Two days after the visit to Mrs. Burton, Arsh volunteered to do the grocery shopping instead of Eleni. He used the excuse that the weather was nice and he wanted to take a short walk, and no one questioned him. Even though he was a stranger to this city, no one seemed worried about him getting lost anymore. Somehow, everyone seemed convinced that he would mind his own business and wouldn't go after anyone byhimself.
Arsh and Mes told the others what they had learned from Mrs. Burton—the tablets, the translations, and Millway's potential connection to their disappearance. But Bera said he'd already searched Millway's house and office, and found nothing similar their explanation. That day, he went back with Walter to search everywhere once more to be sure, but what they were looking for wasn't in Tirsit.
Bera thought that if Millway truly had these tablets and translations, they were more likely to be at the research center in Hals. "Whatever research is being conducted there, the security is incredibly tight," he said. If these items were truly important to Millway, it made more sense for him to keep them there.
At first, everyone thought Walter could sneak in, but Bera suspected that many of the security guards have siuni. Despite having the right ability for the job, Walter was far too clumsy.
Everything seemed to be at a standstill. Arsh was certain that if he could get inside, he could find the translations based on Mrs. Burton's description. But under these circumstances, getting there was impossible. The last thing he could think of was to seek help from a skilled thief.
After reaching the city center by carriage, Arsh followed the same path he had taken before and arrived at the ruined neighborhood. Although he had his doubts, he still hoped to find the thief in the same place. Passing through muddy streets and children playing outside, he reached the three-story building. When he went up the stairs, the door was already open.
'Come in,' a voice said from inside. The thief hadn't left.
"You're here. It took you longer than I thought," he said. He was sitting on a chair by the window, staring outside when Arsh walked in.
The man seemed as if he didn't care whether Arsh had brought the police with him or not. Perhaps he was right to feel that way. Even if police came here, he could easily slip away and walk off as if nothing had happened.
"Were you expecting me to come back?" Arsh asked. He pulled a chair over and sat facing him.
"Actually, I expected you to show up with at least a couple of people following you. But you've come alone," he said, finally looking at Arsh.
It was first time Arsh could see the man's face clearly. He wasn't using his power. Still, Arsh thought it was better not to stare directly at him to avoid causing any discomfort, so he turned his gaze elsewhere. Today, he had to play his cards right and stay on the man's good side.
For a while, both of them just sat there in silence, watching the children playing outside the window. Arsh wasn't sure how to ask what he wanted to ask. He didn't know this man. He was a famous thief, and during their first encounter, he had held a knife to Arsh's throat. Still, he finally decided there was no point in overthinking it.
"Will you help me?" Arsh asked in a hesitant voice
"..."
"Ahem... Did you hear what I said?"
Arsh could feel the man staring at him with a blank expression.
"Help? You're asking a thief for help? What kind of help are you talking about?" It was obvious he hadn't expected this.
"I want you to steal something for me," Arsh said.
The thief was stunned for a while. After a couple of seconds, he looked at Arsh as if he were talking about something ridiculous.
"I thought you were with the police," he said.
"Actually, yes... I suppose I am with them. But I need help."
"Fine, I'll help you with whatever you want. But in return, you're going to help me, too."
Arsh wasn't sure how he could possibly help a thief. If the man was stealing from people like Belowich, he saw no harm in helping him. Before Arsh could ask what kind of help he needed, the thief stood up, grabbed a paper bag from a cabinet, stuffed it into his jacket pocket, and headed for the door.
"Come with me," he said.
They went outside together and walked through the streets.
"Where are we going?" Arsh asked.
"You'll see soon enough," the thief said. Arsh continued to walk beside him in silence.
They stopped in front of a single-story house with a garden. It was on a relatively better-looking street just outside the ruined neighborhood. As they entered the garden, Arsh saw a woman open the curtain to look out, then quickly disappear. Moments later, she appeared at the door. With her white hair and wrinkled face, it was clear she was quite old. She greeted the thief with a warm smile.
"Mr. Kimber, we weren't expecting you. Have you brought a friend with you?" she asked.
"Yes, I wanted to introduce my friend to them. How have you been, Mrs. Winston?"
'So, are we friends now? Just like that?'
Arsh greeted the woman with a smile.
Following the thief inside, the scene he saw was completely unexpected. There were about ten children in the room; a few were playing on the floor, while the others lay in their beds, looking quite ill. The thief embraced them and checked on their condition before returning to Arsh's side.
"Actually, I followed you after you left the other day. I saw the orphanage in the woods where you went with your friend... then I found the other one he mentioned..." he said.
Arsh had at least sensed it when Juan followed him. But with this man, that wasn't even possible.
While Arsh was thinking about it, the man continued speaking.
"This is what I need your help with. I want these children to have a better life than what they are living right now... They all have siunis and are capable of using them. Still, I've stopped them from using their powers until now to keep them out of trouble. I wasn't in a position to train them anyway... As for the others... you probably know, their bodies just can't handle it," he said, turning toward those lying in their beds.
"The money I stole was to help them. I've paid healers a fortune. But they aren't getting any better. Maybe they're just stopping them from getting worse... In exchange for helping these children, I'll do whatever you want," the man said, looking directly into Arsh's eyes.
That was when Arsh saw the man's face clearly for the first time. The man before him was not someone could simply ignore. Arsh thought it was perhaps a twist of fate that a man like him possessed such a siuni. With his pale skin, blue eyes, golden hair, tall stature, and build, Arsh thought he could easily say he was the best-looking person he had ever seen.
Even though his clothes were worn out, his shoes and trousers were covered in mud, and the brim of his hat was torned, none of it could overshadow his appearance. But what truly caught Arsh's attention was that, contrary to what everyone else thought, this man wasn't just a thief who broke into wealthy houses just to mock them.
It didn't seem like an offer that required much thought. They had already been followed anyway, Arsh thought. He was certain that acting on his own would somewhat shake Professor Reiner's trust in him. But he was also certain that he couldn't just leave these children like this.
"Fine, I'm sure they will be able to help... Do you want to meet with them yourself?"
"No... you be the mediator," the man said.
Arsh gave a silently nodded.
"Now, excuse me while I finish my business here."
Arsh watched as the man went to the children and said goodbye to each of them one by one. Then, he called over the woman who had greeted them at the door along with another woman. Before leaving the house, he pulled out the paper bag he had stuffed into his pocket and handed the money from inside to the women.
"This is your wage for this month. Also, you might not find work right away, so I've included an extra three months' pay. This evening, my friend here will come to pick up the children. Wait until then. If you wish, you may continue to stay in this house afterward."
The women thanked him and weeping silently all the while. After all the goodbyes were said, they left the house.
"Let's part ways for now. As I said, will you be here this evening?"
"We will likely be here by then," Arsh said. He could guess that Professor Reiner wouldn't want to delay this. After walking side by side for a while, the man spoke up.
"Is Ash your real name?"
"It's Arsh."
"… Not that different, then. Did you choose it yourself?"
Arsh shook his head as if to say no. It was Juan's creativity.
"Arsh... Let's meet again tomorrow at Greenway Park, in front of the statue. Then we'll talk about what I can do for you," he said.
"Alright," Arsh replied. Then, though he hesitated to ask, he finally decided there was no harm in it anymore.
"What is your name?"
"Ezra... Ezra Kimber."
After that, they didn't speak again. Both of them went their separate ways.