The little girl had her long hair tied into twin ponytails, a striking crimson color, and her big eyes blinked adorably.
"Nothing, nothing," Horn mumbled, for he couldn't possibly say his brother was a wild witch, and the notebook contained forbidden knowledge that could enhance the combat power of wild witches, knowledge that would lead to beheading if discovered by the church.
"Alyia, be polite, don't ask about others' belongings."
Horn's hairs stood on end as another man's voice sounded!
He had been fully alert!
Horn quickly looked up to see a tall, handsome man standing right in front of him, unhidden, yet invisible to Horn's senses!
The man was clad in pitch-black scale armor, carrying a dark white, oddly-shaped greatsword about as tall as Horn.
How had this man bypassed his perception!
Horn dared to look at his notebook in the carpentry shop because he was confident that he would detect anyone approaching, giving him enough time to hide his notebook.
But he hadn't noticed either of these two!
Horn suddenly felt a small sense of defeat regarding his perception.
"Is this the carpentry shop?" the man asked Horn, his voice clear and confident.
"Yes, this is Douglas's Carpentry Shop. May I ask what you need, sir?"
Horn took a few deep breaths to calm himself, thinking it best to treat them as normal customers as long as they didn't cause trouble.
"I want your carpenter to make Alyia a wooden sword, made to fit her size, any style will do, and I won't shortchange you," the man said, pointing to Alyia, about a meter tall.
"Ilya! Didn't you say you'd buy me a sword?"
Alyia glared at Ilya, puffing up in anger: "Why make me a wooden sword?"
"A wooden sword is still a sword," Ilya said matter-of-factly.
"Wah! You big liar!"
Alyia lunged at Ilya, revealing slightly sharp tiger teeth aiming for his face, but Ilya moved just enough to prevent any chance for her to bite.
Finding herself unable to bite Ilya, Alyia angrily jumped down, crossed her arms, turned her head away, and refused to look at Ilya.
"I'll make the wooden sword for you," Horn said. A wooden sword didn't require bothering Douglas; Horn could make it himself.
"Are you a carpenter?" Ilya asked Horn in surprise.
"What, don't I look like one?" Horn retorted.
"Not really, you look more like a scholar when you wear glasses and read," Ilya said sincerely. He wasn't lying; though Horn had been working as a carpenter near Douglas for nearly ten years, he had the demeanor of a scholar.
Horn chose a solid piece of oak, measured it roughly, and immediately began to work.
"Are you an adventurer?" Horn curiously asked Ilya while whittling the wood.
"I'm a bounty hunter," Ilya said, smiling proudly, "A very good one!"
"There aren't powerful magical beasts near Lien City for you to hunt."
This man was skilled, but Lien City and its surroundings had been peaceful recently, with Horn likely the only one causing trouble lately.
"My secondary target is a wizard. I've heard he might be in this area," Ilya paused, seemingly waiting for Horn to ask more.
"And your primary target?" Seeing Ilya pause, Horn asked.
Ilya leaned in close to Horn and whispered, "Brother, have you heard? A powerful wizard known as the Magician was last seen here. He's my main target!"
The Magician!
This guy was looking for Teacher Douglas!
Horn's expression stiffened momentarily, but he quickly suppressed it, trying not to show any irregularity.
However, Horn's fleeting expression change didn't escape Ilya,
"What, brother, do you know something about the Magician?"
"No, I've just heard about it. How would a small carpenter like me know about such a dangerous person?"
Horn's back, just dried of cold sweat, was drenched again; the person in front of him was too sensitive!
"Oh, I see." Ilya didn't pursue further but stood by, stroking his chin and watching Horn work. Horn secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just a child's wooden sword; having worked as a carpenter for a long time, Horn finished it quickly and handed it to the little girl, Alyia, who refused to take it with dissatisfaction.
"Humph! I want a real sword!"
"See?" Seeing Alyia refusing the sword, Horn looked helplessly at Ilya.
"Alyia, brother worked hard to make this for you, take it!" Ilya said a bit sternly to Alyia.
Alyia reluctantly accepted the wooden sword.
Ilya, seeing Alyia take the sword, asked Horn, "Brother, how much for the wooden sword?"
"Five copper coins will do; it wasn't difficult."
Horn wished this guy would leave soon, feeling like he could blow his cover at any moment!
After hearing the price, Ilya took out five copper coins from his pocket, signaling Horn to catch them. When Horn reached out, Ilya placed the coins in his hand,
But his hand didn't retract; instead, he grasped Horn's hand firmly!
Horn tried to pull back, but couldn't; Ilya's grip was tight!
"Brother, something about you seems off. You wouldn't happen to be a wizard, would you?"
Ilya held Horn's hand tightly, smiling and looking at him with a dangerous glint in his eyes, convinced Horn was a threat!
Caught! They couldn't be allowed to leave!
Without hesitation, Horn recited a spell and released Lightning Touch from the hand Ilya held!
Pale blue light emitted from Horn's palm, the current enough to stun an adult man instantly flowed through Ilya's body, sparking electricity.
Ilya's face showed profound pleasure, twisting slightly with the current!
"Oh, oh that's really comfortable, and a bit tingling too! Give me more! Brother, are you a Lightning Wizard?"
Ilya moaned in comfort; the first-level spell not only had no effect on Ilya but actually pleased him!
Seeing Lightning Touch ineffective, Horn quickly tried to reach for his walnut wood wand in his pocket to cast a higher-level magic.
But Ilya didn't give Horn the chance, his fist moving with afterimages to strike Horn's stomach,
Horn hadn't even seen Ilya's move before feeling intense pain spreading from his abdomen throughout his body, accompanied by a strange energy that immobilized him.
Horn fell to the ground, coughing in pain,
Then Ilya kicked him from behind, sending Horn sprawling on the ground.
Standing on Horn's back, Ilya leaned down, mocking him,
As if looking at a dog!