Chapter 264:I Am Baron Blanks

Moments ago...

"A-Attack!!"

The blaring alarm echoed throughout the entire building. In most places, a sound like that would have sent everyone into a panic, but here...

"Again?"

"Attacks have been unusually frequent this month."

"So, who’s attacking this time?"

"I heard it’s a white-haired man?"

"Is he handsome?" one of them asked casually.

"Yes, he is quite handsome. Those noble women can’t help but throw themselves at him with just a glance."

"Hmm, I wonder if that person would fetch a good sum. Knowing the leader, he might auction him after subduing him."

Most of the people present sat around playing cards. None of them looked worried. They were relaxed, leaning back in their chairs, as if alarms were nothing more than background noise to their usual routine.

And they were used to it.

They worked for one of the most hated organizations in the kingdom.

The Adventure Guild.

They were acting as security for the Merchant Association today. After hearing that a baron had arrived, the Guild had sent some of its strongest people to guard the place. These were the official representatives of all the guilds gathered in the capital.

"Let’s not bother. Just get back to work."

Steven, the head of the Merchant Consortium branch, dismissed the attack report like it was nothing. He barely even looked up from his documents.

At present, everything was under the Adventure Guild’s grasp. Steven was responsible for checking most reports, while matters of grave importance were sent to him directly.

"It’s probably another thug sent by some noble we crossed. Could even be the knight of that baron we kicked off his land yesterday."

"There’s no shortage of people who want to send someone our way, huh? Who should we send?"

"Send some of the boys. It’s a knight, so he should be decently strong, right?"

"Understood!"

Their attitude was arrogant, yet it came from confidence. Only a few knew how many powerful fighters the Guild had. Their rule was simple: recruit anyone who was strong, even if they had shady pasts. Many nobles also worked with them secretly, offering bribes for cooperation.

Because of that, the Guild had many capable fighters,some strong enough to rival captains of knightly orders. So they were never too concerned about intruders.

Even if assassins burst in, they would still deal their cards and continue their work.

"I heard a noble in the production sector asked us to look for someone who’s gone missing?"

"A blacksmith woman named Hanny. Quite high-ranked. There’s concern that he was abducted by an illegal knight, and she’s been missing for over ten days."

"Then she’s probably dead. No point searching for her."

"But still..."

"I know. We’ll pretend to search, at least."

Steven nodded. As a merchant, he was efficient and calculated. That was his style.

"All right. I’ll just tell them we tried our best but came up short."

"Good, now about this matter with the harvesting slaves—"

Boom! Boom!

"If it’s about that country baron, I believe it’s already being handled, so you don’t need to worry abou—"

Crash!

"Though, I did notice something odd in these files..."

Crash!

"Damnn!"

"Why is it so loud out there?" Steven shouted, his forehead twitching.

"Hmm, could the invader be stronger than we thought?"

"They’re not showing any signs of quieting down. Tsk."

"I’ll take care of it," his trusted aide said.

"Very well. Do your best, Hamis!"

Hamis, though thin, was Steven’s right-hand man in the Guild and a peak Master rank. He came from a prestigious knightly order and had skills close to a vice-commander.

With him stepping outside, Steven expected the noise to stop quickly.

And it did.

The building fell quiet.

"Finally, some peace."

Satisfied, Steven smiled and went back to discussing matters with his assistant—

Boom!!

"?!"

Steven and his assistant’s eyes went wide like saucers.

If someone had simply broken through the door, they wouldn’t have been so shocked. But instead—

"H-Hamis?"

"Ugh...!"

Hamis had been thrown through the wall like a rag doll. His body was bruised, bloodied, and barely recognizable. Minutes ago he was calm and confident. Now he lay in a broken heap, blood dripping from his lips.

Steven swore under his breath. "Damn it!"

He quickly assessed the situation. His heart pounded. His instincts screamed to run. So he threw himself toward the window, thinking he could escape through the emergency exit.

He believed he still had a chance.

However...

"Are you the one who is leading this so-called Merchant Association?"

Crash!!

A violent blow cracked the wall near him. A throwing knife sliced past his ear and dug deep into the opposite wall with brutal force.

Steven froze.

The knife had not been aimed to hit him yet.

When he turned around, he saw—

"Wooaaaah!"

An elegant, charming man stepped through the broken wall as if it were nothing more than a doorway. His presence filled the room instantly.

’Kale!’

He was a fierce warrior from a mysterious barbarian tribe, famous for slaughtering two hundred bandits alone. Another Master rank. A giant man with muscles like forged steel.

He had followed Steven here, though he often drank himself numb. But seeing him unharmed brought Steven a moment of relief.

’Yes. He will handle this intruder.’

CRUNG!

A stepped out of the collapsed wall and saw a man with a monstrous, humongous build.

He muttered something incomprehensible as he looked at Kale.

"What the hell?"

"A hulk!"

"Shut up and die!" Kale roared and swung a powerful fist, enough to crush steel shields.

Clang!

"...?"

"You done?"

The punch hit the intruder’s face. It sounded like hitting iron instead of flesh. The man didn’t even blink.

"...Iron boulder?"

Kale remembered a huge rock from his homeland that only the greatest warriors could crack. The feeling was exactly the same.

Then the intruder moved.

A calm, effortless fist struck Kale’s stomach.

Boom!

The explosion-like impact made Kale’s body bend forward. He dropped to his knees, unable to breathe.

Before he could recover, a strong chop landed on his head.

BAAAAM!

The floor cracked as Kale smashed into it and then breaking through the floor he slammed below.

The top-ranked mercenary had fallen.

It was quick and brutal yet the fact he survived showed his strength.

Because this intruder, this guy, was—

"Hey, does anyone else want to step in?"

"..."

—a monster.

"Bring anyone else forward now, so we don’t have to go through this again later."

"N-No, sir."

"Really? Then sit down. We’re going to have a little talk."

"Y-Yes, of course!"

Steven swallowed hard. His instincts told him clearly:

’If I hesitate, he will kill me.’

Crack!

The intruder sat on a ruined chair and tossed a hatchet onto the table. Steven flinched, afraid it would hit him, but it landed in the center instead, sticking upright.

"That’s... an expensive table..."

"Pay attention, you fool."

"Y-Yes."

Steven scowled at his assistant, then looked at the hatchet trembling in the wood.

The intruder leaned back.

"I’m going to ask you a question. If you hesitate in your answer, this hatchet will land on your forehead, your chest, or, if you’re unlucky, somewhere lower."

"..."

"Answer."

"I-I understand."

In all his years, no one had talked to Steven like this. Even nobles treated him with caution.

’Who is he? When did I provoke someone like this?’

His thoughts raced.

The intruder smirked.

"Your mind’s racing. Curious who I am, aren’t you?"

"Y-Yes, I am curious."

Despite shaking, Steven asked honestly.

The man answered.

"I’m Baron Blanks, whom you have been referring to as some backwater knight."

"..."

Steven froze completely as the name finally clicked in his mind.

Next an overwhelming scream erupted in his mind.

....

With the end of Year,I wish all of you a Very Very Very Happy New Year and hope that the new year brings happiness and lots of fame,wealth and joy to your new life.

And really thanks for all the love support and most importantly the coins,you showered me.