Back to present.
It took Eiji 6 days to reach Breeze City again.
He had changed horses so many times along the way, he didn't stop even once, he ate rations if he was hungry but did not sleep nor did any type of rest!
He just continued riding the galloping horses that he would eventually change when it gets tired from the nonstop running, on any town or person he comes across with.
It was now nearing the middle of the day, and the sun was up and bright when Eiji arrived once again on the East gate of Breeze City.
Exhausted and without any sleep, he jumped off the heaving horse.
"Here, and please take the horse, you can have or sell it, I don't care."
When Eiji approached the guards, he gave out his identification, then instructed the guards who became sceptical at his orders.
But as a low paying job, the two of them were happy to have the horse, they could raise it, sell it or whatever they want to do with it as Eiji as stated.
Because of Eiji's unexpected request, the two guards did not feel the coldness emitted by Eiji.
---
Entering the city, Eiji looked at the bustling streets with people coming and going and the soft and gentle breeze of the wind.
The first time he came here, he and his teammates got exploded, and now in his second time here, it was Eiji himself ready to explode his anger!
Eiji walked into the bustling crowd.
He navigated the road towards the tavern where he and Renji had spent a few days, talking and reminiscing about their school days.
Just a few minutes and he arrived at rhe tavern.
It was now incredibly very busy.
There were a lot of people now coming in to eat or book an inn at the second floor.
Eiji frowned.
It was not that he didn't like that the tavern was doing great, but rather, why it had suddenly become so popular when the family was clearly being targeted.
Still, Eiji went inside.
"Welcome! Would you like to eat sir or book a room to rest?!"
Once inside, he was greeted by a little boy, happily talking to him, despite the sweat and the busyness of the tavern.
"I... I'll eat..."
Eiji didn't know who he was, and was taken aback for a moment.
Renji hadn't stated that Ryuko had a little brother or the likes.
But he still ate.
When his order arrived, the taste of the dish was now clearly different from that of Koda Shibai, the Father of Ryuko.
"Waiter!"
Eiji called to the boy.
"Ah! Yes! What can I do for you?!"
The boy looked at Eiji with a smile.
"Here's my payment and here's more if you answer my question!"
"Ah! One Gold Gin?!, so much?! What do you want to ask sir?!"
"I want to ask, Where's the previous owner of the tavern? The Shibais!"
"Ah!"
The boy's eyes went wide when he heard Eiji's question.
Then he backed away slowly and fidgeted.
"I- I..."
Seeing the boy struggle to speak Eiji frowned.
"Ah! I'M SORRY MISTER SWORDSMAN!"
Seeing that Eiji frowned at him, the little boy was so scared he dropped to his knees.
This was what typically happens when a commer gets tangled with swordsmen, especially those that are unaffiliated!
These unknown Rogues and Wandering Swordsmen are often rumored to kill without mercy and leave a bloody trail wherever they go!
And with Eiji not having the time to put on the kingdom's brooch, he was mistaken by the kid as a rogue or a wandering swordsman.
"Huh?!"
"What's happening?!"
The sudden action of the kid alerted the people eating.
There were also quite a few swordsmen around who was eating.
They frowned as they looked at Eiji, some even clutching their katanas beside them.
Eiji felt that the situation became a bit complicated.
"Huh?! Ada!!"
Suddenly a voice shouted from the kitchen.
A man ran towards the kid named Ada, then looked at Eiji in fear as he also saw the katana with him.
"Sir! I'm sorry for what my child di! Please! Spare us! We'll compensate you!"
The man hugged Ada as he pleaded with Eiji.
The swordsmen around looked on.
Without knowing the full situation, they won't attack discriminately, especially when its within the center of one of the Major cities of the kingdom!
"No! You misunderstood! I'm just asking about the previous owner of the tavern!"
Eiji shook his head as he told the man that he was just asking a question.
"Ah! This...!"
When the man heard Eiji's words, he also became stunned, then became afraid, he looked around shiftily, then looked at Eiji once more.
"I..I can tell you sir but... Not here! Let's go to the kitchen!"
"Alright!"
Eiji nodded and followed the father and son into the kitchen.
The people around as well as the swordsmen also calmed down and continued their meals and chat.
---
Eiji and the father and son arrived at the kitchen.
Making sure that no one followed them, the man closed the kitchen door and looked at Eiji.
"Umm.. sir.. you must understand that me and my son just happened to buy this tavern just three days ago because it was suddenly on sale, and as a single father, I bought the place which was situated at a good spot at the city, from the money that I managed to save up over the years!
I haven't done anything to the previous owner of the tavern at all!"
The man hastily told Eiji his situation.
But Eiji didn't like the explanation at all!
"I'm not asking that!"
"!!!"
Looking at Eiji's young face, one could mistake him as an innocent and gentle looking child, but the cold and domineering aura around him says otherwise!
"...This.. I...I have heard some... Rumors... It.. It was now a taboo, a- and I heard it involved a noble..that..that was why my son panicked when he heard about you asking the question...his mother.. my wife...was beaten to death by a noble.."
*Sigh!
Eiji sighed.
It seemed that the man also didn't know where the Shibai family are, and from the way they are acting now, it seems they were too afraid of nobles and want to steer away from them.
"Well then.. just answer this.. who was this rumored noble?!"
".."
The man hesitated.
If..If! In the event that this swordsman in front of him is connected with the family of the previous owner, and finds out that they were killed by the noble, then he storms the mansion and killed, when investigated, they might get caught up with the anger of the noble with them providing Eiji the name of the noble!
Eiji once again saw their hesitation.
*SWOOOSHH!!!
*BAANNGG!!
*CRAAACCKKK!!!
Then Eiji's whole demeanor changed!
With his Master level aura out, the whole tavern trembled, the wooden chairs and tables creaked, as the dining hall qas now engulfed with panic as Eiji's aura spread out!
*BANG!!
The father's knees caved in and he spat out blood, while the kid just went straight to became unconscious as froth kept coming out of his mouth!
"WHO.IS.IT?!"
Eiji's aura only spread out for no more than two seconds, but the effects was devastating!
Although he only engulfed the tavern, he didn't went fully all out or else this normal man and kid in front of him would just die out of suffocation and rapture their insides from the pressure!
The man regained his clarity for a bit and looked at Eiji's impassive face, it was then he remembered that the kid in front of him can kill him now and be done with it, how foolish can he be thinking about dying from the count when it hasn't even happened yet!
"Vi-viscount.... I.. Ikeda!"
*Thud!
After answering Eiji, the man then fainted.
Eiji looked at the both of them.
He felt bad.
He really does, but he needs to know where are the Shibais as well as if Renji was really executed!
*Tack!
Eiji took out another golden Gin from his treasure pouch.
By now the father-son already have two Gold Gins, this was enough for them to live comfortably for ten years if they spend it wisely!
*Creeaaakkk!
Eiji then went out the kitchen where he saw a chaotic scene.
There were people who fainted, and the swordsmen who were kneeling and gasping for breath.
When they heard the creaking of the kitchen door, the whole room went silent.
They looked at Eiji.
While Eiji also looked at them.
Feeling guilty once again, he took out ten Gold Gins.
"Well.. I apologize for what had happened, please use this as a compensation!"
Nodding his head slightly, he exited the then silent bar, which erupted in chaos once again, this time they were fighting for the Gold Gins.
Eiji didn't bother what chaos he had created and continued to walk.
He asked a passerby where the Viscount's mansion was located and headed straight in to it!
What was going on in his head, only Eiji knows...
*End Of Chapter.