The story continues. Joe, brandishing a wooden club, faced off against Theoden, the White Fang, who used a wooden chair as both a weapon and a shield.

Theoden remarked, "I'm curious how you tracked me down. I suspect it has something to do with my dazed crow up there." He nodded towards the magical crow perched on a bookshelf.

Joe explained, "It's an old military trick. The crow can conceal magic well, but it can't escape a strong female scent. I Know Richtevar would warn you, I used a bag drenched in a potent female fragrance. When the crow left the store, it was overwhelmed by the powerful scent. This left it unable to focus on both flying and magic simultaneously, allowing me to trace your crow and ultimately find you."

Internally, Theoden admitted, *You’re sharp, Joe. Quite clever.*

Joe made his demand, "Return the stolen gold bars, and I'll settle for just breaking your left arm."

Theoden taunted, "I am the White Fang. You can't threaten someone like me, but you can convince me with the right offer. Unfortunately, in this case, I can't help you. I sold them for a hefty sum two years ago, I'm afraid."

Joe smiled knowingly and replied, "No, you didn’t."

As he discreetly reached for something under his bed, Theoden retorted, "I know this might disappoint you, but I really did sell them. It's all business, after all, and I am a businessman."

Joe's voice remained calm as he said, "Lying won't work. I know you didn't sell those bars—I’ve been keeping tabs on you ever since you stole them from me. I also know you've got enemies in high places, and you’ve been using that gold to buy allies and keep your foes at bay."

Theoden admitted, "You're correct. So, now that you know I don't have your gold bars, can we put an end to this charade? I swear, I have the finest tea in all of the Renolva Kingdom."

Joe pressed on, "You didn't use all the gold bars, did you?"

Theoden’s eyes widened in surprise at Joe’s revelation. This was a secret known only to Theoden, and he was shocked that Joe knew about it. Frowning, he asked, "How did you come by this information?"

Joe said, "I know you well, Theoden. You were once like a brother to me, a friend I would have risked my life for. Even when you were good at pretending, there were habits you couldn't completely hide."

Theoden inquired, "And what might those habits be?"

Joe elucidated, "You're a shrewd and cautious man, especially when it comes to risks. And secondly, you have a tendency to mislead about what you possess and what you don't. What remains of my gold bars is in your possession, and I'll retrieve them, one way or another."

Theoden responded with a half-smile, "So, no room for negotiation between old friends?"

Joe's expression remained steady as he said, "Come on, brother. It’s me or you."

Theoden, hiding a small knife behind his back, suddenly drew it and hurled it at Joe. Reacting swiftly, Joe adeptly used his club as a shield, causing the knife to embed itself in the wood. Taking advantage of the situation, Joe immediately surged towards Theoden.

Swinging his club towards Theoden's face, Joe narrowly missed as Theoden evaded, resulting in the destruction of a small bench. Seizing the opportunity, Theoden delivered a powerful punch to Joe's ribs, causing him intense pain. However, this didn't deter Joe. He released his grip on the club and seized the knife embedded in it. In one swift motion, he slashed across Theoden's mouth, from his left cheek to his chin. Theoden began to bleed profusely, but he pressed on, seizing Joe and hoisting him into the air before slamming him onto a bed, causing it to collapse under their combined weight.

After regaining his footing, Theoden made his way to the broken bench, searching for something. In that instant, Joe grabbed him from behind and smashed his face into the window, sending glass shards flying. Some shards embedded themselves in Joe's hands and arms, while others found purchase in Theoden's face and shoulders. Blood spattered the remnants of the window.

Swiftly, Theoden retaliated, pushing Joe backwards. With deft movements, he seized the wooden club and struck Joe in the face, the impact causing blood to splatter onto the ground and the club. Joe crumpled to the ground, motionless.

Theoden remarked, "Finally, this nuisance ceases. Don't die, you wretch, or I'll have to contend with those useless royal guards."

As Joe lay on the ground, Theoden scoured his broken bed and other areas until he unearthed a piece of paper, declaring, "At last, I've found it. This is crucial." Theoden then glanced at the shattered window and beheld the city beyond, muttering, "One final task, and I'll be free."

Unexpectedly, Joe seized Theoden from behind and hurled him towards the window and onto the ground. Joe shouted, "You wretched scoundrel, did you think I was finished with you?"

Joe then approached what remained of the window, attempting to see Theoden's lifeless form below. Yet, in a surprising turn, Theoden grasped Joe by the shirt and hauled him towards the edge. Joe was taken aback, for he hadn't noticed that Theoden hadn't fallen but instead clung to a small wooden plank affixed to the wall, saving him from certain doom.

Quickly, Joe grabbed Theoden's leg, pulling himself back from the edge. Theoden shouted as he struggled to free his leg from Joe's grasp, "Let go, you worthless brat!"

Joe couldn't hold it any longer and suddenly spotted a window on the second floor of the inn below Theoden's room. He muttered, "Damn it!"

With a loud crash, Joe leapt towards the window, making a big mess. The room's owner, a woman, shrieked in terror at the sight of Joe who explained, "I am a good man! I didn't mean to..."

The woman cut him off, yelling, "GET OUT NOWWWWWW!"

Joe sprinted towards the door without looking back.

Meanwhile, Theoden, holding a piece of cloth to his bleeding head, was in the city's garden. Joe headed towards a large tavern, thinking, "This tavern has five floors. I can use the balcony to spot this bastard from above."

Upon entering the tavern, people were astonished by Joe's battered appearance and the blood on his face and clothes. Clutching a small cloth to stop his nosebleed, Joe ascended to the fifth floor and moved towards the balcony, searching for Theoden. He muttered, "As a thief, he'll stick to routes with fewer people."

After what felt like hours to Joe, he finally spotted Theoden resting in the garden. Joe sneered, "Found you, jerk."

As Joe prepared to leave, he caught sight of Yory energetically selling his wares at the nearby market. Joe smirked and said, "You scoundrel, I have things to do."

Meanwhile, Theoden, gasping for breath, urged himself to keep running. He muttered, "Be a damn man, just a little more and it's all over."

Suddenly, Joe struck the back of Theoden's head, sending him sprawling to the ground. Joe growled, "Jerk, get up!"

Joe gripped Theoden’s neck tightly, choking him. Theoden struggled to use something, but Joe's grip was firm. Theoden was on the brink of losing consciousness when a shield slammed into the back of Joe's head, sending him crashing to the ground. Joe clutched his head in pain, while Theoden gasped for breath, having narrowly escaped suffocation. Joe attempted to retaliate, only to be taken aback when he saw two royal knights.

One knight assisted Theoden in standing up, while the other pointed his sword at Joe's face.

Joe yelled, "He's a criminal..."

The knight with Theoden interjected, shouting, "You were trying to strangle the life out of him! Are you alright, Theoden?"

Theoden, panting, explained, "Yes, he attacked me without reason and tried to kill me."

The knight holding a sword responded, "That's terrible, Theoden. Go heal yourself in the temple of light and rest assured that we've taken care of him."

Theoden nodded and continued on his way. The two knights bound Joe's hands with ropes and started to drag him towards the prison. As they moved along the road, one of the knights suggested, "Let's use the alley, away from this market."

After half an hour in the alley, Joe glanced at one of the knights and said, "You're not a real knight, are you?"

One of the guards smiled, while the other turned around. Suddenly, Joe pushed him against the wall, the knight's head colliding with a loud crash.

The remaining guard drew his sword, but Joe was faster. He kicked the knight in the stomach, grabbed a small rock, and smashed it against the knight's head, rendering him unconscious. The other knight struggled to get up, but Joe was behind him. Using the ropes that bound his hands, Joe tightened his grip around the knight's neck and cautioned, "I'll choke you to death. It's a long and agonizing way to meet your end in this grimy alley, all alone."

The guard trembled with fear and pleaded, "P... please don't kill me! I'll tell you everything. We're from the Black Cloud guild. Theoden used one of his golden bars to gain entry and receive protection."

Joe declared, "If I ever see you again, even a real knight won't be able to identify your corpses. Understood?"

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That night, Joe made his way to a store for magic weapons and scrolls. He said, "I don’t know magic yet. I need to learn it, but until then, I need scrolls to cast spells for me."

The following day, in the eastern part of the city, specifically in an alley where the Black Cloud guild was situated, Joe encountered two guards he recognized: Rosalie and Saros, with whom he had clashed previously.

When they saw Joe approaching, they remained silent. Joe said sharply, "Move aside now, or do you want another beating?"

Both Rosalie and Saros stepped aside, allowing Joe to pass. After a moment, he stood before the large doors of the guild and remarked with a smile, "They should be closed or hidden. That means they're waiting for me."

As Joe entered, he was surprised to find that the Black Cloud Guild was far more luxurious and impressive than the Golden Swan's Guild. There were few people inside and even fewer guards, as the Black Cloud Guild operated differently from other guilds. Adventurers with memberships received assigned missions from the guild master, and given their fearsome reputation, no one dared to cause trouble there.

Joe muttered as he counted, "Two, three, four of these..."

Upon reaching the second floor, he found no guards. There were three imposing doors. Joe eyed the last door in the hallway and moved toward it. Upon reaching it, he glanced at the sign that read: "THE GUILDMASTER'S OFFICE."

Joe pushed the door open and entered a richly decorated room with extensive bookshelves and a lavish yellow carpet. The guild master sat behind his desk, wearing a perfect smile and fine clothing. He greeted, "Joe Gostave, welcome to the Black Cloud guild. How can I assist you?"

Joe, with a determined expression, said, "I want to join your guild."

The guild master grinned. "Got the money, lad? It's one of the many conditions to join."

Joe responded, "I’ve got 200 gold coins, and if you doubt my strength, ask your guards. Also, I have no enemies, save one."

The guild master smiled, "Good, now we're talking business."

Meanwhile, in the underground levels, Theoden stealthily entered a hallway lined with rooms. He muttered, "They think I’ll fall in line. Those gold bars were just my ticket to infiltrate this guild and rob their safe. Hahaha, the first day of the month means everyone’s out on missions. Few guards, because they’re too confident in their reputation. They’ve made a grave mistake. Once I’ve taken everything, I’ll have a whole month before the next inspection—a whole month to vanish from this kingdom and live in luxury, far away from all of this."

Back to Joe and the guild master, who said, "Sorry, but I can't let you join us."

Joe responded, "Why? I'm a famous merchant and my name holds value, doesn't it?"

The guild master explained, "But Theoden brings us even greater value, and he's not very comfortable working under the same roof as you."

Joe smiled, "He stole from me, but what I can offer you are clean and honest deals and businesses."

The guild master replied, "He's given us a substantial amount of money, and he can be instrumental in completing some of the difficult missions that have been pending for a long time."

Joe said calmly, "Is he here?"

The guild master confirmed, "Yes." Joe attempted to rise, but the guild master restrained him, warning, "Joe, you can't harm him or we will HURT YOU."

Joe grinned. "Wind magic…"

The guild master laughed, "We have magic defences here, boy. No ordinary magician can use magic h........"

Suddenly, the wind propelled the guild master against the wall behind him, SLAM!!!!! The guild master's head and back collided with the wall before falling to the ground.

Joe smirked. "Magic scrolls, you rascal. Those defences might stop ordinary magic, but not powerful scrolls crafted by a skilled wizard."

The guild master held out his hand and shouted, "Fire magic: Alov bulağı," but Joe was swift, moving towards him before he could unleash his magic. Joe seized the guild master's hand and redirected it towards the wooden walls. The guild master yelled, "YOU PUNK!"

In that instant, fireballs shot from the guild master's hand towards the wooden walls, igniting a fire that quickly consumed his office.

The guild master struggled to free his hand from Joe. He attempted to reach for his sword with his other hand, but Joe wrested it away and struck him in the face with the sword's hilt. The guild master slumped, unconscious and bleeding from his nose. Joe muttered, "The fire will kill him, and I’ll be in serious trouble if this pig dies on me." He started dragging the guild master out of the room.

The two guards, alerted by the smell of smoke, hurried upstairs to find Joe dragging the unconscious guild master. One of the guards was a demi-human, a hybrid of cat and human, wielding a large spear. The other was a human. The human guard sprinted towards Joe, who shielded himself with the guild master's sword. The other guard closed in with his spear. Joe reacted swiftly, pushing the human guard towards the balcony's edge. After a moment, he stepped back to evade the spear thrust from the other guard. The spear narrowly missed the human. The demi-human turned around, but Joe was quicker. He seized the guard's tail and yanked with all his might, causing the demi-human to crash into the wall.

The human guard attempted to capitalize on the situation, but Joe delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, forcing the guard back towards the balcony. Joe declared, "səfəriniz mübarək, ay bala," as he landed a punch and followed up with a forceful kick. The impact caused the balcony's wooden railing to give way, sending the guard plummeting to the floor below, where he landed on a wooden table.

Joe made his way down the stairs, but the cat guard struggled to rise. Joe halted him, advising, "It's not worth it. Stay down until I finish my business here." The cat guard, realizing his situation, opted to settle into one of the nearby chairs

Joe reached the first floor and encountered a guard with a sword drawn. He asked, "Where’s the other one?"

Meanwhile, in the guild's secure room, the guard Joe had been seeking lay unconscious on the floor. Theoden wondered, "What happened here? On the first day of the month, this guild is supposed to be empty. Why was this guard running towards this room? I don't know, but I don't like it. I hope it's not Joe behind this guard's behaviour. I need to hurry."

Returning to the guard on the ground, panting while Joe stood near the stairs, the guard rasped, "HUH... HUH... you're strong... for a... merchant..."

The guard rose, retrieved his sword, and advanced towards Joe, who remained still. The guard positioned himself above Joe and took hold of his hand, intending to restrain him with ropes or something similar.

Suddenly, Joe grabbed one of the scrolls and shouted, "Wind magic: Təkan!" The wind from the scroll surged forth, propelling the guard into the air like a forceful impact, slamming him against the wall before he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Joe struggled to rise, then grabbed the sword and made his way to the underground floors. Meanwhile, Theoden successfully opened the safe and was overcome with joy. He muttered while stowing away the crystals and gemstones, from blue Sapphires to Emeralds and Rubies, into his bag, "I will live a happy and long life. To hell with all the people I sacrificed and the criminals I deceived to get to this point. Luxurious life, I am coming for you."

He hefted the bag and began to rush towards the door. As he opened it, he was met with Joe's shout, "COME HERE, ASSHOLE!"

Theoden was taken aback and Joe kicked him back into the room. Theoden returned to the safe and collapsed to the ground. Joe taunted, "Where are you going? You haven't said goodbye yet."

Theoden got to his feet and yelled, "yanğın!"

A blaze erupted from Theoden's hands, hurtling towards Joe's chest, sending him flying from the room into the grand hallway. Theoden snatched up the bag and started running. He passed Joe, who had gotten back on his feet and shouted, "qravitasiya!"

Theoden was on the verge of escaping the underground when an unseen force yanked him back. He crashed to the floor, his bag landing near Joe’s foot.

Joe sneered, kicking Theoden's bag to the far side of the hallway behind him. "You want it? Come here, lad. Fight me for it."

Theoden seethed with anger, drew his sword, and charged at Joe. He swung his blade towards Joe's face, but Joe evaded and delivered a punch to Theoden's ribs. Theoden winced from the pain but quickly swung his sword at Joe. Joe dodged, but Theoden anticipated and drew his dagger, slicing Joe's right cheek. Joe staggered back, touching his bloody cheek. Theoden attempted to throw his dagger at Joe, but Joe reacted swiftly, shouting, "alov!"

Flames erupted from Joe's hands, scorching Theoden's hand. He shrieked in agony and released the dagger. Joe sprinted towards Theoden and struck him in the face, causing Theoden's nose to audibly break before he crumpled to the ground.

Joe also collapsed, panting heavily. Theoden shouted, his nose bleeding and blood smeared all over his face, "You could have just left me alone, Joe, you damn bastard!"

Joe struggled to get up while Theoden remained on the ground, blood spattered around him. He continued to shout, "You have golden bars and money, so why risk everything to come after me, you BASTARD! You could have just let me go, you PUNK!"

After a moment of panting, Joe spoke, "When you stole those golden bars from me, I was in a deep, dirty hole because of you. My business was ruined, and I lost friends because I couldn't pay my debts, gaining many enemies. I worked as an adventurer and when I couldn't afford expenses, I worked as a miner to pay off my debts."

Theoden struggled to rise and reach for his weapon. Joe kept talking as he approached, "I was in a wretched state because of you, but I didn't steal or kill anyone. That's what I'm proud of. I rebuilt my business and now thrive as a trader. People respect me, and those who once despised me can do nothing but acknowledge me as an honest merchant. But even with all these positive changes, one thing still nags at me."

Theoden grabbed the sword, but Joe was behind him. He stomped on Theoden's hand that held the sword and spoke with an evil tone, "YOU! I still think about you, my misery, and the hard times, all my painful adventures and torture as a miner – it's all because of you!"

Joe delivered a powerful kick to Theoden's face, sending him back towards the wall just centimetres behind. Theoden spat blood, and Joe seized him by the neck, stating, "You're a threat to innocent people. What I'm about to do will forever be a lesson for you. Thank your God that I didn't kill you."

Joe then made his way to the treasure room, while Theoden struggled to rise. Joe returned, landing a punch to Theoden's face while holding a large golden warhammer.

Theoden's eyes widened, and he began to beg, "Please, Joe... don't do it... I beg you, please... I'll do anything, please..."

Joe smiled darkly. "I’ll teach you to be an honest man. It’ll be painful, but you’ll survive. I promise."

With the golden warhammer in both hands, Joe listened to Theoden's anguished scream as he struck Theoden's knee with all his might. Theoden collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, clutching his shattered knee. Joe threw the warhammer, then returned to the treasures, emptied the bag, and started filling it with the golden bars.

He then made his way to the main room of the guild, where guards and the guild master awaited. Joe exchanged Theoden for his gold bars. The guild master was powerless to intervene—Theoden had attempted theft, breaking the law and forfeiting his membership. The guild couldn’t protect him or stop Joe. The guild master warned Joe never to return, but Joe ignored him and left.

An hour later, Yory stood near the city gate and spotted Joe, who was walking with his bag, blood covering his face and clothes. As Joe approached the cart, Yory quipped, "How were your days, HONEST ONE?"

Joe grinned, wiping blood from his face with a piece of cloth. "Stupid name for a foolish merchant."

Yory chuckled and was about to move on, but Joe stopped him, his gaze locked on a girl weaving through the merchants’ carts as if searching for someone. "Hold on, Yory."

The young lady was inquisitive, asking questions as she examined the various merchants. Joe approached her and inquired, "Hello, are you Miss Lifa?"

She nodded, visibly shocked by Joe's appearance, but still managed to reply, "Yes sir, I am. Are you okay, sir?"

Joe smiled, dismissing the concern, "Don't worry, it's just a scratch. Anyway, your uncle Houn trusted me to give you this purse. Take it to your mother, Esha."

Lifa opened the purse, astonished by the abundance of golden coins within. She bowed to Joe, expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, my uncle always spoke highly of you, Joe Gostave, or the honest one. I am honoured to meet you."

Joe nodded, a warm smile on his face as Miss Lifa left for her home, cradling the purse tightly.

Joe climbed onto the cart, and Yory remarked, "Your face tells of quite the adventure."

Joe dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "It's a long story."

Yory, consulting a map, remarked, "We have two weeks until we reach the next city."

Joe sighed, gazing down the road ahead, "Alright, the story starts four years ago. There was a punk whose name was the White..."

And so, Joe and Yory continued their journey to Brilfax city, the last stop before reaching Daekrahm city.