Novel Full Chapter 747: Oh It's Linette
One of the Mercenaries, whom I assumed was their leader by the clearly expensive and high quality armour she was wearing, came up to me and stuck out her hand.
“Thank you for your help, stranger. How may I address you?”
I touched her hand with mine, “It’s Aster. No need for thanks, I’m also a Mercenary myself and I’ll be frank, I didn’t help for free.”
She nodded, “I understand, although it would not be my place to decide the rewards. You will have to talk to the caravan leader since we’re also hired Mercenaries ourselves. Nevertheless, thank you for intervening in that fight.”
Well, isn’t she polite?
She brought me over to a lady who was currently reorganising the caravan, being the only one who was dressed in noble clothes.
Hmmm? Why does she look familiar?
Wavy brown hair, a round and cute face, and… Hmm… She has a sizable chest which I felt was a little ‘incorrect’ for some reason. Like I was expecting her to be a little smaller than that…
Where have I seen her before?
The woman spotted me and she froze for a moment before her eyes widened noticeably.
Eh? It looks like she knows me too?
I was just about to wonder if she knew me in a good or bad way when she giggled, “Ahahaha~ Is that you, Miss Aster?”
I blinked and nodded slowly, “Umm… Yes… I’m sorry but…”
She smiled at me, “How is Hisei doing?”
Hisei? Who is… Oh!! Ohhhhh!! That’s Katsuki’s old name! She’s the merchant I rescued from the goblin camp and she gave me Katsuki in return!
Damn, that’s why I thought her chest looked ‘wrong’ since they didn’t look that big when I saw her back then!
“Linette?” I asked.
She nodded, still smiling, “It has been a while hasn’t it? Isn’t it funny how both times we’ve met, you’re saving my life? Were you also here to hunt those Dune Striders?”
“If you could believe it, I was actually just passing through. I’m on my way to Sands Border Town.”
“What a coincidence, we’re headed there too! Would you like to accompany us, Miss Aster?”
I raised an eyebrow, “You’re not just saying that, are you?”
“Technically, we’re headed to Yenom Port Town but we would be making a stop at Sands Border Town anyway.”
I nodded in understanding, “In that case, please allow me to accompany you.”
Linette then nodded at the Mercenary who led me to her, “I assume you have already met?”
The Mercenary turned to me, “My apologies, it seems I have neglected to introduce myself. I am Meela, leader of the Searing Sands Mercenary group. Thank you for you earlier assistance once again.”
“Ah, don’t mention it.”
She then nodded at Linette, “Please excuse me, I will make the preparations to continue our journey. Miss Aster, if you are travelling with us, I would like to introduce you to the rest of my party once you are available.”
I realised she knew I most probably wanted to talk to Linette for a bit in private and was giving me that chance to do so.
I nodded as a sign of thanks before she left us.
Linette then turned to me, “Truthfully though… It is really nice to see you again, Miss Aster. Although I can’t help but notice that Hisei isn’t with you? Did she perhaps…”
I waved my hand, “Ah, I gave her another task so she isn’t accompanying me on this trip. But don’t worry, I have no complaints about her. She’s very competent and I’m very glad to have met her so thank you for giving her to me. Oh, and I suppose I should let you know she changed her name to Katsuki now.”
“That is a good name. And it was a given that I gave her to you since you saved my life after all. In fact, I could argue that you saved me once again in this scenario as well.”
I giggled, “I guess I could be considered either your lucky charm or your curse, huh?”
“Fufu~ I would definitely say you’re my good luck charm though.”
Speaking of which… I wonder why Mary had teleported me here? Even if there weren’t any Waystones nearby and she needed to make me look like a traveller, I would have expected her to drop me on the Lehcarouc Kingdom side of the border instead of on the Shendhala side.
Maybe she already knew this was happening and thought I would benefit from having a merchant indebted to me or something?
Nevertheless, I believe she did it with aiding me in mind so I decided not to think too much about it.
Linette continued, “Although… I’m not actually sure what I can pay you with this time… Since I’m not transporting any slaves on this trip. Unless Miss Aster is fine with being paid in Creas?”
I shook my head, “It’s alright. I’m fine if you just let me travel with you. Truth be told, I got a little lost so I would be in a little bit of trouble if I didn’t find you.”
That was only partly a lie since I knew the rough direction of it and just needed to fly in that direction to eventually find it anyway.
I just felt I owe her a little for introducing Katsuki to me.
She obviously knew I was giving her face since she smiled and said nothing on the matter. Instead, she nodded at me, “It seems like you have grown quite a lot since I last saw you, Miss Aster. It has been a few years, hasn’t it?”
I nodded, “It certainly has. How are you doing? Last I remembered, you were the heir of a merchant company, right?”
“Indeed. I’m actually returning from a trade at the Dufranal Market and transporting the goods to Yenom Port Town to board a ship to head down to Dragon View Trade City. If all goes well, this would be quite a profitable trade for me.”
“So what happened to the guy who betrayed you?” I asked, remembering she only got captured by the goblins because some business partner of her father set her up or something.
She frowned slightly, “Apologies, Miss Aster… But I would rather not talk about him.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s alright. The matter is settled, just that I would rather not dwell on it. But what about you, Miss Aster? Are you on a quest right now? Or perhaps returning from one?”
Hmm… Perhaps I could use her information network for myself? Assuming she has one at Sands Border Fort of course.
No harm in trying right?
“I’m actually looking for a person there. Hmm… Actually… Hunting would be a better word for it I suppose.”
“Ah, a wanted person I take it?”
“Indeed.”
She tapped her cheek with a finger for a moment before asking, “Do you have a picture of them? I might be able to help you find them.”
I pursed my lips, “Hmm… That’s one of the problems actually… I don’t know what they look like. The only thing I know is that they are most likely a Mahun.”
She blinked at me, “That… Doesn’t exactly help you narrow down the numbers at all. You might as well be asked to find a random rock instead? How are you supposed to know who they are?”
“To be more accurate, I’m dealing with a cult of them. They seem to have plans to cause unrest within the Kingdom and I was tasked to root them out.”
Linette frowned, “A cult? You’re not joking, are you?”
“I wish I was, but I’m not.”
“How did… Ah, I suppose I shouldn’t ask how you knew about them. But this is a serious matter… Do you have any information that might help identify them?”
I scratched my head, “I suppose… I’ll be looking for someone who only just recently came into the town and the cult had their own way of living so they would be very unfamiliar with local norms. They might even be completely unfamiliar with the common sense of this World.”
Linette’s brows furrowed slightly, “So we are looking for someone who is a stranger in that village and is basically considered a weirdo by everyone else?”
“Err… Yeah, pretty much.”
“I have some contacts in that town that I might be able to ask about this. Would you like me to find them? Or is this something that we should keep quiet about?”
“That would be a big help actually. Could I ask you to do that for me? Assuming your contact isn’t that weirdo, of course.”
She gave me a wry smile, “Rest assured, they are long time residents of the town so they are the least likely to be the person you are looking for. I’ll get in contact with them as soon as we arrive at the town.”
Nice, this was definitely better than just going there blind.
“That would help me a lot, thank you.”
“There’s no need for thanks, it’s my repayment for your help in saving my life once again.”
A shout then came from one of the Mercenaries saying that the wagons were ready to set off soon.
I suppose I should go and introduce myself to the other Mercenaries before we actually leave.
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