Percy followed the Adventurer’s advice and slowly increased the prices of his goods. He didn’t go as far as to double the prices of the goods in his shop, but it was enough to notice.

The trio of Adventurers and others noticed the changed prices but didn’t say anything. Everyone living in the capital for a while had already predicted this move. They predicted Percy would increase the prices in his shop after a few weeks – once enough potential customers heard about his items.

Still, the price for his goods didn’t increase as much as the young Adventurers had feared. The iron Artifacts were still the most cost-efficient to purchase.

That was also why Percy was still worried about other merchants.

I should be more careful if the Elite Adventurer didn’t lie to me. I don’t think they’ll bother hiring powerful Gifted to thrash my shop, but that’s not necessary in the first place. As long as the merchants hire ruffians to destroy my shop and steal from me, they will do it when I leave the shop. That’s troublesome.

The Adventurer might have mentioned that he had some time left before the merchants would make a move – if they made a move – but Percy wanted to be prepared for it.

He visited the capital’s Guildhall.

The Guildhall was impressive, to say the least. It was a massive structure, even larger than the Wintermoon Estate, and probably cost even more to build, but Percy didn’t have the nerve to inspect the building in awe. He approached the wooden counter with a smile and immediately got to the point.

“Good morning, I own a small business and would like to know what I am supposed to do when someone attacks my property.”

The staff looked at Percy and sensed the mana coursing through him but didn’t say anything at first. His lips parted, but instead of saying anything, the staff retrieved a few notes before answering.

“You are allowed to repel thieves and pin them down if you wish them to be interrogated;” The young man answered.

“Can I break their bones to make an example out of them?”

All color left the staff’s face when he realized that Percy was serious with his inquiry. He returned to the notes and nodded slowly.

“Y-you are not allowed to kill them as long as they do not enter your property, but you are allowed to pursue them to retrieve the items they’ve stolen. As for breaking bones…that hasn’t been clarified in my notes.”

That’s better than nothing, I guess.

Percy shrugged nonchalantly.

“That’s enough for me. I would like to hire some guards for my shop,” Percy jumped to the next topic, “I heard the Guildhall here has a special service for Gifted who want to retain the adventurer benefits but don’t want to return to the Wilderness.”

It wasn’t uncommon for wealthy merchants and nobles to hire Gifted. Percy saw dozens of guards in the Reeze estate and that did not even include the Glacia Knights. They belonged to different organizations.

“Of course, Sir,” The staff nodded in a hurry and asked, “May I know your monthly budget and what you expect from the guards? We have many Gifted who should fit to your tas–...”

The staff was interrupted when a young man with blond hair arrived next to Percy. He smiled at the staff, who cursed softly before retreating quickly.

Percy caught the apologetic gaze from the young staff and turned slowly to the unknown man.

The man had blond, almost golden hair, a short nose, and childish features. His eyes were green, but they weren’t as vibrant as the crook-nosed alchemist’s eyes. However, the most intriguing feature was the Gifted’s ears. They were larger than the norm and covered in fur.

“I sincerely apologize for eavesdropping on you, but I couldn’t help myself,” The Gifted said politely, peals of sweat trickling down his cheeks. We aren’t Adventurers, but we are Gifted, and I can fight…”

Percy was unsure what was going on, but he quickly noticed the eyes lingering on them. He turned around to see everyone staring at him, at the Gifted before him, like they were trouble.

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

Percy’s hair stood at its end, and his hand instinctively traveled to the Silvron Sword’s handle. The Gifted shuddered and pulled back, his eyes widened in uncontrollable fear. Percy halted at that.

Why is he so afraid? I’m prepared to fend off the other Adventurers…not him.

He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts.

“Don’t worry about eavesdropping. My name is Percy,” He stretched out one hand to greet the young Gifted.

“I…I’m Louis…” The young Gifted struggled to respond. He hesitated for a long time before lifting his hand to shake hands with Percy.

Only now Percy realized that Louis didn’t have normal hands. His hands were covered in fur, and his fingers were more like claws similar to the Gnoll Warrior’s.

“I’ve never met a Demi. Are there many Demis in the capital?” Percy asked with a smile, taking Louis by surprise.

Percy looked straight into Louis’ eyes and didn’t show a sign of the same resentment and disgust Louis’ had already gotten used to. There was not the slightest change in his attitude. That was even weirder than a surprised reaction. At least, that would have been normal.

“T-There aren’t many Demis in the capital,” Louis gathered his courage in between a few deep breaths, “Not since the king abolished slavery to free all innocent war slaves.”

“Innocent, he says,” Someone ridiculed in disgust, which Percy ignored. However, Louis flinched.

Wasn’t there something about a war with the Beastmen a decade ago or so? That kid must be a victim of the war. But why is he here?

“I think I understand where you’re coming from. You’re a war slave who regained freedom when the king abolished slavery. But what do you want from me?” Percy asked, even though he could tell where this was going.

“I want you to hire me.” Louis requested with as much courage as he could gather.

“Why do you want me to hire you? If i’m not mistaken, Beastmen are physically stronger than humans. Shouldn’t you have an easier time hunting in the WIlderness? There is no need for you to become a guard.”

“I need this job.” Louis declared dead serious.

Percy was about to ask Why? when he heard a scream from the left. Percy’s head flicked to the source of the voice, where he found a bulky man, an Elite Gifted, dragging a young girl that couldn’t be older than ten cycles through the room. He pulled her hair mercilessly, ignoring her pained screams.

The Adventurers in the Guildhall saw this, but nobody moved. Some looked around as if hoping someone else would intervene, yet not a single Adventurer moved.

Percy’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, but he understood quickly what was happening.

The young girl had long, silky blond hair that glimmered golden in the sunlight, bright green eyes filled with tears, and a short, snotty nose. But again, the most important feature was her fur-covered ears. Under normal circumstances, her ears would be covered by her full hair, but the Adventurer dragging her through the room by pulling her hair revealed everything.

There was no mistake about it. She was Louis’ younger sister.

She bawled her eyes out, yet nobody came to her rescue.

“Sabrina!” Louis exclaimed, stepping forward to rescue his sister, but Percy was already on the move.

He took one step at a time, while studying the bulky Adventurer intently.

“What are you looking at?! Do you want to fight?!” The Adventurer bellowed, but it was almost like Percy didn’t hear him. He kept striding forward.

“Let her go. You’re hurting her.” Percy said calmly as if showing emotions was a foreign concept to him.

“Her kind doesn’t deserve to be alive! Someone like this cretin is better off dead!” The Adventurer shouted.

The fury in his heart burned fiercely, but Percy could only pity the Adventurer for his stupidity.

The distance between them narrowed until the Adventurer took the final step to tower before Percy. Percy was already well-built but he had a more athletic body rather than a mindless bulk of muscles. The Adventurer didn’t seem to think much of Percy and laughed menacingly while looking down on Percy as if their face off was already over.

“You should start reading some books,” Percy’s right hand snapped forward and coiled around the Adventurer’s wrist.

“Is talking the only thing you can?” The Adventurer ridiculed Percy and laughed until a cracking noise reverberated through the Guildhall.

The Adventurer released the little girl without realizing it as Percy used every fiber of strength within him to squeeze. The cracking noise was out of his expectations.

“Why is your wrist so fragile?” Percy cursed, releasing the Adventurer’s broken wrist with a disgusted face, “Weaklings like you should know when to keep their mouths shut.”

He looked straight into the Adventurer’s pain-distorted face, the corner of his lips tilting upward, “You are an embarrassment for all members of the Guild. How about you leave before I consider breaking your nose?”

Louis appeared next to Percy the moment the words left his lips.

He circulated mana through his body and pounced on the bulky Adventurer.

And punched him square in the face, breaking his nose in one go.