Everyone was looking at me, wondering what I was going to do to him, which I interrogated him.”

“How are you going to do that? He is unconscious.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem, Alex.”

I lifted my right foot off the ground and moved it back. Then, as hard as I could, I kicked him in the groin.

Alex looked squirmish and had placed his hand on his private part. He looked at me like how I could just do that to another guy. Since I’m not a guy, I have no qualms about doing it.

His eyes shot wide open, and he began clutching his crotch in pain. Before he could do anything, I took out my sword and pointed it at his neck so he knew who was in control of the situation.

I threatened him that if he moved, I would kill him.

“So, who are you?”

The guy had his back to a wall, looking afraid, and was remaining silent. His eyes were darting all over the place, looking at his surroundings, and finally landed back at me.

“Then are you the only one following us?”

Again, he remains silent. I took my eyes off him and told Alex and everyone else to tell.

“Go run to Alice; they might be going after her right now.”

Seeing the opportunity as I wasn’t looking, the guy took out his dagger to try and attack me.

I knocked away his dagger without looking at him and stabbed the hand holding the dagger, causing him to let go of the dagger and yell in even more pain. Then I bash the butt end of my sword at his head to knock him back.

I intentionally let that happen to reinforce the fact that I was in control and that he was cornered.

“Better that you leave; this can get ugly.”

Alex, Wendy, and Lucia nodded and began running back to check on Alice. When they left, I said to the would-be kidnapper.

“Don’t try that again, and don’t make me repeat myself; who are you?”

This time he answered, but he said he refused as he was holding his hand in pain.

“Guess I have to figure it out myself. Let's see, your so-called master didn’t bother to give you better training with how pathetic you are. I guess they are either cheap or just poor for a mutt like you.”

“Don’t you dare badmouth, my master!”

He shouted in anger as I provoked him. So, he is really loyal to his master then.

“What? Did he pick a piece of trash off the streets?”

He looks distraught as I continue to provoke him.

“Compared to my family's black knights, you're just pathetic. However, it does narrow down the list of families you might be from.”

Obviously, he was surprised when I mentioned black knights because those things are closely held secrets of every family who has them. Knowing them would require someone to be directly involved with the internal affairs of the family. By telling him that I know about their family’s black knights, it means that he is dealing with a family much more powerful than them and that I’m in a family that they do not want to mess with.

Additionally, as I spoke to him, I changed how I used to speak, that of a high-born noble.

All these factors caused him to gulp in fear, like seeing me as someone far above him who could squash him and his master like bugs.

Good. Seeing him agitated, it was good he was like that because he is not thinking straight and is vulnerable right now.

“Maybe you're from the Sulmon, Grennell, Seaford, Eastburn, Stannoll, Lourkimb, Airkirn, Seandring, or maybe...”

As a noble being born in high society, I was taught to read the slightest signs of emotions, and he is like an open book right now because the next name I said made a reaction.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“So, you’re from the Palning family then.”

He was really surprised, almost completely losing his composure when I mentioned that name.

“How about this, why don’t I spare your life if you tell me the name of your master because he has made an enemy of me, but you’re just a lowly pitiful mutt who I have no qualms with.”

He decided to remain silent, and when I tried to threaten him some more times, he still kept his lips shut.

I doubt I can get any more from him because he is tight-lipped about it and I don’t have anything else I can really use against him.

Thinking of what I would do next, should I catch up with Alex? No, I trust that they got it covered. Then I know more about who I am dealing with; I should follow him to see where his base is.

“Fine, have it your way. It’s more enjoyable to toy with you; here is a treat.”

I stabbed him in his right thigh, looking at him with my cold, emotionless eyes. Then I began walking away.

“I better get going now. Enjoy your fun while it lasts.”

As I was walking off, I heard him mutter.

“Just who are you? You’re a monster.”

Chelsie’s and Maria’s perspective

Maria was looking out the window of their room, trying to chat with Alice as Chelsie was sleeping.

“So do you have any hobbies, Alice?”

“No, I never had the time to have them.”

"Oh, I see. Is it related to the thing you don’t want to talk about? It’s fine if you don’t want to.”

Having a guilty expression, Alice said.

“Sorry, I am putting you in a lot of danger.”

“No problems; Alex usually gets himself in these types of situations, especially for all of us. We’ll figure something out.”

Alice was a bit confused hearing what Maria had said and asked what she meant.

Maria, with a smile to reassure Alice, said.

“Let's see, Alex, help everyone in the party out of a tough spot.”

Showing some curiosity, Alice asks about her story.

“Tough spot?”

“Well, it’s not that interesting compared to the others. When I first came to Farsbarow, I joined a party, but they weren’t as friendly as they seemed. I was not good at fighting, but I found out I had a talent for alchemy. Due to that, I was forced into making potions for them nonstop.”

“That’s horrible.”

“Yes, but Alex and Chelsie managed to help me get out of that party and reported them to the adventurer guild.”

“I see.”

Hearing Maria's story of how Alex saved her, Alice began contemplating something in her mind and said.

“I guess I could tell a bit about myself. My family is having a dispute, if you can call it mildly.”

“Is it because you're from nobility?”

Nodding yes, Alice preceded to say.

“The head of my family and the successor are dead, making the next successor unclear.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s fine.”

“Then are the people who kidnap you from your family?”

“No, my family doesn’t have those types of people, or at least not that I’m aware of.”

Continuing on with telling her story, Alice explained how she was passing by Acton in a carriage but was attacked by people wearing all black. They took out all her guards as they sacrificed themselves to protect her. Alice clutched her hand tight to the point her knuckles turned white, feeling anger and helplessness for the people who lost their lives for her.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to try to go back home, then find out who is targeting me.”

As Alice was saying that, there was a knock on the door.

“Room service.”

Maria thought it was strange that room service was knocking and more worryingly that they did not call for it.

Maria told the person to wait a minute and walk up to the bed to wake Chelsie.

“Chelsie, I think there is something wrong.”

Hearing what Maria had said, Chelsie's eyes shot wide open and she was on alert.

“I think it’s the kidnappers again, claiming to be room service.”

“I see. Alice, as we planned.”

Following the plan, they made sure if the kidnappers were coming for Alice, Chelsie equipped her bow and quiver, then drew out her knife. Maria opened the window and took out a rope. If it was the kidnapper, Maria would throw down the rope so they could repel out the window and run for it toward the adventurer guild.

Seeing Maria ready with the rope and Alice hiding under the bed, Chelsie opens the door while holding her knife behind her.

Chelsie told the room service person that they hadn’t ordered anything and that it was the wrong room; however, the guy was persistent in wanting to go in, saying it was the right room.

Chelsie didn’t recognize the guy from any of the staff members, and when she tried to close the door, the guy put his foot between the door to stop her.

At that point, Chelsie knew that this guy was one of the kidnappers and struck with the knife she was hiding behind her back to get the first strike.

However, the kidnapper uses his left arm to guard against the attack, leaving it lodged in his arm, and forcefully kicks open the door.

Seeing that he was a kidnapper, Maria threw down the rope to the street, and Alice roped down with Maria following suit.

Before Chelsie could go down, she made sure that he couldn’t follow them, so she shot an arrow at his leg.