Goblin Dependency
Chapter 87 - 63 Order

Chapter 87: Chapter 63 Order

"I sincerely apologize for encountering such an incident upon your arrival in town."

The sheriff of Kalanfor, "Ingram," expressed his heartfelt apology to the two individuals in front of him.

The thief, Joey, who was being carried by him, had given up struggling and kept his head low, remaining silent after realizing he couldn’t escape.

Compared to his appearance at the inn’s entrance earlier, the sheriff still wore his uniform, but his neatly combed blonde hair had been drenched by the rain.

"I can compensate for any losses."

Without a hint of insincerity, Ingram’s expression was serious and genuine, as if he’d even remove his uniform at a word.

To this, Alton merely shook his head, glancing at the silent thief Joey in the other’s hands.

"It’s alright, he didn’t steal anything."

"Besides, I’ve already lost all my money at the Full Bag of Gold, so even if he had succeeded, it would have been an empty bag."

Hearing this, Joey, who had his head down, quickly looked up with disbelief, glancing regretfully towards Xia Nan.

It seemed he regretted choosing the wrong target.

Xia Nan remained calm, his expression unruffled.

The hefty sum of 7 silver and 3 copper in his pocket felt awkwardly noticeable.

Unlike the others who seemed to be lamenting about the Full Bag of Gold, which seemed more like a casino than a tavern to him.

Sheriff Ingram showed an awkward grin with a stiff smile, stammering:

"There’s not much I can do about the Full Bag of Gold... The adventurer’s backer has some ties with the town, and I..."

"Haha, I didn’t mean that."

The sheriff, who had been stern-faced and serious earlier, suddenly revealed such an expression that made Alton find it amusing, bringing a smile to his face.

"Let’s leave it at that."

The Half orc waved his hand, indicating Joey should be handed over for handling.

Xia Nan stood aside without speaking.

This matter had little to do with him, and since Alton had spoken, he saw no reason to interfere.

To him, this was merely a minor unpleasant incident during the task.

He was more interested in Ingram himself.

Earlier at the inn’s entrance, he had only caught a brief glimpse, unable to observe closely, but now...

It seemed a bit strange.

Unlike other enforcers he’d seen in River Valley Town or Kalanfor, Ingram’s equipment seemed noticeably superior.

Whether it was the sturdy and well-fitted armor plate or the uniquely styled single-handed Edged Hammer at his waist, it was different from other ordinary guards.

With a small shield, he would almost look like a powerful adventurer.

Even the lining inside his armor was a more striking shade of orange-yellow fabric.

His gaze suddenly froze.

Xia Nan noticed the pattern embroidered on the inner sleeve—

A golden sun motif.

Without noticing Xia Nan’s gaze, Sheriff Ingram, hearing the Half orc’s answer, visibly relaxed.

He earnestly said:

"I still want to apologize to you both. If you encounter any trouble in the town in the future, please let me know if I can help."

The matter was over, and he hadn’t suffered any loss.

Alton wasn’t the type to overestimate someone because of their official position as a sheriff.

Shaking his head with little interest, he finally greeted the other and pulled Xia Nan away.

Once they left, Ingram immediately frowned, looking at the thin, weak thief Joey beside him.

"How many times have I told you to come to me if you’re in trouble? Why do you still engage in this kind of business?"

Faced with the sheriff’s questioning, the once-silent Joey suddenly lifted his head, shouting loudly:

"I need money!"

"Need money? Claff’s been short-handed, and the job’s been open for days. Why didn’t you go?"

"He said I was too weak to carry anything!"

"And Old Harvey?" With Joey refusing to listen, Ingram’s voice unconsciously rose, "I personally took you there back then, didn’t I? What’s your excuse?"

"I listened!"

"Hmm?"

"I listened to you and worked under that old guy for two months."

"What are you saying? At least he..."

"Didn’t pay me!" Joey pursed his lips, eyes slightly red, face full of rain, "Worked two months and didn’t get a copper coin."

The sheriff was interrupted mid-sentence.

Speechless.

He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

After a long time, he sighed.

Releasing Joey’s collar, he said slowly:

"I’ll talk to Harvey."

Thinking for a moment, he took out a slightly deflated pouch from behind and tossed it to Joey.

"Use this for now, don’t get involved in these things again."

Joey didn’t reply, took the pouch, and disappeared into the depths of the rain without looking back.

"Patter, patter."

Beside him, urgent footsteps splashed through water.

Two men in guard uniforms approached quickly, slowing down as they neared the sheriff.

"Sir, there’s been another incident!"

"What do you mean?"

"We found a prostitute’s body in a southern alley, same as the previous sailor."

Hearing this, Ingram’s expression suddenly darkened. He quickly turned, his waist-mounted hammer clinking softly against the leather armor on his thigh.

"Still the left arm?"

"No, this time it was the whole right leg."

Boom—

Lightning flashed.

Thunder roared angrily from the storm brewing all day within the dark clouds.

The already heavy rain intensified into a chaotic barrage under the catalyst of thunder.

In an instant, the entire town was shrouded in a gray rain curtain.

The dim light, cold rain sliding down cheeks, slight lowering of the head, and the shadow cast by a high nose bridge made it difficult to discern the sheriff’s exact expression.

Only a vague male voice rose amidst the increasingly noisy rainfall:

"Take me there."

...

"Rumble!"

The torrent poured along with the thunder.

Xia Nan hid under the eaves of a roadside building, still feeling the occasional stinging rain hit his face, carried by the harsh wind.

Beside him, the Half orc Alton’s face remained animated in the heavy rain with a gleaming pair of eyes, his thoughts unknown.

"Earlier, that sheriff."

Having already gone far, Xia Nan couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked the other.

"I saw a sun emblem on his cuff, it looked familiar, is it..."

"Amanata."

The Half orc suddenly uttered.

As if already knowing Xia Nan’s question, he didn’t turn back, merely tiptoed, looking through the thick rain to the town’s eastern side.

There, above countless gray, low buildings, a high spire seemingly glowed with radiant gold.

[Guardian of the Eternal Sun]

[God of Covenant and Order]

—Amanata.