The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 258 - These Sticks Were Made For Walkin’, But Snakes Can Use Em’ Too~

Chapter 258: Chapter 258 - These Sticks Were Made For Walkin’, But Snakes Can Use Em’ Too~

The reincarnator led the trailing orphans between the rows of merchant stalls. Her steps almost appeared to wander despite knowing exactly where she was going. Like someone only on a stroll, looking at all the goods on display.

The brown dress swished around her legs as she flit about, the illusionary clothing ever remaining that tiny bit of burden on her psyche. Elua was glad she made the detailed modifications to her silver wedding dress - though the sigils etched painstakingly into its metallic fibers had only the time to shine as such a ’focus’ that offset some of the load of such a mundane task.

Eventually, she approached a particular storefront displaying various travel supplies and equipment. The merchant’s weathered face immediately broke into a friendly smile.

"Ah, young Elua! Come to examine my latest acquisitions?"

His eyes held in them a sharp awareness that had first attracted the heiress. He was someone who noticed everything that passed his stall, so she had made sure to become his ’friend’. He gestured at a collection of intricate but sturdy walking sticks mounted on the wall behind him.

Marketed to cultivators for training or travelers for testing paths in marshy areas, they were a simple tool that were yet surprisingly hard to get ’right’. That was the second reason to value him - he was a true craftsman. If he didn’t also have a clear wanderlust despite his old age, she would have poached him to work for her!

A set of mint eyes brightened with overplayed ’interest’ as she moved closer to inspect the display. The two disciples were given the gesture for them to ’join her’ by spreading out beside her to observe the meeting naturally.

"Your work remains impressive as always. Tell me, have you had many interested parties lately? Maybe some buying in... bulk."

Her fingers traced the grain of the polished bamboo pole while he pulled another down from the rack. He turned it in his hands as if showcasing the quality, though his spoken words had nothing to do with the item. However, she had discovered that he was quite keen on upkeep appearances for subterfuge.

’Not something I disagree with~’

"Information, then. A rather large order, actually. They were quite particular about the balance of the pieces. Tested every pole’s strength against their weight."

Nohre’s attention caught on the way he kept his voice even and business-like despite the meaningful look he exchanged with their master. He also gestured at the item in his hand as if, for any distant watcher, he was merely working up another sale.

"Large, you say. Did they happen to want enough to outfit a small expedition through the eastern gullies?"

"Might have. Bought near twenty of my lightest and strongest ones. Mentioned something about helping ’new friends’ across the difficult terrain out there."

The merchant replaced the pole and adjusted another’s position. His movement was careful and unhurried, making the disciples feel the difference between the nervous desire to sell more that the bauble merchant had and this old gentleman. His next words carried deeper significance for them.

"Tested them with a partner too - seeing how well they’d support weight between two carriers. Never seen anyone so concerned about *that* specific quality before."

Fusand’s mind caught the implications just as Elua’s head tilted slightly and chuckled. The brunette’s smile remained perfectly pleasant as she dug in her satchel and placed a coin far above the cost of the worked bamboo in her hand. Far above the three she would be taking along.

"Thank you for your time. I believe I’ll need to consider my options carefully before making any such large purchases. But we will take one each."

"Of course, young Elua. A profitable pleasure to assist with your... inquiries."

The three cultivators walked a short distance from the stall, each holding the intricate staves of wood in different ways. Nohre’s curiosity finally bubbled over and she asked what was immediately on her mind, though she had a *lot* of questions since quite a while ago.

"Master, the way they tested those poles... does that mean...?"

"I think it was for keeping cages steady while moving through uneven terrain."

Fusand’s addition carried the tone of someone whose thoughts had been just as excitedly racing to connect the pieces. The Goltbred’s steps slowed a bit as she glanced between them. The ’sweet’ curve of her smile didn’t reach her slightly dull eyes.

"That is precisely what I would estimate. And what does that tell us about their preparation level?"

"That they knew exactly what kind of ground they’d cross in their escape. The gullies that woman mentioned..."

The boy continued at her prompting and green eyes widened as the girl who would be his partner marveled at the *boldness* of gathering supplies for a heist right under the nose of those you intend to steal from.

"Very good. Now, would either of you care to guess our next step?"

"Inform the official investigators?"

Nohre spoke the safest idea she had in mind. They had gathered a lot of information after all - and who was to say which parts the other seekers of the truth of the crime had failed to find already?

"No, we’re going to handle this ourselves. I assumed that was clear by me leaving my post, but I guess since I told you to avoid danger..."

The brunette’s tone first left no room for debate before graciously admitting her fault. The two orphan teens exchanged a long look of uncertainty. Their earlier friction was forgotten in the face of this utterly daring declaration.

"Right... now? Just us?"

"That is unless you’d prefer to let them get further ahead while we waste the time convincing others to take the correct actions. All while we still have no idea who might be continuing to sabotage things from two different factions. Which sounds like it will save the captives quicker?"

They couldn’t exactly argue with the idea of *speed*, but outside of training neither had engaged in any fights... as might be expected by their reaction to their stalker before. It had been quick and decisive enough of a reaction, but ill-thought out. For their part, knowing that their master was ’more’ in many ways than she chose to ’appear’ in public was one thing.

’But we have never seen her fight. Unless you count what happened at the wedding with that one woman? What was her name again...? Ugh, another peculiar lady.’

The dance turned duel with Sevra had left an impression on a lot of people that day, but the time since then made it easy to forget. Both of them trudged after her then hurried their pace to keep up. The edge of the merchant area eventually gave way to open ground, providing their first clear view of the eastern plains.

"Now, why don’t each of you examine this problem from your particular strengths?"

She gestured at the terrain ahead with her free hand. The seemingly empty plains stretched toward the horizon, but a bird’s-eye view would reveal subtle variations in the ground. Natural channels carved by seasonal rains had created a maze of shallow gullies over many years.

"Nohre, how would you move through here if you needed to keep hidden as much as possible?"

"I’d want to stay in the deeper sections. Maybe an old riverbed?"

"Good. Fusand?"

The sandy-haired teen’s eyes traced potential paths through the landscape while his grip shifted on his pole.

"The gullies likely branch and reconnect in spots. They might have split up to make tracking each of them harder, but they’d need to coordinate their routes ahead of time to a meeting point."

A distant bird’s cry drew both of their attention skyward. A few large ravens from the Void Defense Society circled around the competition grounds. The courier birds were usually resting around now, but someone had apparently thought to employ them.

"Well, very good. Now show me how you’d each investigate those theories. Where would you even begin?"

Despite asking such a question, the heiress simply started walking in a direction. Fusand tested his new pole against patches of earth with each step, unconsciously applying what they’d learned about the thieves’ preparation.

"If I had more time, I would look for a map. Then I could narrow down-"

Behind her back, a perfect copy of the map that the Society had commissioned for the area faded into existence and floated behind her as Elua kept her pace. The spiritualist’s eyes lit up as he tried to follow behind and read it. The girl with braided hair watched him try to hold on to the pole, lean forward, and walk as if staring at the back of a girl’s dress - and could do nothing but reiterate her earlier thoughts.

’Stupid Fusand.’

"You know, if you spent half as much time learning your surroundings ahead of time as you do stumbling after moving images..."

The ’young’ ancient voice advised with amusement as the map rapidly faded away. Fusand nearly tripped as his focus point disappeared, but caught himself with the pole. As he stood to his height and rubbed the back of his head, he tried to make a weak excuse.

"But there wasn’t really time to study-"

"Now, you’re better than that. There’s always time to prepare. I created that not from pure imagination, but memorization. The Society commissioned the first version of this area of the plains months ago - and that particular one weeks ago when planning the venue security."

Her steps remained purposeful and without deviating in heading as she gestured at the terrain around them with her free hand. The pole in her other hand darted out and shooed away a non-venomous snake hiding in a scrub bush that was about to flee toward them instead of away.

’Huh, I hadn’t thought about it, but my Stomp action might be pretty good at scaring up wild game.’

It had been a while since she had eaten snake meat... and the mint eyes that lingered on the creature made it freeze for a moment before slithering for its life.