14 Mysterious and Dangerous

"Come in."

Malte allowed his subordinate to get in his room. He was about to take a sip of tea, but he put the cup down once the figure revealed behind the door. It was Raphael. "Why do you come back alone? Where is Heiner?"

"He left the city," Raphael replied.

"Why? He recently got home and has nowhere to go. It makes no sense if he leaves by himself." Malte was a bit worried. It was two weeks since the last time he met Heiner. He could be at ease as Raphael went together with that young man, but he neither expected to be this long nor turn out to be like this. Then he needed an explanation.

"The Titan company took over the mining area with permission of city lord. Heiner seemed to find something odd or figure out their secret, and then they attacked him once he got out of the cavern. I could block them to create a path for him to escape. The rest was up to him."

"If that's all you know, then you can leave." Malte looked more solemn.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Go on."

"Why do you care about him so much? What do you see in him?"

"Sighed, I know it. You, people, do not understand." Malte took a sip of tea and frown as it already got cold. He put it down and continue his answer.

"Everything we invested has a limit benefit but person. The high potential one could provide a higher benefit. But you can not get anything from unloyal one but suffering. Instead of profit, you will get betrayed or killed. Heiner might be young and reckless, but he saves me, the stranger. That proves his worth for being invested. In the current world, it's hard to find someone you can trust. If I find one, why should I do nothing? Leave. I will handle the rest."

When Malte said he would handle the rest, Raphael knew what he meant. Malte was going to go to Rogue guild for buying information, or precisely, for hiring someone to gather information in this particular case. This guild also handled the auction houses in public and ran black markets in secret. All merchants knew it and used their service at least once.

Raphael left to another place. It was a secret room under the ground. He always came to this room to meet a specific person. The passage was cover with dust, but it did not matter as he would leave once finishing his report. He was standing in front of a dirty door with a clean knob. 'That person was a; ready here.'

CREAKKK...

"So, you came. I am waiting for a while. Did you kill him?" It was a similar voice. The person asked once Raphael opened the door. The room was dark and humid, light from the lantern revealing the person who sat on the old chair. He was Rolf.

"I tried, but he managed to escape. He got injuries, and I told him not to come back or else he would be killed by me. I think he wo..."

"I don't care what you think! I want him dead!" Rolf shouted with rage. He took a deep breath to calm down for a bit then continue. "You know me. I always get what I want, and I want him dead. Tell Bob to hire assassins to get rid of that damn brat. When you get the contact, reward Bob a forever holiday."

"May I ask you a question?"

"Speak."

"Why do we need to get rid of him? He was just a young man who does not experience the world."

"It was trust. My brother trusts him and tries to raise him. Once he grows up, my brother will give him a branch to manage, or the worst case....it is the most terrible. I mean it is terrible for me." Rolf's expression was getting more serious. "Malte may entrust the entire business to Heiner while I get nothing. That's why he has to die for my own good."

"Understood. I will go to see Bob right now."

Raphael felt sorry for Bob who served Rolf for years. Bob was Rolf's loyal servant but being used and got killed like this was a bit unfortunate. Walking in the darkness, Raphael shook his head and sighed, "He chose the wrong master."

While those two sides were going to hire someone to look for a lost man, the one they were searching had fled into the forest. He starved and tired but he endured it. he was barely alive with water he carried from the lake inside the mining area. He could walk thanks to <Replenish> effect on this equipment. His wound on his shoulder was getting better by activated <Minor Heal> repeatedly. It was not as deep as before but still not fully healed. The blood dyed his armor. It was not enemies' blood but his own. His face was pale, ready to collapse anytime.

After the battle, Heiner ran for four days, day and night. He feared that his enemies would follow him then he did not rest. It was the second time that he needed to flee. He hated himself to being this weak and naive. Twice. Someone had to save him not once but twice. The last time was different, and he did not know it was a real rescue or just an acted. Raphael was mysterious and dangerous. He wondered who was able to see him through was actually exist. While Heiner lost in thought, he did not recognize a village that came in his eyesight. At a brief moment, his eyes blurred, consciousness was fading. Then he collapsed.