Chapter 060

Blue Cliff Village was a quiet and unassuming village on the northwestern edge of Awwa Country, near Mirminsk Mountains. The population of the town were mostly hunters and gatherings, and we're only a few hundred in number. It apparently once used to have a few thousand as its population, but over the past 10 years, many of them had gone east and south, nearer to the Cathedral of Serenity, where the living conditions were better, or towards cities like Tingen and Backlund seeking opportunities.

To the north of the village was uncultivated moors, that stretched for a large distance. The place was mostly unknown, with water bodies, small forests, and such other complicated terrain. Most of the villagers only went to a certain distance from the village, where there were wild deer, berries, and fruits to hunt and collect. Very few ventured deeper inside, as there were predators like wolves that lived in there.

To the occasional few that visited inside, almost no one came back alive to tell the tale. The select few that only spoke of the horrors in there, the suffocating fog, the unnavigable terrain, and the deadly predators everywhere. But sometimes, the townsfolk shared stories of the Lucky Man, Ennoru Matterhorn.

Ennoru Matterhorn was apparently born lucky. His father was able to bag 10 deer on the day he was born, due to sheer coincidence. As he grew up, he always found berries when he was hungry, water when he was thirsty, no matter where he was. When he went into the moor, the few predators on the outer parts would go in, while the desirable prey in the inner parts would run to the outer parts. Hidden bushes of berry, and tress of fruit would reveal themselves. It was impossible for Ennoru Matterhorn not to prosper. He went into the deepest part of the moor, many times, and not only came out unharmed, but always had a bountiful harvest which he shared with his fellow villagers. He visited the Blue Cliff Town every now and then, and always came put unharmed.

This was the story Alvin heard from a native of the Blue Cliff Village he met in Frankfurt City, which was the closest city with a train station to Blue Cliff Village.

Alvin's manipulations on Ennoru worked flawlessly. The police started investigating him. The money lenders used to have a good relationship with were out t get him. And Frank Callenhall, the man behind the scenes of most of the gambling establishments in Backlund, became highly interested in him.

And as per plan, Frank made sure that plenty of people helped him if they offered him money.

The constable at the police station agreed to warn him beforehand if there was some evidence or action against Ennoru, provided that he coughed up 10 pounds upfront and 1 pound per piece of information in the future. The money lenders decided to call off the pursuit of he paid off all their debts, secretly hoping that he would visit his stash and he could follow. An underling of Frank Callenhall agreed to talk to his boss if he was paid 200 pounds.

Very soon, Ennoru was running out of money. He was in the clear for now, as all his problems had settled down, but he had spent most of his inventory of 600 pounds. He couldn't make a quick buck in gambling dens like before, lest he re-antagonists Frank Callenhall. And his mistresses for some reason were all triggered, and made a lot of demands.

Ennoru was struggling, and as soon as Alvin found out that he had seemingly booked a ticket to Frankfurt City, he went on the next train there. Also, Alvin had a guess as to what his Pathway was. He seemed to be able to open locks in the police station quite easily, and escaped seemingly through walls multiple times. While the police did not suspect him much, due to the locks themselves being old, and the alleys where he pulled off his escapes being complicated, Alvin suspected that he was an Apprentice.

Blue Cliff Village was a long distance from Frankfurt City, and it would take 5 days of for a horse carriage to go through. And the roads were bad too, and it was very difficult to get there without losing the way. Hence, he found a local who came out of Blue Cliff Village a few years prior, and paid him handsomely to escort him to Blue Cliff Village and return on his own. The man, who was offered a year's salary for something that would take a week and a half, unhesitantly agreed.

It had been nearly 5 days since they left Frankfurt City, and they were almost nearing Blue Cliff Village.

"Look over there. Beyond those bunch of pine trees is the path to Blue Cliff Village" said his guide after a while.

Alvin looked around, already able to spit the tracks of people who milled around in the area.

Alvin nodded, handed him 50 pounds in notes, and said, "Here is the other half of the amount I promised you. Along with the 20 pounds I already gave you, and the 30 pound deposit for this carriage, that makes the full amount. Remember to return this carriage. It was rented in your name" said Alvin.

He then jumped out of the carriage, and watched as the man turned around and drive the carriage away.

"Huh. This guy brought a suspicious stranger into his native place, and doesn't even seem to care about what his purpose is, and only has eyes for the money. And he has a strong disdain for Ennoru, who the story make out to be the village hero. I wonder if there is a hidden story?" thought Alvin.

He then walked towards the pine trees. Blue Cliff Village was apparently secluded, and expecting no visitors, had no inns and restaurants. And he couldn't imagine all the people would be welcoming of a suspicious looking stranger, as the man from earlier was, especially since they did not have any use for the amazing middle man that was his money.

Hence, he decided to find a good vantage point outside the village, where he would make a makeshift camp. He could go into the moors for food and water, while he waited for the hero Ennoru to come back to Blue Cliff Village