34 Tug

Midnight at the outskirts of Crescent Town, estimatedly a day later...

After the birthday party, the trio and Mr. Sanchez went straight back home with their share of treasure and the magical satchels.

Only twenty-four to twenty-five days had passed since Allen left the town.

One the road, the coach stopped near the Morgan Residence.

Allen stepped out of the carriage and waved goodbye to the other two kids and Mr. Sanchez, after which, the carriage left the vicinity going nearer Crescent Town.

The kid was now carrying the satchel that Lord Levine gave them. The feudal lord already removed his mark from the satchel, so that the three could fully own them. Inside the satchel was a dagger, the magical burning torch, the fur of the undead bear, his repaired assassin clothes, and other things.

When the kid finally reached the front door of the house, Allen deeply breathe in air as to relieve his stress.

"I'm back.", Allen muttered. However, the kid didn't enter through the front door, but climbed onto his bedroom window. When he entered his bedroom, he saw the familiar slash that was formed when he practiced the technique Dagger Flash for the first time.

Seeing it made him quietly laugh as he mocked himself for his inexperience in handling weapons those times.

Afterwards, Allen yawned and placed the satchel under his bed and laid down.

His body felt so comfortable sleeping at the familiar bed, although the mattress in Lord Levine's villa was by far softer and comfier than the one he was lying onto right now, he felt a sense of security at the familiar sensation of his bed.

He smiled then closed his eyes to sleep.

...

Next morning...

Stretching his joints, Allen scratched his eyes, and sat on top of the bed. He walked out of his room and took a peek in William's room. There, he saw a book on the bed, but his little brother was nowhere to be seen.

"Eh? Where is he?", Allen wondered. Suddenly, the door fully opened which made him trip into the room. In an instant, he saw a thick beam of wood making way towards his face.

-bam-

The beam hit his face with a bang and was split apart.

When Allen's face hit the floor, he felt an another kind of those beam hit with a hard force at the back of his head which made him dizzier.

"Haha... you thief could think about twice when you steal inside my.... wait... BIG BROTHER?!", of course, the one behind this was none other than William.

The younger Morgan saw that Allen was still lying down onto the floor, making the former more worried.

'What should I do? I hit big brother... twice!', William tried to think of a new plan. However, he didn't get to when Allen got to look at him.

"What was that for?", Allen angrily asked.

Seeing that it was too late, William explained, "Well, I thought there was somebody else inside the house when I heard footsteps!"

"If it was somebody else, you could've probably killed whoever that was.", Allen said. He was right, it was because that his body became tougher from using the Erchian Dagger twice, if not, his head would've bled already.

"I'm sorry.", William immediately said and didn't pay attention to what Allen last stated due to slight fear.

"It's okay, just don't do it ever again!", Allen stood up and stabilized his footing.

William narrowed his eyes and said, "You became taller, big brother."

"I did?", Allen asked.

"Yes."

"Oh.", Allen then thought that it was probably due to the effects of the Erchian Dagger after using it.

"Should we eat breakfast?", Allen asked.

"No thanks, I already ate, but shouldn't you go to work by now?", William laid down on his bed and continued reading the book.

"Work...? Oh wait! I'm late!", realizing he still has a job, Allen rushed down the house and ate the porrage in hurry. After which, he left after saying goodbye to William.

***

Three Heads Tavern...

As soon as Allen entered the tavern, the establishment was already full of people.

"Why are you late?!", Kate angrily asked. They've opened for several hours already, yet, Allen only went in now.

"I woke up a bit late.", Allen scratched his head.

"Just get your apron and start taking the people's orders!", Kate snorted as she delivered a customer's food.

Allen did what Kate said and the former started to write down the orders of the people. Afterwards, he delivered it to Drake.

"So... why are you late?", Drake asked.

"I woke up late today!", Allen said with wronged tone.

He went to the house at midnight! it was hard for him to wake up early if one slept at the said time.

"Alright.", Drake nodded without showing a bit of emotion, as if they didn't know each other.

Meanwhile, Allen inwardly cried, 'It's not my fault that I'm late, it was my body's!'

Afterwards, Mr. Sanchez walked down the stairs and said, "Kate, get me a chicken breast!"

"Alright!", Kate answered.

Mr. Sanchez then saw Allen and angrily asked, "Hey, why did you only come here at this time?"

"I woke up a bit late today!", Allen answered. He wanted to cry but there was no tears to shed. 'I'm a human too you know! Even though you people can wake up early because of your discipline and strength, it's different for me in my condition!'

The tavern owner only kept quiet and walked back upstairs.

Afterwards, the trio attended the needs of the customers until near dusk. When the last customer left, the three of them exhaustedly sat down on the chairs.

"There were many people this day.", Kate remarked.

"Yeah.", Drake agreed.

Even though their energy was much more than a normal person, it still took a toll due to the repeated entrance of new customers.

"I guess the people missed the food in here.", Allen laughed.

"Of course, it's made by none other than yours truly!", Drake boasted.

Kate only rolled her eyes and said, "Cook us some food!"

"Alright, what do you want?", Drake asked.

"Chicken soup would do.", Kate said.

"You, Allen?", Drake asked.

As Allen was about to answer, he sensed something and only said, "No thanks, I need to do something, see you two tomorrow!" 

Before the other two could say anything, Allen already left the apron on the table and exited the building.

"He's on a hurry.", Kate said.

"Mhm.", Drake nodded.

***

When Allen went out of the tavern, his face became solemn and looked towards a direction. The black life thread suddenly became visible on his eyes and it was tugging his body.

'Wasn't it suppose to be unknown when will father get in trouble?', Allen thought. Nevertheless, he stopped thinking about it and rushed back to the house to get something first.

When he got back to the house, he saw William in the living room.

"Hey big brother, why are you in such a hurry.", William asked.

"I'm going to come home late again, sleep at the right time, alright?", Allen said.

"Alright.", William nodded.

After which, he rushed at his bedroom and got the satchel, then he left the house with it.

The tug on the thread was getting stronger and stronger by minutes, which made Allen greatly worry.

"I hope father's alright.", Allen muttered.

***

At the same time, in the mayor's manor.

Alexander, the mayor of Crescent Town, personally greeted a caravan of merchants, alone. However, the people weren't merchants, but were from that secret organization!

As soon as they reached the mayor, they all changed their merchant disguises into black robes.

"Hello, Mr. Alexander.", one of the men approached the mayor.

"Hello, sir.", the mayor humbly said. He might be a powerful politician in the area, but in front of these people, he was just a weaker ant among the weak ants.

"We got news that the organization we were supporting at Riverboard City was completely destroyed. We are sure that the people who destroyed it is in your town.", the man said.

"And we must immediately find him!", a man with a large body angrily said.

"Calm down, Lazar. You will get that you want.", the man replied without looking.

After which, the man said to the mayor, "Forgive him for interfering, his brother, who was heading that organization was also killed in Riverboard City."

"It's alright, it's alright.", Alexander waved his hands in dismissal. "So then great sirs. Are you going to investigate every people in my town?"

"No.", the man shook his head. "Those people might get alarmed by us. We will do something else, if you allow it."

"By all means, great sir.", Alexander said. "If you may, please allow me to invite you all inside my home to eat after an exhausting day."

"Then lead the way.", the man said. Alexander then lead the way of the other black robed men.