The bar housed village men who seemed to be a group of vigilantes. They looked towards Raven and his companions with expressions of high expectations but fear as well. They stared intently as if to gauge the skills of the newcomers.

It seemed that Jody was quite well known, as two or three people muttered while staring at Jody.

“Welcome.”

An errand boy came to their table. Jody took out a coin from his pocket and handed it to the boy.

“Sir Ramelda is here, right? Go tell him we’re here to take on his commission.”

“Yes!”

The boy ran into the deeper areas of the pub, then quickly came out before waving to the group. Raven and Jody stood up from their seats and headed towards the boy.

***

“Welcome. Make yourselves comfortable.”

In the annex of the pub, there was a haggard man who looked to be around forty, and a younger man who shared similar features. Healthy young men were standing behind the two men.

‘Leo, Sir Derek Ramelda…’

Raven saw familiar faces for the first time after more than a decade. They were some of the few friends that his father and brother had.

Knight Ramelda was quite inflexible but also had a straight mindset. When the Valts were convicted three years...