As they entered the jewelry store, Caitrin approached the owner, her voice filled with hope. She explained her situation, her heart pounding in her chest.
The owner, after examining the necklace, nodded thoughtfully. "You wish to sell this?" she asked.
"Yes," Caitrin replied. "A merchant in the Faye Kingdom told me about an auction here. He said I could sell it easily, given its value."
The owner's eyes widened. "Indeed, it's a rare piece," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "But wait a moment."
She paused, her gaze fixed on the necklace. "There's going to be an auction soon! I forgot about it."
Caitrin's heart skipped a beat. "An auction?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
"Yes," the owner replied. "It's being held by Mr. Natsuki Shigeru, the young master who recently ascended to the throne."
"Natsuki Shigeru?" Caitrin repeated, her mind racing.
"He's been an excellent ruler," the owner said. "If you sell your necklace at his auction, you'll have a good chance of attracting wealthy buyers."
Caitrin's eyes sparkled. "That's perfect!" she exclaimed. "Where is it being held?"
The owner pointed towards the castle. "It's near the castle," she replied. "Mr. Natsuki will be there today, and the auction will take place tomorrow or the day after. You should leave now."
Caitrin thanked the owner and left the store, her heart filled with hope. As they walked towards the castle, she couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. "I'm so close to my goal," she murmured to herself. "Just a little longer."
Orano, however, remained cautious. While Caitrin was elated, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had crept into his heart upon hearing the name "Natsuki." He had never heard of him before, and his recent ascension to the throne made him even more suspicious.
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As they walked through the bustling crowd, they witnessed a heartbreaking scene. Two young children, a boy and a girl, sat huddled together, their faces streaked with tears. The girl, with her long pink hair and green eyes, wore a black soldier's uniform.
Caitrin's gaze fell upon the children, her heart aching with sympathy. "That uniform looks familiar," she murmured to herself. "I wonder if it's the Sniper Unit Tatsumi mentioned."
The young boy, his face etched with despair, lay on the ground, his eyes lifeless. His clothes, simple and worn, marked him as a peasant.
Orano and Caitrin were initially bewildered by the scene. But as they drew closer, they realized the boy's iron leg had been dislodged.
Unable to contain their emotions, they approached the children. Caitrin knelt beside the crying girl, her voice filled with compassion. "What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.
The girl sobbed uncontrollably. "They took my brother's leg!" she cried. "He can't walk without it. We begged them, we pleaded with them, but they wouldn't listen. They said it was because we're peasants."
Her eyes filled with confusion. "What did we do wrong?"
Their tormentors were soon revealed. Two drunken Earls, their faces flushed with arrogance, strolled down the street, brandishing the boy's leg as if it were a trophy.
Caitrin's blood ran cold. Orano, his anger simmering beneath the surface, reached for his sword.
Before he could act, Caitrin grabbed his arm. "No, Tatsumi," she pleaded. "If we do something, they'll come after us. We have to stay quiet."
Orano hesitated, his eyes filled with a storm of conflicting emotions. "What if we do nothing?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Will we be able to live with ourselves? If we don't stand up for others, who will?"
He turned to Caitrin, his eyes filled with a burning intensity. "If I allow an innocent person to suffer," he declared, "I'm ashamed to call myself a hunter."
Orano's gaze returned to the guys, his resolve unwavering. "Back then, I kept quiet to protect Roam and Yuma," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But now, I will protect you."
Caitrin's mind flashed back to the day her people had abandoned her. The pain, the fear, the helplessness – it all came rushing back. She knew the agony of being silenced, of having your voice ignored.
With a heavy heart, she gently removed her hand from Orano's shoulder. "Go," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I trust you."
Orano nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "That's all I need," he replied.
As he turned to face the guys, Caitrin watched him go. A wave of doubt washed over her. Had she made the right decision? Perhaps she should have insisted on accompanying him. But a stronger voice, a voice of trust, urged her to let him go.
"They need our help," she murmured to herself. "We can't just stand by and watch."
Orano strode towards the guys, his every step filled with a righteous fury. His goal was no longer merely to protect the children; it was to deliver justice.