Whoosh!
Dudian climbed the wall of the fortress like a gecko as the sun set. As he stood on the wall he saw patrol soldiers serparate from each other to relocate he smoothly went to the other side of the wall. He used his hands to slow down the strength of the fall. There was a minimum sound as he landed on ground.
Dudian glanced at patrols on both sides. They were pretty far away and couldn't visually detect him. He rushed as he changed his location.
This time he felt much at home as he bypassed the border because of his previous experience as he escaped from prison. Dudian went to the desolate wilderness after passing through. It didn't take long for him to reach a desolate town.
There was a wry smile on his face as Dudian sneaked into the town. He went into the backyard of a house. There were clothes which were stuck at backyard for drying. He grabbed one of them and quickly left the town. He took advantage of the night time as he moved in direction of the Yard town.
Dudian reached the Yard town after a few hours. At the moment the weather was dark and soon the curfew time would begin.
Dudian looked at the hill behind the town. The Ryan castle stood tall like a monster in the darkness.
...
...
Study room at the second floor of the Ryan castle.
Sander helped his father back to the study room after eating the dinner. Old Fulin sat down on chair. Sander grabbed a thick quill and handed it over to his father: "It's cold so you should cover yourself with blankets at evenings."
Old Fulin took it and covered his knees. He sighed: "It's been so long but he hasn't come back yet. God knows what has happened."
"Although his age is not much but he is mature and prudent. There shouldn't be any big deals. Don't worry father. Most probably he will be back in few days."
"The monsters outside the giant wall don't care whether someone is mature or immature." Old Fulin shook his head.
Sander was full of anxiety as he pondered for a while: "I should go and urge those people to go and check Mr Dean. Nevertheless, he had bailed them out. It's not a humane way that they have chosen to respond."
"Its within the nature of humans. No one would be willing to enter that place again." Old Fulin slightly shook his head: "If there isn't any news by tomorrow then find two people and temporarily register them as hunters. Let them go out and investigate the matter."
"Alright." Sander slightly nodded.
Old Fulin slowly said: "Although we as Ryan family are rising right now and there are lots of small aristocrats and well-known wealthy businessmen who wants to join our consortium that is flourishing but all of them are attracted because of his architect identity. It won't take long for our family to be back to our initial declining status if we lose him. Afterwards it would be very hard to stand up again!"
Sander stared at Old Fulin: "Father we shouldn't rely on him. Wouldn't we be in wane if he changes his mind in the future? "
Old Fulin looked up and stared at Sander's eyes: "We haven't risen to any point how can we talk about decline? I don't want to listen to any other proposition!"
Sander's face slightly changed as he saw Old Fulin's angry facial expression: "Father, I have wronged you."
Old Fulin slowly recovered his eyes as he saw Sander bow to apologize. He looked at the fire burning in the oil lamp as he delved into his thoughts.
Whoosh!
After a short time, a slight sound echoed from the window.
Old Fulin and Sander were surprised as they saw a person dressed in farmer's clothing come inside.
Sander was about to shout 'assassin' but he was shocked as he recognized the person.
"Can't you identify me as I have changed my clothing?" Dudian smiled as he came towards the table and pulled a chair to sit in front of Old Fulin. He looked at old patriarch: "My trip to outside the giant wall had made you worry. Has something new had happened in the last few days?"
Old Fulin smiled as he stared at Dudian: "You have come back...Good...I thought...There is no movement from Mellon consortium but we are not sure about their plans. Our intelligence is too weak! "
Dudian frowned slightly as he touched his chin: "What about the little guys that have come back?"
"The little guys?" Old Fulin slightly smiled as he heard Dudian's words: "They are not small. One of them is almost as old as me. I have sent few people to pay addition to them. In addition to the Nicholas the butler all the others have stayed inside the castle after coming back from the detection center. No one has gone out."
"What about the butler?" Dudian asked.
"He hasn't gone out too. He was inside the castle all the time." Old Fulin replied
Dudian was slightly surprised. His mouth curled up as he said: "I have come over tonight to nag you. You see, I didn't go through the procedures and bypassed the Holy Church. I need you help me out with alibi."
"Illegally?" Old Fulin was surprised: "Why didn't you go to...?" He beat his head as he was about to ask the question. Old Fulin said: "Of course. If you had been there then I would have got the news... Why did you have to illegaly come back? Is there something that you don't want Holy Church to know?"
Dudian nodded in confirmation: "There was a little trouble when I passed through the passage. A monster broke through the passage and killed the knights of light who were protecting the passage. I am worried that they will misunderstand it as they will think that it was my intention as if I deliberately brought it inside. But if there is no evidence then there will be no misunderstanding and no need for explanations."
Old Fulin and Sander were shocked as they looked at each other. Old patriarch said: "Are you hurt? Did monster chase you as you returned?"
Dudian shook his head as he smiled: "It had cleverly hidden itself closeby and it was coincidence that the timing of my return matched with it."
Old Fulin glanced back at him: "Your excuse about the coincidence would not trouble you. Right now you are an architect of the Temple of Elements and your credit is high. If you say so then no one will doubt you. No need for such a risky move."
Dudian said: "That was one of the reasons. The second one is that I don't want to make my identity as a hunter highlighted. It has become my side identity. Even if I have to go outside the giant wall then I must secretly enter back. You can't leak the information. You should know that aristocracy and the Temple don't favor hunters while they look up to architects. Of course it doesn't mean that I'll abandon it but will continue to act in darkness. "
Old Fulin smiled: "I know that you have other reason but lets not delve into depth. My personal advice is that you better don't go hunting again. The other architects hire hunters to get the materials that they need. This way they don't need to take risks at all. "
Dudian smiled: "I'm not going outside the giant wall to hunt for materials or money. I'm doing it to hone my own combat effectiveness. If a sword is hidden in the scabbard for a long time it will rust."
Old Fulin saw Dudian's determination so he didn't continue to persuade Dudian: "Alright, it's all good. But there is a bit of management problem with the people you have bailed out. I asked them to go search for you but they refused to follow my orders. That's a bad attitude they are showing. Moreover I don't know how but your trip to the outside has been leaked to Mellon consortium. They have been using that information to pressure the Temple by swaying the opinion through the newspapers. However the Temple hasn't responded to them. The recent invention of yours has blocked their mouthes so not matter what assessment will it get but you should put up your new item."