My sudden sincere offer to pay the officer back made him uncomfortable and he quickly denied my request.
"No way-! I cannot ask this from you. Not only are you my benefactor, but you are a highly important person. Besides, I did not retrieve it from Big Bang. He had already disappeared when I found this music box that had been abandoned at the harbour."
The officer told me and I nodded before taking the box from him.
It was not like I did not want to believe the officer, but I also felt like he was a little too selfless. There was no need for him to downplay helping me.
'Hmm, but since the officer does not want to tell me what he did to find my music box, I will not ask any further.'
That was what I decided. The older man also seemed to not want to tell so that topic naturally came to an end.
I had nothing else to talk about so I could not start a conversation. I was someone who usually let the other person take the lead because of my profession and I waited for the officer to speak up as well.
But the officer seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
Cough
"Was my music box the only thing you came here to return? Or, would you like my help with anything more?"
I asked the officer and he snapped out of his daze. Suddenly, his expression softened and he nodded.
"Ah, there was something more I wanted to tell you, shopkeeper. That medicine you gave us to treat the yellow curse…can we get more of it? It was so effective that we ran out."
I was surprised at the fact that the small bottle had lasted as long as it did. I had only given these people a few days' worth supply for a dozen or so people.
Making more was not a problem for me. I knew the recipe by heart so I could always make more. The problem was the availability of ingredients. I was running out of some herbs.
Still, I did not want to disappoint the officer.
After all, no matter what time period you were in, being on the police and powerful people's good side was something you should always do.
I am someone who took this motto to heart.
"Is my request too much? I understand if you cannot get it done-"
"No, it's fine. I just need some time to prepare. You can pick up the medicine the day after."
Assuming I got the supply together today, I only needed to mix things tomorrow and be done with the medicine quickly.
The officer looked glad but he also had an almost guilty face.
"I feel guilty all of a sudden for not being able to offer anything in return. Please let me know if I can help you in regards to anything."
The officer told me and I nodded.
I just…had a feeling I would need his help sooner or later. Business was one sector where one could not keep their hands clean, no matter how much they tried to.
Thinking back, I was sure I could even recall how many times the hospital I worked at had paid off an officer to get things done.
"Hmm, I will be sure to ask for your help when I need it. Until then, make sure you keep yourself out of trouble."
I told the officer and almost flinched at how ominous my words sounded, even to my own ears.
The officer in front of me also likely noticed my grim tone and he flinched before he nodded.
"I will take care of myself for sure. Thank you for your warning, shopkeeper. Good bye."
The man finally left and I had my music box back again.
[Ding! You received 10 faith points]
The notification surprised me. I had not even given any advice this time, but I still got faith points. It made me feel like I had missed something important during that exchange.
But no matter how much I tried to recall what I was missing, nothing came to my mind.
So I decided to do the only thing I could- I stopped thinking about the current situation and instead shifted my focus on my shop.
It was quite early but I still decided to start the day with some music. Winding up the music box took almost no time and before the first ray of sunlight touched my shop, it was filled with the sound of soft music.
______
Outside the bookstore, everyone paused and listened to the soft music in the air. However, they all had the same thought- when did the shopkeeper get his music box back?
The last thing the town had known about the music box was the fact that it had been stolen by Big Bang Boss and there was no hope to see it again.
But it had not even been a full day and it was already back.
There was only one thing the townspeople could conclude- the bookstore and the shopkeeper had some kind of magic and no one should ever cause them trouble if they knew what was good for them.
"Hey, Mr. Hike, are you going to be ok? After all, aren't you the one who told Boss Big Bang where the music box was?"
Someone asked the rude shopkeeper who was setting up his stall.
Mr. Hike was a little pale-faced today as he set up his shop, but he just scoffed at those words.
"Hump-! As if anything would happen-! I don't believe in things like curses or magic. I am sure the police found the music box and brought it back. There is no need to make all this fuss about it."
The shopkeeper told the people around him, but they all looked doubtful of his words.
But as a person who had been a member of their community for a long time, they decided to cut him some slack for the sake of old times.
Mr. Hike was not worried at all. He was just…a little startled. He decided to head home during lunch break, only to see his wife greet him with a pale face.
"Dear, can you come here? There is a gentleman here who came to talk to you."
His wife told him and he quickly went inside, wanting to know what happened. His eyes fell on Malcholm Bang, the second-in-command of the gang that raided their village, and the man stood up as soon as he saw him.
"Mr. Hike…was it? I am here to warn you. You should leave this place as soon as you can and find shelter in some temple and seek protection. The curse of the music box already got to our boss, and it might get you and your family next."
The thin man told Mr. Hike before he left and Mr. Hike looked even paler than before.
"Honey, what should we do?"
Mr. Hike's wife asked and the man had only one answer.
"W-We need to leave now. Honey, pack what you can. We will sell this place and start anew. We cannot let our children face any danger."
And just like that, the pair disappeared by the end of the next day, only to never be seen again by the village.