I stare at the man still lying on the floor.
"Gabriel," he said.
But then—
Loras cuts his palm and steps in front of us.
"You're not supposed to be here, Mister."
Gabriel glanced at Loras.
"Look, I meant no harm."
He slowly sat up.
But then—
SWIIIING!
Loras swung a crimson blade out of nowhere, interrupting Gabriel.
I was stunned...
Where did it come from?
CLIIIING!
A coin effortlessly parried the blade.
I watched in complete shock as Loras was thrown back and restrained by coins.
The Chief grabbed his war axe, ready to help.
But then Gabriel spoke.
"I just said I meant no harm, goddamnit!"
"I'm here to talk, okay?"
The Chief slowly lowered his axe and sat down.
I sighed beside Kiara.
Loras stopped resisting.
"Coins..."
"Annoying personality."
"I assume you're the Fortune Merchant?"
Gabriel smugly nods.
"You're sharp, kid."
"And I assume you're from the Sanguine Clan?"
Gabriel then glances at us.
"Would you mind having a conversation, Chief?"
I glance at the Chief, who's deep in thought.
But then, he shrugs.
"It's not like I have a choice. Sit down, Gabriel."
"But before that, could you let Loras go?"
Gabriel stops, then smiles.
"Sure, sure."
With a flick of his finger, the coins clatter to the ground.
Loras stands up and brushes off his clothes.
But one thing catches my attention...
His palm.
It's already healed.
Gabriel sits across from the Chief,
while Kiara and I remain quiet in the corner...
Or so I thought.
Kiara stands up and points a finger at Gabriel.
"You uneducated man! How dare you come here and act like you didn't cause trouble!"
"Don't you know how—"
I pull Kiara back before she can even continue.
Gabriel then chuckles.
"I like that kid, Chief. She's got quite the mouth."
The Chief smiles and nods.
"Indeed. She got that from her mother."
"Anyways, what do you want to talk about, Mister Gabriel?"
Gabriel's expression shifts.
"I heard the news. It's already spread across the kingdoms."
"I'm here to help the kid."
The Chief's eyes light up.
"Ohhh, so you're one of the rescuers?"
Gabriel tilts his head.
"Something like that. Where's the kid?"
The Chief nods toward me, and Gabriel glances my way.
Gabriel then smiles and continues the conversation.
"So, I'm taking him."
Kiara slams the table.
"WHAAAT?!"
The Chief glances at her.
"Kiara! Mind your manners."
"But Father, I'm not letting a stranger take my friend away!"
Loras, who's been watching from the corner, speaks.
"Lady Kiara."
"I think it would be best for Mister Gabriel to take Jean."
"We don't want tonight's incident to happen again..."
"And by incident, I mean..."
"The spy."
Kiara freezes.
As if the thought hadn't even crossed her mind.
Gabriel nods, but then asks,
"What spy?"
The Chief looks at him and sighs.
"You tell Mister Gabriel, Jean."
I was surprised.
But then I slowly stood up and took a breath.
"A man asked me about this... Envy person earlier this evening."
Gabriel's aura suddenly shifts.
"Chief, I really need to take Jean now."
He approaches me and scoops me over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down!"
Kiara is about to make a move, but Loras stops her.
The Chief then stood.
"Does it have to be this sudden, Gabriel?"
Gabriel stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Yes. The kid's life is on the line."
Gabriel continued walking.
I glanced at Kiara.
Then she lunged and bit Loras' hand.
"Who do you think you are, old man?!"
"Do you really think I'd let you take him?"
I watched Gabriel smile.
"I'm just a travelling merchant."
"A nobody."
He said as he stood outside.