The two hunters were on their very best possible speed toward Michael's home to report the recent happenings so that he can come up with a solution before it was too late. On getting to his house though, he wasn't around. They search for him for a while before seeing Joshua who happened to have known where he went to and directed them to the village head's house.
The village head's house was located in the centre of the village for easy access to everyone. He was a kind leader and helped resolved countless issues during his rule of the village, Michael even has a very nice relationship with him and Michael also assisted him in completing various tasks outside the village. The village head's house was huge, although not too sophisticated, it could be seen as a rich man's house. It was made from solid bricks, occupying a huge area of land and was fenced all around for security. After all, attacks were staged against the village often so it was for extra safeguarding although it has always proved to be useless as with the help of warriors resisting the attacks, no bandit has ever made it to this place.
Flowers were being grown which created a beautiful and peaceful scenery in the compound, there are some able-bodied men standing guard outside the house and maybe more inside the house. There were servants also on standby to offer their services at all times, taking care of the environment and cleaning the house.
Right now, in a private room which was decorated splendidly with furniture made from obvious expensive and sturdy wood sat Michael and Cornelius discussing stuff.
Cornelius was an old man in his seventies but the old age doesn't seem too pronounced, since if you based his looks on earth's standard, he looked like a forty years old man in his prime. He had white hairs which flowed on his back and a swirly white moustache to boot. Although he was old, he was still able-bodied, with muscles popping out, he was fit according to warriors' standards and he was even a hunter formerly. He retired after he got an irrecoverable injury during a hunt. This was obvious since he had a fake left leg, from the knee downwards has been destroyed while hunting as they had to encounter some poisonous snakes and he was bitten. To avoid being killed, he had to cut off the leg but the poison was not able to be completely neutralized since a lot of time was used up before he was able to reach the city and the poison acts up in his body once in a while hence he had to give up on hunting to avoid drawing back his fellow hunters and end up getting himself killed.
"The problem is not with the herb but with where it is growing. That's the territory of a rat king, killing a few rats ain't the issue but the rats over there are like a massive army ready to pounce at anyone at any given time. Fighting the rat king alone could even put someone like me in a near-death situation even if by some luck am able to defeat it", says Michael in a serious tone. "I can lend you some of my men, that herb is important to me. No matter the amount", says Cornelius still hoping that Michael would be able to fulfil his request. "It doesn't matter about the number of warriors you give to me, they have to be at the same level as me to be able to get it. I know this because I have gone to that place before and I lost so many good hunters, I managed to escape by a hair's breadth", replies Michael, "What if you add that kid to them, won't you still be able to procure it?", Cornelius still doesn't seem to have given up as he says. "Although Andrew is good, just the two of us and your warriors won't be able to complete the task, we would all be devoured cleanly by that rat horde without our bones even coming out. That place is just like their territory and they won't tolerate any trespassers at any time", replies Michael in an argument. Cornelius sighs in depression feeling really and down, this issue has been giving him issues for a very long time seeing the present look on his face.
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"Why are you so obsessed by such a single herb after all?", asks Michael. Cornelius is quiet for a while before saying, "Those above want it and they are pressuring me a lot. I don't know what to do anymore about this issue". Michael frowns deeply at the mention of those above, he understood that those who could pressure the village head and were above him were the rich merchants in the city, those strong warriors in the army but those who could pressure him without him being able to fight back in retaliation were the nobles and royalty. After all, being able to become a village head although not having high requirements still requires either coming from a faded nobility line or having a certain level of achievement and Cornelius belongs to the former. Although his family has faded out of nobility, he still has a few connections in the city and was able to get the post of village head in this village. But the higher-ups are now pressuring him, even if he wants to leave the position now to avoid the situation, he can't as he has already gotten too deep into the waters. "What do they want with that herb after all?", Michael couldn't resist the urge to ask. About to reply, a guard rushes in at this moment which gets Cornelius angry, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb me", he roars in annoyance at the guard. The guard replies head bowed, "I am sorry my lordship, but some people are outside whom say they want to see Sir Michael, they say it's an urgent matter which involves the life and death of one hunter called Andrew".
Immediately all colour drains from the face of Michael as he rushes out of the house without even saying goodbye to Cornelius. Cornelius wasn't bothered about that as he thinks to himself, 'What could have happened to that kid? he seems to have been a good lad. Well, I would get to know about that later, the pressing issue is still that herb'. Michael rushes out of the house at full speed and sees the two hunters at the entrance of the house, he asks them what happened to Andrew. Without any delay, they narrated everything that happened in the forest without omitting a single part to avoid annoying Michael anymore. Without any delay, he dashed off while carrying both warriors as if they were pieces of luggage, each one in his hands while running at full speed towards the forest.