Arriving at the Cat's Inn, Cier gave a polite nod to Jessica at the counter before heading straight to Lily's room, as was his routine.
Inside, the room was much the same as always—dimly lit, with a faint sweet in the air. Lily reclined lazily on a chair, her usual nonchalant demeanor firmly in place.
"Oh, you're back already, little Cier," she remarked with a faint smirk, her sharp eyes watching him closely.
"The task is complete," Cier replied, his tone steady as he handed over the crumpled paper he'd taken from Aron.
Lily took the paper, unfolded it, and glanced over the contents. Without a word, she set it aside on the table.
"Well, I must say, I'm surprised you've returned so quickly," she said, her voice carrying the same playful undertone as always. Reaching into a small pouch by her side, she pulled out a shining gold coin and placed it on the table in front of him. "Here's your payment."
Cier picked up the coin, examining it closely. It gleamed under the dim light, its weight and texture unfamiliar. It was the first time he'd ever seen or touched a gold coin, and for a brief moment, he let himself marvel at it.
"Sister Lily, I had a question," Cier said, breaking the brief silence as he tucked the gold coin into his pouch.
Lily raised an eyebrow, her playful smirk fading into mild curiosity. "What is it, little Cier?"
"Well," he began hesitantly, "is there a shortcut or an easy way to develop our abilities? At the pace I'm going, I don't know how long it'll take to get anywhere."
Lily leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers thoughtfully on the armrest. "Ah, is that so?" she mused, a faint gleam of amusement returning to her eyes. "Hmm, well, you could try taking a Glez Potion. It's a potion used by first-layer Evolvers to help develop their abilities faster."
Cier's eyes lit up, though his tone remained cautious. "And where would I find it?"
A sly smile curled on Lily's lips. "Same place you got your Awakening Potion."
"As long as the Gale Brotherhood isn't fully destroyed, the four overlords in the inner city won't bother stepping in," Lily remarked, her tone laced with indifference.
"It's usually priced at 50 silver coins per bottle," Lily added, her voice calm but firm. "And remember, you can take at most one bottle a day. Any more than that, and you're likely to faint for a few days from an overdose."
"Thanks for letting me know, Sister Lily," Cier replied with a nod of gratitude.
She leaned forward slightly, a knowing smile on her lips. "Well, if you're planning to buy it, you might need more money. If that's the case, you can always come to me for tasks. There's plenty to do, especially now that the clash between the Harlot family and the Gale Brotherhood has begun."
Cier tilted his head, intrigued. "Clash?"
Lily's smile widened, though her tone grew colder. "These attacks on subordinate forces? They're just the starters. The real battle is brewing, little Cier."
Her gaze turned sharp as she continued, "Especially after what happened. The young master of the Gale Brotherhood kidnapped and killed the personal maid of the Harlot family's eldest son. That act alone has sparked this brewing storm."
"But can't the Gale Brotherhood just give up their young master in exchange for forgiveness from the Harlot family?" Cier asked, his tone curious but skeptical.
Lily covered her mouth with her hand, then let out a soft, amused laugh, "It's not that simple, little Cier," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "Just killing that idiot won't be enough to appease the Harlot family. What if someone else dares to repeat such an offense in the future? Will they keep handing over the culprits every time? No, they need to set an example—one that shows what happens when you cross them."
Her expression grew serious as she continued, "Even though they can't completely destroy the Gale Brotherhood, the faction under its leader is likely to face annihilation. The Harlots will leave a few of the bigger players alive, enough to keep the Brotherhood running, but it'll be a crippled version of what it once was. A message will be sent—loud and clear."
Cier nodded thoughtfully, understanding the power games at play. This wasn't just about revenge; it was about dominance and ensuring no one dared challenge the Harlot family again.
A hint of realization flickered in Cier's eyes. He now understood why the Gale Brotherhood had sent someone to monitor gangs like Clemine.
The faction loyal to the gang leader, aware of their inevitable downfall, wouldn't allow others to attack them unchallenged. Like cornered beasts, they would lash out viciously, biting anyone who dared try to gain something from their desperate fight.
Cier let out a quiet sigh of relief. With the Gale Brotherhood in such turmoil, they would likely be too preoccupied with their own survival to care about the death of one of their members. For now, at least, he could breathe easy and be free from worry.
Cier walked out of Lily's room and made his way downstairs. As he reached the common area, Jessica, who was cleaning a few tables, looked up and smiled when she saw him.
"You're back already, Cier?" Jessica asked, her tone casual as she wiped down a table.
"Yeah, just finished the task," Cier replied, giving her a small nod. "It went quicker than expected."
"That's impressive," Jessica remarked, leaning on the counter. "You're getting pretty efficient at this."
Cier shrugged slightly, his expression neutral. "It wasn't too difficult. Just had to take care of some loose ends."
Jessica gave him a playful look. "Loose ends, huh? Sounds like you're getting good at handling all kinds of situations."
Cier smiled faintly. "I try."
"Well, I won't keep you. Looks like you're headed somewhere," she said, raising an eyebrow as she noticed Cier's quiet demeanor.
"Yeah, I have a few things to take care of. But I'll see you around," Cier said, his voice steady but warm.
"Take care, Cier," Jessica said with a soft smile, her eyes lingering on him for a moment.
Cier nodded in response, then turned and made his way towards the door. "Goodbye, Jessica."
With that, he stepped out into the night, leaving the inn behind as he disappeared into the streets.
Looking at Cier's receding back, Jessica went up the stairs. Reaching the door, she informed the guards to announce her visit to Miss Lily. After asking inside, the guards let her in.
She entered the room, and the door quietly closed behind her.
Unlike usual, Lily was standing by the side, her head lowered in a submissive manner, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
Jessica walked over to the chair and settled into it with the same posture Lily usually adopted. She placed a hand on her face, and a transparent, mask-like object materialized, which she carefully removed, revealing her true identity.
"How's the work going, Jessica? Has anyone suspected that you're acting as me?" Lily asked, still lounging lazily in her chair.
"No, miss. Everything is proceeding smoothly," Jessica replied, her voice calm and steady, now fully in her own form.
"Hmm."
Lily's smile widened as she inquired, "When do you think the Gale Brotherhood will make their move against me?"
"At the rate they're being cornered, they'll likely strike soon. After all, you were the one who provided the information about the young master of the Gale Brotherhood kidnapping and killing the personal maid of the eldest son of the Harlot family," Jessica answered, her tone collected.
Lily paused, a knowing look crossing her face. She then replied, "Yes, and continue to act as me. We'll see how everything unfolds."
After a while, the door creaked open, and Jessica emerged, her movements calm and measured as she made her way downstairs.