Two days ago, the tavern.
Dona looked up, watching the golden-haired boy across from him lift the wine cup, take a sip, and then set it down with a frown.
He raised his brow slightly.
“Kid from out of town, you didn’t come looking for me just to drink wine you’re not used to, did you? Let me say upfront, I don’t have that much free time to chat with you.”
Ed glanced at the wine cup with its rough wooden handle, the dim golden liquid inside gently swirling, occasionally bubbling up with inconspicuous foam.
Inferior ale, he thought.
“I didn’t originally plan to look for you,” he said flatly, without looking at the cup again.
“But some unexpected information came up.”
“So?”
The lanky man watched him with an amused expression.
“I don’t care what you originally planned or what information you got. I only care why you’re sitting in front of me and what you want to discuss.”
“I’m planning to find some reliable ‘allies.'”
Ed pushed the cup in front of him over to the man’s side.
“After all, wine you can’t stomach is like certain people—they’re just there, but they need someone to deal with them.”
Dona stared at Ed for a moment, then hummed in a tone that revealed no emotion, picking up the cup.
“Kid, this isn’t how you drink wine. Watch closely!”
The man brought the cup to his lips and tilted his head back sharply.
Glug, glug.
With a bang, the wooden cup was slammed heavily onto the table, producing a dull sound.
“Whew—”
He casually wiped his mouth, exhaled in satisfaction, and pulled the cup Ed had pushed over into his hand.
“Tell me your plan,” he said. “That guy isn’t much stronger than me, but he’s still not an easy opponent. You’d better have decent strength or a brilliant idea, or else get lost now.”
“Let’s not think that far ahead.”
Ed looked at the terrifying scar that faintly spanned almost the entire length of the lanky man’s throat.
“Dona, come fight me.”
The man immediately sat up straight.
“Kid, are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy.”
Ed shook his head.
“But the fastest way to confirm strength isn’t just to fight?”
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
The shouts of the patrons, the clinking of wooden cups, the sound of wine spilling on the floor… all seemed incredibly clear at that moment, along with the hiss of air escaping through the man’s teeth across from him, all drilling into Ed’s ears.
“Heh… interesting.”
Dona chuckled lowly, slowly standing up.
He was probably a bit over six feet tall, and standing in front of Ed, his shadow almost completely covered the boy.
“In all these years, you’re the first one I’ve met who challenges me right upon meeting.”
“Are you scared?”
“Kid, you don’t need to try provoking me.” Dona sneered.
“After all, I’ve been an adventurer for over ten years—this low-level taunting doesn’t work on me. Besides—”
His voice paused.
“You’re right.”
The man left the table, heading toward the door.
“Come on, let’s compare and see if each of us is qualified to be the other’s ‘ally.'”
Cold sweat dripped down Dona’s forehead.
Things had developed completely outside his expectations.
His proud short-range combat skills were having trouble finding suitable attack opportunities in that kid’s defense.
In fact, due to misjudgments, he had been caught off guard instead, his waist struck several times by that sword.
If this were a real battle, he probably would have died who knows how many times already.
“Incredible swordsmanship. When I was your age, I was still holed up somewhere copying books.” The man sighed and retracted his short blade. “Let’s stop here. You win.”
Ed slowly exhaled and sheathed his sword again.
“If Morales isn’t much stronger than you, then defeating him shouldn’t be a problem.”
“You’re really not holding back, huh.”
Dona rubbed his wrist, his expression suddenly serious.
“But I have to remind you, that was just a spar. In a real life-or-death fight, that bear-like brute might unleash who knows what kind of power—don’t underestimate him.”
“I understand.” Ed nodded.
“That’s one of the reasons I came to you. After all, one more companion means one less risk.”
“Good.” Dona relaxed, a smile reappearing on his face.
But this time, it was much more genuine than before.
“Since we’ve confirmed strength, do you have any good ideas for the plan?”
“You go first, I’ll listen.”
The two walked back while talking.
“Mine first? Alright.”
Dona thought for a moment and spoke.
“If we want to kill him, it’s best to lure him out alone, and not to a crowded place… How about outside the city? You know my relationship with him isn’t good—just have you invite him out.”
As the lanky man spoke, he grew more excited, the scar on his neck even twitching with glee.
“At that point, the two of us strike together, kill him before that idiot reacts! For adventurers who die in the wild, the guild is too lazy to investigate the cause. Tsk tsk, body exposed in the wilderness, no one to bury it—it’s practically tailor-made for him!”
Ed listened quietly for a while.
“I’m actually curious.”
When Dona finished, he said. “Why do you hate Morales so much? Just because he was your recommender?”
The man, who had been excited moments ago, suddenly fell silent.
After a long pause, he shook his head.
“No. This story is long—I’ll tell you when there’s a chance later. For now, you just need to know that he and I have an irreconcilable hatred. As long as you want to kill him, then I, Dona, will be your most solid ally.”
Seeing him pat his chest in assurance while clearly not wanting to discuss it further, Ed didn’t ask more.
“Then let’s get back to it. I don’t think luring him out of the city is a good method. At least, not the first choice.”
“What better way is there?”
Dona clearly didn’t agree.
“In Hilos city, there are civilians and guards everywhere. Even if we succeed in killing him, we’ll end up thrown in jail afterward. Or do you mean there’s a place in the city where even if someone dies, no one cares…”
His voice suddenly stuck.
“Hey, you can’t be thinking of there.”
Ed nodded.
“In the slums, even if his corpse rots and stinks, it won’t cause any waves. And even if we make some noise there, no guards will come to interfere—quite convenient.”
Dona scratched his hair.
“But the problem is, how do we lure him to the slums?”
“No need to worry.”
Ed pushed open the tavern door, and the lively atmosphere hit them.
The two found a spot to sit again.
“Morales is a suspicious guy—you’d better not be too optimistic.”
Dona mentioned with some concern, turning to shout at the server: “Two cups of top-quality ale!”
“What if he comes on his own initiative?”
A slight smile appeared on Ed’s face.
“I heard he’s been searching the slums for the witch’s traces lately. As long as we catch the witch before him, we’ll naturally have a way to lure him over.”
“I know that, of course.”
Dona frowned.
“But how do we find that witch? Morales has turned Hilos upside down and still hasn’t found her.”
Ed pulled out something gleaming gold from his pocket.
“With this.”
Dona just glanced at it and immediately slapped it out of Ed’s hand.
The thing rolled gurgle gurgle on the table a few times and fell off the edge.
“What’s wrong?” Ed frowned slightly.
Dona seemed to remember something, his eyes dimming for a moment.
“Nothing.”
He said lowly.
“I just had a hunch before.”
The man put a smile back on his face.
“Now, I can finally confirm you’re some noble’s young master. So what should I call you, Young Master Nord? Baron Nord? Or…”
Ed quickly waved his hands.
“No, no, just call me Nord. And that’s just a gold…”
“Shh.”
Dona put a finger to his lips.
At the same time, he carefully picked up the gold coin that had rolled to his feet, solemnly stuffing it back into Ed’s hand.
“Don’t let them see, and don’t let them know.”
He glanced around and whispered.
“Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time in the days ahead.”
“Alright.”
Seeing how serious Dona was, Ed agreed and tucked the gold coin back into his pocket.
The man across from him seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
“Good, now I roughly understand your plan. But there are a few points I think need changing.”
“Please say.”
Dona pulled a copper coin from his own pocket and tapped it lightly on the table.
“No need for gold coins—copper ones are enough. Even just a few are sufficient to get those starving folks in the slums to help. Also, if you can’t find the witch in the end, we’ll still go with my method—lure him outside the city.”
Ed pondered for a moment and nodded.
“Gentlemen, your wine.”
Dona took them from the server’s hand and passed one bubbling cup of ale to the boy.
“Come on, cheers to our friendship. Even if it might be temporary.”
Ed hesitated as he looked at the golden wine, much better than before, but finally took it.
He clinked his wooden cup against Dona’s.
“Cheers to our friendship.”
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