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CHAPTER 18 – Korad's Suspicions
Having lost Zale, Cairo raced as quickly as his feet could take him over to the house he was sent to.
On getting there, he gave a gentle knock on the door thrice and stepped back. His eyes frantically scanned the vicinity to be sure no one was watching him.
Not up to three heartbeats, the door pulled back, revealing a burly-looking man as he stepped out onto the front porch of the house.
Merely gazing up at him from this angle, Cairo felt extremely small before him and gulped.
"Yes, lad?"
"I-I bring a message from the bone man," he informed with a shaky voice.
In truth, no matter how much he tried, that was something Cairo could not get used to. His stature made it a reminder of why he was called cricket in the first place.
"Enter."
The burly man stepped into the house and paved the way for Cairo to follow after him. As soon as they entered, he closed the door before picking up a candle stick at the side.
"Boss, the bone man sent his lad," he informed, gesturing for Cairo to make use of the opportunity to come in.
Having done this before, Cairo nodded at the first man and proceeded inside the house, enshrouded by even more darkness.
'One, two, three.' Cairo counted inwardly and suddenly he heard the same voice from earlier ring out authoritatively.
"Stop there."
Obeying he did as he was told, leaving his eyes lowered.
"What news have you?"
"The bone man wishes to inform you that the plan worked. He knows who seeks after the pearl."
A pair of eyes fluttered open in the dark, giving Cairo a chance to figure out where he was.
"It worked?"
"Yes. He wants his reward, so he can dish out the payments evenly," Cairo explained.
"I see. And how do I know if it is authentic?"
"It is. He drew the picture of the one you need to see."
"Is that so? Hmm, then let me see." The words had barely been said when Cairo felt an even darker presence block his vision.
He swallowed more deeply than before, feeling the atmosphere suddenly become tense and heavy.
"Hand it over."
He brought it out and stretched forth his hand in the dark. As quickly as he brought it out, that was as quickly as it got snatched.
"Hmm. Light the candle," he ordered.
A single candle flame sprang to life, illuminating the very dark house as the man's face finally appeared before him.
"Get me the pouch of coins," he ordered once more.
Sounds of footsteps reverberated everywhere. They stopped when they came close to them and handed it over.
Just like the coins in it, the pouch jiggled, signalling its content.
"Yes, take it and leave."
Considering he did not want to be there for long, any more than he would not have had his master not requested it.
"Here."
Having it in his hand, he rushed out of the house the same way he came, got outside, and carefully kept the money before dashing off in a different direction.
Since he had gotten what he needed from Cairo, the latter took a closer look at the portrait that had been drawn.
"Hmm. As much as this news can wait till tomorrow, I think I should inform Korad this night."
"My Lord Chase," the burly man called out. "Do you need to go? What if it is a false alarm?"
"It isn't. Don't worry, I am sure Kairo would be waiting for the news," he said reassuringly.
"Okay."
"Watch the shop for me. I will leave now."
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Just like how dark his house had been, the little light granting him a possible vision immediately greeted his eyes as soon as he stepped into the shop.
"How many times in a row, Chase? You seem to have found a weird way of missing me," Korad stated.
"If you think helping your sorry ass is missing you, then you have gotten the wrong idea once more," Chase countered.
"Fine. What news have you?"
"I think we are now beginning to get on the right foot."
He ignored every other comment and went for the nearest seat in front of him and sat down.
"We know who seeks after the pearl."
Korad's eyes pried open, showing his shock at the news but the latter kept his composure.
"It is shocking, right?"
"Hmm. I never thought they would go this far considering leads weren't left behind but now," he said thoughtfully and placed both elbows down on the table before him.
"Who is he?"
"Apparently he is a stranger."
"Stranger?" Korad questioned once more. "Enlighten me."
Chase went ahead to explain the story with the bone man and how the latter plotted to catch who sought out the pearl.
"Hmm, clever I must say. To think he fell for such plans. I am impressed."
"It is good but I do not think you will be impressed should the seeker come for the pearl. I am guessing you did not just win such a rare gem or had it gifted to you," Chase suggested.
"What do you think? Well, no one protected it but a dead lady. I helped myself to it," he lied.
"Fine. What do you wish to do?"
"Nothing much for now. Have your people monitor him in the meantime. We shall see if he is a buyer or a problem."
"As you wish," Chase said with a nod.
As much as he suspected Korad's movements most times, he did not outrightly disagree with him and tried not to pry too much when need be.
Leaning back against his chair, Korad's eyes narrowed as his mind drifted off in thoughts.
'Did the witch send this seeker?' He questioned inwardly and picked up the paper Chase had dropped on the table.
'If she did, why did she not come for it herself seeing as things would be much easier that way?' Korad pondered.
'No. It cannot be. She would not wish to go through such stress except she does but does not wish to be connected to this should things go haywire.'
Even while he analyzed the problems properly in his mind, his face held an unreadable expression.
'No. I suspect he may not have been from her but how did he know of the pearl? Hmm, rather than having my brain stressed because of one witch and a seeker, next time he shows his face close by, we'll kill him.'
A wicked chuckle erupted from deep in his throat as he let the paper fall to the table.