Having completed his tasks, Kino noted that the evening was still young and decided to visit the Nightingale Tavern for a bite to eat.
The camp cook's skills were nothing to write home about; the dishes he prepared were merely "edible," a far cry from the freshly made desserts at the tavern.
The stars in the night sky sparkled brilliantly, like jewels strewn across a dark velvet expanse, quiet and serene.
Beneath the tranquil sky, the Nightingale Tavern was as lively as ever, the clamor of voices nearly shaking the roof. Laughter filled the air as patrons guzzled wine, trying to drown the weariness of the day's labor.
Kino quickly ordered black caramel pudding, chocolate-filled bread, honey roasted almonds with butter, fresh cream cheese, and honey syrup. After finishing, feeling a touch too full, he craved a change of flavor and decided to order a full slice of black truffle cake.
The total came to 249 iron moons, but lacking the change, he paid with 25 copper moons, which the owner accepted happily.
The black truffle cake had just sold out and needed to be freshly baked, which would take a little time. Kino took out his book and began reading as he waited.
Truth be told, the tavern was hardly a good place to read—its noise was deafening, and the patrons' conversations varied widely. Some discussed their exploits from the night before, others boasted of past heroics, and a few drunkenly sang vulgar songs.
Kino remained utterly focused, undisturbed by the ruckus.
Before long, the door of the tavern opened.
Two men entered, the shorter one grumbling irritably, "Why is the temperature difference here so extreme? Klin, aren't you cold dressed like that?"
The taller one, seemingly the older brother, found a seat and waved. "Stop complaining, Kruz, let's eat first."
The pair ordered garlic bread, roasted chicken breast, and two cups of fruit wine.
The fruit wine and bread were served quickly, both cold.
Kruz devoured his bread, finishing his wine in a few swigs and muttering to himself, "Disgusting, I'll drink my own next time."
Klin furrowed his brow, but seeing his brother's irritable mood, he refrained from commenting, allowing him to take out a small flask from his coat. The two chatted idly.
Kino, halfway through his book, was interrupted when the serving maid brought over the freshly baked cake, her smile radiant. "Good evening, Administrator Kino, here is your black truffle cake, just out of the oven."
"Thank you, just set it beside me."
As the maid left, her gaze lingered briefly on Klin and Kruz. Their eyes were fixed on Kino's retreating figure, silent and intent.
The maid thought to herself: Truly, Lord Kino is irresistibly charming—everywhere he goes, he draws attention.
Kino closed his book, but did not touch the cake. Instead, he picked up his water cup and stood.
Klin and Kruz, instinctively, turned their gaze away. They exchanged a quiet look, their eyes betraying an unspoken understanding.
Suddenly, a figure approached and sat beside them, greeting them with, "Good evening."
They looked up reflexively, meeting eyes with Kino, whose amber irises gleamed like precious gems.
Klin nodded politely. "Good evening. What can we do for you?"
Kino smiled faintly. "The question should be mine—what brings you to seek me?"
Klin blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Your brother complained about the temperature difference when you entered, indicating that you are strangers to Shirin Town, unfamiliar with its climate; earlier, when the maid called my name, your conversation abruptly halted, suggesting that my name holds notable recognition to you; and..." Kino gently tugged at Klin's sleeve, revealing a red mark on his ring finger. It appeared as though he had once worn a ring but had since removed it.
Kino smiled and said, "You two were the ones who entered this morning and inquired with Captain Paladin about my whereabouts, correct?"
The brothers' expressions froze for a moment. Kruz rubbed the bridge of his nose and replied, "Your powers of observation are indeed impeccable."
Kino responded, "Thank you for the compliment. Now that you've found me, is there something you'd like to say?"
Kruz let out a dry chuckle, shrugging as he said, "You've misunderstood. At the time, we were simply looking for an entry stamp and had no idea you had entrusted it to a subordinate. So we just asked him a few questions."
Kino replied, "Go on."
Kruz blinked, "Go on with what?"
Kino's voice took on a sharper edge, "Continue fabricating your story."
Immediately, both Klin and Kruz felt a chill run down their spines, their breaths faltering, their skin prickling with discomfort.
"You are lying." Kino's gaze pierced with a depth that seemed capable of unraveling the very fabric of a person's soul. "You cannot meet my eyes."
Though Kruz tried to maintain control over his gaze, an inexplicable shiver ran through him when his eyes met Kino's amber ones, causing his sight to wander nervously.
"Right now, you're anxious. Your pupils are dilating, you swallow unconsciously, your lips tremble, and the piloerector muscles along your skin are contracting. Oh—there's sweat on your forehead, perhaps you should wipe it off," Kino remarked as he drew a tissue from his coat, placing it in front of Klin. His smile gradually faded into a cold, unyielding expression. "Why lie?"
The symptoms Kino described were starkly visible on Kruz's face. His unease was palpable, his entire body tense as if stretched to the breaking point.
"Hahahahaha!" Without warning, Klin burst into laughter, patting Kruz's hand in an effort to soothe him. He shook his head, still chuckling. "My apologies, Administrator Kino. This was actually a story we had prepared beforehand to throw others off the scent. The truth is, we came to discuss a matter with you, something that perhaps isn't suitable for others to overhear."
Kino shrugged, his tone lightening a bit. "It's quite noisy here; we can speak softly. If anyone overhears, I'll notice, trust me."
"Alright, I trust you," Klin murmured, leaning in slightly and lowering his voice. "Now, the black market salt crystals from Doguland have been flooding the market, repeatedly banned but still prevalent. The smuggling routes from abroad have yet to be severed. Am I right?"
This topic piqued Kino's interest. "What is your perspective on this?"
Klin squinted his eyes. "If I told you I had vital intelligence regarding the salt crystals, would it interest you?"
Kino thoughtfully stroked his chin, his curiosity piqued. "I have one question first. With so many border towns, so many administrators, why did you choose to come to Shirin Town to make this deal with me?"
Klin cleared his throat softly, lowering his voice further. "I received word from an information broker that the entire Miro caravan has gone missing. The last time they were seen was in Shirin Town. That's when I realized—you must have cracked the smuggling case, and I'm sure you already know the method of smuggling salt crystals—concealing them in the stomach."
Kino's smile deepened, an inscrutable glint in his eyes. "You know the method of smuggling too, which leaves only one possibility—you are smugglers as well."
Klin licked his dry lips, admitting, "Yes, and that's why my brother is so nervous. Our lives are in your hands. But instead of taking our lives, I believe you'd be more interested in this deal."
"Speak."
"You solved the Miro caravan's smuggling case, but recently, border checkpoints in Doguland, including Shirin Town, haven't conducted stomach searches on other caravans. So I suspect you haven't reported this method yet—you're likely waiting for the right opportunity."
Klin paused for a moment before continuing, his voice lowering further. "I foresee that once the time is right, you'll report this smuggling method, and our entire operation will be destroyed. That's why I want to get my brother out of here as soon as possible."
Klin instinctively glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then leaned in closer, whispering, "Tomorrow, we'll meet at a discreet location. I'll give you a confidential map that marks our smuggling base. Whether you turn it over to your superiors for recognition, or lead your own troops to dismantle it, I don't care. In exchange, you must provide me and my brother with something—identification that grants us legal status as citizens of Doguland."