Chapter 1589: Alterra’s New Toolmakers (Part 1)
The group headed out the Town Center, with the Golds getting greeted every so often by different people. Similarly, the Alterrans would also look curiously at the newcomers.
"You brought new people?" one asked. "They seem quite powerful."
"Yes, very dashing..." another said, though unconsciously passing over Kahonn and Menzon. "Most of them anyway."
"..."
For the first time, Kahonn and Menzon looked at each other with camaraderie.
"Yes! Welcome them well, hmn?" Oslo said. He didn’t reveal what they were here for, nor who they were—there could be spies around after all—but he was being plenty playful about it.
"Welcome, newbies!" most would say, smiling, while others would wave their hands.
And, to be fair, the rude person realized his rudeness and took some lollipops from his space and handed them over to Kahonn and Menzon as a token of apology. Of course, he did not forget to give the other ones as well.
"If you like sweets, eat this," he said. "It’s not poisoned, don’t worry! We have strict rules here, you know."
Then... "No, don’t eat with the wrapper!"
Many people paused and converged, seeing this chance to get closer. It was a bit overwhelming, being surrounded in welcome like this, but they did not sense any hostility, and no one was (purposely) pushing against them (except on Kalfene, who may have been ’accidentally’ bumped into by a few women).
"You have to take off the wrapper like this."
"It’s sweet, isn’t it?"
"My expert advice is not to bite; it prolongs the sweetness."
Anyway, the Golds—after watching the newcomers drown in awkwardness for exactly five minutes—cleared their throats. Like this, a pathway was opened, though the (overly) friendly citizens of Alterra did not forget to throw some more words of farewell.
"Bye! Enjoy! If you need anything related to wood, you can come to me!"
"If you’re hungry, come to me—I’ll give you a good price."
And so on...
"You’re even more popular here, it seems," Kalfene smiled as they walked away.
Oslo and the others were naturally well-known in Bleulle, but they hadn’t been treated like... close friends? How long had it been since they were gone? They were really integrated into this place.
As they walked farther away from the Center, familiar voices sounded. "Margaery! Marcus!!"
It was Zaol and Gaia, who were rushing over with pale faces. The two immediately headed to them, happy to see them but also guilty because the person he wanted to see the most wasn’t there.
"Was the trip tiring?" Gaia asked, while Zaol just stared at them.
"Mother..." Margaery began, as if prepared to explain everything.
"I heard a bit from Obi," he said. "We’ll talk somewhere more private."
Zaol then turned to the toolmakers and smiled at them. "I’m so happy to have you here," he said. "Come with us to our home. We have a lot to talk about."
The group walked out to the plaza and to the Villa areas where the Golds resided.
On the way there, they passed through a portion of Alterra’s biggest park. "This is beautiful..." Kahonn mumbled, looking around.
Hassen City also had a lot of ornamentation, but its gardens weren’t like this. Its aesthetic had a lot to do with black metal, and its gardens were more streamlined.
The bigger ones were also exclusively for nobles, and they were designed to make those up high feel grand and those below feel low.
The gardens here were also grand, but they didn’t feel intimidating. They felt inviting instead, as if luring people in to join them.
They walked at a normal pace, which turned leisurely as they passed this park, as if unconsciously calmed just by being there.
"So Master Zaol is really here..." Kalfene said as he looked at the people in front of him. Zaol, Gaia, Margery, and Marcus were walking ahead while the rest of them were behind them.
Otto and the other Golds naturally told them a lot on the way there, but seeing the Golds thriving together elsewhere felt both relieving and unexpected.
Otto nodded. "We lost a few good servants, and a traitorous one," he paused. "You can understand why we were a bit careful."
"Yes, yes of course. Thank you for risking... this... for us."
Risking this good, new life they had found.
"We had the territory’s support," Otto said, giving him a look. "You know what they’d want from you, right?"
Alterra was kind, but it wouldn’t go so far as risk irking a City for nothing!
He nodded, and so did the other two. They naturally knew what Alterra wanted with them—Magic Tools, a lot of it!
Menzon, on the other hand, was basically ignored and was just dragged along.
"Don’t worry, the remuneration is very fair and Alterra would not force you to do more than what you’re willing to do," he said. "Rather, you can set up a reliable quota that wouldn’t eat up your entire day. They have strict working hours here, you know."
This was already a relief for them. They didn’t question it at all because Otto himself guaranteed it. His level alone should easily handle the Lord of a Level 1 Town.
Perhaps, they thought, the Golds settled here to be the puppet masters.
That was, to be honest, the most logical thing.
Regardless of what it was, Alterra Town was such a good find. He remembered seeing the various food stops they passed by while on the Cart. There were some familiar things sold in the shops and some unfamiliar—but still tempting—ones.
They were very tempted to ask the car to stop, but they didn’t dare do so.
"Was this the place you bought your items?"
"Yes."
Kalfene gulped, and so did Sleuth. Sleuth was generally a quiet guy, but he had a lot of things going on inside his head.
So this place was at the source, he thought, so he didn’t have to be too stingy with them anymore.
He didn’t have to cut a packet of instant noodles in half so he could enjoy it for longer; he didn’t have to cut the cookies into several pieces and hide in his space so he could have something to munch on when he had the urge for it.
He didn’t have to limit the use of the sauces, afraid that the next batch would never come.
Knowing that he didn’t have to do all that inevitably placed a small smile on Sleuth’s stone face.
He liked this place already.