Lund. Furnace Tavern.

This tavern is located in the southeastern side of the Old Town District. Although the decor is quite dilapidated, there are still plenty of people who come here to drink.

Two men dressed as Witch Hunters sat in the corner, quietly discussing a business deal. There was a circle of space around them, and almost no ordinary patrons dared sit next to them.

Their business discussion was about a slightly affluent foreign merchant.

This merchant has a beautiful daughter, and they were planning on how to label her as a Witch. As long as they could produce some evidence to prove she might be a 'Witch', they could make a windfall.

In most cases, ordinary people involved in such affairs know that money is the solution if they're bright enough.

Even if someone stubbornly refuses to pay, they could just take the girl away and lock her up for a few days. No one would know what happens in those dark dungeons during that time.

In the vast majority of cases, those extorted by Witch Hunters would find a way to settle the matter with money.

The secular and Church authorities have given Witch Hunters the power to arrest, and this power was not strictly limited. Many people joined the ranks of Witch Hunters because of the profit, and whether someone is a Witch is entirely up to them. Planting a little evidence is enough to imprison them; even if they're rescued later, they would have suffered greatly, causing many girls to commit suicide.

In recent years, many beautiful young women have fled to the Southern Islands, where the domain of the goddess Freya is, as her Church is different from the Eternal Flame, and they protect women and children.

This goddess represents the world's oldest Faith.

Her religious symbols are the maiden, pregnant woman, and old lady. Her Priests control certain Magic but are more adept at Herbalism and have good relations with Druids, sheltering women who are persecuted. Her Divine Office is quite broad, encompassing earth, love, reproduction, and so forth, mainly focusing on women's Domain. Many midwives learn their skills from her Priests.

The relationship between Freya's Church and the Eternal Flame is tense, and they often protect young women persecuted by Witch Hunters.

Ten minutes later.

The two Witch Hunters secretly finalized their plan for tomorrow's frame-up. They drunkenly put their arms around each other's shoulders and staggered out, directly turning into a small alley.

"Want to have some fun tonight? There's a batch of girls from the north at the port," one Witch Hunter said, unfastening his belt, his breath reeking of alcohol. "They say they're very passionate!"

"Really? Then we should check it out." The other Witch Hunter chuckled.

During this era, urinating and defecating anywhere was common, particularly in such poor areas of the Old Town District.

Clomp, clomp, clomp.

Just then, a man in a gray-black Cloak also walked out from the tavern. He put his hand on his belt as he walked, seemingly planning to relieve himself nearby.

"Get lost, country bumpkin!" the nearby Witch Hunter rudely shouted.

A flash of cold steel.

As the two Witch Hunters sensed something was amiss, the man suddenly swung the Dagger from his waist— a clean, swift strike. Blood splattered, and the two Witch Hunters had their throats slashed simultaneously.

Bang, bang.

Van Helsing's face was exposed under the moonlight. He stabbed the Dagger into a Witch Hunter's kidney and held their heads down until their bodies ceased twitching.

"Ugh! Ptooey!"

A thick glob of spit landed on the Witch Hunters' corpses.

Van Helsing thought for a moment, then disdainfully kicked the two bodies and proceeded to search them.

He extracted two money bags.

"Didn't expect you to be so wealthy." Van Helsing weighed the money bags in his hand before turning and leaving the alley.

Under the cover of night.

Van Helsing left the city alone, riding a horse straight toward Kolon.

Before departing, he released a black Raven.

Vikado. Xionggu Town.

It was an impoverished town with a population of slightly over a thousand due to the activities of many fierce beasts nearby. Not many merchants passed through it regularly.

A small Blacksmith Shop lay at the front of the town.

Its owner was an exceptionally tall and large man, as strong as a brown bear, with gray-white hair. He was quick-tempered and disliked socializing, spending his days smoking and daydreaming at the shop's entrance, occasionally hammering out heavy kitchen knives.

This man named Lev had lived here for almost five years.

He didn't enjoy interacting with people, so few disturbed him—none dared cause trouble, knowing he'd once killed a black bear bare-handed when he first arrived.

Previously, widowed women from the village would fancy him, considering whether they could muddle through life together.

But this old fellow always harshly refused, so the idea was dropped. He appeared to be about in his forties, without offspring, living alone in the Blacksmith Shop, somewhat out of place in the town where others viewed him as a weirdo.

Slam.

Today, this old man continued sitting at the Blacksmith Shop's entrance, smoking his tobacco, procured from some Dwarves with whom he had some friendships.

Occasionally, someone would walk by, but no one dared bother him.

For he was an odd man, at times lost in thought for an entire day.

As night fell.

Just as Lev was about to tidy up and close the shop, a flash of steel lunged at his chest. In this split second between life and death, the old man, with dexterity he shouldn't possess, dodged, then swung the heavy hammer in retaliation.

Bang!

In the dark, a gaunt figure rolled backward to gain some distance. Just as Lev lunged angrily like a brown bear, the figure coughed, and in a hoarse voice said, "Long time no see, old man."

"I thought you couldn't lift a weapon anymore."

Lev halted his steps, tapped the iron anvil with the hammer, and said gruffly, "What are you doing here, you serpent?"

Under the dim firelight.

A scarred, menacing face emerged ahead— age indiscernible— wearing an eyepatch as if blind in one eye. His figure was gaunt, seemingly a survivor of severe injuries to the chest, causing slight breathlessness and occasional coughing. He flashed an ugly grin and said hoarsely, "The old Raven has made a move!"

A sealed letter was tossed over.

Lev caught it with ease and quickly scanned it under the firelight. His breath then hastened slightly, and he turned to face the menacing man ahead, saying gravely, "What? You've serpents can't hold back anymore?"

"Heh," the gaunt man had seemingly endured severe torture before; perhaps his vocal cords were damaged, making his laughter grating. He rasped, "Have you already forgotten the blood spilled by the Bear School back then?"

"Or are you."

"Just like those cowards, have you lost your will to fight?"

"Planning to stay here posing as a simple blacksmith until you're old and dead?"

Bang.

Lev slammed the iron anvil and charged forward with an agility unfitting his size, lifting the man before him singlehandedly, restraining the roar and controlling it, saying slowly, "Say that again!"

The menacing figure lifted his hands, unpleasantly grinning, "Calm down."

"All these years."

"You've remained as irritable as ever!"

Bang.

Lev casually tossed the man down, then took a swig from a bottle, saying, "You're sending yourselves to death!"

"What's wrong? Afraid?" The man's face was akin to a ferocious ghost in the firelight. He chuckled, "Has Lev, who once killed Griffins barehanded, reached the day of fearing death?"

Bang.

Lev picked up the hammer and struck it heavily, saying sternly, "Old serpent. Are you seeking death?"

Heh.

The man with the menacing face sneered, glanced at Lev, then turned to leave, his voice rasping from afar, "I've delivered the message."

"We respect your choice."

"Bears may have lost the will, but vipers will never forget revenge!"

.........

(The subscription rate is quite low, it seems many are reading pirated copies. Not sure what to say, except to keep diligently writing. Pleading for some monthly vote support. My inflammation has healed, planning to get my wisdom teeth removed in the coming days. Sigh sigh.)

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