Chapter 318

Arran followed the steward with some curiosity, a friendly smile on his face as they made small talk while crossing Esran’s crowded streets .

That the man intended to trick him, he knew for certain . While the steward’s oily smiles and flattering words might have worked on someone more trusting, years of peril had taught Arran to always be vigilant .

But in this case, there was no real danger . The steward was expecting to rob a hapless traveler, not someone with strength like Arran’s .

“Your accent,” the man asked as they made their way past the crowds, “is it imperial?”

“You have a good ear,” Arran replied . “It’s true, I grew up in the Empire . “Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

“It’s rare to meet imperials in these lands,” the steward said . “Few people are willing to forgo the safety the Empire offers . What brought you here?”

He gave Arran an appraising look as he spoke, and Arran surmised that the man was trying to glean how dangerous his intended victim would be .

“I made some enemies in the Empire,” Arran responded . “After I traveled to the borderlands, I spent several years working as a mercenary in the south . But when I heard about the Hunters, I figured they might have use for my talents . “

It was as clear a warning as Arran would give the man . If the steward was smart, he’d catch the hint, and abandon whatever he had planned . And if he wasn’t, he would only have himself to blame for the outcome .

Yet if the steward felt any hesitation, he showed no sign of it . Instead, he merely nodded thoughtfully, then said with an unconvincing laugh, “I can’t imagine traveling that far, myself . I get anxious just visiting the nearest town . “

Arran understood that the steward had some sort of trick up his sleeve . If the man was willing to continue with his plan despite knowing his intended victim was a hardened mercenary, then he had stronger backing than just the two city guards who accompanied them .

Still, Arran wasn’t worried . He doubted there was even a single person in the city who posed a threat to him . And if there was, they certainly wouldn’t waste their time robbing travelers .

And so, he followed the steward without complaint or hesitation — not even when they reached a quieter area of the city, filled with craftsman’s workshops and large stone warehouses .

The steward came to a halt in front of one of these warehouses, then turned to face Arran . “My business partner is waiting inside,” he said . “With his help, we’ll get you out of the city within a day or two . “

Arran nodded, then followed the steward inside . His Sense had already told him someone was waiting within the warehouse — a single man, tall and muscular, with a sword at his side .

As they entered the building, the two guards followed behind them and closed the door . And even with his back turned, Arran knew they were reaching for their swords .

Yet he paid them no mind . Even if they struck him, they were only commoners — far too weak to injure him even if he ignored them entirely .

The man ahead, however, was a Body Refiner . And even as the door to the warehouse closed, he drew his sword and attacked, raising his sword to strike with all his might .

Arran effortlessly caught the blade in his left hand . And with his right, he struck his opponent in the face .

The man was a Body Refiner, but compared to Arran, he might as well have been a commoner . He didn’t even have the time to look shocked before Arran’s fist crashed into his face and his lifeless body collapsed to the ground . Moments later, he was joined by the two guards .

Arran sighed, then turned to the steward, who was looking at him with wide-eyed shock, frozen in panic at the scene he’d just witnessed .

“I didn’t know—” the man began, his voice trembling with fear .

“Shut up,” Arran interrupted him . “I have no interest in excuses or apologies . Despite your treachery, I still need to get into the Hunters’ lands . Can you help me with that, or not?”

The man looked at Arran with fearful eyes . Yet after a moment, he nodded, then said, “I can . It will take a few days, but I can make good on my word if you give me a chance . “

Arran gave the man a look, then shook his head . Something about the steward’s expression told him that the man still had not given up on the idea of treachery .

“I think you still don’t understand,” he said . “Whether you return with ten guards or a hundred, it doesn’t matter . They will all die . And after that, both you and your family will suffer the same fate . Your only way out of this is to give me what I came for . “

Arran had no intention of harming the man’s family, but it couldn’t hurt to give his threat some additional weight . And it seemed that this time, the threat worked .

The steward reached into his coat and produced a small black amulet, which he handed to Arran .

“This is my personal seal,” he said, his expression flat . “The people allowed to travel into the Hunters’ lands leave every day at sunrise . If you show this to the guard captain, he’ll let you join them . ” He hesitated, then added, “But please, don’t harm my family . “

Arran smiled wryly . “If you haven’t lied to me, your family is safe . ” He reached for his coin purse and retrieved a fistful of gold . “And here’s your payment . “

The man accepted the gold with a puzzled look on his face, but he did not dare object to the gift . “Thank you,” he said instead, though he glanced at his fallen companions as he spoke .

“I suggest you don’t speak of this to anyone,” Arran said . “If you do, there will be consequences . “

In truth, he didn’t worry about anyone discovering what had happened in the warehouse . He did not intend to hide the fact that he was a Body Refiner when he entered the Hunter’s lands, only the true extent of his power .

But still, it was a good idea to avoid any unnecessary attention .

The steward nodded, sincerity written across his pale face as he gazed at Arran . “No one will know . “

“Good,” Arran replied . “Now then, I’ll return to the inn . I hope for your sake that we don’t have to meet again . “

Without waiting for a reply, he exited the warehouse, then began to head back to the inn . And as he made his way through Esran’s dirty streets, he could not help but be relieved that he would be leaving the next day .

When he arrived at the inn, the innkeeper looked at him with a puzzled expression . Clearly, the man had not expected him to return .

“Thank you for your help,” Arran said, a friendly smile on his face as he spoke . He handed the man a few pieces of gold from his coin purse, then added, “Your brother-in-law proved most useful . “

The innkeeper nodded silently, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes .

Arran paid it no mind . Instead, he had the innkeeper guide him to his room immediately . He would be leaving early the next day, and he wouldn’t forgo the chance to get a good night’s rest before he departed .

Before he fell asleep, he could not help but smile in satisfaction . All considered, it had been a day well-spent .