Masterful Acting

Allen looked around the village as he suppressed his urge to just shamelessly steal money from the 'unlucky' one. Looking closely, the village is really developed to the point that you can call it a city just from looking at the structures within the village itself.

After a while of looking around, he encountered a bulletin filled with news and informations about the happenings around the village. Allen stopped looking around as he focused and seeked free information about the village and it's surroundings.

He saw different kinds of news. For example, he saw a news about a mighty warrior from this village slay a Throne dragon without any difficulty and that warrior even brought back the flesh of the dragon on the village. Normally, people wouldn't really care that much about something like that but.. the warrior prepared a presumptuous feasts for the village. Specially, the foods were made using dragon meat.

Allen licked his lips as he imagined the deliciousness of the dragon meat together with different dishes. He felt hungry but.. he suppressed it as he focused once again on the bulletin board and inspected the different news that can be found on it.

Finally, Allen found what he's coincidentally looking for! The target for his money stealing plan. He saw a news about the whereabouts of bandits around the south of the village who likes to plunder some villagers that would explore outside of the city. They even killed some villagers which made the village extremely hostile to them.

He clicked his tongue as he grabbed the newspaper about the bandits. He looked around and spotted a man selling a few stones within the corner of a house. Allen approached him with a smile plastered within his handsome face.

"I'm selling some artifacts here, boss!"

The seller noticed Allen approaching him as he immediately started spouting nonsense about the stones placed on the table. Allen, a man who also liked scamming in the past, sneered inwardly as he looked at the man with pity. However, he did not dare show it to the man as he still needed the man's help.

"I just want to ask a question.."

"Tch.. So you're not buying? Go away then."

"You.."

Allen looked at the sneering man with a pissed expression, ready to punch the man anytime out of fury. He turned his head as he walked away for about 3 meters. Allen momentarily looked at the man selling stones as he suddenly knelt to the ground.

"Ahh.. Ahh"

"I'm dying! Help!"

Allen shouted with difficulty, seemingly out of breathe. Of course, his shout attracted the attention of people around the perimeter as they all stared at him. Seeing this, Allen continued his act as he fell the ground pitifully while shouting in distress and fear. Finally, a man walked towards him in haste with a worried expression.

"What's happening, young man?"

"I'm choking!"

Hearing Allen's plea, the man picked Allen up and stood him up straight. He suddenly hugged Allen from behind as he performed some first-aid techniques to force the 'imaginary something' within his throat. Allen continued his masterful acting as he vomited a piece of rock out of his mouth.

"Are you fine now, young man?"

"Thank you, sir.. If not for you, I.."

"It's nothing.."

Allen thanked the man with a voice full of gratitude and happiness. He looked at the man before him as he smiled a bit. He whispered towards the man.

"Please be careful.. That man is selling some scam stones..."

"What?"

The man looked at him with shock as he turned around and looked where Allen was pointing his fingers at. All he saw there was a man selling some piece of rocks. He even saw a piece of board that told him that he was selling some artifacts.

"He told me that I would breakthrough the moment I bought his stone and ate it but.. Alas.."

Allen sighed heavily as he looked sad due to his unfortunate encounter with that man selling some scam stones. Seeing this, the man felt great fury building up within his heart as he suddenly tapped Allen's shoulders.

"Look at me as I teach that bastard a lesson!"

The man walked towards the store with a darkened expression. Allen turned his head away as he walked away from the proximity of the place as he already know what would happen next.

"You dare sell scam stones, huh?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'll sue you!"

"Sue your mom!"

All he heard was a bunch of cursing moments together with the roars coming from the surrounding people that realized the bastardly character of the man selling scam stones.

Allen snickered as he walked away and seeked out some people about the bandits located at the south. After a while of investigation, he was able to gather some useful information about the situation. The bandits were really stationed at the south of the village but.. their whereabouts are currently not known to public.

He thought for a while before finally deciding to head towards the chief's house. It was pretty easy to locate since it was the only house located at the center of the village with some guards overseeing the security.

He approached the house but was stopped by the guards. He told the guards that he wanted to meet the chief.

"You? Do you think a mere cripple like you can meet the chief?"

The guard sneered at Allen while walking away. Allen looked at the guard with anger and fury flashing within his eyes. He stomped the ground as he felt really pissed because these bunch of nobodies labeled him like a piece of crap that can be found in any kind of street.

Allen decided to walk away but.. he saw a little brat entering the house without any obstructions. He asked himself whether the brat's more important or him?

Shaking his head, Allen slowly approached the gate once again but was halted by the guards. He shouted at the brat.

"I need to meet the village chief.. Please help me relay my message.. Just tell him that I'm Allen!"

"Hmm?"

The brat seemed to have heard him as he turned his gaze towards Allen who is shouting from the gate. He felt interest bubbling within his mind as he looked at the young man with calm expression, not fearing the guards overseeing the house.

He nodded his head towards Allen which made him smile a bit. Allen decided to wait outside of the gate as he waited for the village chief to emerge from the gate.

After waiting for a while, Allen finally saw the village chief emerging together with the brat whom he saw a while ago and helped him relay his message to the chief. He approached them as they exchanged greetings.

"Come to my house, Allen.."

"Sure!"

Allen nodded as he agreed to enter the chief's house together with the brat or rather he's son. Mu Tan personally told him that the brat with him is his son.

They passed the gate whilst the guard that stopped Allen from entering a while ago stared at him with anxiousness and fear. Allen noticed his gaze as he smiled at the guard, seemingly trying to dazzle the guard. It was dazzling indeed but.. for the guard, that smile was terrifying!

All of that happened for but a moment as Allen, together with the chief and his son vanished from the guard's sight. He heaved a sigh of relief as he swiped the sweat within his forehead.

"Huu.. I'm safe.."