NOVEL NEXT Chapter 374: Is This The Right Place?
The bell above the door chimed softly as an older man stepped into the shop, the scent of dried herbs and faint citrus teasing his nose.
Ren turned with a practiced smile, already holding a small pouch in his hand. "Back for more of the mountain green, Master Dolen?"
The old man chuckled, his beard twitching with the motion. "Of course. You expect me to drink the city's sour leaf water?"
Ren laughed, weighing out the tea leaves. "Perish the thought. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
Dolen leaned on the counter, eyes gleaming. "You keep me young, boy."
"I try." Ren said, slipping the pouch across the counter. "Maybe next time I'll steep in some anti-aging herbs."
"Bah! That'd ruin the taste." Dolen scoffed, handing over a few copper pieces. "Don't go changing your recipe."
Ren gave a theatrical bow. "Wouldn't dream of it."
They exchanged a few more words before the old man shuffled out into the street, the bell ringing again behind him.
A few minutes later, Gerran stepped out of his shop next door, stretching with a wince and rubbing his shoulder. The shoe-maker gave Ren a tired smile.
"Heading out?" Ren asked.
Gerran nodded, locking the shop behind him. "Day's been long. These old bones need rest."
"And I'm sure those old bones will outlive us all." Ren chuckled.
"Not if I have something to say about it." Gerran retorted.
With that, the old man smiled, lifting a hand in farewell. "And… thanks again, Ren. For everything."
Ren only waved as the old man shuffled away down the street, disappearing into the thinning crowd.
The shop quieted.
Ren stayed behind the counter for another thirty minutes, sipping the last of his lukewarm tea and staring at the faded wood grain of the counter.
Lilith had left hours ago to deliver the note to Thorn.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the thousands of coins he had scattered all over the world.
Some were so far away that he could not teleport to them even if he wanted to. And some were so close that teleporting to them was no hassle at all.
He could feel the ones he'd buried into the soil during the battle against the barbarians. They were still there, back in his family's territory. Too far away for him to reach.
He turned his attention away, to the coins he'd given Petry over the weeks he'd been here. The coins had moved somewhere far away, but still on this layer. Still within range.
The gang's vault.
He smiled to himself.
Then, without a word, he stood.
He moved through the store in practiced silence, one hand brushing the shelves which were packed with dried herbs and labeled jars.
Now, one by one, he packed everything into his spatial pouch. Bundles of herbs, folded cloths, small drawers of seeds, even the low table where he and Lilith often had lunch together.
The shop felt smaller by the minute, emptier.
When the last item was gone, Ren stood in the center of the vacant space, staring at the worn marks on the floor where the furniture used to sit.
He exhaled slowly, then turned to the door.
With a soft click, he locked it.
And then, he walked away from it for the last time.
He kept his head low as he moved through the streets, the faint lamplight glinting off the stones underfoot.
The early evening crowd had thinned, leaving only a few vendors packing up their wares and city guards patrolling with slow steps, their eyes darting here and there.
He walked with purpose, moving with just the right amount of speed, that the city guards' eyes simply glossed over him as he passed.
In a few minutes, he made his way to a narrow alley tucked between two squat buildings.
He slipped into the shadows without a sound.
At the end of the alley, waiting beneath a broken signpost and partially hidden by the shadows of the stone walls, stood Lilith.
She wore her cloak draped over her shoulders, fastened by a clasp made of dull metal.
Beneath it, she wore her battle attire. Tight leathers over lightweight armor pieces, designed for movement and efficiency. She had her Soul Dominion, but Lilith was currently focused on using her other power, namely her Pull resonance.
Her throwing knives were hidden in the folds of her cloak, with some strapped across her thigh and chest in neat rows.
Ren smiled at the sight of her. "Looking good." He said quietly.
Lilith smiled back, unable to resist the urge. "Took you long enough."
"Had to make sure everything was packed. Gerran's already home?"
"Yeah. Tailed him to his house." She nodded once, glancing past him to the mouth of the alley before stepping closer. "So, they've moved the money?"
"Yes. But did they move it into the vault like we believe?" Ren held out his hand. "Only one way to find out."
She didn't hesitate. Her hand slid into his, fingers tightening around his with ease.
With a smile to his wife, which she returned, Ren reached out to the glowing coins in his mind.
A second later, the world snapped sideways.
They appeared in a wide chamber of stone and metal. They were in the right place. The gang's vault.
Shelves lined with lockboxes stretched along the walls, and in the center stood a large iron safe, its doors open to reveal neat stacks of coins and gemstones.
But there was just one problem. They weren't alone.
Petry stood in front of the vault, his mouth open in surprise, a pouch half-raised in one hand.
He wasn't alone either.
Standing behind him were three men, taller and broader than him, dressed in long dark coats over reinforced armor.
The moment Ren laid eyes on them, he knew. They were Knights.
The silence in the room was absolute.
Lilith's eyes locked on the closest Knight. Ren's gaze didn't leave Petry.
Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Everyone was just as surprised to see the other.
Then...
"Get them!" Petry screamed.
All hell broke loose.