A great counterattack?
Edersen looked a little absent-minded.
When he first woke up from the dungeon, he had also thought about this.
However, as time went by, everything changed.
Especially when the wicked souls started to pour into his body, the last bit of extravagant hope vanished into thin air.
But …
Now?
Edersen straightened his body.
He looked at Kieran.
He sensed a familiar presence from Kieran.
It was an aura that only a Demon Hunter would have.
On the contrary, the guy with the smile on his face made him feel very uncomfortable.
If Kieran wasn't on the same side as Kieran, he really wanted to stab Kieran.
"I'll join the great counterattack!
"But I need some time. I need to rescue my two friends in prison."
Miers and Tandek.
They shouldn't have to endure that kind of humiliation. "
Edersen looked at Kieran and promised.
At the same time, he made a request.
A very reasonable request.
So, Kieran nodded.
"Sure.
But please be quick.
"My people can assist you."
Kieran said. Bloody Mary looked at Edersen with a smile, but Old Demon Hunter shook his head.
"I'm used to working alone.
After I save them, I'll go find you. "
Old Demon Hunter then wanted to leave.
Kieran didn't stop him.
Bloody Mary even gave Kieran its blessings.
"I wish you a smooth journey."
Edersen jumped out of the wagon right before it went through the city gate corridor and merged into the shadows. He looked at the wagon moving further away and heaved a breath of relief.
There was nothing to stop it.
It proved that what Kieran said was quite credible.
Plus, one of them had the presence of a Demon Hunter …
"Snake school, eh?"
Edersen muttered in his heart. He then dashed towards the Central Third Ring with killer intents hidden in his eyes.
Some things had to be settled.
…
The wagon continued forward. Kieran and Bloody Mary, who was summoned by the contract, sat face to face.
"Boss, was I targeted just now?"
Bloody Mary looked at Kieran with an innocent face.
"Yes."
Kieran nodded.
"But I woke him up!"
"I'm his savior!"
"How could he do this to me?"
Bloody Mary said indignantly.
"You're not human."
Kieran said simply.
"…"
Bloody Mary was rendered speechless by the truth, but it had a lot of things to say in its heart.
"Don't underestimate the real Demon Hunters."
"Even after being imprisoned for so long, their instincts are still there."
"At the very least, I can distinguish some of its essence."
Kieran reminded his follower.
As some of the plans unfolded, the role of his follower became more and more important. He did not want to delay the entire plan because of some trivial matters.
"A bastard who dragged his enemies down with him is scary!"
Bloody Mary couldn't help but frown when it thought about the memories it saw.
The stubborn and tenacious bastard poured kerosene on himself and dashed towards the stove. It was something Bloody Mary would never forget for the rest of its life.
Likewise, since the Silent Night Secret Order was able to defeat the bastard, it had to be more careful.
"Boss, I need to return to the convoy."
"Although we've passed the outpost of Aïtantin Castle, I'm worried that the king VI might play some tricks."
Kieran nodded in agreement to Bloody Mary's suggestion.
After bowing to Kieran, Bloody Mary transformed into its formless form and merged into the ground, flying out of Aïtantin Castle.
After sensing that Bloody Mary had left Aïtantin Castle, Kieran changed his posture and squinted his eyes.
He was recalling Edersen's memories.
What Bloody Mary saw, Kieran saw through the power of the contract.
From a more objective point of view.
With the talent [Memory Palace], Kieran had a photographic memory. After watching it once, he had a clear understanding of one of the major factions in this dungeon world, the Demon Hunters.
The Demon Hunters usually existed in the form of a family or master and disciple.
The former was a team and the latter was a lone wolf.
It also made the latter far stronger than the former. Of course, it wasn't absolute.
Based on Edersen's memories, the Demon Hunters who acquired the title were not all lone wolves. Around 40% of them came from one of the teams.
Or one of the Demon Hunters who acquired the title started a family and changed their way of doing things.
The Demon Hunters had branches all over the world.
They existed in the form of hotels, taverns, etc.
Of course, they also had a headquarters.
Outside Aïtantin Castle, inside a dense forest along Lingwen Avenue that led to the south.
However, it should have declined.
Of course, what concerned Kieran the most was the strength of some of the Demon Hunters.
For example, Edersen's teacher, the crippled and retired Old Demon Hunter. He was undoubtedly a Higher Rank powerhouse and possessed secret techniques. His instantaneous explosive power was enough to shock people.
The rest were the higher ranks of the Demon Hunters.
From Higher Rank to rank IV.
Among them, there were more than 5 rank IV Demon Hunters.
There were as many as 20 Higher Rank Demon Hunters.
These were just the ones in Edersen's memories. Whether there were hidden ones or not, Kieran had no idea.
Kieran obviously felt that Edersen's memories were incomplete.
The most crucial point was that 'man's voice'.
Whether it was what he heard or saw.
Both of them were under some kind of restriction.
Hence, changes were made.
"A spy of the Silent Night Secret Order?"
Kieran pondered.
The spy's appearance and Edersen's memory fragments were enough to tell Kieran that the Silent Night Secret Order wasn't targeting the Demon Hunters on the spur of the moment. They had been planning this for a long time.
As for why?
The pagans!
The Silent Night Secret Order had many pagans, they even used them to conduct experiments.
Of course, there were also human experiments.
It went against the beliefs of the Demon Hunters without a doubt.
One side protected, the other destroyed.
Both sides could be considered as archenemies.
Given how the Silent Night Secret Order did things, it wasn't strange for them to make a move earlier.
The strange thing was, after the Demon Hunters, their greatest enemy, was eliminated, Silent Night Secret Society, who had won, quieted down as well.
One needed to know that the Silent Night Secret Order wasn't just a pyrrhic victory, it was a true victory!
They didn't need to rest and recuperate.
Based on the Demon Hunters' style, they should be taking the fruits of victory without any hesitation.
They shouldn't continue to lay low.
Unless …
"Lady Calamity, eh?"
Kieran tapped the handle of his chair with his index finger and squinted his eyes.
No doubt Lady Calamity was the key to the whole incident.
Whether it was the Aïtantin royal court, the Demon Hunters, or even the Silent Night Secret Order, all of them revolved around Lady Calamity.
However, Kieran's understanding of Lady Calamity was pitiful.
The identity of 'Dense Fog' was too grand.
The identity of the Snake School Demon Hunter was too sensitive.
Maybe he should find a better, gentler entry point?
While Kieran was deep in thought, the wagon slowly stopped.
Pol knocked on the window.
"Corin, we are here."
Kieran opened the door.
After looking around, he confirmed the location.
It should be the passage between the Middle Third Ring and the Lower Seventh Ring.
Aïtantin Castle had a total of 17 rings. The Lower Seventh Ring was the civilian district, the Middle Third Ring was the commercial district, and the Upper Seventh Ring was the noble district. There were military camps in every ring and patrols were everywhere. Especially at the entrance of each ring, there were more than 30 soldiers stationed there all the time, and at the entrance of the Upper Seventh Ring, the number reached 50.
Standing there, Kieran looked at the castle gate from before.
He could clearly see the castle gate corridor from where he stood. It was still crowded with people, but he couldn't see the real castle gate.
Following Kieran's gaze, his sharp senses picked up a few gazes from the soldiers stationed at the entrance of the Middle Third Ring.
"A sharpshooter hiding among them?"
Kieran thought in his heart. He cooperated and retracted his gaze. He started to size up the place he would be staying in for the next few days or even a week or two.
It was a three-story building.
The door opened on both sides. Through the gap of the door, he could see the spacious lobby inside. The first floor had three windows on the left and five on the right. The second floor had 12 windows, and the third floor had a balcony. Only the left side had six windows, and the rest were reserved for the balcony. From where Kieran stood, he could clearly see the pine needles planted on the balcony.
The dark green pine needles were very cold-resistant. They could even survive the Northern Land's winter, bringing a hint of color to the surroundings.
Especially the hotel before him. The main structure was a mix of stone and wood. Together with the faded orange tiles and a tinge of green, it made one feel comfortable.
The signboard left a deep impression on Kieran.
It looked like a carrot.
The name was also 'Carrot'.
"Don't worry. Although the name of this hotel is a little weird, it's very reliable.
The beef inside is even better. "
Borl made the introductions.
"Stewed beef brisket with carrot?"
Kieran asked.
He then pushed the door open and went in.
When he pushed the door open, Kieran sharply noticed that the gaze on him had vanished.
However, Kieran was a little disappointed.
The hotel had the smell of steak, but there was no beef stew.
However, soon enough, the black pepper and the boiling butter clashed, attracting Kieran's attention.
While Pol and Lagren were arranging their lodging and setting up the wagon, Kieran had already ordered the hotel's signature black pepper steak recommended by the waiter.
The choice of beef wasn't the best, but the portion was quite heavy.
The edges of the steak were also just right, not only locking in the juices, but also preventing it from being burnt.
The side dish was carrots.
The steak was sliced into slices, half raw and half cooked. The spoon scooped up the sauce and drew a beautiful arc on the rest of the plate.
Kieran used the fork to dip some sauce into his mouth.
The mushroom aroma started to rise.
"Not bad."
Kieran commented.
Being able to taste the food cooked by a chef with decent culinary skills in any random hotel, what else could make one happier than that?
Of course it was … eating 10 servings!
When Pol was done with the arrangements and returned to the dining hall, his heart pounded violently when he saw the plates in front of Kieran.
Although he had a feeling it would be like this, when he saw it with his own eyes, Pol still couldn't take it.
The cost of living in Castle Aïtantin was completely different from Sicar.
The food was more exquisite and delicious, which also meant it was more expensive.
The only fortunate thing was that the hotel he chose, Carrot Hotel, was located in the aisle between the civilian and commercial district, not the aisle between the commercial district and the noble district.
Otherwise …
He would probably go bankrupt right away.
With a feeling of surviving a disaster, Pol also ordered two of his signature steaks from the waiter.
When his bodyguard, Ash Kano, asked for 10 servings, Pol placed one in front of him.
"This is Castle Aïtantin, not the outskirts of Mozaar nor the transit city of Sicar.
The cost of living here is beyond your imagination. Based on the salary I hired you with, even if you eat as much as you want, you'll have to borrow money in 3 to 5 days.
If you don't want to live on rye bread in the future, you'd better save some money. "
Pol told his bodyguard.
Kano, on the other hand, was looking at the stacked plates in front of Kieran.
"Corin is different from us."
Pol explained.
Would he dare to reject Kieran?
He had to understand the Flaming Devil!
He didn't want to be treated as a human torch and then be burned to ashes!
In the face of death, choose from your heart.
It was the way to survive.
Pol kept it in mind.
As for Ash Kano?
Mr. Bodyguard, who was very easy to convince, did not have any complaints. After eating another steak, he began to buy black bread.
He wasn't full yet.
More money was sent back to his adoptive father in Mozaar.
He could only choose the most basic food now.
"8 Copper Kra?
Isn't it 7?
"Are you lying to me?"
Ash Kano remembered the price that Pol told him before. When the price didn't match, the bodyguard glared at Kieran and clenched his fist like all the outskirts Mozaar natives. If Kieran didn't give him an explanation, he would beat Kieran up.
"Two weeks ago, it was 7 Copper Kra for a whole loaf of rye bread.
But that was two weeks ago.
Now it's 8 Copper Kra. If you weren't staying in my restaurant, it would be 8 and a half Copper Kra. "
A short, white-haired old man with a goatee walked out and stood in front of his pale nephew, explaining to Ash Kano.
"Is that so?"
The bodyguard instinctively turned around to look at Borl.
Pol nodded.
The old man was the owner of Carrot Hotel, Old Hank. Beside him was his nephew from the countryside, Little Hank. During the conversation just now, Kieran had gotten to know everything.
At the same time, he also confirmed that Old Hank's character was as good as the rumors said.
Kieran didn't flatter Old Hank just because Old Hank gave him a 5% discount.
"I'm sorry.
"My bodyguard is very reckless."
But he's not a bad guy. "
Pol walked over and explained with a smile. He even tapped Little Hank's shoulder a few times.
When Little Hank's face turned for the better, Pol offered to buy him a drink.
Old Hank didn't reject the offer after looking around the rather empty hotel lobby.
Naturally, Pol and Old Hank returned to Kieran's table. Ash Kano and Little Hank went to the kitchen to get some rye bread.
"The price of goods this year is really surprising.
Even the price of rye bread has gone up. "
Pol clinked his glass with Old Hank's and drank it all in one gulp.
Old Hank didn't hesitate either and drank it all in one gulp.
Instantly, the old man's face flushed red.
The liquor of Aïtantin Castle was also the traditional liquor of the Northern Lands.
The liquor was fermented from potatoes and grains. It was pungent and spicy, but it was a favorite of all the Northerners who lived in the freezing cold.
Old Hank was no exception.
"It can't be helped.
In the past, the nobles would have gone to the south to spend the winter.
Together with the servants, servants and those parasites on the nobles, Aïtantin Castle would lose at least a quarter of its population, but it's different this year.
His Majesty has issued a new decree. We can now buy dukeship titles, and all the nobles must attend the ceremony.
That's why all the migratory birds that went to the south stayed behind and ate their food meticulously.
As a result, the prices of goods have gone up as well.
But at the same time, there's a lot more work to be done.
It's not bad, but it's not bad either. "
Old Hank, who was born and raised here, obviously knew a lot about the situation in Aïtantin Castle.
Old Hank's mind was very clear, and he had a way of speaking that people from other small places didn't have.
It was exactly what Pol needed.
He treated Old Hank to another glass.
"What do you think about the new decree?"
Pol asked.
"His Majesty is out of money."
Old Hank laughed and placed the empty glass on the table. This time, he didn't wait for Borl to invite him. He took the initiative to walk back to the bar counter and took out a whole bottle of wine.
"My treat."
Old Hank said as he poured a cup for Frank.
Then, he poured another for himself and drank it all in one gulp.
Three consecutive glasses of strong liquor had opened the old man's mouth completely.
He told Borl straightforwardly.
"You know what? We won the war against the south, but the rewards were not as big as we thought. Our Majesty is eager to set his sights on the southern islands.
Our Majesty, who loves grandeur and achievements, hopes to surpass his ancestors in his lifetime.
"And every war requires a lot of money."
Especially when we don't have time to rest and recuperate.
"Money is especially important."
"You're asking me what I think about the new decree?
What kind of opinion can I have?
It's not like I can afford it. "
Old Hank's body wobbled and fell on the table.
Pol, whose face was slightly red, quickly helped the old man to the kitchen after he made sure he was really drunk.
Then, there was another flurry of movement.
Kieran had been listening from the side since the beginning.
He didn't mind Pol's little tricks.
In fact, exchanging the smallest price for the biggest reward was always Kieran's favorite.
Of course, Kieran reserved his opinion on Old Hank's comment about Aïtantin VI's' love of grandeur and achievements'.
The king's forbearance when he was young proved that he wasn't a person who loved grandeur and achievements.
However, it was hard to guarantee that a person wouldn't change as time passed.
However, Kieran had other speculations in his heart.
"While the War Shrine and Lady Calamity are in a delicate situation, he might attack the southern islands, leaving the real center of the war and developing his own forces better!"
With the speculations in mind, Kieran quietly thought about the hidden opportunities.
At that moment, a well-dressed servant came in from outside.
When the servant saw Kieran, his eyes shone and he bowed.
"Good day, may I know if you are Sir Corin?"
"Yes."
Kieran replied coldly and briefly to the stranger's question.
"I am the emissary of Horton Family, young master Kurt. I would like to invite you to a banquet tonight."
The servant said respectfully.
Kieran slightly frowned.
He wanted to reject out of instinct.
He didn't like attending a stranger's banquet, especially when he would run into a bunch of strangers.
But soon enough, Kieran changed his mind.
Because —
"Young master Kurt has invited the head chefs of Snow Owl Candy House, Elk Pastry Parlor, and Gray Bear Restaurant to host the banquet."
Kieran thought he should attend such a sincere invitation.
"Very well."
He gave an affirmative answer.
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