After leaving his horse at the village entrance, Han walked to the front of the casino. He wanted to check if the captive orc inside was his mother. As he peered through the open door of the casino, the security guard's voice was heard.
- You again? Didn't I tell you you couldn't come in? Now, go of here. Come back in the evening. (When Han didn't leave, he got angry.) Being so persistent won't get you anywhere. While I'm still being polite, it's best if you leave...
- I... I heard you needed someone to look after the orc. That's why I came.
- We're looking, for a female servant. Not a male servant.
- But... You know that orcs are strong. And they don't like weak creatures. Female servants who have never seen a fight in their lives would be impossible to stand up to him. Since I'm stronger than them, I think I might have a chance...
At that moment, a female servant covered in food scraps ran out of the casino and came up to the security guard.
- There's no way I'm staying here even for a minute. I brought him food, and he spilled it all over me. Look at me! This is unacceptable. I'm leaving.
The security guard, watching the woman leave, knew he had to look for a new maid. To do so, he would have to go back to the labor office and report that they were looking for a female attendant. When he muttering, "Finding someone new will take at least two hours," Han used the situation to his advantage.
- I see this female attendant wasn't successful either. If you allow me, I'd like to go inside and see if I can handle that orc. Will you let me try?
- (The security guard thought it wouldn't hurt to try this guy out before going to the employment office.) Fine... As you say, come with me. Let's go in and try. Let's see how it goes.
The security guard and Han entered the casino. The interior was quite spacious. Many tables and chairs were lined up in front of a platform in the opposite corner. The platform was at the center of the casino like a stage, and the casino's mezzanine was designed accordingly.
They walked, passing by the stage, to the back rooms and the service area. They passed the kitchen and staff rooms, and when they reached the storage area at the very back, the security guard warned Han.
- We have some guests today. These are important guests. You understand? Mind your manners and don't do anything wrong. If you show any disrespect or rudeness, I can't save you. Remember, you're on your own.
- Ookay.
- Fine… Let's go in.
When they opened the warehouse door and entered, Han saw his mother in a steel cage right in the middle of the warehouse. Suddenly, he felt as if his heart was being torn apart. It was as if someone had ripped his heart out of his chest and was slicing it piece by piece while it was still beating.
He froze at the warehouse door, unable to take another step. Seeing Han standing still and staring intently at the red orc, the security guard thought Han was afraid of the red orc.
- What happened? You were so eager outside just a moment ago. Now, faced with the real thing, you froze. (He extended his arm, pointing to the red orc.) This is the red orc you wish to serve.
As Han began to accept that his mother had been captured and caged, his dull gaze slowly returned to its senses. He had to rescue his mother immediately, and hold the people who had caged her accountable.
As revenge burned in Han's eyes, he drew his curved dagger and slit the guard's throat. When the man grabbed his throat and fell to the ground, staring at Han with wide eyes. Han looked at the man as if he were filth, then slowly walked toward his mother...
…
Erna was sitting in the cage and her head bowed. Then a familiar scent suddenly filled her nose. This scent ached her heart, and memories began to overflow from her heart like a longing. Erna immediately pressed her hands against her heart.
She wanted to suppress her feelings and not let anyone see her weakness. But no matter what she did, it was useless. When the longing for her son overflowed from her heart like a flood, Erna couldn't stand it anymore and let the longing she felt for her son spill from her eyes onto the ground.
As the tears of intense longing she had nurtured inside her dripped onto her legs, her son's scent grew stronger and stronger. Now, the whole place smelled of her son. She took a deep breath and, inhaling her son's scent, said, "My dear son."
Then, wiping her tears with the back of her hand to prevent anyone from seeing her cry, she lifted her head and looked around. At that very moment, she encountered the son she loved more than her life itself. Her heart suddenly began to beat wildly. It felt like her heart would burst out of her chest. The tears she had wiped away began to flow from her eyes again.
Erna stood up, tears streaming down her face, while Han had come to the side of the cage. Mother and son looked at each other with love. Then Erna remembered a truth and immediately wanted to get her son away from there.
- Son, go out of here. This place is dangerous. Go out now. These are very dangerous people.
- Mom… My dear momy… Calm down. Let me get you out first, then we'll leave together.
As Han tried to unlock the steel cage, the warehouse door opened, and the Night Lord, his butler, and four of his men entered. When the Night Lord looked at the fallen guard, one of his men immediately stepped forward and pulled the fallen guard aside.
The Night Lord, accompanied by his butler and followed by his four men, advanced and approached Han. The steward recognized the Han as soon as he saw him and immediately told his master. Meanwhile, Erna was telling her son that he needed to escape, but neither the Night Lord nor his men could understand what she was saying. When they got close enough, the Night Lord began to speak.
- First, let me thank you for saving me from that characterless traitor. That traitor would have died again in the end, but I'm glad it wasn't by my hand. I think everyone should kill their own traitor. That's the right thing to do.
When my men told me they'd found a traitor from within, I didn't expect that traitor to join you on this mission. It turns out his plan was to escape the Padraig family. He'd fake his death and build a new life for himself somewhere far away with the money he hoped to get from me. Isn't that funny? Hahaha…
(He stopped laughing and suddenly got angry.) Which traitor could take my money? I was saying that there would be no fool who did not understand this, but… You never know what life holds. Anyway, he's dead and gone. I had his body thrown into a cesspool. I think that's where a traitor should be buried. Don't you agree?
(When there was no reponse from Han, he changed the subject.) I know, we've had an unexpected problem. But it's superficial and can be fixed immediately. I want you to believe that I never intended to detain this orc woman, who is so precious to you. That traitor did it for his own safety. I have no knowledge of it.
(He took a key from his pocket and showed it to Han.) If you want, you can take this orc woman and leave here. Of course, you'll have to put another woman in her place. Woman, another woman in return. I think that's a good deal.
- You say I didn't detain this orc woman. But you didn't do anything to release her either. So, it's a fact that this woman is your captive. And now, you want to take another woman captive to free her?
Going after a woman... Only lowly people can do that. Characterless, dishonorable...
- Stop! Stop for a minute. I'm trying to make a deal with you, but you keep insulting me. You have no idea what a filthy woman the one you're trying to protect is. Her evil deeds, her devious plans... Ruined our family...
She's a snake. It slowly crawled from under the bushes and finally caught my brother, bit him and injected his venom into him. My loving brother died because of that woman.
My brother was so happy that day. He got up early in the morning and made all his preparations. He woke me up and said, "Wish me luck. It's her birthday today, and I'm going to propose to her today. I hope she accepts..." I closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to listen anymore, but he shook me awake. "Oli... Oli, I'm talking to you. Don't sleep, come on, get up and wish me luck. I need your good wishes..."
How could I have known that I was seeing my brother for the last time that morning? My well-meaning, loving brother went after that woman, and by evening, his body was come. It took me six months to learn about the events and find his killer. After six months, I learned that it was the elder of the Padraig family who killed my brother.
Now tell me, isn't it our right to seek revenge and demand life for life? Should we ignore it and leave it at that? Should we continue our lives, crushed and defeated? No, it will never happen. Choose now. Will you save this woman or that filthy woman?
- (As the men behind Oliver advanced from left and right, Han began to speak.) Berfin isn't here. She's long gone. Catching her is now impossible. How about you trade me for her? Detain me and release this woman.
- Hah ha, don't make me laugh. You... You're already our prisoner. I see you're not even aware of it. You're a bit stupid, I guess. Then let me spell out what I want. Now you go and bring that whore Berfin, and I'll release this orc woman. As long as you two are in my hands, that old fart Pal Padraig will definitely come here. Then we'll settle our unfinished business.
- You've made a mistake in your calculations. A very big one, indeed. This calculation won't work, because that old man will definitely not come here. If you want, take his entire family captive. He still won't come.
- He won't come, is that so? Then it's impossible to save this woman. You and this woman will live and die as my prisoners for a while. What a tragic ending.
- Pal Padraig won't come. That's true, but... I have something else I can give you in exchange for this woman's freedom. If you want, we can make a deal.
- I'm listening.
- You know I'm the old man's student, right? We've been working on a strange technique these past few months. I later learned it was his secret technique. So I can teach you Pal Padraig's secret technique, or anyone else you want...
- Don't be ridiculous, the old man wouldn't teach his secret technique to anyone.
- Don't believe it?
- (Oliver looked carefully at Han but couldn't see any sign that he was lying.) Show me.
When Oliver signaled for one of the men on his right and left to step forward as a challenger to Han, the man on the far left, who had set his sights on Han, moved forward and stood before him. Han, first glanced at the challenger, then turned his head to look at Oliver and the men beside him.
The men showed no signs of attacking. hey were waiting, to watch Han's fight with his defiant friend. Seeing this as an opportunity, Han decided to attack, thinking he would not be able to catch his enemies so careless again.
He pulled out the karambit knives hidden in his belt, gripped them tightly, and leaned forward slightly, as if ready to attack at any moment. His full attention seemed fixed on the challenging enemy before him, but he also glanced at his other enemies out of the corner of his eye.
His enemies stood calmly in place. They were like spectators waiting for the show to begin. None of them seemed alert. At that very moment, Han moved and disappeared. The warehouse's lack of light rendered Han invisible.
As Han killed the four weakest men and attacked Oliver's throat, a sword blocked his karambit knife. Oliver's butler stopped the attack at the last moment. If he had been a little slower, Oliver wouldn't have been alive. When the sword and karambit knife clashed and locked together, the four men behind them fell to the ground at the same time…