"No! Dylan, you mustn't misunderstand!"
"Very well, let's put this matter aside for now. We'll settle the score with that fellow later," Glen interrupted Danni, who was eager to explain.
This place was far too distant from the Tanks Kingdom. Despite the seething anger within him, he could only bide his time. Once he had some free moments, he would pay a visit to that detestable fat man and make him pay dearly.
Even if it were a complete stranger who had abandoned his wife and children, Glen would still feel compelled to intervene. He couldn't care less if others accused him of meddling in affairs that didn't concern him.
Perhaps it was the transformation brought about by his newfound power. Glen now found himself more inclined to act in accordance with his own desires, unburdened by any constraints or taboos.
He cast a glance at the onlookers surrounding him and addressed the victims, saying, "You may all leave on your own. What reason do you have to remain here?"
After a moment's hesitation, they gradually dispersed, trickling away one by one. They still harbored thoughts of expressing their gratitude to Glen, but they realized that the present moment was not opportune.
Once they had departed, Glen turned to the mercenaries, who stood there and said, "My sister has endured grievances under your care. It is not unreasonable to request some compensation, is it?"
Judging from the individuals who had been released, the mercenaries had not subjected them to any form of torture. They merely appeared somewhat haggard, likely due to a period of confinement.
Danni, too, showed only a hint of fatigue. Given that they seemingly had not fared too poorly in terms of food during these days, Glen decided not to be overly exacting.
He found it easy to understand this situation.
After all, the mercenaries were recognized by the kingdom. If it were not for the prevailing chaos in this area, they would not have succumbed to greed and resorted to banditry.
Unless, like the previous hunter mercenary group, they were backed by powerful nobles, enabling them to act without restraint, making murder and robbery in the wilderness a common occurrence.
Without the slightest hesitation, Norman shouted to several of his subordinates, "Hurry and bring the remaining funds here."
The subordinates promptly retrieved a small box and presented it to Glen with great deference.
He opened the box and found it half-filled with gold, silver, and copper coins.
Estimating its total value to be around fifteen gold coins, he thrust the small box into Danni's hands and said,
"Consider these as compensation. Judging by your appearance, you have not had an easy time of it these past days."
Danni found the man before her somewhat unfamiliar, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She was intrigued by how Glen had managed to render these ferocious mercenaries so submissive.
However, she felt that her younger brother seemed more mature now, which she considered a positive development.
She accepted the box in a daze and attempted to decline, but Glen did not give her the chance. Instead, he leaped directly onto the deer-drawn cart and gestured for her and her son to join him.
Subsequently, he said to Norman, "I observe that you did not cause any harm, and my sister sustained no significant injuries here. Therefore, I shall not pursue this matter further. However, it would be best if there is no repetition of such an incident."
"I understand..." Norman did not dare to disobey.
...
"Dylan, you have changed so much. Could you share with me what has transpired?"
After the deer-drawn cart had been traveling for some time, Danni couldn't resist asking.
It seems I shall have to fabricate a story... Glen sighed inwardly.
He had initially assumed that he would no longer have any contact with the acquaintances of the original owner, yet he found himself facing such a situation after all.
The original owner was already dead, having perished at the hands of those two werewolves. Although he had avenged the original owner by occupying this body, he felt a responsibility to treat the remaining relatives with kindness.
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"I have engaged in some business ventures here, which have shown some promise. I can barely be considered a wealthy man. By a stroke of luck, I was taken on as an apprentice by a magician and have since become a magician myself,"
Glen quickly conjured up a brief account in his mind. It was all based on truth, albeit with some details omitted.
"You've become a magician?!" Danni's attention was indeed drawn to the fact that he had become a magician.
In the eyes of the people in this world, becoming a magician was undoubtedly a cause for the entire family to rejoice.
Before their parents' untimely demise, the original owner's father had always harbored the intention of having his children attempt to become magicians. However, either their elemental affinity was insufficient, or various circumstances prevented it from coming to fruition.
The original owner, who had spent years indulging in idle pursuits outside, had never had the opportunity.
Danni was genuinely delighted for her younger brother.
She exclaimed joyfully, "Dylan, you've actually become a magician! Goodness! If Mother and Father were alive, they would be overjoyed! This is truly..."
Witnessing her happiness and relief, with tears welling up in her eyes, Glen felt a complex mix of emotions.
This once-harmonious family had been shattered by an unexpected tragedy. He couldn't help but wonder how Danni would feel if she knew that her real brother was already gone.
"My dear sister, everything will take a turn for the better. Even I, the one who has caused you the most worry, have managed to make a name for myself. The same will hold true for you. I shall ensure that your life improves,"
Glen said without looking back as he drove the deer-drawn cart.
"There's no need to trouble yourself. Your life has just started to improve, and I don't wish to be a burden to you. Ricky and I will go to your eldest brother's place. He owns a factory, and we plan to seek refuge with him,"
Danni said, gently wiping away her tears with her sleeve.
Glen was on the verge of saying that taking care of her and Ricky would not be too much of a burden, but considering the recent events and the ease with which those around him could be implicated, he refrained from doing so. Instead, he said,
"Very well, then. However, please rest at my place for a few days. I will take care of you. Just by looking at you, I can tell that you have endured much suffering."
This time, Danni did not decline.
"Mom, I'm hungry," Ricky, who was nestled in Danni's arms, whispered softly.
Glen heard him and prompted, "There is food in the cloth bag inside the carriage."
...
Watching the deer-drawn cart fade into the distance until it was but a tiny speck, Norman finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
"Captain, we've exhausted all our funds. What shall we do? We have no idea how far the demons have advanced, and we must hurry and resume our journey!" A mercenary summoned the courage to ask.
They had originally set out from the main city to hunt magical beasts but had turned back in a panic upon hearing the news of the demon invasion, seeking refuge and rest at this camp.
Little did they expect to encounter what had just transpired.
Upon hearing this, Norman's mood, which had improved somewhat, plummeted once again. Casting a malevolent glare at the few mercenaries who had made the arrests without due consideration, he said,
"Give them a severe beating and expel them from the mercenary group!"
Immediately, someone carried out his order.
Ignoring the pleas for mercy, the female warrior, who had been thoroughly frightened, stepped forward and said, "I still have some savings that might help us get through this difficult period."
Norman regarded her with a look of confusion.
The female warrior let out a bitter laugh. "I used to be unconvinced when the former captain recommended you as the general captain of the mercenary group. But today's events have made me realize that I am not worthy of competing for this position."
These words took Norman by surprise. Before he could respond, another female warrior also stepped forward and said,
"Me too, Norman. Among the three of us, you are the most level-headed, and we all recognize this. We previously thought you were timid and afraid of taking risks, but that was merely our arrogance."
Even the Berserk Lion said reluctantly, "I've been thoroughly beaten into submission. You should be the general captain."
Given the circumstances, Norman saw no reason to decline. Moreover, he had always aspired to become the general captain.
"Very well, then. I shall do everything in my power to make the Ferocious Dog Mercenary Group thrive! Perhaps I will not be as exceptional as Old Captain Bor, but I will ensure that it does not fall far short!"
Norman's declaration was met with the support of all the mercenaries.
...
The deer-drawn cart entered a medium-sized town named Chekham. Glen, relying on his sense of smell, surmised that the evacuees had likely taken temporary shelter here.
However, instead of rushing to find Luther and the others, he sought out an inn to house Danni and her son.
"Ricky, would you like Uncle to give you a hug?"
Upon exiting the inn, Glen asked the little boy who was cowering in Danni's arms.
Ricky looked at Glen, who was smiling gently, and then at his mother, his expression timid.
"Let Uncle hold you," Danni said, her tone encouraging.
Ricky nodded slightly and allowed Glen to pick him up.
"Come along, Uncle will take you to have some delicious food." Glen couldn't resist gently ruffling the little boy's hair.
As they walked along the bustling street, Danni watched Glen interacting joyfully with her son, a smile never leaving her face.
"If Sangis and the others could see you now, they would be greatly astonished," she suddenly remarked.
Sangis was the third sister of the original owner.
Upon hearing Danni's words, Glen merely turned back and smiled at her.
Apart from Danni, the other siblings of the original owner did not particularly like him, often expressing disappointment in his lack of progress.
Even the letters they sent to the original owner when they were apart were mostly filled with admonitions, which was why the original owner had little inclination to reply.
When thinking of Sangis, perhaps due to a stress response, his memory automatically conjured up an image of a curly-haired woman with furrowed brows, wagging her finger and lecturing him.
What a nuisance... Glen thought with a sense of helplessness.
He suddenly realized that he was not entirely disconnected from the world. He wasn't sure whether to be glad or worried about this newfound realization.