Kura very carefully counted out a few gold coins from her pocket and handed them over to Florence, then she nodded to the trio with her eyes narrowed as she held the muppet like that.
"Then, Kura will be leaving now.... See you later, big brother, big sister, and merchant uncle. ..."
After that, she turned around and disappeared into the crowd, still swaying.
(Is there really no problem?)
Caroline twirled the little umbrella in her hands, a little uneasy. From what Kura had said, it seemed that her home was right here, so she wasn't particularly worried. Even if the young lady was a sleepyhead, there were people who could take care of her. However, the two of them were still a bit puzzled by the fact that Kura had fallen asleep on the street without anyone noticing, and even though they had asked Kura about it, she had just tilted her head and said to herself, "Is it just not working?" But she just mumbled to herself, "Is it not working?" and went back to sleep, so it seemed impossible to get any useful information out of her.
"So gentlemen, I guess it's time for the delivery, and after that, could you please come to my house for a few moments? I think my daughter should be at home by now, and I promise you'll love her." Florence smiled, the melancholy on his face after entering the city had been swept away, and he could not see that he had been so worried before. And the two did not hesitate, quickly nodded to agree to Florence's proposal. Obviously, Florence must have something to ask of them for being so cordial to them along the way, and they were just sitting around anyway.
Still, there was something deep inside Jared that didn't feel right, and what it was, he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Florence must be just a little person.
He thinks so.
It's as if one party is transporting goods or sending letters to another party, and Florence is the messenger, so if the enemy wants to kill him, it must be for the purpose of intercepting the message or the goods. Now that they've reached their destination, they won't have a chance to do it again. But Jared still felt something strange in his heart, and he couldn't tell what it was.
In the middle of thinking, Florence had already driven the carriage to a high tower located in the noble district of Glory City, and at the same time when he saw this tower, Jared suddenly had an inner movement, and then he felt that his body was a little difficult.
(It's weird, I feel the same way.)
When he explained this to Caroline, who also replied with slight confusion.
(This place, it seems, is rejecting us.)
"It's probably some kind of knot or something ..."
Jared spread his hands helplessly, he was not as sensitive to this kind of power as Caroline was, but considering Caroline's bloodline, it wasn't just an illusion that she would feel this way.
Florence drove her carriage under the tower, and immediately a guard stopped them, and after some conversation and confirmation of their identity, one of the heavily-armored warriors picked up the heavy sack full of gems and went into the tower. Florence and the three of them followed, but as they were about to enter the door, the guards at the door suddenly held out their lances and crossed them in front of the three of them.
"What are they?"
One of the guards asked, staring at Jared and Caroline behind Florence.
"My escort, of course."
Florence was a little surprised, then replied, disgruntled.
"My lords, do you think a merchant can travel alone on such a dangerous road? These two are my guardians, if it weren't for them, I'm afraid I'd be eaten to death by those damnable sand bandits and thieves. By the gods, it shouldn't be a problem for me to bring two guards with me."
"..."
The guards eyed Jared and Caroline carefully, clearly uninterested in the combination of what looked more like a wandering gentleman and an aristocratic lady than a martial artist, with a characteristic martial arrogance that was also evident.
She's got a nice body, but she's wearing such a tight outfit, and she's fighting? She's probably going to get all ripped up in a few hits. Look at that boy, he's as weak as a chicken, and he doesn't even wear leather armor, he doesn't think he can fight in such a cloth suit. Well, these two youngsters are just pretending to be warriors because they think it's cool. They're a disgrace to us warriors.
Thinking about it, in the end the guard said nothing, but shook his head coldly.
"This is the territory of the Dark Master! You're perfectly safe here, don't you believe in the Dark Master?"
"No, no, no, of course not. The Dark Mage is my oldest customer, don't I know him well? Okay, okay, I'll go in alone. ..."
Florence, true to form as a merchant, changed his words in the twinkling of an eye, and then he turned to the two men and said, with a slight apology.
"Excuse me, please wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."
(Mr. Merchant, if something happens, call out and we'll be there right away.)
The moment the merchant entered the mage tower, Caroline's voice was heard in his head. And at this Florence was only slightly surprised for a moment, and then changed back to a calm expression, and led by the guards, walked towards the uppermost floor of the tower ...
"Do you think there's something wrong?"
Standing outside the tower, Jared whispered to Caroline, who was locking onto Florence in the tower. Her "thought communication" was in fact like a large signal transceiver. It can receive signals from the surrounding area, and send out signals to the surrounding area at the same time. For Caroline, simply locking on to one of the signals was like an appetizer before breakfast.
(So far, nothing seems out of place.)
In Caroline's brain, all that came through was Florence and the guards talking over each other, but mostly Florence was enthusiastically kissing the ass of the "handsome" "great" "mysterious" "powerful" Dark Mage, and of course, knowing Caroline's special abilities, it was possible that he was orienting himself to Caroline in exactly this way. "powerful" Dark Mage, but mostly Florence enthusiastically sucking up to the "handsome," "great," "mysterious," and "powerful" Dark Mage, and of course, knowing Caroline's special abilities, he could be positioning himself in such a way that he's not just sucking up to Caroline.
But it was clear that both Jared and Caroline had low compatibility with the endless stream of asses, so after Caroline sent a helpless (Mr. Merchant, I can tell where you are even if you don't say anything), Florence quickly shut up as well, and judging from his situation either the ass words were going to run out of steam, or the pats were making even himself a little nauseous.
There didn't seem to be any trouble along the way, but Jared still didn't feel right. Just then, Caroline suddenly took his hand in hers.
(Mr. Businessman has arrived.)
"... Pay attention..."
Jared's inner turmoil had increased rather than decreased.
Caroline nodded, and then just for a moment, the people on the bustling streets and the clamor of the marketplace all became unusually faint, but Florence's voice appeared in her mind with extraordinary clarity.
"Greetings, Honorable Lord Dark Mage."
"... things done?"
An eerie, low voice rang out, which caused Caroline to frown, and to be fair she wasn't going to like it.
"Of course, of course. This time I have traveled a lot of dangerous road ... Hey, you do not know, I actually ran into two groups of sand bandits, two ah! Hey, I even now are wondering how I ran out of the desert, you say, this can really ..."
"Cut the crap."
It seems the voice is the Dark Mage.
"Yes, yes, yes, honored, great Lord of Darkness."
Now Florence sounds like a greedy businessman.
"So, do I get my part of the payoff?"
"Sure."
Suddenly, the Dark Mage's voice trailed off.
"This is your reward."
"You ..."
Caroline snapped back her umbrella and spun it into a sharp sword. At that moment, the black light from Jared's hand split the two guards and the door in half. The two of them quickly rushed into the mage tower, and it was only then that the screams of the people outside who had sensed the change rang out.
"Who is it? Stop right there!!!"
The thin sword in Caroline's hand drew and sent, easily slipping away from the heavy-helmeted warrior's sword, and then she flew forward, bringing up nothing but a splash of blood and the heavy bodies that fell down the stairs. The black blades in Jared's hands flew out, accurately plunging into the eyes of those almost covered in tin cans, although the sharpness of the rune swords could even cut them in half, but they were not willing to waste their time on this kind of meaningless killing.
Saving lives, that's the main thing.
All the way to the top, both of them were in a heavy mood. Because since a moment ago, Caroline had been calling out Florence's name, but could only get some meaningless moans. But it was better than complete silence, after all, it would be a complete failure of their efforts.
The magic door on the top floor was brilliant and beautiful, sensing the presence of the intruders, the two magical creatures, which were just playing the role of bas-reliefs on the door surface, immediately reacted, but before they could open their bloody mouths to express their loyalty, the flying and piercing black lightning and white light had already caused the two unlucky magical creatures to dissipate into thin air, and the heavy door was also torn into pieces in this instant.
(Mr. Businessman!!!)
The whole room was empty, and Caroline rushed to Florence's side, while Jared gripped his twin swords warily and looked around.
"Woo...!!!"
（Jared, he's hurt in the back.)
"I know."
Jared nodded, becoming more cautious, but there was no one in the room. Then it was clear that the other side had left before Jared and Caroline stormed into the room.
"How's it going? Is there any help?"
(... doesn't work.)
The voice coming from Caroline was a little sad.
(The wound is deep, it's pierced to the heart, there are no hospitals in this world, and the abilities of the two of us have no effect on Mr. Florence's injuries. ... Perhaps I can try to prolong his life for a while, but I won't be able to bring him back to life. (At the very least, if the 'physician' is here, his ability should be able to come in handy.)
"The problem is that he's not at ... be damned!"
Jared slammed his fist against the wall in anger, but he quickly turned around calmly.
"Use your powers, Caroline."
His voice was cold, but with a sigh.
"At the very least, we can help him fulfill some of his wishes."
(...)
Without saying anything else, Caroline reached out and held Florence's hand, then saw his originally slow undulating body suddenly began to tremble violently, then Florence opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of dark black dirty blood, slowly opened his eyes.
"You guys ... this is ..."
（I'm sorry, Mr. Florence, we weren't able to protect you ...)
"Mr. Florence, it's not very nice to say this, but the fact is that Caroline's powers will only last you for a short time, so if you have any wishes or requests, we'll do our best to make them happen for you."
Jared half crouched in front of Florence, looking at the merchant with helpless and sad eyes. They hadn't traveled together for long, but to the two men who had come here alone, Florence was their teacher, their elder. A somewhat calculating merchant, but not one to be disliked. If it weren't for him, they would have been buried in the desert.
"I ..."
Florence's eyes wandered, looking at Caroline, then at Jared.
"Will I ... die?"
"... Yes..."
Jared was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"... It's ... so ... sudden ..."
Florence barely managed a smile, and Caroline hesitated, but in the end held her tongue. As a matter of fact, they had already heard someone breaking into the Mage Tower, and judging from the situation, those people should be the guards of Glory City. However, now Florence will die soon, asking him to say faster is not reasonable, as a dying capricious it ... after all, can live a moment more, is also good.
"I ... actually ... kind of like ... you guys ... "
Although the "Tectonic Harmony" could support the opponent for about half an hour through contact, Florence's speech was still intermittent, and it was obvious that the knife had not only wounded the heart, but also had a huge poison on it. Caroline's power can stimulate the opponent's body, but it doesn't have the ability to remove the toxin.
That's very thoughtful and considerate.
Jared clenched his teeth, but kept quiet, instead continuing to wait for Florence to speak.
"Hey ... I'm also really ... old, early to hear people in the industry said ... do the last stroke ... ... are ... very ... ahem, dangerous ... but ... "Florence's face showed a bitter smile," really ... businessman's ... self-esteem ah ... "
Here, Florence began to cough violently again. And the footsteps, they were getting closer.
"... Actually ... I've always thought of you ... as ... my ...children...Ahem!!!! I hope ... you won't ... think I'm too arrogant ... " Florence was getting more fluent, but that was the worst sign of all. " This ... I hope you will help me bring to my daughter ... " he trembled, with barely able to move his hand forcefully pulled off the ring in his hand, and then handed it to Jared's hand .
"If you can ... I would like you ... to become her guardians ... to do, in return... ...All my possessions, belong to you ..." Florence fumbled desperately in his arms, then pulled out a scroll, he dipped his own finger in blood, then gently daubed it on the seal. Then he handed it over.
(Mr. Businessman, we don't need these ...)
"Take it."
Florence shoved the scroll at them with a force she didn't know where.
"It's ... businessman's pride!"
He's getting more fluent.
"About the Murderer ..."
"He's not a Dark Mage."
Florence shook her head.
"I don't know how he changed, but he's not ..."
At this, Florence's gasp suddenly sharpens, and he grabs back at Caroline, who is holding his hand.
"Please ... don't think about revenge, I owe that child too much. Now, she's the only one left... Please guard her... Just tell her that I died of an illness... I don't care if I die anyway... but I hope you won't do it for me. Anyway, it doesn't matter if I die like this ... but I hope you won't do anything dangerous for me ..."
"... well..."
Jared nodded rather reluctantly, but Florence was clearly not very pleased.
"I want you to swear ..."
"... I swear that I will never take the initiative to go after the guys who hurt you."
(I also swear that I will never break my promise to you.)
"Thanks ..."
Florence has a weary smile on her face.
"As a matter of fact ... actually I have known for a long time ... that although you say you want to lead a stable life, you still have the blood of adventurers flowing in your bones... ...I ... think, I should also rest ..."
"Please have good dreams, Mr. Florence."
Jared stood up, his expression unusually bland, but his hands were clasped very tightly.
"We won't let you down ."
"... Thank you ..."
Then Florence slowly closed her eyes.