Chapter 99

Chapter 98: The Haven of the Heart

Frank could swear he had never seen the man before him, after all, Rod's features were so distinctive that it was almost impossible for anyone who had seen him to forget. However, this man, whom he had never seen before, called out his identity without hesitation, which immediately made Frank feel a chill run down his spine.

How did he know his identity? In the Kelis family, he was just an heir with no significant status, and even in the noble circles of Basel, there were probably few who knew his name. How did this young man know?

Though greatly alarmed, Frank quickly regained his composure and forced a smile, responding as if nothing was amiss.

"I never thought that Mr. Rod would know someone like me, it's quite surprising."

"There's nothing surprising about it. After all, Basel is not far from my hometown. I have met you a few times before, but it seems Mr. Frank has forgotten. It's understandable, given that we don't usually socialize, but..."

Rod's expression remained cold, but a hint of cruel mockery flashed in his eyes.

"The noble circles are indeed small, aren't they?"

"You have a point, Mr. Rod."

Hearing Rod's words, Frank was somewhat skeptical. He had also inquired about Rod and knew he came from the Eastern Mountain Plains, which was indeed not far from Basel where the Kelis family resided. However, that place was notoriously isolated, and even the Moon Principality was not very familiar with the region, let alone Basel. Although the nobles occasionally interacted, it was rare, and Frank had indeed met a few guests from the Eastern Mountain Plains, but none of them were like this man.

But now, Frank felt not only doubt but also a sense of unease and panic. As someone who usually preferred to keep a low profile, Frank was now somewhat flustered. After all, Rod had exposed his identity without hesitation, which made Frank very uneasy. He could even feel the suspicious gazes of the old chairman and Serek. But now, he had no choice but to continue.

So he maintained his smile and replied bitterly.

"I never expected this. In fact, my father sent me on a journey to broaden my horizons. I have been studying swordsmanship since childhood and have made some progress, so I decided to gain some experience in a mercenary group. I didn't expect such an incident to happen... I had to do this to ensure the survival of the mercenary group."

"A noble heir becoming a mercenary?"

Hearing this, Rod looked at him curiously.

"Mr. Kelis wouldn't agree to such a thing, after all..."

"I didn't plan to get my father's approval. I know mercenaries have a bad reputation among the nobles, but from my recent interactions, I feel they are not as bad as the rumors suggest. Moreover, I have developed a deep bond with my companions. To help them, even defying my father's orders once is not a big deal."

"I see."

Rod nodded and released Frank's hand.

"I hope you succeed."

"Thank you for your blessing, Mr. Rod. I also hope your mercenary group will go far."

Frank nodded elegantly at Rod and then quickly turned to leave.

"Kid, do you know each other?"

Only after the door closed again did the old chairman frown and look at Rod suspiciously.

"We've met once before, from a distance. I know him, but he doesn't know me."

Rod answered with ease and then asked nonchalantly.

"But I didn't expect him to come here as a mercenary."

"He's been here for a year."

The old chairman said.

"At first, I didn't want to accept a noble, but this kid was very eloquent, hardworking, and skilled. After the mercenary evaluation, I recommended him to the Emerald Eye. I heard that in the battle against the undead, the leader and deputy of the Emerald Eye were severely injured and couldn't be saved. Now, he's the only one in the group who can handle things, and he's doing a good job."

A year ago? Planning so meticulously, you really went all out, Light Kingdom.

Hearing the old chairman's introduction, Rod raised an eyebrow but didn't say much. The old chairman, clearly tired from the recent events in the guild, was also quite busy.

"Alright, kid, do you have anything else? If not, scram. I'm tired and need to rest."

"Wait, Chairman, about the reward for this mission... As agreed, if I can safely bring everyone out, you will double the payment. Now I have brought everyone back safely, and my subordinates were injured in the process. You should show some sincerity, right?"

"You... You brat, the guild is facing such a big issue, can't you wait? Are you in a hurry to buy a coffin?"

"One thing is one thing, another is another. I know the guild's situation, but that's not a reason to refuse payment. Now, according to our agreement, please give me the reward."

"You greedy bastard!!!"

At that moment, the old chairman's angry roar echoed throughout Deepstone City.

Annie opened her eyes.

She stared blankly at the snow-white ceiling, then turned her head to look out the window. It was already evening, and the night had fallen. Only the flickering candlelight brought some warmth and comfort to the room.

"Where am I..."

Annie sat up, shook her head, and the soft bed and comfortable room, along with the scent of wild grass and flowers in the air, cleared her mind.

"Right... I fought the Death Knight, and then I..."

At this thought, Annie's face turned pale, and she seemed to remember something, her body trembling involuntarily.

Did I... transform?

In front of the leader?

In front of the sisters?

Did I really... do that?

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sudden knock on the door startled Annie, and she instinctively called out.

"Who is it?!"

"It's me, Lise. You're finally awake, Annie?"

With her words, Lise entered the room with a steaming bowl of soup. Seeing Annie's state, her face immediately showed relief.

"That's great, you're finally awake, Annie. How do you feel? You've been unconscious for almost two days. You must be very hungry. This is Uncle Walker's soup, I think you'll like it." As she spoke, Lise placed the bowl on the table, but Annie, unlike her usual self, did not jump up in excitement. Instead, she clutched the blanket, covering her body and face, with only her eyes, filled with unease, looking at Lise.

"Sis... sis... aren't you afraid?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing Annie's question, Lise turned her head curiously and looked at her with confusion.

"I... I transformed, didn't I?"

But Annie didn't notice Lise's gaze. She stammered and spoke in a low voice.

"Did I turn into that form? Sis? Everyone must be scared, I... am..."

"A half-beast, right?"

Hearing this word, Annie's body tensed up. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Lise. Her mind was in turmoil, unsure of what to do. It was her fault; she should have been honest from the beginning, but she was afraid. The old leader had told her that her identity needed to be kept strictly confidential, and she had seen the fear and disgust in the faces of her comrades when they saw her transform. Would Lise be the same? What about the leader?

Would they reject me and drive me away?

As Annie's thoughts raced, she suddenly felt a hand on her head, gently stroking her hair.

"You're such a fool."

Lise gently stroked Annie's head, her face filled with a gentle smile as she looked at the trembling girl. She hadn't trembled even in the face of the Death Knight, but now, she looked as if the world was ending.

"To be honest, everyone was indeed surprised. But we were not afraid. I wasn't, neither was Marin, nor Mr. Rod. Don't overthink it. You blocked such a dangerous enemy and saved us. We are grateful to you, how could we be afraid?"

"Lise... sis..."

Annie looked up at Lise, her emerald eyes clear and transparent, as if they could pierce into the depths of one's soul. But Lise did not avoid her gaze; instead, she quietly met her eyes. After a moment, Annie's face finally regained its usual pure, vibrant smile. Then, she threw herself into Lise's arms.

"I love everyone the most!"

"Annie...?"

Looking at the girl hugging her and shaking, Lise's face showed a bitter smile. If Annie had a tail wagging now, she would look more like a...

"But, Annie, you need to be prepared."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Annie paused.

"You violated Mr. Rod's orders, which made him very angry. On the way back, he mentioned several times that he would punish you. You need to be mentally prepared, because Mr. Rod's punishments are quite severe."

"Th-this..."

Hearing Lise's words, Annie's face immediately showed embarrassment. Just as she didn't know what to say, a low growl came from her stomach.

"Grumble..."

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