The Captain glared at the gathered crowd. “What in blazes is going on here?”

“They’re trying to kill us, captain!” Allen said as he held his abdomen with a pained expression.

A barrage of insults and jeers came from the crowd at the young master’s words.

“Liar!”

“Bastard! You’re the one who attacked us first!”

“He was the one looking for trouble!”

Orvin frowned as he heard these words. “Is that so?”

Allen looked away in embarrassment and shook his head. “I was just throwing punches! They’re the one that pulled out weapons!”

The Captain gritted his teeth in anger, but he didn’t seem interested in wasting more of his breath on the young master.

Instead, he looked over at the large bodyguard. “And you? What in the hell is a Lesser Ring Realm cultivator doing punching a bunch of brats around?”

“We were just exchanging a few pointers.” the bodyguard said.

Orvin glared at the man with an angered expression. “Have you no shame?! Have you no respect for the Baron’s laws?! What did he settle with Gustav about Lesser Ring Realms disputes inside of town?!”

The bodyguard didn’t respond, just staring at the captain from beneath his wooden mask with impassive eyes. The atmosphere underwent a sudden change, and the whole crowd fell silent in both fear and anticipation of what was about to happen.

The Captain, however, didn’t relent. “You think I’m scared of you, bastard? You’re not the first Lesser Ring Realm cultivator who thought they could as they pleased in our town. How about you go ask your boss what ended up happening to them?”

There was another prolonged silence before the bodyguard spoke up. “… I didn’t mean any offense to the baron. Please, accept my deepest apologies.”

The man bowed towards the Captain and made to walk away.

Before he did that, though, his gaze lingered on Red and Allen, who were still recovering from their beating. “I hope our sparring session has been enlightening to you both.”

“Bastard…” Allen cursed at the man beneath his breath.

The bodyguard then grabbed his saber and started to walk uphill under Orvin’s scrutiny. Only after he disappeared behind a bend did the Captain seem satisfied.

He stared at the crowd. “What are you waiting around for?! Scram before I lose my patience!”

The adventurers didn’t dare tempt the man’s anger and started to walk back towards their guild. Red also noticed the female bodyguard’s fluctuation disappear from his range as the crowd dispersed, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Allen gritted his teeth. “One day I’m going to put that guy into his place…”

Red frowned. “Just be quiet.”

Thankfully, the young master was still smart enough to follow his lead in these matters. Once the adventurers and other spectators were completely gone, Captain Orvin approached them.

The years were getting to the man, and he had even more grey hairs on his head. Still, the Captain of the Guard did not lose his edge and temper, it seemed.

He glared at Allen. “I thought you promised me you were done causing problems.”

Allen gritted his teeth. “They insulted my friends!”

“What were you going there in the first place, you moron?!”

“What, am I not allowed to go get a drink?!”

“You…” Orvin seemed at a loss for words. “Is this how you want this to be?! In that case, I guess I don’t need to keep your escapades a secret from Hector anymore, do I?!”

“No!” Allen’s eyes widened in fear. “I’m sorry! Look, I don’t know what got into me…”

The captain snorted. “I know what got into you. You’re a stupid teenager with tendencies to do stupid things. It wouldn’t matter if it was anyone else, but you are the young master and successor for the most powerful man in town, so you should know better!”

Allen looked away with a reluctant expression.

Orvin shook his head and looked over at Red. “And you? Why were you here too? I thought you knew better.”

“I came to take him away before anything else happens.” Red said.

The man sighed. “Well, you were too late, it seems. I know it’s not your responsibility to look after him, but you know that any wrong move of his part could throw this whole town into a bloody war!”

‘Don’t I know it…’

“I don’t need anyone to look after me!” Allen interjected.

Orvin frowned. “I find that hard to believe. I swear, I thought thing would be easier on me after Narcha left, but it seems like you are doing a good job to fill in her shoes.”

At the mention of Narcha, Allen trembled and Red saw faint traces of anger appear in his expression.

“Can you keep quiet about this?” Red asked before things could develop in a bad direction.

Orvin hesitated. “… I will keep my promise, kid, as long as you can keep yours. That being said, if you keep doing stuff like this in the middle of town, then Hector will find out sooner or later.”

“It’s fine. It won’t happen again.” Red looked at Allen with a meaningful gaze.

The young master looked away in embarrassment.

“I hope that is the case.” Orvin nodded. “Now scram out of here and go back to your sect!”

Red and Allen did as much. They walked up the hill through the dark streets, and they took a roundabout way until Red was sure that no one was following them.

“We can go back now.” he said.

Allen hesitated to follow. “… Red, I’m sorry about what happened.”

“I do not care.” Red interjected. “I am not your master, nor your father, Allen. I can’t force you to follow my advice, and I don’t think I would even if I could.”

Allen gritted his teeth. “You heard it too! How they insulted Narcha and Eiwin! Why aren’t you angry?!”

Red frowned and looked back at the young master. “Are you seriously asking me that question?”

Allen seemed at a loss before he gave him a helpless smile. “I know, I know. It’s stupid… I’m just tired of being forced to take a beating without being able to fight back.”

Red, of course, knew what he was referring to. Without Narcha and Eiwin around, it was evident that the sect’s influence over the town had diminished over the years. Even if both he and Allen were just as capable of rising to the occasion in replacing them, the truth was that Gustav himself had gotten much stronger over the last six years, possibly due to the amount of profit he and his faction were earning over the war.

It was already a large concern for Hector and his sect, since there was a distinct possibility the merchant might be able to afford another Lesser Ring Realm bodyguard before long. While their Elder wasn’t really worried about his own safety, the same couldn’t be said for his sect members who made frequent trips to the forest.

Red sighed. “Just be patient and wait until we have broken through to the Lesser Ring Realm. By then, no common mercenary will be able to contend with us.”

Allen seemed reluctant. “Are you really okay with waiting that long for it? What if we don’t have time to do it?”

“Hector can afford us the protection we need. All you need to do is train in peace and not go out of your way to look for trouble, and it will be just a matter of time before you break through.”

Red wasn’t trying to motivate Allen, he was just being sincere. The young master was the most talented person in their sect, and he didn’t need a pill to break through to the Lesser Ring Realm. All he needed was time and dedication, and it would be a simple matter of time before their sect gained another powerhouse.

Allen hesitated, but he ended up nodding. “I will try my best.”

Red obviously didn’t believe him. They had had this discussion many times before over the last few months, and Allen always ended up getting himself into trouble again. It was honestly a miracle they had managed to keep it from Hector, although the youth wasn’t sure whether the elder was actually aware of what was happening and just chose not to act.

Still, the youth didn’t bother extending this discussion any further. They walked back towards the sect without any issues, and, to no one’s surprise, they found Domeron waiting for them at the entrance.

The swordsman frowned once he saw the two of them. “What happened?”

Allen seemed surprised. “How do you know something happened?”

“You’re having trouble breathing.”

“Oh, that…” the young master hesitated. “We got punched a few times.”

Domeron’s expression changed. “Did those masked oafs attack you?”

Red nodded. “He was holding back, but I was very surprised, too. This is the first time they have done anything like this… I’m afraid there must be a reason behind it.”

The youth’s implication was clear. Gustav and the bodyguards were always reluctant to act against the sect members in the past because they were afraid of Hector’s retaliation. For them to do such a bold action against the young master of the sect of all people, it could mean they had gained some kind of confidence in their own strength.

This couldn’t be good news for the sect, and judging by Domeron’s troubled expression, he thought the same.

“I will look into it.” the swordsman said. “In the meantime, I would rather none of you leave town for the time being.”

Allen frowned. “Are you going to talk to Hector about it?”

“It depends on what I find.”

The young master hesitated but didn’t protest. He knew keeping his escapades secret was not as important compared to the safety of his sect.

“Go to sleep now, before Hector notices you were gone.” Domeron waved Allen away.

Allen hesitated, but he still nodded and walked off towards his own room.

The swordsman stared at the young master’s back until he saw him disappear inside a building.

He shook his head. “That kid is trouble.”

“You think so?” Red asked.

Domeron looked at him with a frown. “I don’t need any of your attitude right now.”

“If you start doing more than just sitting in your chair all day, then maybe you wouldn’t need to listen to my complaints.”

“Hey, I also get up to train you both!” The swordsman glared at him.

Red sighed. “What do you want?”

Domeron smiled. “Is it really that obvious?”

The youth nodded. “I have spent enough time with you to understand how you work.”

The swordsman laughed. “I suppose that’s only fair. This time, though, the favor is not for me… We have a mission for you.”

Red frowned. “What mission?”

“We found them…” Domeron said. “The remaining imperial agent.”