NOVEL NEXT Chapter 787: Uninvited Guests
Bobbobic had left to go get some food.
And not far down the same street, a window in a two-story stone building was slowly closing.
Inside were two people: a white-haired, dark-faced old man and a man in his thirties.
The man was named Zong Hu, dressed in blue clothes, sitting quietly in the room, ensuring the safety of the dark-faced old man. Were someone with acute perception to appear here and investigate the man, they would be astonished to find that his body was like an energy "Black Hole," inspiring fear and awe.
The man's strength far exceeded that of an ordinary wizard, having reached the level of a Level 4 Wizard.
Indeed, a Level 4 Wizard, an existence at the top of the hierarchy even on the Main Continent, but his current role was merely that of the dark-faced old man's guard.
The dark-faced old man was named Oscar, who, after slowly closing the window, withdrew his gaze.
Just now, he had been doing the same thing as Richard, observing Joseph's carriage passing by and knowing where Joseph was heading.
At this moment, the dark-faced Oscar muttered to himself, "Interesting, this little wizard named Joseph; he's left the city, probably heading to their organization's headquarters. Based on intelligence, the last time he did so, it was to introduce someone to their organization, and this time it might be for the same purpose. So..."
The quiet guard Zong Hu in the room spoke up, "Lord Oscar, the North has been urging us quite urgently. I think you should head back soon. Here in the Southern Free Federation, there are indeed some rats and bugs in the sewers plotting something, but they are absolutely no threat to us. You don't need to worry at all, nor do you need to waste your energy on them."
"No, no," the dark-faced Oscar shook his head, looking at Guard Zong Hu, "Zong Hu, your combat strength is top-notch, and I have never doubted it. However, you are being too hasty in dealing with matters. The Southern Free Federation has been making small moves for a long time, and it's been escalating recently. If we don't take it seriously, it will become a big problem for us eventually.
If they end up colluding with the folks from the Chaotic Mountain Range, it's unthinkable. That is why I have stayed here for so long. Even if I can't solve the problem, I still have to try to understand it, and at the very least, leave a few pawns in place for potential future needs."
After pausing, the dark-faced Oscar continued, "To leave behind pawns, one must act before the other side gains control. Only then can the pawns join the opposing organization and still serve us. But a pawn that fits the criteria must also possess certain capabilities; otherwise, they are not of great value and may even burden us."
Having listened to this, Guard Zong Hu spoke, "Does it mean, my lord, that you want me to try investigating the person that the little wizard Joseph recommended to their organization?"
"The sooner, the better. After this matter is settled, we can almost return," the dark-faced Oscar said.
"Very well, I'll see to it. Within one day... at most two days, I will have results," Guard Zong Hu stood up and made his way out as he spoke.
The dark-faced Oscar instructed from behind, "Zong Hu, I know you are very capable, and I have no doubt you can handle this. But during the process, be sure to be discreet and not alert the enemy. If you run into any trouble, you can ask Sed for assistance."
"Thank you for your concern, sir. But as for Sed... well, it's better if he just stays put, I don't need his help at all," Guard Zong Hu said, leaving the room.
The dark-faced Oscar in the room watched him leave and couldn't help but shake his head, though he said nothing more.
...
The following few days.
Richard and Bobbobovic's lives were very calm. Joseph had told them they would meet the high-ranking members of the Truth Society in three days, but they did not show much excitement. During the day, they were often moving between several shops in Delan, inquiring about the state of their consigned goods, as if they were more concerned about selling their materials at high prices than about joining the Truth Society.
So, two days passed by in the blink of an eye.
In the evening, two days later, Richard and Bobbobovic, as usual, toured around Delan City and returned to their temporary two-story stone building accommodation.
As soon as he entered the courtyard through the back door, Richard's eyebrows twitched. He warned Bobbobovic in a low voice, "Careful!"
"What's wrong?" Bobbobovic, who was walking in front, was puzzled, his hand subconsciously pushing open the living room door. Then came a startled cry, "Ah!" as he hastily backed away, retreating several meters like lightning. He assumed a fighting stance, a potion already in hand, ready to be downed at a moment's notice.
Following the opened door and looking into the living room, they saw an old man with a dark face sitting on a chair, smiling and greeting them, "Hello, gentlemen."
"You are..." Bobbobovic eyed the dark-faced elder warily and asked.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Oscar..." the old man began to speak.
Richard squinted at the old man, and after looking for a moment, suddenly stepped into the living room. Without paying attention to the old man, he started searching the nooks and crannies of the room, seemingly looking for something.
Bobbobovic found it strange and followed Richard into the living room, asking aloud what Richard was doing, but Richard didn't respond.
Feeling a bit awkward, Bobbobovic shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the old man, asking, "By the way, what's the purpose of your visit?"
The dark-faced elder answered, "You don't need to know my true identity for now, but I assure you I have no ill intent. I only wish to cooperate with you."
"Cooperate? Cooperate on what?"
"You might wonder what the benefit is in cooperating with me. Let me tell you, if you decide to cooperate, the advantages will exceed your imagination. Conversely, if you choose not to cooperate, you might find yourselves in dire straits. I hope you'll consider it carefully."
"Hmm?" Bobbobovic hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowed as he said to the dark-faced elder, "Did you hear my question clearly? I'm asking you about the content of the cooperation, not the benefits of cooperating. But since you mentioned it, what exactly are these benefits?"
The dark-faced elder responded, "The content of our cooperation... at this moment, I can't tell you directly because I need to determine if you have the sincerity and the qualifications to cooperate..."
"I..." Bobbobovic suddenly felt a toothache coming on, wondering if the dark-faced old man in front of him was deliberately toying with him, or if he was simply mad. Otherwise, why would he not answer the question?
At that moment Richard had finished checking the house and came over.
"Tap tap tap..."
Richard walked up close to the dark-faced elder, and under Bobbobovic's shocked gaze, suddenly raised his hand and "smack," a harsh slap landed on the dark-faced elder's cheek.
"Yah!"
Bobbobovic shouted, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction, followed by worry.
The dark-faced elder was sitting in the living room waiting for them to return; he must have been confident in his security. Wasn't Richard afraid that by treating him this way, the man would turn hostile or seek revenge?
"Pfft!"
The result of Richard's slap on the dark-faced elder's cheek was a violent tremble of the elder's body, and then he dissipated like a puff of smoke. A piece of paper slowly floated down from the air, landing on the floor with several lines of writing on it.
This!