CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER-342.

The merchant pulled out rolls of beautiful silk in various colors—deep crimson, forest green, midnight blue, pale gold.

Kaya ran her fingers over them appreciatively, testing the texture. "These are nice," she murmured. "How much for three yards of the blue?"

"For you, young miss? Special price—"

They haggled back and forth pleasantly, like any normal market transaction.

Sparrow stood off to the side, staring blankly at a pile of vegetables in the next stall.

She just tortured someone last night, his brain kept repeating. She broke his teeth. She made him bleed. She smiled while doing it.

And now she’s buying fabric.

This is fine. Everything is fine. This is completely normal.

(It was not fine. Nothing was fine.)

Veer wandered over to a weapon stall, examining some daggers with interest. "Hey Kaya, come look at these!"

"Oh, nice craftsmanship," Kaya said, walking over to inspect them. "But the balance is off on that one. See?" She picked up one of the blades, testing its weight. "The handle’s too heavy. You’d tire out quickly in a prolonged fight."

The merchant looked impressed. "You know your weapons, young miss."

Kaya just smiled. "A bit."

She set the dagger down and moved on to the next stall—this one selling herbs and spices.

The morning continued like this. Kaya shopping leisurely, Veer chatting enthusiastically, Cutie following silently, and Sparrow mentally dissociating from reality.

At one point, they passed an alley—the third alley from the eastern market gate.

Kaya’s eyes flickered toward it briefly. Just a glance. But Sparrow caught it.

That was the dead drop location. Where the hitmen received their contracts.

Where Veer had supposedly placed that insane commission last night.

Where professional killers would soon find an order to murder the woman currently examining a display of decorative teacups like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Sparrow felt his knees go weak.

"Sparrow, are you okay?" Veer asked, glancing back. "You look pale."

"I’m... fine," Sparrow managed to croak out.

"You sure? You’ve been quiet all morning."

QUIET?! OF COURSE I’VE BEEN QUIET! I’M HAVING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS!

"Just... tired," Sparrow said weakly.

Kaya glanced at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Get more sleep tonight then," she said simply.

Then she turned back to the teacup merchant. "I’ll take this set. The blue one with the lotus design."

As the merchant wrapped up her purchase, Sparrow had a horrible realization.

This was his life now.

He was traveling with a woman who placed bounties on herself for fun, a crazy vulture prince who thought torture was date night entertainment, and whatever the hell Cutie was.

And there was no escape.

Because if he tried to run, he had a feeling Kaya would find him.

And that would be so much worse than staying.

So he stood there, soul slowly dying, as Kaya happily finished her shopping trip.

"Alright," she said cheerfully, carrying her purchases. "Let’s head back. I want to check on our guest."

Guest. She called the tortured mongoose a guest.

Sparrow’s eye twitched.

Yeah.

He was definitely going to die traveling with these people.

The shopping continued peacefully.

Kaya moved from stall to stall, genuinely enjoying herself. She bought a small pouch of fragrant tea leaves, tested some incense sticks, and even picked up a few hair ornaments that caught her eye.

"These are pretty," she murmured, holding up a pair of jade pins shaped like butterflies.

Veer nodded enthusiastically. "They’d look good on you. You should get them."

Kaya smiled and handed the merchant some coins.

They wandered to a food stall next, where the smell of grilled skewers filled the air. Kaya bought several—some kind of spiced meat that sizzled on the grill. Sssssss.

"Want one?" she offered to the group.

Veer took one immediately. "Thanks, babe."

Cutie shook his head silently but stayed close.

Sparrow just stared at the skewer like it might explode. His brain still couldn’t process how they were acting so normal.

Kaya bit into hers, savoring the flavor. "Mm, not bad. Though it could use some seasoning."

"The spice mix is decent enough," Veer agreed, chewing happily.

They walked along, eating their skewers, looking like any other group of young beastmen enjoying a market day. The sun was warm, the breeze pleasant, and the crowds bustled around them with cheerful energy.

Kaya stopped at a jewelry stall, examining some silver bracelets. She picked one up, testing the weight.

"Good craftsmanship," she noted.

The merchant, a rabbit beastman, smiled eagerly. "All handmade, young miss! Pure silver!"

Kaya set it down gently. "I’ll think about it."

They continued on. Kaya bought some dried fruits from another vendor, a small bundle of medicinal herbs from another. Normal purchases. Normal conversations.

The morning stretched on peacefully. More stalls. More shopping. More casual chatter.

Nothing dramatic. Nothing violent.

Just... normal.

Sparrow almost started to relax. Almost.

..

.

.

Meanwhile, across the city, in the shadows of that third alley near the eastern market gate...

A figure approached the hollow stone.

Cloaked, hood pulled low, moving with the practiced silence of someone who lived in darkness. They crouched down, reaching into the hidden compartment.

Rustle.

Their fingers found paper.

They pulled it out carefully, unfolding it in the dim light of the alley.

And froze.

The contract was simple. Direct. And absolutely insane.

TARGET: Young woman, black hair, sharp eyes. Detailed sketch attached. Currently staying in the western district hotel.

PAYMENT: Triple standard rate.

COMPLETION TIME: Three days.

METHOD: As brutal as possible.

The figure stared at the sketch. Then at the payment amount.

Then back at the sketch.

Their hand trembled slightly.

Not from fear. From excitement.

Triple rate. Triple.

They folded the contract carefully and slipped it into their cloak. Then they disappeared back into the shadows, moving fast.

.

.

.

In another part of the city, a second figure checked the dead drop.

A woman this time—a snake beastman with cold, calculating eyes. She unfolded the same contract, read it once, then twice.

Her tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

"Interesting," she hissed softly.