The man was a gigantic brute who had a towering height of about two meters, he had pitch-black eyes that went well with his black skin that glowed akin to metal when sunlight fell on him, and every ounce of his body seemed to be made of muscles as they flexed with the slightest movement, and he had a fierce looking scar that stretched from the right side of his forehead to his chin.
Staring at Alistar for a while longer, he said in his usual pissed tone. "I just can't remember where I've seen you."
He narrowed his eyes akin to daggers while stroking his full short beard.
While the man kept staring at him, Alistar was praying to all the gods he knew from his past and current life that he shouldn't look like any criminal the man in front of him had seen.
"Are you the son of Jacob Thorn?" He asked in a frigid tone, not taking his eyes off Alistar for a split second.
Slightly surprised by the man knowing his dad's name, Alistar replied. "Yes, I am."
After he replied, the man's black eyes seemed to have a yellowish glow hidden in their depths as he stared at Alistar's calm face.
Anxious the more the man kept staring at him without replying, Alistar had a few drops of sweat form on his forehead as he hoped his dad hadn't pissed the brute in front of him.
When a minute had gone by, the man had a wide smile on his face as he bellowed in a delighted tone. "Hahahahahaha!! Only that old f*ck could birth such a kid."
Ignoring the weird looks his subordinates were giving him, the man kept laughing loudly while remembering the time he spent with Alistar's father.
Dumbfounded, Alistar could only stare at the brute before him with relief in his heart after hearing the brute's joyful laugh.
He didn't know why the man was happy but he couldn't care any less since as long as he was safe nothing else mattered to him at the moment.
"Haha haha!!" Laughing akin to a drunk man, the man said after calming down. "So how's Jacob doing? I never expected his child would like a replica of him."
He placed his hand on Alistar's shoulder while comparing Alistar's face to that of his father and apart from the difference in their heir eye color, they looked exactly the same.
"He's dead," Alistar replied, pitying the man a little for not being aware of his friend's death.
"Huh?" Shocked, the man had his smile frozen on his lips as he stared at Alistar.
"Tell me you... you're joking." He stuttered, unwilling to believe that his friend had died yet he was ignorant about it.
Seeing Alistar lightly shake his head, the man's frozen smile and disbelieving look were replaced by a sorrowful one.
"To be precise, he died four years ago and would be five in a month from now." Alistar continued, staring at the man who was in front of him.
It was a big blow for your friend to die and you aren't aware but when he had died for more than four years yet you weren't aware was even worse.
"It was my fault for not keeping in touch with him." The man sighed, massaging his temple before looking at Alistar and saying. "Well, let's get you some food."
Standing up from where he was squatted, he looked at Alistar and said. "My name is Khodri, your father's best friend... Who failed to know about his passing."
Khodri had said the last sentence in a tone that sounded akin to a whisper, making it go unheard to those without a superb hearing.
"My name is Alistar," Alistar replied while looking at the man's face that had returned to being happy.
Smack!!
"Alright Alistar, let's get going," Khodri said with a smile while hitting Alistar's shoulder with his big hand.
He might not have been there when his friend needed him but now that he knows his son, Khodri swore to protect Alistar no matter what.
When Khodri's large hand patted Alistar, it felt as if Alistar had been hit by a mountain as he could swear he heard a slight pop from his shoulder blades.
But even though it was painful, Alistar took the pain like a champ and said with gritted teeth. "O... kay."
"Hahaha hahaha hahaha!!" Khodri let out another booming laugh as he stared at Alistar whose face resembled someone that has eaten dog shit.
Marking the canteen as their first stop, Khodri had placed Alistar on his shoulder akin to a sandbag before leaving his dumbfounded subordinates behind.
Roughly taking them about five minutes to reach the canteen since they were already pretty close, Khodri placed Alistar on a bench and said. "Order whatever you want, I'll pay."
Already scanning through the holographic menu before Khodri had even spoken, Alistar raised his head and asked. "Did you say something?"
"No," Khodri replied, having his eyebrows twitch every second after seeing Alistar had continued reading the menu before he finished talking.
Unceremoniously placing his order, Alistar looked at Khodri and asked in a polite tone. "Where are we now?"
Surprised that Alistar had managed to get here without even knowing it, Khodri decided to leave his questions for later and said. "We're in Ironshade Town. The closest City to it is about ten kilometers away."
Hearing Khodri's reply, Alistar asked another question. "How far is Forond from here?"
"I guess about two or three kilometers," Khodri replied after thinking for a while.
"Thanks." Getting all the answers he wanted, Alistar remained silent while waiting for the Robot waiters to bring his food.
As if they didn't want them to dwell too long in awkward silence, several Robots wearing suits and bowties came to their table before placing plates that had a variety of foods on the table.
Leaving as soon as they came, Alistar immediately began shoving food in his mouth after enjoying the scent for some time.
'He really went all out.' Khodri thought with twitching lips as he eyed Alistar who was currently feasting on the food he ordered.
Ignoring the looks those in the canteen were giving him, Alistar kept on eating his food akin to a starved wolf.
****
Done with his meal in under an hour, Alistar was currently rubbing his slightly protruding belly with a content smile on his face. Although its taste wasn't the best, it was still better than eating nothing for a long time.
"Are you done?" Khodri asked, losing every ounce of the happiness he once had.
Hell, he was trying his best to stop himself from beating the little shit in front of him after the bastard had eaten away almost all the cash he had with him.
"Yes, I am." Without an ounce of shame, Alistar replied while still rubbing his belly.
"You little shi-" Forcefully swallowing his curse midway, Khodri took a deep breath and asked with twitching eyebrows. "Anything else?"
"I'd like to make a call," Alistar replied.
He didn't intend to contact Lilith so soon but if he had the chance to do so now why wait? After all, what could go wrong?
....
Author's note- Chapter release would be by 20:00 GMT from today.