The guild watcher nodded slightly.
His tone was calm, but firm. "He's not from this world. An Otherworlder."
Anne held her breath. Her eyes darted between Feng Ye and the guild watcher.
She recalled the moment the red blade had appeared and the hesitation in his eyes as though he had more to say but didn't.
Feng Ye let out a sigh. He thought to himself. 'Status exposure.' He knew that taking out the red blade from his inventory may cause this result.
He observed the watcher's facial expressions. It contained hostility, but no killing intent.
Feng Ye checked the system log in his mind and found the initial entry.
--
"[Prompt:
"[Warning: Natives of this world are hostile toward otherworlders.]"
"[Prompt: Survival of the fittest ensures only competent individuals serve the World Administrator. Candidates unfit for the role will be terminated.]"
--
There it was. The natives of this world are hostile towards otherworlders.
His mind raced. He had twenty free attribute points. He would dump ten into strength, five into agility, and five into stamina. Then, immediately he would silent everyone on the scene. It was a brutal conclusion but must be done. He tightened his grip on the blade.
He had to attack first before the enemy made their move.
However, before he made any move. He stopped himself.
Anne stepped forward.
"So what if he is?" She replied. She waved her right arm and stretched her palm.
Immediately a barrier appeared between Feng Ye and the watcher. It stretched across the entire room. It shimmered faintly.
Feng Ye's eyes widened. It was his turn to be shocked. The guild watcher was also shocked by Anne's sudden actions.
The guild watcher glanced at Anne. "Do you what Otherworlders are capable of? What they bring to our land? What they've done to this land."
"I also know what he's done," Anne said sharply. "He fought with us. Endangering himself in the process. He could have just ignored everything and left."
The guild watcher was silent for a moment and did not speak as he looked at her. His expression was not one of anger, just thoughtful. His gaze shifted to Feng Ye nearby.
"You are defending him."
"I am," Anne answers firmly. In her palm magic power surged and crackled ready to be used at her command.
"I've fought monsters and bandits beside him. I've also fought men who have pretended to be saviors. He's not one of them."
A moment of brief silence followed.
Feng Ye loosened up his tense body. He was about to spring into action and silence everyone here. He would be okay to kill if necessary. However, Anne stood up for him. It was incredibly unexpected. Weren't the natives here hostile to otherworlders. Wasn't this world supposed to hate people like him? Perhaps, this was an exception. Maybe, she was different.
Then, the guild watcher signed. The sigh contained a tired sound as though he had carried tons of weight for too long.
He glanced between Anne and Feng Ye.
"Perhaps… I was too quick to judge."
He sheathed his blade.
Then, he reached up slowly and gripped the edge of his hood covering his face.
"You deserve to know who you are speaking to."
With one pull, his appearance came into clear view.
What was revealed was not a weathered old man, but someone hardened and baptized by numerous battles. His posture remained upright. His hair was a silver color and he had a silver streaked beard. A scar could be seen on one side of his face just under his right eye. His pupils were gray, but deep. It held a gaze that had once steered armies and contained numerous stories.
Anne gasped and exclaimed in surprise. "It's you!?"
Feng Ye loosened his grip on his blade and glanced at Anne with a puzzled expression. "You know him?"
Anne nodded. Her eyes locked on the man before her.
"You…you are General Krum." She confirmed. Her eyes were wide in disbelief. "I've seen your portraits. My parents knew your family."
"General?" Feng Ye raised an eyebrow.
"He was a military general from the capital. One of the highest ranking officers in the royal guard tasked with the city's defense. He was well respected by the nobles and common folk alike. People would always say that there was no one else they trusted with the city's safety."
Krum didn't deny her words. He remained silent. He simply met her gaze.
There was no pride in his expression. However, his pupils flashed as though he were quietly reminiscing about his younger days.
Then he spoke.
"That..that is a name that I haven't heard in a long time.." His words contained a heaviness to them, It was as though this name was one that carried lots of burdens in the past. It was like a remnant of the man he once was. His tone contained some hints of regret and loss.
Feng Ye narrowed his eyes.
"Why is someone like that out here, working as a guild watcher?"
General Krum was silent for a brief moment. His gaze drifted downwards towards the broken office floor as if debating how much information to provide.
Then, he glanced upwards and answered.
"Because the capital I once swore to protect no longer exists," he answered quietly. "Not the way it used."
Anne narrowed her eyes and frowned. "What do you mean? The capital still stands."
"Yes… the buildings do," Krum replied. "But it's soul has long disappeared. Its heart has also left the capital." He sighed.
"Years ago, I watched the corruption spread into every corner of the capital. Greed, ambition, betrayal…things I have fought against from beyond our borders appeared within our own walls…."
He straightened his posture. His tone remained calm, however, his words contained regret.
"I dutifully protected the capital. I stood for justice and for the common folk with no voice. I believed I could change and rid of the rot from the inside…"
He sighed again. "But I was wrong."
His voice suddenly contained more regret as he uttered quietly. "My family was caught in the middle of a political power play. I refused to pick a side. That was my mistake."
He locked his gaze on Anne. "They were removed. Erased from the capital. Quietly. Efficiently…. I was left with nothing but a medal and a request to retire with honor."
Anne continued to frown. She clenched a fist. Her magic power that was previously gathering in her palms disappeared.
"Thus, I left the capital that day," Krum continued. His voice contained bitterness. "I abandoned the title. The people whom I had once served had made their choice. My decision was to serve elsewhere… and ensure the mistakes of the past weren't to be repeated elsewhere."
He glanced toward Feng Ye.
"The guild offered me an opportunity. An opportunity to become their eyes and prevent those who might bring about great destruction from the outside. It gave my life more meaning once again."