Chương 99: Chapter 062 The Orphan Girl Who Became My Sister (Part 1)

Jack searched through the marketplace for the young weapons merchant who sold him the bloodstained white oak bow. It was closer than the strange merchant from whom he bought the dagger.

"There he is." He had spotted the young man.

"And he has my bow." He approached the stall.

"Good morning." The young merchant nodded. Jack picked up the bow and examined it.

"How much?" The young merchant smiled.

"Only 95 silver." Hmm… last time his opening price was 90 silver. Is it because I'm two days earlier? Now what did I say last time? He grinned.

"You're joking, right?" Jack sounded shocked.

"It can't be worth more than… 53 silver."

"You can't be serious?" The young weapons merchant complained, shaking his head in disbelief.

"53 silver for such a fine weapon. Without the small bloodstain, it would be worth 5 gold at least." He gesticulated at the bow.

"Look at the intricate, detailed carvings. A true artist made it. And look at the runes, all the standard ones. It's a work of art." Hmm… he's upped the value to 5 gold. Pretty sure he said a few gold last time. Jack laughed, feeling what the right thing to do and say was. He went with the instinct.

"I bet your grandfather told you to sell it for under 1 gold." The young merchant's eyes widened.

"You know my grandfather?" Jack nodded.

"Of course, I've dealt with him before. A good, honest merchant. He's a credit to our great city of Lundun." The merchant smiled and nodded in agreement. Th e s e skill s are amazing. He couldn't help but smile at how well his skills were synergising.

"You and I both know the bow isn't worth anywhere near its true value." Jack pointed at the stains.

"So, what's your grandfather's true bottom line?" The merchant groaned.

"It's… 85 silver." Jack chuckled.

"So the old man said 75 silver." He retrieved 75 silver and offered the payment to the merchant for the bow and a dozen cheap arrows. His mom had loaned him 2 gold, so he had almost 2 gold and 40 silver in his coin purse. More than enough to get by with until he created some spell scrolls. The merchant frowned, but accepted the lower price.

"Give my regards to your grandfather." Jack had no idea who the young merchant's grandfather was. The pseudo [Rogue's Tongue] skill had helped him pull the relevant information together from his past dealings with the young merchant. Next stop, the strange weapons merchant to buy my dagger. Jack set out on the ten-minute walk across the city. I should keep a note of important things so [Perfect Recall] and [Cross-Reference] work alongside [Rogue's Tongue] and [Convince].

As he walked, he quickly made short notes on important information, like where he met Zia and that she'd slept on The Square the previous night. He included basic facts about the young adventurers he'd run a dungeon with. Anything [Rogue's Tongue] might find useful. Afterwards, he destroyed the memorised notes.

"You're ten minutes late, boy." The middle-aged merchant was sitting behind her stall as Jack approached. She looked annoyed, and she wasn't sharpening the tarnished dagger this time.

"What?" Jack's eyes were fixed on the dagger, which was placed as if she knew he wanted it.

"I said you're late." The Goddess Nemesis rolled her eyes.

"Are you deaf as well as pigheaded, boy?" Jack shook his head in confusion. Why is she so strange?

"I'm a busy woman." Nemesis pointed at Jack.

"So we'll have none of your ridiculous haggling this time. And don't think your weak skills will work on me, boy." She smiled, showing her sharp canines.

"Who do you think helped design them?" Jack's mouth dropped open. She knows. How can she know? His mind felt fuzzy as recent memories were affected by Nemesis' divinity. What was I doing? The Goddess gestured to his dagger.

"39 silver and 10 coppers."

"How?" Jack frowned. She laughed.

"It's yours, now hurry up and go, or you'll miss her." Jack nodded and dropped the 39 silver and 10 coppers on the table. How does she k now? Who is… His mind blanked for a moment. He shook his head while picking up the dagger. He felt comfort holding the damaged handle. I've got my dagger. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"Now get lost… and grab her a wrap from Arman's on the way." The middle-aged woman with the sharp canines and an ability to smite Jack in an instant got up from her chair.

"I expect a visit this time. Don't forget, or I'll drag you to Tartarus myself, you foolish brat." She left the stall unattended, coins still scattered amongst the weapons, as a flash of lightning and thunder rolled across the city.

"Thirteen times and still no visit," she muttered.

"The idiot chose time mage…" [Assassin's Intuition] flared more than it ever had as Jack flinched at the thunder. He watched with his mouth wide open in confusion as the merchant turned a corner.

"S-she must have a prophecy skill." Multiple classes included prophecy skills.

"Or perhaps a messenger from the Gods." He nodded, unable to accept the truth due to Nemesis being too forthcoming. A few moments later, an old man sat where the woman had been.

"Can I help you, lad?" He collected the coins like he'd expected to find them there.

"No, I'm good, thanks." Jack shook his head.

"Who was that woman?" He pointed towards where the Goddess had gone. The old man looked confused.

"What woman?"

"The one who was tending this stall," Jack added.

"The strange one."

"This is my stall, son." The old merchant looked even more confused.

"I've been here all day. What can I help you with? A second dagger… a shortsword? You can never have too much protection."

"No. I'm good." He shook his head in confusion. She must be a messenger of the Gods. He secured the dagger to his side. That's it. She must be a part of the Gods' plans for me. That's all. Having no more answers, he headed towards Arman's stall.

"I should buy Zia a wrap. She'll be hungry." He took the me ssenger's advice.

Jack gave the Royal Library a glance as he entered The Square. If I see Greaves or any of the other blood mages, I run. I need to keep my soldier's heart in check. He shook his head at the ill-advised decisions he'd made previously. I'm taking no risks. The trauma from being tortured and killed by Viscount Greaves twenty-five years in the future had triggered his soldier's heart. He'd taken risks he hadn't taken in his first life.

It also didn't help that he'd spent hours in the company of Thanatos, the God of Death—over the course of twelve deaths—chanting, 'Kill all blood mages.' He went to the back of the queue at Arman's stall. Like before, it was busy, and the smell was just as appetising. Like the last time, before Jack could step up to take his turn, his name was called over the head of the person before him.

"Jack, where have you been? An old man might believe you're avoiding them, no?" Arman chimed in his merry, sing-song voice.

"Do I have competition? Are you filling your belly at another vendor's stall, no?" Armin mock-complained.

"Or has a beautiful young lady finally stolen your heart, yes?" the old man teased. Jack laughed.

"Oh, I wish it were a young lady." He winked.

"I'm afraid I've been married to a desk studying for Choosing Day." Arman chuckled.

"Soon, Jack. Very soon. Arman can tell, yes?" He started preparing a wrap.

"I can see a beautiful young woman on your arm. Very soon, yes." He gave him a beaming smile.

"Your usual, yes?" Jack smiled.

"Make it two wraps, please. I have a date with a young lady, but she's a little too young to be on my arm. She'll love your wraps, though." Arman prepared a second wrap.

"Good choice. The way to anyone's heart is through their belly, yes." He patted his own ample stomach.

"I've added a little extra for your young date, yes."

"Thanks, Arman." Jack paid the 30 coppers before heading to where he'd bumped into Zia the first time around. Two wraps in hand. A few minutes later, he was at the place he'd seen her. He sat on a bench and waited. She shouldn't be too long. If I remember right, it's about five minutes from now. The strange messenger was right; I didn't have time to haggle. He closed his eyes and took a moment to thank the Gods. Thank you for this second… third chance and for the… strange messenger.

There was a small rumble of thunder, and Jack's assassin skill pinged. Placing his hand on the pommel of his dagger, he scanned the area for threats, but found none. What was that? A few minutes later, Zia wandered down the street looking lost. Jack's heart almost broke at the sight of his adopted little sister looking so filthy, scared, and alone. The moment he saw her, his breath caught in his throat. Poor Zia. She's important. I have to protect her.

He wanted to run over, scoop her up, and tell her everything was going to be alright now. But he couldn't do that; he had to manipulate her first, so as not to traumatise her further. I'll have you home soon, Zia. I promise. He waited for her to walk by while trying to control his emotions.

"Darn it… I bought too much food." His voice was loud.

"What should I do? Oh. Little girl, are you hungry?" Zia stopped; her eyes widened, but she didn't speak.

"Are you hungry?" he repeated in a soft voice.

"I bought two wraps, but I don't think I can eat both of them." He showed Zia the two wraps. She licked her lips.

"I was going to feed one to the pigeons, but then I saw you." Zia nodded, and Jack patted the space next to him before offering her one of the wraps. With caution, she sat next to him and took a wrap; she looked up, waiting for confirmation that she could eat. He nodded.

"It's all yours. Try not to eat the wrapping." She smiled, opened the wrap, and devoured it.

"I should've bought three," Jack mumbled while opening his own wrap. He took a few bites.

"Hmm… delicious. Have you tried one of Arman's wraps before?" He knew the answer. She shook her head.

"N-no. It was the bestest."

"It is." Jack nodded.

"Though not as good as my mom's cooking. She makes the most delicious things you've ever tasted." He offered her the other half of his wrap, and she took it with a big smile.

"You haven't tasted good food until you've tried my mom's. She makes the… bestest buttermilk biscuits as well. So soft when they melt on your tongue. Hmm." Zia was listening and nodding along as she ate the other wrap.

"You don't have anywhere to stay?" Jack already knew the answer. She shook her head and looked close to crying.

"My mom's really, really busy. Maybe you could help her out… help with making the biscuits, so she has more time with my baby brother?" He watched as his little sister's eyes lit up at the thought of cooking biscuits.

"Do you want to go meet my mom?" His voice quivered as he wiped a tear from his eye. Zia hesitated, then nodded.