Chapter 63: Order

"I am truly sorry; you've encountered such a thing just after arriving in our small town."

The sheriff of Kalanfur, "Ingram," apologized to the two men before him with a sincere expression.

The thief, Joey, whom he was holding, hung his head and remained silent after realizing he couldn't escape.

Compared to how he looked at the inn entrance earlier, the sheriff was still wearing his armor uniform, but his neatly combed blonde hair was now soaked by the rain.

"I can compensate for any losses you may have suffered."

Without a hint of empty pleasantries, Ingram's expression was earnest and sincere, as if he would take off his uniform if asked.

To this, Alton merely shook his head, his gaze flickering toward the silent thief, Joey, in the other's hand.

"It's fine, he didn't manage to steal anything anyway."

"Besides, all my money was already lost at the 'Man Dai Jin,' so even if this kid had succeeded, he would have only gotten an empty purse."

Hearing this, Joey, who had been hanging his head, suddenly looked up, staring at the Halfling in disbelief, then swept a regretful glance toward Xia Nan.

It seemed he was regretting choosing the wrong target.

Xia Nan remained calm, his face devoid of any ripples.

The "huge fortune" of 7 silver and 3 copper in his pocket felt vaguely uncomfortable.

Unlike the others, Ingram, thinking the Halfling was complaining about the "Man Dai Jin"—which looked like a tavern but was actually a casino—

Showed a hint of embarrassment on his face, squeezed out a stiff smile, and stammered:

"About the 'Man Dai Jin'... I don't have a very good solution either. After all, the adventurer... uh, the boss behind it has some connections in town, I..."

"Haha, that's not what I meant."

The sheriff, who had been stern-faced and serious since earlier, suddenly making such an expression made Alton find it interesting, and a smile reappeared on his face.

"Let it be."

The Halfling waved his hand, signaling for Ingram to take Joey and deal with him.

Xia Nan stood to the side without speaking.

This matter had nothing to do with him, and since Alton had already said so, he had no reason to interfere.

In his view, this was at most a lousy little interlude during the mission.

By comparison, he was more concerned with Ingram himself.

He had only caught a fleeting glimpse at the inn entrance earlier and hadn't observed closely, but now...

Something was a bit strange.

Unlike other law enforcers he had seen in River Valley Town or Kalanfur, Ingram's equipment was clearly of much higher quality.

Whether it was the thick, well-fitted plate armor or the single-handed prism hammer at his waist with its distinct personal style, it was all different from the average guard.

If he were to add a small shield, he would almost look like a high-combat-power adventurer.

Even the undergarment beneath his armor was a more conspicuous yellow-orange cloth.

His gaze suddenly stalled.

Xia Nan suddenly saw, embroidered on the inside of the other's sleeve—

A pattern of a golden sun.

Not noticing Xia Nan's gaze, the sheriff, hearing the Halfling's reply, was clearly relieved.

He said earnestly:

"I must apologize to you both again. If you encounter any trouble in town later, please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of any help."

The matter was over, and they hadn't suffered any losses.

Alton wasn't the type to hold a sheriff in high regard just because of his status.

He shook his head with little interest, exchanged a final greeting, and pulled Xia Nan away.

Once the two were gone, Ingram frowned and looked at the thin thief, Joey.

"How many times have I told you, if you have difficulties, come to me. Why are you still doing this kind of thing?"

Facing the sheriff's questioning, Joey, who had been silent, raised his head as if triggered and shouted:

"I need money!"

"Need money? Isn't Klaff short of hands? He's been recruiting for many days; why don't you go?"

"He thinks I'm too weak and can't move things!"

"What about Old Harvey?" Seeing the other talking back without repentance, Ingram's voice rose involuntarily. "I personally took you there, didn't I? What other excuses do you have?"

"I listened!"

"Hmm?"

"I listened to you and worked under that old bastard for two months."

"How are you talking? He is, after all..."

"He didn't pay me!" Joey curled his lip, his eyes slightly red, his face covered in rainwater. "Worked for two months, didn't give me a single copper."

The sheriff's words were cut off halfway.

He was dumbfounded.

He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

After a long while, he sighed again.

He let go of Joey's collar and said slowly:

"I'll talk to Harvey about it."

After thinking for a moment, he took out a slightly flattened purse from behind him and threw it to the other.

"Take this for now. In the future... don't do these things anymore."

Joey didn't reply; he took the purse and disappeared into the depths of the rain without looking back.

"Patter, patter."

Beside him came the sound of hurried footsteps splashing in the water.

Two men in guard uniforms with serious expressions approached quickly, slowing down only when they neared the sheriff.

"Sir, something happened again!"

"What do you mean?"

"We found the corpse of a prostitute in an alley in the south of town, just like the sailor from before."

Hearing this, Ingram's expression sank instantly, and he turned sharply, his single-handed hammer clashing against the leather armor on his thigh with a slight sound.

"Still the left arm?"

"No, this time it's the entire right leg."

Rumble—

Lightning flashed.

The thunder that had been brewing deep in the dark clouds all day roared out.

The already fierce rain became violent and chaotic under the urging of the thunder.

For a time, the entire small town was shrouded in a gray, heavy curtain of rain.

The light was dim, cold rain slid down his cheeks, his head bowed slightly, and the shadow cast by his high nose bridge made it impossible to see the sheriff's specific expression.

Only a blurred male voice sounded amidst the increasingly noisy falling rain:

"Take me there."

"Rumble!"

The rain poured down with the thunder.

Xia Nan, hiding under the eaves of a building by the road, could still feel the bean-sized raindrops, occasionally swept in by the gale, hitting his face with a sting.

Beside him, the Halfling Alton was still in high spirits despite the heavy rain.

His crystal-clear eyes darted around, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"Just now, that sheriff."

Having walked far away, Xia Nan finally couldn't suppress the confusion in his heart and asked the other.

"I saw a sun pattern on his sleeve; it looked familiar. Is it..."

"Amaunator."

The Halfling spoke suddenly.

As if he had long known Xia Nan's question, he didn't look back, but stood on tiptoe, looking toward the east side of the town through the thick curtain of rain.

There, above countless gray, low buildings, a towering spire flickering with brilliant golden light seemed to faintly emerge.

【Guardian of the Eternal Sun】

【God of Contract and Order】

—Amaunator.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 64 =====