Dit made his way back into the camp and got greeted by Ban who seemed like she was waiting for him.

“Where did you go?”, she asked.

“The village...”, he replied.

“Oh?”, she looked back, surprised.

“And why did you- Oh right!”, she stopped herself.

Ban laughed and continued, “You met Doug didn’t you?”, while finger-gunning Dit.

Dit nodded.

“Did they realize who you were?”

“I think they were suspicious of me...”

“HA! Of course, they would be. I don’t know why you went there considering the bond you two share but maybe the bond is why you went there, to begin with.”

“I’m sorry...”, Dit replied.

“Don’t be. This will be over soon, and you can visit Doug as much as you can then, and it’s not like you had much to do in the village anyway.”, said Ban, smiling.

“Sister-”

“Yea?”

“Do you remember our... our mercenary days?”, asked Dit.

Ban smiled and replied, “Looks like someone is being nostalgic! Of course, I do, why would I ever forget those happy days!”

“Happy days...”, Dit thought to himself.

He took out the flower from his pocket again.

“Is this for me?”, asked Ban.

Dit nodded.

“Thanks!”, Ban replied, smiling.

Dit smiled back but it wasn’t as bright as Ban's.

“Our mercenary days...”

“Will this be all, count?”, asked a nervous Dit.

The count nodded and dropped a sack filled with gold coins in front of them.

“I must say, for a bunch of commoners with nothing much to show for. You both were impressive, being able to deal with the goblin swarm.”, he replied while looking at them all smugly.

“Of course, sir.”, replied Ban, smiling.

“It is all thanks to you that we were able to solve this problem, to begin with.”, she added.

Ban bowed down and continued, “Your subjects are very lucky to have a superior such as yourself looking out for them...”

The count started to laugh, “Of course! Of course! They are! Here take this!”

He dropped another gold pouch.

“This is for you, for showing such wisdom!”, he added.

“I can’t thank you enough for your generosity.” replied Ban.

“Don’t mention it.”

The count continued to sip his wine while forgetting that they both were still present in the room.

Both bowed down and left.

“I hate that...”, snickered Ban.

“Don’t be so mad...”

“We should’ve gone to Babour or even Decna!”

“Shh! Calm down!”, said Dit.

“We’re still inside the Count’s mansion.”, he added.

Ban kept quiet but still held down her grudge all the way to the local bar.

Ban screamed while taking a sip from her glass.

“We did get paid well... sister...”

“I know we did... but seeing that man so happy and content while the village that was under his care was destroyed. He didn’t even bat an eye...”, said Ban.

“I know...”, Dit replied with a somber voice.

“We wouldn’t have survived without the count’s household.”, he added.

“Count’s household... more like his wife...”, Ban burped.

“Sister! You’re drunk!”

“What If I am?”

Ban sighed and spoke, “You’re right. I’m sorry. The count’s wife took us in and gave us enough of an opportunity to be mercenaries.”

“Yes, I hope you take that into consideration for what I’m about to say.”, said a girl just before sitting down beside them both.

“My lady...”, Dit replied.

“Calm down. Just call me Tess.”, she replied while putting down her hood.

"But someone your age shouldn't be here...", Dit countered.

"This is our land, I can go where ever I please!", replied Tess, while scoffing.

Tess sighed and shook her head.

"I'm here to discuss something important with you."

Both Dit and Ban looked at her.

“Oh! Before I start, I must congratulate you both for taking care of the goblin's nest.”, she added.

Both Dit and Ban nodded.

Tess looked at them both before speaking, “I want you to be my people.”

“Your people?”

“Yes-”

Before she could say anything more, a drunk Ban interrupted her, “I’m sorry my lady but I cannot... Even if your mother...”

Tess looked at her with a sad face before replying, “Is it about your village...”

Ban nodded.

Tess sighed and looked down before speaking, “I understand... is this the same for you Dit?”

Dit nodded as well.

“Wherever my sister goes... I will go too.”

“And where might that be?”, asked Tess.

“We’re planning on doing to Babour...”, replied Ban.

“We are...?”, asked Dit in shock.

Ban nodded.

“That lawless place?”

“For mercenaries like us... fewer rules, the better...” replied Ban before falling asleep.

“I’m sorry my lady... looks like my sister had too much to drink...”

“It’s fine.”

Tess smiled and spoke, “It was a pleasure knowing you both, and I bid you farewell.”

She got up and started walking out. But before she did, she looked back and said, “For what it’s worth... I truly am sorry about your village.”

Dit nodded.

After Tess left, Dit took Ban to their room and fell asleep.

The next morning, they were already on their way to Babour.

“Are you sure about this, sister?”, asked Dit.

“Trust me, Dit! We’re going to thrive!”, Ban replied.

“If you say so...”

Babour was nothing like the kingdom they were used to.

“They’re selling everything here...”, said Dit.

“Even people.”, he added.

The central marketplace of Babour, is known as the best place to find anything that you would want.

“So, what’s your plan sister?”, asked Dit.

Ban didn’t reply but instead went towards the notice board.

“You’d think a lawless land such as this wouldn’t have something like this... but they do.”, she said while laughing.

“Let’s pick the one with the best rewards... there it is!”, she added before plucking a notice from the board.

Find missing slaves.

“Seems easy enough.”

“Sister! Are we really going to deal with slaves?”

Ban sighed and looked back, “Little brother...”, she touched Dit’s face with both her hands and looked straight into his eyes.

“It’s us versus the world... don’t you ever forget that.”, she added.

Dit nodded in return.

“Sister... Why are we really here?”, asked Dit.

Ban averted her eyes before sighing.

“That man... who destroyed our lives all those years ago...”, she replied.

Ban couldn’t look towards Dit anymore.

“Revenge?”

“Yes! I-…”

Ban became quiet.

“I understand how you feel sister but...”

“Dit! It’s not just him! I- I want us to really thrive as well!”, she shouted.

“Think of it as hitting two birds with one stone!”

Ban started laughing.

“Sister...”

“Enough. Let’s go! Maybe that rich person has enough information and enough money to satisfy us.”

Dit said nothing else but complied.

They went through many alleys, the more they went inside, the worse it looked.

“Would someone as rich as them live in such a place...?”, wondered Dit.

Soon they arrived in front of their door.

“Looks like nothing special.”, said Ban, sighing.

“Maybe we should go back...”, she added.

Before deciding their next course of action, both were teleported inside that man’s shop.

“Customers...? Or future associates?”, the man asked.

Both Ban and Dit took note of him and put their guards up.

“So, what does this spearman and...”, he looked towards Ban and saw her hiding her daggers.

He put his hands up, “I wish you no harm.”

Both Dit and Ban calmed down a little, but they still had their guard up.

“Is it gold you seek, or information? Maybe both?”, asked the man again.

“Who are you?”, asked Ban.

The man laughed and replied, “My name is not important. Just call me the dealer.”