Episode 7. Hawk's Curse
After the commotion of Grace falling into Full Moon's lake, Karl's social circles remained peaceful, as if nothing had happened. In truth, it had always been a peaceful world until Gray returned home.
It was a fine day. Perfect weather for cargo ships coming and going across the distant seas. Thus, the harbor brimmed with fresh vitality.
A modest-looking carriage crossed the harbor entrance and headed straight to the seaside path. However, unlike the carriage, the person who stepped down was far from modest.
It was Gray, dressed in a gentleman's suit that gleamed as smoothly as the sunlight pouring onto the pier.
He entered the first floor of the building before him—the coffee house—with light steps. Having come alone without colleagues or attendants, Gray slowly looked around the interior.
The inside blended oddly: the salty sea air unique to the coast, the musty smell of an aged building, and the soft, luxurious aroma of coffee.
This must be the special romance that modern marine guys pursued.
Gray also liked this strange yet harmonious atmosphere. Not because he was a romantic, but quite the opposite. As an utterly worldly man, he enjoyed it here. Places overflowing with new and mysterious stories reeked of money.
Holding his high-end jacket—which clashed with the dilapidated building—he headed straight to the inner bar. The owner greeted him warmly, as if seeing a regular.
"Well, if it isn't him. The gentleman who's got the world enchanted these days."
"Hello, Hawk. I do my best to enchant."
"Hahaha. You don't need to bother with the world when you're a Valoneck, right?"
"Is that so? But here, 'Hawks House' belongs to Hawk. This place tempts me the most."
Hawk smiled faintly at Gray, who sat naturally on a stool and bantered coolly.
"Coffee?"
"I'd be grateful if you did."
Hawk was the aged owner of the coffee house, living with pride from having navigated the distant seas that were once unknown worlds. He eagerly pulled out beans and began grinding them.
"These are beans from the New World, Yumen. Try them. Out of this world."
"I'm the paying customer, but no choice for me?"
"Just eat what I give you. They taste like chocolate from the coffee. Mmm, killer, right?!"
Hawk beamed triumphantly, as if he'd already shoved pre-brewed coffee into Gray's mouth.
While waiting for the coffee, Gray exchanged light greetings with sailors who recognized him and approached. To them, Gray was a playboy noble who mingled fearlessly with them, unbeatable at fun anywhere.
They traded silly jokes and well-wishes as their shoulders bumped heavily, then sauntered off.
Hawk, pouring hot water into the coffee, whispered.
"I hate to say this, but you should keep some distance from that Balua guy."
Gray slowly raised then lowered an eyebrow. A 'why?' gesture.
"That bastard's ruining your reputation."
"Ah? But did I have a worse reputation left to ruin?"
"You're still a young lord. Last time, he blabbed nonsense to inland merchants about going to some shady bar with you."
"Ah, so that's why trash like me originally has reborn as irredeemable total garbage lately."
Hawk frowned slightly at Gray, who didn't care at all.
"Aren't you getting married? Proper ladies hate that stuff, don't they?"
Gray wagged a finger at Hawk. As Hawk bowed his head, Gray whispered sweetly.
"Would ladies hate this face no matter what I do? And Hawk, don't you know refined people play even more shockingly?"
Hawk looked up and stared at Gray. His eyes said, 'What kind of person is this?' But up close, he couldn't deny Gray's words. He let out a hollow laugh.
Hawk chuckled and retorted, "Refined ones are scarier, yeah."
Meanwhile, sailors came and went by Gray again. They picked up copies of the news pamphlet on the stool beside him and paid Hawk.
"Still, deny knowing Balua."
"Must I?"
"You might not know being young, but an exceptionally handsome face can be a disaster sometimes."
"Calling me a disaster now?"
Gray pointed at his face with a cheeky grin. Hawk clicked his tongue lightly.
"You know how Adonis, the peerless beauty who enchanted gods, caused uproar and died, right?"
Gray glanced at the pamphlets the sailors took and replied playfully.
"Making the top goddess of the heavens and the queen of the underworld fight? Thrilling life. Revived thanks to them too, so indeed, only a handsome face is reliable."
Gray muttered indifferently, eyes lingering on the front: 'Addie's News.'
Addie? The pamphlet's owner?
Hawk sneered.
"You'll regret it big time."
Gray finally looked up.
"Me?"
"Yeah. I can tell at a glance."
"Tell what?"
"You, actually, don't like women much?"
Gray snorted in disbelief. Hawk set the finished coffee before him and winked.
"I guarantee it—you're still a virgin."
Gray now stared at Hawk with genuine bewilderment.
"Hawk, you mad?"
"Wanna bet?"
"I know my own situation—bet on what?"
"Not past, future. That handsome face and slick lies will topple you big once. Not dying stupid like Adonis, but weeping bitterly like Aphrodite who seduced and killed him in rage. That's the end for fools steeped in arrogance, blind to true value."
Gray's slightly parted lips stiffened. Staring absurdly at Hawk, he soon burst into a huge laugh, baring his teeth fully.
"Hawk, credit where due—you've got an eye. Of course I'm a virgin. I'm a gentleman, after all. But calling me an arrogant fool? Too much."
Gray blinked playfully.
"Bragging about a thrilling life, and you curse me?"
Hawk smiled meaningfully. Wrinkles softened around eyes holding years.
"Drink your coffee. Surviving that monstrous sea without being eaten, living luxuriously—thanks to good eyes."
"Ah, the sea, damn thing. Should've put more effort."
"Oh, right. Just in case, if you're proposing to buy this front plot again today—still 'no.'"
"Ah, that."
Gray smoothed his furrowed brow instantly and flashed Hawk an enchanting smile. The profligate smile that worked on all ages and genders. Hawk shook his head again.
"Not that today—something a bit different."
"What?"
"The one coming next week..."
As Gray leaned to whisper the main point, another 'Addie's News' sold, interrupting. Gray eyed the yellowish, poor-quality paper again.
Is this thing really this popular?
Curiosity piqued. Gray examined the pamphlet closer. The two folded sheets detailed sea weather, high tide times, major local specialties traded per harbor, and coordinates of recent pirate hotspots.
Hmm. Not bad.
Clearly useful for sailors. Trustworthy info for those risking one life on a single ship in dangerous seas was worth every shilling.
Suddenly, Gray's pale eyes darkened like ocean depths then cleared. A good idea struck. He nodded at the paper.
"But Hawk, when did you start selling these?"
"That? Quite a while. But not mine. If it were, it'd be 'Hawk's News,' not 'Addie's.' I'm just the seller."
"Really? Then who's Addie?"
"Why? Interested?"
Gray slowly stroked his chin.
"Just, well..."
Interest sparked, but he brushed it off vaguely. Never show desire when you want something—advantageous in many ways.
Trusted info held great value. Sailors would likely act on whatever was printed here.
Nothing as alluring as power to move people. Especially these crossing terrifying seas with valuables. Thus, this pamphlet could swiftly enable Gray's planned game.
Hawk glanced at the shop corner, answering silently.
"That kid there."
A small child eyed surroundings, eyes sparkling like stars. Likely gathering overheard info for the pamphlet. Gray's eyes narrowed at the kid.
"That's Addie? But kinda..."
The child's clothes were ragged, body tiny. Seemed not fully enjoying the pamphlet's profits.
At Gray's dubious tone, Hawk grinned slyly.
"Nah, not Addie."
"Then?"
"So interested?"
"Can't tell me?"
"Nope."
Hawk, usually flexible to Gray's money bait, refused flatly. It only whetted Gray's appetite more.
"Then the kid has no home?"
"What, planning to take if so?"
"Can't I?"
"Drop it. Not that kid. Orphan, yes, but touch and real Addie won't stay quiet."
"Real Addie."
Gray's eyes deepened again briefly.
Refining ubiquitous info into something special wasn't for anyone. Gathering, verifying rumors into profit—the owner was clearly capable.
If the kid were Addie, Gray might've taken them for real.
Thus, Gray stood. To talk directly. He used Hawk's info and sense usually, but didn't fully trust.
But Hawk grabbed his hand.
"Stop, Gray. Kid just eavesdrops here on Addie's request."
Gray now felt slightly annoyed.
"Weird. Eavesdropping's the pamphlet's core— what does the kid share with others?"
Hawk sold another copy to an approaching man and whispered.
"Kid likes Addie, does it gladly. Sales split exact 5:5 between Addie and kid after my cut. Addie just taught saving."
"Can't even eat properly, yet saving."
Gray bristled at unseen Addie. Clear ulterior motives. Gray used any means for wants, but exploiting kid's innocence? Worst kind.
"Full of thieves."
Hawk burst laughing at Gray's sneer.
"Right. Thief—that's Addie. Thief of my cargo ships too."
Yet his face held no real displeasure at the thief.
"But not 'guy'—'girl.'"
"What?"
"Thief, girl."
"...?"
"Doesn't hide identity thoroughly, so when she comes later... Oh, can't with a gentleman here. Speak of the devil."
Hawk pointed at the door.
Gray turned. Rectangular sunlight briefly opened the dim interior then closed. Amid rough men, a gaunt woman entered.
"Damn tariffs. Truly sick of it."
As Hawk grumbled, she indeed carried a black pouch and ledger, likely collecting taxes.
Ha, Gray let out a scoff.
It was that woman. Insolent pink.
