Chapter 757

Chapter 21 The Transaction

Creak, creak, creak—

It was clearly the sound of an old wooden bed shaking violently, the sharp and grating noise coming from the next room. Among the sounds were the breathing and moans of a woman, mixed with the teasing and low growls of a man.

?

I sat up in bed, rubbing my sore neck. Listening for a while, I realized the noises were getting more intense, the actions becoming more vigorous, as if both were about to reach their peak. Staring out the window with a blank expression, I rubbed my tired eyes and looked at the night sky.

The sky was completely dark now. Two crescent moons hid behind the clouds, casting a faint light over the city. Stars twinkled above the night sky, and streetlights illuminated the roads. The voices outside the window seemed even livelier under the glow of the lights, but that liveliness seemed to come from a distant direction. Here, it felt truly quiet. Below on the road, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

What time is it…

They’ve already started doing that?

The surroundings were relatively quiet, making the noises from next door even more noticeable. The creaking of the bed changed from “creak, creak” to “bang, bang,” as if it would shake the whole room. This made me feel slightly annoyed. Just as I was about to knock on the wall to give them a hint, I heard a long, contented sigh from the woman, followed by a louder commotion, but then suddenly, the sound of the bed stopped.

…Oh.

They’re done…

After a moment of shock, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I didn’t bother to take out the flint to light the candle on the cabinet, and instead lay back down on the bed.

The room was dim, only the faint light from outside seeping in. Lying awake, I watched the countless dust particles float through the dim light, looking at the spider-web-covered ceiling and wooden beams. Suddenly, I wondered if spiders might fall from the ceiling while I slept. Thinking about it made me feel a bit bored—what could happen if a spider fell? Besides, after sleeping so much during the day, I felt quite alert now. It would be hard to fall asleep again tonight.

What should I do…

This city was starting to become somewhat unbearable.

…But I still needed to find out where Barry was first.

If he’s still here, I want to see him once to confirm his condition before leaving. But most likely, he’s already gone. The Third Knight Order no longer exists; those few hundred survivors have probably been scattered by Angel, reassigned to other places or other knight orders.

Once the heresy threat was eliminated, they had no reason to stay here.

…I remember, Barry had a girl with him back then?

Someone older than him… his girlfriend?

That girl seemed to be a noble from the city… the daughter of the city lord? I think she was the city lord’s daughter… I didn’t interact with her much, so I can’t recall her name… But that girl, she should still be in the city, right?

She wouldn’t have run away with Barry…

The noble fortress in the city center?

Should I go look there tonight…

If I find her, I’ll ask about Barry’s whereabouts. She must know. This should be the simplest way…

While my mind was processing these thoughts, I could still hear the ongoing noises from the next room. After they finished their business, they seemed to continue teasing each other for a while before getting up from the bed. In their low, suggestive conversation, I could hear the rustling sounds of them dressing. At one point, the woman seemed to kick something, possibly a cabinet, and let out a loud cry of pain. The man quickly comforted her. Soon, they walked to the door, pushed open the wooden door, and their voices became clearer.

“Hey, what about the fifty copper coins we agreed on? Why only twenty-nine… Can’t you count?”

“Things have been tight lately…”

Tightening his head, tightening his funds, heh heh heh… I’ll make it up to you next time…”

“Like this and there won’t be a next time!”

“I know… You always say that, and you always obediently fall into my arms…”

“If not for the fact that you’re quite good-looking, with the physique of a Warhammer soldier… I never give credit on trust.”

“I know, I know…”

“Damn it, you owe me money for today’s drinks!”

“Heh heh…”

The woman’s impatient yet alluring words faded away with her footsteps, while the man seemed to plan on returning to the room. At this moment, new footsteps approached from the stairs, accompanied by the woman’s surprised “Ah.” It sounded like the newcomer was a familiar man. I heard him ask the woman, “Where’s that guy?”

“He’s upstairs, upstairs… Hey, do you want to have some fun with me?”

“Get lost.”

“Ai, if you don’t want to play, then don’t. How can you curse someone… Did you pay back the money he owes me?”

“Leave now.”

“… You’re no fun.”

The sound of footsteps “thud, thud” grew closer, and the man who was called no fun walked over here. The guy who had just finished his business and owed the prostitute money seemed to warmly welcome him at the door: “Vestero! Haha, you still came after all…”

“Don’t shout my name here, you fool.”

“I know, I know… Anyway, no one else is around…”

“Let’s go inside.”

The creaking sound of the door opening, the footsteps entered the neighboring room, and then the door slammed shut with a bang. The voices of the two immediately became softer but were still clearly audible.

“Sit down, sit down first… Want some drinks?”

“Where did you get the money for drinks?”

“That woman bought them for me, heh heh…”

“I don’t drink from prostitutes.”

“What’s the difference? They can still intoxicate you…”

It seemed they found a place to sit, followed by the sound of glasses clinking. Someone appeared to be drinking deeply. Although I wasn’t particularly interested in their affairs, I was bored and started tidying up my pack, draping my cloak over myself, and listening closely.

“Tell me, what happened during the day.”

“Why the rush…”

“You know, my wife and daughter are waiting for me at home.”

“But you probably won’t have time to go back tonight…”

“… What do you mean?”

“Come closer, I’ll tell you…”

Their voices gradually became softer. If the neighbor were an ordinary civilian, they wouldn’t hear anything by now. However, I could still hear everything clearly.

“I’m asking you… last summer, after the First Knight Order left, what do you know about the Third Knight Order… the mutiny at the camp in the northern part of the city?”

… Huh?

I was just about to tie my pack to my waist and head out for some fresh air near the castle tower when I heard the term “Third Knight Order” mentioned, and instinctively paused.

“You mean those surviving knights from the battlefield?”

“Yes…”

“They didn’t withstand the temptation of the demons later on… someone used heretical power or something… anyway, they initiated a rebellion in the camp… the Second Knight Order pulled them out and executed them outside the city. The leader’s head was hung at the city gate and only taken down at the beginning of this year…”

!

What…

“These things, even ordinary citizens in the city know about, though no one likes to talk about it afterward, afraid of getting into trouble. The church people also forbade anyone from mentioning it later. Why, is your deal somehow related to this?”

“… Of course it is.”

(Translation continues…)