Chapter 95: Meeting a Fellow Countryman
Nick took a letter from his inner pocket and handed it to Saul.
“This is a letter from Mentor Rum to Grindstone Town. You’ll need to take a detour and deliver it. The coachman knows the way.”
Saul accepted the letter and noticed it wasn’t sealed—he could open and read it at any time.
“Is there anything forbidden in this? Can I take a look?”
“Of course, it’s meant to be read by ordinary people. The strongest ones in Grindstone Town are just a couple of first-level apprentices—both trash. If you took it seriously, you could kill them with one hand.”
Nick reassured him.
“Grindstone Town is near the border of the Kema Principality, next to a disputed area with the Kenas Principality. The situation there is a bit complicated. However, they supply the tower with Grinding Sound Fruits every year, so the tower provides them with some protection.”
Nick gestured for Saul to open the letter and read it.
Saul unfolded the paper and saw lines of elegant cursive script, immediately picturing Rum’s long, three-jointed arms in his mind.
The content was straightforward—it was a rebuke. It accused Grindstone Town of reducing both the quantity and quality of their tribute. If this continued, the Gorsa Wizard Tower would revoke their protection.
“Am I supposed to collect the tribute?” Saul wondered if his 14-year-old appearance could intimidate them.
“No, the summer collection is handled by a dedicated third-level senior apprentice. That fruit has some experimental value, after all.”
Even though no one dared to eavesdrop, Nick still leaned in slightly and lowered his voice.
“You have two choices when you reach Grindstone Town. The first is to go straight there, scold them on behalf of Mentor Rum, and then enjoy yourself—take whatever you want.”
“Or, you could investigate why their Grinding Sound Fruits production has declined before revealing yourself and then take whatever you want.”
“If you can find the cause, you don’t need to deal with them yourself—just report back to Mentor Rum. But if they dare disrespect you, just remember—you represent the Wizard Tower. You should know what that means.”
With that, Nick entrusted the task to Saul and left with his group.
Saul and the coachman continued on their journey.
Grindstone Town wasn’t far from where they had parted ways. After just a day’s travel, Saul arrived outside the town’s eastern outskirts before nightfall.
Nick had given Saul two ways to complete the task, each with different rewards. Although Saul wasn’t a detective, he was tempted by the second option’s reward, so he decided to investigate first.
He told the coachman to wait outside the town, then used a minor spell to alter his clothing.
Now, he looked like a ragged wanderer from the wilds, and his hands, normally blackened by his magic, turned to an ordinary skin tone.
Before Saul left, the coachman silently handed him a small bag of coins.
Inside were a dozen silver coins and a few scattered coppers. The coins bore intricate engravings—far too fine for the local craftsmanship. There must have been some magical influence in their creation.
Saul pocketed a few copper coins and tucked the rest inside his clothes.
He wasn’t sure how much purchasing power these coins had and didn’t want to arouse suspicion by carrying too many.
Parting with the coachman, Saul picked up a wooden stick from the roadside and leaned on it as he walked, making himself look even more like a wandering vagrant.
There weren’t many travelers outside Grindstone Town.
Saul observed the locals and adjusted his expression and posture to blend in as he approached the town.
From a distance, Grindstone Town seemed quite large.
A weathered stone wall surrounded it, worn down by wind and sand, making it look old and crumbling.
Beyond the walls, a few rows of rundown houses stood, their appearance revealing the hardship of their owners' lives.
There were also fields under cultivation outside the town, though they weren’t very large.
As Saul passed by a field, he noticed a tanned young man tilling the soil with a hoe.
When the young man reached the end of a row, he straightened his back and wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. At that moment, he locked eyes with Saul.
The young man had a dark complexion and a rugged face, but as Saul looked closer, he suspected he was only in his teens.
Saul turned his head indifferently, gripping his stick, ready to leave.
“Saul?”
A hesitant voice called from behind.
Saul froze and turned around in surprise.
How did this person know his name?
When he looked back, the young man was already running toward him, hoe in hand, his face full of excitement.
“Saul, it is you! When I didn’t see you after we ran from the village, I thought you got killed by the barbarians!”
“Who are you?” Saul asked, confused, though he quickly realized this must be someone who knew the original owner of his body.
“It’s me, Ada! Haha, I’ve changed a lot, haven’t I? But you haven’t—still scrawny like before. How did you escape the village? I really thought you were dead—I even cried for a long time! Hahaha!”
The young man named Ada laughed heartily and clapped Saul on the shoulder.
Noticing Saul’s blank expression, Ada’s grin faded slightly.
“You don’t remember me? I lived right next to your house back then. You were already ten, and you even said you’d wait for my sister to grow up and marry her! I beat you up for that… you really forgot?”
“I… really don’t remember.” Saul gritted his teeth.
That was the original owner’s life, not his.
Technically, Saul didn’t have to entertain this conversation. He could just ignore Ada and move on. But since he needed to infiltrate Mofan Town, he decided to take advantage of the situation.
“Ada, do you live in Grindstone Town?” he asked, feigning enthusiasm.
Ada hesitated for a moment before admitting, “Yeah, my sister and I live here now. But we’re just renting a small courtyard—it’s tough.”
Saul’s face lit up. “That’s great, Ada! I was hoping to stay in Grindstone Town, but I’ve been wandering for so long that I have no money left. Can I stay at your place for a few days? I swear I’ll leave once I find work.”
A direct, blunt request—the kind that put honest people in an awkward position.
“Uh… our place is tiny…” Ada hesitated, gripping his hoe tightly.
Saul took a deep breath, patted his stomach, and gave a pitiful look. “I can sleep on the floor. I haven’t eaten in days. I heard Grindstone Town is a good place, so I traveled for days just to get here. If I can’t stay in town, I might die out in the wild.”
He looked up, scrunching his brows and lips together in a desperate expression.
“Please, Ada, for the sake of our hometown.”
Ada glanced at Saul’s dusty clothes, his thin frame, and his pale, chapped lips. His expression turned complicated.
“…Fine. But I can only give you a place to sleep. For food… we only have green flatbread. You’ll need to find work as soon as possible.”
“Alright!” Saul agreed instantly, grinning.
Ada cast a glance at his half-tilled field, then looked at the setting sun in the distance.
“Forget it, I’ll finish tomorrow.” He walked to the edge of the field, picked up a wooden basket hidden between the furrows, and returned.
“Let’s go… sigh.”
Ada led the way, sighing heavily.
Saul, feeling no remorse for taking advantage of Ada’s kindness, eagerly followed him toward Grindstone Town, glancing around curiously.
They passed other farmers along the way. Some greeted Ada, while others simply gave him a disinterested glance before returning to their work.
“Ada, this town is great! So much more peaceful than where I used to live.”
Ada’s steps faltered slightly, but he only muttered, “It’s not as good as you think. Just keep your head down and work hard. Maybe you can build a house outside town someday and marry a wife.”
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