blogombal Chapter 117 Square Characters
Chapter 117 Square Characters
Chapter 117 Square Characters
He told Kathy that his name was Jar McCoy.
Indeed, many people call him by his surname or first name, but some also call him Brown Braid and Deputy Commander.
His hair was brown, and his hair and beard were braided, which is probably the origin of the term "brown braid".
As for the "vice-commander," Kathy heard that this person was the vice-commander of the Unswearing Knights.
Kathy didn't know what the Unswearing Knights were, but he knew what a knight was.
Many knights once protected him, Pegasus, Robert—
But they were all dead.
But Casey firmly believed that they were true knights.
However, these men of the Unswearing Knights never talk about loyalty and honor, nor do they pursue good deeds and justice. A pile of gold is enough to drive them to do anything, but they never consider good or evil.
They are merely slaves to money, not knights.
Jarl did not tie Cathy up with a rope, nor did he hold Cathy firmly in his hand.
He simply said to Casey, "Kid, keep up!" and then strode ahead of her.
Kathy obediently followed.
He knew he couldn't escape; the moment he turned to run, Jarl would immediately appear behind him, with his large hands...
He grabbed Cathy and lifted her up.
Jarl is strong, that's for sure, but Kathy thinks he's definitely not as good as Pegasus.
Jarl was very tall; to Kathy, he was like a giant.
His legs were also thick and long, and for every step he took, Cathy needed to take four or five steps to catch up.
Therefore, Cathy had to jog a short distance from time to time to make sure she didn't fall behind.
This meant that just following behind him almost exhausted Cassie.
But this brown bear seemed to never get tired; he never stopped moving.
He led Cathy around the town.
Kathy dragged her tired body forward, panting heavily.
He had assumed that he would be imprisoned somewhere or sent to a castle to exchange for a bounty with the lord there.
But I never imagined it would turn out like this.
Kathy remembered that when she first arrived near the coastal town that day, she was indeed locked in a tent.
And there, I met a beautiful older sister.
That woman was so beautiful and feminine; just seeing her made Cathy blush.
Moreover, the older woman was very kind and warm-hearted, and she had very intimate physical contact with Casey, causing his heart to flutter wildly.
Kathy liked the older woman, and if it weren't for the fact that he already had a fiancée, he was sure he would have fallen in love with her.
However, that older woman seems to have her own child; she is also a mother.
From the woman's tone, Cathy could tell that she missed her son very much.
Therefore, Cathy was a little envious of her son. In Cathy's eyes, it was such a happy thing to be missed and cared for by one's mother.
My mother, Cathy, couldn't help but wonder if she, like that older sister, would occasionally think of me?
For a moment, Cathy thought how wonderful it would be if that older sister were her mother.
But he quickly patted his face in remorse, realizing he shouldn't have thought that way.
Regardless of what kind of person her mother was, Cathy had to accept her. It was a pity that her older sister was taken away soon. Although Cathy was a little reluctant, she also felt somewhat fortunate.
If he continued to spend time with that alluring older woman, Cathy feared that she might actually betray her fiancée, whom she had never met.
After her older sister left, Cathy was locked up alone in the tent.
Occasionally, Jar would come in and ask Cathy some questions.
Cathy understood that he was trying to extract some information about Cathy's identity.
He chose to remain silent, believing that only by not speaking could he ensure he wouldn't say the wrong thing.
This went on for nearly half a month, and Kathy noticed that the number of people monitoring him was decreasing.
In the end, Jarl even came to monitor Cathy himself.
Therefore, Kathy concluded that the number of soldiers in the camp was decreasing.
Until yesterday, Cathy was taken to town and put in the same room as Jar.
Cassie immediately realized that everyone in the camp had left, leaving only Cassie and Jarl.
As for what those warriors went to do, Kathy couldn't tell.
In short, there is one thing he is certain of.
After that, no matter what Jarl did, Kathy had to follow him.
Last night, Cathy did not try to escape.
Because he knew that if he made even the slightest noise, Jarl would definitely notice.
After a long day of running around, it turns out that Casey's guess last night was correct.
But right now, Cathy is too exhausted to walk.
He shouted, "Jar!"
Jarl turned and gave Cassie a wary look, but without saying a word, he faced forward and strode ahead on his own.
Kathy could only continue, "Let's rest for a bit, I really can't walk anymore!"
Jarl remained silent, and showed no sign of slowing down his pace.
"You walk so fast, but I'm only half your height. I really can't keep up."
At this moment, Jarl stopped and turned to stare at Kathy.
He wasn't wearing a helmet today, so his beard and braided hair were quite eye-catching.
Kathy walked over to him, found a step, and then sat down to rest.
The moment her bottom touched the floor, Cathy completely relaxed.
Only then did he realize that his legs were already weak from walking.
Jarl squinted at Casey for a moment, then said:
"If you want to relax, there's actually an easier way."
Kathy asked, "What method?"
"Tell me your identity, who has put a bounty on you, and I'll send you there comfortably right away."
You know I won't say it, Casey thought, but I won't even say that sentence.
Kathy simply faced Jarl with a blank expression.
Jarl immediately spoke again: "Actually, I know who you are."
He's trying to trick me into telling me something! Kathy concluded.
"You are Casey Lines!"
Upon hearing this, Kathy felt her heart stop beating.
A chill instantly spread from my spine to my entire body.
His identity was accurately pointed out by Jarl!
Calm down! Kathy told herself, take careful breaths!
After taking a light, delicate breath, Cathy's emotions stabilized considerably.
Cathy realized that if Jarl really confirmed Cathy's identity, why didn't he just use Cathy to exchange for the bounty, but instead kept Cathy by his side and stayed in this seaside town called Nail Harbor?
Therefore, Kathy concluded that Jar was merely speculating.
At times like these, you can't explain. The more you try to explain, the more you reveal how much you care about the matter.
This seemingly rough soldier is actually very meticulous.
If Kathy does anything unusual, Jarl will definitely notice. So the best thing to do right now is to do nothing. Kathy just stays in her original position, facing Jarl.
Sure enough, seeing that Casey didn't react, Jarl continued:
"Many major events have occurred on the plateau recently. News of the destruction of Goringburg may even have spread beyond the ocean. Currently, the plateau is in the hands of Baron Zorc of Gray City."
At this point, Jarl suddenly squatted down, pinched Cathy's soft chin with his rough index finger and thumb, and then brought his face close, forcing Cathy to look into his eyes.
"Baron Zorc has issued a bounty on a boy with orange-yellow hair, and in the last two years, it has been rumored that the bloodline of the Lines family has regained control of the highlands."
"You have orange-yellow hair, which means you have the blood of the Capello family. The previous Duke of the Highlands was married to the daughter of the Red Tree Forest."
"So I concluded that the person Baron Zorc has put a bounty on is a descendant of the Lynes family. And now, I've learned that descendant's name is Casey Lynes. Kid, it's you!"
The oppressive aura emanating from Jarl caused every muscle in Cassie's body to tremble uncontrollably.
However, facing Jarl's gaze, Kathy knew she absolutely could not run away.
Count Reggie had taught Cathy that avoiding eye contact was not the act of a leader.
Kathy remembered those words, and no matter how scared he was, he had to respond to that gaze without any hesitation.
After staring at each other for a long time, Jarl smirked and let out a cold snort.
He then stood up, raised his chin, and stared at Cathy with eyes as sharp as spearheads.
Then, as coldly as a bleak autumn wind, he said, "It's no use denying it. I've already sent people to the plateau to verify it. If it's confirmed, you'll be sent there soon."
Kathy asked, "Since you're so certain of my identity, why don't you just send me there directly?"
"The warriors of the Unswearing Knights are not fools; we will not act blindly, for the sake of unverified information..."
If we lead the entire group, we will inevitably waste a lot of time traveling. Therefore, we must first send someone to verify this."
Hearing this, Kathy understood that even if he could keep quiet, his days in the highlands wouldn't be long.
Once the soldiers sent to the plateau return, Casey's identity will be confirmed.
However, for Kashi alone to escape from Jarl's clutches would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.
However, Kathy was curious:
"But why do you insist that I come with you?"
"Are you suggesting I leave you alone so you can escape?" Jarl sneered. "Even if you do escape, I can catch up quickly, but that would only create unnecessary trouble for me."
"Where are the others?"
Jarl was silent for a moment, then said coldly:
"This is none of your business. I'm leaving."
With that, Jarl started walking.
Kathy hadn't rested enough, but he had no choice but to follow.
He walked—or rather, jogged—to Jal's side, looked up at Jal's profile, and asked:
"You sent them all out, didn't you?"
Jarl did not speak.
Kathy added, "You must have received a new commission. After all, you only have one clear understanding of my identity right now. There's no need for you to send out so many people at the same time, leaving you with no one to guard me."
"Shut up, kid," Jarl glared at Casey. "This is none of your business. Good boys should keep quiet and not interrupt adults' thinking."
Hearing this, Casey knew she was right.
Kathy then asked, "Is it related to slavery?"
Before he could finish speaking, Jarl stopped, grabbed Cathy by the collar, lifted him up, and questioned him with a fierce expression:
"How did you know!"
Cathy instinctively grabbed his hand: "I've been following you throughout your investigation. I heard everything you asked. Those people seem to be slave traders, which is why I made that judgment. If you didn't want me to know, you shouldn't have brought me along."
After listening to Cathy's explanation, Jarl held the position for a few more seconds before letting go and putting Cathy down.
Kathy loosened her clothes and then heard Jarl's question:
"What else do you know?"
"It seems someone has gone missing, maybe the slave king or something," Cathy said.
"Don't tell these things to others."
I would like to, but I have no chance to have any private contact with anyone.
He nodded and asked:
"So, the other soldiers have all been sent out to search for the missing person?"
"Kid, although you're young and look childish, you're smarter than I thought."
With that, Jarl started walking again.
"I have thoroughly searched the surrounding area but have not found the slave king. Therefore, we must expand the search area, not randomly, but based on the slave king's actions before his disappearance."
"What action?"
"For example, who he has been in contact with," Jar said. "Before the slave king disappeared, we saw many captains of slave ships. He might be on one of those ships, or those captains might have useful clues, so I have to send people to track him down."
"Would those ships be anchored nearby?" Casey asked, puzzled.
"Nearby? They'll be heading all over the place!" Jarl shook his head helplessly, "But the Knights of the Oath are bound to fulfill their mission. Even if it's difficult, we must do our utmost to complete the task."
Hearing this, Cathy was puzzled:
"But I remember you also said that you wouldn't disclose the content entrusted by the client."
“I didn’t leak it; you guessed it yourself,” Jarl said. “Besides, I said, ‘I will not leak it if it is difficult to do so,’ but you see, the Unswearing Knights have already agreed to this request.”
Kathy started to feel breathless again; this tall man was only focused on walking forward.
"This is simply exploiting a loophole. And slow down."
"The world won't revolve around you, kid. Begging others will only get you charity at best. Only by becoming strong can you take control of your own life."
Jarl talked as he walked, showing no intention of slowing down.
"The Unswearing Knights have never bothered to take advantage of any loopholes. Our service is renowned, and we will never divulge a single word if our clients request it. However, news of the Slave King's disappearance has almost spread, and our clients have made it clear that there is no need to deliberately conceal it."
Kathy nodded, then asked:
"Then why are you willing to tell me these things? I am just your prisoner."
“I don’t have anyone else around me except you,” Jar said. “And talking about what happened helps me organize my thoughts and make my thinking clearer.”
"So, after you told me, do you have any new ideas?"
"Unfortunately, kid, what we lack now is clues. Clues don't appear out of thin air. The disappearance of the Slave King is too bizarre and sudden; there are too many mysteries surrounding it."
Jarl furrowed his brown eyebrows, and his braid swayed back and forth under his chin.
"If he disappeared voluntarily, what was his reason? If he was kidnapped, what was the kidnapper's motive? And I even suspect that he may already be dead."
Upon hearing this, Kathy asked in surprise:
"Dead? Why do you think that?"
"We found a drop of blood that was barely noticeable in the slave king's room."
"Is it possible that he cut himself?"
“Anything is possible,” Jarl said. “Our commander found the drop of blood, and he said it was still very fresh at the time, so we guess that it was left around the time the slave king disappeared.”
Upon hearing this, Kathy also began to think.
He had witnessed countless bloody killings so far, but—
"Why is there only one drop?"
"Ha! Kid, your intuition is sharp," Jarl chuckled. "That's what I was thinking too. It's like someone deliberately cleaned up the bloodstains, leaving a tiny flaw in an unnoticed corner."
Kathy nodded; he understood that this case could be tricky.
However, Jarl seemed quite pleased, as if he enjoyed taking on such a challenging task.
Just then, Jarl suddenly stopped and said with a smile:
"Alright, kid, we're here. If you want to rest, then hurry up."
Kathy stopped and followed Jarl's gaze.
Right now, they are standing in front of a building.
At the entrance of the house, two city defense soldiers stood guard, holding long spears.
Jarl stepped forward, exchanged a few words with the two soldiers, and then let him and Kathy in.
Kathy asked, "Where is this place?"
"The scene of a murder," Jarl replied.
"A murder case?" Cathy asked, puzzled. "Aren't you investigating a missing person case?"
"Two heinous cases occurred in the same town within a short period of time. There might be some connection between them, so I wanted to come and take a look."
As he spoke, Jar walked toward the bedroom.
Kathy followed them inside and then witnessed the horrific scene.
The bed and the nearby floor were stained red with blood.
The congealed blood clots looked somewhat greasy.
However, the house was not seen, presumably it had been moved.
Just then, Jarl suddenly burst into laughter twice:
"Ha ha!"
Cathy asked, somewhat puzzled, "What are you laughing at?"
"We've finally found a clue!"
"Um?"
Jarl explained:
"In the slave king's room, there were many unnatural cutting marks, the cuts were far too smooth and even. And on the day the slave king disappeared, his house seemed to have been struck by lightning, with a large hole appearing in the roof. I examined that hole; although it has been repaired, I can tell that it didn't look like it was blown open, but more like it was cut open!"
"so what?"
Jarl pointed forward: "And those cuts are almost identical to the marks on this wall!"
If two cases involve similar methods, it does suggest a connection between them.
It is even possible that the same person did it.
Kathy also looked ahead.
The wall appeared to have been cut by some extremely sharp object, leaving marks that looked like characters.
The character was crisscrossed, resembling a square.