I really enjoy my nap out under that tree. Bundled up in my cloak and with the sun providing additional warmth it really was quite pleasant. Sadly it can''t last. At least the nap was good and long enough to let me recover some of my Mana. Not much, but at least some.


    [*Ding!* You slept pretty well! Health increased by 0! Mana increased by 3!]


    Anyway, I still have things to do. And maybe even more important, at least in the short term, I have a curious fruit to analyze and eat. I pull the fruit that doesn''t quite look like an apple should, at least in my opinion, from my pocket and focus on it hard to trigger [Identify].


    A little more of my Mana drains away and a moment later I''m rewarded with some basic information about the fruit in my hand.


    [Sugar Apple (Plant, Common) – A common fruit that can be found growing wild. It''s much more commonly grown on farms though, where the fruit bearing tree is cultivated. It''s a favorite of many people and especially children, as it is incredibly sweet. It can be safely eaten raw, but it can be prepared in various ways too. It''s especially popular when candied. Even without any further processing a single one can make for a decent meal. Category: Alchemical Ingredient, Properties: ???, ???, ???, ???]


    There is of course no further notification, but I have a feeling that the skill is coming along nicely. That apple certainly seems to be a treat. A whole penny for a single fruit still seems a little much though.


    Well, never mind. I polish the fruit a little on the sleeve of my blouse, then I take a first tentative bite. My eyes immediately widen. What can I say? It really is as sweet as advertised. The name is no joke. Delicious! It takes all the self control I can muster to not polish it off in a few big bites. Instead I decide to take some time to properly savor it. Oh, what goodness!


    Despite my best efforts to draw out the moment I''m done with the not quite apple before long. I take a moment to bury what little is left in a patch of soft earth nearby. Not that I have any hopes that a tree of delicious fruit will sprout here. It''s more that I don''t want unnecessary trash to mess up this pleasant place. If one of the fruit''s seeds should sprout and grow into a tree I certainly won''t mind though, even if it''ll be years before it''ll bear more delicious treats.


    Then there is no more reason to dawdle. I make my way back to the city. I walk at a leisurely pace though. I''m not in a hurry and I don''t want to appear s if I were either. I have time.


    I arrive at the tavern plenty early. Curiously enough Jerzy is not present for once. Well, even he has to sleep at some time I guess. Probably, anyway. I drop on one of the rickety chairs by a table in the back, taking care that I''ll be able to keep an eye on both the front entrance as well as the door to the back room from there.


    And, after ordering myself a mug of beer, which costs me a penny, that is just what I do. I keep a close eye on the people that come and go while sipping my beer at a sedate pace. My efforts even help improve my [Perception] skill a little, although it still is far from the next level up.


    My patience gets tested. At least the serving girls aren''t bothering me to order more. They seem to be well aware of what kind of business I''m here for. And, at long last, my patience is rewarded too, as my master, Jerzy, slinks into the common room from the street with a mighty yawn.


    He too orders something to drink, as he drops onto the chair across from me, only to flash me a toothy grin.


    “You seem well rested. No busy day?”


    I shrug and drink another little sip.


    “I decided to take a page from the book of my mentor and have a quick snack and a nice nap after all the excitement in the morning. I thought it to be prudent, considering someone mentioned that I might have a busy night ahead of me.”


    Now he breaks into heartfelt laughter. Once he manages to calm back down he nods.


    “Yes, that''s the spirit! Get some sleep while you can! You''ll never know when the next opportunity comes around! It certainly isn''t the worst of Wiktor''s traits to pick up. Anyway, are you ready to head back out of town and meet up with him?”


    I shrug and take another drink.


    “Sure. I got everything with me and I have no other plans. What is this about anyway?”


    Jerzy doesn''t answer right away as one of the serving girls places a bowl of millet topped with fried vegetables and a sunny side up egg in front of him. He digs right in. Understandable. I wouldn''t let my food go cold in such a situation either. Finally he takes a break to answer.


    “Since the trouble with the farmers and the brewers and distillers is officially settled, it is time to uphold our part of the deal as well. You''ll meet Wiktor at the same spot as last time. You won''t head there right away though. You''ll take a roundabout route instead. Transportation for the goods is waiting in the alley behind the Paws and Pawn. You know the place, right?”If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Indeed I do. I nod in confirmation.


    “The alley behind the shop?”


    Jerzy nods as he continues to stuff his face for a moment, then he elaborates.


    “Two oxen carts. Just let the drivers know that you are with Wiktor. And him, you''ll pick up afterwards on the way to the farmstead. He''ll tell you everything else you''ll need to know.”


    I finish off my beer. It''s not like there is much left of it anyway. I don''t get up right away through. There still is a question I really need to ask Jerzy after all.


    “I have come to think about something you mentioned at some point today. Skills to disguise your status. Something like that is kind of essential. After all, without it, every other kind of disguise can be quickly rendered pointless.”


    He seems pleased by my question and flashes me a big smile, before he finally answers.


    “And yet, a skill to disguise yourself is the essential foundation to disguising your status. Disguise yourself often and well enough, improve that skill, and eventually you will earn an achievement the will enable you to upgrade your disguise skill to extend to your status as well.”


    I nod in understanding. It is pretty much what I expected anyway.


    “I guess that is something I can do. I''ll need to look into expanding my wardrobe among other things.”


    I sigh dramatically, which elicits a chuckle from the man.


    “Very well. I''ll be off then, if that is all?”


    He nods.


    “That should be all. The best of luck to you with the new job and your quest for the perfect disguise!”


    With that said he returns his attention to the remains of his meal, while I in turn slink off.


    Once again I''m not in too much of a hurry. The way I see it this thing won''t get on the road until I''m there. And while I''m not yet familiar with the details, it probably wouldn''t be for the best, if I were to draw attention by apparently being in a hurry. No, there is a reason why none of the guild members I have met so far ever appear to be in a hurry, not while in public anyway.


    I arrive at my first destination soon enough anyway. And sure enough, true to Jerzy''s word, there are two oxen carts waiting in the alley behind the building housing the familiar pawn shop. One of the coachmen is sitting up on his cart, the reins of the oxen in hand, while the other leans against a wall next to the oxen of his cart.


    Neither the animals nor their handlers seem to be in any kind of hurry either. Just as well. The coachmen sure are eyeing me hard though. Well, at least the one not napping is. He isn''t very subtle about it either. Is he afraid that I could try to make off with his cart?


    The thought of a not-so-high-speed chase involving one of the carts in the narrow alleys is enough to put a smile on my lips. Once the one napping takes notice of my approach too, I greet the duo with a wave.


    “Ready to go and pick up Wiktor?”


    That seems good enough for the duo. The one that has been leaning against the wall so far gets up on his cart too and we get going. I in turn don''t climb up on either of the carts, walking along behind them for now.


    At first our route is determined by the narrow streets anyway, but once we leave those behind, the driver on the front most cart turns to address me.


    “Where to?”


    I nod ahead.


    “Our first stop is by the mill. That''s where we will pick up Wiktor.”


    That is all they need to know, thus that is all I say too. The carts don''t pick up speed on the open road either. Their current pace seems to suit the animals pulling the carts just fine. It suits me too. I only speed up briefly to overtake the carts and lead the way.


    Despite the sedate pace it doesn''t take us all too long to reach the mill. I pull ahead a little further at this point to visit the spot where I found Wiktor the last time around. And sure enough, he sits there, chewing on a straw.


    “Ready for whatever?”


    He flashes me a grin as he gets up and dusts of his pants.


    “Oh, don''t act like you have no idea what this is about. I''m pretty sure you have the general idea figured out already.”


    Well, he isn''t exactly wrong. I shrug anyway.


    “Sure. As far as I can tell, we''ll be doing some bootlegging. I have no idea about the specifics though.”


    He nods, as we rejoin the two carts. The moment we are back on the dirt road, he indicates the direction we are heading and the carts get going again.


    “You aren''t wrong. That isn''t all though. Not by far. We are also delivering a perfectly legal shipment of spirits to one of the warehouses at the upstream waterfront.”


    He finally spits out his straw as he climbs up on one of the carts, while I keep walking alongside. Then he continues.


    “Officially you are along to help with the loading and unloading.”


    I tilt my head slightly.


    “And off the record?”


    He laughs.


    “Off the record you are along to help loading and unloading. We have to be a little more subtle about this part of the trip though. You''ll know when it''s time to act. You''ll just have to make sure that a few crates with bottles fall of the carts right into the waiting arms off someone else. All quick and quiet.”


    I nod in understanding.


    “When you speak about a few crates, you mean half the cargo though. And when you say that we have to be subtle about it, you imply that we have to be quick too. Or am I mistaken?”


    He doesn''t answer though. Instead he just flashes me one of his trademark smiles. That is fine. I know that I''m spot on anyway. And anyway, just as we finish our little discussion the farmsteads that are our target are coming into view too.