The Peacocks

The next day, after Four-Eyes met up with Reke, he told him that Bellis had asked him for training.

"She's probably still looking for trouble with you. I hope you'll go easy on her," Four-Eyes said, asking him a favor.

"Sure. It's not every day I find something fun to do. I'll make the most of it," Reke said with a smile.

Four-Eyes silently mourned Bellis, and could only pray that Reke would go easy on her. With Reke's promise, at least Bellis wouldn't be in any danger of losing her life.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the Adventurers' Guild.

When they entered the hall, they found only a few people milling about besides the staff.

Four-Eyes had quite a reputation in this small city. As soon as he stepped inside, someone came over to greet him.

"Captain Pat, it's been a long time. Please follow me to the reception room on the second floor."

"Mm. Lead the way."

Reke and Pat followed the receptionist upstairs.

As soon as they reached the second floor, they came face-to-face with a burly man over two meters tall, with a thick beard and one eye. Behind him stood a refined-looking young man with glasses and slicked-back hair.

The burly man spotted Pat and sneered. "Well, well, if it isn't our famous Captain Pat! I heard your team came scurrying back from the Wild Grasslands a while ago. Why are you out and about instead of staying home?"

Pat's eyes narrowed. He didn't even look at the burly man, instead fixing his gaze on the refined young man. "Hatton, keep your dogs in line. Don't let them out to bite people. They might get their teeth knocked out."

"You're asking for it!" the burly man roared, stepping forward to attack.

"Ahem." Hatton gave a light cough, stopping him.

He pushed up his glasses and said with a smile, "Pat, my little brother wasn't wrong, was he? Isn't it true that you came running back from the Wild Grasslands? Then why haven't you submitted your mission report yet?"

"When I submit my mission report has nothing to do with you. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Heh! I heard your team's short on funds lately. If you can't keep it going, just say so. I can take it off your hands."

"You don't need to worry about my team. You'd better worry about your own life. Someone might take you out." A murderous glint flashed in Pat's eyes.

Hatton spread his hands, unconcerned. "Lots of people want me dead, but I'm still alive and well. Doesn't that make you mad, boss?"

"Don't call me boss. I don't have a backstabbing brother like you." Pat's killing intent toward Hatton grew stronger.

"Hey, can you get out of the way? You're blocking the path."

Reke's voice drew everyone's attention.

"Kid, didn't your mother teach you not to interrupt when adults are talking?"

"Pat, you're really going downhill. Since when did you become a babysitter?"

Before Hatton could answer, the burly man jumped in again.

Reke looked at them, his patience running out. Damn it, they're wasting my time. These little nobodies dare to show off in front of me? They're asking to die.

"Pat, want me to take care of all of them for you?"

As soon as Reke finished speaking, the burly man reached out to grab him.

"Hmph!"

Seeing the other man dare to make the first move, Reke thought, He really thinks he can do whatever he wants. His figure blurred.

Reke appeared not to have moved, but the burly man's hand stopped in midair.

Thud!

A second later, the burly man hit the ground.

They looked over and saw a gaping hole where his chest should have been.

The air froze. Cold sweat broke out on Hatton's forehead, and his lips turned pale. He stood rooted to the spot like a statue, not daring to look at Reke again.

Hatton knew the burly man's strength better than anyone. His energy reading was over 900, yet he'd been killed without even a struggle. Hatton hadn't seen whether Reke had attacked, let alone how. The whole thing was horrifying.

"Pat, want me to take care of the other one too?" Reke asked, breaking the silence.

No one dared look down on him now.

"Reke, let me deal with him myself. I still have a score to settle with him," Pat said, turning down Reke's offer.

He had to deal with Hatton with his own hands to honor the brothers who had died before.

Pat and Hatton had once been in the same adventure team. Because Hatton betrayed them, everyone in the team except Pat had died.

Pat had later re-formed the Budaso Adventure Team, and many of the youngsters in it were the children of his old comrades.

Reke shrugged and continued toward the reception room beside Pat.

As he passed Hatton, Reke said, "You piece of trash, if you ever show your face in front of me again, I'll make you disappear."

After Reke and the others left, Hatton collapsed to the floor, seized by terror.

Reke had scared him out of his wits.

He took several deep breaths, then ran away on all fours without even dealing with the burly man's body. He didn't dare linger for another second.

Only after he made it back to his lodgings did he begin to calm down.

"No, I can't stay in this city. I have to leave right away." Still feeling unsafe, Hatton packed his things and left the city.

After leading Reke and Pat to the reception room, the receptionist hurried off to find someone.

"Guildmaster, a monster just arrived. You need to go meet him," the receptionist said to an old man with a head of white hair.

"What happened? Have some water and tell me slowly." The guildmaster saw that the receptionist was shaken and poured him a glass.

The receptionist took a sip to steady himself, then quickly told the guildmaster what had happened.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go deal with the body. I'll head to the reception room now." After hearing the receptionist's story, the guildmaster couldn't sit still. He hurriedly gave his orders.

Standing outside the reception room, the guildmaster straightened his clothes and went in with a beaming smile.

"Pat, it's been a long time. You never come to visit an old man like me. What brings you here today?"

The guildmaster was shrewd. He first made a point of showing his closeness to Pat before asking what he wanted.

"Guildmaster, it's my fault. But you know I have over a hundred mouths to feed. I really don't have the time."

"As for why I'm here today, I'm accompanying Reke to get his adventurer's registration."

Pat wasn't a fool. He understood the guildmaster's meaning, so he apologized and then explained why they had come, gesturing toward Reke.

"Is it really worth making a busy man like you come all this way for such a small thing? You could've called, and I'd have sent someone to take care of it for you."

The guildmaster gave Pat a reproachful look, then turned to Reke.

Reke's baby-fat cheeks made an impression on him.

If he hadn't just heard the receptionist's account, the guildmaster would never have guessed that a child who looked so harmless could be that powerful.

He didn't dare waste time on small talk and went straight to the point.

"Reke, come with me. I'll run a scan for you now."

Reke hopped down from the sofa, crossed his hands behind his head like Kakarot, and followed the guildmaster.