Episode 266

Spring had come to Bariel, but few noticed it right away. The eyes of the empire’s citizens weren’t on the newly blossoming flower buds—they were fixed firmly on the Imperial Palace.

Hadn’t the world changed so much in just a short time? They found themselves watching the palace flags fluttering unpredictably more often than the trees planted in the courtyard. And gradually, as everything settled down, they turned their heads to observe the rhythms of everyday life around them.

“…When did it get like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Spring… Has it come already? I didn’t even realize.”

At a tavern that had just opened for business, two men sat on the outdoor terrace, watching the street. It was late afternoon, so the place was unusually quiet. They saw children running through the alleys, and a cat sprawled lazily on a rooftop, basking in the sun.

Besides them, only one other group occupied the tavern, making the atmosphere peaceful. The only sound was the gentle chime of a music box the owner had playing.

“Summer’s going to be here before we know it. Then autumn, then winter. Oh, and the bodies in the central square—they’ve all been cleared away. The trial feels like it was just yesterday, but it’s been over a week.”

“Better to get rid of that stuff quickly. It’s an eyesore.”

“Wanna grab a drink and go somewhere? It’s been a while since we played cards. Today’s the day, right?”

“Hmm, can’t. Got some work.”

Just then, the tavern owner set down frosty beers in front of them, the bottoms thick with honey. One of the men raised his glass and asked,

“Work? What kind?”

“They’re changing the signboard at the Haiman Bank. They asked for some help. Gotta drink this first before heading over.”

The fall of Haiman had left a deep mark on history, but for most common folk, it hadn’t felt real.

Most didn’t even have bank accounts, and many had only seen Haiman for the first time in the central square. If not for the names, they wouldn’t have been able to tell who was who—everything was such a mess.

“Bank signboard? Oh, right. I heard the other nobles are running their own banks now. The Eijain one’s launching a new product—low-interest loans for small businesses. I’m thinking of paying off what I owe our boss and switching over. Paying interest every winter is killing me.”

“I heard there are five banks just in the central district.”

“Changing the signboard won’t be enough. We’re gonna have a hard time today.”

“The guy next door said he’s heading to the center tomorrow.”

“Next door? The one who works for the Kapulu family?”

“Yeah, they got a stake in the banks now. They’re setting up a bank in the Kapulu territory and have sent all their employees packing. Maybe they’ll be back by summer.”

One of the men, who had been quietly listening, suddenly hesitated mid-sip. It felt like the group sitting diagonally across from them was eavesdropping.

Except for one who was gulping down beer like a beast, the other three sat quietly, subtly turning their heads toward them.

‘What’s going on?’

Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be from some noble background—except for the red-haired boy who was drinking like there was no tomorrow.

“Do you know them?”

“Nope. No idea.”

“They keep looking this way. It’s annoying.”

Isn’t “Why are you staring?” the most common cause of tavern fights? The peaceful mood suddenly snapped tight. The two men tensed, wary of the strangers.

“…Something’s off.”

“Agreed. Especially that redhead. Even his clothes look crazy.”

He seemed to have bought every flashy thing he liked on the street. Are they bodyguards? They had swords, so probably, but why wear such gaudy, flashy rags?

“The gray-haired one’s no better. Came all the way to the tavern just to drink water. Not normal.”

“You’re too aware of them. Ugh, it’s killing the mood. Let’s finish this and get out.”

“Yeah, better that way.”

If they were just some petty hustlers, it’d be one thing, but only two of them carried swords. Plus, there was a kid clutching a bottle of milk, shoulders stiff with tension. Definitely a strange group to get involved with—no benefit in that. Just as the two men raised their glasses to toast—

Clatter.

The kid stood up, holding the milk, and timidly hurried over to them. Four men, who looked like protectors, watched his back encouragingly.

The two men froze, but soon realized the boy’s pale eyes held no ill intent.

“Um…”

“Why, why are you doing this?”

He was too young to be spoken to formally, but his presence was too commanding to be treated casually. Up close, he looked like no ordinary child.

“A-a-a toast!”

“Huh?”

“Could you please make a toast with me?”

“Ah…”

The boy’s cheeks flushed as he held out the milk, clearly mustering all his courage. The men exchanged bewildered looks, glancing back at his companions. What on earth was going on?

“Please.”

Ian nodded gracefully, without a word, conveying his agreement. It was surprising how much could be said without speaking.

They were so captivated by Ian’s radiant smile that they barely noticed Beric rolling his eyes and snickering.

“What the hell? No cheers?”

“The milk’s still in his hand.”

Beric and Xiaoxi’s eyes said it all. Romandro silently clenched his fist, silently cheering Jin on.

“Ah, yes, yes. Well…”

Clink!

The two men tapped their glasses against Jin’s milk bottle. The clear sound made the boy’s pale eyes sparkle.

Their first toast with an imperial citizen!

As Jin gulped down the milk, the men hesitated, then downed their beers. Once you clink glasses, you drink—whether it’s beer or milk.

“Thank you. Have a good day.”

Wiping his mouth, Jin returned to his seat. Ian pulled out his chair and welcomed him back, then turned to the men.

“Thanks to you, my little brother had a wonderful experience. The drinks are on us. Owner, two more beers, please.”

“Oh, no need for that.”

“Still, we appreciate it. Heh.”

They expected trouble but were met with such politeness and grace that they awkwardly scratched their necks and offered a tentative greeting.

“Are you nobles? I’ve never had a drink with people like you. I want to brag about it later.”

“Oh, no, not nobles. Our uncle runs a small business. He invited us because spring in the capital is especially beautiful.”

So they were from a well-off family. No wonder they smelled like money. They nodded in understanding when they saw Romandro and heard about the uncle. Yeah, the father probably wasn’t involved. Unless the mother was stunning, it just wouldn’t work.

Jin, fidgeting with his empty milk bottle, added hesitantly,

“I’m the little brother!”

“Huh?”

“I’m the little brother, and he’s the big brother.”

“Yeah, you two look like siblings.”

“Well then, we’ll be going. Thanks for the drinks.”

“Please come again.”

Ian nodded and wrapped up the conversation. Then he naturally turned to Jin.

“How was it, Jin?”

“Ah, it was very nice, big brother.”

“Good. Next time, um…”

What should they do next? Romandro pulled a note from his pocket and whispered,

“Go to the park and feed the pigeons.”

“Right. Let’s finish this and head out.”

“Sounds good. Big brother, I want another glass of milk.”

“Owner.”

The owner gestured as if taking an order, and Beric quickly added,

“Three more servings of grilled meat, please!”

“Tsk, tsk. This is a tavern, not a restaurant. Three or four pieces cost five dong each. What are you trying to do, fill your stomach here?”

“It’s not Romandro’s money anyway. What’s it to you?”

“Ian, next time let’s leave those two behind. They stand out too much.”

Their outing was more like a covert mission. The original goal was to observe the lives of imperial citizens, blend in, and identify their difficulties. It was basically just a day of fun with a thin excuse. Plus, it was Jin’s first time out.

“At least we should keep a tight leash on the allowance.”

“Take it back after giving it? That’s harsh! What a cheap trick!”

“No, I mean we won’t give him any more. He keeps buying weird stuff from street vendors and wearing it, so people can spot him from a mile away.”

“This was Jin’s choice—”

Clang!

Beric tried to interrupt, but Romandro smacked his face with a silver tray. The owner whistled, clearly entertained.

“The clothes and armor seem to fit well enough, but the problem is there’s no weapon that suits Xiaoxi. Maybe we should have one made.”

“B-but big brother! Isn’t the recruitment happening earlier than expected? The second blacksmith we visited was the fastest so far, but it still doesn’t meet the schedule.”

Jin seemed to have taken a liking to calling Ian “big brother.” He never missed a chance to use it, and secretly seemed amused by their reversed seniority.

“Let’s check one last place. If nothing turns up, we’ll come back another time.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Fighting barehanded is the real thrill! Oh, the meat’s here. Wow, so much!”

“You ordered seven plates of grilled meat all at once, didn’t you? This is on the house. A little something extra.”

Beric grabbed his fork with both hands and started devouring the meat greedily. Ian paid upfront and glanced around the room.

“As expected, the rumors were true—the drinks and the food are excellent, boss.”

Then he asked, turning the question around, why the place was so empty. The owner didn’t catch it at first but soon burst out laughing as if he understood.

“Oh, it’s nothing special. For the past few months, this area gets quiet around this time. There’s a big gambling den nearby. Everyone’s off there, playing and eating, so they don’t come here. Then, after they’ve been cleaned out around dawn, people start trickling back in.”

“A gambling den?”

“Yes, yes. They play cards, odd-even bets, and there’s plenty of other entertainment too. I haven’t been myself, so I can’t say for sure.”

So that’s what’s going on.

Ian looked over at Romandro.

“Did you know about this?”

“No, not at all.”

While the two exchanged a brief glance, Beric finished his second plate.

“It seems the games run for quite a while, considering it’s a regular thing. Once a month, right?”

Ian muttered, suspecting it was probably illegal. Romandro jotted down a note. After a whole day of running around, there was already a long list of things to handle like this.

“Yeah. I’ll look into it.”

“Well then, shall we get going?”

“Wait, hold on! I haven’t finished—”

“Thank you, boss. The meal was excellent.”

With a screech, Beric hurriedly stuffed the last piece of meat into his mouth, but they didn’t wait and started clearing the table. Jin, feeling good after two glasses of milk, grabbed Ian’s hand and shook it enthusiastically.

“Is the park far from here, brother?”

“Should be close. Romandro planned the route very efficiently.”

They kept walking instead of taking a carriage. Riding through was always an option, but moving on foot like this, soaking in all the sights and sounds, was something you only did when you were serious about going undercover.

Tap, tap, tap.

As they neared the park, the crowd grew thicker. It seemed the gambling den the tavern owner mentioned was nearby.

Ian squeezed Jin’s hand tightly and signaled Beric and Xiaoxi to stay alert. There were probably knights blending into the crowd like air, but for now, these three were the closest to Jin.

“Heh heh. I won that one, you know.”

“Ah! Are you kidding? I put all the stakes up!”

“Drinks on me. Something cheap.”

From the alleys branching off around them, faint wisps of cigarette smoke drifted out. Rough, unrefined voices, darkness so thick you couldn’t see inside even in daylight, the smell of alcohol, and someone retching in the distance.

Ian smiled warmly and looked at Romandro.

“Nice route planning.”

“Sorry about that.”

Jin, still holding Ian’s hand tightly, peeked cautiously into the alleys. Intimidating as they were, these people were part of Bariel’s territory too. With the guards and Ian nearby, there was nothing to fear.

“Hey, Ian.”

“No.”

For Jin, the tavern was as far as he could stray. Ian thought they should hurry past this place.

Until a familiar figure stepped into one of the alleys.

Jin, walking beside Ian, saw it too and smiled softly. Then, barely above a whisper, he said,

“The one who just went into that alley looks a lot like Timothy. Don’t you think so, brother?”