Chapter 487 - Tracking

“Chief, we don’t have to sell anything else. We’re sure to earn good money by dealing with the tobacco business alone.” One long-faced man took out a pack of Seaman-branded cigarettes and tossed it onto the table. “These cigarettes are quite strong and a favourite of sailors and coachmen. It costs only two sunars here, but they sell for one riyas each on the western coast. It’s five times the price.”

The leader tore off the packaging and took one out. He then took out one of the two bamboo smoking tips included with the box and lit it in a practised motion before taking a deep puff. The rest of the cigarettes were soon shared among the rest. By the time the man snagged it back, there were only four of them left.

The leader puffed smoke out with a grim look. “Dilwa, don’t forget that we’re not really here to smuggle, but to find and kill that woman that humiliated us for life. We’re only doing this as cover, understood? If we’re still alive after we wash ourselves of that shame, I won’t be against you coming back here to export cigarettes to the western coast. You’ll only have to worry about getting a good supplier for large quantities.”

Dilwa was the man with the long face. He carefully stuffed his nearly empty box of cigarettes back in his pocket. “Understood, Chief.”

It turned out that the old man’s methods were quite effective. Soon, nonstop reports about the woman made their way to the leader.

“Chief, during the afternoon of the 12th of the 3rd month, she reached Ankanor and purchased a ticket for train number 15 for the town of Blins in Mormaly. She stayed there for three days in Riverclear Inn for three days, doing nothing but shopping or staying inside. She boarded Train 15 on time during the afternoon.”

“One worker at the station in Blins had quite the deep impression of her. She got down and asked him what the safest and most convenient way to travel to Slinkas. The worker offered to let his uncle drive her there in his coach. That’s the main production hub for medicinal supplies in Mormaly. On the way there, she told the man’s uncle that she was a herbalist on her way to buy some supplies.

“It looks like she hasn’t noticed that we’ve made our way to the region already and thinks she’s still safe. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so relaxed going to buy medicine so casually. On the 24th, she returned to Blins with two carriages full of medicinal supplies. She got a train ticket the next day and made arrangements for the goods in the carriages to be shipped. Her destination is Lanu in Anfiston.”

“We’ll head to Lanu immediately,” the leader decided. “Since she has two carriages of medicinal supplies, she’s definitely going to stay in Lanu for an extended period of time to use them up. I believe we’ll locate her soon. We shan’t let her escape this time.”