The Forest Feeds No Idle Goblins

Chapter 68: Chapter 62: Vivian and Musa

In the district of Torch City near the Deepwater Port, there’s an old restaurant renowned for its incredible spicy grilled fish. The place is packed every day; rumor has it they’re booked solid for a month.

The city was named Torch City primarily because it was once the seat of Baron Merlot, whose family crest is a torch standing tall above the waves.

Similarly, Count Valentine’s domain, Black Lion City, is named for his family crest: a roaring black lion’s head.

As dinnertime approached, the streets bustled with pedestrians of all kinds. Many greeted each other before walking hand-in-hand into the old restaurant.

Diagonally across from the old restaurant’s main entrance, a hunched-over beggar in filthy rags put away the wooden bowl in front of him. After pocketing the few Copper Coins inside, he staggered away.

He wore no shoes. His feet, covered in black dust, went SLAP, SLAP across the stone-paved road. The surrounding pedestrians held their noses and scrambled to get out of his way.

The beggar paid no mind to their disgusted looks. Instead, he went to a trash can and began to rummage through it energetically, letting out a foolish chuckle.

But this time, there was no food in the trash can. The beggar could only turn and walk into a dark alley by the side of the street.

The alley was very quiet. Aside from the SQUEAKING of rats scurrying along the base of the walls, there wasn’t a soul in sight. The beggar walked deep into the alley and stopped.

"Aren’t you tired of following me for so long?" he said, tilting his head slightly to speak to someone behind him.

Several meters behind him, a person in a long black Cloak stood in silence.

"You henchmen are so damn annoying." The hunched-over beggar stretched his back. In the next moment, he flashed forward, the filthy rags he wore flaring out to conceal his form. An instant later, his left hand shot toward the newcomer’s throat.

"Uncle Musa," the person cried out.

The beggar froze, his hand less than five centimeters from the other’s throat. "Vivian?"

The person pulled back the hood of their Cloak, revealing a head of blonde hair and a pair of large green eyes glistening with tears.

"It really is you," the beggar exclaimed in a low voice. He reached out, wanting to stroke her hair, but then thought of his own filth and couldn’t help but pull his hand back.

But Vivian lunged forward, throwing her arms around the beggar’s body and sobbing quietly.

"There, there, don’t cry," Musa comforted her softly, stroking Vivian’s hair.

A few minutes later, the two were leaning against the alley wall, talking.

"So you’ve been hiding under the sea this whole time," Musa said with a smile.

He was no longer deliberately hunching over to hide his build; he now stood at his full height of 1.8 meters.

"Yes, I was hiding in my teacher’s Magic Tower," Vivian said, lowering her head apologetically. "Please forgive me, Uncle Musa. I didn’t come looking for you sooner."

Musa was an orphan from the Saruo Islands. His tribe had been defeated by its neighbors, and he had ended up a vagrant in Torch City. But he was fortunate enough to be chosen by Shire’s father to be his personal guard, and he had remained by his side ever since.

Musa had personally watched as the father of Shire and Vivian married, inherited his domain, and had his two children. He had also been there as they grew up. One could say he was "family" to them, though not by blood.

"Have you been keeping watch by the grilled fish restaurant this whole time?" Vivian asked, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tear-streaked face.

"Yes, every day. You and your brother always loved that place. I thought I might run into you here," Musa said with a smile, as if his long vigil had been nothing. "After the Baron was murdered, many people left or disappeared. This was the only plan I could think of for the time being."

"I should have come looking for you sooner."

"No, it’s a good thing you didn’t. Back then, there was a bounty on both of you, and Torch City was crawling with Bounty Hunters." Musa’s voice carried a hint of relief.

Then he asked, "You seem safe now. How is your brother, Shire?"

"My brother..." Vivian paused, then said in a low voice, "He’s missing."

"Missing?" Musa’s brow furrowed, his voice turning serious.

"I have no news of him. I can only use the Divination Technique to try and find his general location." Vivian dabbed the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. "He’s still alive. The Divination shows he’s in the Nightmare Forest."

"Is that so?" Musa thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "I get it. That clever brat Shire... he’s gone and become an Adventurer."

"The Adventurer trade is a real mixed bag. They spend long periods in the forests, far from human settlements, and it’s a good way to train one’s Abilities. That rascal... it’s just like your father used to say. As long as he’s not distracted by frivolous fun, he’s actually quite clever," Musa said with a laugh.

"My teacher said the same thing, but I’m still worried," Vivian said, wringing her handkerchief as she looked down.

"You haven’t been to that old bastard Valentine’s territory, have you?" Musa asked.

"No, my teacher wouldn’t let me go. Said it wasn’t safe."

"Good. There’s a bounty on both of you, and your brother’s is even higher than yours. It would be dangerous if you were recognized." Musa nodded, then asked with a smile, "So, you came looking for help, didn’t you?"

"Yes, Uncle Musa. I searched carefully in Torch City for a week, and I finally found you today." Vivian looked up at him, her green eyes curving into crescents like a happy kitten’s. "I just never expected you’d be disguised as a beggar."

"I had no choice. The Public Security Bureau is investigating rigorously, and those henchmen and Bounty Hunters have sharp noses. This was the only way," Musa said with a hearty laugh, deliberately fanning his hand in front of himself to wave away his own stench.

After laughing, he sighed again. "Everything’s changed. Your father’s entire retinue was destroyed. Those who weren’t killed fled. Now they even say Torch City is going to be renamed. I heard someone say they’re changing it to Jinshan City or something."

"Let them," Vivian said with a tilt of her head, then fell silent, choosing her words carefully.

"You want me to help you find your brother near the edge of the forest, right?" Musa said with a smile, ruffling the little girl’s hair and saying it before she could.

"Yes." Vivian nodded, then smoothed down the lock of hair he had messed up.

"I don’t mind going myself, but what identity should I use?" Musa wondered for a few seconds, looking down at Vivian. "As a veteran Adventurer?"

"You’re a bit old for an Adventurer. An Adventurer around fifty would attract too much attention," Vivian said, shaking her head.

Then she thought for a moment, grabbed Musa’s hand, and said, "Uncle Musa, you should pose as a merchant."

"A merchant?" Musa repeated, puzzled.

"Yes, a merchant. An Island Merchant from the Archipelago," Vivian said happily. "It’s true that some Island Merchants sail their ships up the Darren River. Plus, they spend a long time at sea and fight with Pirates, so it would explain your Warrior’s physique."

"That could work. But a ship and cargo will cost a lot of money." Musa nodded. Then he asked, "What would I be selling?"

"Just sell sugar and spices. That’s what they all sell," Vivian said, pulling out a small cloth pouch with a mischievous grin.

"Money is no object. Here’s my teacher’s bank draft."