Leaving the Adventurers' Guild, a faint fragrance drifted through the air.

At this time of night, the city's nightlife was just beginning. Looking around, the second floor windows were full of girls peeking out and beckoning to men.

Ronald realized the Guildmaster's shrewdness. Adventurers just came from a harsh environment and felt insecure psychologically. Now they desperately needed comfort, and what could compare to the soft words of these ladies?

So as soon as the adventurers got paid, they left the Guild and their money went straight into the pockets of the girls around them.

Furthermore, the Guild likely had a hand in the surrounding brothels, even the whole street.

...

To say he didn't crave it would be a lie. After all, a big part of his expectations coming to this world was just that.

But after experiencing a series of deceptions and humiliations in this world, Ronald had become very wary.

The exotic charms smiling coquettishly upstairs might only be superficial. Who knows if the girl tenderly caressing you one second would sell all your secrets the next?

Ronald didn't want to be deceived again. He silently cast a cleansing spell on himself, then left without looking back at the procuress.

It was this rationality that allowed Ronald to notice the tail following him.

Ever since leaving the academy, Ronald had a vague sense of being watched. At first he thought it was the Arcane Eye spells from the top of the Tower, but now Ronald realized someone was tailing him.

Being tailed in this world was not a good thing.

This world wouldn't have crazy stalker girls following their crushes and then forcing themselves on them. Tails here only meant murder and kidnapping.

"Nip the bud..." he murmured softly.

Ronald then quickened his pace towards the carriage depot.

The other party didn't choose to ambush him in the city. They likely considered his noble background.

Assassination and openly attacking a noble heir were completely different consequences.

Brazenly assaulting a noble heir, if exposed, would overwhelm even Archmage Morrison.

The nobles were a strange bunch, constantly undermining each other but also very united.

When there was no outside threat, they would beat each other to death over a bucket of water. But when an external threat appeared, the nobles would become very united.

Morrison was an Archmage and Tower Lord, but if the assassination of a noble was exposed, the only fate waiting for him would be death and razing of his Tower.

It's said positions shape perspectives. A lofty Tower Lord would never stake his everything for a bug he could crush with a flip of his hand.

So Ronald was certain Archmage Morrison wouldn't make a move!

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If Morrison wasn't acting, then in all likelihood it would be that frivolous blond man executing the hunt.

If his hunter was him, then Ronald would go all out.

Harlington had said in the hall that a vampire subjugation quest needed a 6 man team of journeyman apprentices. Ronald didn't know their exact strength, but if Harlington wasn't lying, then Ronald's true combat power already couldn't be measured by level.

Recalling Harlington's aggressive performance in the hall, a bold idea surfaced in Ronald's mind.

Arriving at the carriage depot, Ronald deliberately acted as if he had discovered the tail. He booked two carriages heading in different directions.

Then Ronald hid in a third cargo carriage and slowly led the bait carriage out of the city, one step ahead of the hunters.

Ronald saw the fully armed cavalry tail them and leave the city. He didn't see Harlington among them, which was a slight disappointment.

What a pity not encountering that perverted villain who liked to personally execute his enemies, otherwise he might have recovered his staff...

*

*

*

Moonlight was blocked by thick clouds.

The small path was shrouded in a gauze-like white fog.

Rumble—

Besides the sound of carriage wheels turning over the gravel road, magic lights occasionally lit up, but quickly extinguished.

After silently counting twenty minutes, the first trap Ronald had laid was triggered.

The other side's slow response exceeded Ronald's expectations. He thought after setting up the fifth trap, they would catch up. But after laying thirty-two magic traps along the way, they only triggered the first...

To be honest, Ronald no longer doubted his ability to kill them. Now he was mainly worried whether they could even make it through the magic traps to catch up!

Otherwise he wouldn't be able to keep up this act.

Five kilometers behind Ronald on the small path, the fully armed cavalry were chasing on foot without their warhorses.

The burly man leading them took off his helmet and spat fiercely on the ground.

This knight was called Cockerel, captain of this hunt.

Cockerel thought this mission would be simple like usual.

Just catch up to the target, hack off their head while they hysterically begged for mercy, then go home.

If they finished early, Cockerel could even go to the Nightingale Street brothels and spend a wonderful night with his lover.

Normally Cockerel wouldn't go there, the girls were beauties but too expensive. His meager Knight Captain salary couldn't satisfy those little elves. But with his side income it was different.

Cockerel was brought into this business by his old boss. At first, Cockerel also felt it was very cruel and disgusting. But after receiving the heavy coins, Cockerel quickly forgot the Knight's Oath he recited every morning.

Cockerel had been in this business for five years, considered a veteran. He matured from green novice to seasoned hand, from hesitant to unflinching, from dull to gradually finding enjoyment.

Cockerel liked taking jobs on youngsters, because not only were these jobs simple, he could also have some fun afterwards...

The last job like this was half a month ago, the client was some rich merchant's son.

On the surface, he was a handsome lad that anyone would say was "cultured", but in secret he was a madman who worshipped evil gods, even more insane and disgusting than goblins.

That target was a mason's daughter, quite young, around 16 years old. She was very beautiful, those clear eyes like a lake, and long fluttering lashes, left a deep impression on Cockerel.

After taking the job, things went smoothly as usual. Cockerel quickly captured the target and notified the client.

The merchant's son arrived with some lackeys and took the girl to an abandoned castle outskirts of the city.

The deserted castle wouldn't normally have any visitors, so it became a haunt for certain groups to indulge their twisted desires.

Cockerel usually waited outside since he was responsible for clean up.

The screams weren't anything unusual, Cockerel was already numb to it. He didn't pay it much attention, only that halfway through the girl seemed to anger the merchant's son and he had his men bring in several hunting dogs...

It was a very long night. After the merchant's son left satisfied, the scene inside the castle opened Cockerel's eyes to a new world.

As if bewitched by the devil, Cockerel didn't immediately dispose of the target. Instead he kept her imprisoned in the castle dungeons for a period of time.

During that time, Cockerel tried everything he could think of on her.

When she was just about worn out, Cockerel finally ended the poor lamb's pitiful life.

Afterwards Cockerel got addicted to the feeling of "punishing" these lambs. He didn't discriminate between genders, as long as they were young he would make an exception to keep them for a time.

What Cockerel harvested most during that time was curses.

He didn't understand why the lambs would curse him, when he had granted them life and shown them such mercy...