Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1517: Chapter 244: Warm Camel Milk

Going back seems like a dead end… The thugs definitely won’t let me off so easily, so compared to the torment of going back, Claudia would rather head into the unknown desert.

“Why do you look not nervous at all?” Claudia couldn’t help but frown.

She felt her brain was a bit confused… She couldn’t quite remember how she ended up in this desert—reasonably speaking, there must have been a journey, but the memory was blurry.

It seemed like it happened, and yet it seemed like it didn’t… This vaguely made her feel uneasy—the cold night journey in the desert amplified this unease infinitely.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have left that broken house for rest… But waiting for dawn, perhaps they would be caught up by the thugs.

“Maybe it’s because I’ve always been rather lucky.” Boss Luo said casually, “We have a saying, ‘Heaven never bars one’s way.’

Claudia rolled her eyes, not knowing where this guy’s confidence came from… She shook her head, suddenly asking, “You say, I can understand Aria suddenly leaving. He’s familiar with the terrain, and it’s easier for him alone… But why did Mr. Otto also leave? Weren’t they unhappy with each other before, and Mr. Otto even paid for our travel expenses!”

Luo Qiu thought for a moment and said, “Did you see Mr. Otto give you and me the travel expenses with your own eyes?”

Claudia frowned and said, “Isn’t that so? At that time, Mr. Otto had already transferred the travel expenses to Aria, so he agreed to take both me and you! The phone…wait!”

Thinking carefully, she indeed did not see the transfer record of the travel expenses with her own eyes—it was an operation on the phone—at most, she only saw Otto using the phone, and heard Aria saying it was credited and okay… She indeed didn’t really see the money.

“Mr. Otto didn’t transfer the money at all?” Claudia was suddenly shocked, “He and Aria were actually acting? But…but why would he do that?”

“What do you think?” Luo Qiu asked casually.

Claudia lowered her head and pondered, “In this situation, either they were colluding, trying to get travel expenses from you and me… using a very simple herd mentality, at the beginning Otto easily offered money, but this money wasn’t actually given, just for show, to make us obediently give money. But later, I couldn’t give it, and you were determined not to give it, so Otto had to change the original plan!”

“What plan?”

Claudia looked angry and said, “Isn’t it obvious? Of course it’s to create an image of a good person in front of us! This money wasn’t really given, but it looked like he had paid for us! This way, it seems like we owe him…owe them two million, and after leaving the desert, they would definitely think of other ways to make us pay up! Why can’t you get it?”

Boss Luo smiled and said, “But in reality… they didn’t get the money either and have quietly left, haven’t they?”

“This… perhaps…” Claudia instinctively said, “Maybe they thought they couldn’t get any money from us, and were also afraid that taking us along would get them caught by the thugs, so they simply left? After all, life is more important.”

“Or, maybe they’ve already achieved their original goal.”

“Goal?” Claudia asked puzzled, “What goal? They didn’t get a penny from us! I didn’t even give them an IOU or anything! Except for a broken oil lamp… are you saying, the oil lamp?”

“You gave Otto the oil lamp, right?”

Claudia reluctantly said, “I did give it… I’m not used to owing others anything, thinking if this lamp were valuable, giving it to him would be repayment… After all, he did save us from the thugs. Without him, we’d probably have been shot by that group outside the secret chamber. But I can’t understand, if it’s just for this oil lamp, why did he do so many things, even coerce Aria into acting, rather than directly asking for it, or even threatening? Wouldn’t that be more efficient?”

“Yeah, directly asking for it would definitely be more efficient.” Luo Qiu followed Claudia’s train of thought, “Given the situation at the time, they were completely in control, and could have easily made us hand over the oil lamp—so why did he do this?”

“Maybe he’s concerned about something.” Claudia thought for a bit, then shook her head, “But I really can’t figure out what he’s worried about? It can’t be that he’s worried that the oil lamp in my hand might really call out the Blue Genie, and he’s afraid I would use a wish to save myself, so he acted to save us, right?”

“Claudia, you are really smart.” Boss Luo admired her not without some sarcasm.

Claudia rolled her eyes again, quite annoyed, and said, “Now I know why you came to the Theology Institute… you’re probably someone poisoned by myths, thinking there are really gods and monsters in the world… a delusional patient! Don’t forget, I’ve touched that lamp myself, but there is no Blue Genie!”

Boss Luo just smiled indifferently, then pointed ahead, “There seems to be a light over there… Shall we go check it out, maybe it’s Aria and Otto.”

On the other side of the dune, there indeed seemed to be a faint light… but saying it was Aria and Otto, Claudia obviously didn’t really believe it—don’t mention that they were just relying on the Pole Star to walk, while Aria and Otto might not be heading the same direction, even if it were the same direction, they were riding camels while they were walking, it was impossible to catch up.

But even if it wasn’t Aria and Otto, even if it was just travelers in the desert, meeting them could still be good—at least there might be a chance to seek help from the travelers.

“Hopefully, your luck is really good.” Claudia glanced at Luo Qiu, finally whispered, “I’m…I’m sorry.”

“Why apologize?” Boss Luo asked curiously.

Claudia hesitated for a bit, stammering, “Because… because… because you also deserved a share of the oil lamp, but I, I gave it to Otto in private.”

Actually… it was because I didn’t trust him at first, due to the issue of the travel expenses… but I couldn’t say it out loud.

“It’s okay.” Boss Luo said blandly, “That oil lamp, to me, already had little use.”

“OK…then.” Claudia nodded.

But she didn’t realize the true meaning of “already had little use”, just assuming Luo Qiu also regarded the oil lamp just as an ordinary item.

Soon they crossed the dune from which the faint light emanated… Indeed, it was neither Aria nor Otto, nor the group of thugs from the camp, but a small nomadic tribe.

…

“Oh, Bedouins… those two are really lucky, don’t you think, sir.”

On the dune from where the faint light was coming, two figures were watching—one of them held a telescope and was talking… it was Aria and Mr. Otto, who had quietly left, taking the water and resources.

“The desert always grants blessings to those of pure heart,” Otto said calmly, “Let’s go, I still need your help, Aria.”

“Alright, sir.” Aria chuckled, “Who made me take your three million?”

Mr. Otto didn’t speak, just silently turned over and sat on the camel… Aria quickly followed and curiously asked, “Sir, you went through great lengths just to get this oil lamp? What’s so special about this oil lamp?”

The oil lamp was now in Aria’s hand. He blew on it and wiped it—probably everyone instinctively does that, with perhaps a hint of unrealistic wishful thinking at play.

Mr. Otto didn’t even look, seeming to have anticipated the result, and said calmly, “For those eligible to possess it, it’s a treasure that can fulfill any wish. As for you, it’s not even worth much money.”

Aria shrugged and tossed the oil lamp back to Mr. Otto, “I like US dollars the most, I don’t fancy worthless things. You white folks are always so mysterious, probably because you have more money than you can spend, completely unaware of a poor person’s hardship!”

With that, Aria began riding the camel ahead… Mr. Otto looked down at the oil lamp in his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

“Since I was able to pass the test and even successfully brought it out… but why haven’t you been summoned?” Mr. Otto frowned, “Unwilling to see me? After all, it’s been years since we last met.”

The oil lamp still looked worn and shabby, even covered with a dull gray layer that no one could wipe off.

The desert night wasn’t too dark with the bright moon and stars… Two silhouettes riding camels slowly headed deeper into the distance.

…

…

So, here’s the problem: although they had reached the small nomadic tribe’s campsite, Claudia suddenly remembered a problem—the language barrier.

Those mobs, although seemingly local, understood British language, including Aria, so communication all the way was not an issue—but what if it’s these desert-dwelling natives?

Boss Luo had somehow already gone up and started conversing with a middle-aged man coming out of the tent.

Soon, Boss Luo turned around and waved at Claudia, calling her over.

Claudia arrived by Luo Qiu’s side, greatly surprised, “You know their language?”

—Just learned it…

Of course, that couldn’t be said just like that. Luo Qiu simply smiled, which served as a response, and slowly said, “They are Bedouins, a nomadic people living in the desert. This gentleman is the head of this family, named Adili, and the others are his relatives, wife, children, brothers, etc.”

“Oh… so that’s it, I’ve heard about them.” Claudia nodded, “I’ve heard my father mention them, saying they’re a very friendly people who love a free and unrestrained life, so they always live in the desert… some documentaries also mention them.”

Suddenly, Boss Luo said, “Claudia knows a lot, too. You know quite a bit, preparing like you’re ready to be an explorer.”

Claudia shrugged, “When you have a father who loves to go on adventures everywhere, you’ll understand some of this admittedly somewhat useless knowledge… Alright, let’s not talk about this. Isn’t it just Mr. Adili’s family here? Surely there are more nearby?”

Boss Luo nodded, “There’s a watering spot nearby, so there’ll be quite a few Bedouins around… I think the village of mobs we visited before also had quite a few Bedouins…”

Those mobs captured many people to develop the underground pyramid, but the village ended up with only women and children… Claudia already thought of where the men went.

She suddenly shivered, not because she was just now feeling scared, but the fear had long surpassed her mental capacity to the point of insensitivity—now relaxing, she truly felt the terror of the past day.

She suddenly collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, face pale, breaking out in cold sweat… Claudia lost consciousness instantly and fell into a deep faint.

…

Feeling a hint of warmth, Claudia tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy, as if something was sticking to them. All she could see was a blurred shadow approaching in the dim light.

“Don’t come any closer—!”

Her reaction was extremely intense, suddenly springing up like a frightened bird, clutching tightly onto the blanket draped over her. From facial expression to eye contact, everything revealed a thing called fear.

“Had a nightmare?”

“I… I… I don’t…” Claudia seemed to calm down, realized who it was—her new classmate, then shook her head, “Nevermind, it’s nothing.”

“Good to hear.” Boss Luo nodded, handing Claudia a bowl, “This is tea made from camel milk. You were likely dehydrated, causing you to faint… Drink some fluid to recover faster.”

Claudia hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the bowl, then began sipping it slowly… She suddenly stopped, looked at Luo Qiu, and frowned, “I’m not very comfortable with people quietly approaching me while I sleep… Can you, next time?”

“Of course.” Boss Luo nodded, stood up and said, “There’s still about an hour before dawn. Rest well after drinking the tea.”

Claudia nodded. She was fully awake now, without sleepiness, but her body was still not well so she looked rather unwell.

“Rest well.”

“Wait… thank you.”

“Rest assured.” Boss Luo casually said, “I’ll be outside keeping watch, no one will quietly approach you.”

She opened her mouth, but said nothing in the end, just lowered her head, sipping the warm camel milk in the bowl… only feeling that this new classmate was an incredibly mysterious person, going from disliked to now… in just a mere half-day’s time.

He hadn’t really done anything, but her feelings had kept changing.