Chapter 59: The Gem

“This place… it truly feels both strange and nostalgic.”

As she stepped out of the carriage, Anna gazed at the streets and buildings around them. They were vastly different from her memories, and she couldn’t help but sigh with a touch of wistfulness.

“Have you stayed here before, Senior?” Ewan asked.

“I lived here for a while,” she replied. “But back then, this street was one of the more chaotic areas in the entire Lower City. I can’t believe it’s only been two years, and it looks completely new.”

“I remember several dark, eerie alleys over there. I often took them as shortcuts to save time, and now they’re all gone,” Anna remarked, looking ahead.

The alleys, which had once harbored only darkness and squalor, had long since been leveled and removed. In their place, beautiful two-story buildings now stood.

“Is that so…”

‘It seems I chose correctly!’

Ewan let out an excited whisper in his heart.

Returning to this familiar place after two years would surely bring Senior Anna a sense of comfort.

For a pleasant date, a feeling of security was absolutely essential!

“Seeing you reminisce like this, Senior, your impression of this place must have been very deep back then,” Ewan continued, picking up on her words.

“It was quite profound.”

Anna gently touched her cheek, a faint smile gracing her lips. “After all, I killed several ruffians here who coveted my body and tried to lay hands on me. Their bodies are buried in those very alleys I mentioned earlier. I wonder if they were dug up when these buildings were renovated.”

“Oh, if they were unearthed, that would be troublesome. After all, those were several human lives. I might even be arrested by those scary police uncles.”

“If that happens, Junior Ewan, you absolutely must use your ducal authority to rescue me, okay?”

“Eh?”

Ewan’s expression instantly froze.

Though a mischievous imp in his mind kept telling him that this was the moment to puff out his chest and declare boldly, ‘Don’t worry, Senior, mere police couldn’t touch a single hair on you!’

‘But I never expected that your ‘nostalgia’ meant *this*!’

‘Was this really a place where you murdered people and buried their bodies?’

‘Then my choice of location was completely wrong, wasn’t it?!’

“Pfft.”

Just as Ewan was thinking with a pained expression whether he should quickly change locations while it was still early, Anna burst into laughter. “I’m just kidding, Junior.”

“Huh?”

“No matter how chaotic a place is, it’s still within the city. How could anyone kill someone and then bury the body right there? How stupid would someone have to be to do that?”

Ewan paused, then realized he had been tricked, and indignantly said, “You’re teasing me again, Senior!”

“No, I’m not.”

Her expression turned serious as she lowered her voice. “So, actually, I dismembered those people and hid them under the house.”

“Ah.”

“Hehehe… Junior, your stunned expression is so amusing…”

Anna once again laughed, shaking with mirth. “How could such a thing be possible? Do you truly see me as the kind of wicked woman who would casually kill and dismember people? If you think that of me, Senior will be very sad, you know.”

“I know you’re a very gentle person, Senior.”

Completely at a loss with Senior Anna’s mischievous nature, Ewan scratched his head with a wry smile. “But I was thinking, since those people tried to lay their hands on you, wouldn’t they deserve to die?”

Anna’s smile vanished instantly, and she gazed at Ewan in silence.

“Hmm? Is there something on my face?”

“Junior.”

“What?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Anna suddenly changed the subject, her radiant smile returning. “Consider it my punishment for you, Junior.”

“Eh? Punishment?”

Ewan was bewildered. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course.”

Anna smiled sweetly, extending a finger to tap Ewan’s nose. “You asked me out, but you didn’t even plan ahead, resorting to flipping through a guide on the spot. Any other girl would feel unimportant and get angry, wouldn’t they? It’s only because Senior has such a good temper that I merely tease you a little.”

“Was I found out?” Ewan scratched his head with a bitter smile. “I thought I’d hidden it so well.”

“A woman’s senses are quite sharp at times like these, you know.”

Her tone held a hint of deeper meaning. “So, Junior, it’s best to keep some of your little thoughts to yourself.”

****

Since he had been discovered, Ewan shamelessly pulled out his copy of the ‘Belleland Dating Guide’ and began flipping through it right in front of Anna.

He quickly settled on a route that seemed somewhat interesting.

They strolled along.

The season was already deep autumn, so even on a bright, sunny noon, there was still a hint of chill in the air.

However, for the pedestrians on the street, it was just right.

Along the bustling commercial street, vendors on both sides vigorously hawked their wares. Various goods were displayed in dazzling array, and a steady stream of people came and went.

Anna occasionally paused, showing interest in a trinket or two, and even bought some rather peculiar-looking items that Ewan found strange.

Yet, whenever Ewan expressed his desire to pay, Senior Anna would refuse.

This left Ewan feeling a little dejected. “Senior, how am I supposed to repay you if you keep doing this?”

“Hehe… I wouldn’t want you to repay my kindness on such meaningless trifles, Junior,” Senior Anna said with a smile, putting away the black, root-like object she had just purchased.

“Oh? Then, Senior, what would you like…?”

Ewan was about to press further, but he was interrupted by an exceptionally sharp cry: “Gems! True Love Gems! The legendary Tears of True Love! Ten times your money back if it’s fake!”

‘Tears of True Love?’

Ewan frowned slightly. In his memory, the Tears of True Love was a gem that had been heavily hyped by jewelers a few years ago. It was said to symbolize pure and flawless love, but before it could be sold for a good price, it had been stolen. Such a precious gem couldn’t possibly appear in a place like this.

Ewan was about to dismiss it, but then he noticed Senior Anna’s eyes light up, seemingly quite interested.

He immediately changed his tune. “How about we go take a look?”

Anna nodded gently. “Alright.”

The two approached the hawking vendor.

The vendor was an incredibly ugly old man with a bald, scabby head. As soon as he saw Ewan and Anna, he stopped his shouting, grinned, and revealed a mouthful of yellowed teeth.

“Care to take a look, my dears? This is the legendary Tears of True Love, a magical gem that can help you find true love!”

On the ground in front of the old man lay a pigeon-egg-sized, pink, crystalline gem, shimmering with an enchanting luster in the sunlight.

“Is it genuine?” Ewan asked.

“Ten times your money back if it’s fake!”

The old man thumped his chest, guaranteeing its authenticity.

However, Ewan wasn’t asking him; he was asking Senior Anna.

Anna leaned down, picked up the gem, and examined it closely. She then shook her head in disappointment. “It’s fake.”

“As expected, then?”

Ewan took the gem and lightly weighed it in his hand. From its feel, let alone a gem, it probably wasn’t even a stone. Moreover, if it were the million-worth Tears of True Love, there was no way it would be displayed so carelessly on the street for sale. Senior Anna likely knew this, which was why she only bothered to check it out of curiosity.

“Let’s go.”

Ewan shook his head, casually placing the gem back. He didn’t want to waste any more time and prepared to move on to the next location.

But as he took a single step, he felt a sudden weight on his ankle, making it difficult to move. He turned to see the scabby-headed old man clutching his foot, yelling furiously, “You bastard! You broke my gem! Do you think you can just walk away like that?!”