Before the middle-aged man could respond, Lavelle suddenly released him and stormed off angrily.
But after only a few steps, he froze in his tracks as his gaze collided with a familiar face, and Lavelle let out a loud, pig-like scream.
"Would you like me to give you a ride?" Glen smiled and asked.
Lavelle roared, "Get lost, you bastard..."
"Seems I didn't hit hard enough," Glen remarked casually.
Lavelle immediately fell silent.
He shot Glen a fierce glare, then, with great caution, circled around him and ran off.
"Hey! Outsiders are not allowed to approach here!" A middle-aged man from inside called out.
"Got it," Glen replied, then leisurely walked away.
After buying a few sets of well-fitting clothes at the clothing store in town and purchasing some tools like hammers and rivets, Glen loaded them into a cart and began his way back.
By the time he left, the sun had already set, and when he returned home, it was quite late. As he walked through the streets of Bayek Town, he noticed several quick-moving shadows darting into alleyways as soon as they saw him.
Curious, Glen glanced in their direction but paid them no further attention.
He unloaded the cart's contents inside his house, then grabbed an oil lamp and headed toward the forest on the outskirts of town.
He wanted to check on the animals he had caught earlier that morning.
The dim light from the lamp swayed with his movements, the rusty frame creaking as it shifted. Glen's shadow stretched long along the quiet streets.
In reality, he didn't need the lamp to see at night, but having the light made him feel more at ease.
Nearby, the animals he had trapped earlier were sleeping, but the sound of footsteps startled the wild beast that had been lying by the trap. Its ears perked up, and it lifted its head, sniffing the air. It quickly recognized who was approaching.
Excited, it sat up and moved toward the approaching light.
"Alright, tell me, was there any trouble while I was gone?" Glen said as he pushed the large, furry head of the beast aside.
The animal let out a soft whimper, indicating there had been no issues.
Glen nodded and walked lightly over to the traps, holding the lamp closer to inspect. The black pigs and the elk he had caught earlier were all sound asleep.
"Sleep well," Glen said with a satisfied smile. "I'll be relying on you all for the future."
He turned to the beast and gave it a few instructions. "Keep an eye on them. If anything happens that you can't handle, come find me immediately."
The beast raised its head, acknowledging the orders.
Glen patted its neck, then turned to head back down the same path he came.
Lavelle's family lived in a manor near Dud Town, and when the young master returned home, the servants were shocked to see his appearance.
"My God! Who did this to the young master? This is terrifying!"
"Quick! Go tell the madam! This is a serious matter!"
Lavelle had been crying since he left school, and he paid no attention to the servants. As soon as he saw his mother, he suddenly raised his voice, crying even louder, his screams echoing through the manor.
"Oh my! Who is crying so horribly? It's so disgraceful!" Lady Sophia furrowed her brows. Then, her expression changed as realization hit. "It's my Lavelle!"
Ignoring the concerned questions from her two friends, she hurriedly stood up, lifting her skirts and rushing towards the source of the sound.
As she turned a corner, she spotted her son, disheveled and surrounded by several servants. She cried out and rushed to him.
Lavelle's left cheek was swollen and bruised, turning a dark purple. Blood stained his mouth and nose, and his tear-streaked face made Lady Sophia's heart break. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"My darling, tell me, what happened? How did you get like this?"
Lavelle screamed at the top of his lungs, "It was a peasant! He came into the school and hit me! He even hit my servants!"
"What!? A peasant!?" Lady Sophia's voice became shrill, and her fury nearly made her lose her breath. "This bold peasant must hang! I swear it by the honor of the Duchy of Kirila!"
She turned to one of the maids, asking, "How long until the master gets back?"
"Uh… he should be on his way back, madam," the maid stammered.
"Quickly, hurry him up! Tell him that the young master has been harmed!" Lady Sophia demanded.
"Yes, madam."
Meanwhile, inside a moving carriage, Lord Channis, dressed in noble attire, spoke softly.
"Why hasn't Berling seen me? He's leaving tomorrow, after all."
"Lord, Lord Berling may have his own difficulties. He probably doesn't want to cause any rift between you two," the middle-aged gentleman, dressed as a butler, replied gently from outside the carriage.
"So, he knows I want to speak with him, and that's why he's avoiding me?" Channis asked, his tone skeptical.
"I... believe so," the butler hesitated before answering.
Before they could continue their conversation, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
"What's going on?" Channis frowned, displeased.
"Lord! The young master is in trouble! The madam sent me to urge you to return quickly!" A frantic voice reached them from outside the carriage.
Channis's face instantly changed, and he barked, "To the manor! Quickly, Saleh!"
"Yes, my lord." The butler nodded and quickly urged the horses to speed up.
Half an hour later, the carriage reached the manor, the horses neighing as they came to a stop. Channis hurriedly disembarked.
"Where's Lavelle?" He asked as he walked, leaning on his cane.
"In the drawing room, my lord," one of the servants replied.
When Channis entered the drawing room, he immediately demanded, "What happened?!"
"Can't you see?!" Lady Sophia pointed to Lavelle's injured face.
Only then did Channis notice his son's state. Dropping his cane, he marched over, furious. "Who did this?!"
"It was a commoner named Glen! He must be captured and hanged!" Lady Sophia spat out, her face full of fury.
"Dad, it hurts so much..." Lavelle whined pitifully.
"Babel!" Channis shouted sharply.
"I'm here," a knight in full armor replied, stepping forward.
"You go..." Channis paused and turned to his son, asking, "Where is this Glen now?"
"He said he lives in Bayek Town," Lavelle cried.
"Right, go to Bayek Town and bring him back!" Channis ordered.
"Understood."
Babel turned to leave, but before he could get far, he heard Channis's voice calling out.
"Wait a moment!"
Babel turned back, confused.
"Lavelle, you said this commoner lives in Bayek Town?!" Channis demanded again, his voice more intense.
Lavelle nodded, confirming the information.
Channis paused, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
"What's the matter, Channis? What are you hesitating for? It's just a commoner! Are you going to sit idly by while our son is bullied?" Lady Sophia's voice was filled with dissatisfaction.
"Shut up!" To everyone's surprise, Channis suddenly roared at his wife.