Hillston District was the economic center of Backlund. It held the most bustling commercial streets in the kingdom, the most luxurious hotels, and the most atmospheric taverns. However, consumption here wasn't as exaggerated as one might imagine, as the shopkeepers here understood very well the social class of the customers who needed their services.
Jewelry within ten soli, handicrafts within two soli, and various perfumes and lip glosses that,while not particularly precious,could still be associated with high society.
Although the number of pedestrians on the streets had decreased significantly due to the strike parades of the past two days, the shopkeepers,after discovering that the workers weren't as aggressive as before,succumbed to the charm of money and opened their doors, waiting for middle-class ladies to visit in groups.
Yes, it had to be in groups.
Who would be willing to buy such expensive things when going out alone?
And if you bought something expensive while out alone, who would even know?
These middle-class individuals didn't possess the same ability as the noblewomen and socialites of high society, who could clearly tell the price of a perfume just by catching a scent.
Miss Angela was currently walking along Hillston's famous jewelry street with her friend. However, before deciding which shop to enter next, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure.
Although it was pitch black all over, for some reason, at that moment, in Miss Angela's eyes, the little cutie that had suddenly entered her field of vision radiated a brilliance far exceeding the treasures of those jewelry shops.
"Oh, heavens! Look at how cute that cat is!"
"Where?" Hearing her friend's exaggerated and flamboyant voice, Merula couldn't help but frown slightly. But the moment she turned her head, her gaze was similarly held captive.
Smooth and lustrous fur, piercing amber eyes, and every movement overflowing with an aura called elegance. It was as if, compared to it, the well-dressed ladies on the road had all become ugly ducklings.
"That must be a cat raised in the home of some great noble!" Merula's father worked for a merchant who bred foxhounds, so she had a certain understanding of animals. Ordinary stray cats and dogs couldn't maintain such clean, smooth fur, nor would they have such a leisurely and relaxed temperament.
Her friend, however, clearly didn't realize the meaning behind her words. She stepped forward quickly, wanting to reach out and touch the cute little thing.
But...
"Meow~~"
The black cat showed a human-like expression of disdain. With a twist of its body, it dodged Angela's touch and darted over to Merula's side.
"Eek!" Angela was startled by the little thing's movement. She immediately turned her head, only to see the cute creature actually rubbing lightly against her friend!
"Merula, how did you do that?" Seeing the little thing's behavior, Angela asked enviously.
Merula was also stunned by the creature's affection. She said blankly, "I don't know. But this must be the pet of some important figure. We should either leave quickly or find a way to send it back; otherwise, we might get into trouble!"
"What trouble could there be!" Angela bent down as if trying to catch the cat. But its agility was far beyond her imagination; several attempts failed, and she nearly tripped and fell flat on her face.
"Darn it, you must have used some method, didn't you? Your father sells dogs,you must know!"
Listening to Angela's somewhat frantic words, Merula felt that her friend before her was very strange. It was as if she were possessed, with nothing but the cat left in her eyes.
If it were just an ordinary cat, Merula might have reminded her friend to be careful, or even tried with her. But now, even as the cat affectionately rubbed against her pant leg, she didn't dare move an inch. Recalling the prices of the foxhounds her father handled, her heart was filled with nothing but intense fear.
"Meow!"
Angela reached out once more, but the cat defied her expectations this time. It didn't dodge; instead, it made a graceful leap, stepped on the girl's arm, and scrambled onto her head. After using her as a springboard, it vanished from sight.
'It's good that it's gone.' Merula breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid her friend might have hurt the cat. Just imagining the potential price of this cat made her feel as if she had just walked along the edge of a cliff called "ruin."
"Why did it run away? It's all your fault!" Angela didn't realize her friend's fear at all and blamed her indignantly.
In response to the attitude shown by her ignorant friend, Merula also grew angry, shouting:
"My fault? What do you know? You know nothing! If you had hurt that cat just now,even just a few hairs,you, I, and both our parents would all be bankrupt! Do you understand bankruptcy?! Your parents would have to beg on the streets, and you, with no way to afford a single meal, would have to walk into the Red Theater and become one of those people you look down upon! Do you understand?!"
Seemingly frightened by her friend's hysteria, Angela finally snapped out of her possessed state. However, Loenese people lived for "decency." Being scolded like that on the street immediately ignited her temper as well. She shouted back:
"It's just a cat! How much could it possibly be worth?!"
Hearing this question, Merula was completely incensed to the point of laughing. She didn't even bother to say another word to her friend, turning directly and walking toward a public carriage parked by the road.
...
"Stupid human!" Standing in the shadow of an alleyway, Lily watched another pair of humans part on bad terms. Her eyes flashed with a hint of contempt. She wanted to continue, but remembered the previous lesson. She scrambled up to the roof and headed for the next street.
She couldn't always commit crimes in the same place; otherwise, she would run out of small dried fish to eat.
'Wait until I learn how to make dried fish myself,we'll see how you threaten me then!'
...
"What exactly did I do wrong? Heavens, they've been walking for three hours. Don't they ever get tired?" In the Bridge South District, Fors complained in a low voice while following not far behind Lavis. Xio, who was scanning the surroundings for suspicious people, replied, "According to yesterday's route, they should walk for another two hours before taking a break at the intersection of Bridge South, Cherwood, West District, and Empress District... namely, the square in front of Westivallas Field. They'll spend half an hour eating the food they brought, then set off again, passing through the West District and Empress District, crossing Hillston and the North District, and finally returning to the East District."
"Heavens! Deciding to come and see the strike with you was truly the most unwise decision I've made lately!" Fors envisioned the route Xio described and immediately felt an urge to perform a "fainting spell." But Xio didn't let her off the hook, adding a cold "finisher":
"Besides, you mentioned to Mr. Lavis earlier that you would help write an article for this strike. For the sake of your credibility, I will supervise you until you finish it!"
"God of Steam!"
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika Kagura]
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A/N: "Red Theater" (红剧场) - A term used in Backlund and the Loen Kingdom to refer to upscale brothels or red-light district institutions.
A/N: "Foxhounds" (猎狐犬) - A reference to the nobility's penchant for hunting, which makes high-quality breeding a very expensive and prestigious business.
T/N: "Hillston District" (希尔斯顿区) - The center of trade and finance, where public displays of wealth (or the lack thereof) are a subtle social game.
T/N: "Westivallas Field" (西维拉斯场) - The main headquarters of the Backlund police, a significant landmark in the city.
T/N: "Small Dried Fish" (小鱼干) - Snow uses food as a reward/leash for Lily's "Instigator" training, highlighting her human-like greed and pet-like nature.