Hero of Darkness

Chapter 16: First Dispute

Kahn stared at the two old men standing in front of him.

"These bastards attacking you and me finally finding them at the same time is just a coincidence. Nothing more." Kahn said as he got up on his feet.

The next moment, the elderly took out a pouch full of coins that were bulging out of it." He said,

"Lad, take this as a gratitude for saving our lives. I don't have any other way to thank you at the moment. So please accept this." the elderly man pushed forward the pouch full of coins.

"Keep it. I don't want your money." Kahn declined.

This raised the opinion of him in the eyes of both the men in front of him. Not only did he came in the last moment and saved their lives, even though he did it to avenge his comrades; it was still an unforgettable deed. And then he declined the money as well.

In their line of work, just hiring a bodyguard demanded an exorbitant price and many merchants won't do it unless the profits were extremely well paying. But when faced with life and death situation, many of these hired experts often chose to run instead of honoring their deal to protect the employer.

Kahn's gesture made it sure that he didn't appear in the last second just to fork out more money from them as a form of compensation.

The middle-aged man nodded at his conduct.

"Tell me lad, what's your name ?" the middle-aged man asked.

"Kahn." replied Kahn with no other emotions on his face. This helped him maintain his image of someone grieving but trying to control it on the surface.

"I'm Markus. Leader of the Diamond Adventurer team. Well.. What's left of it anyway." the middle-aged man.. Markus gazed back at the dead bodies of his fallen comrades, his eyes were wavering with grief but he was maintaining a calm and patient look on his face.. Like a true leader who must be able to control himself in any situation.

His comrades however shedding tears at the bodies of their dead friends and team members.

"I... I'm sorry for your loss. Maybe if I reached here any sooner, some of your comrades could've survived." Kahn said with an empathizing tone as if he too understood the loss.

"Not your fault. You've already helped us enough." said Markus.

The elderly man decided to introduce himself as well, "My name is Nikola. Leader of Black Griffin merchant enterprise." he reached his hand to shake.

Kahn shook his hand and nodded.

"Do you have a place to go? Why not come with us?" Nikola asked.

"Where's the nearest town from here? I have been in this forest for weeks now." said Kaun candidly.

"To survive in this dense forest for weeks on your own.. No wonder you're so strong and good at killing." Markus said. He already had judged Kahn to be a trustworthy person and he gave a side glance to the elderly man.

"If you don't mind. You can come with us. I can help you get back to your home." said the old merchant.

"I... I don't have a home. Not anymore." said Kahn with a crestfallen look as if remembering his fallen family again.

"Accompany us. Then decide what you want to do next. Staying here is not safe." Nikola said with a caring voice. If not for Kahn, none of them would be breathing now. He wanted to repay this favor in any way he could. And they too had their fair share of people to mourn.

Kahn nodded and joined the team.

After clearing the battlefield and putting all their dead colleagues and comrades in different carts, the team of remaining survivors finally left off.

For the next two days, they traveled without a problem. Kahn kept it to himself and didn't converse with anyone much including the old man Nikola, maintaining his image of someone grieving.

The whole mood of the caravan was of loss and suffering, everyone grieving in their own ways except this guy who was just keeping up an act.

Finally, after they reached well-paved stone roads and saw a giant city gate, only then did Kahn's eyes showed some interest.

As he looked towards the giant city gates full of people going in & out, many Demihumans & the type of people he didn't even read about in any fantasy-related novel or story among them, Kahn got curious.

things on his priority

Kahn spoke to himself.

"Money. Information. Authority."

going in and out without stopping. A huge plaque was nailed on the top

first city Kahn came to see in Vantrea ever

was donned in a well

me handle this." said the elderly merchant Nikola. He went and talked with the gate guard, pointing his finger towards Kahn who was still half-naked

Nikola and the old man secretly passed

said the guard and their caravan moved along. The other guards didn't say or stopped them either

of them

well-made buildings and houses, entire streets full of people of different races, facial

some among the crowd that didn't walk, rather crawled on the stone-paved road while

of architecture or design either. Some were made from hard stones while

the top of these buildings and shops, his brain was registering and telling him their meanings

very different words in languages he didn't even know. Just that

language barrier he'd have to surpass if he wanted to mix inside

stopped around a large building with multiple doors and people coming

The Adventurer's Association.

with over a dozen of people who looked like the staff of

Nikola along with a young man who was of the same age

this is my son,

man beside Nikola finally

saving our lives that day. I didn't get to thank you properly because it

Kahn stopped him midway with a hand gesture and

digest it the first

a home or

as a mercenary since childhood. The only thing I'm good at

was faking his background right on the spot which would also justify how he was really good and organized while killing those

come with us for now. I can offer you a place to stay and get used to this place. I still haven't repaid you for saving our lives." Nikola reminded again about his

it." nodded Kahn. This was what he needed the most right now.

get to know

wanted to help him out after hearing from his father that Kahn was alone

dozen of carts they rode until now were big enough to carry a

and Rations. We even have our own Blacksmith shops in the city. The carts have resources and even weapons we bought from small villages which we'll sell in our shops later." replied Nikola with

must have taken years to build and solidify your enterprise."

business and keeping it afloat, let alone making profits out of it. And to manage all these different sectors in the business, one

to carry the carts back to our warehouses. So it will

I have some monster cores to sell. I'll

you later." said Nikola and left with

and surprisingly nobody stopped him. As soon as he entered the inside of the Adventurer's Association, he looked towards the crowd sitting inside the huge hall. At the end of it were

Lizardmen and even a guy with nothing but a giant eye in the middle of his face, like

vacant counters, where there was an old man around

have some monster cores to sell. What's

looked at Kahn and his

the old man who resembled Alfred from Batman movies a

sign

pass, you'll be officially registered as part of Adventurer's Association." replied the man with no expression on his face. As if he had

it before. Is

of a problem." said the

then, a voice rang

of the way. I'm in