The fat Town chief broke down after just a few minutes.
He had heard the stories about the Blade of Freedom operating not far from here: they hated evildoers, disliked nobles and the wealthy, and stood up for the poor...
"Don't be nervous. I'm not like them," Annan said. He still needed to question the man and had no intention of letting him off.
"N-not like them?" Hope flickered in the fat Town chief's narrow eyes.
"I'm Annan."
The fat Town chief's hope died. His eyes went dull.
He was no ignorant patrol captain. Of course he had heard Annan's name. Wanted Posters for Annan and the other members of the Blade of Freedom were even posted around Town.
"Good heavens!"
The young mage suddenly cried out, drawing everyone's attention. "You're Annan!? I should have known. How could such an outstanding sorcerer be unknown?"
Annan looked away again. The Goblins of Free City showered him with this sort of flattery endlessly. By now, he had developed Legendary resistance to it.
"We... we haven't robbed many travelers..." the fat Town chief said miserably.
"I can tell."
People who made a trade of being farmers by day and bandits by night lured travelers into Town and struck once they were asleep. They did not attack outside Town like this lot had.
"Then we..." The fat Town chief forced a smile.
Annan knew what he was about to say and deliberately cut him off. "Oh, right. I killed your guard captain."
"Good riddance! He should have died long ago!" the young mage shouted again, his face thick with anger and hatred. Through gritted teeth, he said, "He must have been blind to dare rob the great Lord Annan! He disgraced Town's reputation, robbed passing travelers, shamelessly bullied innocent people in Town, and even