"Samantha, do we have enough time to run an errand before boarding the boat?" I asked, hoping there was enough time to save the children and board the boat.
Hearing my question, Samantha beamed, waiting in anticipation of the fact that I was going out of my way to help someone again. She quickly checked her pocket watch before informing me, "There's enough time".
Hearing Samantha's reply, I turned to Old Eddie and said, "lead the way".
Haring my words, Old Eddie went to take the gunnysack of coins and carried them over his shoulder before setting off with Samantha and me following behind him.
Sadly, though his starting steps were with heroism and determination, as we reached the tent's entrance, the shorter and slower were his actions before stopping entirely with great shame on his face as he turned around and walked back.
Grabbing his shoulder, I ask, "Where are you going?"
"I - I - I can't do it." Old Eddie spoke in a shaky voice.
"What do you mean you can't? You want to chicken out now?" I frowned and was even ashamed to be associated with such a spineless man.
"Papa…" the voices of the children sounded as I turned to look; I could see their watery pleading eyes staring at Old Eddie. Looking at their faces, I knew that they, too, knew about his chicken behaviour as they clasped their hands together, pleading for Old Eddie to go and save their sisters.
Seeing the faces of the children, Old Eddie gritted his teeth. He vented, "It's not as if I do not want to get them back. It's just that I do not know how to face them since it is my fault that I got them kidnapped in the first place!" he paused looked at me and continued, "Why are you even interfering in our matters in the first place! You a lich, helping people? Ha! That must be the greatest joke I have ever heard!"
After venting those words, Old Eddie immediately regretted it as he looked around to see if there was anyone around. Thankfully, there was no one within earshot, and the tent, according to Samantha, was built with soundproof materials to prevent people from listening in or out. Unfortunately, the children heard it, and their faces turned pale as they slowly stepped backwards, further away from me and towards Old Eddie and Samantha as if looking for them for protection against me.
"Sorry, I – I misspoke," Old Eddie apologised with his head lowered as if a child had done something wrong and asked for forgiveness.
I stayed silent for a while, processing the reaction of the children before sighing in reply, "It's alright; sooner or later, they are going to find out anyway", before an awkward silence continued at the entrance of the tent.
Breaking the silence, Samantha said, "Instead of standing around here, let's go save the girls and them sort out your problems". With that, she storms off inside the tent with some of the children in tow.
Looking up at Old Eddie, I realised that he too turned and looked at me before nervously asking, "Can I. Please not enter?"
Frowning instead, I pushed him inside the tent before entering it myself.
Oof
Old Eddie fell when I pushed him into the tent as I entered. Seeing the familiar dark space relaxes me from the sun as my tension calms and I scan the surroundings. Seeing the cages of humans stacked on top of one another like goods repulse and disgusts me as forgotten memories of similar scenes crop up in my mind.
'To this day, I still can't stand to see such things….' I thought before breaking out of my trance by Old Eddie's voice.
"What! What do you mean that their price went up!" Old Eddie shouted at a short
"Since they are a rare commodity and have yet to be purchased after a year, we have decided to increase their price to 8 gold from the initial four gold coins," said the merchant as if it was a matter of fact and there was nothing wrong with his logic.
"Bullshit! Since when does the price of enslaved people increase when they are unable to be sold?!" bellowed Old Eddie realising that the merchant was being unreasonable by doubling their price.
Looking at the merchant's eyes constantly eyeing Samantha's space pouch, I realised why that merchant became so bold as to ask for money. It is truly money that is the root of all evil and greed in this world. Seeing that Samantha was planning to take more money out, I immediately stepped forward and stopped her before questioning the merchant, "Do you value your life over money?"
Hearing my question and realising my presence, the merchant was stunned before snapping his fingers and sneering at me. The moment he snapped his fingers, two tall overly muscular men came from behind him. Seeing the appearance of the men, the children got afraid and clenched their fists tighter onto Old Eddie and Samantha.
"Do you think I would be afraid of twigs and children?" the merchant jeered at our group thinking that the hired help was strong enough to deter us from causing trouble and willingly hand him the gold. Alas, he does not know my strength and thought that first or second stage warriors could defeat the like of me.
Sighing at the pathetic helpers in front of me, I decided to release a little bit of aura directed directly at them. Feeling the suppressive aura of a supreme master, the two warriors could not withstand it and crashed immediately to the floor. Tracing back from where the aura came from, the two of them looked at me fearfully and immediately and repeatedly apologised to me and begged me to let them go.
Unable to sense the aura I emitted at the warriors, the merchant was furious at their behaviour and repeatedly kicked them angrily, calling them, "Useless! What are you begging for! I did not pay you good money to embarrass me like this! Hurry, go and break all of their bones and take the girl and children. They would be able to help me make good money!"