85

85
Third Person POV

After all the elders dispersed from the conference room, Master Hoffman and Master Francis came together to discuss the prospects of their mission. They would both need to be as much in sync with each other as possible if they had any intention of completing their mission without any problems.

"Hey Hoffman, I know His Majesty told us to go over to Ryder's pack tomorrow, but I think it would be much better if we went today so that we could arrive there at night," Master Francis said to Master Hoffman.

"Well, I guess you do have a point. We’ll be able to carry out the discussion in secret if it's at night. In the daytime, I don’t think we will really have that much opportunity to find a secluded place to speak with them because there will be too many people active. But how about you go tomorrow night?" Master Hoffman proposed.

"No way, Hoffman. You could tell how hasty His Majesty wants this to be done. This is probably the most important mission given to the elders, second only to Lady Celine's safety. If we delay too much, I’m afraid His Excellency will get angry. So let's do it tonight," Master Francis said decisively.

"Well, we won’t have to help Blake once we get back, so I guess nothing is really stopping us. Fine then, meet me at the kingdom's border at 1:00. We’ll head to Ryder’s pack by then and arrive by midnight. If you move faster, you could arrive earlier," Master Hoffman said.

"Okay then, understood. I won’t be a minute late," Master Francis said and turned away.

Both men went their separate ways to get ready for the mission. Master Francis went into his inventory as he began selecting different assortments of weapons. Each one was astoundingly light and easy to carry. Even a particular sword he held was suddenly folded so that he could keep it in one of his pockets. He dressed in an iron-like armor that fitted perfectly to his skin. Nearly every part of this armor was detachable and could be unfolded into a weapon.

The entire dressing process took a few hours, and after that, he covered it all up in a huge garment.

After waiting for some time, he headed to the kingdom’s border, where he met Master Hoffman, already waiting for him.

"I guess men like you never really arrive late, do you?" Master Francis said, amused by Hoffman’s punctuality.

"Well, you see, I lack combat skill, and you know that to survive in this world, I had to equip myself with other virtues like punctuality. Now let’s get going," Master Hoffman said dismissively.

They walked a short while before being completely engulfed by a thick forest. Places like this were usually filled with bandit hideouts and predators. But these two diverse groups of living organisms knew who and who not to attack.

Predators like wild animals usually preyed on people in small numbers, especially the young. Bandits only attacked those who traveled in small company and whose aura they could sense was relatively weak.

Bandits weren’t the only ones capable of sensing aura; huge predators who were particularly smart could sense it too. They knew who and who not to attack and were always wary of strong opponents.

After walking a specific distance into the forest, Master Francis suddenly merged with the trees. Someone who didn’t know the two were traveling together might have thought that Master Hoffman was traveling alone. Master Francis made sure to follow him from above, keeping an eye on him and not letting the distance between them grow at all.

Master Hoffman was currently the most delectable present that could be offered to predators or bandits. From the way he dressed, it was clear he was wealthy, and from his low aura, predators could easily tell that he wasn’t all that strong.

Master Hoffman was walking leisurely because he knew Master Francis was protecting him. All of a sudden, a snake lunged at him from a nearby tree. It bared its fangs and was about to bite Master Hoffman when a kunai shot out from a tree not too far away and pinned the snake’s head to the ground.

The kunai had gone right through the snake’s head, leaving a clear hole. Master Hoffman simply ignored it and continued walking. With such assurance, he knew no harm would come to him on this expedition.

Master Francis was probably the perfect bodyguard, but even then, he didn’t feel entirely safe. This forest was very dangerous, and huge bandit organizations resided within it, so if he were to encounter any of them, Master Francis alone might not be able to save him.

Thinking back to the formidable group that had been assembled before, he couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful that he had let such a team go. Perhaps not only would the protection be more, but the company would be better too.

Master Hoffman kept on walking when suddenly a kunai shot from behind him from a nearby tree. It dug deep into the ground, causing Master Hoffman to stop abruptly.

Clearly, it was Master Francis who had thrown the kunai, and he probably had his reasons. Master Hoffman began to look around, now wary of his surroundings.

"Well, well, well... if it isn’t an executive crossing our territory," a menacing voice from a nearby bush called out.

"Look at the way he’s dressed, boss. A guy like this could pay us enough to be set for life," one of the underlings said.

"I can’t believe it. Luck really smiled on us today!" another celebrated.

In an instant, Master Hoffman was surrounded by up to twenty-six bandits, all looking at him with greed in their eyes.

"I don’t think we’ve hit the jackpot yet, boys. If this guy is really worth anything, then I don’t think he would be traveling alone, and if he was, I doubt he’d be so weak that he’d be unable to protect himself. It’s strange enough that he got this far without any other bandits getting to him or animals trying to kill him. So what’s the deal, old man? What’s protecting you?" the leader asked, staring at Master Hoffman menacingly.

"Gentlemen, please. I really don’t have time to joke around with you. I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a hurry, and this can wait for some other time," Master Hoffman said dismissively as he began to walk forward.

Suddenly, a huge man, probably up to 7.1 feet tall, stepped in front of Master Hoffman, blocking his path.

"Where do you think you’re going, sir? The boss just asked you a question. How have you come this far into this forest and still be perfectly fine?" the huge man asked, trying to intimidate Master Hoffman.

Master Hoffman remained silent, quietly and patiently waiting for Master Francis to get him out of the situation. The longer Francis took, the more Hoffman wondered whether he had been bitten by a snake or taken out by something else. If that were the case, the mission would really go up in smoke.

"Maybe he really isn’t worth it. For all we know, the clothes may be stolen, and this man probably isn’t as rich as he looks," one of the other bandits said loudly.

"Yes, yes, you’re right. I’m not really worth anything, and I don’t think you should waste your time on me. Now that you know you won’t profit from harming me, wouldn’t it be wise to let me go?" Master Hoffman asked.

The boss turned to look at Master Hoffman, and then an evil grin appeared on his face.

"You see, I don’t like getting rough with old people, but I’m afraid that if you don’t turn up something nice for us, we won’t have any choice but to let you go. Who knows? You’ve probably memorized every single one of our faces, and you’re probably a professional artist. Perhaps you’ll draw our wanted posters and have people seeking our heads. Now, either you turn up something nice—like everything on you, including your clothes—or die," the boss said.

Master Hoffman took a long, deep, and exhausted sigh. "You guys really have no conscience, do you? You wouldn’t mind leaving an old man to walk through this forest naked, vulnerable to predators and other bandits? You wouldn’t even care if I suffered from the cold and died along the way?" Master Hoffman asked gently.

"Don’t worry, don’t worry. We’re bandits, but we’re not that heartless. Should you give us everything you’re currently wearing—including your clothes—then trust me, we’ll find a place for them. You’ll be on your merry way, and we’ll all be satisfied," the boss said.

"And what if I don’t turn up something nice?" Master Hoffman asked.

"Then I’m afraid we’ll have to resort to other measures," the boss said, unsheathing his sword.

"Sorry, young lad, but you won’t get anything from me," Master Hoffman said.

"You son of a—" one of the bandits began to shout in rage but abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

"Jake, what’s the problem?" another bandit asked, looking at him, before his eyes widened in realization. Red lines were drawn across Jake’s neck, and not too long after, his head slid off.