?


    "So, what do you think of Darren?" Gaap asked.


    "There''s something fishy about him, Master," Lux replied. "I just can''t tell what it is."


    "Haha, it seems that your instincts are not half bad, Lux." Gaap smiled.


    Lux didn''t readily invite Darren in his Guild, despite thetter being a C-Ranker. Although having strong guild members was good, their character was important as well.


    Currently, the Half-Elf and the Halfling were inside Lux''s room, discussing the things that they nned to do before continuing their journey to the Pantheon of Exile.


    ording to Cleo, they would be spending two days in the City of El Hazard before continuing their journey.


    Darren would apany them until they reached the Pantheon of Exile, along with his "Merry Band" of Bounty Hunters, whom he imed that they want to join Lux''s Guild.


    Lux agreed to this because he wanted to know just what schemes the Bounty Hunter was cooking up.


    During the battle in the diator''s Coliseum, the ones who fought the battles were Eiko and Lux. Because of this, Gaap''s true strength wasn''t revealed, making others think that only the red-headed teenager was capable of fighting.


    This was also why Lux agreed to let Darren and his band of Bounty Hunters apany them. If they were to do anything funny, they would find themselves facing a Grade-A Apostle, whose strength surpassed Lux''s.


    "Master, I''ll go shopping in town for now," Lux said. "How about you?"


    "I''ll just rx in my room for the time being," Gaap replied. "Although Cleo''s carriage wasfortable enough, I missed sleeping in a bed."


    Lux smiled because he understood what his Master was talking about. Sleeping inside a carriage and sleeping on a bed were two very different things, so he bid his Master goodbye and went to see the equipment that the City of El Hazard had to offer.


    When the Half-Elf had left the inn, Gaap waved his hand and a shadowy figure appeared in front of him.


    "You called for me, Master?" the Shadowy Figure asked.


    "Keep an eye on my Disciple," Gaap ordered. "Although I am confident that he can protect himself well, we are currently in unknown territory. Prioritize escaping with him instead of fighting. Do you understand?"


    "I obey, Master." The Shadowy Figure bowed respectfully before disappearing without a trace.


    Gaap then nced outside the window to look at the lively city that they were currently staying in.


    ''Agartha sure is an Ancient Kingdom,'' Gaap thought. ''Even in this city, I can feel the presence of two Saints. I just hope they don''t try anything funny during our stay.


    ———————


    Somewhere in Agartha…


    "So those are the two Hignders that I''ve heard a lot about," an old man, whose hair and beard were both white, said with a smile.


    "The kid looks promising. As for the Halfling… he''s only a Grade-A Apostle?" a middle-aged man with blonde hair and blue eyes frowned. "I don''t know if the Surface World is good or bad. But if someone that old is only a Grade-A Apostle, then we can think of the Half-Elf as a special case."


    "Really?" The old man arched an eyebrow. "In my eyes, that Halfling is the more dangerous one out of the two."


    "Bah! You''ve grown too old, Darius." the middle-aged man snorted. "Your eyes aren''t as good as they used to be."


    "And you still only judge people based on first nce," Dariusmented. "That''s not a good habit to keep, Sion. Look down on people too much, and you''ll find yourself being stepped on by them. Do not think just because you are a Saint, you can trample on everyone you see. The Heavens have eyes, you know?"


    Sion shrugged and treated Darius'' words like a breeze passing through him.


    He was one of the Saints of Agartha that believed that power was the ultimate measurement for how an individual should be treated.


    If they were strong, they would be treasured.


    If they were weak, they would be discarded.


    That had been his belief ever since he became a Ranker, and it followed him until he stepped into the Rank of a Saint.


    "I''ll say this now, old man. Don''t interfere with my game," Sion stated.


    "I''ve grown too old for childish games," Darius replied. "I couldn''t care less about your Bounty Hunters. I''m more interested in seeing how the Half-Elf is going to deal with your little scheme. Just remember, don''t go overboard. His Majesty still hasn''t made his stance known—whether he is supportive of their cause or not."


    "Stop being a worrywart, old man." Sion scoffed. "I''m the one calling the shots here in El Hazard, so you can just watch from the side and enjoy the show."


    "Don''t say I didn''t warn you, alright?" Darius shrugged. "Youin a lot when things don''t go your way."


    "Zip it, old man."


    "Tsk. Youth these days have no respect for the elderly."


    ——————


    In the Backstreets of El Hazard…


    "I''ve always wondered why you are very interested in these cheap goods, Lux," Cleo stated. "Why don''t you go to those stores on Main Street? I''m sure you''ll find better items there."


    "I''ll go thereter as well," Lux said as he picked up a copper ring that had many defects in it. "How much is this, Sir?"


    "5 gold Coins," the Merchant replied with a smile. In his eyes, Lux was just some country bumpkin who didn''t really understand how the world worked.


    "Okay, I''ll take it."


    "Thank you for your Patronage."


    More than an hour had passed before Lux finished his shopping spree in the Backstreets of El Hazard. He then followed Cleo to the popr shops that sold weapons, armors, trinkets, and other misceneous items.


    "Let me handle the bargaining," Cleo stated. "I''m an expert when ites to haggling for prices."


    The store owner who heard the beautifuldy''s words immediately frowned. They really didn''t want to deal with these people who liked to bargain and lower the price of their wares.


    "Sorry miss, but our shop doesn''t allow bargains or haggling," the Owner said as he immediately approached Cleo to tell her off. "If you insist on doing so, we will have no choice but to ask you to leave our store."


    "Do you not know who I am?" Cleo asked. "I am the Saintess Cleo. You can''t treat me like an ordinary customer."


    "It doesn''t matter if you are a Saintess or not," the owner replied without batting an eye. "Here in El Hazard, His Excellency Sion and His Excellency Darius reign supreme. If you use your Rank to have your way, then we will have no choice but to report you to the authorities."


    Lux chuckled after hearing the Owner''s firm words. Usually when people were dealing with Saints in the Surface World, they would always be very cautious.


    However, here in Agartha, even if you are a Saint, you wouldn''t get special treatment since their city were also protected by Saints.


    "Tsk!" Cleo clicked her tongue and crossed her arms over her chest.


    She knew who Sion was, and this was someone who she didn''t want to mess with.


    It was not because Sion was stronger than her.


    The Saint of El Hazard was known for being a very stubborn person who would not hesitate to backstab people if they messed with him.