22 Two Companions is Better Than One, A Sinister Dark Force Is Watching Them

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – TWO COMPANIONS IS BETTER THAN ONE, A SINISTER DARK FORCE IS WATCHING THEM

Ryan noticed the other man at the stall who looks like he is waiting for someone else and he felt that the man looks familiar to him but he couldn't remember where he saw him.

'That man seems different compared to the other commoners around the area. I could feel his aura and it seems that this person is no ordinary.'

He thought as he noticed that Scarlette went over to the stall and stops in front of the other man.

Ryan deduced that Scarlette knew this man.

'Another adventurer, perhaps? Scarlette sure does know some people.'

He thought once again and he takes a good look.

'Auburn hair and sapphire eyes? He seems familiar but where did I meet this kind of man? He screams nobility to me, even though he is wearing normal clothing.'

Ryan thought as he continued to watch the two talking with each other.

He also noticed that only the auburn man seems to do the talking while Scarlette only listens to him. This made him chuckle a little because he can relate.

'Acquainted or not, you can never engage her in a long conversation and you felt like you are talking to a statue rather than an actual person.'

He thought as he sighed and wait for the two of them.

After some minutes had passed, Ryan saw that both of them are now heading in his direction and the auburn-haired man went over at him.

"My name is Zenon. Nice to meet you" 

Jeffrey introduced himself as Zenon and raised his hand to do a handshake. 

Since Scarlette usually called him by his second name and he got used to it whenever he went outside on his own.

"Nice to meet you too, Zenon. My name is Ryan Wayne"

Ryan took the hand and shake it as a sign of greeting.

Both gentlemen took off their hands with each other after introducing themselves to one another.

Scarlette looked at Jeffrey with a blank expression and the Marquis seems to catch up with the message that the crimson-haired woman is trying to convey while Ryan is clueless as he is.

Jeffrey cleared his throat to catch the attention of the chestnut-haired man and Ryan looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Both of you can stay at my place since I'll be joining on the mission as well"

Jeffrey said and Ryan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the crimson-haired woman who hasn't spoken a word up until now.

"Another companion?"

Ryan questioned the crimson-haired woman and Scarlette just shrugged off her shoulders.

"Two companions are better than one, I think"

She said flatly and Ryan just nodded as he agrees with her but still, he looked once again at the auburn-haired guy named Zenon.

As he looked closely at him, that is the time that Ryan finally remembered who the other man is!

He couldn't believe that Scarlette knew such a man.

'Silveria Empire's rumored hero, Marquis Jeffrey Zenon Middleton?! Scarlette is friends with a Marquis?!'

Ryan thought as he looked at the auburn-haired man that would be joining them from now on.

While Ryan is lost in his thoughts, Scarlette knew that the chestnut-haired man recognized Jeffrey when he looked closely at him.

She expected that this would happen since both of them are from the same society.

Scarlette cleared her throat to catch the attention of both gentlemen.

"Let's go. Discussion. Not the right place. Important"

Ryan snapped back as he heard once again that weird speech coming from the crimson-haired woman.

'Here we go again'

He thought as he sighed and Jeffrey noticed the depressed looked coming from the chestnut-haired man as he chuckled.

"She said we need to get going and this is not the right place for us to discuss something important"

Jeffrey interprets and Ryan immediately looked at his side with wide eyes.

"Huh?! You understand that?!"

Ryan said unbelievably and Jeffrey nodded.

"Well at first, I'm also like you but you could get used to it. Believe me"

Jeffrey explained to the other man and Ryan couldn't help but just nod at the auburn-haired man.

Scarlette just watch at the sidelines and didn't plan to interrupt as she waits for them to finish discussing on their own.

After that, both gentlemen complied after their discussion as Ryan set aside the thoughts he is thinking for now.

Scarlette looked around as she saw that they are in a pretty crowded place with a lot of people within the area.

"Hm?!"

Scarlette immediately looked around at the streets as she felt something sinister but couldn't find the source of that feeling.

The other two gentlemen looked at her with a puzzled expression as they saw the crimson-haired woman's odd behavior.

"Scarlette, is there something wrong?"

Jeffrey asked her and as he looked at the crimson-haired woman's eyes, he knew that she senses something as he became alert in their surroundings.

Scarlette looked at Ryan and she saw the man who seems clueless at everything but Scarlette knew him better.

'Still acting dumb, are we? Well, just continue what you are doing because there will be a time for you to explained yourself and I hope that you provide me a reasonable answer.'

Scarlette thought as she looked around the area to sense that sinister aura that she felt.

Ryan, on the other hand, felt something dark around the area but he couldn't pinpoint its location.

However, his expression shows how clueless he is about the situation but still on guard if anything happens.

'I just need to play and act dumb for now. But that sinister dark force is eerie and it looks like someone is watching us.'

Ryan thought as he continued to act clueless but still searching for that sinister dark force.

"Move. They are watching. From the start"

Scarlette's cold and vicious voice rang within the two gentlemen as they felt shivers down to their spine just hearing from it.

Jeffrey understood the hidden message that Scarlette is trying to convey and he looked immediately at the crimson-haired woman.

"What?! Are you saying that you are being watched from the start?! Since when?"

Jeffrey asked her and Scarlette didn't give any answers that make the auburn-haired man felt frustrated even more.

'God damn it! Why was this woman always keeping it herself?!'

Jeffrey thought as he made a deep sighed because of this. 

He is worried for the crimson-haired woman, even though he knew that Scarlette is strong and capable to protect herself.

But he couldn't help but had the urge to protect her.

When Ryan heard what Jeffrey stated, he looked at the crimson-haired woman with a perplexed look.

"Are you pertaining that, even at the guild someone is watching us from that time?"

Ryan could only conclude based on Jeffrey's understanding of the crimson-haired woman's words from earlier.

When Scarlette heard this, she could tell that Ryan only knew this matter right now as she nodded.

"Yes. Today's incident. Think about it"

Scarlette said and Ryan felt like his mind was being ripped apart just by listening to the crimson-haired woman as he couldn't understand a thing.

'How am I supposed to think if you couldn't elaborate it clearly!'

Ryan thought as he sighed and felt even more frustrated.

Jeffrey analyzes the situation from earlier and thinks carefully.

'Scarlette is widely known as an SSS-rank adventurer and of course, there are people who are envious because of her achievement. The fight earlier is it because…'

Jeffrey didn't continue to dwell on his thoughts as he looked at the crimson-haired woman with wide eyes.

"Scarlette, are you saying that today's incident…is staged?"

When the crimson-haired woman heard this, she smirks under her veil and even though no one could see it, both gentlemen could tell that the woman is smirking.

"Bingo"

She only stated and Ryan had a baffled expression because of Jeffrey's words and Scarlette's agreement.

'If the fight from earlier is just staged then, why that Ferix guy attacked me anyway?'

Ryan thought as he couldn't find any reason for it today's incident.

Jeffrey saw this and he couldn't help but to sighed as he walked over at the chestnut-haired man as he explained.

"I know that you are confused right now. Well, how about this? Why do you think that adventurer challenge you into a fight?"

Jeffrey asked him and Ryan looked back at the auburn-haired man as he frowns.

"Because Scarlette took me as her companion?" 

Ryan stated because that's the only thing that could come to his mind.

"Exactly! But even though the others would want to do that but they wouldn't dare to challenge Scarlette's authority and only that adventurer did that. Why do you think?"

Jeffrey asked even further and Ryan think once again. 

Given Scarlette's reputation as an SSS-rank adventurer, the crimson-haired woman is also famous for doing solo missions and not taking a companion but right now…

'Since the incident happens is staged then, it means…'

"Are you telling me that Ferix is planning to challenge Scarlette through me?"