Temporary Cooperation

"Indeed, this bread is unique and very aromatic."

Punk was sitting on a chair in front of an old long dining table. He used a knife to cut a large bread into almost equal squares on his plate.

"Honorable Mage is too polite."

Baron gently lowered the fork in his plate without making any sound.

Hearing this kind of formal dialogue between Punk and the Baron, Kane, sitting next to them, became impatient. But because of his father's grandeur, he did not talk nonchalantly. But his movements and facial expression exposed his annoyance.

When Punk used his peripheral vision to observe Kane, Kane was messily cutting a loaf of bread on his plate into crumbs. Punk couldn't help but wonder how there was such a huge difference in behavior between the father and the son.

After more thorough observation, Punk also discovered that although Kane was cutting his bread very fast and ruthlessly, surprisingly, he did not touch the plate at the bottom. There was also no sound during the process.

"Now I just have to wait and see what kind of play this father and son will perform next!"

While thinking this, Punk quietly used a secondary poison test before putting a cube of the bread into his mouth. Only a cautious wizard could live a long life. So Punk had always been extra careful. But someone discovered this action of his, Punk noticed, when he was inspecting the bread crumbs, Kane's action paused for few moments. Obviously, Kane noticed his "little move."

But Punk just kept eating like he did nothing. The bread had a muddy test of wheat mixed with a sweet fragrance that filled his whole mouth. Although the bread's taste was not that good, it had a very sweet smell, and the refined grains quickly melted inside Punk's mouth and became glutinous wheat syrup that soothed his mouth like a tongue massager. Punk had to admit that a large part of his appreciation for this bread was not just empty politeness.

Since the bread was very delicious, Punk simply ignored Kane, who had stopped making crumbs, and the Baron, who was sitting upright. He cut another piece of bread, put it in his mouth, and then concentrated on enjoying the taste. The environment on the table became awkwardly silent.

After some time, Punk used a standard noble dining etiquette to finish his bread's last slice. At this point, Kane was so bored that he started to carve a small statue of a squirrel from the remaining half of his bread.

The Baron patiently waited until Punk ate all his food and finally asked without any haste,

"Does honored Mage want to go to the City of Konola? It is the nearest city from here, but there is a large wasteland between my territory and Konola City!"

"Yes, I heard the food there is quite extraordinary. I wanted to go there for a long time and enjoy some for a long time. But I didn't expect to taste such a delicious meal here. Now I am more looking forward to going to Konola City."

Punk answered with a slight smile.

"Indeed, the cuisines of the Konola city are quite a delight, and they are filled with rich flavor. I have been there once in my childhood, and I miss its test even now."

Baron gently rubbed the corner of the table with his hand and had a nostalgic look on his face.

"Please~, only things that are rich in that dammed place is sand and …..ok…" Kane next to them finally couldn't endure anymore and comment.

Punk: "Stare....."

Baron: "Stare....."

Under the judgemental stare of Punk and a little disappointed gaze of the Baron, Kane, who still wanted to say something, decided to shut up and lower his head and continued to add details to the little squirrel he carved from bread.

Punk "--…--"

Baron "--…--"

This situation was quite embarrassing.

"...This silly son of mine always wanted to go to the Konola city, how about he tag along with your Excellency?" Baron, who was silent for a while, asked suddenly.

Punk couldn't help but frown when he heard this. The Baron's request was very abrupt. He and Kane didn't even know each other, and Punk was still holding 30% hostility and 70% caution against this so-called silly knight. But the Baron seemed to think it was completely normal to make such an unreasonable request of cooperation.

Kane also stopped his squirrel carving at this time. He showed a helpless expression while looking at his father, the Baron. Then he put his hand around his chest while pouting, apparently very dissatisfied. His hand armor collided with the chest armor and made a loud noise.

"Maybe Lord Baron doesn't know much about the power of professionals, but it's just a small wasteland... It is relatively harmless for someone like your son." Punk said to the Baron in a subtle tone.

"Maybe honorable Mage didn't know much about the current situation in the Mord Wasteland; I heard that some people saw Undead there... So I think it's better to be more careful."The Baron also said in a tactful tone.

"Furthermore, according to my merchant friend, a whole jungle has eroded by the breath of the Undead, and that whole place is filled with skeletons. I know Sire mage has a better understanding of the power of professionals. Still, it is better to think about it carefully."

"… Undead?" Punk didn't care about Baron's slightly sarcastic tone. He now was recalling the information about Undead from his memory.

There were many kinds of Undead. But all of them had one thing in common, that they hated all living beings. And they could be very strong or very weak, depending on how they were originated.

In general, there were three types-- the first type was created by Professionals through summoning spells, experiments, or other methods. And their strength was directly linked to the strength of their creator.

The second type: born in the plane of the Undead, but unless there were some very specific circumstances, it was tough for this kind of Undead to descent on other planes, especially a plane with positive(life) energy.

The third type: "natural," They were created when a lot of souls with negative emotions gathered in one place, and they were commonly known as ghosts and wraiths, but in general, their strength was very low, that could only scare ordinary people.

"But... even if the Baron's merchant friend exaggerated, and it was just a small patch of trees that was corroded! It was still something that only a trainee level powerhouse could cause!"

Punk thought silently.

"According to this father, we should only worry about whoever caused this situation, but even if I can't beat him, I can easily escape. Besides, this father cultivates positive battle Qi, which can easily restrain those Undead." Saying this, Kane gathered a little bit of battle Qi on his nail and easily carved a small statue of a swordsman on the wooden table.

Punk ignored Kane's bragging and asked the Baron, "When did your friend tell you about this news?"

"A few days ago ... According to my calculation, by now, my friend should have returned to the city, but he is not very well-known and doesn't have that much influence as he is just a small businessman. So even if he reported this to the church, those high and mighty clergy probably wouldn't believe him."

The Baron said this, guessing that Punk wanted to ask the church for help; after all, they always shouted: "Purge all evil." But the Barron helplessly cut off Punk's desire to use free labor.

"Speaking of this, one of my old friends brings a small caravan from time to time. But this time, he might be in danger because of this…" Baron looked distressed, and this time he didn't seem to be pretending.

Punk pretended not to hear the Baron's suggestion of "helping his friend." He simply didn't care about Barron's friend's life and death.

And Kane also just muttered a few perfunctory "yes, yes, got it."

Obviously, he also didn't want to bother about the death of the merchant.

Punk thought about this situation seriously. He was not someone who would overestimate himself. And if he really encounters a trainee-level powerhouse, then that would be a dangerous situation.

But If there was a knight who cooperated with him, a mage, then even if there was an accident, they would have a higher chance of escaping with their life, and if push comes to shove, there would be another target to distract the pursuer.

When Punk lifted his head, He saw that Kane was also looking at him with a profound gaze.

"I guess we both are thinking the same thing," Punk thought.

"Then I will be happy to cooperate." Finally, Punk smiled and said to Baron, who had returned his calm and composed expression,

while Kane just shrugged after hearing Punk's agreement, indicating he had no objection.