Chapter 377: A warning
"Well, it’s like the leader said, some fools came to do stupid things."
Marlo stopped. The two fourth-mantle aura users immediately looked up.
A man was sitting on the edge of a nearby rooftop, one leg hanging lazily over the side. He had a rough face, relaxed eyes, and the kind of smile that made him look more like a bandit than a knight. This was the second in command of Thornefang, Harlik.
Behind him, several figures appeared on the rooftops and alley entrances. They wore sleek black trench coats with deep crimson lining, the silver-thorn insignia stitched proudly on their sleeves: a dragon’s fang wrapped in a gleaming spiral of thorn.
Who in Norvaegard did not know what that insignia meant? This was the insignia of the group that has never lost a battle. They might be new, but their fame in Norvaegard was legendary.
Marlo’s face immediately stiffened. "Thornefang..."
The two fourth-mantle aura users also became more serious. They had not expected anyone to appear here, much less people from Thornefang.
Despite sensing that only Harlik was at the fourth mantle, and everyone else was basically second mantle aura users, there were even a few mages.
The number of enemies was not something they could handle carelessly, especially since the group had them surrounded and was pointing those rifles at them.
Even though evading one or two bullets was easy for them, in this formation and their positions, they would get hit a few times, and they were unsure how powerful the rifles Thornefang was using were.
If it were the revolver, it would take several shots to get through their aura mantles, but they understood Thornefang uses the best equipment, seeing as their leader was Lucen Thornehart, the creator of those guns.
The bald fourth-mantle aura user slowly lowered his hand toward his sword. He did not draw it yet, but the intention was clear.
Harlik smiled as he jumped down in front of Marlo and the two fourth mantle aura users. "So we heard quite an interesting conversation between you three."
Marlo’s face paled slightly before quickly twisting into anger. Despite this person being part of Thornefang, he knew that most of them were just commoners. So this person speaking to him like this was a commoner like Alexander.
"You dare speak to me that way?" Marlo said through gritted teeth. "Do you know who I am?"
Harlik looked at him for a moment. Then he turned his head slightly toward one of the Thornefang members standing near the alley entrance.
"Do you guys know this brat?"
"Should we know who this brat is?"
Another Thornefang member standing on the rooftop answered calmly, "No idea."
"Maybe he is famous?"
"Famous people usually do famous things."
"Then probably not."
The exchange was casual, almost lazy, but every word stabbed into Marlo’s pride. His face turned red. "I am Marlo Bihn, the only son of Count Bihn!"
Harlik nodded slowly, as if he had finally understood something important. "I see. Another arrogant noble son who only has his name, and everything else is worthless."
Marlo’s face twisted completely. "You lowly commoner!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed. It was not Harlik who reacted first. It was the Thornefang members around him. The rifles pointed at Marlo, and the two fourth-mantle aura users became even steadier.
The two fourth mantle aura users made a quick assessment of the situation. If they were alone, they might have taken the risk and attacked.
Yet they had the young master with them. They needed to protect the young master, so the only chance they had was for one of them to retreat with the young master while the other stayed behind to hold Thornefang back.
The bald fourth-mantle aura user frowned. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much, we just came to give you a warning. If you retreat now and do nothing, we will also do nothing, but if you insist, we won’t back down either."
Harlik lifted his hand, and the other members of Thornefang placed their fingers on the triggers.
"You dare! You commoner dare threaten me, the son of a Count!"
Harlik looked at Marlo for a few seconds before sighing. "Brat, I will be honest with you. I do not care if you are the son of a count or not. The only person I listen to is the leader, so make your decision now: leave quietly or take a beating."
The shorter fourth-mantle aura user slowly leaned closer to Marlo and spoke in a low voice. "Young Master, we should withdraw."
Marlo turned his head sharply. "What? You want me to withdraw from commoners?"
The shorter fourth-mantle aura user clenched his jaw. He did not like the situation either, but unlike Marlo, he understood battle. They were surrounded.
"Young Master," the shorter man said carefully. "This is not the time."
"He’s right, young master." The bald aura user spoke.
Marlo glared at them. "Cowards!"
The bald aura user’s expression darkened, but he did not argue. He understood the characteristics of the lord he served and his son.
Harlik watched the exchange with mild amusement. "At least those two still have working heads on their shoulders."
Marlo turned back toward him, his face twisted with rage. "You think this ends here? You think House Bihn will let this insult pass?"
Harlik shrugged his shoulders. "I don’t really care if your house won’t let this pass. If you have any complaints, tell them to the leader."
Marlo’s mouth opened, but no words came out. The shorter fourth-mantle aura user immediately grabbed Marlo by the shoulder. "Young Master, we are leaving."
"I did not say we are leaving!"
"Then forgive me."
Before Marlo could react, the shorter man lifted him over his shoulder and moved. The bald aura user followed at once, keeping his body between Thornefang and Marlo.
Harlik did not chase them. The rifles remained aimed at their backs until the three disappeared around the corner.
***
Once they distanced themselves from Harlik’s group and were sure they were not followed, the smaller fourth mantle user let go of Marlo.
"How dare you two! How dare you make me look weak in front of that arrogant commoner!"
The shorter fourth-mantle aura user lowered his head. "Young Master, if we had fought there, our chances of protecting you were low."
"Excuses! I will report to my father on what has transpired. Wait for your punishment."
The two no longer spoke and simply bowed their heads. Marlo walked back to his dorm room and was about to contact his father, but he knew that he should not disturb his father at this hour, which was why he waited for the morning to come before calling.
The communication orb lit up once more, and Count Bihn’s face appeared. "Father, Thornefang interfered."
For the first time, Count Bihn’s expression truly changed. "Thornefang?"
Marlo quickly explained what happened, twisting the details until Harlik sounded like an arrogant commoner who had insulted House Bihn without reason.
Count Bihn listened in silence. The longer he listened, the colder his eyes became. "No matter how, we must teach these foolish commoners their mistake. How dare they act so brazenly to someone of nobility!"
Count Bihn’s gaze turned colder. "Thornefang may belong to Lucen Thornehart, but even he cannot openly trample over another noble house without reason."
To them, this was still a matter of noble pride, a small dispute that could be solved through pressure and influence.
They had forgotten that Lucen Thornehart was not the kind of man who waited for permission before firing back.
