The Adventures of Clara
Sicilians
23.59
Panic screams blaring. On one hand there are confused citizens asking for certainty. On the other hand there is the military who are also confused about how to provide certainty.
In total there were five explosion points scattered throughout the city with enough explosive power to destroy the three-story building. It is still unknown if any other bombs have not been detonated.
"A chance."
And here there is someone who is grateful for the misfortune of others.
Clara who seemed still sleepy stared at the trio of bodyguards preparing to be on full gear.
"Then we go first."
"Yes, ya~. Be careful," replied Clara, half-conscious.
It had been decided in advance that Rhino and Neet would go out to check things out.
Then, as if remembering something Clara hastily made a hexagram symbol. The dots of light gathered around Clara who took a position of prayer as she said with wisdom, "Bless, O sheep lost, blessing!"
Rhino made a gentle smile, then sneered, "I thought you were a witch."
"It's gone fast! ... Careful.”
Moments after their departure, Clara finally woke up 100.
Peering to the side, in the lobby of the inn, Shina was listening to the explanation of the soldiers along with the other crowd.
Peering elsewhere, there was Uncle who sipped coffee and ate a midnight snack.
Huh, isn't Uncle too relaxed?
Clara sat in front of uncle while occasionally glancing right-left. His eyes are soft, his little body looks like it will fall down at any time. But his mind moved swiftly and sharply. Soon he decided to execute command 66.
"Clara, you want to go to bed again?" ask Uncle.
"Ms."
"But lying. Ehe~." Of course he didn't say this out loud.
...“....”
...
Although the situation is chaotic, but not a few people are still continuing their night activities. One of them was the people in a pub located in the commercial district named "Lauren."
This wooden building has survived for six generations. It is a bit far from the main road and a little hidden. Unlike bars or pubs in general, the atmosphere in this place is very peaceful.
The combination of music and high-quality drinks makes this shop one of the best drinking places in Denia City. No wonder so many great traders make this place a favorite.
Carrado Gonzales is one of the regulars of this store. He looks like he's in his 40s. Have brownish skin due to sunburn.
Together with him are two men who are his sworn brothers, Bernardi Gonzales and Verga Gonzales. The three of them were executives of the Sicilian family, known as the Gonzales brothers.
Carrado seemed indifferent to the fact of the chaos going on around him. In reality he was more concerned with the repercussions of this incident.
“Ah! Fuck all this,” thought.
With the attack tonight the whole plan ends in disarray. He must inevitably redesign his plan.
"If I see you, I'll burn the culprit" he growled inwardly.
The shop door opened as Carrado was struggling with her emotions. A young man who looked like a poet with a hat and a small bag entered the shop.
"Master, milkshake, please."
After he finished ordering he approached Carrado with a beaming smile.
"Don't mind if I join, do you?"
Without waiting for an answer, the young man sat down before him. Carrado doesn't care much either. He only stared at her for a moment before returning to focus on his own problems.
It is about 155 cm tall, quite short. His gender is unknown. His face was androgynous and he looked like a teenager.
After the young man's order came Verga started shuffling and handing out playing cards.
Late at night when Denia City was in chaos, four people playing rummy in a pub was filled with soothing music.
"By the way, what's the business lately, Mr Carrado?" ask the young man.
"Not bad. But the future might be hard."
"Because of tonight's incident?"
"Yes." Yeah."
The first round was won by Carrado. The young man then took out a gold coin with a red spot and passed it towards the sword.
Seeing this, Carrado slightly raised his eyebrows, then asked, "On behalf?"
"Henry's. Pragdina."
"Awha. A nostalgic name."
Sicilians always return the favor. It was a famous slogan.
The Sicilians gave gold coins stamped with the blood of the head of the family at the time to the companions. This coin can be referred to as Sicilian indebtedness.
Verga nodded, hinting at the authenticity of the coin. Then, Carrado looked at the young man with his eyes as dark as night.
"Friendly enemies are our enemies. The problem of friends is our problem as well" Carrado said. "At least don't bring trouble. I've been troubled," he continued.
The young man nodded, then said, "I need help. Give me a ride to the North."
Permission to go to the northern regions is very difficult to obtain. Only three parties in the city can issue permits, namely the licensing & migration office, the mayor, and the Adventurers Alliance. The permission itself is in the form of a barcode that is difficult to copy. There is also a limit on how many times permissions can be used. If it runs out then that person will have to recreate his permission.
No doubt many people protested, but the government insisted that this was a security measure.
Those who cannot get a permit will usually approach a trader who has permission to hitchhike. The Sicilian family itself most of—including Carrado—refuses to accept such a request because in the long run it will cause unnecessary problems.
But another story if this is the request of a Sicilian friend.
Of the five matches played, the young man won three. Before finally returning Carrado won in the sixth round.
“Bah. Great also you,” praise Barnardi while laughing out loud.
“Not Also.”
He took out two imperial gold pieces worth two thousand royal, then passed them towards Carrado.
"The delivery time span is one wait," said the young man.
But Carrado did not glance at the coin at all.
He downed his liquor and said, "There's no delivery anytime soon."
The young man looked confused and asked why.
"There have been talks to begin expansion into the capital. Tonight's events only confirmed that decision" Carrado said. "In addition, from tomorrow until we know when the security of the city will also be improved. Naturally permits will also be more difficult," he continued.
The young man looked disappointed. Carrado himself as a Sicilian executive was obliged to make it. But there are things he can and cannot do.
"How about next month. I'll send you myself" Carrado advised.
"No. If that is impossible, I will ask for help. Please find these materials," said the young man, taking out a piece of paper from the bag.
Carrado read it and his heart beat a little. The materials written here are extremely rare and valuable.
Take the phoenix as an example. Looking for a phoenix alone was already extremely difficult. In addition, the ashes can only be taken when the bird is at the limit of its life. If that is not enough, the ash obtained from this method is usually not much and people will be covered in blood to fight it if it appears on the market.
"Well, I won't ask what these ingredients are for. But I'll say one thing, don't get your hopes up."
"H~m, it's not like I have the money to buy all that. My request is only to make me a priority if something written on it appears in the market" the young man replied.
"Understand."
The young man finished his drink with one sip and then gave Carrado a contact card.
"Clarina? So she's a girl" thought Carrado.
The young man, Clarina, was about to leave but was stopped by Bernardi. Her large bear-like body contrasts sharply with Clarina's. If Carrado is the head, then this man is his arms and legs.
"Why not sit down and relax? You seem to be in a lot of trouble" asked Barnardi, smiling sillyly. "Beverage here first class, this Barnardi guarantees it. Relax, Barnardi's distracted. Use Carrado's money of course."
Contrary to his giant body, Barnardi's face is so environmentally friendly that it is said to calm a crying baby.
The girl frowned slightly but finally was persuaded and then sat back in her place.
"Old Man! Take out William your pride!"
"How many times have I told you not to scream here, big boy!" owner of the pub.
Verga again distributed playing cards.
"So, how's boss Henry doing?" ask Barnardi.
"She has not been back from her adventure long enough ... Maybe it's dead somewhere."
"Huh. Your attitude isn't too cold? He's your father, you know."
"Ya~ to be flanked again. Already risked. Put that aside, do you have a personal history with my father?"
"That's-"
The son of the pub owner came with a barrel of wine. He skillfully poured the wine into an empty glass and distributed it to the four people at the table.
Clarina tasted her drink a little and her expression became strange. It seems like this was the first time for him to try an alcoholic drink.
The night is getting late, Carrado's heart also blackened as dark as night. The group of four had already opened the 3rd barrel. Who would have thought that girl was born a strong drinker. For reference, a barrel of this wine is worth one piece of gold.
But more than that ....
"Yay! Lina won again" Clarina said, with a red hue on her face.
"Gahaha. Lookie! Look at his face becoming more and more wry," said Bernardi who also has a red face.
The luck of this kid is absurd. Carrado begins to suspect that he's cheating.
The drunken duo was also very disturbing. Several times Verga had to apologize to other customers.
In the 17th round Barnardi pulled Clarina onto the stage and began singing. Unlike the bear who had a discordant voice, Clarina's singing was quite good considering she was in a jaded condition.
"Without guessing they are familiar very quickly," said Verga.
Black hair, tanned skin, and had an elongated scar on his face. But the most striking of these women is the color of her two different eyes, brown-blue. She often acts like a mother to two sometimes unstable people and acts out of common sense. Carrado may have been the head, but the head was empty without any contents. This is where Verga comes in and acts as the brain for the three.
Moreover, his position in Sicily was actually higher than the other two.
"Carrado." Verga's sura tone was slightly lowered, she said with an icy expression, "Say, what kind of relationship do you have with a man named Henry. Your emotions are so shaken."
"Very attention ...." Carrado downed the alcohol bottle.
With a reddened face he continued, "It has been a very long time. In short he is the one who taught me how to cheat.”
Verga looks unsure. For over a decade they were together and he had seen Carrado lose his mind many times. It never went well.
"Well. Being able to make a disguise of that level at his age deserves praise. Unfortunately sloppy, still too green. Alcohol weakens his magic." Verga took a quick look at the silly man who banged his head against the table in a row. "But clearly this saved you, Clarina. Next time be more careful. You're a woman."
"And three, no, two years older. Gawd! Why is! Why are you so small! At least come when you're old enough, shit." Carrado wants to go back to drinking but is stopped by Verga.
"Yes, yeah. Enough to drink."
Verga cast a spell, soon Carrado returned to his senses.
"Don't forget to tell the bongsor, just in case," said Verga, then left the pub.
Carrado is back playing with playing cards. His face is very wrinkled. Though outside was very chaotic but here he was drunk. How ridiculous. Well, it's not like there'll be nagging if he's drunk. Not like the old days ....
A little while later Carrado turned his gaze onto the stage. There he saw his sworn brother, the Bear of Sicily, singing with a teenage girl, errat, a little girl who may not have even turned ten, Clarina.
"Hey, Henry ...," murmured Carrado. His voice was slow but filled with emotion. "Don't you ever say that you hate the demons that disguise themselves as humans? Then where are you now? Why did you let this little boy go on an adventure alone? Really, this world never changes, right.”
