Chapter 165: Ch165: Alive?
Daniel unfolded his crossed arms and said, "That’s the name of the person I told you before. Remember the one who looked just like you?"
Zane froze, his mind racing, eyes lowered. ’That’s impossible. Brother? But he died... He died right before my eyes.’
Then he snapped out of his daze, stood, turned to Daniel, and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Tell me honestly, where and how do you know him?"
...
Daniel told him only part of the truth, leaving out everything about his imprisonment. Instead, he spun a believable story, claiming that while investigating the church area and hiding in the bushes, he had overheard someone call out the name "Klaus."
That was all he knew — or so he claimed.
*Creak...*
The door eased open.
"Zane, I—"
Zero stopped mid-sentence, his eyes landing on Daniel and Zane.
"I... brought your lunch."
With that, the three of them sat on the carpeted floor and shared the meal while discussing everything Daniel had uncovered during his investigation — at least, everything he was willing to reveal.
"I’ve got a question. Where were you for four days?" Zero asked, giving Daniel a suspicious look as he stared at him.
"That’s not important. I went home." Daniel waved the question aside. "The important thing is this Klaus guy. Zane, your brother is alive. It’s the truth."
"I want to believe you, but until I see him with my own eyes, I..." Zane lowered his gaze, unable to finish.
"Then we shall continue our search. If he’s alive, he must be somewhere," Zero said, his tone resolute.
"He’s in Raven Town. At least, that’s what I heard. I can’t be certain," Daniel replied.
"Rumor?" Zane asked.
"Yes," said Daniel.
Zane fell silent for a moment before turning his gaze to Zero as he rose to his feet.
"Zero, I know what you’re thinking, but no. Don’t tell the Commander. This is my personal matter."
"What? No." Zero shook his head. "I was just going to get some water."
Zero turned and picked up an empty glass. Zane watched him in silence, ’He’s acting weird,’ he thought.
After thinking it over, Zane proposed that they go to Raven Town and find out for themselves.
Zero agreed to go with him, but Daniel refused.
"I have training sessions. I can’t go with you."
"Fine. Zero and I will go, and no one should—
Zane paused, his expression changing.
Wait, someone’s outside."
He hurried to the door and pulled it open.
"Helen?!"
She froze after being caught eavesdropping.
"Hi, Zane. What are you guys talking about?" Helen gave an awkward laugh.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop spying on me?" Zane sighed.
"Hehe... instead of scolding me, you should be thanking me." Helen folded her arms with a grin. "If you’re planning to go to Raven Town, I know a lot more about that place than any of you."
"Whatever." Saying that, Zane turned away.
"Yay! I’m in!" Helen pumped a fist into the air.
"Just don’t ruin my investigation like you did last time," Zane said.
"Hello? Excuse me? Because of me, the culprit got caught!" Helen protested.
"That isn’t true," Zero said from beside Daniel.
"Shut up, Zero."
...
The sun hung low over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange as evening settled in.
Daniel stepped outside after spending the afternoon with Zero, Zane, and Helen, learning more about their personalities while trying to figure out the Hell Guard artifact’s purpose.
Knowledge was power.
"I can’t even go back to my rented room now. Lady Esma is dead," he gritted his teeth. "Klaus, don’t think you’ve escaped from me. I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done to her."
Daniel headed toward the marketplace and soon spotted Harry at his stall.
"Hey. How’s the business going?" Daniel asked, his tone casual.
Harry’s smile faded into a neutral expression. "Oh, it’s you. I mean... it’s going decent."
"Well, it’s been a week. I hope you have my money, right?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. Give me a minute."
He reached into his satchel and pulled out a pouch filled with coins as though he had already prepared it.
"Here’s two hundred silver, as promised."
*Clink*
Daniel took the pouch and weighed it in his hand.
"Now that’s what I like to see."
Just then, a woman’s voice came from behind him.
"Excuse me, do you have any meat pouches left?"
The familiar voice caught Daniel’s attention.
"Sorry, madam. Everything’s sold out for today. Please come back tomorrow," Harry said in a respectful tone.
"Hello, Daniel," Tressa said with a neutral expression.
The two exchanged a few words before Daniel noticed the woven basket in her hands.
"What’s with the basket?" he asked.
"Oh, this? It’s not mine. It’s for your landlady," she replied in a casual tone.
The moment he heard her name, Daniel’s eyes widened in shock.
"What?!" Daniel blurted out.
Tressa blinked at his reaction. "W-What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Daniel stood frozen for a heartbeat, his mind racing.
She’s alive?
*Whoosh!*
He sprinted toward his rented home.
From a distance, he spotted a woman sweeping the ground by the front gate.
It was none other than Esmeralda.
*Gasp~ Gasp~*
"You’re finally back, young man." Esmeralda stopped sweeping and looked at him with a warm smile.
Daniel struggled to catch his breath, before placing his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes, disbelief written across his face.
"You’re... you’re..." he stammered as he checked her over, gently squeezing her arms before cupping her face.
"You’re alive..."
Esmeralda blinked. "Alive? What are you talking about?"
"Status," Daniel whispered under his breath.
A translucent blue screen appeared beside her and lingered for five seconds.
——————
Name: Esmeralda Frant
Age: 31
HP: 1000/1000
Mana: 300/300
Essence: 100%
Quality: Outstanding (30%)
Description: A strong woman widowed the day after her second love marriage. When a guild dungeon mission claimed her new husband and left her awakened sexual needs trapped by the ghost she still loves.
——————
’What’s going on? I literally saw her severed head in a bucket,’ Daniel thought, unable to make sense of it.
