Acker sat there without answering.
He had not even met Arthur's eyes.
Sitting there, he looked like any ordinary middle-aged man from the Old District, not only ill at ease, but a little anxious as well.
Arthur did not press him for an answer.
There was no need!
It was not merely because he had already dropped two clear hints-
The first was his "sincere gratitude."
The second was "opening a shop for Alvin on West Merck Avenue."
Arthur believed Acker had understood.
He was even more certain that Acker would not refuse.
Because he was Alvin and Alma's father.
And, more importantly, because Acker had made a promise to his wife, Bana.
As for why Arthur valued Acker?
Aside from the man's talents, it was naturally because of his upcoming trip to Inner Bay.
He was going to return to the family his mother had once belonged to.
With the [blood mark], he had a legitimate claim to his identity!
And that identity meant the Golden Lion Family would not move against him openly.
But in secret?
Who could guarantee anything?
Besides, judging by the experiences of Alvis Hamlet, who had gone by the alias Dorn, certain members of the Golden Lion Family had no qualms about striking from the shadows.
Of course, most importantly, the Old Lion had the infamous Bloodshadow Thorn at his side!
How could Arthur possibly let his guard down?
Even a venomous snake in the bushes had to beware of a dagger in the shadows!
And who understood assassins better than another assassin?
Naturally, an assassin trained in the same tradition.
Bloodshadow Thorn came from Assassin Bloodflow.
The Acker sitting before him also came from Assassin Bloodflow.
That made Acker the ideal companion for Arthur's trip to Inner Bay.
And beyond all that?
Of