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Deep within the forest, a small lake formed by accumulated water lay nestled against the towering cliffs of the Red Dragon Mountain Range.
This was a natural habitat.
In theory, this place should have been teeming with birds, beasts, and magical creatures during the late hours of the night.
However, at this moment, the area within a radius of several dozen meters was densely packed with over a dozen tents. The rain covers on the tents were worn and old, and the ropes tied to rusted stakes were tangled in a semicircle around a few small wooden cabins. Torches were planted throughout the camp, illuminating the area brightly. The grass on the ground had been trampled bare, and the yellowish-brown soil was faintly visible under the flickering firelight.
Humans had driven away the birds, beasts, and magical creatures, claiming this habitat as their own.
Over thirty figures stood around the bonfire, silently staring at the only seated figure among them—a thin, frail-looking man.
Beneath his foot was a burly man with a thick beard, his body nearly twice the size of the slender man. Yet, the frail man had forced the burly man's head into the dirt with his foot, rendering him unconscious.
"How many times do I have to say it... I didn't gather you all here just to rob people on the road. It's for the bounty of one thousand gold coins! Why does someone always have to stir up trouble behind my back? Sneaking off to contact the north to trade slaves? Is this what Night Lion ordered you to do?"
The frail man's face had a somewhat delicate, almost feminine appearance. He narrowed his eyes as he scanned the crowd. The faces around him were all rough and rugged, yet not a single one dared to meet his gaze.
After a long moment of silence, everyone's eyes shifted to a bald man standing closest to the frail man. The bald man took a deep breath and cautiously spoke up.
"Boss Leopard... The guys think that Allen has probably already run away... Staying holed up here isn't doing us any good. If this keeps up, we'll never get our hands on that thousand gold coins, and everyone's running low on funds... We all dropped what we were doing to gather here, but it's been so long, and we haven't even caught a glimpse of him... Who knows if Night Lion's intel is even reliable..."
Bang!
Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere. The bald man looked down in shock to see that the head of the burly man beneath Leopard's foot had been crushed into pulp...
Leopard narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze across the crowd.
"Do you think I'm here to negotiate with you?"
The bandits stared in horror at the corpse on the ground. Then, Leopard continued, his voice filled with anger.
"First of all, I can guarantee the intel is accurate. As for doubting Night Lion... that's unacceptable. Don't let it happen again."
At this point, Leopard looked at the terrified bandits around him and let out a soft sigh. His voice returned to its usual delicate tone.
"...All of you were pulled from the slave markets by Night Lion. He raised you with his own hands. You should know better than to doubt him. There's a deeper reason behind his decision... Let me make this clear: he's under immense pressure. This could determine the survival of our bandit group..."
Hearing this, the bandits exchanged surprised glances and began whispering among themselves. The scene was on the verge of becoming chaotic when the sound of a sword being drawn silenced them.
Leopard drove his blade into the ground, the hilt vibrating with a sharp, urgent hum.
"The pressure is coming from a powerful faction at the top of the royal capital... For now, patience is necessary. Each of you is at least an intermediate-level swordsman, with several even at the advanced level. If this were just about gathering intel, why would Night Lion suddenly summon you all from across the entire Asura Kingdom?"
"Do you really think he gathered the majority of our elite forces here just to have you do some petty roadside robberies? Think about it..."
Leopard's gaze swept across the faces of the bandits, who now wore expressions of doubt and unease. He sighed again.
"...Alright, get back to your duties. Keep the patrols running."
The crowd fell silent for a moment before gradually dispersing. Soon, only the bald man remained in front of Leopard. Leopard glanced at him and gestured for him to come closer.
"...Still no sign of Black Wolf and the other two?"
The bald man's previously panicked expression had vanished, replaced by a grave look. He leaned in and whispered to Leopard.
"Not yet... This method can only intimidate—or rather, pacify—them for a while... If they're out on patrol, they'll likely sneak off to Riegert City to... relax. These guys are all skilled, used to lording it over their local bandit strongholds. They're not going to stay cooped up here forever. We need to address the root of the problem—Allen, that kid..."
Leopard turned to him with an expressionless face.
"Grey Eagle, do you not trust me? Or do you think I'm just bluffing?"
The bald man, Grey Eagle, hesitated, his face showing a hint of helplessness.
"I believe you!... But the powerful faction in the royal capital... isn't it just James? He's a low-ranking minister who hasn't even officially taken over from Sauros. How could he possibly pressure Night Lion..."
"It's not James. He's not even worth mentioning."
Grey Eagle's expression changed.
"Then... who else could it be..."
Leopard's voice was so soft it was almost weightless, but the information it carried made Grey Eagle's face pale.
"It's not James... It's Darius."
"Darius?!"
Grey Eagle looked around nervously to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then leaned closer to Leopard.
"Senior Minister Darius, the right-hand man of the First Prince... How could it be him? Has he lost his taste for noble families' young daughters and set his sights on Allen instead? Isn't he afraid the kid might cut his head off while they're sharing a bed??"
Leopard pinched the bridge of his nose, shooting Grey Eagle a disapproving look.
"What's going on in your head... That's definitely not the reason, but the fact is, he's the one pressuring Night Lion... Otherwise, do you think Night Lion would bother getting involved in this mess? James doesn't have that kind of influence."
"Then... if the intel is accurate... Allen Boreas Greyrat is really hiding somewhere in the southern foothills of the Red Dragon Mountain Range? Shouldn't we expand our search area? Why are we just camping here? The forest is huge, and with just roadside interrogations, how are we supposed to find him anytime soon?"
Leopard furrowed his brows.
"...That's what I've been wondering too. But the message we received only tells us to stay here and wait..."
"Who's there?!"
At that moment, a shout came from the edge of the camp. Leopard and Grey Eagle both looked up.
In the shadows beyond the firelight, a small figure emerged from the darkness.
It was a bespectacled man—no, perhaps a boy.
He smiled as he wiped the blood off his glasses and tucked them into his blood-soaked swordsman's uniform. Then, he looked at the crowd gathered in front of the camp.
"Who am I?"
Allen, who had followed the directions of the now-dead scar-faced man, raised his hands and spread them wide, as if presenting himself as a product.
"Of course, I'm the one you've been looking for."
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 105 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 100 power stones I will publish the next chapter.