Kaelis had finished scouting the stall. The area was crowded, and the merchant at the stall hadn't noticed him yet.

  He completed his preparations, got closer to the stall, and even closer. Then he took his position.

  This time, his position wasn't crouching beside the stall or checking it out like a buyer in front. For his tactic, the best spot would be playing the role of a random passerby.

  He knew he didn't need too many items, so both his escape would be quick and the job would be fast.

  —I can do this.

  Kaelis refreshed his confidence, and it was time to start.

  Kaelis was walking with normal steps through the crowd. He wasn't too close or too far from the stall, but he could approach it instantly if he wanted.

  Kaelis realized the time had come and turned his foot toward the stall. He planted it firmly on the ground, aiming to gain momentum. Everything would end in seconds.

  Right as Kaelis planted his foot, he felt something very hard on his shoulder. It was so hard and heavy that Kaelis almost fell and staggered, nearly falling.

  —W— what's happening?

  While these thoughts ran through Kaelis's mind, the hand kept pressing down. Kaelis was afraid to turn around.

  He thought it was the two thugs he encountered in that alley. If it was them, he was in trouble because he still had nothing to give to those who wouldn't let him go.

  Kaelis took a deep breath and tried to fix his panicked face.

  During this time, Kaelis's body hadn't moved at all—not his hands, feet, or head.

  "Oh my oh my!"

  These words entered Kaelis's right ear. The voice belonged to a man, so the tone must be a man's. Also, the person calling him must be the one holding his shoulder, which explained why it was so strong.

  Kaelis slowly started turning around. With every turn of his head, he felt a fear like he was about to faint, thinking the end had come.

  Kaelis didn't understand why he had been stopped by someone. His plan was supposed to work perfectly, and he'd done his best for it, but someone had grabbed him before he could even make his first move properly.

  While thinking these things, more fear was added to the fear Kaelis already had.

  The hand on Kaelis's shoulder lifted, and he managed to turn fully.

  The person in front of him was a man with short yellow hair extending to both sides, standing there with his light-colored white skin. This person, watching Kaelis with pale gray eyes, was taller than Kaelis. Judging by his facial features, they could be said to have hardened only due to effects like fatigue. He looked to be in his average 20s.

  He was wearing a black uniform starting from below his neck and extending to the tips of his feet. The uniform was tied like a belt with a small red fabric from the waist sash.

  There were two buttons at the neck of the uniform, and both were open. On his feet, he had black boots matching his outfit. The boots stood out with red patterns. Over this outfit, he had a long white haori type overcoat extending from knee-shoulder level down to his kneecaps. His right hand was open, while his left hand was bandaged.

  This person with these external features was probably a soldier, and Kaelis had been caught by this soldier.

  —I'm done for!

  Kaelis had now lost hope; this was probably the end of the road for him.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  As Kaelis looked at the man, the man standing opposite started speaking.

  "I knew what you were about to do."

  "Uh— sir... it's not what it looks like!"

  "There's no point in dragging it out."

  Kaelis wanted to deny the events and thought of covering it up with lies, but the person in front of him wasn't someone who would believe those lies.

  "The crime you were about to commit was theft."

  "———"

  "Theft's place in the empire is prison, but in Dahra generally, this crime ends with the cutting off of hands."

  Upon the man's words, Kaelis collapsed to the ground and knelt. He was looking up at the person now looking down on him with self-deprecating eyes.

  "No... Sir, please don't cut off my hands, I swear I won't do it again! Please don't cut off my hands!"

  "Khh... khh... since the act hasn't been done yet, I'll overlook this and just give you a verbal warning."

  "Thank you, sir! I'm grateful, grateful!"

  Kaelis stood up again in front of the person he had been kneeling before. He brushed his hands over his clothes and pants a few times to shake off the dust.

  After shaking off his clothes, Kaelis looked at the person in front of him again.

  At that moment, stomach growling sounds came from Kaelis's belly. These were even louder than the ones in the alley.

  Kaelis felt a bit embarrassed, and his face turned red. The man opposite had a face like he had realized something.

  "So that's why..."

  "I don't understand what you mean, sir, I apologize for my rudeness."

  "You just tried to steal because you were hungry, right?"

  "———"

  "A well-chosen fruit stall, the stealing conditions were quite suitable, plus a very good timing—all of that to fill your stomach, huh."

  "Umm… yes sir, it was all because of that, but still, the crime I was about to commit is unacceptable. I just realized that now!"

  "Alright, now follow me."

  "Huh— uh... okay, sir."

  Kaelis had tagged along behind the person who had just stopped him. This had come as an order from that person, or at least Kaelis perceived it that way.

  ***

  Kaelis and the person next to him, whom he still didn't know but who resembled a soldier, had been walking for a while. Kaelis wanted to walk beside him but was walking slightly behind, not staying directly behind due to fear.

  "Uh... um, sir, who exactly are you?"

  "Hmm... my first impressions were right."

  "———"

  "I'm one of the major generals of the Imperial Army. My name is Abner."

  Kaelis listened to this with admiration. The person who had just forgiven him was beside him, and he was a major general. Normally, generals—or more accurately, high-ranking people—were known for their arrogant behaviors, but Abner was different; he seemed quite calm and tolerant.

  "Abner sir... why did you order me to follow you?"

  "Didn't you just try to steal because you were hungry?"

  "Huh— Mhm!"

  "Then if we fill your stomach, you won't have to get involved in something like that again."

  Kaelis had been saved once more by another kind-hearted person. Actually, not just one person. He had been saved both in the alley and here; Kaelis's luck was really going his way.

  Then, Kaelis seemed to realize something with his eyes, looking happy. The person in front, Abner, didn't see these looks because he was walking straight ahead.

  "Abner sir, you said you're a general? And a Major General at that—despite such a high rank, you have no arrogance at all."

  "Is not having it a bad thing? Haha!"

  "I didn't mean it that way—"

  "Arrogance isn't something that suits a person. A person should first try to love everything around them. Of course, this love should be in a way that doesn't blind them."

  "———"

  "It's true that my rank is high, but it can't be said to be the highest; maybe that's why I don't have arrogance. Haha!"

  "Hmm..."

  "Even though I say that, there are people who are among the higher-ups and have no arrogance..."

  During this time interval where Kaelis stayed silent, Abner had talked quite a bit. He was a person with a very cheerful and friendly attitude.

  "But you called yourself Major General? Doesn't that have to be a very high rank?"

  "..."

  "Forgive my ignorance; I haven't dealt with army matters much before."

  "Hmm... then you must really be a good thief. Not getting caught by any soldier until now is an effort of your talent. Haha!"

  "———"

  "Major General is indeed one of the high ranks, but above me, there are Lieutenant Generals and 『Sacred Generals』. I still have quite a way to go there."

  Kaelis was now walking not from behind Abner but beside him. While walking beside him, he could see Abner's cheerful face that spread positive energy around more comfortably.

  Abner really had a high rank, but having two ranks above him didn't make him the highest person.

  ***

  Kaelis and Abner continued walking for a while longer.

  Abner stopped in front of a place that looked like a restaurant selling food. Then, Abner slowly opened the door, and he entered the place together with Kaelis.

  When Kaelis entered, the first thing he encountered was the smell of food. These must be well-cooked and quite delicious-smelling meals.

  The place was like a normal restaurant. There were tables with 4 or 2 chairs around them. Due to the size of the place, there was plenty of seating. There was a certain crowd of people, but since the place was large, it didn't look crowded at all.

  With Abner's entry into the place, the bell above the door rang. Some customers who looked at the door because of the bell sound saw Abner. Although Abner seemed like a very tough person from the outside, he was kind, and this must be known not just by Kaelis but also by the people there.

  They sat at a two-person table with empty tables around and the window side where they could watch the city's street.

  While Kaelis watched outside, Abner was waiting for the waiter to come.

  Then, a cat-like person with cat ears came to their side. This person must be from a cat race. His appearance proved that.

  "Welcome again, Mr. Abner, what would you like?"

  "Nice to see you again, today I didn't come alone, so this time I'm leaving the food selection to the person opposite me."

  The waiter and Abner turned to Kaelis, waiting for an answer from him.

  "Uh... I don't have anything in mind."

  "Then, would you like to take from the daily menu?"

  "Umm… okay then, that one."

  "Of course, do you have any special request, Mr. Abner?"

  "No, bringing the same as what he takes is enough."

  "Alright, your meal will be prepared in the shortest time."

  After saying these, the arriving waiter walked away with the order notebook in hand.

  With the waiter's departure, Kaelis and Abner were left alone. Abner started talking again in a cheerful way.

  "You don't choose food, I see."

  "Mhm! Right now, I'm in a state to eat whatever anyway. Haha!"

  "Haha!"

  After these conversations, silence enveloped them again. This silence wasn't long; it was just the result of the time needed for Kaelis to review the situation he had come to so far.

  —This person opposite me—Major General Abner—and the merchant I met in the street, both are owners of important positions. Dahra city must be a city with important people. Or I'm in a section similar to Naucratis's rich part.

  While Kaelis talked to himself inside, Abner was looking at him due to the silence.

  Abner seemed like he had realized something while Kaelis was talking to himself inside.

  "So that's it…”