"Anyway... After you're done prepping, I need ya to deliver something to that noble who lives by the river," the seller said in a grave tone.
"Noble?" Jack uttered, confusion evident in his voice.
"Yeah, I don't remember their name, but they specifically asked for ya to deliver it."
He stayed silent for a moment, trying to figure out which noble the seller meant. Countless nobles were living near the river, and the vague description didn't narrow it down at all. Then it clicked. Only one person would have the authority—and the reason—to request him specifically: Sil Bernard, the noble responsible for overseeing all financial matters in Fenn.
"Oh, you mean SirBernard."
"Yeah, yeah—whatever his name is. Just make sure he pays ya once ya hand it over. I'm not running a charity here."
"...Okay," Jack responded in a voice.
Moments later, once Jack had finished trimming the meat, the seller handed him the package he was meant to deliver. Without a word, he left the bazaar and set off toward Sir Bernard's mansion.
As he strode along the pavement, all eyes fell on him, yet he carried himself with complete indifference, ignoring the stares.
The reason was simple. His appearance didn't fit with anything the people of Fenn would call proper. His clothes were rough and mismatched, and the way his hair fell gave him the look of a beast clawing its way back from the dead.
The citizens of Fenn prized luxury above all, especially the noblewomen, who measured status and beauty by fine fabrics and careful grooming. Seeing someone like Jack walking freely among them felt like an affront to everything they held sacred.
"Who's that?"
Some whispered to themselves as others stared, their faces a mix of judgment and disdain.
Still, Jack didn't care. He kept walking, never once glancing back at the crowd.
From a distance behind the crowd, a black-haired woman emerged from a clothing shop, her striking beauty immediately drawing the eye. Her face was set in a grave expression as she slowly turned to face the crowd, every step and motion deliberate, her presence cutting through the chatter like a shadow of authority.
What's happening here? She thought, watching Jack slip toward the corner, his figure gradually disappearing from view.
She stood there for a moment, watching Jack fade away into the corner, her grave expression unwavering. Then, without drawing another glance, she stepped away, her presence dissolving into the background as if she had never been there.
....
It had been a long walk, but Jack finally reached Sil Bernard's mansion.
This must be the place Liora was talking about, he thought, pausing at the front entrance as two female workers passed by, their eyes briefly following him.
By "Liora," he meant the seller.
He let out a steadying breath and stepped forward into the mansion.
"Excuse me!" he called out, drawing the attention of the workers nearby. "I'm here to make a delivery."
Nobody replied. Instead, they stared at him with the same judgmental eyes the noblewomen had earlier, their gazes sharp and unyielding. A few leaned toward one another, whispering in hushed tones, their words carrying a mixture of shock and disdain as they commented on the abomination standing before them. Jack could feel their scrutiny pressing down on him, heavy and relentless, yet he remained unmoved.
Suddenly, a lively voice echoed from behind him. "Sorry 'bout that."
Jack swiveled, his eyes landing on the speaker.
For a heartbeat, he froze. In his eyes, the woman standing before him looked no older than a child, though she was dressed like an adult.
"And you are?" he asked, his voice grave as he looked down at her.
"…Huh?" She blinked, surprise flickering across her features. "I'm Vanessa—the lady in charge of the mansion and everything here. From handling orders to managing the workers," she added softly, her shock quickly giving way to composure.
She must be joking, Jack thought, his tone heavy with doubt.
"Anyway, you must be the gentleman Master was talking about."
Jack gave a hesitant nod, though his face was mostly hidden beneath a curtain of hair. Uncertainty lingered in his posture; he wasn't sure whether to trust the figure before him, or whether she was truly an adult or just a child in disguise.
"Come with me," she said, turning toward the stairs and moving with a confident stride.
After a moment, Jack followed, casting a quick glance back at the workers. Their eyes lingered on him as they went about their chores, whispers barely audible, but he ignored them and kept his focus on the woman leading the way.
The two moved through the mansion's narrow hallway, Jack keeping his silence as he took in every detail of the surroundings. Vanessa, undeterred, peppered the quiet with casual questions and light remarks, gently trying to coax him into a conversation.
"So… what do you do for a living?" she asked, a playful smile on her lips.
Before Jack could answer, she leaned slightly closer, her voice tinged with a teasing giggle. "Ehehe, let me guess… you're a butcher?"
"Am I right? Or am I right?" she added, tilting her head as she studied him with mock seriousness.
Jack let a small, soft grin tug at his lips before replying, trying to maintain his composed figure.
"…Do I look that obvious?" he asked.
Vanessa shook her head, her tone teasing. "No, it's just… You smell like meat."
Jack froze, taken aback by the comment. He glanced down at himself, subtly sniffing at his clothes and hands, trying to determine if she was right—if he really carried the scent of the butcher's trade with him.
"Just kidding," she said, a playful smile still lingering on her face.
Jack let out a nervous chuckle. "…Hehe. You got me there," he admitted, shifting his gaze toward her.
Though he laughed, a small part of him knew she was right. He really did carry the scent of the butcher's trade, and not a pleasant one at that. But the truth was, only he could tell; to anyone else, it was likely nothing more than a faint hint, easily ignored.
Suddenly, Vanessa stopped in front of a door larger than the others. To make it unmistakable, Bernard's name was etched across it in a simple, unadorned font.
"We're here." She said.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a man absorbed in his work, counting stacks of gold and silver coins, jotting down notes with meticulous care. The soft clinking of metal and the scratch of pen on paper filled the otherwise quiet room.
"Master," Vanessa called, her voice cutting clearly through the quiet room. She and Jack advanced together, their presence finally pulling the man's gaze away from the piles of coins and ledgers before him.
"Hmm…" Bernard muttered, lifting his gaze from the coins to the two approaching figures. "Hey, what's the matter?" he asked, his tone curious but calm.
Jack wasted no time, eager to finish the delivery and get back to the detective who had taken his blade. "I'm here to deliver the package you ordered from Liora," he said, keeping his voice steady and businesslike.
"Hmm… so, are you the one I've been looking for?" Bernard asked, removing his reading glasses to settle more comfortably for the conversation.
"Yes, sir," Jack replied calmly.
Bernard placed his glasses carefully atop the desk and stood, his presence growing more imposing as he approached Jack, his gaze sharpening with an intimidating edge. Jack stayed silent, studying him coolly as the man's temper seemed to rise.
"Give it to her," Bernard said finally, nodding toward Vanessa. "Let her check it." He gestured at the package Jack carried, his tone firm but measured.
Time seemed to fly, slipping by almost unnoticed, and before Jack realized it, the delivery was complete. The package he carried contained a high-quality steak Bernard had specially ordered for fifty gold pieces, a small fortune, but worth every coin. Two days from now, Bernard was to host an extravagant event for distinguished guests from a faraway country, and he wanted to ensure they felt nothing short of welcome.
The sum of gold might have been staggering to most, but Bernard spared no expense for appearances and hospitality. And to make matters even more daunting for Jack, he had also been invited to the event, not merely as a guest, but as the main cook responsible for the feast, tasked with presenting each dish to perfection under the eyes of the noble attendees.
"How on earth did ya end up getting invited to something like that?" Liora asked, her brows knitting together as Jack handed her the coins.
"I honestly don't know," Jack replied calmly. "I don't even know who told them I could cook."
He paused, then added, "They even gave me clothes to wear."
Liora fell silent for a moment, staring at the gold in her hands as she tried to process everything Jack had just said.
"Anyway… do you mind if I take the next two days off?" Jack asked, his voice calm but tentative.
"Of course you can," Liora replied instantly. "In fact, I'll be there cheering you on."
"…What?" Jack breathed out in surprise, caught completely off guard.