Chapter 31

Pentin was a small district in the North East. Beyond the district to the east lay Oliland, a kingdom within the Woodland empire. To the north of the district was a small area draped with trees with scattered edifices among them. From the edifices, smokes were emitted through chimneys that rose above them.

Along a small path, a man was pulling a cart towards a small building on top of a small hill. The large hat he wore covered his entire head leaving a small part of his lower face visible. He was in a long coat whose true color could not be determined, considering the number of different patches on it. The white shirt which was tucked in long-tattered trousers was almost as dirty as the coat. He was humming a song while trying not to let anyone go past him without giving a good morning nod and a smile. From the responses he got from the people, he seemed rather popular in this small village.

When he reached the house, he dropped the cart with a heavy sigh. Leaving it in front of the door and without touching its covered contents, he removed his boots and walked inside the house. He stopped at his kitchen where he poured himself a cup of hot tea and retrieved a loaf of bread from a shelf where it had slept uncovered giving it a hard surface. However, once he sat on a large stool within the kitchen and started tearing the pieces of the bread with his teeth, it was clear he liked it the way it was. 

When his cup was half empty, he put the cup on the floor and the bread on his thighs to retrieve something from his storage wristlet. Storage wristlets were expensive no matter how small the spaces within were. Although he walked in tattered clothes, it was clear he was not as poor as he looked. Even his home was small but furnished with simple but expensive furniture.

"They are coming. These fools in pursuit of hopeless dreams can never let me lead the peaceful life I seek." Looking at an orb that glowed in yellow, he shook his head. Giving it a slight touch, adding a little red to the glow, a wicked smile appeared on his face which could hardly be seen under the hut, "Let them come, I will be happy to have play mates."

After he returned it in the storage wristlet, he took his phone from his pocket. After a few punches, he sighed, "I wonder why she has not arrived yet. If she doesn't show her pretty face, I am going to strangle her for making me hunt the entire night just to ensure my guests have a proper welcoming."

…

Noya Art Gallery was a baronial building in the heart of Noya. Being the largest maybe in the entire Woodland empire, it was built to perfect beauty. Many visited just to have a glimpse of its exterior. At the entrance, a number who wanted to see or buy the pieces of art works within wore impatient looks on their faces. They knew inside had amazing things that the exterior could never have. 

George was in his office signing a few documents when his secretary knocked before walking in with Gilbert beside her. She then walked out, making sure to close the door behind her.

"Gilbert." George nodded, gesturing for Gilbert to have a seat.

"You told me he would come yesterday, why didn't he?" Gilbert asked.

"It is not like him to fail in keeping his promises." George frowned before smiling, "However, he just called telling me he had been held up somewhere and will come after he is from class."

Gilbert smiled at that news and if not for having been a leader for quite a long period of time and knowing the benefits of being calm, he would have jumped like a possessed cow there and then. "I will go back to work then. I must admit though, you were right to bring me here. These people from the city appreciate my work way better than those from my town. Can you believe, I make more money than I made in a month by just a single painting?"

"I can, Gilbert." George grinned, "But the cost of living in this city is quite high, the payment must just be up to par."

"Even so, the money I make here is still more than enough."