"I will. However, it has become quite difficult to find children outside. We'll have to target the townspeople. But with Berlin around, it's rather challenging to take action..." Glas sighed.

"Hmph, those damned knights. In the previous era, they were a bothersome lot. They not only caused considerable trouble for those esteemed individuals but also brought me numerous hardships. Nevertheless, the heavens are just. Those extremely powerful figures vanished one after another. It's ironic that I, who was rather inconspicuous at that time, have managed to endure until the present," the voice seemed to be immersed in recollection.

"So, what should we do?"

"It's quite straightforward. We merely need to wait. Those knights will depart eventually, and that will be the opportune moment for us to act."

"We shouldn't be overly conspicuous either. Those police officers are still rather formidable to deal with." Glas nodded. Then, upon recalling what his subordinates had reported moments ago, he murmured,"Bayek... It's an odd place. Should I dispatch someone to investigate?"

"It's advisable not to invite more trouble. There's an unknown force in that place. I'm certain my intuition is correct."

"Very well, I'll follow your advice."

...

In Dude Town, on Central Street.

Today, Eim, as was his custom, set up his stall. He placed the raw meat that he had prepared the previous day on a square wooden board and hung it on the awning frame.

It was already noon. The other stalls selling fruits and bread had been set up long before the sun had risen, demonstrating far more industriousness than him.

However, Eim wasn't concerned about his business. As one of the few butchers in the town, it was the townspeople who vied to offer him their copper coins.

As expected, scarcely had Eim set up his stall when several townspeople who had been loitering nearby hastened to gather around.

"I'd like two bellas of chicken, thank you!"

"Three bellas, please. I'm counting on you."

Bella was a unit of weight in the Zern Kingdom. One bella was approximately equivalent to one pound.

"Quiet down, all of you! One at a time, or I won't sell to you!"

"Here you are. Stop looking! This is the amount for two bellas. Be off with you!"

"And yours. Don't waste my time. There are others waiting."

Eim's demeanor was abysmal. He treated his customers with utter disregard, relying on the fact that the townspeople were dependent on the meat he provided.

The townspeople who were rebuked by him were, naturally, deeply resentful in their hearts, yet they dared not utter a single word.

As time passed, the raw meat in Eim's stall was dwindling. He knew that he could conclude his work with ease once again today.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"How much do you want this time? Hurry up. I'm eager to rest!" Eim had just seen off the previous customer and was looking down, arranging the remaining raw meat, when he addressed the person standing in front of the stall.

"I'm not here to buy meat. I'm here to sell meat," a young voice responded.

Eim looked up in bewilderment and beheld a slender young man. He had regular features, clear - eyed, and his clothing, though somewhat loose, revealed an excellent body proportion. He stood with his back ramrod - straight.

"Sell meat?" Eim thought he had misheard.

This young man was none other than Glen. He stepped aside to display the black pig he had just brought.

"Just hunted. It's still very fresh," Glen offered an explanation.

Eim wiped his hands on his soiled leather apron, walked around the stall to the black pig, and scrutinized it meticulously, touching it from time to time.

"This is a black pig?"

"Yes, sir."

Eim made his way back to the shop, casting a disdainful glance at Glen."Thirty copper coins. That's what I'll pay for this black pig."

"What? You charge forty copper coins for a single chicken, and for this large black pig, you're only offering me thirty?!"

"It's forty - two copper coins, lad. Each of my chickens costs forty - two copper coins," Eim added gravely.

"May I ask why? Although black pork is rarely sold in the market, it surely doesn't merit such a meager price," Glen inquired, attempting to contain his patience.

"There's no reason. I set the price, and that's final. It can't be otherwise. If you don't sell it to me, you won't find anyone else to buy it," Eim said indifferently, as if certain he had Glen cornered.

"Have you perhaps never been on the receiving end of a beating?" Glen retorted coldly, folding his arms across his chest.

"Do you think you can lay a hand on me, lad? Not only are you of slight build, but the local police station in our town isn't just for show," Eim sneered.

"Well, I wonder if your skull is as hard as this." With that, Glen thrust a finger into the ten - centimeter - thick wooden board in front of him. The intense friction caused the edges of the hole to emit wisps of blue smoke.

Eim's eyes nearly popped out. He swallowed hard a few times, rendered speechless.

"You'd better hope I don't run into you outside," Glen said as he pulled the cart. He wasn't overly enraged; he'd seen many such people in his past life. Given a chance to teach him a lesson, he'd soon be in line. Making a scene now would only cause trouble, and turning his prey into money was his top priority.

"Hmph, arrogant fool," Eim muttered under his breath, thinking to himself: I'll just stay within the town.

He stole a cautious glance at Glen's retreating figure. Assured that he hadn't been heard, he resumed attending to his customers.

Glen, of course, heard his muttering but paid it no mind.

This time, an elderly woman with a head of silver - white hair approached. Her back hunched, she tremulously retrieved a few scattered copper coins from her pocket. Looking up at the tall Eim, she said,"This is all I have. Please give me two bellas of chicken."

Eim snatched the copper coins, gave them a cursory count, and exclaimed,"No way! With this amount, you can get at most one bella of chicken!"

"These copper coins should be enough to buy more than one bella of chicken. This is all I have. Please, give me two bellas of meat. I'll be truly grateful," the old woman pleaded earnestly.

Eim remained unmoved. He roughly stuffed the cut chicken into the cloth bag the old woman had prepared.

"Take it and be off. Don't disrupt my business."

"Please, give me a bit more. My grandchildren are growing, and they need this."

No matter what she said, Eim didn't budge. Instead, his expression grew increasingly impatient.

Glen hadn't gone far. Having been observing the situation, he couldn't bear to watch any longer. He set down the cart and strode back.

Just as Eim was on the verge of losing his temper and taking action, he caught sight of Glen approaching from afar. Instantly, he lowered his head, trembling.

"Madam, you're looking to buy meat, I take it?" Glen asked softly.

The old woman, her face etched with worry, looked up and saw Glen's youthful face.

"Who are you?"

"I'm also in the meat - selling business. Why not buy from me? I can assure you it'll be much cheaper," Glen said in a gentle and soothing tone.

"But I've run out of copper coins," the old woman said, rummaging through her clothes, her worried expression unchanged.

Glen smiled. Under the old woman's astonished gaze, he slapped the wooden board where the meat was placed and called out loudly to Eim,"How many copper coins did she give you just now?"