I was going back with Caname who was rumbling all the way back about business. He was so excited and I could barely focus on what he was talking about. I just nodded from time to time.
"Are you all right?" He noticed my distraction.
"I'm afraid I had one drink too much." I explained hoping he would understand and he did.
That night I couldn't sleep for a long time. I was thinking about Lot over and over again. I should have killed him. He will keep hunting me I was sure of it.
The next day the meeting with the anzumian's noble went well. Caname managed to get his deal and both parties were satisfied.
"That calls for a celebration!" Caname patted my back.
"You did your work great, both now and yesterday. I knew you were extraordinary as soon as I saw you for the first time."
"Thank you. Working with you was a pleasure and I do hope you will recommend me to your business partners as well." I bowed slightly to show respect.
'Have you ever considered working for me? I could make good use of someone like you."
That sudden job offer surprised me. Becoming someone's worker was definitely an easy way out. However after working for Mr Dagbert I realized I wanted something more. I wanted to be independent, stop listening to orders and be my own boss.
"Well that's a tempting offer, yet I refuse. I want to establish my own office here and I do hope to cooperate with you sir." I straightened myself and bowed a bit showing respect.
"Well it's a pity because I wanted to have such a talented person only for myself but I understand your decision. I think we will cooperate together and it will be a beneficial cooperation." Sir Caname and I shook hands on this agreement and thus two weeks later I was renting a big office on the high street of Rugetta.
I was standing in the middle of the office and felt great. I actually had two reasons to feel so amazing. One was the new office and the other one was even better. Knight Lot was dead. Two days after the banquet news spread like wildfire. A knight was found dead in the garden. There were many rumors concerning the cause of death, some claimed he got drunk and unlucky to hit his head, others that he was assassinated. However, it was explained that he actually died because of the cold. He lost consciousness and froze to death.
Firstly I was scared that someone might have seen me but after a while I calmed down. Nobody knew anything about me being involved in his death so I was celebrating. I could finally cross out my first name out of the revenge list I kept repeating in my head. Prince of Moreta, Sarak and Obram still were on that list.
Joyful as I was, I started to arrange the furniture. I only had a desk, with a comfortable chair. Sir Caname provided me with an elegant sofa and I bought a fitting small table. I also bought a bookshelf. I needed some books and dictionaries. They were expensive and here I was assisted with Caname's help again. I was truly lucky. about the timing as the first trade correspondence with the Azumian kingdom was brought straight to me and Caname was so happy as to grant my wish to buy three dictionaries.
Behind the office there was a small flat consisting of two rooms, a kitchen and something like a bathroom.
Soon after I established myself there people started to come to my office. I was offering quick and not very expensive service, so soon many middle size merchants were happy to have a new translator in town.
The winter was coming to its end when I proudly admitted that I finally found a place where I belonged. I was earning a fair amount of money and managed to improve my office a bit to make it look more stylish. I wanted to attract richer customers too. I had a few but the more the better.
It was the middle of the week when a fine looking merchant in his forties stepped into my office.
"Greetings sir, how may I help you?" I invited the man to sit on the sofa.
"Good Morning, I need your assistance with this translation." The man handed me over a thick letter. I briefly read it through.
"It's a complaint about late delivery and the quality of the product." I summarized it with one sentence. "Do you want me to translate it for you sir?"
"Yes and I need a good translation. I heard opinions about you sir, you are young but very talented. Good translation is very important. A friend of mine died because of a bad translation." The man wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
I looked in surprise at the man.
"How can one possibly die because of a bad translation?"
"Well, he apparently offended some crazy rich noble from the north who sent people to kill him. It was a very high profile case. The whole city was talking about it. No wonder Obram was in slave trade and was one of the richest people in the city. He was killed just like that dragged in front of his own establishment and nobody helped him. He was trying to explain himself but it was no use. Many people heard it. What is worse, they simply stood there and watched. What is becoming of this world?" The man sighted. I was frozen for a few seconds. This was simply too good to be true. I wanted to scream for joy. Who could believe my little prank turned out to be the sole cause of death of that bastard Obram. I barely managed to compose myself.
"I shall be careful. You want me to write a translation of the letter or an answer?" I acted professionally again.
"I need both." The man replied hastily.
"Good, as you wish. I will translate the conditions and then let us write the draft of a reply."