They sat and enjoyed some brocus syrup and baked cookies. After they exchanged bullshit of aristocratic courtesy, Ha Un felt sketchy on her lips that kept a vibrant smile. She wants to throw out her facade of an aristocrat.
"I heard about a new hero born out of nowhere." Theo put an idiomatic expression as he put one foot on his lap, allowing a Feilin man in a tunic dress to pour some brocus syrup on his cup.
Elegantly slurping her sweet-tasted drink, Ha Un nodded slowly as she peeked back at Theo and caught his mysterious smile. She knew sooner or later, this pretty prick would come to this. "How come Lord Theo knew about these unimportant issues?"
"Every Moonlake wall had ears, My lady. I hope the new hero will be a girl."
"Too bad it was a man."
Theo smirked. "So it is true then. He is the one who created an uproar in the town center many days ago."
"Yes, it is. Our new member indeed had a big wild attitude. As his superior, I apologize for his behavior." She lied to stall his intention to recruit Ji Sung. She knew it well.
"You are too kind, but I hope you were wrong." His lips slurped his drink while peeking behind his cup. He smiled vaguely after putting his cup back on the small curved table. "My little bird told me if he has not yet decided."
"Perhaps your little bird was wrong."
"Perhaps….I just want to ensure you don't use trickery to recruit him."
She frowned. "Oh, trickery. So what hid under your sleeves, My Lord? I know you must try your best to have him under your thumb. But rest assured. I shall do it properly and honorably." She couldn't understand what he tried to do by baiting her, but whatever he tried, Ha Un knew Theo must be prepared for something.
"Admirable. Humans always surprise me. They are known as the chivalry race." He let out a cynical comment. "And they never give up easily."
"That's why Teera asked us to help them many hundred years ago, right?"
"Great, you remember if you are all being summoned here by our ancestors. Then it is inappropriate for you to take what we want, don't you think?"
"And mind if I remind you, My Lord. Without Traveler, your race perhaps would be history."
Elizabeth nudged Ha Un and landed a hearty smile to appease Theo. She tried to remind Ha Un about her words.
Thanks to motherly Feilin, the heated argument slowly faded. Ha Un realized she needed to learn more about diplomacy and how to stern herself from exploding like the last one.
"Lord Theo, this drink was very delightful." Elizabeth put his cup off.
Theo smiled loosely as he danced with his drink. "Red, thick, sweet, like fresh blood."
His love for blood made Ha Un shiver, like many years ago when, the first time, she met him. Back then, he commented about rabbit blood that was sweet and sour at the same time. He enjoyed licking his thumb, which was flavored with blood.
Then Eliza added, "May I know what makes it different from other brocus?"
"My deceased mother planted many brocus trees in our mansion's backyard. We all take care of those plants wholeheartedly, with the best soil, the best fertilizer, and the freshest water gold could buy. Sadly, she never would have tasted it."
With a regretful voice, Eliza commented, "I am sorry to remind you about her."
Ha Un opened her mouth with a little sad smile. "The best soil came from the earth. It cost you a fortune. You should bury her on Earth. Instead, I'm right? See, the Earthing was better than Terra, even the soil."
"Yes, and their girl was... Typically go after wealth." Theo commented while closing his bright eyes as he frowned, thinking something. "Ashak, what word Earththing called the kind of Ha Un-like girl out there... Gold miner? Gold gold...."
The handsome cold face Feilin answered, "Gold Digger, Sir?"
Suddenly Ha Un's face boiled red. "What did you say?"
Eliza closed her eyes in disbelief at what she just heard. Luckily for them, Lord Maximilus saved the day with his drummed laugh.
"Sorry to keep all ladies waiting. I must ensure I have a perfect appearance before meeting the Moonlake flowers."
Everyone bowed before the wide man in an ornament aristocrat blue coat and a white tunic. Blue eyes, blonde hair, and a long mustache that had always been twisted were Lord Maximilius' trademark. He was proud of his broad, golden, lust mustache.
While Ha Un chit-chatted and exchanged pleasantries, he noticed a young Feilin man with white ears and hair whispering something to Theo before he smirked. Ha Un then twisted her neck and found Min Ri nodded.
Min Ri was in the Feilin scout class. Her hearing skill was exceptional. She could hear anything, even a hushed tone, from a 500-meter radius before taking a three-minute break.
"Then I beg your pardon. I must leave early. I had business to attend to. Enjoy your time here. Excuse me, Father." Then he took his feet out from the luxurious room with his four attendants while letting everyone else return to their respective seats.
Ha Un thanked god for letting him out. She hates him to the core. Then she whispered, "Be my eyes and ears. Follow him."
Min Ri also took her leave and did Ha Un's order by following the entourage like a shadow while the remaining atay for discussion about the statue.
"Soo, it all cost you around 1.000 gold coins." Said Lord Maximilius."
"Wait, what?" Ha Un almost fainted. "1.000 gold for the statue?"
"Yes, he not only shattered that poor statue but made a stir at the town center, slicing guards' weapons, and made unofficial battles with the knight. Not to mention, he damaged several buildings around the statue. It is a small price for the traveler association, I presume."
She knew this old fart deliberately raised the price because he wanted something, and Ha Un knew what he wanted.
"How about having dinner with Miss Elizabeth? I am sure she would—"
"Stop it," Whispered Elizabeth. She squished her upper legs but failed to make her stop.
"It would be delightful to have dinner with you. But, it costs you more than a gold coin, My lord Governor."
"A–are you sure? Then, uh, I will reduce it. 850 gold coins. How about that?"
Just as she predicted. "Miss Eliza would be sad. You valued her for 250 gold coins."
"N–no, I mean, you could pay us 250 gold coins, not—-"
"how about you paying me 500 hold coins, Governor? Miss Eliza here, would have dinner with you in special—-"
"Not dinner but breakfast," Eliza said. "I would love to have breakfast with anyone."
"What, anyone? But—"
"It settled then," said Eliza, shaking the Governor's hand while winking at him. "Next day, I will wait with friends at a restaurant."
"No! I want—"
"Done. I hope Terranean never goes back on their word."
After going back and forth for an hour, the meeting ended with Ha Un paying the Governor 100 gold coins and having Eliza and two of her friends attend a breakfast tomorrow.
They tracked down a stair in the mansion garden together.
"You sold me to him, sweetie. How could you? I will tell your father about it."
"I will quote your species wise-word, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
"That did not happen there." Eliza pinched Ha un cute cheeks.
"Aigo, look at the bright sign. You could eat anything you like for free."
"Hmm, you had a point there. But this, this is the last time you are doing that risky stupid plan.
"Okay, I promise you never do that again to you. Besides, we had something urgent here. First, tell everyone if we paid compensation of 500 gold coins. Tell everyone my skill works magically to reduce the cost."
"You want to claim it for yourself?"
"No, but for setting a trap for Ji Sung. Besides, we had something serious going on. That smug Theo hides something."
"Ara ara, so that's why you send Min Ri after him."
"Yes. He thought only he had a little bird? Cih." Ha Un's face was hot like a bonfire when she remembered what that man had said early. "A gold digger... I would burn him if I had a change."
Their steps stopped on the streets of Moonlake City when Yuki ran up to them. From Yuki's heavy breathing, Ha Un realized something big had happened.
"Miss Ha Un, I have news for you. It's about…."