Chapter 484

Chapter 484: Apples and Sugar

  ”Where are we?” Jen asked, looking at this idyllic village.

  ”This village doesn’t have a specific name. We followed the directions given by the villagers from nearby settlements,” Sophie replied, pointing to her chin as she thought.

  ”Let me help you sit over there; there’s a tree stump,” Sophie said, supporting Jen to an apple tree. She gently placed her on the stump.

  ”It’s very peaceful here,” Jen observed, watching a few villagers working in the fields, hats on their heads, sweat on their cheeks, resting and chatting when tired.

  ”We could stay for a few more days. We need to wait until the villagers finish harvesting the apples,” Sophie suggested.

  ”I can’t stay. I’m being pursued, and it might put you all in danger,” Jen shook her head.

  ”Pursued? Did you commit a serious crime?”

  Sophie jumped up in surprise, looking at the young girl. At first, she thought Jen had fallen during a mountain trip and was covered with bruises and minor cuts.

  ”I may have committed a crime. I’ve upset some people from the Halberd faction,” Jen explained.

  ”Halberd faction? I haven’t heard of them,” Sophie looked puzzled.

  ”The Halberd faction? They’re former mercenaries who returned home and formed a group,” Jen clarified.

  ”Ah, but this is Clancia. It seems you’ve traveled far,” Sophie sighed in relief, patting her chest.

  ”As long as you haven’t violated Clancia’s laws, we’ll protect you. As for Black Rock, I don’t know much about it, but they wouldn’t dare come here,” Sophie sat back down on the grass beside Jen.

  Jen thought of the past in West Wind. Her father had been a mercenary there for many years, telling her stories about it. She despised its corruption, but now realized her own country wasn’t much better.

  ”I don’t know much about Clancia. I’m from Black Rock. The only experience I have is riding an airship past Red Gravel City. But that’s a big city in Clancia. I haven’t visited other places.”

  ”It’s good,” Sophie said simply.

  ”There are occasional famines, but people can mostly feed themselves and won’t starve. The country is currently very peaceful.”

  ”And now, there are no bandits or tolls. That’s the best part,” Sophie recalled her childhood experiences.

  ”Business used to be difficult. We had to pay various fees and taxes, and watch out for robbers. Now, the security is excellent. You won’t see any robberies on the main roads, and even if someone does something bad, they must be very careful because the law enforcement is powerful.”

  ”It sounds great.”

  Jen nodded half-heartedly. Perhaps the environment here was nice, but she didn’t believe there were no bandits and robbers nationwide.

  ”Jen doesn’t believe it?”

  ”No, maybe I just haven’t seen it. It’s hard to accept it right away,” Jen said apologetically.

  ”Ha, it’s okay. If I told someone two years ago, they’d think it’s a fairy tale too.”

  ”But things really are different now in Clancia,” Sophie said, standing up and looking at the sunlit fields.

  ”Wait for me,” she said, jumping down the hill and running down the green slope, arms spread wide, calling out happily.

  The girl leaped over several stones, landing gracefully, turning into a small figure in Jen’s view.

  Sophie stopped under a tree where a fruit farmer was sitting with a bamboo basket on his back.

  She seemed to say something, and the farmer took out a few fruits from his basket and placed them in Sophie’s outstretched pocket.

  Sophie nodded with a smile, then walked back holding the fruits, waving at Jen.

  In late April, it was no longer cold. Jen sat under the shade, feeling the warmth of the sunlight through the young leaves.

  After a while, Sophie climbed back up the hill and came to Jen’s side, panting slightly, sweat on her forehead.

  ”Phew, finally made it up,” she leaned against Jen, legs apart, yellow fruits rolling out of her skirt.

  ”You must be tired,” Jen felt the warmth of her body.

  ”Here,” Sophie handed Jen a smooth, pale yellow fruit. It was a yellow apple.

  ”Oh, let me clean it first.” Sophie wiped the apple on her skirt and gave it to Jen again.

  ”Thanks,” Jen took it, feeling Sophie’s warm fingers on her palm.

  The yellow apple wasn’t unripe. Its sweet taste filled Jen’s mouth with juice, making her want to eat more.

  ”Hehe, is it good?” Sophie asked, munching on an apple herself.

  ”It is,” Jen answered softly.

  Eating the sweet apple, Jen asked Sophie, “What did you say to the farmer that he gave you these apples?”

  ”I said I was from Lake Company and wanted to buy some apples. He said I didn’t need to pay and gave me some.”

  ”He’s a kind old man,” Sophie said happily.

  ”It’s that simple?”

  ”In our company, we’ve been here for a few days, so everyone knows each other. Once people get to know each other, it’s easy to get along. Sometimes I give children candy, like the young lady.”

  ”Let me check, maybe I still have some in my bag,” Sophie rummaged through her small leather pouch.

  ”But isn’t candy expensive? Is it really good to give it to them?”

  ”What if they never get to taste it again? Wouldn’t it be torture?”

  ”A candy was put in Jen’s mouth, forcing her to close her eyes and savor the sweetness.

  ”How can you say that?” Sophie stood up, hands on her hips.

  ”Eating candy will make them yearn for this beautiful world and strive to leave the village, experiencing the vast and wonderful world.”

  ”And the memory of sweetness will be a cherished memory, a motivation to move forward.”