Chapter 463: Chapter 239: The Bystander (Part 2)
A professional under the age of twenty can be considered an outstanding young talent anywhere.
And considering that it took him just over three hundred days to train his first Battle Skill to Level 5 and then complete his professional transition, nearly leveling up.
The speed of improvement is indeed astonishing.
The kind of boasting that would be scoffed at in a tavern for being too far-fetched.
Not to mention, the few Battle Skills he mastered afterward are of such high quality that improving Skill Levels is relatively difficult.
Of course, Terry William couldn’t possibly know all this.
Even though he paid slight attention to Xia Nan for being the first to notice his gaze, upon learning from the Half Elf about their guard identities, he no longer focused on them.
He instead inquired about the reason for Hai’an’s arrival at Melted Scale Town.
“Uncle Wood, didn’t he come with you?”
“But Mr. Wakefield is really at ease with you bringing so few people so far. If it were Duke Morlton and if the young master or young lady traveled far, even the accompanying cavalry would fill the roads.”
Uncharacteristicly, in response to the Knight’s joke, Hai’an’s face also displayed a polite and agreeable smile, but his expression was noticeably stiff.
He didn’t reply, only slightly lowering his head.
Noticing Hai’an’s behavior, Terry William couldn’t help but frown. Coupled with the rumors he had heard before, he realized that their current venture was probably not just a simple outing.
He couldn’t help but lower his voice and express concern:
“Is it already so tense over at Neum?”
The Half Elf nodded silently, looking depressed.
“We should be able to hold on, both Father and Brother are still in the city.”
The machinations of the higher-ups clearly aren’t within the realm of this young Knight Captain, so naturally, he doesn’t know whether the Duke Morlton he serves will come to their aid.
He just sighed with some regret after learning that their destination was the Nianshu Territory.
“It’s a pity my brothers and I have important business and might be in Melted Scale Town for several months; otherwise, I’d escort you back directly.”
“Alright, I’ll give you the route we took when returning. The demons and bandits along the way have all been dealt with, so there shouldn’t be any danger.”
Terry William’s unexpected appearance was already a pleasant surprise, and to have such a gain was something Hai’an hadn’t considered.
He repeatedly expressed his gratitude, insisting that the other party sit down, saying that he’d also cover the meal for the other table of knights.
It was the Half Elf’s own money, so Xia Nan, of course, had no objection.
And Vier remained silent, only nodding with a smile when greeting Terry William earlier, evidently not willing to interact much with others.
Strangely enough, though Vier is the only Spellcaster in the team, and her reliable performance along the way has earned everyone’s trust.
She still interacted very little with others, except when the glow of Magic occasionally appeared during battles and on the road to help teammates.
Xia Nan even felt she was some kind of “observer.”
Yet, when facing him, even a meaningless casual conversation would instantly break that aloof demeanor, revealing the appearance of a normal teammate.
Just like when he casually asked what dish she wanted to order, Vier’s previously calm face instantly turned panicked.
As if she received some command, her amber eyes quickly scanned the menu on the wall nervously, and before he could react, she clearly and fully listed the five dishes she wanted to order, including main course, appetizer, and soup, with alternatives ranked by priority.
This made Xia Nan even more suspicious, prompting him to look at her a few more times.
…
…
Pain!
The intense pain coming from every part of his body made even the most basic breathing difficult for Luo Gu.
Every rise and fall of his chest, and every inhale of air into his chest through his nasal cavity, brought about a strong smell of blood that seemed to stab like countless invisible needles from the throat to the lungs at every inch.
In such a state, forget about using “Shadow Step Stealth,” which requires holding one’s breath; even ordinary walking exhausted all his energy.
The outstanding skills he honed over two hundred years of life could only maintain his body balance, preventing him from falling.
As a Level 5 professional, employed as a seasoned Dwarf Wanderer of the Shadow Marsh Stealing Hand.
Confronted with the betrayal of a long-time trusted mission leader, Luo Gu’s body was on the verge of collapse.
Once ridiculed and belittled by countless drunks in taverns, then forced to shut them up with shadows and daggers by his small stature.
Now even as ridiculed as those low level adventurers he looked down on, not even as robust as a goblin.
Clad in a cloak, with boots soaked in mud and blood beneath him, all shrouded in shadow.
Luo Gu’s figure swayed as he trod on the narrow streets of Melted Scale Town.
He knew that with his current physical state, staying outdoors meant waiting to die.
He must take advantage of the precious time when Lawson is thrown off his trail, to find a suitable, safe place to recuperate.
Of course, it would be best if someone with medical skills or healing capabilities could help.
As long as his body recovered to the degree where he could normally use “Shadow Step Stealth,” he was confident he could evade Lawson’s pursuit entirely.
And as long as he could leave the Melted Scale Mountain Range…
Luo Gu felt the cold, hard sensation beneath the front of his shirt.