'Face-slapping feels good…'
Caleb thought and smiled inwardly, but his expression remained stoic on the outside.
The guild had turned quiet as everyone stared at him with wide mouths.
Caleb stepped forward and approached the counter.
"Hello, Linda."
His words snapped Linda out of her reverie and she replied absentmindedly.
"Yes?"
However, she quickly realized something.
'Wait, how does he know my name? I've never seen him in these parts before.'
Her shock was quickly replaced with vigilance, giving Caleb a questioning gaze.
"Relax." Caleb chuckled. "I asked around before coming here and everyone said to see you. And you're hard to miss."
Linda swallowed hard when she felt his gaze on her. 'I didn't think about it before, but he's quite the catch.'
She returned the gesture with a sly grin.
"Uh-hum!"
A loud throat earing snapped her out of her thoughts as she turned to the direction the interruption came from.
"Ah, guild master. I was just about to come see…"
She rushed to say as she directed a glance at Caleb, feeling embarrassed at being caught ogling the new guy.
"Mm." Ren, the guild master, nodded and looked at Caleb who returned the look with a sly grin.
"Follow me," Ren climbed the stairs, quickly followed by Caleb after winking at Linda who could only blush.
She had completely forgotten about her earlier observation and the still buried Stryder in the floor.
"Someone like that can't be unknown, right?"
As soon as Caleb and the guild master disappeared, the others began discussing amongst themselves.
"I'm not sure. This is the first time hearing that name."
"Yeah… but seriously, what's with that presence. It feels…"
"Pure? I know. I didn't even think it was possible to have something like that."
"Hmm… maybe that is what makes him so strong?"
"Maybe…"
Meanwhile, Caleb was directed to have a seat with the master sitting opposite him behind his desk.
"Let's cut to the chase," Ren spoke with both hands under his chin and narrowed his eyes at Caleb.
"I know every adventurer in this town and even the famous ones from the big cities. So, who are you?"
Caleb flashed a small smile as it seemed this was going to be a routine wherever he went.
'I did work on my presence, but it seems I just made things more eye-catching.'
"As I mentioned earlier, my name is Caleb and I'm new in town."
"No shit. What exactly are you doing here? An adventurer as powerful as you should have no business in this town."
Caleb finally realized the vigilance these people had. 'So, the issue is my strength. These people are not used to seeing extremely strong people around.'
"So, what you're saying is that I can't be here because I am too strong?" Caleb furrowed his brows, despite already knowing the answer.
Ren did not say anymore, but he didn't have to. His silence spoke volumes. But the question was: why were they so weary of strangers, especially strong ones?
'Is there a history I am missing?'
Caleb remained quiet for several seconds as he stared directly into the eyes of Ren, allowing the silence to simmer until the guild master could take no more.
Ren was a hardened adventurer, but under the gaze of Caleb, he couldn't help but shudder. He gulped slightly and sat back in his chair in an attempt to escape the heavy scrutiny.
This was his office and he was in charge of the guild. It would be an embarrassment if he flinched.
Seeing this, Caleb sighed and then said, "Looks like I'm not invited here either. And don't worry, I'll be out of this town very soon.
"I should be out of your hair come tomorrow." He stood up from his chair, gave the guild master a nod and then sped off.
"Whoa!"
The guild master jumped in his seat when Caleb abruptly disappeared from sight. He nearly had a heart attack.
Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. Ren quickly recomposed himself before giving permission to whoever was out there.
"Sorry for the inter—"
Linda began but quickly paused when she only saw the guild master. She turned to look at the guild master.
"Don't look at me, woman. That man is gone." Ren shrugged like there was nothing weird about it... "What is it?"
"Right."
With nothing to say about the situation, she approached his desk and handed him a letter sealed in an envelope.
"This just arrived from Yelle town."
Receiving the envelope, Ren tore it open and quickly read the content. He recognized the stamp of the guild master, so he knew who it was.
Linda stood at the side observing his facial expression as it changed from curious to shock and then finally horror.
"What does it say?"
She could no longer hold herself back and quickly took the seat opposite the guild master. The guild master passed the letter to her with trembling hands.
Linda frowned seeing that since the guild master was not known to show such expressions.
Only after reading the contents and thinking for a second did she realize why the guild master had such an expression.
"Sorcery? That man?"
Linda couldn't believe it, but a guild master wouldn't joke about these things. Then, there was the last part that said Caleb might be here for the baron.
*Gulp*
'This is bad.' Linda realized, feeling a cold shiver run down her spine. She had taken a liking to the mysterious stranger and now this?
"What do we do? Should we warn the baron?"
Linda asked in a whisper, afraid Caleb was around somewhere and watching. If only she knew her guess was right.
"And then what? You've seen what he is capable of doing to one of our strongest. What do you think he'll do to those who stand in his way?" Ren held his head and let out a heavy sigh.
'Now I know his strength isn't normal…'
Ren didn't want to admit it, but he was feeling scared. To have the power to turn someone in his prime into an old and decrepit man was unsettling.
"It's your call, Ren."
Linda said and walked out of the office, already regretting sticking her nose into it.
'It would have been better if I hadn't asked at all.'
......
Outside town and in a tall tree, Caleb observed everything with his domain sense and sighed.
"I'm already being made a villain and I haven't even killed anyone yet."
A sudden crackle of thunder snapped him out of his thoughts. Dark clouds were gathering as if to create the perfect atmosphere for what was about to happen.
"Looks like it's going to be a rainy night."