After searching for a while, Alistair finally found one of the runaway horses. It stood tall under a tree, its powerful frame gleaming like freshly fallen snow. A bold streak of black ran down its neck, striking against the pristine white coat. Muscles rippled beneath its skin with each movement, and its nostrils flared as it snorted sharply. Dark eyes locked onto Alistair—sharp and aggressive—daring him to come closer. The horse wore only a halter, the snapped lead rope dangling just above its knees.

Alistair lowered his posture, holding both hands out in front of him. He approached the horse slowly, his movements deliberate.

“Shhhh, easy, boy,” he murmured, his voice as soft as he could manage.

The horse suddenly snorted loudly and stomped the ground. It clearly didn’t like Alistair getting closer, but it didn’t bolt either. Instead, it squared up, looking ready to charge.

Recognizing the warning, Alistair froze. Reaching into his inventory, he retrieved an apple and waved it gently in front of him. The horse’s ears flicked toward the apple, and its stomping ceased as its attention locked onto the fruit.

Relieved by the change in its demeanor, Alistair crouched and rolled the apple across the ground toward the horse. The animal dipped its head, snatching the apple in a single quick bite. It didn’t take long for the horse to devour it entirely.

Alistair waited patiently as the horse finished the apple. Once it was done, he retrieved another from his inventory and held it out, waving it gently. The horse noticed the fruit but didn’t move this time, simply standing still and watching him.

Taking that as a good sign, Alistair resumed his slow approach, holding the apple out in front of him. When he was close enough, the horse leaned forward and gently took the apple from his hand before eating it. Alistair stayed in place, holding another apple in his hand as he waited for her to finish.

When the horse finished the second apple, Alistair reached out with the third, this time bringing it directly to its mouth while softly stroking its neck.

“Good boy,” he murmured, his hand running soothingly over the horse’s smooth coat. Then, noticing something, he glanced between her back legs and paused. “Sorry—good girl. Wow, you’re feisty for a mare.” A chuckle escaped him.

The mare finished the apple and lowered her head, gently nudging Alistair with her nose. A smile spread across his face as he stroked her neck in long, calming motions.

-What are we doing here? Why are we wasting time?- Ameera’s sharp voice pierced Alistair’s mind.

“Patience. We need a horse,” he replied, keeping his tone steady.

-No, we don’t. Remember Emma said the main road winds toward the town, so it’s faster to go on foot. Or are you going to claim now that she lied about that too?-

Alistair noticed the snarky tone but chose to ignore it. “We don’t need the horse to move fast; we need it to carry the silver ingots. And, in case you forgot, we were looking for a horse from the start.”

-Why would we need a horse to carry the ingots? You have an inventory... Oh, you mean for appearances?-

“Exactly. Not just for this trip with the ingots, but for the future too. I’d rather not pretend to lug around a giant bag everywhere.”

-I see your point, but we still need to move fast. I’m worried about Emma.-

“I think she’s fine. And even if she’s not, like you’re worried about, it doesn’t change anything.”

-What do you mean?- Ameera’s tone shifted, more cautious now.

“You’re thinking worst-case scenario, right? That while she was out recruiting adventurers, someone from the Snake Gang got to her, used her for information, and is now planning to ambush me?”

-Yes, something like that. You don’t think it’s possible?-

“Oh, it’s very possible.”

Alistair grabbed the lead rope and gave it a gentle tug, testing whether the horse would follow. He let out a small sigh of relief as the mare obediently stepped forward, trailing behind him.

“We’ve been in that town for about two weeks. I don’t think the gang just now connected us to the dead bandits. They’ve likely known for a while, but they haven’t made a move. That tells me they probably don’t have the manpower—either in quality or quantity—to take me on. If they did, they would’ve set up an ambush outside the western forest, waiting for me to return from a hunt.”

Reaching the river, Alistair began crossing it slowly, leading the horse toward the mining site.

“With that said, they’re probably keeping an eye on my activity. So yeah, your scenario could happen.”

-Then what are we doing taking our time like this? Shouldn’t we hurry?-

“Because, if your scenario happened, she’s already dead.”

-!!!-

He felt her shock radiate through their connection, followed by an overwhelming mix of anguish and anger.

-…Why… would you think that?- Her voice came slowly, trembling with emotion.

“Because there’s no reason to keep her alive. They couldn’t sell her—not in that town. They also couldn’t transport her somewhere with a slave market. And as for using her as a hostage? Pointless. We were barely acquaintances.”

After reaching the mining site, Alistair let the horse be, tossing a few apples onto the ground. The mare was tame and trained enough to stay put—at least as long as there was something to eat. He walked toward the broken post where they used to tie horses.

-Do you think they… did ‘that’… to her?-

“Stop. Don’t go down that rabbit hole—it’s not healthy. And let me say it again: I believe she’s probably fine.”

-…Why do you think that?-

“Like I said before, they probably have someone keeping an eye on me, so they should know my movements. And as for where I’m going? If they got that information from Emma, I doubt they hurt her much, if at all. They could’ve just intimidated her for it. There’s no need to resort to something as extreme as kidnapping.”

Alistair stepped into the storage building next to the broken post. Inside, he quickly found what he was looking for: horse equipment. He deposited all of it into his inventory. Once he was finished, he headed back out and walked toward the horse.

-That’s it? What about the fact that we’re dealing with a gang of criminals? I don’t think we’re talking about smart people here.-

“Then we’re back to ‘it’s too late.’”

-…-

Alistair could feel her frustration radiating through their connection. He heaved a sigh. “You know we’ve been in that town for two weeks, right? And we’ve been to just about every corner of it.”

-Okay?-

“What do you think a criminal gang does?”

-Umm... stealing, robbing, kidnapping... gang wars? Fighting against guards?-

“Close. But here’s the full list of what criminal gangs typically engage in: theft and housebreaking; contraband and illicit trades; forced tribute and extortion; deceit and forgery; banditry; running brothels; operating gaming houses; spying and informing; slave trading; and, last but not least, taking commissions.”

-That’s... more than I thought.-

Alistair worked on the horse, removing the halter and replacing it with a snugly secured bridle. He then positioned the saddle on her back with deliberate care. Once satisfied, he placed one hand on the pommel and his foot in the stirrup. With a practiced motion, he swung his other leg over and settled into the saddle.

The mare showed no resistance, only snorting softly as he mounted. Alistair paused briefly, giving her a moment to adjust to his weight, before gently nudging her sides with his heels. She responded, stepping forward in a slow, steady gait as they began to move toward the river.

-So, these criminal gangs are pretty entrepreneurial. And?-

Alistair noticed the strange word she used. Usually, she would explain when throwing out terms like that, but he could feel her agitation and decided to let it slide. “For the two weeks we’ve been in that town, how many of these activities did you notice?”

The horse began wading through the river while Ameera fell into deep thought.

-The ones searching for you when you wore that black armor—that was a commission. We saw some pickpockets in town. And there was that gambling house, right beside the brothel. So, I guess we saw about four.-

“Actually, only one—the commission. The pickpockets weren’t part of a criminal gang; they’re just desperate people trying to get by. As for the gambling house and brothel, since they were right next to each other, they’re probably under the same management, meaning one owner. But those establishments were too open to be run by a gang. Most likely, they’re owned by a rich merchant or even the mayor.”

-How do you know it’s the mayor or a rich merchant?-

“When we were there, I didn’t see any visible security. There’s no way places like that can operate without protection. The fact that we didn’t see any means the security is likely the town guards. You’d only be able to use town guards as your muscle if you’re the big boss or if you’ve paid off the big boss.”

-I see. So you’re saying the Snake gang has no discernible activities in the town. That means it’s their hidden activities that interest you now.-

“Exactly. There are two profitable ventures they could be running that would justify their presence here without needing other illegal operations. First, information: it’s a border town, so they’re likely gathering intelligence about the war. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re using this place as a hub for spies crossing the border. Can you guess the second activity?”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Alistair arrived at the spot where he had first encountered the horse. He looked around and found a glade nearby. Leading the horse there, he let her graze freely. He sliced some apples and scattered the pieces around the glade, then pulled out a bag of oats and spread them as well.

Once finished, Alistair sat down against a tree, facing the glade.

-You’re... fishing for horses?-

“Yes. So, do you have any guesses about the second activity?”

-Yeah, I gave it some thought. You’re thinking about smuggling, right? Contraband—they’re moving contraband.-

“Nice. Yeah, I believe they’re running a smuggling operation here. Do you know what they’re smuggling?”

-…Silver. There’s nothing valuable around here but silver.-

“Good. Now where—”

-Enough with the lesson! Just tell me why we’re wasting time here instead of hurrying back?!-

The sudden outburst caught Alistair off guard. He didn’t respond immediately, letting the silence stretch as he gave Ameera time to calm down.

-I… I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from. I shouldn’t have lashed out like that.-

Alistair smiled faintly and tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky. “It’s fine. I’ve noticed you’ve been on edge for a while. I think yesterday’s experience was too much for you. I should’ve disconnected you before starting it.”

-No… It was… overwhelming, sure. But I’m glad you let me go through it. I’d rather get used to it sooner than later.-

Alistair’s attention shifted as a brown horse entered the glade, its head low as it began to graze. He stood up slowly and started toward the animal.

“Okay, I’ll get straight to the point. I don’t think the Snake gang got my information by questioning Emma.”

He stopped a few meters from the horse, careful not to spook it. He remained still, allowing the animal to notice him and grow accustomed to his presence.

“I think Emma commissioned those people from the Snake gang.”

____________________________________

Alistair rode the white horse, the saddle tied to a lead rope that connected to the brown horse trailing behind them. Just as they had been informed, the main road to the town was indeed winding. It was late afternoon by the time they approached the outskirts of the town.

-What are you going to do… about Emma?-

“I don’t know yet. I need to talk to her first.”

-Are you going to… you know.-

“No, of course not. She was just desperate. She’s a smart girl, but she wasn’t thinking straight.”

-So that’s what you meant when you said precaution—leaving as soon as possible.-

“Yeah. I was afraid she might do something like this. I’d hoped she’d just go to sleep, but instead, she went straight to the Snake gang as soon as we left.”

As they neared the town’s gate, Alistair noticed Emma standing there.

-Speak of the devil.-

Alistair didn’t respond. He kept moving toward the gate. When Emma finally noticed him, her face lit up with a wide smile, and she ran toward him.

Alistair stopped the horse and dismounted, waiting as Emma approached.

“You… you made it. Huff Huff.” Emma was out of breath by the time she reached Alistair.

“Yes, I made it back,” Alistair replied in a neutral tone.

“Did… did you finish the job?”

“The job is done. The bandits are no more.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Really? How many did you kill?”

“I killed them all—unless some left the village before I arrived. But the numbers matched your story.”

“I’m glad, but… did you really kill all those bandits on your own?” A slight accusatory tone laced her question.

Alistair heaved a sigh and gestured with his thumb toward the brown horse. “I brought the silver with me. Yours is on that horse.”

Emma stared at him for a long moment. “I see. So it’s true, then.”

She suddenly fell to her knees. “Thank you, goddess. Please accept my family into your temple,” she whispered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.

After a while, she stood up, wiping her eyes. “Thank you, Ronan. I’m glad I got to meet you. Otherwise…” She trailed off, shaking her head a couple of times as if to banish the thought.

Emma walked toward the brown horse and began inspecting her share of the silver ingots. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and she turned toward Alistair, who stood still, watching her silently.

“Umm, Ronan… there are only three silver ingots here,” she said, her tone hesitant.

“That should be right, yes. That’s your share of the silver ingots,” Alistair replied evenly.

“…I’m sorry, but I’m certain there were more than just five ingots. I was there when my father last added to the storage.”

“You’re correct. There were far more than five ingots—more than I expected, in fact.”

“Then where’s the rest? Are you… changing the terms of our contract, sir?” Emma’s voice wavered, and she glanced nervously toward the distant town guards.

“You’re the one who changed the terms first, Emma. When I realized that the Snake gang assassins were acting on your orders, I adjusted my terms accordingly.”

Sweat beaded on Emma’s forehead, and her hands began to tremble. “Sir, I don’t know what those people told you, but I have nothing to do with them.”

“Ah, that was the wrong response.”

“Excuse me?” Emma’s voice rose slightly in confusion.

“You just admitted there were assassins sent after me. The correct response would’ve been, ‘What assassins, sir?’ And for the record, no—they didn’t tell me anything.”

Emma’s lips clamped shut as her gaze dropped to the ground. She pressed them tightly together, avoiding Alistair’s stare.

“Now, I’m only giving you one chance to tell the truth. What was the content of the commission you gave to the Snake gang?”

Emma remained silent, her hands clutching the fabric of her skirt. After a long pause, she finally spoke in a low voice.

“I asked them… basically the same thing. But I told them you were already going, so maybe they could finish the job if you failed.”

“I see. So, what do you think would’ve happened if they arrived and, instead of finding me dead or failing the job, they found me alive—wounded, but alive?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

Emma hesitated, then finally muttered, “I think, if they thought they could, they would’ve killed you.”

“So you knew the likelihood, but you still commissioned them. You didn’t care about my wellbeing. Why would you do that?”

Emma’s head snapped up, her eyes blazing as she stared directly at Alistair. Her face flushed crimson, twisted with anger. Her brows knitted into a fierce scowl, her nostrils flaring with each ragged breath.

“Yes, I didn’t care about your wellbeing! I didn’t even care about my wellbeing! Those fucking snakes asked for all the silver, and I still said yes. They could’ve demanded to enslave me, and I would’ve said yes.

“Anything... I’d give anything to make sure those damned monsters got the punishment they deserved! So, yeah, I backstabbed you. I admit it. So what now? Should we walk slowly into the forest so you can dispose of my body? Huh?!”

She stood tall, her back straight and her hands clenched into fists. Her voice was defiant, but Alistair’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the trembling in her legs.

Seeing Alistair remain silent, Emma pressed on. “What’s the matter? Never killed a—”

Smack.

She didn’t realize what had happened. One moment she was speaking, and the next she was lying on her side on the ground. Sitting up, she felt a burning heat on her left cheek. Her hand brushed against it, and a sharp sting made her wince. A trickle of blood peeked from the corner of her lips. Looking up, she saw Alistair’s right hand still raised. He had slapped her.

Before she could process anything else, a sudden wave of terror overtook her. A chill ran down her spine, her heart pounded in her chest, and sweat poured from her like a waterfall. Her eyes met Alistair’s, and what she saw froze her in place: death. His gaze held nothing but cold, unrelenting finality. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her body refused to move.

Alistair squatted in front of her, their faces now close. Her trembling intensified.

“Still want me to kill you?” Alistair asked, his voice ice-cold.

Unable to speak, Emma could only shake her head vigorously.

Seeing her response, Alistair slowly placed his hand on top of her head. “Good,” he said softly, his tone suddenly warm. In that instant, the suffocating pressure vanished. “You should live for your family instead.”

He stood up, his imposing figure towering over her. “And no, I’m not going to do anything to you. Like I said, I’ve already taken most of the silver as penalty.”

“Eh?” Emma blinked, startled by his words. She stared at him, searching for any hint of deception. When she realized he was serious, her body gave out, and she collapsed back to the ground. Her breathing was ragged, and a different kind of tears streamed down her cheeks.

Alistair stared at her as she lay on the ground before continuing. “But I do suggest you leave this place as soon as possible.”

Emma raised her head, confusion clouding her eyes. “What?”

“I don’t think the Snake gang will do anything to you—not while I’m around, at least. But I’m only staying in this town for another two weeks. After that? Who knows what they’ll do to you. They’ll probably hold you responsible for their losses, and, honestly, they’d be right.”

Emma gazed at Alistair, weighing his words. After a moment, she pushed herself to her feet.

“You’re right. But I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m an orphan. So were my parents. The last of my family died in that village.”

“Where’s the nearest temple?” Alistair asked suddenly.

“What? Um… that would be in the capital.”

“I see. You should go there. Sell the silver as soon as possible and use the money to pay for an awakening ritual.”

“Wait, what? You think I can awaken?”

“I know you can. Do you remember your story? When you said you noticed some of the bandits were different? Was that true?”

“Yes, I was telling the truth.”

“Do you know why you could tell they were different?”

“…No.”

“It’s mana. You can sense their mana. If you were able to sense it from the hill, at that distance, I’d say you have strong mana sensitivity. You will awaken—likely to a magic class.”

The revelation stunned her. She tilted her head toward the sky, her thoughts racing. After a long moment, she looked back at Alistair, her expression lighter. A spark of hope had returned to her eyes.

“I’ll do just that, then,” she said, her voice steady with newfound conviction.

“Hmm,” Alistair muttered as he turned toward his saddle and untied the lead rope. He handed it to Emma without a word.

“How did you know?” Emma asked as she took the rope. Her tone was hesitant. “How did you know that I sent the Snake gang... assassins?”

“I made the connection as soon as I realized they were from the Snake gang,” Alistair replied, his gaze shifting to the bag on the brown horse. “I suspected your connection to them from the beginning.”

“…The silver ingots?” Emma ventured.

“Yup, the silver ingots. Why would your father have silver ingots hidden under his house? For savings? Coins would’ve been far more practical. That’s when I knew—your father was skimming from the mining operation. And if he was skimming, he’d need someone to buy the ingots. Enter the Snake gang.”

“I see…” Emma murmured, her gaze dropping to the ground.

“Hmmm.” Alistair gave a noncommittal response and turned to walk toward the gate, offering no parting words.

“I’m sorry... no... I apologize,” Emma called out suddenly, her voice strained.

Alistair stopped and turned back toward her.

“I shouldn’t have done that. But I was desperate,” she admitted. “I was relying on the town’s soldiers, but waiting a week was too long. I couldn’t risk it. And when the adventurer’s guild refused my commission, I didn’t have many options left.”

“I see. You didn’t realize it,” Alistair said, his voice weary.

“Hmm? Realize what?”

“It shouldn’t take a week to prepare a punitive force.”

“What?” Emma frowned, confused.

“Just like your father needed a place to sell the silver ingots, the bandits also needed a place to sell theirs.”

Emma froze, her mind racing. Then, it clicked. “The town… made a deal?”

“Yes. That week of delay was probably for the bandits to smelt the rest of the ore.”

Emma’s face twisted in anger as she turned toward the town, her fists clenched.

“Stop.” Alistair’s voice cut through her fury. “They had nothing to do with your family’s death. It was a callous decision, but they were likely just trying to make the best of a bad situation. They could’ve fought the bandits, sure, but not without compromising the safety of the entire town.”

Emma turned back to Alistair, her rage giving way to a deep, bitter disappointment. “A pragmatic choice, huh. Tell me, if it were you, would you have made the same decision?”

Alistair answered without hesitation. “Doesn’t matter—it wasn’t me. Just drop it. Your family was murdered, and all the murderers have been dealt justice. Focus on that. You still have a future ahead of you. Remember, you’re the last of your bloodline. You have a responsibility to make something of your life.”

Her expression soured at the reminder. She turned her face away, wiping at her eyes.

“…Why? Why did you help me?” she asked, her voice soft. “You seem to know a lot, and I can’t see any benefit for you—at least nothing worth the trouble. So why did you decide to help me?”

Alistair stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without answering, he turned and began walking toward the gate. Over his shoulder, he said, “A friend asked me to help you.”

Emma watched his retreating back, confusion flickering across her face. Slowly, gratitude took its place, and a small smile crept onto her lips—until she felt a sting on her cheek.

“Ah, shit. You didn’t have to hit me that hard,” she muttered under her breath, her smile lingering as she nursed her bruised cheek, watching Alistair walked toward the gate.

____________________________________

Alistair finally reached the gate, where he was met by Oswin and another guard.

“What the hell was that all about?” Oswin asked, concern evident in his eyes as he glanced toward Emma in the distance.

“Something private. Not your concern,” Alistair replied curtly. “Do you know who she is?”

“Yes. That’s Emma, the survivor of the bandit attack.”

“Good. She commissioned me to take care of the bandits. I’ve just returned from doing that.”

“Excuse me, what?” Oswin asked, disbelief etched across his face.

“You.” Alistair pointed at the other guard. “Inform your captain that the bandit problem has been resolved and he needs to send a team to the village.”

“Uh, yes, sir!” The guard stammered before turning and bolting toward the town.

“I… but there were tens of bandits,” Oswin said, still struggling to process what he’d just heard.

“Oswin.” Alistair’s voice dropped to a low, serious tone as he stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Oswin’s shoulder.

“I need you to tell me where the Snake gang’s base in the town is.”