Old Man Etha

The carriage came to a gradual halt. Moss pulled open the curtains in the carriage and said in a low voice, "Master Merlin, we're here."

Merlin nodded and alighted from the carriage. Once he was out from the carriage, a chilly wind blew over his face, causing him stinging pain as though he had been cut by a knife.

Merlin hurriedly covered his face with both hands. It was only then that he knew how much Moss suffered, sitting outside all that time.

"Moss, when I go in, I won't be coming out for a while, so during this time you may just sit in the carriage."

A look of gratitude washed over Moss' face as he nodded before darting into the carriage. To be hit by the cold wind outside was also a form of torture.

Merlin only turned and walked in after seeing Moss climbed into the carriage.

It was still the charming Linny at the counter. Although Anson and Gutt were not with him this time, it was evident that Linny remembered Merlin. There was an immediate smile on her face upon seeing Merlin's arrival, and she opened the secret passage in a respectful manner.

Merlin darted into the passageway easily as he was familiar with it. It felt much warmer there as there was no backflow of cold wind.

Very soon, Merlin reached the underground hall. Perhaps it was because of breakfast, or perhaps the weather was too cold, it was quite empty with not many people in it currently.

It seemed that Nathan was not here as well. Alone, Merlin began to stroll about casually.

There was no sunlight in the hall. Everything was illuminated by candles made of the fat of a strange sea creature. Although they were more expensive, they did not emit the unpleasant burning smell. On the contrary, they emitted a strange hint of natural fragrance.

The antiques were placed on stone platforms surrounded by even more expensive, transparent crystals for viewing. Merlin did not have a clue regarding antiques. After walking around the hall, he did not discover any antique that could cause him illusions like the relief sculpture did. This also indirectly proved the extraordinary quality of the relief sculpture.

As Merlin was admiring the antiques, he suddenly heard light footsteps behind him.

"Miss Carice?"

Merlin turned to discover that the person behind him was someone familiar – it was the person that little fatty Gutt had been constantly thinking about. Indeed, she was very pretty. She was wearing a white mink coat with tight cotton pants, accentuating her long and slender legs. It seemed that women would never forget to groom themselves no matter what the occasion was. Even on a day as cold as this, she still had to wear body-fitting cotton pants to accentuate her beautiful long legs.

Carice looked at Merlin rather hesitantly. It looked as though she did not have much of an impression of Merlin.

Anyway, Merlin did not mind. He smiled gently and said, "Miss Carice, we've just met a few days ago, right here. I came with Anson and Gutt..."

Carice's eyebrows loosened up lightly. In a thoughtful manner, she nodded and said, "I remember now. Are you Wilson Merlin?"

Merlin nodded before taking two steps forward, drawing closer to Carice.

"Miss Carice, I've heard from Anson that you're an antique specialist, especially in the antiques of the Molta Empire era. Recently, I've come to like some extremely special Molta Empire antiques but there's nothing here at Mr. Nathan's that I'm satisfied with. So, if there are some special antiques in Miss Carice's possession, could you let me have a look?"

After he said that, Merlin looked at Carice. He knew that Carice had collected many antiques, perhaps one of them would be the mysterious relief sculpture that he yearned.

"Rare and strange antiques? You like the same things as an old gentleman I know. He also likes collecting rare and strange antiques from the period of the Molta Empire. If you have time, I can bring you for a look now, and perhaps you'll find an antique that you'll like."

Carice and Merlin were standing close to each other. As a result, her warm breath blew toward Merlin's neck, creating a weak and numb sensation. Carice's perfume was also exceedingly refreshing and this made him happy and carefree.

"Then, I thank you, Miss Carice, for leading the way."

Naturally, Merlin agreed cheerfully. As long as he could find that mysterious relief sculpture, he would be very contented even with a mere hint of a clue.

Thus, Merlin followed Carice from behind and walked out.

Light snow was still drifting about outside. The cold wind that blew on their faces felt like knife cuts. Carice had a carriage as well so she quickly darted into her carriage and it slowly moved forward.

"Moss, follow Miss Carice's carriage in front."

Merlin woke Moss up, who then drove the carriage slowly behind Carice's carriage.

As the weather was very cold and there was still light snow, the surface of the road had also been frozen, which made it wet and slippery. Both carriages moved at a very slow pace, and it was only after half an hour that they reached their destination.

Carice and Merlin arrived at a small, old-fashioned wooden house. There was a garden in front of this small house with various flowers and trees. However, the garden was currently in a pitiful state; tiny trees that had yet to grow their big and thick branches were falling all over the place, squashed by the accumulating snow.

Snow had fallen the entire night yesterday, and the wind was very strong. A small garden like this would be destroyed easily. All that could be done was to wait for spring to come and replant them.

Seeing the mess in the garden, Carice shook her head gently and said helplessly, "Mr. Etha's garden is ruined again. Poor Mr. Etha, he's wasted a few months repairing his garden, but now it's become like this."

Both of them walked into the small house as Carice led the way. They went up to the second floor and came to a wooden door that had faded in color and looked extremely old.

Carice turned her to give an advice. "Merlin, Mr. Etha likes quietness, so you have to be a little quieter after you go in."

Merlin nodded. It seemed that the person Carice had wanted to find was in this room.

"Is Mr. Etha here? I'm Carice, here to see you today."

Carice knocked on the door and whispered into the room. 

"Creak..."

The old, wooden door opened and an old man, around fifty years of age appeared.

The old man was short. The top of his head was balding and had very little hair but the old man had carefully combed the sparse hair back behind his head. He wore a black overcoat and had a thin face with fair skin, and he kept a pair of beautiful mustaches under his nose. He looked very sharp.

Just as Merlin was sizing up the old man, the old man was also doing the same. He looked at Merlin and Carice contemplatively. However, he merely gave Merlin a cold glance before shifting his gaze upon Carice. He said in a hoarse voice, "Carice, come in."

The old man turned around and walked back into the room. Merlin and Carice followed him from behind before Merlin closed the door after them casually.

The fireplace in the house was still burning with fierce flames. The old man immediately walked to a wooden chair before the fireplace and sat down while speaking in a hoarse voice, "Carice, tell me, for what matter have you come looking for this old man today?"

A smile broke out on Carice's face. She brought Merlin straight to the spot before the old man. The light from the fiery flames in the fireplace shone upon his face, turning his originally chalk-white skin to somewhat rosy.

The old man did not even raise his head. He held a thread-bound book with a black cover with both hands, reading it with relish. 

"Mr. Etha, I've brought my friend here to visit you today."

Carice gave Merlin a look, signaling him to introduce himself.

Merlin nodded and spoke as he stepped forward slightly in respect. "Mr. Etha, I'm Wilson Merlin. I really like some antiques, especially the antiques during the time of the Molta Empire. Today, Miss Carice mentioned that there are many unique antiques from the Molta Empire era in Mr. Etha's house, which is why I've taken the liberty of coming here to trouble you, sir."

The old man added more wood into the fireplace. The crackling sounds emitted by the burning wood in the fireplace could be heard clearly. It was after a long time before the old man slowly put down the book in his hands and stood up. He said coldly, "Come with me."

"Mr. Etha's temper is very weird."

Merlin felt that this old man Etha had a somewhat odd and unpredictable temper.

"Shush, lower your voice. Mr. Etha's personality is just a little eccentric and antisocial, but he's a very good man. Alright, follow Mr. Etha in."

It was obvious that Carice knew old man Etha very well. Along with Merlin, she followed Etha into another room.

This room was small and seemed slightly cramped with the three of them inside. There were two gigantic red bookshelves which had been arranged in an extremely organized manner. There were no books on the shelves but some small and exquisite antiques.

Some of these antiques were broken and incomplete while some were flawless. However, these were unique and different from the antiques that Merlin had seen over at Nathan's. They were like porcelain in distinctive shapes that Merlin had never seen before like the ancient bottle which had a curved opening on either side. It was indeed very strange and special.

Merlin stretched his hand out, wishing to touch these antiques. Old man Etha, who was beside him growled fiercely. "You may only look but you cannot touch!"

Merlin felt embarrassed and all he could do was withdraw his hand.

There were approximately over a hundred uniquely-shaped antiques arranged on the bookshelves. Merlin looked as far as he could, but there was not a single one that was the same as the relief sculpture. He could not help but felt somewhat disappointed, and casually asked, "Are these the only antiques here?"

Old man Etha seemed to be quite disgruntled with Merlin's tone of voice and said in a deep voice, "I've been collecting them for a very long time. Why, do you consider them few?"

Seeing that old man Etha was somewhat upset, Carice hurriedly explained, "Mr. Etha, don't get upset, it's just that Merlin's only interested in the antiques of the Molta Empire. Also, he has only just come into contact with antiques so it hasn't been a long time."

Carice whispered into Merlin's ear, scolding him, "Don't simply say things. Mr. Etha is quite upset already."

Merlin nodded. Old man Etha really had a weird temper so it was better to speak less and not provoke him.

Although the antiques here at old man Etha's were very strange and unique, Merlin did not find the mysterious relief sculpture he was looking for. Thus, he could not help but revealed a hint of disappointment on his face. Shaking his head a little, he spoke to Carice, "Let's go out first."

It was after Merlin and Carice had left the room that the odd-tempered old man Etha narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Merlin's back for some time. There was a hint of a weird expression on his face.

After they left the house, Carice asked in a low voice, "Merlin, did you find any that you like?"

Merlin shook his head. Carice did not persist so she could only bid old man Etha goodbye. "Mr. Etha, sorry for bothering you today. We'll come and visit again in the future."

The odd-tempered old man Etha suddenly asked, "You're called Merlin?"

"Yes, Mr. Etha. What do you wish to request of me?"

Merlin looked at old man Etha doubtfully.

"Are you willing to learn antiques appraisal from me?"

As old man Etha's voice fell, Merlin became somewhat dazed and was puzzled. Why would this old man with a weird temper want to have him as a disciple now?

Although Merlin did wish to learn how to appraise antiques, he thought it would be easier for him to understand the origins of the relief sculpture. He was also absolutely clueless with regard to this weird old man Etha.

Just as Merlin was hesitating, there was a hint of delight and surprise on Carice's face. She hurriedly spoke to Merlin in a low voice, "Agree quickly. Mr. Etha's appraisal of the Molta Empire antiques can be considered to be the most authoritative in Blackwater City. It's your good fortune that he wants to have you as a disciple. Others don't even get this kind of opportunity even if they beg for it."

Merlin was amazed. How could this old man, who lived in such an ugly house and possessed such a weird temper had such great skills?

"Why? Aren't you willing?"

Old man Etha's face darkened as his anger grew.