19. Man of the Past

"You are such a talented young man, and I mean businesswise, Raymond! The Scottfields's keen eyes are not for naught."

The elderly man sitting across me was a well-known merchant who called himself Nicht.

That was a long time ago.

We've known each other since he worked for my family, as a freight forwarder.

He looked at me for a moment, then stood up.

"Do you remember those days, when the two brothers were so attached to each other, you guys even asked me to get on my boat and run away. But now… Time has gone so fast."

"I understand, Nicht. We are like friends, my sister and I have been touched by your benevolence, your goodwill so many times. But now that my family is like this, knowing that you feel sorry for us really warms my heart… Though, rambling like that was not my intention when I came to you."

The old man nodded for a moment, taking out a piece of cardboard from his bag.

I took it, looking at the merchant's trembling hand.

"How much did they… make you drink? You know what an adequate amount of neurotoxin can do?!"

The old man slowly approached the pillar.

He rubbed it, the pieces of wood peeled off, falling to the floor.

I looked at the old man, with a helpless gaze.

"How can you take all this risk on yourself..."

"You are still as hot-tempered as ever. Seems like it is true that personality is hard to change no matter how much time passes. I am old too, no more dreams I want to fulfill. At least before I leave this world satisfied, I can help you a little bit. That is why I gave it to you."

I gritted my teeth, slammed my hands on the table and stood up. He looked at me with wrinkled eyes, a big laugh, a genuine, sincere laugh.

As if understanding the plight of the poor old man, I patted his shoulder.

"You embarrass me, Nicht! You still see me as a failure who can not save himself? Then you are underestimating this grandson of you a bit. I will find the person who force you drink that drug, and a doctor to cure you! Just wait for me to come back…"

Stepping out of the door of the simple wooden house, I found Lair standing holding some bread, tears running down the crust.

She is crying, I guess she is crying for something.

I looked at her, took a piece and popped it in my mouth, talking with aimless scorn, trying to act like it was all right, and that the old man would be treated.

But we both knew he was going to die, an excruciatingly painful death.

Sooner or later, that poison erodes consciousness so that one eventually dies in madness.

Current medical knowledge has not found an antidote to this toxin.

In the end, we can only lean on our self-deception to outweighs the anxiety about knowing the hardship the poor man has always endured.

"So, do you have any idea where are we going next?"

It will take us a while, but eventually...

"Reitina Cathedral. That's our next destination."

"A cathedral? Fascinating. I guess I can never figure out how extensive your relationships are."

"It is not mine that is extensive, it is yours that is quite limited."

She kicked my legs, looking away.

"I never had any friends, even in the training courses."

I chuckled a bit.

"Hah, not that unexpected to me. To be real here, who would anyway, with someone who punched other in their first met?"

And that, was the phrase that cost me a day of fasting.