35 Chapter 35 - A Trial? (8)

Suddenly, a fleeting thought struck him, causing him to frown slightly. There was, indeed... a person who could do such a thing.

Could it be his teacher, Nathan?

When this assumption came into his mind, Theodore could not get rid of it. He considered its possibility seriously.

Before his teacher became ill, he was one of the famous literacy tutors the nobles and wealthies sought to teach their children. Some connections with them from the past might have remained.

Following this speculation, if his teacher really retained some connection to the influential people in the city, there was a high possibility that he could know about the news of the upcoming war.

If his teacher had heard of the news, it made sense for him to take some actions to help his disciple with his personality.

When contemplating, Theodore then found himself coming up with another doubt...

What did his teacher use to persuade those people to help him?

From Theodore's experience working as a city guard over the past month, although he dared not say he had a thorough understanding of the powerful in the city, he could still somewhat figure out the pattern of their behaviors.

Overall, for them to be able to reach their position, none of them were kind people. It was difficult to persuade them to do anything without enough benefits.

Theodore knew his and his teacher's situation well. They did not have anything precious left to exchange for favor. They also had little leftover money for use.

'Wait... money?' Theodore suddenly paused his thought as if thinking of something.

He remembered that there was indeed some unused money. It was the money that he and his teacher saved to invite the physician from the inner city to save Nathan.

With this thought, Theodore hurriedly ran to his house.

'I hope it was not what I thought.' He prayed in his heart. If Nathan did use that money, there would be little chance of gathering enough funds again in such a little. He understood his teacher's condition; he did not have much time left to live.

...

Theodore soon arrived at the house, covered in sweat as he grasped for breath heavily.

He unlocked the door and hastily walked in. He did not see his teacher's figure in the common area and guessed he was sleeping in his room.

Theodore quietly but quickly strode to the secret vault where they kept their treasure. It was a strong box made from an unknown material; ordinary people could not break it open and could only rely on using the relevant key.

In the past, Nathan made it look natural by covering the box with a large piece of cloth and putting a small medicine cabinet on it. Its location was at an inconspicuous corner of the kitchen.

If a person did not search carefully, it would seem like an unnotable box used to support the cabinet on it.

Theodore reached out to one of the discreet packages on the medicine cabinet. He opened the package; in it was not the stored medicine but the key to the vault below.

Theodore grabbed the key before uncovering and unlocking the vault.

The result was... as he expected.

Theodore looked at the little remaining coins left in the vault with a pale expression as he was in a daze.

When he recollected himself, he slowly locked the vault and returned everything to its original position.

After finishing cleaning up, Theodore walked to Nathan's room with an ashen expression. He opened the door and saw Nathan was still sleeping with his condition as bad as before.

Theodore stepped and kneeled down beside Nathan's side. There were many words that he wanted to complain to his teacher. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out in the end.

He wanted to wake his teacher and ask how he could do such a thing.

Did his teacher really not know that his intention for joining the city guard was to save enough money to heal him?

Did his teacher not know how much he endured in his heart when working as a city guard?

Did his teacher not know how much he hoped that he would be able to recover and return to the past?

Did his teacher not know how important he was to him?

Many questions flashed in Theodore's heart.

Deep down, he knew the answer. His teacher understood everything but still made such a choice.

Theodore's eyes gradually redden. He tried to hold himself crying, but a tear still silently fell to the bed, not far away from Nathan's hand.

After the first drop fell, he could no longer hold himself back. Drop after drop of tears fell, making a slight circular trace on the bed.

Theodore tried to stop himself, but he could not. He could only try to keep the noise from disturbing his teacher's rest.

Although there were thousands of words and questions in his heart, what were their use? What had already been done could not be changed.

Nathan had already used the money, and there was no way to take it back from the person who had already helped him. Saying it would only make things more uncomfortable and disturb his heart. In this case, why bother?

Theodore, in a kneeling position, cried silently beside Nathan's bed.

...

Theodore took a long time to calm down. When he did, he took a deep breath and walked out with his still-redden eyes.

There were still many things he needed to prepare for the upcoming war. The most important thing was the supply.

He did not know when the news of the wars would be publicly announced; he had to act fast.

At the same time, one bottom line of his silently broke. After the war ended,... the shady actions of those city guards that he saw, he would participate in it.

Theodore left with a bitter smile on his face. He had complained and accused the actions of the other city guards previously; however, when necessary, he was still no different from them.

What right did he have to grumble before?

...

On the other side of the house, in Nathan's room.

Feeling that Theodore had already left the house, Nathan opened his eyes slowly.

He looked at the trace of tears yet to dry on his bed, lost in thought.