City of Kazar truly lived to its reputation. The lines outside did not do any justice as the City was a melting pot of various civilized creatures and cultures. Everywhere Ava saw would be a chapter onto themselves, each with their own circumstances, history and customs.


    A simple glance revealed Kazar City was organized in clear districts; the west had largest amount of smokestacks and widely spaced from each other. The east was filled with various civilized creatures carrying many things, presumably buying and selling all sorts of materials.


    North of Kazar was populated by tall buildings and grand palaces while the south, Ava’s current position was littered with creatures that merrily eating and drinking. She decided getting more information was more vital than looking for shops that sold stuff similar to the Wind Scimitar.


    To begin world conquest, one must first understand the inhabitants that live in them. Every creature usually need food and the fact most of them congregate to this place served Ava’s interests well. She could observe them and monitor their behaviours here.


    “Grilled lamb ribs, cheap! Only three kelzars each!”


    “Ten flat bread for six kelzars! Don’t miss this opportunity!”


    “Finest coffee in Kazar! You’re not in Kazar until you try it!”


    “Melsir’s Hot Pot! The one and only, original Melsir!”


    No matter where she looked, this was truly a bustling place. On one corner was a group of four-armed creatures serving and mixing multiple odd-coloured fluids in cups and jugs. Another was bird-like creatures drawing cooked meat and vegetables from a central bubbling pot.


    Her entry to the area raised a few eyebrows but most of them were momentary glances. After all this City had its share of many short creatures and other youngsters like her. There were clear presences of Kazar City’s guards and so people generally mind their own businesses.


    She continued to wander aimlessly in the area, familiarizing herself with the varied customs and creatures here. She passed by various streets, initially focusing on places that had the most people in one place such as restaurants and coffee houses.


    “Did you just went near Nalduk? Isn’t that Vetjar’s territory?”


    “Vetjar? Didn’t see him. I passed through the area and no one stopped me. Good riddance! Saved me quite a bit of money.”


    “Oh, buy me a few cups of coffee then!”


    “Why you, you’re just mooching off me anyway!”


    There were increasing amount of people talking about current events. Ava recognized some of the contents but kept mum as she moved about to avoid being conspicuous for eavesdropping. When she entered another street ringed with food stalls, someone called her out.


    “Hey Young Miss, do you want to try this grilled chicken? It’s the best in Kazar!”


    “....”


    She left the street and head toward the voice for change of pace. It was a tanned man in front of a square fire pot. Tongues of fire crackled as oil and fat dripped from white meat-skewers on top of said pot. A distinctive aroma tickled Ava’s nose, a composite smell of spices and honey.


    “Ava questions, how much for one stick?”


    “It’s free, Young Miss! In return please tell Young Miss’s friends to come along and buy uncle’s grilled chicken!”


    “Hey Juan, why are you stealing my customer? I saw her first! Young Miss, would you like to try my drink?”


    “Says you, old man Husan! She’s already in front of my place, not yours!”


    In the end Ava accepted both of their offers out of curiosity. Juan was somewhat a stoic human, lean and thin haired. Husan was a four-armed muscular man with black beard and knotted hair. From her observation, Ava concluded they were quite close albeit rivals in business.


    Chomp!


    She bit into the chicken skewer given to her. A burst of flavour flooded her mouth, a blend of spicy, sweetness and savouriness. It was juicy, oily and greasy. She varied her chewing rate, enjoying the rich taste, smell and texture of said chicken. Juan was a fine griller indeed.


    The man named as Juan blossomed into a smile as he watched Ava ate his product bit by bit. Beginning from her tiny hands firmly gripping the skewer to glistening fatty oil smeared on her thin lips. A contrast that melted the aloof atmosphere around this girl.


    Swip! Gulp!


    Ava pulled a small handkerchief from her belt bag and removed the oil stains. She held a cup offered by old man Husan. It was a warm, dark-brown coloured drink. Layers of sweetness and fruitiness greeted her tongue. This seemed to wash down oily taste of the chicken skewer earlier.


    “Thank you, old human Husan. How much for this cup?”


    “Oh Young Miss, it’s free from me as well! Like this boy Juan, all you need to do is tell your family to stop by! Tell em Old Man Husan’s, Seventh Street, Fourth Ring!”


    “Ey vey, Husan, give us two jugs! We hafta celebrate stuff!”


    “Yanar! Juan, you better up to no funny stuff, okay? I got customers to serve!”


    The boisterous old man then left the duo as some customers showed up to the former’s place. What was unchanging was Ava’s flat expression. She put her hand into her bag and realized she did not have the same copper-coloured coins used by people here. Hers were blue ones.


    “Uncle Juan. Ava lacks copper-coloured currency. Ava will pay for chicken stick.”


    “Copper-coloured currency? Oh kelzar was it? Nah, just watching you eat is enough! It’s free, Young Miss!”


    “Ava insists to pay. No owing. Ava can work, get stuff from desert. Ava can go work with Wanderer Association.”


    Juan froze for a moment. What is this girl is saying? She’s too young! The food was free to begin with, to attract new customers. Did he heard wrong? He guessed that this girl might be some kind of noble or from strict upbringing, not wanting to owe any favours.


    “Uncle Juan does not agree? How could Ava repay Uncle? Please provide opinions.”


    “Well...errr….”


    Juan was at lost for words. There are wanderers about her age but usually they came with attendants or someone older to watch over them. She is alone. The thin man looked around, trying to search for her guardian. Maybe they were hidden or something?


    “Uncle Juan? What is Uncle Juan’s problem? Ava is very strong. Ava can beat bad guys for Uncle.”


    “Ehehehe...Young Miss is joking right? There is no way….”


    “Yes, there is a way. Uncle Juan designate the target, Ava takes care of the target. Plus disposal, for free. Advantageous terms for Ava and Uncle Juan.”


    The more he interacted with her, the more awkward he felt. Perhaps this girl was just boasting and wanted to repay him at any cost. If that was the case, he could ask something safer for her to do. A task that does not involve killings as there is no way a little girl can murder with a poker face.


    “Uncle Juan is not convinced of Ava? Ava found bad guys with magic blade and big arrows. Ava fought them. They all died.”


    He looked at the girl again. She held her head high, as if it was the most natural thing to say in the world. This Young Miss….might have an active imagination. Yeah, let’s go with that. He convinced himself to offer a simple task to Ava, food-tasting.


    “Young Miss...Uncle have a simpler job for you. Uncle want to test making new food but no one was willing or too busy. Think Young Miss can do it? This would be enough to repay Uncle.”


    “New food like chicken stick?”


    “Yes. Young Miss just need to eat them and then tell Uncle Juan whether it is tasty or not. Simple!”


    “Ava understands. Please distribute new food.”


    Juan wiped out some sweat from his brows, that was one load off his conscience. Huh! This girl finally got it! Upon receiving her consent, he immediately got to action. He put up new wooden skewers, this time with various meats and seasonings. All of them just saw the light of the day now.


    One was coloured pink, the second somewhat like wood, followed by golden coloured one and lastly a charcoal-like thing. Each of them was peppered with different types and ratios of spices, all with distinct aromas. He spaced them apart and carefully watched the flames.


    “Okay, the first one is done. Taste it and tell Uncle.”


    “Yes. This tastes like fish. Please add more salt, red-type pepper, that green leaves and that yellow powder. Add soaking time to remove fish taste, improve savouriness. Please review other cuts of same meat type for alternatives.”


    Juan raised his eyebrows. He always felt this Red Scorpion meat was missing something and she largely came to the same conclusion as him. It was true the said meat is best stewed as attempts to grill it will usually cause it to taste weird. This might be the breakthrough he needed.


    As Ava went through the prototypes, Juan gradually saw her in a different light. At this age, she was able to guess almost similar to what he had thought. With some adjustments, he might be able to add some new products to his menu. She must be a food genius, not a fighting one!


    Their food-tasting period had attracted quite a number of curious onlookers. Some were shocked, some were nodding and some had gazes of pity. Juan was known in these parts for being a bit too ambitious. A middle-aged woman then suddenly hugged Ava from the side.


    “Juan! What are you doing! Why are you making a little girl your lamb!”


    “Ow! Don’t hit me Herla! She wanted to do it herself! Ow, stop hitting me!”


    “Humph! If I see you make her eat strange things again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”


    “Okay, okay, I get it! Take her away if you want! She agreed to it herself!”


    The crowd soon dispersed by an evidently angry Herla, the previous merchant that Ava had met earlier. Juan is just counting his bruises now, after being hit multiple times by Herla with a thin stick. The middle-aged woman brought Ava away from the ill-aspired Juan.


    “Sigh...did that scary man made you eat those?”


    “No. Uncle Juan is correct. Ava want to repay Uncle. Ava do not have...kelzar. Ava only have currency of different colours.”


    “Repay him? For what, little sister?”


    “Uncle Juan and Old Man Husan gave Ava food and drinks. Ava suggestion of work with Wanderer Association was not accepted. Ava offer of removal of bad guys was also refused by Uncle Juan. Ava is very strong. Ava accepted Uncle Juan’s terms of trying new food.”


    Compared to Juan, Herla fared a little better as she saw how Ava had emerged from the depth of the desert on their way to Kazar City. She must have some backing but taking care of bad guys too? Can she and her backer do that? Herla shook her head, her half-grayed hair swayed.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    “What is Sister Herla’s opinion? How can Ava gain kelzar with approval?”


    “Hmm...let me think….Oh! How about we go to the forgesmiths now? I know a friend that may need some help!”


    “Okay. Please lead the way, Sister Herla.”


    <hr>


    After several tens of minutes going through sea of people, both of them approached the west of Kazar. There were less people here and most of them either carried weapons or packages. Ava was looking forward to it, maybe she can acquire something like the Wind Scimitar here.


    Bang!


    A sudden noise attracted their attention. It was accompanied with shouts and screaming. What is happening? Herla feared the worst. It was known that some visitors to the forgesmiths were quite rude, either trying to rip the forgesmith or displaying an imperialistic behaviour.


    “Fucking bitch! You said that it will be Third-Grade! Now look at me, I lost my arm thanks to your shitty weapon! This isn’t even a First-Grade!”


    “Shut up, you moron! When you gave me poor materials to begin with, obviously the result will be poor! I warned you before but you insisted on it!”


    “Fuck you! Brothers, fuck her up! Don’t let her get away!”


    Uh-oh. This voice sounded quite familiar to Herla...is that who she was thinking? This cannot be good. Herla tried to look for the guards in this place but oddly she didn’t spot any. Before she knew it, Ava had escaped her hand grasp.


    “Where does this little brat came from?!! Lemme fuck you up too! Brothers, take action!”


    There were six men here, all with vicious expressions. One of them, the loudest was missing his right arm. They reacted to Ava’s entry, immediately surrounding her and the forgesmith they were threatening. Clearly they had some experience, brandishing their weapons in an instant.


    Keqiang!


    Ava deflected a long spear with her dagger. Her short height was still a disadvantage. Against grown men with bigger reach, she can only deflect their attacks and not counter immediately. Nevertheless it was a boon for her as well as she is harder to hit and more agile.


    The forgesmith was more curvaceous than Ava and Herla. She wore sparse clothing and her white jade-like skin was largely coloured by charcoal dust. She wields a forging hammer, trademark of most forgesmiths. Both of them made a strange combination, one petite, one with big hammer.


    “Bitch, Imma going to wipe the floor with you!”


    “You wish, retard! Idiots don’t even lose their arms!”


    The short-haired woman with the hammer had a sharp mouth just like the man missing his arm. She was quite skillful with her heavy tool, causing some of the attackers to be sent flying. More of them became angrier with time, combining forces to trap her and Ava!


    Swish! Peng! Chak!


    The attacks were quite intense since they outnumber the woman and Ava. Either due to lapse of judgement or lack of teamwork between Ava and the forgesmith, Ava got her first cut on her neck. A lashing spear had almost succeeding in removing her head!


    “Bastards! Ganging up on me and her! I will flay you alive, put you in the forge!”


    “Fuck you bitch, I will rape you till you’re dead!”


    “Akeila! Hang in there! I will get Juan and Husan to help you!”


    “Herla? What are you doing here!”


    “Oh you wenches aren’t going anywhere! Brothers, kill that old hag too!”


    The group of attackers split into two; four of them faced both Ava and the forgesmith named Akeila while the other two boxed Herla in. The situation immediately became complicated as Herla cannot fight, she is only a merchant!


    “Young Miss! I know you’re somewhat strong but keep Herla safe! Don’t interrupt my fight!”


    “Ava denies. Ava fought bad guys with magic sword and big arrows before. They all died.”


    Akeila’s bountiful chest heaved in surprise. Is this girl right in the head or something? She only have a dagger! However Akeila did not have the luxury to think, the pressure on her increasing! The attackers eventually found gaps in her defense while Herla ran with all of her might.


    “Brothers, use your dao weapons! Bout time we knock these bitches out! Show em people die when they oppose us six brothers of Roaring Lions!”


    All attackers paused for a moment and produced magical weapons. The leader held a spiked lash while his other five men use a five-fingered awl, a bastard sword, a jagged long spear, dual-wield katars and, a warhammer respectively. They all produced illusions of roaring lions!


    Shew!


    Ava backflipped, an image of a swiping lion shredded her opened face veil. It was a five-fingered awl, brimming with murderous energies. It traced five thin red lines on her face, before she forcibly deflected its trajectory with her dagger. Another weapon flashed to her side, a gleaming katar.


    Coming to Ava rescue was Akeila that swung her blocky hammer to force the dual-wielding katar user away. However a boosted warhammer then met her forging hammer head-on, sending her a few steps backward. These amped up warriors are hard to fight!


    “Leave that brat! Concentrate more on Akeila!”


    The one-armed leader of Roaring Lions became confident; Ava can hardly do any damage and Herla was as good as dead. In his opinion, Akeila is the biggest threat to his brothers as she managed to force some of them to back off despite their boosted weapons.


    The katar-user facing Ava parted away and attacked Akeila. This renewed attack force put increasing amount of glancing hits on her bouncy body. Her left glove was torn and in its place was a sharp cut. Her chest was almost fully exposed and both of her feet were bloodied all over.


    Kutong!


    Ava on other hand had throbbing bruises on her right arm and entirety of her knees. This was thanks to a muscular man wielding a bastard sword clad in surging yellow aura. As he swung the sword, big blunt-shaped depressions were created on the sandy ground some distance from the weapon.


    The muscular man sneered at her and slowed the pace of his attacks. However this was his critical flaw. When he was distracted by partially uncovered chest of Akeila, Ava charged forward and thrusted her dagger to his wrist. Her gamble worked, the man dropped his weapon!


    “Fucking brat! Seeking death!”


    It was all what the man can said. With her tiny hands Ava punched the bastard sword’s tip upward, the sword striking his head. His nose was immediately crushed, teeths flying about! She delivered another strike, a strong kick to the man’s groins! The man collapsed on the spot, blood flowing.


    Gudong!


    Ava leveraged her weight and kicked the bastard sword flying. The sudden attack knocked the katar user to a nearby wall, opening a gap for Akeila. She took the chance to pound her weighty hammer on the surprised spear user that had almost tore open her revealing top.


    This alerted the Roaring Lions’ leader, causing him to order one of his men cornering Herla to attack Ava. As that man moved, Herla saw an opportunity and bolted away from the loosened blockade on her.


    “What the fuck are you guys doing! That hag escaped! Chase after her!”


    The leader can only bark as three of his men were down for the count. Akeila was also tying his full attention, locking him from leaving. The chaos caused the group torn between dealing with Akeila and chase after Herla. Ava secretly took action and threw her dagger to the spear user.


    Pcht!


    It was a decisive and accurate attack; the dagger penetrated the spear user’s right eye and killing him on the spot. Akeila followed up by pommeling the awl user deep into the ground with her mighty hammer. There were two standing men remaining, the haughty leader and the warhammer user.


    “Fuck you all, Imma take all of you down with me!”


    The leader became madder by the minute, more than half of his group wiped out! Herla was long gone and now it was two versus two! Ava and Akeila stood close to each other, bruised and bloodied. In front of them were the arrogant leader and his remaining team member.


    “Give it up.”


    “No way in hell! Imma rape every one of you!”


    “Don’t blame Akeila for being merciless! Let’s finish them, Young Miss!”


    The Roaring Lions’ leader took the first initiative, his whip leaving multiple afterimages. His remaining team member swung his warhammer, lion roaring to the skies! Ava and Akeila jumped away from each other, barely evading incoming attacks in time.


    Siu! Boom!


    The wall adjacent to Akeila was immediately cut to pieces while the one near Ava was pulverized into dust! These Roaring Lions’ members were staking it all, knocking two yellowish stones to their weapons to amplify their powers even further!


    “Akeila! Ava! Hold on! Uncle Juan and Husan on the way!”


    “Roaring Lions, you dare cause trouble to Kazar again? Cease and desist or die!”


    Two booming voices reached the ears of the female duo. One was from Uncle Juan that gave Ava trial skewers earlier while the latter was squad of five men from Kazar City’s guards. Akeila sighed in relief as help is incoming. In just few minutes, Roaring Lions is good as finished!


    Twack!


    Ava purposely moved herself between the Roaring Lions’ leader and his remaining minion. Anger had blinded the leader as he was caught unaware of her plan; as both men tried to attack Ava, their weapons collided and tangled with each other. This is a chance!


    Swish! Pcht!


    Ava looted the twin katars from the knocked out user. She danced between the two remaining Roaring Lions'' members, swiftly decapitating them consecutively as they were busy trying to untangle their weapons. Akeila at this moment can only gasp at Ava’s cold-blooded decisiveness.


    The forgesmith temporarily forgot about her injuries, dazed at this vicious young girl. Is she even...human? What kind of stuff she went through to be like this? Reinforcement finally came and relieved both of them. Juan was sweating buckets, Herla terrified moreso!


    “So uh...can anyone tell me what happened?”


    The squad leader of the Kazar City’s guards was dumbfounded at the scene. All of the Roaring Lions were either crippled or killed. He cannot accept the reality that a forgesmith and a little girl dealt with the notorious group by themselves. What the hell is going on?