Gordon had thought this through.
He hadn't wanted to risk any of his men's lives. But, more than that, he didn't want to risk his own life.
Three was almost enough to beat this kid.
That was what he thought before bringing only three men with him. If they fought Grey after deciding he was weak, together with Gordon, it would be a four versus one. And not a normal four versus one. Gordon was stronger than the others.
So, the only thing he needed to learn was whether Grey was really strong. If there were a condition to activate his Art, he thought they could easily handle Grey before that condition was met.
During their walk, Gordon tried to measure Grey's strength by showing his killing intent. It wasn't something only masters could do. On the contrary, the better one was at killing, the more they could hide their killing intent.
Just by wanting to kill him, he could show his killing intent. But no matter how many times he tried, Grey didn't respond. He didn't even bring his hand toward the scabbard.
Gordon instantly understood that Grey wasn't a swordmaster. He was just someone lucky kid who knew some kind of Art.
Also, the Art couldn't be related to swords. If it were, Grey would need to learn about the swordsmanship before he could learn the Art related to swordsmanship.
And if he had learned swordsmanship, he would feel Gordon's killing intent.
In short, Grey had a strong Art unrelated to swords. And there was a condition to activate this Art.
But no matter how strong it was, Grey couldn't do anything if he had no swords. That was when he decided to snatch the sword.
Unfortunately, Grey had seen through his plan.
Even if it was to save one of his men, the leader of a thug group wouldn't become a kind and loyal guide. Especially for a fifteen-year-old kid.
Grey used it to his advantage before turning the tables. Thinking Grey would die anyway, Gordon didn't think too much before answering his questions.
Of course, the questions didn't reveal many things since he was only trying to learn about the slums and not the thieves yet.
"Won't you come at me?" Grey said as he looked at the three men standing a bit behind Gordon, who was on the ground.
They had missed their chance since they hadn't attacked together with Gordon, so now, their bodies were slightly shaking since Gordon's plan hadn't succeeded, and he couldn't help the other three.
Grey put his naked sword beside Gordon's neck after seeing that the three were not moving. "Now, I think we both can stop acting and talk for real."
"Hahaha!" Gordon laughed, but the pain affected his laugh. "Do you think I am scared of you? If I tell you, things worse than death are waiting for me."
He wasn't on his one knee anymore. He had given in to the pain, so he was sitting on the ground.
"I can also give you something worse than pain," Grey said.
"Don't make me laugh! You are just a naive kid."
"Isn't the reason you are on the ground the same thing you thought now?"
"It doesn't matter. In front of them, even if you were an experienced swordmaster with a strong Art related to the sword, you would still be nothing but a kid."
He didn't like Gordon's answer. Grey was half bluffing, but he didn't think Gordon would think so highly of the ones he was talking about.
"Who are they?" Grey asked.
"Kill me. I won't tell you anything anyway."
"You are still thinking I won't do it. But there are also those three behind you. I will question them after I kill you. If they don't answer, I will go for the other three. The one I injured and the two that escorted him."
"Hehehe! That is why you have already lost. Do you think you will be able to find them? Those three we left behind have already left and informed 'them'. You won't be able to escape. Darkness will swallow you!"
After that, foam started coming from Gordon's mouth, and Gordon smiled.
A mere thug is using suicide to run away from interrogation? Was he not a simple thug?
Grey immediately looked up, but the other three were still there. They were also scared, looking at Gordon.
So, they also didn't know.
This was a bigger problem than he had thought. Gordon definitely wasn't some assassin or someone strong, or he wouldn't have fallen for Grey's trap that easily.
But he was probably someone who knew more than the others. He could have secret agreements with "them" he was talking about.
Grey tried to question the other three. He didn't know why, but they talked immediately.
"We were given food and money to not let anyone enter. This is not something new; every year, Gordon chooses new people.
There were also other leaders before Gordon, and they did the same. But we don't know why."
Grey held his brow. He just wanted his money, but this seemed to be a bigger issue than he thought.
What was that cringy villain line? What do you mean by "Darkness will swallow you?"
He didn't have time to worry about that, though. He would only be here for two more days and leave after the festival.
If he couldn't find his money, he needed to earn enough before the next academic year started.
"What is happening in this forest?" he asked the three.
"We don't know! Sometimes, some people enter here. Every time, they talk to Gordon first. We don't know what they do, though."
Grey didn't want to waste more time with these people. He didn't kill them. He wasn't ready to kill everyone... yet.
Gordon had probably only informed one or two of his men about "them," and they were among the ones who were left behind.
These three would disperse after the issue was resolved anyway.
Instead, he entered the forest. There was definitely something here. There were a lot of traces.
Grey was an expert in the forest as a former lumberjack. And it was time to show what he was capable of...