Chương 153: Chapter 143-Chosen Chicken

Presents. I haven't given many in my life. The few times I have… ended in disaster. There was this one time that I gave Kat a nice bracelet for her birthday. She really liked it too. That was until the guard came sniffing around for it. Guess the jeweler had some magic cast on it because they got really close to catching us. Still, Kat liked it. Luckily, the magic on it broke eventually. She still has it to this day.

"CJ, stop zoning out. Somebody is going to end up nicking your bag," Kat warns.

"Yeah. Yeah. So, how is work going?" I ask as I take a bite of my cream puff.

"Oh well. A little thievery here and a little forgery there. Been keeping me busy. You manage to keep yourself out of trouble?" she asks as she looks around at the crowded street.

"Doing my best. By the way, when did you say Smelly Doug and Silent Pete were going to join us?" I ask, trying to be as subtle as possible.

"I didn't. You know them. The job is done when the job is done. It could be months, or it could be days. Although given the fact that they're in the Southern Isles, I'd give it months. Why are you asking?" she asks with a hint of suspicion.

"Gods, can't I be worried for them? Suspicious much?" I ask, avoiding telling a single [Lie].

"Hmm. Okay. So, what did you want to talk about and without the Pipsqueak at that?" she asks as she points out the absence of Mateo.

"This might be a little dangerous for him. You remember those Purists that attacked us outside the Food Bank?" I ask as I take another bite of my creamy, delicious cream puff.

"The ones whose heads popped off like a grape?"

"Those are the ones," I say as I give her a bite of my cream puff.

"What about them?" she asks as she chews.

"Well, I have credible intel-""Talk normally."

"Take the fun out of it, why don't you? Fine. These Purists are targeting me directly. So, like you always say, it's better to kick the rat before it kicks you," I joke as I hand her a slip of paper.

"You do know that anytime I say that we get our asses beat, right?"

"I remember. Vividly. This time is different though. These Purists don't play by the rules of the street. They'll do more than just beat us. They'll kill us. Can you get it done?" I ask with a devilish smile. Kat opens the slip of paper and nods.

"You always did like your convoluted plans. I can get it done by weeks end. Are you sure this is how you want to do this? We could always take my approach to things," she says with a smile.

"Killing them like thugs isn't going to accomplish anything. These guys are 'disposable,' as we saw with the ones that went pop. No matter how many you kill, we'll just be wasting our time and playing into their hands. If we want to beat them, we'll have to use the gavel, not the sword," I say as I remember the Emperor's words.

"Using the law? Feel sick saying it, but your plans do have a tendency to work out in our favor, but don't forget. We're criminals, CJ, and that will never change," Kat says as she walks away. Like I could ever forget that. Sure, I've been close to those in power, but I know that in less than six years I'll have to leave this all behind… In more ways than one. Pushing the thoughts out of my mind, I walk towards a nearby jewelry shop. Best not to dwell on what I can't change. People have been driven crazy for less.

The thing that's really driving me crazy is Smelly Doug. If he really was there, then why didn't he tell me? Well, it's not like I told anybody about Ashfall either, but that's neither here nor there. Well, I did tell Kat, Ilota, and I guess Abrigon. I insinuated it with Professor Stargazer. Hells, I really have let myself slip up. As my mind wanders, I spot Garus, who's sitting by his lonesome on a bench. He's earlier than I thought he would be. Guess he is a punctual person.

"Garus, hope I didn't keep you waiting," I say as I make my presence known. Garus looks up from his book.

"Not at all. I assumed you were going to be late, but I'm pleasantly surprised, CJ. So, what did you want to meet up for?" The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"It's the weekend, and I thought it would be nice to hang out. Can't friends just hang out?" I say as I plop down next to him.

"We hang out all of the time, and you're way too chipper. Why am I really here?" he asks with a hint of suspicion. As we stand, I wrap my arm around his shoulders and lead him into the jewelry store.

"Ah, my friend. You worry far too much. I have no ulterior motives or shady activities in store for us," I [Lie].

"CJ, why are we going into a jewelry store?"

"Oh, would you look at that? I must've made a wrong turn. Well, while we're here. Why don't we look around and see what's good?" I [Lie] poorly. The shopkeeper gives us a calculated smile as she leaves another customer to browse.

"Hello there. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh, no, we're just browsing, but now that you're here. Do you think there's anything that would go well with my friend's eyes?" I gesture to Garus' green eyes.

"Of course. We have a fine selection. Let me go grab some," she says as she leaves us. Garus gives me an odd look.

"CJ, what are we doing?" he whispers.

"Okay, I'm going to level with you. They won't let me into this store, so I need your help," I whisper, remembering my earlier attempts to get in here.

"What do you mean they won't let you in? Actually, why do you want to be here in the first place?" he asks as the shopkeep returns.

"So, we have a wide variety of accessories that would go great with those green eyes. Here we have the Autumn Rebirth, a beautiful bracelet with rubies from the Meliora Technocracy. Sleek and enchanted with [Resistance]. Then we have the Rising Light, a necklace with no rival in beauty. The chain is made from pure enchanted silver and the gem is a blue-yellow variant of a sapphire.

Fun thing about this sapphire is that it was made in the Merchant Republic of Diro using [Alchemy] to perfectly capture the feeling of the morning light. Last, but not least, I present to you the crown jewel of this establishment. The Falling Leaf," she says with dramatic flair as she lifts a small box out of seemingly thin air. Garus and I lean in as she opens it with the flair that only a salesperson could have. Within the box are a small pair of earrings that shine as the light meets them.

An elegant frame made of white marble that bends into a bright green emerald. It's perfect.

"I'll take it," I say without a hint of doubt. Garus gives me a worried look.

"Perhaps we should ask how much it's worth, CJ."

"Okay, how much is it?"

"This particular item is quite expensive. Do you see the white marble that makes up the frame? That was mined from the Lost Continent before the Blight took it. So, it's quite a rarity amongst rarities. Not to mention the emerald. It has been enchanted to work as a magic crystal that stores enough mana to leave you refreshed. I'm not actually supposed to be showing you this. It's reserved to be shown to our regulars, but I can feel that it belongs to you," she says with a subtle smirk.

"And how much is it?" I ask, having shaken myself from her flow.

"I would have to part with this for a measly 6 platinum," she says. The beat of my heart suddenly stops. 6 fucking platinum?! What in the hells is this lady thinking? I could buy so much bread with that much platinum. Fuck the bread! I could buy the bakery! Where am I supposed to find 6 platinum coins? It's not like I'm made of coins. Garus gives an approving nod.

"6 platinum is not bad. CJ, you'd be getting away with a steal. Something like this would usually go for at least 8 platinum." [Steal]! That's it! I'll [Steal] it. Why didn't I think of that? Not like I'd be able to get enough coin in time anyway. Yeah, there's nothing that could go wrong with this.

"Hmm. I see. I'll have to talk to my financial advisors first, but I'll be back to see this later. Could you hold it for me?" I [Lie] as I give my most charming smile.

"I suppose I could hold it for a week, but any more than that and someone else could come and whisk it away," she says with a calculated smile.

"Understood. Alright, Garus. Let's go eat lunch," I say as I leave the shop. Garus follows with a disappointed look.

"You know. I have green eyes, but I also know somebody else who has green eyes. A certain red-headed somebody whose birthday is coming up."

"Your point?" I ask with a hint of embarrassment.

"My point. I don't really have one. Although I would say that the present you got for my birthday was a used book. Just saying."

"It was a good book that you talked about, and I took you out to eat. Gods, I'm so underappreciated," I say as we round the corner. He shakes his head with a smile.

"I liked the book. Thank you, CJ."

"That's better. Now I was thinking of chicken for lunch," I say as I try to pivot to another topic.

"Chicken sounds fun. I'm sure she'll love it. After all, you're the one who bought it. I'm rooting for you, CJ," he says as he gives me a pat on the back.

"Rooting for what? I don't know what you're talking about. You're paying for lunch, by the way," I [Lie].

"I assumed." As we walk down the street to the local chicken shop, I can't stop thinking about the words that Garus said. Should I [Steal] them? I get the feeling that Penelope wouldn't be happy to learn that I [Stole] them, but it's not like I can get that much coin in a week. Maybe I could spring for something cheaper… No, I saw the way Garus reacted. This isn't even expensive to him, let alone Ms. Carries Around Platinum Coins like they're rocks. Damn it! To [Steal] or not to [Steal]?

Life's most important question that can be answered after a plate of chicken.