Ch 516: Uh Oh, Exposed By An Old Friend

“I wonder what those people will do.”

Bal sat on the sofa and began to think about Gao Wen’s next action. Xiao Jiu, nestled beside him, was sleeping, her drool dripping onto Bal’s hand.

“Are you worried about them?”

Phia sat down beside Bal. They had already prepared some measures for a failed negotiation; this was just a short rest. Phia held Xiao Jiu in her lap. She loved stroking the fluffy little creature.

“Yes, I’m most worried about Gao Wen. The people around him seem a little off, especially the Puppeteer and the White-Haired Mage. Their eyes are full of murkiness, and their words and actions are rather sickening.”

“So you think so too? I thought I was the only one.”

“Think what? Let me hear it?”

Nia came downstairs and sat beside Phia. She had been busy with a rather important matter assigned to her by Phia.

“It’s about those people from the Otherworld that the God’s Country sent to find you. Their Captain is a bit concerning.”

Phia recounted the situation of Gao Wen and his squad. After listening, Nia fell silent for a moment.

“So you feel that the members of that squad aren’t all loyal to their leader, Gao Wen?”

“Yes, although I don’t know why they haven’t sidelined Gao Wen, I feel that he’s in danger.”

“Forget it, let’s not think about this anymore. Sister-in-law, I’ve almost finished the task you gave me. Come and take a look.”

Nia took Phia’s hand and prepared to go upstairs. Bal took Xiao Jiu, who was still asleep in Phia’s lap, and watched them go upstairs. Then he stood up holding Xiao Jiu.

“I guess it’s time for me to act.”

Bal glanced at Xiao Jiu.

“Forget it, you’re sleeping so soundly. You should stay with me.”

Bal left home with Xiao Jiu. He walked toward the place where someone lived.

————

That day, Gao Wen and his party, through Garrick, used a Teleportation Mage from the Black Market to arrive at the Border City of the Ferenti Kingdom. He was still acting with Ona.

“Everyone says the same thing. The Demon King seems to be really dead.”

Gao Wen was quite troubled, but he still learned the name of the Hero who had defeated the Demon King.

“Bal. I wonder what kind of person he was.”

At this time, a man drinking nearby heard Gao Wen’s words. He walked over with his Wine Cup.

“Excuse me, I just heard you talking about my deceased friend. Could you let me hear what you need him for?”

“Bal is dead?”

Although Gao Wen had already heard this news from those involved, hearing it again from a bystander still surprised him.

“Yes, he died in a rebellion. I never thought that Udel, his brother in arms, would actually kill him, and even colluded with the Kingdom’s elite Imperial Guard Dragon Knight Corps.”

“You knew Bal?”

“Of course, we joined the army in the same batch. I slept in the bunk below his.”

“What kind of person was he?”

“Hmm, let me see… He was quite upright and had strong Fighting Strength. He liked to make inappropriate jokes and was rather materialistic. Although he liked money, he didn’t take it from just anyone; he earned his money honestly through hard work. And he didn’t seem to spend it on Pleasure, but sent it to an Orphanage.”

“He didn’t have Parents?”

“It seems so. He said he came from an Orphanage. The only person he was close to was his Sister. His Sister is also capable. She was a Genius when she was at school—a beautiful girl. Then she unexpectedly became the Beast God’s Vessel and was taken to God’s Country to be a Divine Child. After Bal’s death, his Sister, the Divine Child, disappeared. God’s Country keeps saying that the Kingdom took his Sister back, but I think that’s just a lie!”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because Nia isn’t in the Kingdom at all! If she returned to the Kingdom, how could she have no trace? Clearly, God’s Country is making up an excuse for war, aiming to annex the Kingdom.”

“God’s Country and the Kingdom have fought before?”

The man looked at Gao Wen, a little puzzled.

“You’re not from the Kingdom, are you? Your Clothes don’t look like those of God’s Country either. Where are you from?”

Seeing the other man becoming wary, Gao Wen broke out in a cold sweat. Ona stepped in to defuse the situation.

“We are from the Heiteria Republic. You know, information isn’t very accessible there.”

Hearing that they were from Heiteria, the other man relaxed.

“So you’re from Heiteria. That explains it. After all, only the military personnel of God’s Country or the Kingdom know about these things.”

“Is it alright for you to say this?”

“Hey, it’s not a secret anyway. It’s fine to talk about it casually.”

They exchanged a lot of information, and Gao Wen learned a lot about Bal’s life from his enlistment to before the extermination of the Demon King. Finally, he asked a crucial question.

“What did Bal look like?”

“Huh? Why do you ask that?”

“I… I want to try drawing his portrait. Such a Hero shouldn’t be without one, right?”

“That’s true. Let me think… Black hair, black eyes, tall, with a three-seven side parting. He was quite handsome.”

“Uh… that’s a bit vague.”

“What are you saying! The Kingdom rarely has people with black hair and black eyes!”

“Sorry.”

“Forget it. It’s understandable that you Heiterians don’t know.”

The bar patron glanced at the Clock in the tavern. He quickly got up.

“Sorry, my Vacation time is almost over. I have to go!”

“Ah, goodbye.”

Watching the enthusiastic bar patron leave, Ona was unusually energetic. She looked at Gao Wen.

“Gao Wen, we might have encountered a ghost.”

“Why?”

“Think back to the Man you saw in the Forest, and then think about what this person just said.”

“Black hair, black eyes… Could it be!”

“It should be. It seems that something is being hidden from us. What do you plan to do?”

“Let’s prepare. We may have to return to that Forest.”

“Are you sure?”

Hearing Ona’s doubts, Gao Wen looked at the Greatsword beside him.

“That Man is strong, but if I use my full strength, I should be able to defeat him.”

“That winged man and the Orc are also not to be underestimated. The three of them are Experts.”

“Then it’s up to Clova and Garrick.”

The two got up and walked towards their Inn. At that moment, the Bells they used to detect Divine Children rang.

“What’s going on!?”

They took out their Bells. They never expected to encounter this in the Kingdom. Gao Wen held up his Bell and looked around. Finally, he spotted a Squad walking towards him.