“Well, it’s not too much of a story…”, Guan Tong begins recounting.

“I can’t reveal any information on who I’m carrying the potions for, but it’s not something you should need to know. However, I was aware that this trip might bring more dangers due to the cargo’s importance.”

I nod in response.

“I was most afraid of possible bandits, since it’s not uncommon to see caravans robbed. I thus wanted to assemble more skilled adventurers, while not appearing too inconspicuous. It would have backfired if I hired some famous adventurer, since everyone would know I was carrying something of importance. What i didn’t expect was the situation we see now…”, he smiles wryly as he comes to this.

“I was informed of an Ogre man that returned from the famed danger zone, lightning mountain all alone. The area is plagued with Class 1 magical beasts, and the overlord of the area is the terrifying Emperor Eagle, a Class 5. Anyone that could even survive on the outskirts of that area must have some capability.”

“Hence, he was my first hire despite some weird rumours about him. Wind was a stable pick, since she was an up and coming newbie mercenary, having secured many recommendations on her skills despite her cold appearance. Some male mercenaries even like that part of her and *ahem*, bring her along because they want to get ignored by her…”, he looks at me with a weird expression.

I hope he didn’t really hire her just for that…

“Zhe Yun is my nephew, and his father vouched for his dependability in battle personally. I really couldn’t refuse the only request my brother ever made of me when he put it that way. As for Sylvia, I met her in an inn while she was looking for a party to join, and at first I figured that I’ll bring her along so Wind wasn’t the only female mercenary. However, she impressed me with her Hammer skills, so I hired her on the spot.”

Well, from this recounting, it stands to reason why he’ll suspect Ogre man the most regardless. I know it’s to prevent any information leak, but this hiring is really too random…

“May I know what your brother does?”, I ask.

“Ha? Oh, my brother’s a tailor, he’s doing pretty good running his own shop.”, he seems surprised at my question but answers quickly nonetheless.

If I were to eliminate the Ogre man from the list of suspects, honestly, all three of their backgrounds don’t bring much assurance to me. Zhe Yun’s comparatively better, but that’s only if Guan Tong’s brother is on good relations with him, for all I know he could be envious of his brother’s wealth and wants to rob it.

Sylvia’s background is troubling as well, since they met on a ‘chance’ encounter…

As for Wind, she’s still a newbie, so her reputation could just be for the purpose of this trip…

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

There’s really not much choice left to me, my original plan would be the most apt.

However, the risk is betting that the Ogre man really isn’t of threat.

I clench my fist slightly, in preparation for tonight.

I noticed that Ogre man always goes out for a short walk to eat his dinner alone, every night.

Right as the servants prepare to distribute the bread for dinner, I grab a bread quickly, and let them know that I’m heading to relieve myself, pointing in a direction.

One of them nods.

It’s a common practice to inform them, since if you were to go missing while relieving yourself or taking a stroll at night, they would at least notice that you were missing for far too long for just relieving yourself. It’s better than if they were to notice a whole night later.

I walk quickly towards the direction, keeping my bread in within my clothes.

After reaching a distance away, I stop.

I then simply sit on a nearby rock and wait.

A few minutes pass, as a large figure appears from the direction of the camp.

“You can’t have called me out here to eat together?”, he says plainly, with no humour in his tone.

It’s the Ogre man.

“It’s really weird to keep addressing you at ‘Ogre man’, you know…”, I shrug my shoulders, saying.

“I guess you have some guts, to call me out here alone…”, he speaks slowly, stepping forward as if preparing to get into a battle stance, exuding a threatening aura.

“I have my means.”, I reply simply, placing my right hand near my small satchel.

He takes another step forward.

I maintain my indifference.

He stares at me, before relaxing.

“Ruk. Now speak.”, he says sternly.

“Alright, so... Ruk, I assume you still remember the servant’s death from the night before?”, I relax my posture, putting my right hand away.

He nods in affirmation.

“Yes, he died due to having his neck twisted, but also has severe internal bleeding in the chest.”, I say lightly, but observe his reaction to this seriously.

He frowns his brows upon hearing this.

He seems to want to say something, but I continue.

“I assume you can somewhat guess the rest. You. You’re the biggest suspect.”, I say, pointing at him in a reprimanding tone.

He seems angered, and takes half a step forward.

However, he stops moving after that.

Straightening his creased brows, he says in a slight mocking manner, “And you’re revealing this to me because?”

“Of course it’s that I believe you’re innocent.”

“Bullshit.”, he replies derisively.

I get rid of my flippant manner, looking more serious, I say in a heavier tone, “You’re the biggest suspect, and it’s for that reason, that you’re the least suspicious.”

He seems to be thinking about my words, while still staring at me, unflinching.

“It’ll be a problem for me if you’re subdued, and the actual perpetrator starts having thoughts of silencing everyone now that he or she has the capability to.” I say frankly.

“I’m offering you a path of survival. If you faced everyone now, I doubt you’ll survive, even if you managed to take out one of the other mercenaries. I have a way out for you.”, I continue to persuade.

He seems hesitant.

At this point, I take out the potion, showing it off to him before quickly keeping it.

His eyes widen slightly, before dilating.

“Alright.”, He says.

I talk to him about his role, as he listens.

Before long, he leaves the place in a heavy manner.

As I continue to look at his back, his figure keeps turning smaller until I can’t see it.

Seeing this, I finally stop staring, and move my left arm forward from behind my back.

Doing so, I turn to the other direction of the camp, and launch the ‘Hidden Beam’ I held in my left hand previously.

The beam shoots through a few trees before dissipating as usual, as I heave a sigh of relief.

I take another look at the camp, before starting to walk back.