Chapter 110: Searching For The Crafter

“Back so soon?” She asked Julius. “I didn’t think you would need anything else after you got so much.”

Julius put up his hands and laughed good-naturedly. “No no, nothing for me this time. But my friend saw some of the things I got and was interested in taking a look at your shop.”

“Oh?” She turned to look at Declan who was smiling at her with an uncharacteristically charming smile, a totally different look from the normally stern-looking man. “What can I do for you?” She asked him with a bright smile.

Declan turned to Julius and gestured at him. Julius knew what Declan wanted him to do and pulled out the black face mask from his ring. He had taken it off before they entered back into town and stored it away in his storage device. But now he took it back out and presented it to the shopowner.

Declan pointed at the piece of black cloth in Julius’s hands and said, “I was wondering about this piece of clothing Julius bought from you. I wanted to know if there was some sort of possibility that I could get into contact with the creator of such a brilliant piece of craftsmanship.”

The woman seemed to know right away what Declan was asking and nodded her head in understanding. “I see you know your stuff. I would love to say that I made it personally, but unfortunately, I did not.”

If Declan was let down by this admission he didn’t show it. “Do you happen to know who did or remember where you got it?”

“I do, but I don’t know if it’s appropriate if I share the details.” She made an apologetic face. “Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know the two of you and the person who made this is a private person. They don’t make things for the purpose of profiting off of them.”

Declan looked at the woman with sincere eyes. “I promise you that I only have the best intentions for meeting this person.”

The lady seemed to believe his sincerity but she eventually shook her head. “I’m sorry. I want to believe you but again I don’t know you well enough.”

Julius watched as Declan looked disappointed but he also appeared to understand her position and didn’t seem to blame her for her choice. He chose not to pursue the matter any further. Declan politely bowed his head and told her, “I understand, but thank you anyway. I appreciate your time and I hope you have a wonderful day.”

Declan looked put out but he still turned around to leave the woman’s shop. Julius made to follow him and was about to leave without another word when he abruptly turned around.

“There’s really no way you can’t help us out?” He put on his biggest sad and depressed face. He was even quivering his lower lip, trying to sway the woman. He made sure to sound as sincere and desperate as possible.

He could see that it was working too, because when she looked at his face he could tell by her expression that her resistance was crumbling. Thus, he went in for the kill.

“Please! He won’t say it himself but this means so much to him. I don’t get it myself, but he rarely gets this excited about something. I promise you he is a trustworthy person. Please just help him out.” Julius pleaded.

Still, the woman didn’t break. He could feel she was so close, but she still shook her head. “I’m seriously sorry, I wish I could help you and your father out, but I can’t.”

It was Julius’s turn to shake his head. “He’s not my father.”

She put her hand on her chest. “Oh, I’m sorry I just assumed…”

He waved his hands at her brushing it off. “No, I get why it can be misunderstood.”

He turned from the lady to face the door. “He actually is the first person I met when I arrived at Heston.” He sighed morosely. “When I got here I had nothing, not even a shirt on my back. No parents or family. I was in a completely new and scary place. I was covered in shit and smelled so bad that nobody wanted to get near me. I even made children cry at my stench. The only person who extended their hand was Declan. He took me back to the guardhouse where he bathed, fed, and clothed me.”

He looked back and looked at the woman who had her eyes wide in surprise. “He is the only one in a city of countless people who gave me a chance, who gave me a little piece of hope.” He smiled somberly. “If there is one person you could place your trust in, then it would be him.”

Julius didn’t stay to hear her reply and quickly strode his way to the door where Declan was standing, who had an undecipherable look on his face. The two of them walked out of the shop and onto the street that was bustling with people.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

However, they didn’t get very far before Julius sensed the lady with [Spatial Perception], who was swiftly making her way to the door of the shop. He smiled to himself. Gotcha.

“Okay!” She yelled from the entrance. “Maybe I can help you guys out.”

Declan just gave him a side-eye look that had an equal mixture of being impressed and exasperated.