Ivan leaves the shack and Elizabeth behind and walks down the hill.

As he reaches the bottom of the hill, Ivan looks left and right. He does it again and then realizes an important fact.

I have no idea where the Company is... I can't look dumb and go back to the shack so I can just ask someone for directions.

Looking around, Ivan finally finds someone who looks the most trustworthy person around.

The person Ivan is talking about is an old man who has a severe hunchback. The old man just so happens to be passing in front of Ivan and caught his eye.

As Ivan walks up to the old man, the old man raises their eyebrows in interest at the giant Ivan. Compared to Ivan, the hunchbacked old man looks tiny, yet saying this Ivan walks up to the man and acts with the upmost respect.

"Hello sir, I have a question if you don't mind answering it." says Ivan as he gives a slight bow to the old man. The old man cackles intensely. Tears form in the eyes of the old man from laughing so hard.

The man's cackle is erratic and seems hysterical. Even though this old man seems crazy to the normal person to Ivan this person is the most sane person he has seen in a while.

The reason for this is because Ivan is able to sense bloodlust. Ever since he has walked in town Ivan has watched people around and nearly everyone has an overflowing bloodlust emmiting from them. Even at the last town nearly everyone had some sort of bloodlust but this old man is the only person Ivan has meet that has no bloodlust.

That or the man has so much bloodlust that Ivan isn't strong enough to sense but Ivan is willing to take a chance.

When finishing his fit of laughter, the old man wipes the tears from his face and collects himself.

"My own children don't treat me with this kind of respect, all right, I'll hear you out giant man."

Ivan smiles at the old man's response.

"Thank you. I am wondering where a few things in town are. The Company, and the most trustworthy shops in town."

The old man is impressed how Ivan worded his words. The thing is the old man is able to sense bloodlust coming from someone and he senses absolutely none from Ivan which means that Ivan is most likely an innocent man. Yet this innocent man knew to ask for the 'most trustworthy' shops in town compared to the 'best' shops in town.

Just because a shop is the absolute best in town doesn't mean they are trustworthy, especially when in a criminal ridden town like Blightwood.

The old man now sees Ivan not only as an innocent man but also a cunning innocent man.

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Since the old man has a somewhat favorable opinion of Ivan, he tells Ivan everything he asked for. After telling him where the Company is and where the most 'trustworthy' shops are, the old man decides to learn a little more about Ivan.

"Why do you want to know where the Company is anyways? Money? Fame? Power? Adventure?"

Being caught off guard, Ivan decides to take a few moments to create a good answer to what he truly wants.

"I guess I want money so I can turn it into power to help out someone in need. After that continue using my power for my beliefs and pursuing my goals of helping people out who deserve it." says Ivan confident in his answer.

"Ah, but who do you consider worthy of your help young man?"

The old man throws another curve ball at Ivan and catches him off guard again. Ivan puts his hand to his chin and thinks for a little longer than before. He really hasn't thought about it, but he should at least be honest with the old man.

"To be honest old man, it will just be whoever I deem worthy of my help. There is no point in setting a parameter that people can abuse or me end up helping people I don't want to help because I made a promise."

The old man cackles again at Ivan's answer. The old man likes how straightforward Ivan is while also appreciates that Ivan is truly careful with his words.

"Well young man, if it is money you need, then I might have a job for you to do."

"What does this job entail and how much am I getting paid?"

"Straight to the point huh? I run a blacksmith's shop and I am constantly harrassed by the local thugs. You seem like you could hold your own in a fight so you just have to protect my shop, that's it. I can pay about 10 Gold Sheks a day."

1 Gold Coin is the price of a meal bundle from a tavern, which includes a piece of bread, potato soup, and a jar of water. People use this as a basis for currency in this world the only difference is the shape and style of coins between cities, factions, or countries. Sheks are the currency used by the Evil Faction for the most part. Also, most basic weapons and armor cost are 100-150 Gold Coins for each piece.

Ivan thinks about it and figures that this job is perfect for him. All he has to do is beat up some thugs and he will be compensated. The thugs are definitely bad people since they are harrassing an old man and maybe Ivan can get a discount on weapons if he gets to know the old man better.

"Your offer is very tempting and I have no reason to refuse so I will gladly accept your job offer. Thank you for the opportunity." says Ivan while bowing his head again.

The man cackles for a third time now as he is still not used to the honoring way that Ivan speaks to him.

"As long as you do your job than everything will be fine. My name is Alibaster Black by the way." says the old man while holding out his hand.

Ivan takes the old man's hand and gives him a handshake. Ivan's hand is much bigger than the old man's so it is a little awkward for Ivan.

"My name is Ivan Dracula, nice to be working with you Sir Black."

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I would like to clear something up before there are any misconceptions or questions about 'bloodlust'. Bloodlust and aura are two different things. Bloodlust is an accumalation of bad energy that materializes and is able to be seen if you have a keen eye. The way the bad energy accumalates is if you commits heinous acts, like murder or stealing, have evil intentions or feelings, and finally if you have a curse placed on you. The more evil things you do the thicker the bloodlust surrounding you is. This is different if I mention that someone's aura is filled with bloodlust, which means that person is inherintly supposed to be evil and their aura shows this. That does not mean the have done bad things, but they are more prone to. Auras show the true traits of someone's soul and is released by people who are very powerful, or if you have a skill that can release your aura. Whether this is a bad thing or a good thing depends on the person and how they use it. I put this in the actual chapter since some people don't pay attention if you post it in the author note sections. Thank you - Freww6