4 Problem

Allen and William both walked out of a store. Each of them was now wearing a new pair of boots.

"The boots here are so expensive.", Allen complained and looked at William. "Why do you even want to buy me boots? They cost 10 bronze coins per each pair, now we don't have any money left!"

William rolled his eyes, "I would rather buy these good quality boots that won't easily be worn out than those made by greedy merchants."

"But do you even have to buy one pair for me too?", Allen added. "You could have bought a new shirt and shorts."

He was also planning to buy his father something useful too, but William's action was too fast for him and his little brother already bought two pairs of boots in a lightning speed.

"Big brother, you are the one who got the money, even it is my birthday, I would not take advantage of you.", William earnestly said.

"Aww... you are so nice!", Allen spread out his arms to hug William. The latter, however, took a step back and dodged the hug. The passersby all witnessed what happened, making Allen a bit embarrassed.

"Get a bath first on the river before you hug me, you have little to no hygiene whatsoever", William mocked.

Allen easily composed himself and replied, "You sound like a noble."

"And you sound like that you are going to start complaining.", William uninterestedly retorted and walked away.

Allen was stunned and only when William was already far away from him that he got back to his senses.

'Who is even the big brother here, me or him?', Allen inwardly gaped.

"Hey! Wait!" He ran after him.

...

"You know, the town could still be improved, the mayor is obviously focusing on the economy that he forgot to strengthen the town guards to improve security. One of the best examples that the town has a weak security is that you have been sneaking in and out of the town while not being caught for a long time. Plus, the slums is ironically more peaceful than the marketplace by a large margin!", William put his hand on his chin and said.

On the other hand, Allen felt like William transformed into or was replaced with a real noble just with the same face and thought, 'Why won't you be the mayor instead then?'

Suddenly, Allen asked out a question, "How do you even know about these things, do you even know the mayor or the nobles?"

William stopped walking because of Allen's question and answered with a long yet slow "no", with its intonation being a rising one.

"Err... alright.", Allen could only agree with William's answer and they continued walking.

However, at some point, his steps paused as he realized that he was in front of a familiar tavern, which was than other than the Three Heads Tavern.

He then saw a familiar figure beside the door signaling him to enter, which was Mr. Sanchez.

Allen closed in on William and sternly said, "William, you go back home first immediately, don't stick around for too long in the town."

"Don't worry big brother, I'm not like you.", William sticked out his tongue and ran away as fast as he can.

Allen was stunned yet again and thought, 'He's kind of weird today.'

Seeing the back of his little brother disappearing as their distance from each other increased, he immediately entered the tavern and walked towards the office room on the second floor with Mr. Sanchez.

"Have a sit.", Mr. Sanchez said as he sat onto his own chair.

Allen sat down and after which Mr. Sanchez spoke first.

"You know your brother is cute."

Allen's expression turned into a worried one when he heard what Mr. Sanchez said.

"Haha, don't worry, I keep my promises, I won't touch your family.", Mr. Sanchez said, making Allen inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.

"Kid, I called you in here today because the matter about killing the son of the chief guard became much more serious than I thought it would be.", Mr. Sanchez solemnly looked to Allen. "The old man doesn't want to investigate this any further but the mayor on the other hand, wants to and the chief guard cannot influence the mayor to cancel his superiors' thoughts, lest he will be suspected instead."

Allen listened attentively to what was Mr. Sanchez was saying.

"So, the mayor then invited a mage who's good at divining to find out who killed the chief guard's son. That mage would arrive later this day."

Hearing the sentence, a sensation of danger loomed over Allen even if the mage wasn't present yet. He knew what mages could do, specially the ones who could divine what happened. They were practically like stalkers that could spy upon every people in the world.

If the mage became successful at his or her divination, then chances are that he would be whipped the next day and be killed the following one.

Allen summoned up his courage and asked in a low voice, "But why would the mayor insist to investigate this matter?"

"Well, probably because he and the chief guard are good friends.", Mr. Sanchez replied.

However, Allen felt that there was an another reason why the mayor invited the mage.

"You feel like there is something wrong with this, right?", Mr. Sanchez said, as if he could read Allen's line of thought.

Allen nodded in response.

"Apart from your natural talent for assassination, you have a good intuition kid.", Mr. Sanchez commented.

'Natural talent, good intuition?', Allen thought. He almost chuckled at what Mr. Sanchez stated.

"I got an information that the mage, is in fact a necromancer, and the mayor is an accomplice and has been contacting the organization where the necromancer will come from for a long time now.", Mr. Sanchez continued. "The mayor inviting a mage for divination is only for a smokescreen."

After a short paused, he continued, "There is a treasure in the woods on the western direction of the town that the mayor and the organization wants. I don't know what is it but it's probably something very important."

"So, tonight, you are going into the woods to find the treasure and report back its location to me.", Mr. Sanchez said.

"But what about the necromancer?", Allen asked.

"Oh, don't worry about that guy.", Mr. Sanchez laughed.

The laugh, as if, came from the depths of darkness, making Allen shudder unconsciously.

He continued, "You will also be going with somebody. Okay, the talk's over, come back in the evening."

...

It was already afternoon when Allen came back to the house. He could have arrived earlier, but he took a bath first at the riverbank.

Allen: 'I hope William won't make a fuss about me not bathing anymore.'

"You are finally back, big brother!", William shouted from the second floor of the house.

"Uh-huh.", Allen walked upstairs towards William's room. He opened the door and saw William lying down on his bed while reading a book.

This was the reason why William was perceptive and smart, it was because he has been reading books since he was very young. His room was even filled with bookshelves and books, making it look like a small library.

Allen sat down on William's bed and peeked on what the ten year-old kid was reading. The book was named 'Theories and Ideas for Ruling a City'.

"You have always liked reading about these kinds of topics.", Allen said.

"We are lucky we could read unlike the other people at our age, thanks to mother's books.", William answered without looking back at Allen. His sight was completely sticked towards the book.

After a pause, William asked, "Big brother, do you know how mother was like?"

Without any change in his countenance, Allen just answered, "I don't know."

"Father did say she died early." Allen mumbled quietly, letting the younger Morgan hear it.

"Maybe, I was only several months old those times." William said.

They couldn't remember almost anything about their mother, even if they asked more things to their father, Marco, he would just scold the both of them all day.

"I can only remember one thing, she said that we should be good to father whatever happens.", Allen said.

William: "Oh."

He closed the book he was reading and turned his head at Allen, "Big brother, how much longer can you resist somebody like him?"

"Don't say something like that." Allen scolded.

"You are always getting hit by him." William said.

"While you're not, so stop complaining." Allen retorted.

"But I can't withstand him anymore. Can you withstand him any longer, big brother?" William asked.

"Yes?"

***

Meanwhile, a seemingly normal carriage arrived at the entrance of the Crescent Town.

Inside the carriage...

"Master, why do we even have to come to this town? It's so noisy.", a young boy looked out the window of the carriage.

"Close the window, Warren. It extremely unsettling outside.", an old man wearing black robes engraved with weird patterns said.

"Oh, sorry..", Warren closed the window and enthusiastically opened a book about necromancy.

***

Several hours passed and night switched with day.

Inside the bedroom...

Allen looked at William with the corners of his lips rising up. The latter was sleeping soundly while hugging a book, after some time, the former then blew out the candle providing the only light in the place and went downstairs.

"Father's not home yet? I guess he's drunk again.", Allen muttered as he looked around the living room lit up the moonlight coming from outside the window.

He walked out of the house and walked towards the town.

...

-click-

Closing the back door of the tavern, Allen spotted Mr. Sanchez's back leaning beside the counter, just like last night.

"You arrived at last, kid.", Mr. Sanchez stated without looking.

"Uh-huh.", Allen nodded slightly.

'This is it, I feel like we are going to kill again.' He thought while he didn't notice he sharpened his breath.

Until this time, the kid could still sense the nauseous smell of blood from the man he killed last night, getting him chills from time to time.

Mr. Sanchez turned around and looked at Allen, "You shouldn't feel bad about killing now, plus, you and Kate would just get the location of the treasure and be on your way."

"Kate?", Allen asked.

"That's me, what do you want?", a voice came from behind Allen.

"Eeek!" The kid jumped forward in fright and turned around to see a girl at the same age at him dressed in black garments.

'It's the tavern girl?', Allen recognized the girl, which was the same person that tried to kick him out when he first entered the establishment.

Kate carefully observed Allen, "How could somebody looking as weak as you could help me?"

"Erm..."

"Do you know how to attack head on with a dagger?"

"No."

"Can you jump from the top of a toward and land safely?"

"I don't know."

"Can you climb?"

"Probably... yes?"

"Can you kill?"

"Erm..."

"How could somebody like you help me then?", Kate asked loudly. "I don't even know why we're in this town?!"

"That's why he'll be joining you to get some experience.", Mr. Sanchez's calm voice sounded out.

Afterwards, he tossed a sack to Allen, the kid inspected its contents and saw clothes that were in deep color black.

"Those are assassin clothes. Wear them upstairs.", Mr. Sanchez said.

Allen then went upstairs to try on the clothes.

"Master, I don't even know what you saw in him to even let him join us.", Kate complained.

Mr. Sanchez didn't bother to answer Kate's complaints and just sat down on a chair.