Chapter 724: Grandma Mo
Chapter 724: Grandma Mo
The City of Helios had a luminous and bright side, chiseled with honor and glory and a dark, vile face that no one dares to admit. It was almost inevitable that every nation had a dark side. In the Yalveran Union, Arthur realized it was the nobles. In Ilios, the gangs reigned.
Arthur had to understand the layouts of this organized crime syndicate for him to use it. Since he had yet to receive a job from the gang Bloodflower, which was the gang that the woman led, he had to walk around the streets himself.
It was never easy to see the darkness, but it was there. Arthur walked through the ancient streets of Helios, not interacting with anyone but sending pulses of existence throughout its people.
His Art of Creation didn't allow him to see the true heart of people, but there were always stains when one's existence was harmful to the world. Arthur didn't consider this a filter for gangs, as even knights can be corrupted inside.
"How much for this one?" Arthur asked as he picked an exotic fruit shaped like a square. He was at a grocery store, with many fresh fruits and vegetables hilled on the stands. The street behind him was filled with knights and civilians, carts and wagons, and kids chasing after each other with swords.
"A single copper, little brother! Are you visiting family?" asked the aunt as she stared at his attire, which was like that of a traveler. The woman didn't assume Arthur was from another nation because of his rune, Translate. It worked on translating whatever he heard or said to Iliosian or Yalveran.
"I am also here to make sure they are safe," said Arthur as he handed the one a copper coin, and she washed the fruit for him before handing it over, glistering with water. "These are rough times for all of us."
"Indeed," sighed the woman as she pocketed the coin. "It will get even more chaotic with the executions! You better stay at home for that one!"
Arthur didn't reply and simply took the fruit and nodded. The bittersweet flavor exploded in his mouth as he bit into it because of how juicy it was. Walking down the street with the fruit in his hand was the aspect of life that Arthur enjoyed, but he didn't forget his goal.
Rain said that the members of Bloodflower were usually involved in the drug trade, illegal goods, or extortion. The merchant at the poker table talked about encountering some tragedy, and Arthur realized he was referring to the gang taking away his items.
They needed to locate Little Yin before the gang sought him so that Arthur knew when to strike. He needs to know about her schedule so that he knows when to kidnap her.
"Get down, little kitten," an old voice came from an ally beside Arthur. He turned to look at the source to find an elderly woman waving her arms. She was trying to scare a cat away, sitting atop a wooden stack.
"I guess even the elderly needs to make a living," muttered Arthur as he munched on his fruit. It had no seeds, which was a delight since he hated them. Although the old woman was struggling with the cat, "I have no time for this."
"Ouch, ouch," groaned the woman, compelling the leaving Arthur to look at her. She was holding her back now, and Arthur sighed. He finished his fruit and walked toward her.
"Hey, kitten, get down!" called Arthur, and the cat looked at him for a second before jumping down to rub her body against his leg. "A sly little bastard," smiled Arthur at it before he turned toward the woman. "Are you alright, grandma?"
"Who are you calling grandma?" barked the old lady, who was clearly past her sixties. She was still rubbing her back and hunching, her hand leaning on the stack of wood. "I am still in my prime!"
"Ah, sure, I apologize, young lady," said Arthur as he watched the woman huff and wobble toward the stack of wood. "What are you doing?"
"Building a space shuttle!" snarked the woman as she held into the robes, pulled them, and carried the stack of wood on her back. "Move away, kiddo."
"Are you sure you can handle it?" asked Arthur with worry, and the woman simply walked past him, each step taking several seconds of preparation. "How about I help?"
"I needn't help," said the woman as she made herself out of the ally, seeming like she would collapse at any moment. Arthur watched her with speechlessness before he decided to follow her.
"Let me help, miss," said Arthur, feeling weird that he addressed her as that. "I am going that way anyway, so how about I carry them for you?"
"Are you going to keep nagging?"
"Quite possibly," said Arthur as he walked to stand in front of her. "It would be much quicker to let me help you than to refuse. I won't steal them, I promise."
"...as if someone like you wants this stack of wood," huffed the woman before she leaned back and placed the stack down. "If you drop even one, then I will cane you."
"Sure," said Arthur as he raised the stack, feeling like it was a feather. "Lead the way, miss."
"This is no way to talk to your elders! Call me Grandma Mo," said the old woman as she wobbled in front of Arthur, holding her back with her hands. Arthur followed her with a smile, not knowing why he was helping this rude woman.
Arthur tried to talk to her as they made their way through the city, across bridges, and through tunnels, but the woman seemed only capable of scolding him for talking too much. Thus, the two spent the latter half in silence until they reached a house on the outskirts of Helios.
"Take out two stacks of wood from the top," said the woman toward him as she banged on the door. Arthur did as he was told and watched a middle-aged woman, carrying a small child, open the door.
"Grandma Mo!" beamed the woman, whose face looked tired. "I'm so glad that you are here. My child is feverish for some reason. Please, have a look at him!"
"What a terrible mother you are," said Grandma Mo as she snatched the child from her. She then examined him, measured his temperature, and pulled down on his eyelids. "Throw the wood into the fireplace!" she waved toward Arthur.
The woman allowed Arthur inside, and he found a messy and dark living room that did not have a lot to offer. He looked around and found a fireplace, which he then proceeded to stack the wound inside.
"Here, let me help," said the woman as she crouched beside him and took out two stones, which she then began to hit one with the other to create a spark. Arthur could see her fingers hurting since the two stones were smaller than her hands.
"Please, let me do it. Go and see your child," said Arthur, and the woman nodded embarrassedly. Arthur took the two stones and stared at them before raising one of his fingers and writing the fire rune. The fire covered the wood, which then began to burn quietly.
"He has a cold," said Grandma Mo as she placed the child on the table. "I will bring him some medicine tonight, which should cure him. But, until then, keep him warm and well fed."
"I understand," nodded the middle-aged woman. "Thank you, Granma Mo, for everything."
Grandma Mo turned toward Arthur, glanced at the fireplace, and then walked out of the house. Arthur followed her outside and carried the stacks of wood with him. Grandma Mo then walked to the next place, knocking again and making Arthur give the family two stacks of wood to use.
This lasted until there was no more wood, and they were at an old building, which looked like an abandoned inn. Grandma Mo walked inside, and Arthur didn't know what to do.
"Should I go to that child and cure him?" asked Arthur as he pushed the doors open and walked inside. Grandma Mo was behind the counter and paused before turning toward him.
"Don't dare do such a thing. I ignored your little use of magic earlier, but don't drag people into your world."
"It will work faster than medicine," said Arthur with confusion. Then, Grandma Mo started taking out bottles and mixing them into a vial.
"If these families have an awakened child, it will be more unfortunate to them than anything," said Grandma Mo as she shook the vial. "The empire, gangs, and guilds will never let them live peacefully."
"Is that what you mean by dragging them into my world?" asked Arthur as he watched the woman pocket the vial and walked from behind the counter. Grandma Mo's grumpy face didn't look his way before passing him.
As the old woman was about to leave the abandoned inn, a group of people walked inside. They were a couple of young men and women who didn't seem to come here for a night of rest in this hunted house.