Chapter 90 - I'll Protect You

We Slowly marched under the tunnel for a few minutes, abruptly Zia stopped and looked above, 

"That's the end, let's get out." Zia pointed upwards and jumped out, crossed my hand to help Melvi climb up, and Zia helped pull her up, then I jumped out and she closed the gap.

We ended up in a dark place with scrapes everywhere. It looked like an abandoned and old warehouse.

"Zia, where are we?" Melvi looked at Zia, Melvi was still nervous and reserved.  

'Let me take a look at the map.' I pulled out the map and pointed at our position and found ourselves close to the province carriage maker district, there were wainwright's and wheelwrights shops nearby too, but this was just a facade to hide all the bad stuff and trade being done here.

"So what's the plan? How are we going to start the investigation?" Zia patted Melvi's shoulder and looked at me.

'Captain told us there is a shop that sells second-hand carriage parts here, we have to say a  secret passage and invitation or something like a badge to enter the market.'

"I know that! Captain Hez told me before we entered the chief's room!" Melvi nervously put her hand in her bag and shuffled it, then after a small talk, we stood up and slowly went out to the street.

The unusual thing here was that the weather here was cold and moist, the people walking around the streets were wearing wooly cardigans and furs, the streets were clean and there were many luxurious shops at every corner.

The people were more wary and pompous and walked down on the roads looking disgusted off at us.

"Who are these beggars! How did they sneak into Nobel alley so casually!" A woman dressed as showing off her jewelry heavier than she scowled at us.

"Kick these rats out! This is a clean and high-class resident, you rats definitely are beggars from tramps of Dumpground!" An obese middle-aged man who was with her dressed all high and squinted at us but the movement he saw Melvi, his tone changed.

"Hmmm… on second thought, I presume you ran here for better food and life, you must be bored and sick of the life there, you are wasting your time here, how about you come with us and earn some pennies at our residence!" He licked his lips and gawked at Melvi with lustful eyes.

"Really? What about that wench you bought a week ago?" The woman glared at the man with a sly smile.

"I got bored of her! And look how scared she is, I bet nobody has laid hands on her-" he grabbed Melvi's hand and pulled her to himself, but Zia pulled out her sword and placed it on his neck.

"Unhand her this instant or gauge our organs out!"

"You bitch! Do you know who you are talking to!" the old woman yelled at Zia and the crowd started to gather around us.

'Damn her! I am really sorry for her imprudence, my lord! She is just a mentally ill girl who thinks she is a knight! We are not from the Dumpground but actually are adventurers who came here to buy some goods, and just like you, we also can't behold the sight of disgusting people!' I lowered Zia's sword and pulled Melvi back, freeing her from him.

"Adventures? Such puny adventurers? whom you're working under?" The woman covered her mouth with her fancy fan.

'A merchant named Wreglon has summoned us actually, and we are kinda lost finding him, could you please excuse us, we have urgent business to attend to.' I slowly grabbed Zia's arm and stepped backward.

"Wreglon? I see you must be new escorts huh? I see then, the one of the previous must've broken the rules again. So you are the new ones?" The man raised her brow and fixed his tie arrogantly.

'Yes! Yes! Now if you excuse us! We have to hurry!' I looked at Zia and nodded slightly.

"Of course now it all makes sense, then that is really on the bid I guess, darling I want it!" The woman pulled the man's jacket in excitement.

"I also didn't believe it at first, but now I am excited to know if it's true or not, well then let's not waste time on these lowly things, I don't want to be late now!" The man smirked and clapped, his carriage halted behind him and both of them climbed on it.

"Ah before I go, I should teach a lesson to that rude wench!" The woman pulled out a whip and glared at Zia.

'Please, forgive my lady, a beautiful woman like you doesn't look good spending her valuable time on lowly like us please forgive her, if you really want to punish her, then please vent your anger on me.' I needed to avoid commotion, so I pulled both of them back and bowed to her.

"Hmpf! Guess you are right, I don't want to waste my time on you!" She went inside the carriage and they went away.

I finally let out my breath in relaxation but it was for a short while, Zia pulled me into the dark alley again and slammed me on the wall.

"What the hell! How could you let that bastard go away? They hurt Melvi and tried to molest them, but why were you the one to apologize?" Zia shoved her elbow in my throat pinning on the wall, 

Melvi panicked and pulled her arm back and she released me with disgust-filled eyes glaring at me.

'Then tell me, what should've I done in that situation? We aren't in a fairy tale, one wrong move and we would've got captured and the whole plan would've gone ruin! Do you realize how much weight we are carrying on us? Until it isn't necessary please refrain from paying attention as much as possible!' 

I held back my anger, biting my tongue. How can I forgive him? The moment he touched Melvi I wanted to slice off his head from his torso but for now we are powerless. I looked at Zia, she was clenching her teeth in anger.

Melvi was holding Zia's hand all this time, we stood there for a while and breathed out our anger, 

"Let's go." I started walking without looking at them and realized they were following me.

After a short walk, after some inquiry, we reached a shop, we entered the shop and saw a grumpy old man behind the counter.

The shop looked worn out and out of business no one was there but us.

"What do ya want?" The old man growled.

'Um- do you happen to sell scented woods here?" I smiled at him nonchalantly.

"What?! Why do you think we have some!" The old man smacked his desk and stood.

'Somebody told me about it, we might use it for carriage decor.' I faked a laugh.

"Who?" He squinted at me.

'A nomad trader.'

The old man took a pause and then walked out the counter, 

"Do you have something you can pawn it with?"

I looked at Melvi and she gave him a small bronze button.

He looked at it and suddenly sighed, 

"Now they are sending kids for such important jobs! You brats follow me!" He shook his head in disappointment and marched inside the shop.

We followed him to the basement hidden with many sealing and concealment spells, where there was a small tunnel dug below his shop.

"Listen here ya brats! Take this, give this to the man sitting in the tavern! Now hurry up, we're going to have a big deal soon! You have to be there!" The old man smacked my back and pushed me into the tunnel.

'Gramps, if you don't mind, can you tell me what exactly this big deal actually is?' I looked at him and he stared at me, is he onto us?

"Truth to be told, even I don't know, only a few selected buyers and people of the circle knows what's on the special, so move your ass and hurry up!" The old man cried out all fussy.

We hurried to the tunnel and suddenly Melvi fell, 

"I can't! Let us leave! my legs... give out please... let's stop here!" She suddenly started huffing and yelling.

"Melvi! Relax, look at me!  There is no need to worry, we are here, we'll protect you if anything goes wrong, just calm down okay!" Zia picked her up and caressed her back, Melvi was trembling and staggering while she walked.

I reached out for her hand and squeezed it gently, 

'I'll protect you no matter what! So don't be afraid.' I smiled at her and she calmed down a bit.

Slowly we moved forward and the ground below us got mushier and muddy with each of our steps, gradually small echoes of commotions and noises reached us, and we reached the end.

"We are here so be careful now!' And we stepped outside on the ground riddled with mud and puddles!

"You fucking cunt!" A man kicked a woman and she fell right in front of her with her face dipped in a puddle.

I looked at she was covered in wounds and bruises and there was a collar on her neck,

She was a slave.