The Secret Corridor

The hideout lid is almost fully closed. One thing that he notices is that he is getting weaker. The rune coated teakwood should not be this heavy. Lynel gives his fair share of energy but without the additional struggling look on his face. The blonde haired boy could hold the teakwood lid alone if he wanted to.

Lynel gives a sneering look but does not say anything. He and Niva himself knew what the problem was. As Niva suspects, the decrease in stats have a detriment to his day to day lives.

He used to have 30 [Atk] in his stats, but now it's half of it. Everything about his stats is cut in half also. He hopes that it is just the initial stats and not with the growth too. If It wasn't because of that, he won't be fainted that easily back in engulfed Richter.

The process of 'compfreund-making' is infamous for having a permanent side effect. They told Niva that the procedure involved taking the soon-to-be companion's 'soul' and putting it in a vessel. The division of soul is equal to the division of human capability.

It is a really complicated procedure that involves minimum tier 10 of various classes. Niva is certain that those experts explained only the portion of what they know to the public. But he already chose the reason for his compfreund-making. There is no turning back.

There is no refund as per contract he had signed. Niva believes that The Nature won't disappoint him no matter how hard the struggle is, there will always be a reason why it happens. But at the same time, it is his weakness that causes Krilo to be paralyzed.

"The Holy Order had already stood by their troops in the vicinity of the village. There may be unnecessary questioning involved when you get into contact with them outside." The lady watch guard looks increasingly anxious.

Has a sharp face, brown eyes, coupled with a wide forehead makes her face unique in Niva's eyes. Her wooden armor size matched perfectly with her slender body. She is one of the senior watchguard for the village Sari.

According to Lynel, Cynthia and the blonde boy have been an accomplice for some legally questionable acts such as smuggling goods or people in and out of the village. The profit that they get is confidential. This disappoints Niva because one day he wishes to have his own underground empire.

"Relax Captain, are those guys searching for them?" comforts Lynel as he somewhat slips his tongue towards his accomplice.

"No. But take a look at this!". The captain lady guard in her painted wooden armor suddenly put a parchment on the table.

Revealing an image of the eerie shadowy figure behind three tall trees. Frame of the picture is inked in black on the outer rim and golden thin lines in the inside part. 'Beware of the Shadow Figure!'

Niva remembers those poor fellows that were still sleeping when the two of them were finding Krilo. "This is regarding the sleeping attack that happened in the middle of the night, right?"

Cynthia looks carefully at the four guests that had just come here. There is one guest that is supposedly with them now but nowhere to be found. She concludes that Niva still hasn't got his compfreund.

"Yes, The Holy Order is currently here to investigate the sleeping victim. Maybe you can ask them to help with your missing compfreund."

Niva instantly shudders with the idea, as he can see Lynel trying his best to give non affirmative gestures behind Cynthia. Only Lynel knows who Niva really is. "I think I'll pass."

Cynthia rolls back the parchment poster of the shadow figure. "They are currently investigating this entity but I heard from the officer there that they will also want to find someone. A wanted poster is currently on the making for the said person, complete with a hefty amount of bounty they said."

"Okay … we will just take a stroll in the village for a moment. If that's okay with you?" Lynel crosses his arms as he tries to bargain. Somewhat disregard Cynthia's warning.

Cynthia pauses for a second before exhaling the air. "Sure, go ahead. Outside situation is so tense that you may become suspicious to other watchguard. If something bad happens, don't come here ever again, understand?" She sarcastically turns her back away from them.

"Sure, let's go. Are you coming, Lula?" asked Lynel confident.

Lula shakes her head. "I'll stay here, you two guys just be careful out there."

The mixed signal from Cynthia confuses Niva, but not long, they go anyway. He somewhat undestands who will it be at the other wanted poster.

They both went straight deeper into the corridor, leaving the two girls and Lula's compfreund alone in the conference room. Niva's heart begins pounding as he walks. He never imagined meeting with the supernatural organization specialist of Terra. Their class and compfreund are whole lot different from the knights.

"I would be careful if I were you," warns Lynel.

"Yeah? because the fact that the other wanted poster is me? Or the fact that Cynthia does not know who I really am?" Niva has a more mindful priority against their current team rather than against the capabilities of The Holy Order.

"Yes you can say that. The moment that your face has a bounty on it. There are 80% chances that all your acquaintances will turn you in for the juicy Volvalen." Blonde Lynel gives a sharp look forward.

As a professional briber, Niva is not a stranger to the highest bidder concept. The moment that the opponent outbid you, is the moment you lose your pawn. The chance of winning is reduced dramatically if the pawn does not have any special affection towards you. Or you could say, an acquaintance.

"I have a question. Why did you give your name away to me back in the woods?" asked Lynel out of the blue.

"The reason is because your family and my step family have a close relationship. I always admire the thriving city of Kumara under the wise Tynel. We, The Melny, had a great time meeting your brothers and sisters there. They are full of honor and are not like the type to backstab someone." Niva just casually throws the unnecessary compliments to Lynel's face.

"Yeah he is so wise that he banished me because of my tiny drinking habit." Lynel's mood worsened. The real reason for the sudden openness is because of a simple gamble. Niva felt Lynel's boldness had a sense of warmth.

Also, the situation Lynel is facing is similar to his. Reporting Niva is the same as denying himself. It is all somewhat the best course of action, seeing that Lynel knows that the blue haired [Bard] is Niva from the very beginning.

"Have you encountered The Holy Order in action before?" Niva asks curiously.

"Once. On Lake Ostian. A strange teleporting giant red centipede crawling on the perimeter of the lake. Destroying the fisherman's village in the vicinity. Other than the one I mention, there is none, maybe there is so much more especially in the kingdom next door." Explains Lynel as he and Niva go out from the secret corridor, and go upstairs.

The incident that big should have attracted the news press. But Niva, his family, and everyone on Richter never even heard of it. If such an incident is true then The Holy Order did a great job to hide it.

Niva is done making small talks. He peeks from the window to see people with knight-like armor but painted in mainly greyish color like a stone and with addition of some various minor colors.