Davin stood frozen in silence, looking at the youth in front of him with an inscrutable gaze. He never expected that a person who possessed the absolute power to destroy three great kingdoms all by himself, would ultimately choose to die without even once trying to hurt Allen, the person who participated in fighting him on the front lines.
Was that regret for killing the person he loved very much the main reason Allen killed me at that time? Davin thought, the puzzle pieces that had been scattered all this time beginning to form clearly in his mind. But, if he indeed only acted to protect himself, why did King Dalvanel spread the propaganda that Arvin Vedegra was a real threat to the world?
The shabby youth's mind kept spinning rapidly.
If Arvin Vedegra and his right hand attacked King Dalvanel purely to avenge their family's deaths, then what was the point of me willingly joining that crazy king in my previous life? This Victoriaz Kingdom and the other two kingdoms apparently invaded the Vedegra territory simultaneously just to monopolize a gold mine. Davin clenched his fists tightly. If I were in Arvin's position at that time, I would also definitely do the same thing to protect my people from the greed of other kingdoms.
Davin let out a heavy sigh. This is truly crazy! The explanations from the alliance's side and Arvin Vedegra's side are completely contradictory. But, knowing that right now Allen and Ordion chose to join his side voluntarily, it is certain that Arvin Vedegra is the one telling the truth.
After weighing everything carefully, Davin finally lifted his head and looked straight into Arvin's eyes.
"If I agree to follow you now, will you also make me as your spouse just like them?" Davin asked to confirm, his voice now sounding much calmer than before.
"It is entirely up to your own decision." Arvin answered quickly in a casual tone. "Honestly, you are cute and I am indeed interested in making you my seventh spouse. But if you only want to join under my protection without wanting to be my spouse, I also will not force you at all. The absolute decision is in your hands."
Hearing that answer which highly respected his decision, the doubts in Davin's heart vanished completely.
"I will join you!" he decided firmly without needing to think twice about it. "And as for becoming your spouse... we will just see how my feelings for you develop over time later. For now, I want to immediately meet Allen, Ordion, and your trusted right hand!"
Arvin smiled faintly hearing that pragmatic answer.
"Good decision!" Arvin answered quickly. "But, I want to finish one important matter of mine here first before I take you home to meet all of them."
After saying that, Arvin raised his left hand, took out three pieces of bread that were still warm, and directly handed them to Davin.
"Eat this first!" Arvin said gently while giving those three pieces of bread to him. "You said you haven't eaten for three days, right? Fill your stomach first and restore your strength before we move any further."
Smelling the fragrant aroma of the freshly baked bread, Davin's stomach instantly grumbled softly. He gulped.
"Thank you, Arvin." Davin said sincerely while taking the bread with his two slightly trembling hands.
After receiving those breads, Davin immediately ate them very ravenously, chewing them quickly, as if afraid the food would be snatched away from him.
Seeing that sight, Arvin stood calmly, but his memory drifted back to the past, when he met Alrain.
"This sight reminds me of the first time I met Alrain in the past." he said softly while observing Davin who was still eating ravenously. "At that time his appearance was also a mess and he almost starved to death in the forest. I never expected that the exact same thing would happen again to you in this place."
Hearing those words, Davin stopped his chewing for a moment. He looked up and gazed at Arvin's face who was smiling faintly at him.
"So... was that the first time you and your right hand met?" Davin asked with his mouth still full.
Arvin nodded to confirm it. "Yes. Quickly finish your food so I can finish my business here right away."
Davin nodded in understanding and then resumed chewing the rest of his food until it was finished.
Upon seeing Davin wanting to drink, Arvin gladly produced water magic that he formed into a small water ball floating in the air, letting the youth sip it slowly until his thirst was quenched.
After finished eating, the two of them started walking side by side, stepping down the narrow alleys and entering a much deeper and quieter slum area. The atmosphere felt very silent.
Upon arriving at a crossroad point flanked by rotten wooden walls, Arvin suddenly stopped his footsteps. Davin who was walking beside him reflexively stopped his steps too and looked around in confusion.
He stood tall, his gaze sweeping the dark corners around him.
"You all better just come out right now! It happens that I have business with all of you, Silent Killers!"
After that firm and cold-toned shout was spoken loudly by him, the atmosphere remained silent. A gentle breeze swept the dust on the street, but not a single person showed themselves.
Davin furrowed his brow, made confused by the behavior of the youth beside him who was speaking to empty air.
Arvin snorted softly. "Look above your heads!" he shouted loudly, his voice now filled with a dense aura of threat. "If you don't show yourselves immediately, I guarantee all of you will burn to death on the spot without being able to dodge!"
Hearing that threat, from behind the shadows of the fragile roofs around them, eight people dressed entirely in pitch black slowly walked out of their hiding spots. Each of them raised both hands as a sign of surrender, while exactly a few inches above each of their heads, hovered a high-temperature fireball ready to drop at any time.
Davin was startled and took a step back when he saw that there were many assassins who suddenly came out of nowhere.
"How could you know about our group's position so accurately like that, young man?" said one of the men who seemed to be their leader, his voice sounding wary yet still controlled. "It will not be easy for someone to be able to detect our presence just by using mana tracking."
Arvin smirked. "I am not detecting your mana flows. But, I am detecting the heartbeats of all of you directly! Not a single living creature can escape my detection!"
The answer Arvin had just said successfully made the eight men incredibly shocked. They looked at each other with expressions of disbelief, never expecting that the youth in front of them right now was a monster who could use the highest tier of detection magic.
"No wonder you can detect the location of all of us with such precision." the leader said, gulping and trying to act calm even though a fireball was still threatening his life. "So, what business do you have wanting to meet our group, and what is your name?"
With a charismatic gaze, Arvin answered his question.
"I am Arvin Vedegra, and I came all the way here to recruit all of you to become a special shadow force under the direct command of my family!"