Chapter 363 - Map

After Zaos threatened Vamir, he didn't try anything again. In fact, even though Zaos had brought twenty bags of gold coins, he accepted only half and even returned to the magic weapons… Zaos had no use for them, but he accepted anyway. He would need money in Ashiris kingdom, and that would be worth a lot. Even better, thanks to that idiot, Zaos learned that the effect of her curse wouldn't make others fear her… as long as someone with plenty of mana was touching her. Zaos didn't know if that would work forever, but at least it showed him that she wouldn't have to live in seclusion as long as Zaos protected her.

One exact month after the incident, Zaos finally was able to see the coast of a new country. For a few days, he wondered if they hadn't gotten lost since they didn't see land for three weeks. At first, Zaos didn't notice any difference between both countries. Still, eventually, he noticed that even the fishermen's village was weird… at night. Those places were weirdly well-illuminated.

"We have arrived at the Ashiris kingdom, good sir," Vamir said with a forced smile on his face. "Where would you like to land, good sir?"

Zaos sighed and then shook his head. Since he scared Vamir, he has been acting like that. While he was doing it out of fear and respect, Zaos would rather make him stop that. However, he had already asked, and Vamir didn't obey it. He probably thought that Zaos was trying to find a reason to kill him.

"Anywhere where I can buy a map for this country will do," Zaos said.

"I have a few friends who can help you with that on the next port," Vamir said. "We will reach it at first light."

"All right," Zaos said.

Zaos returned to his cabin and prepared to pack his things again. While they didn't have much aside from clothes, cooking utensils, and some animals, it was much better than buying everything all over again. 

"We will look for somewhere calm to live for a while as we check things regarding this country," Zaos said. "I don't think the Sairus kingdom will have much influence so far away, and I don't think that they would spread information about Ameria's death so soon, so we should be fine for a couple of months."

"You can leave the information gathering to me," Aleni said.

"Well, I guess so… but you don't have to do that all the time," Zaos said. "You probably don't need me to tell you that, but the best place to gather Intel is at taverns at night. Besides, it would be weird if I were to be spotted walking alone with a baby in a basket. If anything asks, we will have to tell them that you are the mother and I am the father. We can't keep her existence hidden forever because if we do, it might create problems when she starts crying."

Aleni realized that, but still pretending to be the mother of her only friend's child was a bit… beyond uncomfortable. Not to mention, Milliendra was blond and had blue eyes. In order for that to happen, Aleni will have to hide her black hair.

The next morning, they arrived at Wollore port town. Zaos didn't find many guards there since it was a small port, and apparently, that country had many. Regardless, he finally found why the fishermen's villages looked so well-illuminated. They had some weird torches that had a shining stone on them, and those emitted a lot of light. Zaos could sense a lot of mana coming from those… it seemed like a source of energy that he hadn't heard of. It seemed worth studying, but right now, Zaos couldn't ask anyone what those were.

Vamir guided them to a certain pretty run-down shop where the owner seemed bored out of his mind with both elbows on the balcony of his shop. Zaos could see all kinds of things being sold there, but the quality was so bad that it was no wonder why he looked boring. In any case, that was just the front for someone who obviously deals with shady business.

"Vamir? What an asshole like you is doing here after so long?" The owner of the shop asked.

The owner of the shop was a man called Alton. He had someone hell of a thick black beard. He seemed to be in his forties, but one couldn't see a single gray hair on his head. However, they could find some big bags under his eyes… It was challenging the life of someone who had to work throughout the entire night doing shady business and work during the day as well to prevent others from noticing what he was doing to make a living.

"This good sir here wants a map of the country, and he also wants you to keep your mouth shut about the business," Vamir said. "He is a very kind sir, but he can also be scary if you cause troubles to him. Well then, have a nice day."

Vamir left the shop before Alton could react in any way. The merchant could recognize the look of terror in someone's eyes, though. He found that in Vamir's eyes, and he realized that his new customer wasn't someone he should treat lightly.

"You want a map?" Alton asked. "I mean no disrespect, but I only deal with customers with enough money and who knows to keep quiet about it."

"In my experience, those who sell things are the ones who have big mouths," Zaos said and then put a bag of coins in front of the merchant.

Alton tried to check the coins, but before he could touch them, Zaos pulled them away. First, he shows the map, and then he can count the money. He entered the back of his shop for a second and then returned with a dusty map, but he only opened it when he was sure that no one was close to the entrance. After that, he showed Zaos the contents of the map.

Zaos nodded to himself while looking at the numerous points of the map. It seemed a bit old, but it had plenty of dots marking the positions of towns, villages, and cities.. Not to mention, it had many roads as well… it probably was written more than twenty years ago, but it would work its purpose.

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