Sunset

Inside a different tavern...

"What an unfillial son he is.", Marco drank a whole jug of beer.

He kept saying those same words while remembering what Allen told him as he drank the jug of beer he purchased with the money that Allen gave him.

At the same time, a new customer entered the tavern while looking around, and saw Marco in the corner of the establishment.

Spotting him, the man approached Marco and sat down across him on the same table.

"What do you want?", Marco angrily asked.

The man whispered something on Marco's ear.

Marco's countenance became ugly as ever as he said, "Do you think I won't know what would you do?! No, thanks."

Seeing Marco's refusal, the man grinned and said, "Well then..."

***

After the last customer of the tavern left, the trio exhaustedly sat down to rest.

"Finally, another day over, right Allen?", Kate tried to start a conversation with Allen. However, the boy didn't answer nor even showed intentions to do so.

"So then, what do the both of you want to eat?", Drake asked as he sat down beside them.

"Chicken soup.", Kate answered.

"Anything tasty.", Allen replied.

"Anything tasty? So what you're saying is that my dishes aren't tasty?", Drake narrowed his eyes.

"What? No! I didn't mean it by that. It's just that... I don't have any appetite to eat.", Allen explained.

"I'm just joking! Don't take it too seriously.", Drake patted Allen's back. However, there was no tinge of emotion on the latter's face.

"Alright! I can't take it anymore! Allen, you don't have to spoil other people's mood with your own.", Kate frustratedly gave up.

"Wait a minute, is that what you call a comforting talk?", Drake sternly asked.

"I'm just telling the truth. But what I really mean is that he shouldn't let himself be down, it's also affecting our own moods!", Kate said.

"When did you learn how to comfort for somebody?", Drake asked.

"Didn't you say I should comfort him?!", Kate angrily asked.

"I did, but I never really thought that you will do it.", Drake rolled his eyes.

"Why you...", Kate was holding back her anger. She really wanted to punch Drake a hundred... no, a thousand times!

Meanwhile, a faint smile appeared on Allen's face, "Alright, the two of you should stop pretending to be mad at each other."

"But we're really...", before Drake could continue his sentence, he was elbowed by Kate in the gut.

"Stop being too sad already, because we are here.", Kate immediately said. On the other hand, Drake, who was holding his stomach area in pain, nodded in support to Kate's sentence.

"Thanks, guys.", Allen slowly curved his lips up.

"Now then... Drake, go cook our food.", Kate said.

"Alright.", Drake walked into the kitchen.

Shortly after, he went out again and said, "We've ran out of salt and pepper."

"Don't we have a stock of them?", Kate asked. It was a tavern after all, so they should have a stock of ingredients in case of emergency. In addition, they're well-off now because of the treasure they got from Mount Watchtower.

"Well, we've ran out of our emergency stocks too." Drake replied, "Now, go buy two bags of salt and pepper so that there'll also be enough of them for tomorrow's business."

"Alright, you're helping me, Allen.", Kate said.

"Okay.", Allen nodded.

At the same time, Mr. Sanchez walked down the stairs and overheard the plan of the trio.

"Here's the money.", Mr. Sanchez handed out two pouches of silver coins. Spices were rare in this area, and would naturally cost some fortune.

"Thanks.", Kate said. They were going to ask Mr. Sanchez for some money to buy the said spices, but the tavern owner came to them instead.

After which, the two kids walked out of the tavern and went to the marketplace.

***

Several streets away from the marketplace...

As the lower part of the sun was disappearing on the horizon, the buyers and sellers at the said location were hurrying up on their businesses before the sun would completely set, because the curfew would be implemented once again this night.

On their way back to the tavern, Kate and Allen were carrying two bags of spices each on one hand.

-rumble-

"Hehe... looks like I'm hungry.", Allen rubbed his stomach area.

"We should hurry up then, let's count our change.", Kate said.

"Mhm.", Allen searched for the pouch of silver coins on his body, but couldn't find it anywhere on his body!

"I think I forgot it!", Allen said with widened eyes.

"You forgot the pouch full of silver coins?!", Kate blurted and inwardly slapped herself.

Losing the pouch of silver coins might not really affect them, but if a commoner suddenly picked it up then another one noticed it, it would cause a riot in the marketplace!

"I'll go get it, go back to the tavern, I'll try to catch up.", Allen gave Kate the two bags that he was carrying and ran away.

"Damn it! Making me carry four bags!", Kate angrily said, but she was helpless and continued walking towards the Three Heads Tavern.

...

Due to Allen being in a hurry, he used shortcuts on the way, even making use of the alleys, until he reached a particular street.

There was no single person in the street, making the said location give off a different feeling than the other ones that Allen crossed.

Suddenly, the kid felt that there was something wrong. As he was about to go back to the alley where he came from, he saw a black-robed man blocking the way.

Allen was surprised, and immediately tried to run towards on one end of the street. However, there were another two black-robed men blocking the way.

Seeing them, the kid turned around to run towards the other end, but there were two other black-robed men blocking the way too!

Feeling a sense of urgency, he tried to climb a building, but the black robed man from the alley suddenly casted a necromancer's spell!

Allen didn't get to dodge it, because of the fast speed of the spell! The spell hit him, and made him fall to the ground. He was still conscious, however, he couldn't move any part of his body!

'A numbing spell?', Allen inwardly panicked. He couldn't even move now, less likely resist.

After which, the five black robed men surrounded him.

And at the same time, the sun has set.

***

Three Heads Tavern...

An hour passed since Kate returned. However, Allen hasn't come back yet.

"Where is Allen? He was suppose to be back earlier!", Kate said.

"He might have returned home because he reached the curfew time?", Drake carried over the chicken soup to Kate's table.

"Probably.", Kate didn't agree nor disagreed.

On the second floor of the tavern, Mr. Sanchez was looking at a random direction and muttered, "Fate... is so cruel and ever changing. I won't be able to help you..."

***

Meanwhile at the mayor's manor...

The black-robed men from the secret organization was gathering outside.

"What do you think is happening, Robert?", Lazar whispered to Robert, who was beside him.

"I heard earlier than they've tracked down somebody who probably knows where and whatever that treasure is.", Robert whispered back.

The leader of the black robed men and the mayor were also present, the latter became a little curious on what was happening and inquired to the former.

"The capturing team already sent a message earlier that they got the target.", the leader said to the mayor, and the former's voice could also be heard by the other men present.

-whoosh-

Five black robed men swiftly arrived, one of them was carrying Allen, whose mouth was covered by a tied cloth.

The man carrying Allen brought the latter to the ground with his stomach facing the earth and everybody saw that it was only a kid.

Meanwhile at the same time, the spell on Allen wore off and he tried to run away as fast as he can.

"Knock him out.", the leader commanded.

Before the man that carried the kid got to act, Lazar suddenly ran over at a very fast speed and blocked the way of the kid. The barbarian then grasped Allen's head with his hand and lifted him up onto the air.

'Lazar?', Robert was inwardly surprised.

"Y-you are the one who killed my brother!", Lazar angrily shouted. Lazar's remark made the people around him be somewhat surprised.

Allen was holding Lazar's thick arm with both of his hands in a bid to get off of his grasp. However, it was a futile action.

Lazar went over to an empty cart... and bashed Allen's head on it!

-bang-

Blood flowed out of the back of Allen's head., while his hands obviously got weaker!

-bang-

The kid's head was bashed again and some parts of the cart broke! Now, only one of the kid's hands was holding Lazar's arm.

"St...", Alexander was about to stop what was happening but before he could say anything, his mouth was covered by the leader.

"Never talk to a barbarian when he's angry.", the leader warned. Hearing the man's remark, Alexander could only inwardly grit his teeth and pray that the kid won't die.

-bang-

At the same time, Allen's head was bashed again towards the cart. Now, his hands were hanging and not moving. He was completely unconscious!

As Lazar was about to bash Allen again, the leader suddenly stopped the former from doing so. Lazar obeyed it and dropped Allen to the ground.

"Get the kid's injuries healed. We need him to find the treasure.", the leader ordered, then he looked towards the blood-smeared cart.

"And also clean the cart. We better get moving towards Loraint Town tonight!", the leader said.

"I have already prepared a way of the town for you sirs.", Alexander added.

"Mhm.", the leader nodded in response.

Robert approached Lazar, the latter's face was still twisted in anger. It was obvious that he wasn't that happy just repeatedly smashing Allen's head to the cart.

Robert didn't say anything and just sticked close to Lazar to calm him down, the former knew how messy it could get if one angered a barbarian.