Chapter 33: The Witch's Broom
Chapter 33: The Witch's Broom
Upon hearing the name of the water supply company he was about to investigate, Leon's expression turned solemn, only to quickly realize that it was just a coincidence, similar to his own experience with "Ryan," where the names happened to match.
The familiar company name stirred up memories, and as he thought of the hundreds of patients still lying in the hospital corridors and the agonizing cries he had heard while visiting Anna, Leon's cheerful mood dissipated.
There was no way he could afford the medical expenses for hundreds of people. After the public water pipe incident, the price of antidiarrheal medication in the old town had increased fiftyfold, and the special elixirs to treat this epidemic were even more expensive. Even if he emptied his entire year's salary, it wouldn't be enough.
Although there were only four to five hundred patients on the red brick road, these were severe cases suffering from unbearable abdominal pain. The true extent of the impact on the old town was unknown, and there were likely many more patients who couldn't afford treatment.
The only silver lining was that this disease, originating from contaminated water, didn't seem highly contagious. As long as one avoided direct contact with vomit or diarrhea, or stayed away from places where these substances were heavily present, most people would remain safe.
However, the troublesome aspect was that this disease seemed difficult to recover from naturally. At the very least, a shot of the alchemical elixir was required. Given the income levels in the old town, very few people could afford the elixir.
The only solution Leon could think of was to find evidence of the Char Waterworks Company's negligence and the Road Maintenance Department's dereliction of duty. Whether it was reporting to higher authorities in the kingdom or providing information to a fearless newspaper, he had to make a fuss and pressure them into paying for the medication!
"Sir?"
After hearing his name and suddenly falling into deep thought, Leon's expression became uncertain. The shop owner, sensing something amiss, called out gently:
"Sir, your order is ready. That'll be one and a half copper wheels."
"Oh, oh!"
Upon hearing the shop owner's call, Leon snapped out of his thoughts and uttered two 'ohs.' He then reached for his pocket while shaking his head with a troubled expression:
"Sorry, your name reminded me of something... Also, you're older than my father. It's a bit awkward to call you by your name, so I'll call you Uncle instead!"
"Hehe, sure. If you're willing to call an old man like me, who runs a small coffee stand, Uncle, then I'll gladly accept it."
Holding the coffee and a dish of bread, Leon, with his slender build, likely younger than the shop owner's daughter by two years, smiled kindly. The shop owner then pulled up a stool and sat beside him, asking warmly:
"Since you're calling me Uncle, I'll take the liberty of asking a few questions. When you mentioned the Char Company earlier, your expression seemed a bit off... Is there something between you and that company?"
"Well, sort of..."
After a brief hesitation, Leon didn't mention his plan to investigate the Char Waterworks Company. Instead, he spoke about Anna's situation regarding the "gas pipeline explosion."
So, you're the one who refused compensation.
"Your family is indeed going through a tough time."
After listening to Leon, the coffee stand owner couldn't help but sigh:
"Your sister is still sick, and now this happens. Here's what I'll do. Since you called me Uncle, from now on, whenever you come to my stand, I'll give you a 50% discount. How does that sound?"
???
Wow, is my calling you Uncle that effective?
Leon raised his eyebrows in surprise, feeling a bit overwhelmed by this sudden generosity.
However, before he could figure out how to respond, the shop owner smiled warmly and returned half a copper wheel, saying:
"Of course, since you've called me Uncle, remember to visit me often and support my business!"
"..."
I get it; calling you Uncle is like getting a membership card at your place.
Wow, if I were the type to be embarrassed, I'd probably be stuck at your coffee stand no matter how cheap the other stalls are. If I had breakfast elsewhere and then came back here, I'd probably feel guilty for at least half a week... You're really going all out to attract customers, no wonder you're making money!
Realizing that this was likely another customer-attracting tactic, Leon chuckled but didn't say more. Instead, he accepted the offer.
After all, although this coffee stand was a bit pricier, it was indeed the most comfortable one on the street. Now that he wanted to become a regular customer, and they were willing to give him a discount, there was no reason for him to refuse.
After quickly finishing the bread and ham slices and bidding farewell to the cheap uncle he had just met, Leon felt warm and cozy inside and out. He retied the scarf knitted by Anna and ventured back into the chilly autumn morning breeze.
After he left, a regular customer who had been watching the commotion approached the stove with a cup of coffee and joked with a raised eyebrow:
"Old Char! I've been drinking coffee at your stand for seven or eight years, but I've never seen you, Mr. Tightwad, give anyone a discount! What's with the change of heart today?
Could it be that your daughter is having trouble finding a husband, and you're in a hurry to find a son-in-law, so you're trying to get friendly with this young man first?"
"Hehe, that's not it at all~
I just feel a connection with this young man. Seeing that he might be going through some financial difficulties, I thought I'd give him a little help, and in return, he can help boost my business a bit."
Waving his hand to indicate that the customer was overthinking it, Leon watched as Leon walked away. The coffee stand owner smiled and said:
"But it's not entirely impossible. I think that young man is quite decent. Although he's a bit thin, he's not short and has a rather handsome face.
And look at the direction he's heading; there are only the municipal district office buildings ahead, so he probably has a proper job. Plus, he's always been polite to me, just a street coffee seller... Hmm... He's a good one.
Thinking about the other details he heard from his daughter Amy, the coffee stand owner slightly raised an eyebrow. After chatting with the regular customer for a while, he sat back down in his chair. As he looked up at the black canvas roof of the coffee stand, he rubbed his chin, which had a hint of gray stubble, in a thoughtful manner.
People tend to hide themselves when dealing with familiar individuals.
It's only when faced with easily attainable temptations or strangers who are less fortunate and unlikely to have any interaction with them that they can't help but reveal a little bit of themselves.
This young man unintentionally revealed a rare kind of... Hmm... gentle, polite, earnest, and smart. If Amy likes him, I really don't have any reason to object...
But the problem is, we don't accept sons-in-law; we only accept those who marry into the family. I wonder if he'd agree?
...
Unaware that he had been added to the list of potential sons-in-law, Leon, braving the cold wind, had just opened the door to his office when he saw the new anomaly the Red-Haired Director had mentioned—a black broom floating in mid-air.
[Name: Lazy Witch's Rental Broom (Fall, Flight, Protection)]
[Appearance: A hardwood broom painted black, with a few crow feathers hanging from its tip. Aside from the lingering faint scent of pine oil, small cat claw prints often appear on the broomstick.]
[Abilities: Magic Enhancement, Flight, Airflow Shield]
[Cost: Every Friday at 3:30 PM, a cat will come to your door. Please treat it well.]
[File: An old broom discarded by an unknown witch. Every Friday afternoon, the witch goes out to play flying ball and only returns home the next day. With no time to care for her beloved cat, she made an agreement with the Lion Division of the Cleaning Bureau. By renting out her broom, the user of the broom will take care of her cat for a day each week.]
[Evaluation: A simple and practical anomaly, and you can pet the cat for free. It's the favorite of Lion Division Director Beverly.]
[Corruption Value: 0.5]
(End of Chapter)
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