“How much would a Crystal of True Restoration cost if it’s on the market?” Gaius asked, as he played around with a metal spoon.

“Two hundred thousand gold, minimally,” replied Tsurugi. Gaius was making it clear that he wanted to explore other options first, but the way he’d replied to the young man’s instigation hinted at Gaius’ ability to take on a Paragon. Tsurugi was unlikely to lie to someone who had that much confidence, even if he had a goal he wanted to achieve.

“An acceptable price.”

“The problem is with the supply,” Tsurugi said quietly.

Gaius scooped up some chocolate ice-cream and savoured it, his mind racing the entire time. “But there’s always demand for gold too. Whether I find one or not is hard to say, but going after a Paragon is something I’ll only consider as a last resort.”

He looked pointedly at Tsurugi, who was focused on his own cup of ice-cream, and then rolled his eyes.

“Anyway,” said Gaius, “the food shortage doesn’t seem to have hit Seireiden much, has it?”

“There’s an excess here, and the reason why there’s an excess is directly related to why there’s a shortage in the other cities,” the young man replied slowly. “It’s understandable, of course. The capital is the most important, so the people who matter there have placed high bounties on monster corpses.”

“Bounties the other cities can’t match.” The boy looked at Nakama, and cleaned her messy cheeks up with a paper towel placed on the table. “Well, at least on our way here we managed to do something for these cities.”

Tsurugi tossed a key over. “Here. Your house in this city. We decided to give you our property as thanks for helping our people.”

“Is that okay?” Isabelle abruptly asked. “As I recall, a residence in any capital of the Eastern Territories is sold at a premium.”

“So are monster corpses. And besides,” said Tsurugi, “I don’t think my family will be coming back to Seireiden for the foreseeable future, not at least until he’s dead or gone.”

“Quite the history, I see.” Gaius rolled the paper towel up and crushed it into a ball, while Nakama gurgled happily. “Now, now. Thank him properly instead of doing…whatever you were doing.”

Nakama blinked and said, “Thank you for the meal!”

“It wasn’t any trouble.” Tsurugi smiled. “I suppose you’ll be looking for people who want to sell that now?”

“That’s right,” said Gaius. “We don’t have that much time to waste, after all. Do you have any suggestions?”

“Well, other than going after Paragon Sasori, you can try looking at the zaibatsu,” said Tsurugi. “The big corporations who have a pie in Seireiden. They should have a few that they’re willing to sell, given that the Crystal is useless unless someone’s injured really badly — which never happens since everyone important is guarded.”

“Let’s if I can present them with an offer they can’t refuse.” Gaius stretched his neck dramatically. “And if not…I’m always partial to stirring up problems.”

The small group got up. Tsurugi extended his hand, and Gaius took it. “Thank you for your help today, Tsurugi. May we meet again.”

“You too, Gaius. I thank you on behalf of my people.” Tsurugi walked over to the counter, and after passing a few coins — two silver, to be precise — he left the small shop. His followers, who were standing by the side of the entrance, followed him as he left, and by the time Gaius and company stepped out, Tsurugi was making his way towards the city entrance.

Right before he stepped through the gate, he looked back and waved his hand high. The fingers on his right hand flickered.

“Five, three, five, four…” Gaius muttered to himself, and then raised his hand back, a smile on his face. The boy wasn’t sure whether the young man at the gates would see his expression, but he did it anyway.

He held his hand up for another few seconds, and then lowered it. As Tsurugi vanished into the gates of the city, the boy couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever see him again. Too many things had happened, and if Nexus was right, even more things would come in the next few years.

Months, even.

“Let’s go familiarise ourselves with the local shops first,” said Isabelle. “Do they have an intelligence agency here? The file you got from the South was really useful.”

“We’ll roll with that, then.”

Nakama ran over to Isabelle, her arms open, and the Knight carried her up, seating her firmly on her shoulders. Isabelle smiled as Nakama clung on to her hair. The little party proceeded down the street, their eyes flitting around as they read signboard after signboard.

After an hour, the trio gave up. Or rather, the two people who were walking did. The buildings in the city were named oddly, to the point that places like eateries were called “The Shining Star” and “Blossoming Petals”. In fact, being abstract seemed to be the theme behind virtually every single establishment in Seireiden. The passerbys weren’t helpful either — none of them wanted to talk much, and would wave Gaius or Isabelle away if they showed any intention of approaching.

“How unhelpful.” Isabelle glowered at the endless stream of people walking throughout the streets of Seireiden.

“We should try the Adventurers’ Guild.” Gaius heaved a sigh and patted his sore legs. The two had taken turns to carry Nakama, but the little girl overwhelmingly preferred riding Isabelle’s shoulders, on the basis that she was way taller than Gaius. It was a sore point for the boy, but he reassured himself by noting that he would grow taller after a few years.

Whether or not Nakama would still want to ride on his shoulders was another question, however. She was still very short for her age, and given the lack of interactions she had with other children as old as her, Nakama didn’t really have a reference point for behaviour.

“Let’s go to the house that Tsurugi gave us first,” said Isabelle. “We should let her…and ourselves rest up first.”

“Good idea.” Gaius glanced at her shoulders, which were probably sore from all that carrying, and acquiesced to her request. He shrugged his own, which wasn’t feeling all that great either, and then took out the key the young man had passed to him.

An address was inscribed on the key. Gaius raised an eyebrow as he read the name out loud.

“Sundown Residence, Harmonious Avenue.” The boy shook his head at the words, but again, homes at least had the right to sound mysterious. After all, home was were the darkest secrets lied.

He laughed, and along with Isabelle, made for his new house.