CHAPTER 3.5: BROTHER-IN-LAW

***The town of Temun, a few days earlier…***

After receiving Kuro’s ‘commission’ to undermine the criminal gangs at the dwarven capital city, and paved the way for its eventual capture, Albrecht did not immediately head to Hemelin. Instead, he went back to his house in Temun, to sort a few things before he goes to his mission.

“…”

And well, it was quite awkward when he found his sister, sitting right in front of the doorway, and looking at him. They briefly locked eyes, though the petty criminal quickly averted staring at her. Albrecht then excused himself and headed straight to his room. Of course, she followed him; seeing that he was packing his clothes, she asked…

“Going somewhere?”

Albrecht took a deep breath before telling his sister, “Not now, Carla.” He didn’t even look at her.

“Are you going with your criminal friends again?”

At that moment, the petty criminal stopped what he was doing, and faced her. However, he was not mad at her for ‘digging deep’ into his private life, though her sharp stare told him she was angry. “Carla,” he told her as he held her face, “it’s not what you think this time.”

“Brother, I know you’re doing these things for us,” she replied; there were tears about to fall down her cheeks. “But I plead for you to stop! We can do a proper living to support us!”

“Eh, you know that we can’t afford your child’s education and your needs if we go by the rules,” he reiterated, before going back to packing his things. “Besides, do not worry about the ‘legality’ of my work this time. I assure you, we are not doing something illegal in this commission.”

“What do you mean?”

Albrecht proudly puffed his chest. “While the nature of our work is secretive, thus I can’t tell you much details, the person who hired me is an honorable man. And he’s working to fix everything in this land, after the Church of the Golden Hammer was gone. This is why I’m excited, too, you know? It’s a good feeling to feel that I was needed.”

“Oh…” Hearing the news, somehow, Carla calmed down.

“Well, in any case, please wish for our success. For the first time in a long while, we—the despised criminals of Temun—can do something for the good of this land.”

“I’m happy for you, brother,” she hugged him, but then, asked, “But what do you mean by the ‘good of this land?’”

“You’ll know soon, Carla,” he gave her a kiss on the forehead and a head pat. “Stay here in Temun with your son; it’s safer. And, if by any chance you felt you’re in danger, run to the border crossing and head to Chersea.”

Carla said nothing else. Nevertheless, not wishing to weigh her brother down, she just nodded to his instructions.

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***Hemelin, a few days later…***

Having gathered enough people and resources for their endeavor, Albrecht and Ashren rendezvoused at the western borders of Hemelin. Aware of the dangers they could face as they go through the tunnel roads on their way up to the peaks, they agreed to join forces and plan their ascent first. However, Hemelin was a big city, and while they knew they had erstwhile allies at the temple district (the Army of Stone and the refugees with them), they determined to avoid contact with that group, so as not to arouse suspicions from the other gangs in the area. After all, Kuro warned them of the possibility that if their enemies learned Albrecht’s group was allied with the Army of Stone, they could form a ‘united front,’ thus, they would be harder to defeat.

Not to mention, it will also endanger the people at the temple district.

“So, we will be taking these blocks of commercial building near the temple district for our base?” Ashren clarified their plans to establish a foothold at the mountain peak.

“Yes, I think that area is good,” Albrecht confirmed. “The distance offered relative isolation from the temple district, so our enemies won’t suspect anything, while at the same time, it was near enough to come to their aid should the other gangs press on to conquer their territory.”

“Right, so I’ll be sending my men to scout this part, then?”

“Do it. Tell them to also gather information on the gangs in the surrounding streets, then come back in three days.”

“No problem!”

Just as they headed back to their camp, however, Ashren noticed something fall from the dwarf’s pocket. Upon picking it up, he saw it was a picture of a beautiful dwarf lady and a child, presumably her son. “Hey, Al!” the former mercenary called out to his friend. “Who’s this pretty lady with you?”

Albrecht immediately felt for his pockets, then ran towards Ashren when he realized what happened. He snatched the picture from the surprised human, then kept it securely in his breast pocket. “She’s my…girlfriend,” the petty criminal replied, avoiding the prying eyes of the human.

“Bullshit,” Ashren teased him. “You ain’t got one! Nuh-uh! Impossible! You always tell us you’re too busy caring for your sister and her son to get a lover!”

The dwarf and the human stared blankly at each other as the latter slowly realized…

“Wait, sister and son…” the former mercenary clapped his hands when it dawned on him. “What the fuck? Don’t tell me…that’s them?”

The petty criminal said nothing, yet Ashren was smart enough to see through his silence.

“Damn it, man! You don’t look alike!”

“Well, fuck you!” was Albrecht’s annoyed answer. He wanted to shake off the conversation, but Ashren was persistent.

“Hey, Al…aren’t we friends? Introduce me to your sister!”

“You said you only like virgins, right?”

“It’s a joke!”

“Fuck off! Don’t lay your hands on my sister!”

“I’ll make sure you’ll acknowledge me as your brother-in-law, Brother-in-law!”

The petty criminal was too stunned to speak, as Ashren mercilessly peppered him with ‘brother-in-law.’ Nevertheless, it was not like he really meant to keep his sister from his human friend, who—together with Big Sis Martelle—goes a long way to their past together. It’s just that, he doesn’t want Ashren for his sister…not now, at least, until they finish their job. After all, it was dangerous…and he didn’t like the idea of her becoming a widower once again.