The scrawny boy's hysterical plea for life left Paul speechless for quite some time. As he thought about it, he realized that he couldn't blame the boy for his nonsensical reaction. If it were him and a shady-looking stranger suddenly asked him for his service in exchange for money, he wouldn't believe them either. Not to mention that his current battered state was not enough to convince the boy.
With that thought in mind, he dropped the bound, hysterical, scrawny boy in front of him, who leaned against a tree behind him, and said in a reassuring voice: "Don't worry, I won't harm you. Hold on a second, I will let you go now."
The moment he freed the scrawny boy of his bondage, without hesitation, he immediately turned around and attempted to abscond from him again, but Paul foresaw his reaction this time and skillfully restrained him before he could take one step.
"F*ck! I said I wouldn't harm you, so why are you still trying to run away!"
Paul was annoyed and shouted, but this only made his internal injuries worsen, and he let out another mouthful of blood, with his face turning pale.
"Damn it… Do you want me to die… too? If you move again from your position, I will kill you… Do you hear me?"
Paul threatened the hapless, scrawny boy, who obediently nodded his head, but he still had a frightened and anxious expression plastered on his face.
"Now that's more like it."
Paul nodded his head in satisfaction and then stretched out his hand, which was holding the golden stone book, and said: "Here. I want you to take this golden stone book and head to the South Main City's Stronghold leader's office and hand this over to him. I don't care how you get there. Just find a way to deliver it to him. When you do, say that an unlucky, dying man gave it to you for safekeeping. Do you understand what I just said?"
The scrawny boy didn't know what was going on, but since the man demanded with a serious expression, he could only nod his head in understanding. Furthermore, he was afraid that he would be killed if he rejected the man.
Paul noticed that he still hadn't taken the book from his hand and scowled and impatiently said: "Take it and you can leave!"
The scrawny boy's expression was full of surprise and hope when he heard that he could leave. If he takes the stone book as suggested by that man, then he could leave this place and keep his life.
He instantly calmed down and was about to grab the stone book. But then, he suddenly thought that something was wrong with the situation. What if the golden stone book was cursed or something? Also, why was this man bleeding out here in the forest?
He had many questions and doubts, but it wasn't like he could ask or say no to the man that looked like he would immediately kill him if he rejected his offer. With that consideration in mind, he could only hope that he was thinking too much and grabbed the golden stone book.
With that decision, his shriveled arm slowly reached out with his heart beating like a war drum. He was only 3 inches away from grabbing the golden stone book when a furious voice abruptly reverberated throughout the entire forest, causing the surrounding leaves to rustle as though they were blown by the cold night wind.
"So you're nearby! Just wait for me, you're dead meat, Paul!"
The owner of the frenzied voice was Jason.
At this moment, when the scrawny boy took hold of the golden stone book in fright, it started to glow in a blinding light. Then it settled down very quickly in his grasp.
"Hahaha! I can feel that treasure! Wait for me! That holy treasure is mine!"
The sudden change in the golden stone book surprised Paul. He ignored Jason's frenzied voice as he pondered its implications briefly. However, he didn't have to think too much about something like that, as he had already seen it shining before he got it.
Though the light dimmed when he took the golden stone book in his hand, he believed that it had recognized him as the owner. Therefore, when he saw the phenomenon that occurred after the scrawny boy grabbed the golden stone book, he concluded that the golden stone book would recognize whoever held it as its owner.
With that realization, he felt a pang of regret for not getting a chance to see what was written inside the golden stone book before sending it away.
Even though he couldn't open it once it was in his grasp for some reason, he believed that he simply needed to meet a condition for it to open. Therefore, he regretted having to send it away, but in his opinion, it was better that way than to have Jason get his hands on it.
That aside, Jason was currently on his way to his location, which was bad news for him. If he reach him before he could send the golden stone book away, it would ruin his plans.
He could take a chance and try to forcefully open the golden stone book in the hope of activating another magical effect like the teleportation from before, as there was a possibility that he might succeed.
However, there was no guarantee that he would succeed before Jason caught up to him and took it for himself. Hence, he decided that the most optimum solution was to send the golden stone book away before Jason arrives.
Moreover, from Jason's words, he noticed that Jason seemed to have some sort of perception or sensory ability, as he seemed to have sensed the power fluctuation of the golden stone book when it glowed. Therefore, he may have already pinpointed his location. As such, there was no time to waste for him to hesitate.
Paul immediately faced the anxious gaze of the scrawny boy with a determined expression. While ignoring the possibility of exacerbating his injuries, he solemnly shouted: "Run! Get away from here if you don't want to die!"
Paul was not a good person, but he would do anything to let that murderous scumbag suffer a loss before he died. Even if he was going to hell for his past actions, he would go with a smile on his face if he could succeed in his current plan.
When he heard the urgency in Paul's voice, the scrawny boy felt his soul tremble for some reason. From the depth of his being, he felt an incomprehensible dread and apprehension. He instinctively knew that he would really die if he stayed there any longer.
Without reservation or hesitation, he turned and ran away as quickly as possible. In his hand was the blood-smeared golden stone book that Paul had given to him. He subconsciously held it tightly as he ran with all his might.
His speed as he ran was astonishingly fast.
Due to his scrawny physique, when he frighteningly ran away from Paul's location, it felt like he was being carried by the surrounding wind. As a result, he was able to cover a considerable distance within a short period of time.
"How fast!"
Paul exclaimed inwardly as he looked at the spot where the scrawny boy disappeared with a dumbfounded expression. He wondered how he was able to catch him so easily just moments ago if he was that fast.
Unbeknownst to him, when the boy ran into the bush just then, his leg got caught by a vine and he tripped, falling over his face. That was why he was able to use the earth to easily sense his location and catch him quickly without any resistance.