Baron Percival

The sudden voice made Lorry shudder. Even in the sweltering heat of August, a chill rose inexorably from the depths of his heart.

He whipped his head around and saw a man dressed in Black Hunting Attire.

Bang! Bang!

After a brief second of shock, Lorry drew the custom revolver from the small of his back without hesitation and fired twice. Then he turned and ran without another word.

He sensed the threat of death from this man!

Only then did Lorry belatedly realize that his unease throughout the night had not come from the dangers of Backlund. Someone had already set their sights on him!

"A fearless struggle..."

The man in Black Hunting Attire gave a low chuckle, then abruptly exerted himself, displaying flexibility far beyond an ordinary person's as he bent his upper body backward almost a hundred and eighty degrees.

With two sharp whistles, the revolver bullets flew past his face.

"I really can't tell whether drinking that cobbled-together potion turned you into an idiot. You're Sequence 9 at best, yet you actually think you can escape a Hunter's trap?

"If that's really the case, perhaps I should consider taking your corpse back."

The mocking voice rang out behind him. The words "Hunter" and "trap" quickly brought a Beyonder pathway to Lorry's mind.

The Hunter pathway!

He immediately grew alert. Worried that his pursuer had laid traps ahead, he abruptly twisted around and fled northwest instead.

Crimson moonlight shone upon the world.

In that fleeting instant, Lorry saw the man in Black Hunting Attire pursuing him with an easy expression. His black hair whipped in the wind, and a mocking smile never left his lips.

"Heh heh, what an idiot!

"Still, I suppose it's understandable. You've only just encountered the Beyonder world, after all.

"The 'trap' I mentioned wasn't a physical one. You stepped into my trap the moment you decided to hunt down that old man!

"I knew you wanted to kill him, so I didn't need to waste any effort searching Backlund for you. All I had to do was watch him. Heh heh.

"How could 'prey' possibly escape a Hunter on his home turf?"

Although the potion had improved his physique to some degree, and Lorry had made the right choice immediately, his enemy was far too powerful.

No matter how he ran, the man always followed behind with ease. He even seemed utterly relaxed, which only made Lorry's heart sink further.

On top of that, his pursuer would not stop talking. Every sentence seemed to strike a nerve, and Lorry could not suppress the urge to turn around and fight him to the death.

"Can't you shut up for a moment?!"

His eyes bloodshot, he turned and thrust at the man with the Serrated Dagger.

"Tsk, tsk, what brave 'prey'!" The man in Black Hunting Attire drew an iron rod from his waist to block the attack, his mouth never resting.

"Commendable courage. Shame about your skills."

"At your level, you couldn't beat me even if you trained for another ten years."

"Oh dear, what a pity. You almost blocked that... Heh heh, sorry, you were a step too slow again... Bingo! A successful hunt!"

Amid the clanging of weapons, the man in Black Hunting Attire's flippant commentary never stopped, until he suddenly swept his iron rod sideways.

Lorry felt a tremendous force strike his wrist. Along with the searing pain, his entire right hand went almost numb, and the Serrated Dagger clattered to the ground.

His bloodshot eyes remained fixed on his opponent.

"What?"

The man in Black Hunting Attire chuckled. "Not happy? Want to punch me?"

The silvery iron rod pressed against his throat. Its cold touch restored a little of Lorry's clarity, and he forced down the impulse in his heart before asking in a low voice, "Provoker?"

A flicker of surprise appeared on the man in Black Hunting Attire's face.

"Well, well. You know quite a lot for a little rat. Looks like you've been attending plenty of Beyonder gatherings in the capital lately.

"That's right. I am indeed a Provoker."

No wonder I lost control of myself and chose to stop running and fight him. I was being influenced by a Beyonder ability... Lorry slowly exhaled. His emotions felt much steadier now. At least his mind was no longer consumed by a single thought: killing the man, no matter what it took.

But I still want to slap that mouth of his to pieces... He shifted his gaze away from the man in Black Hunting Attire's face, afraid he would lose control of his emotions.

His opponent was a Sequence 8 Provoker of the Hunter pathway, a Beyonder skilled in tracking and hunting. Lorry was clearly no match for him.

He could even dodge bullets... But we're so close now... If I can just seize an opportunity... As he thought about it, Lorry could not help feeling tempted again.

He had never been one to accept his fate, nor did he want to die.

But his opponent was exceptionally vigilant and soon noticed Lorry's furtive movement.

"Little rat, if your left hand keeps reaching for that revolver, I swear this rod will smash your skull immediately.

"Drop it on the ground slowly. Now!"

Helpless, Lorry could only do as the man in Black Hunting Attire instructed.

The man in Black Hunting Attire quickly bent down, picked up the revolver and Serrated Dagger from the ground, and used the silvery iron rod to force Lorry forward.

"Now walk forward slowly. No sudden movements.

"Good. Just like that.

"Obedient prey lives longer."

"Where are you taking me?" Lorry asked quietly as he walked.

The man in Black Hunting Attire scoffed.

"I just praised you, and now you're being stupid again?

"To see the baron, of course.

"You haven't forgotten that you killed Cyril, have you? I'd already told him how to set a trap, but that idiot let you trick him into revealing his trump card without any trouble. He deserved his death.

"And you secretly sent a bounty hunter to follow the baron. Did you think you could hide that from a Hunter like me? You're too naive, little rat.

"If the baron didn't want to see you, you'd already be a corpse."

As they spoke, the two reached the nearest main road.

A carriage was already waiting there.

Two men who were clearly bodyguards strode over and bowed to the man in Black Hunting Attire, then bound Lorry tightly with rope and threw him into the carriage.

The three of them climbed in after him.

The carriage slowly began to move.

After nearly two hours of jolting travel, the carriage entered an estate.

The two bodyguards shoved Lorry along behind the man in Black Hunting Attire, and they soon reached the most luxurious room in the manor.

The man in Black Hunting Attire

stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Baron, we've brought that little rat back."

A few seconds later, an authoritative male voice sounded from inside.

"Come in."

"Yes, Baron."

Even with a door between them, the man in Black Hunting Attire still bowed his head respectfully.

He pushed the door open, and the four entered the room.

Behind a broad mahogany desk, Lorry saw a slightly stout middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed in a brown waistcoat.

"Baron."

The man in Black Hunting Attire and the two bodyguards all bowed with their hands over their chests.

Baron Percival raised a hand slightly, signaling for them to step aside.

He stood and walked up to Lorry. Narrowing his blue eyes, he looked him up and down, then spoke in a low voice without wasting any time.

"Cyril may have been useless, but Emperor Roselle once said that even when beating a dog, you must consider its master. And you yourself are a dog I keep.

"Now I'm giving you a chance to atone.

"Use the power that potion bestowed upon you to retrieve something for me.

"If you succeed, I'll wipe the slate clean, both for Cyril's death and for sending someone to follow me. I'll also grant you a generous reward.

"Such as the subsequent potion formulas..."