29 Chapter 10: The Change 3 (1/2)

The commerce in our Greenrun Dukedom thrives from my people's products and the produce that we acquire from everything that surrounds us: the rolling hills and it's minerals, vast valleys with all the herbs and plants, the lake and streams, varying fiends and animals, and lush prairies; also decent foreign trading and tourism which are also blooming but not as brimming as the other large cities in the South. Unlike Osteell, we don't have mines to harvest ores or metal from, that can be used to manufacture products to be sold overseas— but Greenrun is prosperous and peaceful as is.

And I can see that with my own eyes as we began to walk around the Central District. Eriol walked beside me as Aerra followed us a little from behind together with Levi.

”Let's go check the Notice Board!” Says Eriol, picking up his pace to head to the board, where several papers are posted, as we were about to pass by.

”We agreed already that we won't be doing any bounty huntings or apt to it.” I grumbled but in a blink of an eye, he already strode to it cheerfully checking all the posted papers.

”Oh look at that! Wow! So many papers posted that means so many people needing help, Aeron!” He hollered, gesturing a hand at me.

”I'm not even a mercenary. Why should I care?” I replied, deciding to just walk towards where he was.

”Well, you are the future Lord of this land...” he began, I quickly interrupted,

”And that's why we made that notice board so people can ask traveling mercenaries to do their bidding. Small and irrelevant issues like that is not part of our job as the Landlords! Like this for example—!” I pointed at a paper that says 'JOB: Wanted Need Help with Deliveries. Few boxes of fresh fishes needs to be delivered from the ports to my shop. If interested, go find Narts at the Fish Market station 6!'

Eriol shook his head in dismay, ”I wasn't referring to those kind of things. I meant this one!” He slams his hand to a post where red printed letters are seen saying: HUNT.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. ”No bounty hunting” I reiterated at him, crossing my arms.

Eriol rips the paper off from the board and hands it to me. ”Read!” he insisted. I just glared at him but he kept waving it in front of my face, ”Read! Go on!”

I took it off from his hand and read it. It says,

HUNT

A band of thieves are sighted causing trouble around the outskirts lately. Especially to us farmers. We believe they are fugitives from the purge done from the southernmost borders, Ak'hilheim Kingdom. If anyone can help us put an end to this we are ready to pay ##,###. To anyone interested and further information, please visit us at Zenas Village

And then a small map is printed below the note.

I grimaced after reading it. It seems to be at the immediate outskirts about few miles away from Greenrun. They're not exactly part of our domain anymore, I thought. In fact they're not part in any domain at all. They are wild folks. And the sum of money they are offering seems too low for the job. No wonder no one is taking it.

I just sighed.

I look up at Eriol as he just sneers at me.

”Okay, I know you have some sort of reasonable and logical explanation on why I must care for such thing. It's not even a part of the Dukedom. So let me hear it!” I murmured, as I passed the paper to Aerra and Levi for them to read it as well.

”Well, look at the map! If you're a fugitive, where will you go?” Eriol uttered.

”The woods? I don't know. Somewhere close to the village so they can easily return to the farms?”

Eriol nodded his head in a smug, ”The woods closest to the village are part of your domain.” he added, tossing both his hands to each sides of his waist. ”Plus we can surrender them to the Southernmost Kingdom if they're Wanted. That would create a good start for friendly relations.”

”I'll just tell Papa about it tonight. I don't need to personally go do the job. He can send our men to take them out”

”I don't think the village is the only place they take their resources from.” Levi interrupts, showing the map at me and points to an area. ”The Fay Mills are located nearby since it's closest to the lake ports. Those are pretty expensive commodities here aren't they? How many of the Greenrun soldiers are stationed there? Four... six? Crime rates are too low in this city so I won't be surprised if they only sent few. I bet they're not even aware the Fay aqua-grains are stolen from them.”

I took a good look at the map and true enough, Levi is right. The Fay Mill's product, the aqua-grains, is an essential element in our commerce. We are one of the few that supply such commodity on the entire continent.

I clench my teeth as my fists tighten to my side. This is an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with immediately.

”Aren't you even curious in trying out your new capabilites? Don't worry! We got this!” Eriol says in such confidence.

I turned to Aerra. She just shrugged, ”I'm fine with it. It's not like we're completely powerless. And besides, we have Eriol and Levi with us this time!” she says.

”I can order my men to follow us in and send reinforcements if we don't return before sundown.” Added Levi.

”Wow, so you are all in this huh? Fine!” I tossed my hands up in defeat. ”Let's hunt down the fugitives.”

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”The woods are acres and acres wide

”The woods are acres and acres wide. Just make sure they have specifics for us to find the fugitives faster. We can't spend a night out here just to search. The banquet will be tonight, after all.” I murmured as I eyed all of them as we sat patiently inside one of Levi's iron carriages, which he calls an automobile.

Just like the horse-driven carriages, the seats were situated in a way that we face each other squarely. Aerra sat beside me as Eriol sat to the seat in front of me while Levi sits beside him, facing Aerra.

”What do you mean 'make sure'? You know I can't do that. Why are you being so edgy anyway? No one's going to kidnap you or Aerra this time.” Eriol replied in a sneer.

”I will assure that.” Levi added in a tone just above a whisper.

”I'm not afraid of getting kidnapped or anything. I'm just... not sure about this idea!” I explained. I looked at Aerra at the corner of my eyes.

If something bad happens to her, I don't think I can forgive myself.

It would have been better if I didn't bring her along after all.

I regret this.

Eriol and Levi exchanged glances.

”Just relax, kiddo. Nothing bad is going to happen” Eriol's tone suddenly changes.

I wanted to argue back but I held my tongue and just turned and looked at Aerra who sat beside me. She just sighed and smiled. ”They're right. It's okay, Aeron. As long as we stick together, nothing bad will happen. And besides, Eriol is with us. He's a high tier wind magus and a well-seasoned mercenary despite his looks!”

”What do you mean despite my looks?!”

Aerra rolled her eyes at Eriol's remark, ignoring him. ”What I'm trying to say is... I know this will be the first time we will travel away together again after what happened two years ago and being frightened it might happen again is not what you are exactly dreading on about. I know—!” She grabs my hand and squeezes it lightly. ”You're just worried about me... So stop it. I'll be fine. If you think I won't be ...then make damn sure I will be. You are stronger now than before, aren't you?”

Aerra really knows how my mind works...

”...not that I will depend on you. I can somehow handle and protect myself now after all.” She concluded in a contented grin.

”Fine. Just make sure you won't charge head on to trouble. I would prefer it better if you depend on us! Don't just assume you're alone in deciding what should be done” I told Aerra, as she just shrugged as if dismissing my suggestion.

I don't want her to make decisions that would make her blame herself again just like what happened back at the deserts when we lost Nora...

I turned my hand around to accommodate the hand that squeezes mine. Our fingers crossed and she just eyed me in silence. I just stared back. 'Depend on me...' is what I thought but somehow she seems to understood it even before the words even formed out of my mouth. She reluctantly nods before looking away.