"Give me the torch, you stupid ass." Raspan pushed Colu away as he took the torch, and the hulking creature spun halfway around and fell against his companion's shield. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to startle someone. Why would I want to take him on a mission?
The stakes of this mission are far greater than before, but so are the rewards. After thinking about it, Raspan would rather gamble his luck. You must know that if the Gulf War had not broken out, brave adventurers would have poured into the Sea of Singing like an ebbing tide, and no one would care about the local notice boards... Raspan would not have been able to grab such a good deal. He is still only a third-rate thief in Knight's Bay. Although he is proficient in street stealing and stealing, he is somewhat limited when engaging in high-end activities such as sneak theft. He accepted a commission just because he wanted to see if he could improve his theft skills.
The results are disappointing, damn life is always disappointing. The only thing Raspan could do well was to drink strong drinks with his old friend in a tavern and talk about his troubles and anxieties. He shouldn't be so depressed. Worst of all, his old friend spread the whole story as a drunken chat, and from then on, anyone who heard the story of "Raspan and the Fish Tank" would pretend to be casual when they approached him to discuss business. Don't use sneak tactics. He's had enough of the beatings! Who hasn’t missed a few times? Raspan at least had sound fingers and was still alive and well after seven years of this trade.
But this time they had no choice. Raspan grinned silently, feeling a sharp pain in his lips where the stitches had just been removed. He could only laugh in his heart. The adventurers are gone. There is no shortage of adventurers in this town right now - wizards from the school, ascetics from the church, and the damn nameless ones. If an aristocratic gentleman wants to cause trouble for his political opponents, if the displeased chambers of commerce wish to bring bad luck to his opponents, or if a hidden gang leader wants to get information, they can only turn to third-rate thieves like Raspan. The master among mortals, the lowest among adventurers. If status were judged according to arcane criteria, Raspan was at best an apprentice. However, the mysterious creatures of the ring level are eligible to participate in the Gulf War and obtain greater profits. You want to ask where the coward went? Among the mysterious creatures still living in Lighthouse Town, there aren't many that are timid.
Humph, I can’t say it so absolutely. Raspan glanced sideways at Kelu. This kid is sixteen years old, but he doesn't even dare to open his eyes when killing a chicken. Barwin advised him to learn a less dangerous craft, but Miles thought he would prick his fingers if he tried to embroider. Kodadel's wife still couldn't bear the pain of her precious son on the sand. Sooner or later he will die at the hands of this woman, and maybe she will still witness that scene.
Perrin Grayship unkindly moved his shield away, causing Koru to fall onto his back. He didn't say a word. A rustling sound spread along the empty pier, and Kelu stood up again like a scarecrow after a strong wind.
"Either take off your damn armor or go back the way you came." Raspan said without looking back, paying attention to the shadow cast by the sailboat sculpture on the dock. "Don't make me choose for you, Kelu."
"They are valuable," pleaded the little Kelu.
"Then hide it. Bury it under the sand," Raspan ordered impatiently. If your father hadn't died early, he would have beaten you with his own hands until you couldn't get up. "The sand will not covet your treasure, nor will it drag you to the bottom of the sea."
Keru carefully removed his armor, looking as if he was saying goodbye to half the world. I shouldn't have brought him here. Dardel was a friend of Raspan's, and sooner or later a friend of a thief would fall out, and Dardel was dead before that happened. Raspan could not pretend that he did not bear any responsibility for it - that story would have been called "Raspan and Dardel and the Fish Tank" if the latter had not been hanged. A little guilt could make him wary of being attacked by a crazy enemy and losing his life, but he had done enough for Dadel, and maybe he should let Kelu become the cook.
But looking at him like this, he doesn't even have to be a cook. Raspan saw Perrin Grayship's sullen face in the moonlight and knew he hated the boy even more than he did himself. This guy held a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. He looked like he would draw his sword and chop off the opponent's pig head if Kelu threw sand on his shoes.
"You go first, Perrin," Raspan said. "Swing the sliding door open and be careful not to make any noise."
"It's not hard for me to be alone," the thief taunted.
After he left, Kelu dug out the sand pit and threw his heavy armor into the pit. This is a complete set of iron armor, and the helmet even has a rose emblem engraved on it. Dardel once showed off its origins to Raspan, which he now barely remembers. But don't think about it, it must be the stolen goods that the old thief stole from somewhere. It might have been valuable, but it might have been important, or else Dardel would have sold it long ago. Was it the armor he passed down to his son that made Kelu weak?
Kelu suddenly tripped on his front foot and almost fell into the sand pit. His knees smashed against the steel, but the sound of the impact was drowned out by his wail. Raspan turned his head. For God's sake, Dadel would not want to see his only son being raised by a woman to be a loser.
"A thief needs flexible limbs." From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to do these useless tasks, but he still couldn't forget the damn fish tank and the rope on the gallows. "Don't lie on the ground like a dead person. Get up." Let him wail, no one can hear him anyway...
"Sir." A voice sounded like a ghost haunting the shadows.
Raspan started, holding the dagger in his palm. Who would come to the dock in the middle of the night? This is an area strictly sealed off by wizards. "Who?" He was probably attracted by Kelu's movements, this damn stupid ass. Raspan gave him a hard look.
"A traveler who has just arrived in Beacon Town." The owner of the voice walked into the moonlight. The worst thing was that he did not come alone. Perrin Grayship stiffened under his dagger, shuffling forward.
"We have no grudges against the travelers," Raspan said cautiously. His guess was wrong. This man came with Perrin. Thinking of their mission tonight, the old thief couldn't help but move his fingers. The handle of the dagger was gray with sweat and dirt, and soon it would turn bright red again. "Let my poor son go first, he is frightened. I will try my best to fulfill your request."
"As far as I know, Mr. Perrin Grayship is not your son."
What did his partner say? "Well, then you also know that I will not be coerced by doing this." Raspan said regretfully. He was very satisfied with Palin, a sensible and decisive partner, but now he had to choose someone else. Of course, tonight's dangerous mission may also be the day of his death, if that is the case, it will save trouble. He heard Kelu sob behind him. "Don't waste time, young man, the patrol will pass by here soon, and none of us will be able to escape by then."
"Didn't you just pick the right time to come here? The patrol just left not long ago, and they will not come back until they have passed the entire town." The other party's face is indeed very young, but it is younger than Kelu or even Perin. Too cunning.
Maybe I overestimated Palin, Raspan thought, and he revealed our plan. Even if this smart fool escapes tonight, he will definitely not survive tomorrow. "That's not my intention, kid. Just tell me what you want to do, otherwise I won't accompany you."
"I'm a traveler." After the threat, the other party didn't talk nonsense. "I'm new to the town, but unfortunately you have a map with you. I can buy it from you."
As long as I'm willing to sell? What a hell. Raspan did not believe that he was not at all curious about their behavior, but as the "traveler" emphasized, they had nothing to do with each other, they just met on a narrow road at the dock. It would be great if an inconsequential map of the town could eliminate the conflict. Anyway, you have nothing to lose by trying it.
"A gift for this chance encounter." He threw the roll of paper in his pocket and the young man caught it in mid-air. Get out of here, damned traveler.
He opened the map and took a look, a strange look flashed across his face. "Thank you for your kindness." The traveler spoke like an annoying ascetic. Raspan's eyes moved around him, his dagger slicing through the air eagerly. The waves washed up on the beach rhythmically one after another, covering Kelu's rapid breathing and soothing his anxiety.
When only Palin was in sight, Raspan couldn't believe he had been distracted for just a moment. Am I talking to a ghost? He touched his pocket, but the map was no longer in it. The traveler took it and disappeared into thin air. How is this possible?
"What's going on?" he asked his partner angrily.
"Mysterious creature." That one word explained everything. "He suddenly appeared near the joystick. I didn't hear the footsteps."
This was probably not a shirk. Raspan also didn't see how he left. "What did he ask you?"
"Asking for directions," Perrin replied in confusion. "But I told him where Fishbone Lane and the Ship Grave were, and he knew full well how dangerous they were."
"It's you, do you believe what you say?" Raspan complained because his lies were so poor. "Does this scare you?"
Palin said no more, and a dark cloud quickly formed on his face. Thieves are generally very knowledgeable because they can cleverly pick out less important information to protect themselves. However, mortals like them are too reluctant to deal with mysterious creatures. Those demons have terrible methods that Raspan can't even imagine, and they are completely beyond common sense. He stopped blaming Palin.
Behind him, Kelu stood up from the steel cringingly. He didn't shed tears, probably because he didn't scratch his skin. Filling the sand took a long time, and Raspan wanted to help him do it himself. Forget it, there's no point in getting angry with this stupid donkey. He is not my son.
"Let's go." The old thief said through gritted teeth, "Forget about this, and then go about our work."
