‘This has to be bullying,’ Adam thought, while the children sat around Vonda to listen to hear tale. Cobra had held a suspicious gaze over the young man, but upon realising who Vonda was, some of the suspi had faded away.

  Julia listening vaguely as she prepared the meal, along with the other young woman and man. The smell of boiling pe filled the air, while vegetables were roughly cut to cook withi.

  Adam winced as he sipped oer, having used his magic to , heat, and fvour it. He did the same for the other children, but they were more entranced by Vonda, who had received such attention from Cobra.

  Adam listeo Vonda’s tale, realising he hadn’t heard much of it previously. He had heard some of her story, but he had no idea how active she had been in the region. She had gone from town to town assisting with all kinds of matters, but also assisting different adventuring groups with their tasks. She had worked hard during the beast waves too, something Adam had heard little about.

  ‘What a crap friend I am…’

  Kitool returned with food, a half sailled wheat, fresh meat, dried meat, vegetables, fruit, while the pair of women behind her brought along a cask each. Adam o Kitool, who had brought quite some food, while a small group of walkers remained outside, handing over the fried food.

  Julia stared at the fried food the children flocked to, sighing slightly, before l the heat and pg the lit atop the gruel she had cooked, before helping herself to the food.

  ‘Thank you, Kitool,’ Adam said, while Vonda and Kitool began to cook. “Should I call Korin over?” Adam joked.

  “Eat slowly,” Julia said, patting a child’s back, one who had been far too eager to fill their stomach.

  “No one’s going to steal your food,” Adam assured, chug lightly. “You’ll be able to eat peacefully like this from now on, so there’s o rush.” Adam crossed his arms, letting out a satisfied smile. ‘So this is what it feels like to be rich?’

  Though the house had been quiet when Adam had arrived, with the food Kitool had brought, and the warmth of the gentle embers, the noisiook hold of the household, with the children chattering away.

  Cobra spoke with Viper in the er, whispering about Adam’s offer to the young woman. Viper narrowed her eyes questioningly, while Kitool uood the look, si was a look which was rather familiar after meeting Adam.

  The trio of snakes tio eye up the young man, who was sitting by himself, looking over the group, and falling into his thoughts.

  ‘These kids are too thin, Adam thought, his eyes falling across the sy children. ‘They must have beeing half meals for a short while. Cobra and the others don’t look particurly beefy, either, but if they end up dying, then these kids probably wouldn’t st much longer. I wonder if there were more of them previously…’

  “Are you enjoying the food?” Vonda asked, cutting up pieeat for some of the younger children, whose jaws were unfortably pronounced.

  “Yes,” the child replied, smiling shyly, before pushing their hand into their mouth as they ate.

  Vonda smiled, still cutting up the food, before cheg on the dough.

  “Since we’ve eaten breakfast, why don’t we get you all ed up, a you some new clothes?” Adam asked. The children’s clothing, though holding colour, denoting them to be children of East Port truly, were frayed and patchy. “We head to the guild first and gather a few of the workers who will assist in watg over you all.”

  “reciate your offer, but we haven’t accepted yet,” Cobra stated, not wanting to owe Adam any more before she could think about it.

  “Then sider a gift,” Adam said, waving his hand. “We’re going to stay i Port for a short while, so you just sider it ood will. It’ll give you time to make an excuse to your siblings as to why they won’t be receiving a proper roof over their heads, warm meals iummies, and new clothing once we leave.”

  “…”

  “What Executive Adam means to say is that Adam wishes you will accept the courtesy of the business, as we are sincere in our offer,” Vonda said, still smiling politely towards the young woman.

  Adam cleared his throat, flushing slightly. “Manager Vonda is correct. I apologise for my jokes.” ‘How do I have such a high Charisma when I keep ag like such a damn fool. Is it because my Wisdom is so low?’

  Adam checked his stats.

  ‘Damn, what are these iatistics? Who died to give me…’ Adam thought about Belle and Bandlor. ‘Ah, right…’

  Cobra remained silent. Ohe children were fihey cleared up the area. Julia, Shannon, and Gilbert each carried packs full of what few items they each possessed.

  ‘If they’re taking everything with them, does that mean they’ve already accepted?’ Adam thought, uo tain his smile. “I’ll lead the way, shall I?”

  Adam hummed quietly as he walked up ahead, leading the rge group out, his eyes sing across the nearby homeless, before his humming fell silent, and his smile dropped. ‘Should I…’ His eyes fell across the poorest of the poor around him, their eyes curious, some withdrawing, but others sizing the group up.

  The group made their way through the alleys until they were he main road once more. Kitool held up the rear, with Vonda in the tre, and a member of each of the srio apanied each of the businessfolk who were esc them.

  “You’re a member of Life’s Rose, but you’re a member of the business?” Python asked.

  “Yes,” Vonda replied, bowing her head lightly. “I adventured with Fate’s Golden for some time. It was the party which eventually transformed into the business, though perhaps it is still a separate entity. All those in Fate’s Golden have joihe business.”

  “Is there really an enter?”

  “There is.” Vonda pced a hand on her mace. “This mace was ented by the Enter of the business.”

  “The Enter crafted you a magical on?”

  “Many who are within Fate’s Golden have received such fine magical ons,” Vonda firmed. “Executive Adam’s own on is Greater Enhanced, along with that of Executive Kitool’s staff.”

  “They’re Greater Enhanced?” Python whispered, as though it were a sin to speak of such a thing. Her eyes so Adam, who carried no ons on him outwards, though had still mao defeat her. ‘A Greater Enhanced on? That kind of on’s only for the high ranking warriors from the orders…’

  “You’ve done well looking after all these children so far,” Adam said.

  “Are you pig a fight?” Cobra replied.

  “No?” Adam replied, taken aback. “It’s an ho pliment.”

  “There is no such thing as an ho pliment.”

  “That’s pretty hardcore,” Adam replied, raising his brows pyfully. “No, I meant it genuinely. You went to such depths to look after the children, I only respect you.”

  “Adam,” Vonda called, causing the half elf to turn. Some of the children had slowed their pace, while some had fallen to their bottoms to sit a. “The childreired.”

  “Let’s take a breather then,” Adam said.

  “No more walking!” a child pined. “It’s too much!”

  “It’s not very far now, Leah,” Julia assured, holding out her hand. “We’ll get to meet so many adventurers.”

  “No! My feet hurt! I want to go home!”

  “Leah, don’t do that, get up, now,” Julia said, raising her voice slightly.

  “Are you feeling tired, Leah?” Adam asked.

  The tiny girl, with her short hair, and her little belt of yelloed around her waist, twitched slightly as she looked up towards Adam. Her lips trembled and she began to cry.

  “Oh dear, oh dear,” Adam chuckled lightly. “Why don’t we order a carriage for the children to ride in? Manager Vonda, do you know where one could find a carriage?”

  “There are a few along Market Road,” Vonda replied.

  “Wonderful,” Adam said. “Would you mind going with Python to procure a carriage for us?” Adam reached into his poud picked up a few gems, handing it over to the priest.

  “Only one gem will be needed,” Vonda replied.

  “…” Adam blinked. “ht. Just take a couple anyway, just in case.”

  “Very well.” Vonda left with the two gems, along with Python.

  The child tio cry and sob, causing a few of the other children to cry, though their five eldest siblings soothed them. Alex remained silent, staring at Adam and Kitool, who formed a wall around them, keeping a oher cityfolk who passed them by. There were some gres and suspicious gnces from the cityfolk.

  “Hey, keep the kids quiet,” a young woman sowards them. “They’re disturbing the good people around.”

  Adam felt a fsh of heat run through him. He opened his mouth, though Kitool stepped forward.

  “ologise for the noise, we are dealing with the matter,” Kitool said, her eyes cold and dark as they stared into the young woman’s soul.

  The young woman stepped back, her eyes fshing with shock. “Yes, well…”

  “Hey, what are you doing?” another young woman called, stepping forward. “Leave Melina alone!”

  “She walked up to bother us,” Adam replied, his voice filled with annoyance.

  “You’re all b us, what with your noise, and look at all these poor children! What are you doing to them?”

  “Trying to soothe them.”

  “You just wait right here and we’ll call the guards! See if you’re prht folk!” the young ulled Melina away and stormed away.

  The otion had gathered a few gheir way. Adam sighed, gng to the side towards Kitool.

  “How much you wanhat was my fault?”

  “I do not have so much gold to lose in such a bet,” Kitool replied, stern and cold.

  “Damn, Kitool. You didn’t have to do me like that.”

  Ah, the greatest foe of all.

  A Karen.