Daniel walked at an unhurried pace through the crowded streets, weaving between merchants, carts, and passing people.
The street buzzed with activity. Men pushed wooden handcarts stacked with clay jugs filled to the brim with milk, the containers clinking with every bump in the road.
At the roadside, vendors hurriedly prepared food over open flames. Some cooked flatbreads in pans lightly greased with coconut oil, while others tossed meat and vegetables over sizzling iron griddles.
Smoke curled into the air, carrying the mouthwatering aromas of roasted meat, fried dough, and fragrant spices through the street.
Merchants leaned over their makeshift stalls, cupping their hands around their mouths as they shouted at the top of their lungs, desperately trying to drown out their competitors.
"Goat meat! Five silvers per kilo! Freshly cut this morning! You heard it. Freshly cut!"
"Frinto! Blue snapper! Pomfret! Just name the fish, and we’ve got it!"
"A real man eats beef! Five silvers for half a kilo! Come on, don’t be shy!"
"Don’t listen to him! Fish is the healthiest meat!"
"Healthiest? Who cares about health when beef tastes this good?!"
The vendors immediately began arguing over one another, their voices rising above the clatter of carts, the chatter of pedestrians, and the occasional bark of a stray dog.
Daniel noticed several people carrying woven baskets walking past him. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he overheard their quiet conversation.
"They’ve started again."
"I think I’ll buy some meat this time."
Their low voices faded into the surrounding noise as they walked past him. Meanwhile, Daniel continued on his way, taking in the lively chaos of the kingdom’s streets.
On the way, he headed toward the Knife Guild.
...
*Knock-Knock*
Daniel paused, standing straight before the door. A minute passed, but there was no response.
*Knock. Knock.*
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
’Aren’t they inside?’ he thought, before reaching for the handle, only to find it locked from the inside.
Then, a fragment of yesterday’s memory surfaced in his mind — his encounter with Sherlon. The way Sherlon had knocked on the door had seemed strange. It wasn’t random. There had been a pattern to it.
’How did he do that yesterday? A few knocks, then a few taps? Maybe this...’
Daniel raised his hand.
*Knock-Knock*
*Tap-Tap*
*Knock-Knock-Knock*
A small viewing window slid open near the top of the door, and a pair of eyes appeared behind it.
"Name?" a deep voice asked.
"Daniel."
"What’s your business here, Daniel?"
"I want to talk to Valmond," he replied, his expression neutral.
"Master isn’t here. You can come back when he returns."
Daniel frowned slightly. "Then tell me when he’ll be back."
"Come tomorrow," the man behind the door said.
The viewing window snapped shut.
Silence settled over the street.
"Great. Now he isn’t even here. What am I supposed to do? Find him—?"
Daniel froze, his voice trailed off as he turned his gaze down the street.
Zero stood there with two men beside him. At the same moment, Zero noticed Daniel standing in front of the ordinary-looking house.
Their eyes met.
In an instant, Daniel activated his ability.
"Status."
——————
Name: Zero Dane
Age: 42
HP: 9300/9300
Mana: 7560/7700
Description: A hardworking man who once dreamed of living a simple life, but after losing his wife and child, grief consumed him, driving him down a path of revenge. His sense of justice has become distorted, and he is now willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
——————
Only after reading the description did Daniel move closer. Zero and the two men beside him did the same, closing the distance between them.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Cinder Town?" Zero asked, confusion written across his face.
"Who’s this young man, Zero?" asked the man standing beside him.
He was around Zero’s age and roughly the same height.
"Wait, I’ve seen you before. Your name is Daniel, right? You’re the kid who was with Alucard at the Royal Academy, aren’t you?" the other man added.
Daniel was slightly surprised to hear a complete stranger know his name.
"Royal Academy?" Zero raised an eyebrow. "You got admission there?"
"Transferred," Daniel replied.
"That’s great news," Zero said, a genuine smile spreading across his face — the kind of smile an older brother might wear when seeing his younger brother achieve something he had worked hard for.
While they were busy with their conversation, Daniel shifted his gaze toward the two men standing beside Zero.
"Status," he murmured.
——————
Name: Lucian Lavendric
Age: 42
HP: 9450/9450
Mana: 7300/7300
Description: A member of the infamous Halberd Group and a Master of the Air Element. He works behind the scenes to sabotage the Royal Saints whenever an opportunity arises, seeking to tarnish their reputation and undermine their authority. His ultimate goal is to destroy the Royal Saints and drive them out of the kingdom.
——————
"Status."
——————
Name: Kevin El Evan
Age: 43
HP: 6900/6900
Mana: 7939/7940
Description: A member of the mysterious Shark Group and a Master of the Shadow Element. He infiltrated the Upper Citadel by disguising himself as a servant, secretly investigating the activities around the royal castle and reporting his findings to the commander.
——————
’Okay, they’re clean,’ Daniel thought to himself.
"You’re still in Exil right? To be honest, it’s not even a group," Kevin said, raising an eyebrow at Zero.
"It was never a group. More like a small community, you know." Zero gave a faint smile, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia.
"Guys, we shouldn’t talk about it openly. There are ears behind the walls," Kevin warned, his voice dropping to a cautious whisper as his eyes briefly swept across the street.
"Don’t worry, Kevin. Daniel is with me," Zero reassured him.
"You mean this young man passed the Nightmare Trial?" Lucian asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes. Isn’t that shocking?" Zero replied, glancing at Daniel.
Just then a thought suddenly surfaced in Daniel’s mind.
’So he doesn’t know what happened to Exil? Should I tell him?’ Daniel remained silent for a moment, weighing whether he should reveal what he knew.
"What are you thinking about, Daniel?" Lucian asked, studying him closely.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter