"Ring ring..."
The clear, melodious sound of bells echoed through the streets of Salibia at night.
Sitting in the car, Dingle leaned against the side wall. The window was open, and a gentle breeze drifted through it, carrying the smells of cooking fires from both sides of the street. Fleeting voices drifted from the houses they passed, like whispers in someone's ear.
Dingle closed his eyes contentedly and dozed off again.
I don't know how much time passed.
Hey! Jeff!
The sudden shout woke Dingle from his half-asleep state. As soon as he looked up, he saw a carriage approaching from the opposite direction on the street outside the carriage window.
"Jeff, please tell my wife that I'll be home before midnight!"
The coachman shouted at the approaching carriage, and a reply came from the carriage coming from the opposite direction:
"good."
Dingle looked in the direction of the sound and saw that, in addition to the coachman sitting outside driving the carriage, there was another person standing behind him.
The figure looked somewhat familiar. Dingle immediately rubbed his eyes and stuck his head out. By then, the carriage was almost passing by.
"Stop the car!" Dingle shouted immediately after recognizing the man. The coachman quickly pulled on the reins, and the horse came to a stop.
“Smaid!” Dingle shouted.
"Um?"
"Stop! Stop!" The approaching carriage stopped at the shouts, and the two carriages came to a halt side by side on the road.
Dingle pulled open the car door, jumped out, and walked to the front of the carriage. As soon as he got close, he heard a man's voice coming from inside the carriage.
"Colonel! It really is you. I thought I misheard."
“What a coincidence that you’re here!” Smed, standing behind the coachman, looked at Dingle with surprise as he approached.
A faint smile appeared on Dingle's lips as he looked Smed up and down.
Smed wasn't wearing a military uniform, but rather a linen-colored cotton coat commonly seen among civilians. The coat was clearly ill-fitting, being very large, which made Dingle initially unsure if it was Smed.
In addition, he was wearing a colorful wreath on his head, which even made Dingle find it somewhat comical.
While being looked over, Dingle smiled and said, "I just met with Huffman and Pokel and am on my way back to the Royal Castle."
"I heard you were injured, but it looks like you've almost fully recovered."
Hearing this, Smed said with a bitter smile, "I can move and walk, but it still hurts... It may take some time to recover completely."
"I'm sorry, Colonel, please forgive me for standing here to talk to you. I made a big movement when getting in and out of the vehicle, and it hurts a lot there. I can't sit down, so I..." He scratched his head awkwardly.
Dingle didn't seem to mind, and instead laughed and said, "I was wondering why you weren't sitting in the car but standing outside. It seems the wound is still having some effect."
As he spoke, Dingle reached into his pocket and said, "Your wound hasn't fully healed yet, why are you in such a hurry to leave the hospital?"
Smed blushed slightly and said, "I don't like the hospital environment. I never want to go there again. Let's get out of here as soon as possible."
Dingle didn't notice Smed's change in expression. He had already taken out a cigarette case from his pocket, opened the lid, and taken out two cigarettes.
Just as he was about to hand it to Smythe, Smythe said, "No need, Colonel, I...I...I don't smoke anymore, I've quit."
His eyes were fixed on the cigarette in Dingle's hand. He unconsciously swallowed and waved his hand in refusal.
Dingle looked at Smed with surprise: "No way? You... quit?"
Smed struggled to look away from the cigarette and said, "Yes, I quit. After I went to the hospital, I decided I would never smoke again. Of course, I don't smoke anymore, haha." He scratched his head awkwardly again.
Dingle, both amused and exasperated, added, "I can't believe these words came out of your mouth."
“When I met Huffman and Pokel just now, I gave them each a box, and of course there was one for you too. I even asked Pokel to bring it to you.”
“Thank you for your kind offer, but… I really have decided to quit smoking. I’ve made up my mind, although I’ve made up my mind a few times before, but this time it’s for real,” Smyder said.
After speaking, Dingle put away his cigarette case, lit a cigarette in his hand, took a puff, and then asked:
"Why is that? Why are you suddenly so determined?"
“Smoking is harmful to your health and shortens your lifespan,” Smed replied earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Dingle couldn't help but chuckle: "Don't tell me you only found out recently."
Smed smiled and said, "I already knew that. What smoker wouldn't know?"
"So how did you suddenly come to this realization?"
"It's because I escaped with my life. You've already heard about the bad luck I had in St. Marienplatz, right? I don't want to go back to the hospital."
"Is it because of this? Hmm, that doesn't seem like you." Dingle shook his head, looking at Smed with a deep gaze.
Smed's fair face visibly began to flush: "Anyway, that's how it is. I'll never smoke again."
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to tell you," Smed changed the subject.
"What's up?"
“I’ve decided to retire, Colonel,” Smed said to Dingle, his expression turning serious.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com