In the kingdom's slumps, Avy and her maid Chrome met up after Chrome personally delivered a message to General Bane. They're inside a room of one of the houses in the vicinity.
Usually, the slumps never accept a noble, fallen or not.
But, Avy is a special case.
Avy is the sole reason that some teenagers from the slumps polished their skills with the sword and were now adventurers.
The place might be called as slumps, but in reality it's a place more comforting than any lavish noble areas.
"So, how did it go?"
"Yes. Your offer is well-received, my lady. However, due to the fact that you beat the sh-- I mean, defeated your father, if ever he disappear from duty, it could be directly be linked to you and it would be easily be detected, the plans and all."
"So that means it would take a while before he could commence his plans?"
"It is as you say, my lady. It would also be quite questionable if a group of individuals disappear in a short time."
Avy just sighed and nodded.
"Well, we can't blame him. We need to stay cautious after all. By the way, we can't afford to have a companion of mine wait longer for my return. Let's go and--"
Avy and Chrome were then interrupted by a knock on the door. A small girl entered and politely bowed her head.
"Lady Cross, Lady Cross. Some soldiers come to get money."
Avy bit her thumb as she murmured.
"Money...? But it's not time for paying taxes yet."
"My lady, it could be..."
"Ugh, this kingdom is rotten."
•••
It's afternoon.
Near the Southern city gates, two cloaked individuals, Sophia and Sarge, were waiting for Drayko. Drayko is the one that got the task of getting various necessities. They're supposed to meet up few minutes from now.
While the two of them were enjoying some skewers, they heard a conversation between a group of people, who were already drunk despite it's still a little early to become one.
"Hey, have you heard the news?"
"Huh? What news...hic?"
"You know Lady Avy Cross?"
"Ah yeah? The one...banished? Hic! Wha' 'bout it?"
"I heard that she beat the shit out of hee stupid father! Gahahahahaha!"
"Heh...hic...so she's now the head? Haha, a loser don't have the rights to manage a family--hic!"
"Tone dow' yoooo...zzzzz"
Sophia was first to react to that conversation in a form of a whisper.
"You heard that, big brother?"
"Well, that's real something. I have heard that the head of the Cross household is one of the top-tier magical knights of Lucent. For her to beat an individual with such a feat..."
"Well, it's not just some random individual big brother. We're talking about her father."
"Mhmm, yeah. It feels a little refreshing. Ya know, a noble beaten--"
"I'm not referring to that, big brother. I'm talking about the blood rela--you know what? Nevermind about it and let's stuff your mouth with some fried chicken."
Sophia stuffed her brother's mouth with a couple of piping hot fried chicken thighs.
"Mggughhhhhhhh!?"
A few moments later...
Sarge was busy chewing his food properly when Drayko finally came.
"Sorry guys. Did I keep you waiting?"
"Not at all. Now, where are the supplies?"
"I've put it all in an inn not far from here. Let's go through that alleyway; it's faster."
The siblings nodded, and the three of them head off.
•••
"Excuse me gentlemen, but we already paid our taxes two weeks ago. More than that would--"
"Did we ever ask for your pathetic reasons? What we asked is money. We're protecting worthless people like you so you need to give us some money too."
Huh? What's with that reasoning?
These guys...
I crept near the doorway when I heard that part of their conversation with the owner of the house.
"B-but, we don't have any money..."
"Well, that's not our problem. You better give us something pricey or you'll bid farewell to your protection."
Tch. Scumbags.
I'm about to take action when Chrome grabbed me by my wrist. I glanced at her as she shook her head.
"We can't, Lady Avy. We can't afford to get spotted."
Chrome spoke it in a whisper.
"...well then, let's help her out in other means. Hey, girl..."
I asked the girl to give some coins to those mobs and just tell her mother that she got it from her hard-earned savings. The girl nodded gleefully and went outside to meet her mother.
The mother was astonished to see such amount but eventually acquired her calmness back.
"W-well sir, would this be enough?"
"Hoh? See? Your child saved your ass. You better thank the kid. Have a good day then."
The scumbags went off happily, especially the one who's tossing the pouch full of coins to the air.
Meanwhile, the mother and her daughter went inside and thanked us sincerely.
"You don't need to thank us. For now, please do your best to live on. I promise that the day will come when I'll have you guys transfer to your sanctuary."
"We will Lady Cross. You're one of the exceptional individuals that never saw us as dirty peasants. We shall put our trust in you. Please don't worry, I'll make sure that your message for us will be sent to every inhabitant in the slumps."
I just smiled as we went to the backdoor of their home and bid farewell to the two of them.
"So, where's our next stop, my lady?"
"Let's visit 'that' area, Chrome."
"'That' area...? Are you perhaps referring to..."
"Yes. I need a certain individual there to listen to us and hopefully invite him for the sake of our new home."