Chapter 25: "By the heavens, 'Laric, stop!"
[Current Balance: £2,612 1s. 0d.]
---
"Hahaha..."
"Oh my..."
An hour passed since the Kenway family arrived at the Penn Estate. They were currently enjoying the royal treatment of expensive breakfast with William Penn Sr. and his son, William Penn Jr.
---Flash Back---
"This is where your room will be, Mister Alaric," Sebastian opened the door to a huge room, at least fifteen square meters in size. "I apologize for not having any larger room than this."
'A larger room!? This place is humongous! The interior design's dope asf too!' Alaric thought as his eyes widened, 'Why the fuck are you apologizing, this is fucking huge!'
"Well... it's unfortunate, but I'll take it."
'Of course I'll fucking take it!'
Sebastian could only offer an apologetic smile, "The room has its own private garderobe, and has a bathtub. You can call me or any staff to fill your bathtub with water whenever you want."
'So... no modern toilets, not that I can complain,' Alaric thought as he nodded to Sebastian while the latter excused himself.
Walking around the room, Alaric was elated by how his brief encounter with William Penn had completely changed his life. He didn't need the luxury nor the huge estate to live, but... 'I'm no longer going back to being poor, the fuck?'
The young Kenway then saw a door and immediately walked towards it, 'This must be the bathroom.'
The moment he swung the door open, Alaric's eye twitched... not in annoyance, but in amazement. 'Even the bathroom interior's top notched, I thought William Penn, being the Quaker he is, wouldn't have a house like this.'
'Ah no, this was gifted from his friend, yes?' He cupped his chin as he examined the bathtub, 'It would be such a hassle if I keep bothering the staff to bring and pour water in the tub.'
Alaric immediately opened the System Interface and pressed [Buy].
'Anything that's related to creating water out of thin air, or let me just buy water.'
[Water Release - Grants Water Affinity to User. - £62 10s. 12d.]
[Tobirama's Water Manipulation - Grants Tobirama Senju's ability to perform High Ranked Suiton Jutsus pulling moisture directly from the air (Requires Water Release). - £781 5s. 12d.]
[Water Manipulation (Incomplete) - Grants ability to perform Low Ranked Suiton Jutsus pulling moisture directly from the air (Requires Water Release). - £250]
[Water Release: Splash - Small, basic water jet for distraction - £187 10s. 12d.]
[Water (200 L) - User gets literal water. User can decide on water temperature and where to place the water (Drinking not Recommended). - 8d.]
Alaric almost choked, seeing the prices of Water Manipulation and the Jutsu almost made him want to cry but thankfully, there was a gallon for sale.
'I just want to take a bath,' Alaric sighed as he pressed the [Buy] four times.
[Water (200 L)(Cool Temp) - 8d.]
[-8d.]
[Current Balance: £2,612 0s. 4d.](83,584R)
Placing the water in the tub, Alaric began to sigh, 'Why didn't I do this sooner? Taking a bath in these times is so hard.'
Alaric opened the System Interface once again and decided to purchase other items.
[Shampoo + Conditioner(Sachet 10mL) - A sachet of Shampoo & Conditioner Combo - 1d.]
[Bath Bomb - It's a Bomb - 1d.]
[Liquid Bathing Soap(Sachet 20mL) - It's a soap - 1d.]
[Current Balance: £2,612 0s. 1d.](83,584R)
"Ahhhh..." Alaric moaned as he soaked in the bathtub while the bath bomb fizzled." He then applied the shampoo + conditioner on his head, scrubbing his scalph lightly. 'Now this is the best.'
Minutes later, as Alaric finished bathing, he took a linen towel and dried himself. 'It's hard to dry myself with these kinds of towel...'
'Now that I think about it... I should buy a sealing tattoo and multiple sealing scrolls for things like necessities and ration... nah, I can buy at the System. The Tattoo is what I should probably get though, it's useful for delivering items without the risk of damaging, and I can store my Kunai within the tattoo.'
He shook his head as he wrapped the towel on his waist and opened the System Interface.
[Uzumaki Sealing Tattoo - A Fuinjutsu created by the Uzumaki Clan to store items inside the tattoo. Sealing Tattoo has 100L of space. (Living Organisms are excluded) - £15]
[Current Balance: £2,597 0s. 1d.](83,104R)
Choosing his right shoulder as the area, the tattoo engrained itself immediately. Alaric then nodded in content and got out of the bathroom.
He then went to the wardrobe just beside the door to the bathroom and opened it.
'Hmm... there're lots of good outfits here, let's try them.'
Another minute passed as Alaric finally finished dressing.
He then went to the mirror near the bed and looked at himself, neatly brushed hair, dressing in white long-sleeved with ruffles below the collar, black breeches with black open-toed sandals. 'Damn I look good, for a child? I'm a killer!'
'And I'll never not use these sandals, unless I get some boots... and boots at 5-years old? What am I... playing cosplay?'
Alaric chuckled as he sealed all his kunai within the tattoo, discarded the kunai pouch, and got a waist bag from the System, tying it behind his pants. 'Convenience at its finest.'
[Shinobi Waist Bag - 7d.]
[- 7d.]
[Current Balance: £2,596 19s. 6d.](83,103R)
---Flashback End---
All of them could now be found within the dining room of the Penn Estate as William Penn Sr. was holding a conversation with everyone, glancing at Alaric once and a while.
"Ahem..." Bernard the ever so curious, wanted to ask the golden question, "Mist-Master Penn... how did you come to meet young 'Laric?"
Once Bernard asked this, Penn Sr. glanced at Alaric, who's face was stoic while eating. Seeing this as a signal, William Penn chuckled. "Your nephew caught my eyes, he saved my son here... from pickpockets... yes... pickpockets."
"Oh," Bernard nodded, but asked further, "But how come you've taken him in? You've even graciously allowed us despite our unworthiness, to stay here for the time being."
"You see..." William Penn paused while looking at Alaric who was avoiding his eyes. 'You're making me ad-lib? Okay, fine.'
"Young 'Laric over there," He pointed at Alaric who was pretending to be busy eating, "Is quite gifted when it comes to business and fighting, I thought it'd be better take in a student before retiring back to Pennsylvania."
"I see..." Bernard nodded his head, and glanced at Leonard who was staring at Alaric. "The entire Kenway Family is grateful for this kind and benevolent act you've given us. We promise to return this favor once we get to earn our means."
"Alright," William Penn smiled as he glanced at Alaric again, 'So this is your family huh, did you get strong to protect them? From what I can see, they're kind people. You must've got that from them if you risked your life to protect me, huh?'
---
'Why did we even eat breakfast?' Alaric thought as he walked towards a long corridor, 'We've already eaten at Helena's house.'
Arriving at the last door, Alaric was about to knock as he sensed someone just behind the door. He stopped his tracks and neared his ear, listening what's happening inside.
"May I know your name, young slave?"
"..."
"I promise not to hurt you, I am the head butler of this Estate."
"..."
"Master Penn entrusted me into taking care of you, so you must take a bath."
"... No."
"Haa... I'll leave your food on the table, please do eat this time. You've not had an ounce of sleep from the looks of it."
"..."
"I will be leaving this room, I will come back a few hours from now to bring your lunch."
"..."
"Well then..."
Alaric smiled as he shook his head and opened the door, seeing Sebastian also about to turn the knob.
"Ah... Mister Alaric," Benjamin smiled as he made way for Alaric to walk inside. "Your outfit suits you."
"Yes, how's he?"
"Hmm... unfortunately, he has not slept ever since he got inside this room," Sebastian shook his head and frowned, "He may feel unsafe due to the difference in our skin color."
The young Kenway nodded and sighed, "That's just how it is."
"I feel bad for him. I'm an orphan from Pennsylvania," Sebastian opened up while looking at Thulani, "I've made lots of friends with different ethnicities before Master Penn gave me the chance to serve him."
"Oh?" Alaric's eyebrows rose while looking at Sebastian, "Tell me... how's Pennsylvania?"
"..."
Sebastian cupped his chin and got into a thinking position then smiled, "It's good, I can confidently say that Pennsylvania is a lot better than anywhere in the western civilization in terms of racial discrimination."
Alaric nodded at Sebastian's response as the latter excused himself.
"Sup," The young Kenway smirked at Thulani, who's eyes were red due to no sleep. "You should've rested, I told you nothing's going to happen."
Thulani could only stare at Alaric as he walked towards the food. "Why do you... help me?"
"I told you," Alaric sat on a seat as he crossed his legs and arms, "You're my first disciple, I will train you together with Reuben soon... speaking of the guy, where the hell is he? How come he's this late?"
---
"Curses," Reuben grit his teeth as he was tailing a slave-trader walking towards who-knows-where. 'I've been here since the sun rose.'
Reuben was tasked by Alaric to gather some information about how many slave-traders there were in Bristol, and how many powerful people were connected to the business. Reuben and Alaric knew there were lots of them, but didn't know who and where.
Alaric could sense all the people that were mapped out by his Foresight Pulse, but that didn't necessarily mean that it automatically knew who he was supposed to target. That's why he tasked Reuben with this while he dealt with the accommodation in the Penn Estate for now.
Back to Reuben.
'So far, I've seen three slave traders and only one businessman here, Edward Colston...' He thought as he sighed while wiping his forehead from his sweat, 'It's hard pretending to do anything while tailing someone. They may be relaxed since this city doesn't care about slave-trading, but I can't let my guard down either.'
'Why's Alaric's sole focus on slave traders anyway?' Reuben clicked his tongue as he blended in a crowded group, 'Is it because the first disciple's a slave? Bah... let's just finish this and go to the location he told me after.'
---
'Wait, I shouldn't expect Reuben to gather the info I need in one day,' Alaric thought as he looked at Thulani who was happily eating his meal. 'Reuben's seven... not some spy for Elite Countries.'
"Thulani... for now," Alaric called as he got up from his seat, "We'll have to hide you in this Estate... cooperate with Sebastian, I'll find a way for you to able to go outside, like the garden for example."
"I've seen the desperation in your eyes," Alaric added as he stared at Thulani, "If push comes to shove and Sebastian or any staff attempts to harm you, don't ever hesitate to kill. I'll handle everything."
Thulani's eyes widened as he stared into Alaric's cold blue gaze, "You... help me so much, I will... follow you."
Grinning, Alaric nodded as he walked away, "Don't forget your words, that's a verbal contract right there."
---
*Knock knock*
"Come in."
Alaric opened the door to Penn's library as the middle-aged Quaker smiled, looking at the young Kenway.
'I wanted to take some time for me to approach William,' Alaric thought as he walked towards the seat near a bookshelf. 'But I can't sit still as mother's condition has been deteriorating. I suspect it's TB, I'm even surprised she's still standing today. I must find a way to cure her, it's the very least I can do for someone who cares so much for me.'
"Yes, 'Laric? You have something you need?" William put down his pen and gave his full attention to Alaric, "Do you have any concerns regarding the service of the butler or the staff?"
Alaric only shook his head and replied, "I'm here to do business."
"Business?" Penn's brows rosed as he placed an elbow on the desk and rested his face on his palm, "Are you a businessman young lad?"
"Yes," Alaric nodded.
"So... you have a proposal I presume?"
"Yes," Alaric then walked towards William Penn's desk and bought one [Hyuga Clan Secret Ointment] from the System. 'Now that I think about it, that bastard Solomon never returned my product. Bah, I hope he uses it well.'
[Hyuga Clan Secret Ointment - 1s. 3d.]
[- 1s. 3d.]
[Current Balance: £2,596 18s. 3d.](83,101R)
Alaric pretended to get something from his waist bag as the Hyuga Secret Healing Salve appeared on his hand from thin air. Taking it out, he then placed it on the desk, in front of Penn.
"What's this?"
"Celestial Salve," Alaric answered as his hand motioned towards his back while he unsealed a kunai, making it appear on his wrist immediately. He then placed the kunai on the desk, taking Penn aback.
"Wait, don't tell me," Penn widened his eyes horrifyingly.
"Uh-huh," Alaric smirked as he unsealed the cap of the Ointment and took the kunai, he then immediately sliced his forearm lightly, making blood appear.
"By the heavens, 'Laric, stop!"
Alaric only placed the kunai on the desk and dabbed his finger on the contents of the Celestial Salve, then applied it on the surface of his wound.
What happened next only left William Penn surprised.
Alaric's wound closed up within seconds, a faint white smoke rising with a soft fizzle.
"..."
"I'll supply you my products for £15 a piece, you sell them for whatever price you want."
"..."
"How 'bout it, you want in?"