It was clear that the Giant Axe Adventurers were not a wealthy group. They seldom had spare moo spend on drinks. When Charlot treated them to alcohol, not only were the three male members of the group delighted, but even the blonde-haired Hanna and the short-haired Hermonsa, with her slightly brown locks, were overjoyed.

  Old John brought over a roasted wild boar shank as a bonus for Charlot’s purchase of the drinks. Everyone carved thin slices off the meat with small ko pair with their drinks, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

  About two hours after Charlot ehe vilge, a seven-person team also arrived. These individuals were all bck coats simir to those worn by Wells and Addison—distinctive attire of the Fiery Steed Detective Agency. These coats were not only highly resistant to water and wind but could also withstand some sword strikes. Moreover, they featured numerous cealed pockets, making them ideal for travel.

  Winterburn, the leader of the group, said, “It’s too te to tinue. Let’s stay in this vilge for the night.”

  “Addison, find out if anyone in the vilge offer lodging.”

  Winterburn, aged forty-eight, was a fourth-tier Transdent and a mid-level officer in the Fiery Steed Detective Agency. He was well-known among his peers and held siderable authority within the agency.

  Addison hurried off aurned shortly afterward. “Old John at the edge of the vilge has room for lodgers.”

  The group wasted no time in taking a. When they knocked on Old John’s door, Charlot, who had already goo bed, was startled awake by the noise. He immediately activated his Eye of Insight, extending its rao cover Old Johire house.

  “Fiery Steed Detective Agency? How did they catch up so quickly?”

  Charlot’s heart pounded in arm. Hesitating, he decided not to flee immediately. Any rash move now would be akin to admitting his identity.

  The Fiery Steed team, meanwhile, showed no signs of realizing their target was right uheir noses. Winterburn only briefly inquired about the earlier lodgers, learning that they were an adventuring party, and asked for some food. After a quick meal, they retired to separate rooms arranged by Old John.

  Charlot dared not sleep again. Closing his eyes, he quietly circuted Blood Glory, enduring a restless night.

  At dawn, the Fiery Steed detectives set off on their way, finally allowing Charlot to breathe a sigh of relief.

  Not long after, the members of the Giant Axe Adventurers began to stir. As seasoned adventurers, their vigince arent; they were all aware that anroup had arrived te at night. However, sihing happehey chose not to react.

  Charlot joihe group for a simple breakfast, and they soo off toward Yorktown.

  Charlot found himself struggling to adjust. Ba Strasb, he rarely traveled on foot, having grown aced to public carriages. Now, the jouro Yorktown had to be made entirely on foot. The mountain roads were impassable for carriages, and even if they weren’t, the Giant Axe Adventurers wouldn’t hire one. Hiring a carriage for a long journey outside the city was far too expensive.

  Despite being a third-tier Transdent, Charlot still found the trek exhausting. He thought to himself, “I o work harder on my training. I must dehe Blood Vortex in my right leg and master the runes for Swiftstep Teique and Spider Teique as soon as possible.”

  “Or perhaps I could just buy a carriage and drive it myself…”

  Winterburn’s team had, by then, reached the estate Charlot had desighe previous day. After spending over an hour searg the area and firming that Charlot was not there, they tiheir pursuit along another road.

  Although the Fiery Steed Detective Agency had maives, they only had oransdent on the diviner’s path, Wells. Before setting out, they had sulted a sorcerer, who could only provide a general dire without much detail.

  Unaware that he had narrowly escaped danger, Charlot finally arrived at Yorktown, grumbling along the way.

  Yorktown was a fairly rge settlement with nearly a thousand inhabitants. Iower stood a massive wooden lodge built from logs by the renowned demon hunter, White Wolf. In front of the lodge, forty to fifty people were already gathered in small groups, murmuring among themselves.

  The arrival of the Giant Axe Adventurers was met with unanimous hostility—yet anroup of petitors had appeared.

  Charlot had grown quite familiar with his five panions during their journey. He learhat their leader, Mason, aspired to bee a demon hunter, while the other four members were there to support him.

  As a low-ranking adventurer group, they had all learned some form of Knightly Breathing Teiques, but only Mason and Hermonsa had mao dense power seeds. Hermonsa, being younger, still had a ce tress. Mason, however, was over forty and had little hope of breaking through and being a battle energy knight.

  Hanna, oher hand, seemed particurly ied in Charlot. She chatted with him the most throughout the journey.

  Charlot khe reason—he had revealed himself as a Transdent and a knight with bat energy. To Hanna, he seemed like a promising romantic prospect.

  Of course, it didn’t hurt that Charlot was exceptionally handsome.

  Otherwise, he wouldn’t have won the favor of Annie Bretagne.

  After all, the outes of a hero saving a beauty could range from receiving her hand in marriage to aernal bond of gratitude in the life...

  The Giant Axe Adventurers cimed a spot he massive lodge. Mason sought out a familiar face to gather information aurned with news: “White Wolf won’t be arriving tonight. He’s still a day’s journey away and will only be here tomorrow.”

  “Most of the people here have already found aodations iown. Those who couldn’t are stayio keep watch. Looks like we’ll be camping out here tonight as well.”

  The others were unfazed. pared to the wilds, the town’s open space was far safer. The group quickly built a small campfire aed, relieving the day’s fatigue.

  Charlot had no i in being a demon hunter. Hanna, too, felt she had no ce. When she suggested they find a pce to have a drink, Charlot readily agreed. To his surprise, Hermonsa decided to join them.

  After notifying Mason, Charlot led the two women away, leaving the two male teammates grumbling uheir breath.

  Although Charlot had traveled all day, as a third-tier Transdent, a bit of Blood Glory circution quickly alleviated his fatigue.

  The two women, however, had no such advaheir weariness in to see.

  After visiting two inns in Yorktown and finding both full, Charlot decided not to try a third. Instead, he bought a heap of food and a rge keg of ale from the sed inn auro the lodge with the two women.

  Sharing the food and ale with his teammates, Charlot soon dispelled any lingering dissatisfa from the two men.

  After eating a little, Hanna y down on her pad quickly fell asleep. Hermonsa, slightly more eic, stayed up to chat for a while but soon succumbed to exhaustion. Mason and the other two male teammates were simirly worn out.

  Charlot volunteered to take the first watch, proposing that they take turns through the night.

  Even iown, keeping a watch was still necessary.