The next day had progressed smoothly for me.
Albert's first task was to go meet Mr. Castellanos to gather whatever he needed to run his shop while also helping him with his shop repair. Meanwhile, Elda had gone early this morning to get the list of workers and children we might need to look after.
She had also promised to meet the teacher for weaving herself today to talk about his extra requirements and details of the job.
All, in all people around me, were working hard for me.While I lazed around, 'No, I am also busy.' I reminded myself and went to take a stroll in the market district.
The meeting with Luna trade merchants was in the evening so I had more than enough time to gather my thoughts.
If I remember correctly it was also their carriage that had tried to run over me. I was holding a small grudge regarding that but if they can accept the deal and apologize, it will be acceptable for someone like me with such a big and kind heart I will let the past be bygone.
Cling—!
Opening the door I entered the now empty bar. I even wonder if this place is running anymore, but if some guy managed to drink even at this time right now and got drunk, he has my condolences for failing to live his life properly.
"Your bar is always empty, is your business not running well?"
I asked Castor and took a seat in front of him. He looked at me and frowned as if he had seen something he shouldn't have.
"Why are you here?"
I blinked dumbfounded at his words.
'I am here to get my money.' I thought to myself but didn't speak it out loud.
"Thought I should check it out if you are alive or not..."
"Ho, how kind of you."
"... If you were dead I wouldn't know how to get my bounty money, stay alive till then."
Castor's face instantly fell as he muttered under his breath.
"This kid was good when he kept his mouth shut."
"You know I can hear you right?"
He looked me dead in the eyes and nodded.
"That's why I said it out loud."
I smacked my lips unsure what to say, then nodded.
"Fair enough, tell me how the process is going on?"
Castor leaned back on his chair and rubbed the back of his head vigorously then with a tired gaze he answered.
"It will take a little longer than we had hoped for, but I will try to get as much as I can from them. Though I can't guarantee we will get a bounty for each one of them, the process of verification is time-consuming after all."
Hearing his words I couldn't help but lament the truth, it would have been better if I could have gotten some kind of proof directly but even I have my limits.
'But it's not like I can have more than twenty people's heads rolling down on a case.'
Eh? Now that I think it's not a bad idea after all...
"What diabolical things are you even thinking about now?"
Castor asked with a raised brow he had a look of skepticism with how he tapped his head.
I tried to stare at him seriously but ended up laughing instead.
"My thoughts are beyond your mortal mind."
"Hmm, right? Asking a madman is just straining my mind."
'Fragile mind you mean.'
Shaking my head, I didn't let his comments affect me.
"Bring me a drink," I asked politely with a small smile.
Castor frowned but complied without delay making a mix of fruit juice, he poured it down with a dexterity showing his countless experiences.
Clink—
Sliding the glass toward me, he once again sat in his seat.
Taking a refreshing sip from the glass I nodded in satisfaction.
"Anything interesting happening these days?"
Castor leaned on the counter, his eyes scanning over the empty bar with a hint of sadness.
"Not really," he murmured, "It's all the same old stuff. Banditry on the rise again, the usual political squabbles, and the occasional rumor of some powerful new artifact making the rounds."
"I always wondered where people sell the artifacts. Is it done legally somewhere?"
I asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Do you really think so?"
I shook my head at his question.
"No, not really, I guess there must be some gathering here and there happening all over the city."
"Correct, now that most gangs have fallen, those gatherings to exchange information and artifacts may decline with time but it will be less chaotic and stressful for them from now on as well." Castor nodded at my words.
I thought for a moment before asking.
"Tell me later if you get to know the address of one of those gatherings..."
As my words reached his ears he strongly shook his head in denial and said sternly.
"No, absolutely not. Wherever you go ruin follows, it's like you are fated to get what you want at any cost. This will destroy my connections, have some mercy upon me."
His words struck me like a sword piercing my heart at once.
'Wait, isn't his evaluation of me too bad, what have I ever done to get this much hate?'
Well, the way he said it was more sarcastic than actually intended too, he is probably trying to gain some time by doing this.
Sigh...
"Your words hurt so much, is this how you treat your customers, should I complain to guards I wonder."
I said with a playful smirk, watching him closely.
Castor rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upwards slightly, betraying his amusement. "You're one of a kind, alright. Now, I've got better things to do than babysit you. If you need anything else, come back later. I'll have more information for you."
"Hmm, do so. I had just come to kill time, Albert and the others were busy with the task I gave them."
"Are you starting a business?"
"Yeah, I am thinking of it, I had surely informed you of it before."
Castor frowned then went into deep thought before slowly nodding.
"Ah, so that's what all the money is going to be used for."
"Correct..." Taking another sip from my glass I leaned forward.
"Are you going to get supply from Luna Trades...?"
Castor asked while tapping his fingers over the counter, seeing him do it, I tried to mimic but failed to create a good rhythm.
Sigh...
"We hope to, but it seems the new head doesn't wish to do business with us, do you have any idea why such actions are being taken?"
Castor rubbed his chin in confusion and looked toward sealing.
Following his gaze in confusion I tried to see what he was doing.
"Why are you looking up?" He asked.
I blinked in surprise as he suddenly asked me.
"Oh, I was just seeing what you were doing."
Castor bit his lips and closed his eyes before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Haa...., Anyway I think I do know the reason for such acts."
"And what is that?"
"The new head is young."
I waited for him to continue but he didn't say anything else making me frown.
"He is young and what?"
"That's it, he is young and amateur."
Castor said with such confidence that it left me perplexed. How come being young is a reason for not doing business? Isn't it normal to try to do better if you come from a merchant's family and even if not the best he couldn't be that worse?
"Really? Is that all there is to it?"
"Yeah, he is young and hot-blooded on the head so that's it."
Sigh...
Thinking deeply is of no use right now, when I get to meet him I will get the idea. And it's not like they are the only traders in this city.
"Actually, Castor, I have a small request for you."
He looked at me with a 'What now?' expression but said nothing, waiting for me to continue.
"Hm, can we spar once in a while?"
The sudden request took Castor aback, his eyes widened with surprise as he stared at me.
"Why? You are already stronger than me."
I could understand his reactions but I knew the truth, my experiences come from nothing but rushed fights and luck. No matter what I do there will come a time I will get stuck somewhere. At times just gut feeling won't help me.
"It's just luck, my fights are mostly based on either ambush, trickery and most of all instincts... My last fight with you helped a lot but I think I might need more help."
His frown deepened as he questioned me with a stern gaze.
"You are an awakened yet you don't have a single experience, you should give a better excuse."
From his perspective, his words were absolutely true, to become an awakened even a minimum of one and half years is needed after first awakening and that time was more than enough to hone your fighting skills for an awakener.
Yet, here I was an anomaly...
"How much time do you think it took me to become an awakened."
I asked quietly, seeing my hesitation, Castor gulped and said unsure of his own words.
"Um, one year." He knew he was stretching the real-time by overestimating Asher's growth. But one year was still acceptable, that maybe Asher was so good that origin made him ascend earlier than usual.
"One month... That's all it took, And I became an awakener two months ago, so you can do the calculations."
The revelation made Castor's eyes pop out of his sockets.No, his eyes really turned red as he stood up making my drink fall, upon impact the glass shattered.
Thump—!
"What did you say?!"
"Shh...calm down someone might hear you." Placing a finger over my lips, I signaled him to be silent. He turned to look at his bar at all sides.
"....Are you telling the truth?" He whispered in a low voice.
"Yes, I am," I said with confidence, making his eyes shake in denial.
"Alright, I will help... don't tell anyone else what you just told me right now."
"Ohh, are you worried about me," I smirked as he looked down at his counter.
"Crazy bastard..." His brows twitched in annoyance but he took a deep breath calming himself down.
"Just go away."
"Alright—alright, I was going to leave anyway."
"Come whenever you have time in the morning."
As I was about to leave he stopped me in my tracks,I turned around to see his messed up face.
I nodded.
"Got it."