“What’s wrong, Aljen? Did something bothering you?” Chief Zamor sincerely asked, worrying he might lend his help.
“Aah, nothing. Well, I just recall a certain person that I don’t even slightly want to see, but If fate destines me to meet him once more, I won't hesitate to punish that moron. I’ll definitely kill him on the spot." his eyes proudly glowed at Chief Zamor who was slightly trying to understand his reason. Hermes coughed and continued, "Forgive me, let’s forget about it. Let’s start over again. Anyway... now you know we're just a simple traveling merchants, is there a chance can we considered as a tourist? Since we don't have any goods to sell nor anything to convey but we have money to pay. We just want to explore this village of yours. We want to buy some products made in this place and sell it to another town. In short, we might advertise your village to other places if we do that.” Hermes explained, telling his plan.
“Hmm, sounds a great idea. I thought you became more furious when I told you half of our plan. Umm, I don’t know why but I saw something convenient in you that made me tell you. Maybe, because you saved my children and my own life from your companion by risking yours. I'm so indebted to you. Just by looking in your weird face, you're a person who wouldn’t leak out a secret across the globe though. So, I sincerely glad in your kindness, Mr. Aljen.” Chief Zamor bowed his head and waited for Hermes to reply.
Half? It is just half of your plans? Sounds like you haven’t even acknowledged me yet. But... thank you for your compliment, Chief. Hermes scratched his left cheek when he saw his appreciation.
“My my my, I didn’t do anything much during that time. Justin cleaned everything by himself. He must be the person you must show your gratitude. So don’t be bother, Chief Zamor. It is a natural thing to do to save innocent lives from monsters in their trip. We just passed by when -”
“.. That’s why I’d really grateful for your kindness to save their lives in your way to this place. You choose to go to their location even though it would risk also your lives in the end. Moreover, I want to apologize for my men’s wrongdoing during your arrival. We will make sure it won’t happen again. As a tourist, we will show you the whole village -”
“Wait, you don’t have to do that. We -”
“No, as the Village Chief, I must do what is venerable to the saviors of my twins. Also, it is our fault for shooting your vehicle without a warning. That’s why you’re friend maybe got angry during the assault.”
“Aaah, if you insist. It is good to know you really want to repay the debt and cost of the action of your men recently. But I think it was too much to receive so much kindness.”
“By the way, can you show me your passport to send it to my secretary to enlist your name here as a tourist. We need to do the proper way to make sure you won’t be considered as a passerby or anything related to the mafia. You know it was for the safety of all citizens in this village.”
“Ah, sure...” Hermes dropped a lot of sweat when he realized he didn’t carry anything.
He remained calm in order to prevent the Village Chief to get suspicious towards him. Eeeeh……? Holy crap, I don’t have something like that. All I know is that there is no need to show some kind of passport in this place. Oh shit, I remember now! Passport and any type of ID are always needed in this world. What the heck am I doing?
Hermes started to drop a lot of sweat in his face. Chief Zamor didn’t notice it because of his mask.
“W-w-well too bad for me, I forgot to bring one in our journey. Is there another way to do it legally? You know some sort of secondary option if ever the tourist lost his passport in his travel.” Hermes said, shaking his body because of nervousness.
Chief Zamor patted his right hand over his left palm, “Aah yeah, I remember we do have another way to do that. Too bad you don’t bring your passport for that, but where did you leave it then?”
“Hehe~, I maybe forgot it in a hotel,” Hermes replied, starting to drop another sweat.
“Hotel? Is there a hotel in this place, I don’t even recall anything like that unless it was from the Eastern Scily, what is the name of the hotel?”
“Hehe, it was Archne - I mean Arch Hotel”
“Arch Hotel, huh. I never heard such a name on this island. Are you sure there is one in that place?”
“Y-yeah, there is one. Should we go there in the Village Hall now?”
“Aah, sure. Let’s head to our village hall then.”
“Wait for a moment, I will tell to my kids that we’re going to head to that place. Anyways, enjoy yourself for a while. Take a tour around this house.” the chief left his side, picked up the cups from the table.
“Sure..” the young Don finally took a good break.
When he went outside, he stretched his arms up to the air and began to tour the place by himself. He first checked the warehouse and looked for something rare. He saw nothing but a lot of sacks full of different herbs. Red, blue and green from his right whilst yellow and orange on his left. But something caught his interest from the bottom in the midst of all sacks. There was something glowing in the same direction. The young Don didn't want to make a noise hence he poised. Upon arriving in the bottom, the glowing object disappeared from his sight. He quickly checked his surroundings but he couldn't find the object. Suddenly, a portion of liquid dripped down to his forehead, he checked it by his hands and confirmed it to be water. When he looked above him, he saw the glowing object turned to black from white and suddenly spread its body like an open mouth, dropped itself toward him and the young Don fainted.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The young Don opened his eyes and suddenly found himself in the same chair he was sitting for a while. The same place he was having a conversation with Chief Zamor earlier.
A dream? But... it felt real earlier. The young Don was confused, tapping his fingers to calm himself. He stood up and ran towards the warehouse to check the place he was attacked. But the place remained the same and nothing but the sacks of herbs was intact. He gave in and thought that the glowing object was just a dream.
Five minutes later, Hermes wondered why the chief was taking too long. He checked the room he entered sneakily. When he took a peek at the door, Chief Zamor appeared to him while maintaining his smile. “Let’s head off”, he said. Hermes, even Chief Zamor didn’t admit it, presumed that the twins got scolded and punished harshly by their father so he didn’t ask more.
Afterward, both of them explored in the street towards the place the chief wanted to show. Hermes was amazed of how the village maintained their security and beauty of their village even though they’ve suffered a lot from continuous raid committed by his mercenaries.
“By the way, Aljen, the village was subdivided by five districts. The four districts are under the protection of our security while the fifth one is still in verge of chaos. So, I just wanna remind you not to cross that place or else you will encounter a lot of criminals. No help will come to aid you.”
“Alright, I will noted that one. Chief Zamor, may I ask you something?”
“Hmm? Yes, what is it then?”
“Why the kids in the Scily Dark Forest? Why you let your children do that?” Hermes said, staring him seriously.
The essence of the room changed when he stared him ferociously. Chief Zamor let out a sigh and he just bowed his head, holding his hands under his chins.
“You’re the twins’ sole father. You must never let them do such thing.”
“Well, I admit my own mistakes. Although I told them not to go to the forest last night, they just escaped from the house and put a letter in my table telling me not to be worried about their journey. They insisted to do such thing knowing that their lives would be at risk.”
“W-w-wait, I think you misinterpret what I mean.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry to interrupt your emotional grumble. I just wanna know why they need to go to the Dark Scily Forest. Why the kids went to that place earlier? They won’t risk their lives in such a place without taking anything creditable.”
Aljen knew the Chief would tell a long story if he didn’t stop him. He knew this character would probably triggered an event. He didn’t want to steal the part of the original protagonist of the game, Arata Kingsman. All he just wanted to know; the reason of the twins to risk their lives in the Dark Scily Forest.
“Aah, I apologize. They told me they just want to collect some herbs to help the village from economic depression. Our village have insufficient amount of money to buy some supplies from the other provinces. Due to continuous assault of the fucking Archnemesis troops and robbed of the bandits from District 5, we couldn’t even bare to repair the damages they’ve caused. I think the twins heard about our plan to trade our herbs as another way to save our village.”
Aljen started to drop a sweat from his face when he heard his family name was mentioned again. He just smiled and changed the subject.
“Ooh I see, well I don’t think they will still continue to attack this village anymore.”
“Hmm, well sorry, Mr. Aljen. You haven’t meet that person. That man is despicable brat, cruel, ruthless, outrageous and murderer.”
What? Anything can be acceptable but a murderer? That’s unbelieavable!
“Wait how come? Umm, how such a simple kid like him become a murderer? Did he just killed someone?”
“No, not really, Mr. Aljen. Just remembering his name, I recalled that tragic day. The new Don of that fucking family just took away my elder daughter from me. She haven’t come back since December.”
“Wait what? Seriously-”
“Boss, I’m back.” Justin barged in, in the middle of their talk, making Aljen and Chief turned their attentions to him. “Fuyuuu, I made in time.”
“Ooh Justin, g-good to see you again.”
“Mr. Justin, glad to see you, ” Chief Zamor moved closer to him, waiting for his hand to be shake by Justin.
Justin looked his hand disgustedly. He didn’t like to shake hands with commoners but when he realized his Boss was staring at him. He just gave the man a fake smile and shook his hands.
“Thank you very much for your good hospitality, Mister. By the way, you’re men were all fine… for now. Doctors told me some of them have bone fracture, broken ribs and other critical parts. So don’t worry.”
What the heck are you talking about? That’s more severely bad news.
“Ooh thank goodness. Thank you, Mister Justin.”
What? Are you kidding me? Hermes couldn’t believe what he heard. He couldn’t grasp their own mindset.
“Boss, what should we do next?” Justin moved beside him and whispered to his ears.
Hermes excuse himself from Chief Zamor and took Justin in the corner.
“Boss? Why we -”
“Sssh, be quiet.”
“Have you check the whole area?”
Justin changed his concept and returned to normal. He became decent and serious.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I used my [Agenda] to explore it quickly. I already memorize the exact location of each streets, buildings and secret tunnels of this place. The only thing left is to know the names of each places one by one.”
Hermes smirked and gladly Justin saw through his eyes, what he mean earlier before they splitted.
“Oh Chief Zamor, may we explore the whole village by ourselves after we fill out the papers in the Village Hall?” Hermes went back to him.
“Of course, that would be easy path for you lads to explore this place whatever you want. You don’t have to worry to show some papers to the patrol guards around this place.”