Chapter 17: Plans for the Future
'Why would he kill you? Were you the one who abducted his wife?'
Kayden wondered.
He knew there was a possibility, but he was fairly certain Jack didn't run the underground organization that might have been involved in Eldric's wife's abduction.
He recalled the numerous criminal organizations mentioned in the novel. One in particular was deeply involved in the kingdom's affairs.
Not only were they based in the West Reach kingdom, but they also facilitated the entry of the cult, 'Messengers of the Undying' into this kingdom.
'Black Company.'
That was their name—the most infamous underworld organization with a hand in every illegal activity in the kingdom.
The illegal rums Kayden and his party acquired came through their connections. Nobody knew who these guys were.
Not a single member of the organization had been caught in recent years.
'Well, the organization is fairly new, and for some reason, it shook the entire kingdom within a limited time.'
He needed to look into it.
"Eldric is not a knight anymore. He's looking for his missing wife."
At the mention of the wife, both Rose and Jack's eyes widened.
Seeing this, Kayden thought it was because of Jack's wife. She was said to be a dancer and an elegant woman.
Rose's inspiration was her, and it was said she was slain during a battle with the Royal Navy.
'They must be missing her.'
Kayden thought, shaking his head.
"I-If he is looking for his wife, and he's here--"
"Jack, get out. I need some sleep."
Jack's eyes bulged, and his mouth opened to protest, but Rose touched his arm gently.
"Let's go, Father. The young master needs his rest."
Jack hesitated, looking between Rose and Kayden, before grumbling under his breath and shuffling towards the door.
Rose strode towards Kayden gracefully, like a viper moving towards its prey. She leaned in close, and Kayden held his breath for a second.
This woman was dangerous.
He feared her poison would spread through his weak body.
"If you need anything, just call me, alright?"
Kayden nodded enthusiastically with a fake smile. Seeing his smile, she smiled too.
She was truly a beauty, but of course, he knew what type of beauty that was.
'The type that kills people.'
Clack~
She closed the door behind her as she left the room.
'Phew~ Such a long day, and it hasn't even been evening yet.'
There were things he needed to do, but he decided to do them later. He needed some sleep now.
'I'll test the new skill later.'
'I'm going to sleep right now.'
Within seconds, Kayden fell asleep.
...
Kayden dreamt about home.
If you could call a small shed surrounded by metal waste, which could barely accommodate two people, a home.
A dirty, unkempt woman lay on the floor, her hands on her stomach and a bottle of spoiled alcohol in her grip.
Young Kayden was breathing heavily, a piece of broken bottle glass in his hand.
And, of course, blood. Lots and lots of blood was on the floor, on the woman's beautiful but lifeless face, and even flowing from his hands, scarred by the broken bottle.
"Ha...haa...."
He breathed heavily, tears streaming down his face.
"M-momma..."
A sharp intake of breath, and Kayden returned to his new world.
He sat upright on the bed, head in his hands as he breathed heavily.
'What a waste.'
'Tsk, tsk.'
Taking another big breath, he calmed himself down. The sky had turned an orange hue.
'It's already evening. I should get going.'
He languidly stood up and went downstairs, where he talked with Jack and the crew for a while before leaving.
He gave Jack an instruction. An important one at that. A very important one.
"From tomorrow onwards, start making teas..."
"Scuse me? Tea? Here? Did ya hit your head on something, bo— ahem, young master?"
Jack understandably protested, but one look from Kayden made the ex-pirate gulp.
"Start selling them as a business... and make a few more tables and chairs outside... also a few more rooms... this place is big enough to accommodate that."
"...er..."
"Do some painting and makeover too. You have the coins, right? Take it from our treasury."
Even though Jack ran the tavern, technically, Kayden owned it.
Jack and the crew just took some coins for their share and deposited the remaining coins in chests.
These coins were also used by Kayden to buy illegal substances and alcohol from other kingdoms and criminal organizations.
"Yes, yes. That's an excellent idea, young master. We should make this tavern so luxurious that even more legendary criminals will come here."
This was Patchy, Jack's vice captain. Unlike Jack, this man was a normal middle-aged human who happened to be nice—well, at least when speaking.
Hearing his vice captain, Jack suddenly started to rub his beard as if deep in thought.
'Indeed, right. Why else would the young master want to renovate this rundown tavern if it isn't for scamming someone?'
Kayden frowned at the man's dreamy expression. He did not want to stay here any longer.
"Just do it."
Kayden snapped, turning on his heel to leave.
As he walked away, he could hear Patchy and Jack discussing the renovations with renewed enthusiasm.
Their voices faded as he stepped out into the evening air, the orange sky casting long shadows on the cobblestone street.
'Tsk, tsk. I need to get out of here.'
He left the tavern and headed straight for the stables.
The mare ran toward him, looking at him suspiciously and sniffing the air, circling him.
Kayden frowned, not because of the mare's antics, but because something seemed off.
"Hey, did you get shorter? I swear you were just above my hips, but..."
Kayden bent his knees and scrutinized the mare, who was tilting her head at him.
Both of them were looking strangely at each other.
The mare could smell something strange in him, and he could see something strange in her.
"Wait a minute, where's your saddle?"
The horse neighed at him.
"Did you eat it?"
It shook its head and looked at him angrily.
"Then what?"
"Nee-hi!"
It pranced around, rolling on the ground and all.
"You removed it yourself? Why? Do you not like the saddle?"
"Nee-hi!"
It was still prancing around like crazy.
'Man, I don't even know what the hell she's saying.'
"Well... I don't want to waste my time arguing with you. Saddle or no saddle, let's go home."
"Neighh..."
Due to Kayden's thin frame, his butt felt uncomfortable riding without a saddle, but it wasn't a big deal.
He'd had worse than this.
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