LightReader

Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: The Mane Wolf's Den, The Mastermind

In the depths of the forest, a small lake formed by collected water lay nestled against the towering cliffs of the Red Dragon Mountains.

A natural habitat.

Normally, at this late hour, it should be teeming with birds, beasts, and demonic creatures.

But now, within a radius of several dozen meters, there were over ten tents densely packed together. The rain tarps on the tents were old and worn, and the anchor pegs for the ropes were rusty. They formed a semicircle around a few small wooden cabins. Numerous torches were stuck in the ground throughout the camp, brightly illuminating the area. The grass on the ground had been trampled bare, and the yellowish-brown soil was faintly visible in the firelight.

Humans had driven away the birds, beasts, and monsters, and had taken over this habitat.

Over thirty figures stood around the campfire, silently looking at the only person sitting before them—a slender man.

Under his foot was a burly, bearded man, nearly twice his size, whose head had been forcefully slammed into the dirt. He appeared to have passed out.

"How many times have I said it… I gathered you all here not just for simple highway robbery, but for the thousand-gold-coin bounty! Why does someone always have to cause trouble for me behind my back? Sneaking off to contact the north to sell slaves? Is that the job Boss Night Lion gave you?"

The slender man's face was somewhat effeminate. He squinted as he scanned his surroundings. All around him were the faces of ruffians, yet none dared to meet his gaze.

After a long silence, everyone in front of him simultaneously looked at a bald man standing closest to the slender man. Seeing this, the bald man took a deep breath and spoke in a carefully chosen tone.

"Boss Leopard… everyone thinks that Alan kid has already run away… Hiding out here isn't a long-term solution. At this rate, we won't get the thousand gold coins, and everyone's pockets will be empty… We all dropped what we were doing to be suddenly called here. It's been so long, and we haven't even seen a shadow of the guy… Who knows if Boss Night Lion's information is even…"

SPLAT! Blood and brain matter exploded. He looked down in shock to find that the head of the burly man under Leopard's foot had been crushed to a pulp.

Leopard squinted, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Did you think I was negotiating with you?"

Everyone stared in shock at the corpse on the ground. Then, they heard Leopard continue, his voice laced with clear anger.

"First, I can guarantee the information is true. As for you doubting Boss Night Lion, that shouldn't happen. Don't let there be a next time."

Leopard looked at the frightened bandits around him, sighed softly, and his voice returned to its usual effeminate tone.

"…You were all bought by Boss Night Lion from the slave market and raised by him personally. You should know that he's not the type to disregard the lives of his brothers. How could you doubt him? There's another reason behind Boss Night Lion's decision… Let me be clear with you, he is also under immense pressure. This could concern the very survival of our bandit group."

Hearing this, the bandits' faces filled with surprise, and they began to whisper among themselves. The scene was about to become noisy, but it was quelled by the sound of a sword being drawn.

Leopard plunged his sword into the ground, the hilt buzzing rapidly.

"The pressure is coming from a major power at the top of the capital… Patience is necessary right now. Each of you is generally an Intermediate-rank swordsman or higher, and there are even several Advanced-rank swordsmen. If it were really just for gathering information, why would you all be suddenly summoned here from all over the Asura Kingdom?"

"The majority of the bandit group's elite are gathered here. Do you really think it's for some bullshit highway robbery? Think about it."

As Leopard spoke, his gaze swept over the bewildered and suspicious faces of the crowd, and he sighed again.

"…Alright, get back to what you were doing. Don't stop the patrols outside."

The crowd was silent for a moment, then dispersed in small groups. Soon, only the bald man remained in front of Leopard. He glanced at the bald man and beckoned him over.

"…Have you found those three, Black Wolf and the others, yet?"

The bald man's panicked expression was gone. He leaned in close to Leopard's ear and whispered with a grave face.

"Not yet… This method can only appease them for a short time… When they go out on patrol, they'll likely slack off and go to Rigate City to relax. Everyone here is skilled and used to being in charge at their respective bandit bases. Who would be willing to stay here quietly? We still need to solve the root of the problem, that Alan kid…"

Leopard turned and looked at him expressionlessly.

"Gray Hawk, you don't trust me? Or do you think I was just trying to intimidate them?"

The bald man, Gray Hawk, froze, his face showing a hint of helplessness.

"I trust you! But the great power in the capital is just James, isn't it? He's a minor minister who hasn't even officially taken over from Sauros. How could he have the means to pressure Boss Night Lion…"

"It's not James. He's not worthy."

Gray Hawk's expression changed.

"Then who could it be…"

Leopard's voice was so light it seemed to have no weight, but the information it contained made Gray Hawk's face change drastically.

"It's not James… it's Darius."

"Darius?!"

Gray Hawk looked around, and seeing no one eavesdropping, he quickly leaned into Leopard's ear.

"The high minister Darius, the First Prince's right-hand man… How could it be him? Has he grown tired of noble girls and taken a fancy to this Alan kid instead? Isn't he afraid of getting his head chopped off in his sleep??"

Leopard pinched the bridge of his nose and glanced at Gray Hawk with dissatisfaction.

"What is wrong with your brain… The reason is definitely not that, but the fact that he is pressuring Boss Night Lion is true… Otherwise, why do you think Boss Night Lion would get involved in this mess? James doesn't have that kind of influence."

"Then… does that mean the information is true? That kid, Alan Boreas Greyrat, is really hiding somewhere in the southern foothills of the Red Dragon Mountains nearby? Shouldn't we expand our search area then? Why are we just staying put here? The forest is so big, we'll never find the kid just by stopping and questioning people on the road."

Leopard frowned.

"…That's what I'm wondering too. But the information we received just tells us to stay here and wait."

"Who's there!!"

Just then, a cry of alarm came from the front. Leopard and Gray Hawk looked up simultaneously.

From the shadows beyond the firelight at the edge of the tents, a small figure broke through the darkness and walked out.

It was a man with glasses, no, he looked like a child.

He smiled, took off his bloodstained glasses, and put them in the pocket of his swordsman's uniform, which was caked with thick, dried blood, and looked at the crowd before him.

"Who's there?"

Following the directions given by the now-dead scar-faced man, Alan raised his hands and spread them by his sides, as if presenting a product.

"Of course, I'm the person you've been looking for."

Join my patreon For Early access to Chapter : patreon.com/TheWorldGod

Tiamat 200 Chapter (Final)

Honkai 420 Chapter

Lobotomy 110 Chapter

MushokuTensei 219 Chapter

'Pure Evil' Simulator Chapter Ending 

Crossover Fic Blapterue-Eyes Chapter Ending

More Chapters