Chapter 115: Chapter 115

Joshua Howard can't believe his eyes. It's so unusual to see that all the people in the town was bringing a bowl and lining up in front of Christian's restaurants.

His eyes shifted to a wooden sign, with neat handwriting, hanging on the outside of the restaurant's windows. 'FREE SOUP' is what they wrote on the sign.

Joshua knitted his brows and wondering if he should report this to Desmond or not.

He chose to sneak a peek to the inside of that place. His eyes widened when he saw the mysterious young couple who vanished in the middle of the forest.

Now, he frowned and feeling suspicious with their motive.

“Hey! Don't cut the line!” Said someone behind his back.

No one know his identity since Joshua wearing long black rope with hoodie. His mouth covered with mask too.

Joshua bowed and apologized before he run to his home to take a bowl.

There is nothing he can do except find out what is the mysterious couple try to do. Subsequently, he will report this to Desmond.

Joshua knew that his leader want to meet with them. But, he has no power to drag them from the middle of the crowd like this.

The line is slowly getting shorter. Joshua need five minutes to reach the counter.

The young woman with acne smiled when ask his bowl. Joshua, thought that her face must be gorgeous without the acne.

“I hope you enjoy the soup, Sir. Please, be careful since it's still hot.” She said in friendly tone.

Joshua carefully take his bowl. However, he was mesmerized by her gentle voice, “Ah… yes.”

He took a seat to the nearest table, along with another people.

“The soup is delicious!” Said an old man who sit beside him to his friend.

“Yes! I think it will be spicy since the soup was red. Turned out, it's sweet, sour, and savory! What a perfect combination!”

Joshua staring at the soup. Just like the people said, red is the main color on this food. He's stirring his bowl with spoon and find some pieces of meat along with several white vegetables.

When he tasted it, Joshua feels like his tongue tickled by weird sensation.

The soup contains all the flavor in the world. It's the most delicious food he ever ate in his life.

The savory meat's broth, crispy vegetable and warmness he felt in his mouth. Joshua believes that whoever create this perfect harmony must be a good and person.

Joshua gulped down when he realized that his bowl already empty.

The old man beside him pat his back gently, “My, I never saw you around. But, you have a big appetite! Why don't you ask for another?”

He putting back his mask before asked, “Can I?”

The old man nodded and laugh happilly, “Yes, that young lady behind the counter say that we can take as much as possible. You know, I saw several people bring a big clay pot and the young woman filled it with the soup.”

“Wow, I wonder how much she made it.” Joshua can't hide his amazement.

The old man shrugged, “I heard she was looking for her sister. That's why she's doing this to gathering all the people to find any clues. But, perhaps, she's already giving up. It's been a long time to saw a teenager or young people around her age.”

Joshua threw his gaze to the woman who was smiling when talking to Christian.

The birth rate in this town was so low. It's so rare to saw young people. Even if they have one, Desmond always take them to became his underling. He recruited young woman to be maid and men to be the bandits.

The masked man then trying to remember the maids who working under White Wolf, and he was sure that he never saw a woman around her age.

Most likely, her sister must be dead. Perhaps because of the disease or starvation.

Then, what will happen when Desmond see this poor woman who looking to her sister?

Somehow, he wants to protect that smile. But, Desmond's voice lingering in his mind and Joshua can't despise him.

Then, with heavy steps, he left the restaurant to go to his leader's house.

Gregorio was the first man he saw on that place. “Something happened?”

“Yes. I'd like to make a report to Master. The people he was looking for... is here.”

“Did you mean that mysterious couple?” He raised his brows.

“Yes.” Joshua nodded before starting to report everything he knew to the man with round glasses.

Gregorio nodded. “Okay, I'll report to the Master. You can leave now.”

Joshua slightly bowed before he left the place.

The man with glasses looks like pondering before he enters Desmond's office.

“What happened?” Asked the big muscle man when he looked at his shiny axe.

“They already come.” Gregorio then tell everything he heard from Joshua.

“After the expensive seeds, now, they come with some soups?” Desmond curl his lip and Gregorio didn't know if he was smiled or smirked. “Call Helga, now.”

****

"Are you tired?” Max asked when saw Cecilia stirring the soup using a ladle.

“No. But, something was wrong, Max. The soup didn't reduce at all. I mean, I know that we make a lot to the people. But, not this much! It was like the soup was refiled by itself.”

Max blinkee twice,“Really?”

“Yes, it's so wei--,”

“It's because of the protector's blessing.” Callisto said after he heard their conversation. “Thanks to someone who sent the blanket the other day. I heard people starting to put some faith in the protector, and it makes him regained a bit of his power.

That's why he blessed your soup. Now, everyone can eat without worrying about starvation”

Cecilia and Max trade a glance before she asked, “You are… Callisto, right? Well, it's not like I was complaining. But, the stove need a lot of charcoal and firewood to keep this soup warm. Because the tasted of this will changed if they get cold.”

“Don't worry. I will move it to the bonfire on the Square. It's eternal flame, one of the protector's bless, so you don't have to think about it anymore.”

“Ah, I see.”

Callisto, staring at them. As if, he was waiting for something.

Cecilia asked again,” Do you need something else, Callisto?”

But, the young wolf man shook his head and left without saying anything.

“He is weird.” Max whispered to her ears. “And smell like dog's fur.”

“Gee! Stop it, Max! What if he heard that insult?”

“I just telling you what I felt.”

“But, to tell you the truth, I think he is odd.”

Max rolled his eyes, “See? I always--,”

“He is too handsome.” Cecilia whispered. “As if, he was come out from the storybook. Porcelain skin, deep blue sea eyes with a hint of gray colour, soft brown hair and--,”

“Please, just stop it. If you want to make me jealous, you're failed.”

“What I was trying to say is he look inhumanly. If he said that he was a fairy, I will believe it without any objection!”

Max knitted his brow, “Fairy… With dog's fur?”

Before Cecilia can react, Christian's enter the kitchen with a wide smile, “Hey, guys! come over here!”

She raised her brow and look a bit confused to saw his excitement, “What happened? Do you need more soup?”

“No, forget about the soup!” He shook his head. "Finally, someone knows about your sister's whereabouts! Come quickly! He was waiting for you on the counter!”