[TIDK] 52 – Journey to Ruse Falls

Andrei blocked him.

“I’m sorry, sir, but you cannot enter the second floor...Oh, you’re not a customer.”

Andrei grabbed the fist that flew into his face with his hand. While the man was surprised by his power, Andrei covered the man’s mouth with his other hand and pushed him in front of the fireplace with force.

The man struggled when the fireplace embers flew and fluttered onto his face.

“Only strange people seem to be hanging around since this morning. Does my boss know about the efforts of your trouble?”

Andrei beckoned to the two young men looking inside at the situation unfolding.

As they came inside, Andrei spoke.

“Did Sir Dumfelt send you?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re a terrible worker. If it were me, I would have fired you.”

As they couldn’t allow themselves to be discovered by Scarlett, the guards had their limits. Still, the two young men became embarrassed by Andrei’s criticism.

Andrei grabbed the man’s face and shoved him towards them.

“Then, please.”

“Well, what will you do?”

Andrei frowned.

“Can’t you see? I’m working here.”

“But…”

“Oh, get out, get out. Or should I call the Boss?”

“Oh, no!”

The young men rushed out, dragging the intruder. However, they found it difficult to subdue the intruder, who seemed to be highly trained.

Andrei looked at those young men with pity and soon resumed work.

♔♔♔

Three days later, Scarlett finished preparing to go to the South.

Because she worked all night for three days, she could barely stay awake. If one touched her, she would fall asleep on the spot.

If Andrei hadn’t taken her to the tram station, she might have missed it. Andrei’s suitcase was a perfect fit for her belongings.

“I’ve packed disposables, so throw them away – your clothes and others after use. You’ll be carrying more back so you need space.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“Damn, I’m becoming a nanny. No biggie, I am yours anyway.”

Scarlett chuckled at Andrei’s words.

They got on to the tram station and Scarlett checked into first class.

“Well, I guess you can sleep on the way.”

The cabin manager took her luggage separately as Scarlett made her way to first class. Andrei placed a cushion on the seat and covered her with a blanket, making it as comforting as possible to sleep.

“You are really like a nanny,” Scarlett said.

“Yup, Watchmaker who?”

At Andrei’s joke, Scarlett slapped him on the arm. Andrei laughed for the first time in a while, and Scarlett followed.

“I’ll be back. Take care of the store.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Andrei bid farewell and got off the train. Scarlett was again proud to have scouted Andrei herself and nearly fell asleep as soon as she sat down.

The train left at ten o’clock at night and ran eleven hours to the south. Someone woke her up on the way.

“Ma’am.”

Scarlett opened her eyes to the call, and the train attendant was relieved.

“I’m sorry. You’ve been sleeping so long that I wondered if you were okay.”

“Oh pardon me, I haven’t rested well beforehand.”

“No, sorry to disturb you, have a nice trip.”

The train attendant greeted her kindly and left. Scarlett blushed. She embarrassedly fanned her face with both hands to cool off.

Looking outside, the night had passed and the morning beamed a bright welcoming sky. She looked at the clock, and it was already eight.

“I slept ten hours on the train,” she mumbled, then looked out the window and unknowingly smiled.

It was a sight to behold – a view that one would not be able to witness in the capital. Vast plains stretched out beyond what the eye could see, in all directions.

“Wow…” Scarlett breathed.

It was a wondrous sight for her, who was born in the capital and lived only there for her entire life. It was fortunate that she could see this scenery even for a moment, thanks to the tram attendant waking her up.

The tram arrived at the last station shortly after. She needed to take a carriage from here. Scarlett paid a decent sum of money to hire a carriage man. Fortunately, the routes were two-way and she managed to reach the southern end of the mountain, Kohan, one of the Salian mountains.

The problem was from then on. Scarlett got out of the carriage and looked up at the mountain with a large bag to carry with her hands. It seemed impossible to climb up the mountain, but it seemed even more impossible to find Ruse Falls and bring stones down the mountain.

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