CHAPTER 98: TENSION (2).

"Garrick, you sure leaving those idiots by themselves is a good idea?" Fallow croaked out a chuckle as he glanced back.

Garrick’s gaze was cold as he snorted,

"All that doesn’t matter right now. Let’s focus on what is more important."

Fallow’s gaze turned serious as he showed a strange, devious grin,

"Aye, Garrick you wretched bastard."

Garrick raised a brow then snorted, "Like you are any different. So? How much are you willing to give for the spear and the sword?"

Fallow clicked his tongue,

"A hundred gold coins."

Garrick grimaced, "You fucking crow. That spear is obviously a high grade Relic. Put the blade on top and that’s all worth more than a thousand, you greedy pig!"

Fallow cackled,

"All that’s all just your guessing, right? You also haven’t had the chance to properly inspect it. Seems like the kid is either rather vigilant, or he suspects you."

Garrick shrugged coldly,

"It is unfortunate indeed."

Fallow snorted then shook his head,

"Still, don’t you think killing the kid is a bit harsh?"

Garrick frowned,

"I don’t want to find out the hard way if he truly belongs to some noble family. Best to get rid of him quietly."

Fallow shrugged,

"I guess. Alright. Five hundred gold coins. But that’s because we’ve been in business for so long."

Garrick snorted, "Add another hundred and you have yourself a deal."

Fallow’s eyes shone as he bared his disgusting yellow teeth,

"Deal."

Then he chuckled,

"Now that that’s been settled, let’s discuss the other matter..."

Garrick snorted and turned around,

"No can do."

Fallow’s expression soured, "Why not?"

Garrick turned around with a dark look on his face,

"The kid is a different story. Not all noble families have a lot of pull in the city. There is a high chance he’s from one of the lesser noble families. Or at the very least, the child of a concubine from a large family. If he was someone important, you would know who he is."

He paused for a moment then sighed,

"But the girl is a different story. Her master is a herbalist for the Church. You think you have what it takes to go against the church?"

Fallow’s face turned a few shades pale.

He walked closer to Garrick and screamed a whisper,

"What the hell are you doing walking around with a fucking explosive, Garrick?! I know you to be much smarter than that!"

Garrick’s brows crinkled in disgust at his foul breath as he pushed him away,

"It’ll be fine for now. Her abilities are handy so it’s worth the risk."

Fallow sighed then folded his arms,

"In any case, we best get moving swiftly. I know of a secret path we can use to avoid the other blasted things standing on the paths."

Garrick raised a brow,

"You were serious about the other Defiled Cherubs?"

Fallow nodded grimly,

"Aye. These parts are more treachery than ever. The damned things have never been spotted this close to the city. Rumors’ been going round about even more spirit sightings."

Garrick grimaced, "Could this be..."

Fallow nodded,

"These might be the signs of another coming, Garrick. We might just be on the precipice of another great war. Those fuckers in the Church grow fat and stupid on our taxes, but they never send their Templars out anymore. It’s not until we all are fucking killed. Then they’ll get off their fat asses!"

Fallow spat out a thick glob of phlegm,

Garrick huffed. He couldn’t help but think of Nero’s story.

’Suddenly, it does seem so farfetched anymore.’

His eyes narrowed,

’If he’s telling the truth, then all the more reason to relieve him of his possessions. No one will care about the fate of some town guard.’

His eyes twitched,

’Still... For him to have survived such h a treacherous journey. It’s inconceivable. No lone human can do such a thing. And he also took care of a possessed mostly singlehandedly. Then that kid must definitely be something special.’

The gaze in his eyes grew a bit darker,

’I’ll squeeze those secrets out of him.’

Then his gaze turned to Fallow,

’As for this idiot...’

Fallow was not just a Hunter.

He was also one referred to as a handler.

Besides the requests of the church, the Hunters were liable to stumble across many unique items, discoveries, an even ancient relics on their missions.

Some of them were given to the church, which would grant brownie points and a few gold coins since relics and ancient knowledge were not permitted amongst the general public. In fact, if the Church deemed what you discovered as too much, you would be executed for knowing more than you were supposed to.

And so, because of this, the Hunters had developed a system of trade for those kinds of discoveries and finding for themselves.

The Black Market.

Fallow was a handler for a Black Market supplier— a Hunter that acquired various items and pieces of forbidden knowledge for the suppliers.

And while the Black Market was deemed an illegal organization by the church, they were highly favored by a large number of nobles who were interested in the strange, mystical and profane.

It was a rather highly profitable industry built mostly on the backs of thousands of lives.

Only the bravest, desperate, and foolish of souls could profit from it.

This was the reason for the existence of handlers. They existed to bear the potential risks of being directly involved with the Black Market.

’All things considered, getting the spear to a supplier myself will earn me more money. But I can’t risk it. That might turn more troublesome in the long run.’

While he was tempted, Garrick knew if he was discovered by the the church, a simple execution wasn’t going to cut it. In fact, an execution was the best case scenario for him.

He trembled then let out the sigh.

’I’ll keep the sword for myself. As for the kid, all I can do is offer my condolences.’

He turned back to Fallow, drawing his attention,

"We move in an hour..."