"So~ where are we going right now?" Annie asked, casually following the two hunters deeper into the bustling city rather than heading outward toward their actual target.
"To a merchant. We need supplies for the journey," Tiyun replied, glancing back at her over his shoulder without breaking his stride.
"Ah, so food, water, and camping gear? Maybe some kindling? That makes sense," she noted with an approving nod and a light smile.
"Well, that and a few other specialized items," Zamin corrected. "The Grand Lotus doesn't exactly live in a normal area."
Annie raised a curious brow at the statement, prompting Tiyun to elaborate. "Joshua Ambrose resides in a temple perched atop a massive structure," he explained. "It rains there constantly—heavy, unrelenting downpours that never stop. We need proper gear to make the climb, keep from drowning in the flooded sections, and avoid freezing to death before we even get the chance to face one of the most dangerous men in Aetheria."
"That is an... interesting obstacle I didn't see coming," Annie hummed thoughtfully.
Zamin let out a weary sigh. "Tell me about it. Just scaling the place is going to be a nightmare. Then we have to fight our way through his disciples, dodge whatever traps are set up... yeah, it's going to be a bit more than just 'challenging'."
Annie tilted her head slightly, studying them as they walked. "Hmm. With the way you two are talking about it, I feel like even with the coin I gave you, you shouldn't have accepted this job."
Tiyun gave her a sharp, questioning look. "What? Are you trying to talk us out of it now?"
"Not at all," she clarified with a shake of her head. "But I do still wonder why you actually took the risk."
Zamin chimed in, his tone completely serious. "Because the coin you paid us is a fortune. And I do mean a massive fortune," he explained frankly. "Getting paid a single platinum shiro is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, and you casually tossed us six. Just ten gold shiro is enough to buy a near mansion-sized estate, and a single platinum is worth a little over a hundred gold. So, while you might not realize just how much wealth that is, to us? It's more than enough to justify the danger."
Annie let out a bright chuckle. "Wow, I didn't realize just how much a platinum shiro was worth. No wonder people kept looking at me so strangely when I gave them one as a tip for their services!"
The two hunters stopped dead in their tracks and slowly, mechanically turned to face her.
"You... what?" Tiyun croaked, his face twisting into a chaotic mixture of sheer horror, profound confusion, and utter panic.
Seeing their paralyzed states, Annie burst into laughter. "Relax~ That was just a joke. I have coin, but I certainly don't have that much coin."
Both men simultaneously dragged their hands down their faces, exhaling ragged sighs of relief.
"Please keep jokes like that to a minimum?" Zamin pleaded as they finally resumed their walk.
"No promises~" Annie replied, a mischievous smirk dancing on her lips.
She let her gaze drift away from her guides, taking a moment to truly observe their surroundings. The city was a sprawling, vibrant tapestry woven directly over a massive network of flowing waterways. Graceful, arching stone bridges connected bustling streets paved with smooth river stones. Tall, multi-tiered buildings with elegantly sloping, jade-tiled roofs and intricately carved wooden eaves crowded the water's edge, their facades decorated with vibrant paper lanterns and crimson silk banners fluttering in the breeze. Small, flat-bottomed wooden boats navigated the canals below, ferrying merchants who called out their wares over the gentle rush of the currents.
"This place is honestly very beautiful," she remarked quietly to herself. "I wouldn't mind spending time here."
For a fleeting moment, a genuinely serene expression softened her features. But just as quickly, she forcefully shook her head, letting out a silent, self-deprecating laugh as she completely banished the thought.
"We're here," Zamin suddenly called out, breaking her out of her musings.
Annie looked up to see a weathered sign hanging above a sturdy wooden storefront. Though the painted characters were completely illegible to her, the heavy coils of hemp rope, sturdy climbing picks, and thick, waterproof cloaks displayed in the front window made it incredibly obvious that it was a survivalist shop.
"She better be happy to see us this time, because we're about to give her a lot of business," Zamin muttered. He let out a heavy sigh and pulled his hat down slightly, looking exactly like a man mentally bracing himself for a severe scolding.
Beside him, Tiyun groaned in weary agreement. "Let us just get this over with."
Annie glanced between the two hardened warriors, her brow furrowing in deep curiosity as to why they were suddenly acting like condemned men walking to the gallows. But before she could voice a single question, the two hunters pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside.