โMr. Khan. Is that really so?โ
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โHow do you mean?โ
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โWell, itโs a long shot but think about it. Where would Gamson run? To an unfamiliar town?โ
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โNo, he would likely head to the city, wouldnโt he?โ
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It was difficult for a wanderer to settle in a small town, especially a suspicious, talentless mercenary.
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In contrast, cities were a gathering place for all sorts.
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โRight. He would go to the city. But which one?โ
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โWe canโt know for sure, can we? Just any city. . . Wait. He had no connections, right? Could it be?โ
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โI think thereโs a high chance heโll return to Marcel city.โ