Marian wasn't comfortable being around these people who surrounded her and on noticing that Andrew has entered, ran up to meet up with him. Nobody tried to stop her and she successfully hid behind the back of Andrew while staring at the people present in the compound.

Andrew sets Eve down gently while staring at Ceros with an amused expression on his face, he didn't seem to be of much threat to him although they were both in the same realm.

Seems like Ceros was the hidden card of Cornelius since he hasn't seen him in this village since his stay or maybe he was guarding Eve over there in the capital. Although he didn't understand how he was able to recruit such a powerhouse though.

"Andy, where is my mum", Marian's voice sounded out at this period to disrupt Andrew's line of thought. Due to being close, Marian tends to call Andrew "Andy", and since Andrew doesn't pick up any kind of issue with his name being shortened, she has continued with it for a long time now and was now more used to calling Andrew that than his full name. Andrew just sighs while he says, "She is dead". He doesn't want to lie to this girl before him and just rubs her hair lovingly with gentle eyes. But not wanting to lie doesn't mean he would say he was the one who ended her life, that would just lead to more drama which he wanted to avoid since no explanation could justify that at all and Marian would just end up hating him for life.

Marian was dumbfounded by the news which was laid out before her and was about to start crying all over again, but Andrew just ignores her this time around, not even saying any word in order to placate her. He wasn't prepared to be a babysitter all through his life.

He looks towards Cornelius and Ceros before smiling weirdly, then he turns towards Eve. He was a bit surprised that she hasn't run towards Cornelius as he had thought but instead continued staying at his side.

Next up, he drops all his weapons before sitting down comfortably on the floor. Such action of his was a shock to both Eve and Cornelius, and even the newcomer, Ceros.

Various thoughts began running on their heads on why Andrew would sit down at this moment and what he was after, but even though they thought about it for long, they couldn't come up with a plausible answer and hence stared at Andrew waiting for him to state his reasons behind his actions.

Andrew was silent for a while during which he was just staring at the skies, he sighs all of a sudden before saying, "Do you all know that today was supposed to be a day of celebration for me? After all, I was supposed to be drinking away in a tavern, eating all my favourite meals since today is my birthday. Or isn't birthdays meant for celebration?", the question doesn't seem directed at anyone and in a way it seems like he was asking the people present here.

The people present couldn't quite understand why Andrew would say something like that all of a sudden, they were all unable to make sense of what he just said.

"The moon sure is full and bright. Such a nice mood for some festivities but all of these just had to happen", not waiting for their answers, Andrew sighs again while saying, but this time he brings his head down while staring at Cornelius.

"Since am here alive and kicking, you must have understood what happened to Michael and the rest. After all they have not been back for such a long time already". Cornelius was now shocked by this revelation, although he had suspected it all along, being told it was the truth was all the more shocking. Even Marian was dismal when she heard such news. Although she didn't understand why Andrew would say it in that manner, she was still shocked that the mighty Michael has died and felt sad about all that was happening. Seems like today brought forth nothing but great tragedy.

"I am going to be as straightforward as possible. I don't like you, seeing you makes me want to kill you and I could just blame it all on the bandits who raided the village and kill all eyewitnesses. I am sure you understand what I mean by that", Andrew continues while a blooming smile was plastered on his face.

On hearing such words, Cornelius shivered hard and all hairs on his body raised.

Ceros, on the other hand, tightens his grip on his axe and was about to attack, but Andrew just looks at him and releases his full aura.

Feeling his aura, Ceros starts sweating hard and everything in him was screaming that moving just a bit more would get him killed. Due to Marian and Eve being close to him, they quickly passed out. Andrew smiles noticing Ceros retreating on his own accord.

"If such an action repeats itself, I did be glad to end your life. Geez, am trying to have a conversation over here", Andrew says.

Ceros gulps hard understanding that it was no threat. Cornelius just grimaces as he replies, "So what do you want then?".

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Andrew just smiles before saying, "Actually I don't need anything much from you. You won't be able to give me what I need with your seemingly minor power".

Andrew deeps his hand into the bag that he brought along with him and retrieves the herb which they had gone to the forest to harvest

On seeing the herb, an expression filled with excitement crept up Cornelius' face.

"But I do want the answer to a question of mine though. You know it has been bothering me for a long time now", Andrew says while playing around with the herb in his hands.

"Which question?", Cornelius asks while his mood turns sour over the fact that Andrew has not yet given him the herb. Andrew replies by saying, "Well, it is about this herb which we went to harvest". He pauses for a bit, while a strange smile crept on his face before continuing, "You made us go on such a dangerous mission because of you right?".

"Eh? What do you mean by asking such a question?", Cornelius asks with a frown, there wasn't even a hint of being nervous in him. "Well, if it was really for those higher ups as you said, they would have sent at least one of their underlings to keep a tab on the progress and wouldn't fully entrust the mission to you, just in case you try to run away with it and he would be the one to be sending updates on the situation to him daily", Andrew says while the strange smile is still plastered on his face.

"Ohh, about that. I explained it to Michael when he asked. In order to avoid drawing attention to himself, he wanted to avoid sending out his troops", Cornelius replies coolly. "He doesn't need to do that much. Just a measly underling could do the job. All he just had to do was report every proceeding to his masters and if there was a day they didn't receive their daily report, they could just find a way to deal with you. Or they could have even hired mercenaries to help them with their dealings and everything would have proceeded with little to no mishap. To be precise, those above you don't know the fact that such a herb existed if not this village as a whole would have turned into a battleground. I came to such a conclusion after studying you for a while, I have grown to find out that you are secretly dealing with Peter in some shady businesses but that's not for me to be involved in after all he is already dead".

Cornelius was shocked by the way Andrew was explaining everything and the fact that he knew about his dealings with Peter. After all, he has hidden it very carefully and erased every little piece of evidence such that Michael and the rest didn't have any inkling about such a thing. He wasn't too surprised about Peter's death since he happened to have seen Oscar carrying Zed's head as a trophy while approaching his compound, so there was little doubt about the situation in which Peter was in.

"So since you already know about it, do you want to kill me and use the herb yourself?", Cornelius asks in obvious defeat. He understood that denying the matter any further won't do either party any good and thus agreed to it. 'This kid sure is smarter than Michael. I wouldn't be shocked if he was the cause for their death'.

Andrew now smiles innocently, waving his hands while saying, "Of course not. Why would you think so badly of me? Do I look like someone who could even harm anyone?".

After which his face becomes serious before saying, "Of course if I wanted to horde the herb to myself, I would have just gone ahead and killed you. But being such a saint, I have decided to give you the herb".

Cornelius was shocked by what Andrew said, after all, he was powerful to kill them all off and use the herb for himself knowing how valuable it was in bolstering someone's powers, he began to suspect that Andrew might have poisoned the herb before wanting to offer it to him. They both thought differently though, as Andrew understands that using herbs for a breakthrough would limit him in the end and deems it unwise to follow that route since he sort after being the strongest in this world. Using such herbs was just like drawing your future potential in order to push for a breakthrough towards the next realm while limiting yourself.

"Don't get me mistaken though, we are making some exchanges. There is nothing like a free meal in this world which you should understand", Andrew's voice sounds out once again, disrupting Cornelius' train of thought. Still not wanting to give up on the herb, Cornelius asks, "What do you want to trade with then?", the way he said such words in a hurry showed that he could pay off any price for the herb in Andrew's hands.

"Nothing much. I would tell you when it's time but one of the favours would be looking after this kid over here after I am gone, I would be leaving for the capital soon and I can't take her along with me", Andrew pauses before continuing, "I do hope you are restored quickly to your days of glory though, so I don't have to worry about anything".

Andrew on saying that, tosses the herb towards Cornelius not minding one bit if his broken bones have already recovered enough for him to move his hands. Ceros who was beside Cornelius steps out to catch the herb for him, he has not been in the know of all this stuff happening and with the way the herb was spoken of, it seems like it was something of great value which even those nobles would vie for. But he was loyal to Cornelius and won't go running his mouth off about such a thing.

"That's all I have to say then. Although it's a bit late, I should still try to celebrate my birthday since I was able to get so many gifts on this day", smiling like whom just won the lottery, Andrew says while lifting Marian in his hands and walking towards the direction of the exit of the compound.

Cornelius and Ceros just watched his back as he left, although he was smiling the entire time, right now, Andrew's back portrayed the full meaning of loneliness which could only be felt on the sight and couldn't be explained.

"Take care of Eve for me. I am going to be busy for a while", after watching Andrew exit the compound, Cornelius said to Ceros as he grabs the herb from him. Seems his hand has recovered enough to hold stuff, after taking the herb, he enters his room while shutting it. His voice sounds out at this moment, "No one should disturb me throughout this period and Eve shouldn't leave the village until I am out".