Chapter 124  - Pretending to lose

When Hazel heard Aile called them lovers, she remembered the cherry they shared, and just squeezed him. A smile formed on her lips. She knew that Aile did not just kill indiscriminately. Therefore, there must have been a reason. If he did not want to tell the reason she would not ask for it. She was just happy that he trusted her enough to share it with her and not hide it. Plus she was not a saint either she had done many questionable deeds. But her code of honour prevented her from hurting unrelated or weak individuals.

Aile was staring at her purple eyes and running one of his hand through Hazel's silky jet black hair. As he admired her beautiful face that had gotten a charming tinge of red. This much attention got Hazel really flustered.

"What is your plan now?"

"Now, I just want to enjoy the embrace of my beloved wife and new lover."

"I am serious."

"..."

"I have two plans, help me with them."

Hazel nodded in his embrace.

"Are you not going to tell me what they are?"

Aile was staring at her, "Oh sorry, the first plan is to get some interest from someone in a few hours. The second plan is to spread the rumour that we made a big loss on this trip. Make it seem like we cannot pay our people immediately."

"Why... there should be no need for that. No one will blame us. We warned everyone of the danger. If they do not listen they can only blame themselves."

"People will come together as long as there is a common ground, there is no reason for us to be the only one that did not make a loss in this trip. This way, all of those that survive will make us their enemy. They might even demand why we did not persuade them further to leave. We need to show solidarity by showing that this trip was a big financial hit. Sigh, we need to act like we are poor. Nothing extravagant until the mood of the town improves."

Hazel had a disappointed sigh, "I do not understand people, why do they have to be like this. Maybe I should always just assume the worst and be safe, I cannot lose your adventurers union like I lost the town."

Aile gave her a quick peck and said, "I do not want you to change, you can become a little more cautious in these situations. Plus even if you lose our adventures union, we can make another. Just make sure you are ok?"

Hazel held him tighter, and they remained like that for a while.

"Your first plan, who are you collecting interest from?"

"Some guy from White clan decided to hurt my subordinate if we catch him injured and alone we are going to make him pay."

"Are you referring to the one that has a bruised hand, Four?"

Aile nodded.

"Well that is a minor wound, you are not going to face at least a 6th level powerhouse for that."

"Since he injured his hand, I am going to cut off his. Then possibly kill him."

"Sigh, there is more to this, right?" Hazel knew that Aile would not take a risky move unless it was necessary.

Aile thought for a while before agreeing to tell her, "Do you know they came here to find us?"

Hazel had a surprised look, and with her expression urged Aile to continue.

"Duke White has asked some fortuneteller, and they came here looking for us based on his prediction."

Hazel was quiet for a few seconds and then added, "If he dies, would it not be more suspicious and attract more people to look for us?"

"The beast and the Milli-Spider could become a cover for us. If we find him weak and alone, we will attack and try to seal his power and then throw him to the beasts," Aile explained his plan.

"That is a good idea all clues will lead to the beasts. But, do you think the fortuneteller predicted this, and he is prepared for something. I am also worried that he might have guessed my identity, not many females are at my level and also hiding their face."

"That is why I am worried, if they remain here for long, they might make the connection. But for now, I think we should be fine, in fact, Shadow had a presence in town before and during the time we were at Cape Tie. As for the adventurer's union, it was a natural step considering the security around here. So, for now, we should not worry too much, and if we did not find him vulnerable, then you can take a quick trip away for some time or not appear in public."

"I am worried about the fortuneteller, what else have they told them?"

"From Arnold, I got that they were told just that they will encounter us here, but," Aile sigh, "He is not trustworthy, so he might not know everything, that makes it hard and why I am reluctant. If I was less concerned, we would have already attacked. That old man is part of the White clan and our eventual enemy anyway."

They were silent for a while, and Hazel had become depressed.

Seeing her like this, Aile said, "There is another way in which you do not have to leave the adventurers union or the town," Aile then ran his hands through her assets. Then said, "We just need to flatten these a little, and you can pretend to be a man, we can use the excuse that you failed this mission to tell people that we sent you away."

Hazel snorted and started to think about her options. While Aile just enjoyed her embrace.

"Someone is coming towards your tent, should I leave?" said Aile.

Hazel reluctantly nodded, "It is my time to take the lead and my vice leaders to rest."

Aile kissed her in the lips until the footsteps got close to the tent then he left. He also whispered to her that she should come for food if she has time.

Aile then went out of her tent and after a few minutes caught some birds and started roasting them with some herbs. He had started a small fire close to the three tents.

Soon everyone from the tents got out and sat next to Aile for food. Aile gave everyone their share and left two for Hazel. Violet and Ellie enjoyed the food, Ellie gave Aile a few compliments, but Violet restrain herself.

Soon Hazel arrived, and Aile offered her the two reaming birds as gratitude for taking care of everyone. He did not want Ellie and Violet to make a connection between them. Hazel accepted it and after a quick chat left with the food, to eat it someplace where she can remove her mask.

After eating the meal, Aile and his group took the shift to guard an area of the camp. Shortly after, everyone woke up, and the first light appeared in the sky. It was time to head back. The groups packed up and got ready to leave. With the daylight, their speed increased as they headed towards Port Kiar. On the way, Aile already heard people complain about the fact that they will not be getting paid immediately. Hazel had already made everyone know of their 'financial loss.'

Soon they arrived at the ridge acting as a barrier between Port Kiar and the Sacred Mountain. Aile called everyone to gather, "Me and Four will be going to meet with the leaders quickly. The rest of the journey will be quick and safe," Aile then looked at Ellie and Violet, "You two stay with them, I will be back in a few hours." The merchants had outposts everywhere, so Aile's action was not surprising. The head of the teams usually gave a report immediately after they arrive. Therefore they assumed that he was going to an outpost to do that.

Since the rest of the way was safe, Hazel too rode ahead and disappeared with a similar reason. Some of the people heard her say that she will try to get everyone paid, which improved morale. Aile was hiding with four not far away smirked and thought that Hazel was learning to maximize her opportunities. Not long after she appeared next to Aile.

They stopped here because it was one of the few locations where the people had to pass if they wanted to go to Port Kiar. Therefore Aile decided to choose this location to wait for the old man from the White Clan.

Hazel was now wearing a black cloak the same as Aile and Four. Four knew about Hazel, but he did not know that she was the head of the adventurers union. Although Aile did not care if he knew about her, as it was inevitable that he would find out. However, Hazel never shared her identity and Aile did not want to either until the correct time presents its self.