Unexpected Gains

Rachel gripped the bird by its claws and let it beat its wings frantically.

The coldness on her face and the danger in her eyes made Hans shift his neck uneasily. Lawless simply turned his head away, while Qin Ran realized for the first time just how formidable the tavern owner was.

To his shock, someone could inspire something like Intimidation in others with nothing more than an expression and a glance, without any imposing aura at all.

Terrifying!

Qin Ran made the judgment silently.

But he did not look away.

He knew she must have discovered something.

Something he, Lawless, and Hans had all missed.

Yet no matter how Qin Ran looked at it, it was just a bird.

An ordinary one.

There was nothing distinctive about it.

"I'll give you one chance. Come before me and tell me everything!"

Rachel's voice was cold.

The bird kept struggling, growing more frantic by the second.

"Looks like you don't value that chance..."

"Come on. Back to the tavern."

Rachel turned toward the Harvest Tavern, still holding the bird by its claws.

Ten minutes later.

A dish called "Roast Bird" appeared on a plate in front of Qin Ran.

"My treat," Rachel said.

"Thank you."

"And, um..."

Qin Ran thanked her, then struggled to find the words.

He was curious how Rachel had noticed something was wrong.

He was still completely baffled.

But they were not particularly close, and some questions were clearly difficult to ask outright.

At that moment, Qin Ran sincerely wished either Lawless or Hans were there.

But both had received messages as soon as they returned to the tavern and hurried off.

Qin Ran knew the messages were about something else, not the Assassin Organization.

If they had been about the Assassin Organization, the two would certainly