The Hollow Patch was not a single force, it was an arena where many factions and individuals fought for influence. Some did it covertly, and some in the open.
Unfortunately for the Rusty Hook members, their unknown adversary decided not to bother and slaughtered their bird right above the main road.
But they weren't the only ones to suffer a setback.
Step. Step. Step.
Walking down the slope, Derek and Kain finally approached the place where the raven crashed.
"Shit..." Derek hissed, removing his spear from his back.
Out of the five silhouettes on the raven, three had surprisingly survived.
How?
Well, instead of solid ground, the raven landed in a cart filled to the top with rice bags. It did not save the great bird from death, its wide wings scattered around the horses and knocked over the luxurious carriage.
The broken wing buried two knights under it, the symbol of the golden flower on their armor was drenched in blood. The remaining two knights struggled to defend themselves against the three rogues, gradually retreating backward.
"This is..." Kain narrowed his eyes, noticing two small figures hiding behind the carriage. "Are they brother and sister?"
Derek nodded deeply. "It would seem so. Considering their goods, armor, and carriage... Hmm, I think I know who they are."
"What do we do?" Kain asked but his eyes ran over the corpses trying to latch onto something interesting.
"Eh... Honestly, I'm leaving the choice up to you," Derek shrugged nonchalantly.
Kain turned around, confused. "What does that mean?"
"Look, none of them are Awakened, I don't see runes clustering around them. They are dangerous to you, but to me, they are not opponents. The Awakened are different from ordinary humans not only because of the Codex but with the power of the runes - energy," Derek clenched his fist tightly. "I'm faster and stronger than a human with the same physical training, and my stamina is greater."
"If they were all our enemies. Would you win?"
"Well, even though they are ordinary humans, they are experienced fighters. I think I'd kill three or four of them, but I'd lose in the end."
Kain nodded deeply.
'That said, Valkyra single-handedly slaughtered dozens of people and even the giantess. The other Awakened feared her. It's not good...'
"Let's help them. I don't know about you, but those rice guys look rich. They should thank their saviors, right?"
Derek turned around, a smirk growing on his face. "Kain, you're a bit too devious for a simple guy from the village. Don't you find that odd?"
"Talent is scattered all over the world, the key is to search well," he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Damn, you're modesty itself!"
Then, without hesitation, Derek threw his spear, piercing the chest of one of the rogues.
The knight gasped, directing his gaze upward.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
With heavy steps, Derek approached with no intention of stopping.
Joy reflected on the man's face. "We're saved...!"
A red streak opened on his throat, as a shadow with a blade ran in front of him, the last thing he saw before he sank into a pool of his blood.
"NO!!! Bastards!!!!" the last knight's scream echoed.
The two rogues glanced over and simultaneously tore towards the knight. One blade collided with the sword, and the other stabbed into the man's knee.
"Fuck!" he gritted his teeth in pain, realizing that death was near. "Lady, master! Run away! Please!"
In a dance of shadows, two cold blades swept in front of the knight, smoothly severing his head from his body.
At the same moment, Derek leaped forward like a hawk, charging at the rogue. His folded fists hammered down on the enemy's head, shattering his skull into a bloody mess.
"You..." the last rogue stepped back, a gleam running down his blade.
Derek turned, blood dripping from his fists. "What, you didn't expect such a protector? Hah, today is not your day."
"Maybe so, but at this range... Our odds are even!" the rogue twitched.
Crackle.
The spear pierced his neck, dragging the empty-eyed rogue to the torn bag of rice, drenching the valuable commodity in foul blood.
Derek turned around, looking at the leisurely approaching Kain. "Nice throw. You're a quick learner."
"Well, the distance was much closer," he threw the bags off the ground, narrowing his eyes.
"Come on out."
A few seconds later, two jittery figures emerged in a trembling gait from the fallen carriage.
A young man with short hair and a girl with long golden waves running down her back. From their red aristocratic outfits, it was clear that they were not ordinary people. Their blue eyes were the finishing touch.
The girl came out first. Unlike her brother, who was feared of the corpses, she showed arrogance to everything that was going on.
"H-Hey..." Derek waved his hand uncertainly for fear of frightening them.
"Anissa Fraun," she majestically announced like royalty. "You will answer for what you have done!"
Realizing the situation better, the guy muttered. "Sister... These people saved us, are you sure we should be talked to like this...?"
"Quiet, Roy! You saw it yourself, they stood by and watched even though they could come to help sooner! Our guards are dead! Now, who's going to escort us to the Hollow Patch and move the goods? Tsk! I told my father we needed at least eight guards!"
Derek scratched the back of his head. "You guys have it all wrong, we're not outlaws, and we're not..."
Step.
Kain stepped forward, raising his bloody spear with a cold face. Soon, the tip aimed at Anissa.
"You..." Kain's uttered. "I don't like you. Unlike your brother, you care more about some rice than the people who died protecting you. Sure, you're lucky we decided to help you, but if it weren't for your guards, you would've been killed or kidnapped by now."
"Tsk," Anissa snorted. "I don't need some hunter reading me morals! Boy, protecting us, that was their job. They were paid money for it, good money!"
On some, cynical side, Anissa was right, but Kain wasn't gonna take it.
"Maybe if I were you, I'd thank us for our help and ask for an accompany to the town. Instead, you're threatening us."
Roy gulped, but his sister only smirked arrogantly.
"You seem to be a peasant. We are the Fraun Family! You must volunteer to offer me help and beg me not to tell my father that you let our guards die! Quick, bring up our carriage!"
Tap.
In a smooth swing, the spear ended up at Anissa's throat, causing her eyes to go wide in fear.
"You finally shut up."
Kain glanced at her necklace and gold gemstone earrings.
"I'm afraid you're in no position to make demands."
"Take it off."
"Agh...?" Anissa shuddered.
"We will claim our bounty and disappear like ghosts. You don't know our names, but we know yours."