The atmosphere inside the Adventurer Guild shifted the moment the two cloaked figures began walking toward Alex.
At first, most of the adventurers didn't notice anything unusual. The hall was still filled with laughter and conversation after the successful ogre hunt.
But Alex noticed. And so did Kael.
Alex's Combat Instinct skill continued to send small warning signals through his body. It wasn't the overwhelming danger he had felt while fighting the ogre… but it was enough to make him uneasy.
"Stay calm," Kael murmured quietly beside him.
Alex didn't move. His eyes stayed on the two approaching figures. Both wore long dark cloaks that covered most of their bodies. Their hoods cast shadows over their faces, making it difficult to see their expressions.
They didn't look like normal travelers. And they definitely didn't look like adventurers.
The system flickered again.
Alex activated Analyze without moving.
Targets Detected
Human — Level 12
Human — Level 11
Threat Assessment: Moderate–High
Alex felt his stomach tighten.
Level 11 and 12.
That was higher than the ogre he had just fought.
What are people like that doing in a small town like Riverwood?
The two strangers stopped a few steps away from Alex and Kael. For a moment, none of them spoke. The noise of the guild hall seemed strangely distant.
Then one of the cloaked figures slowly lowered his hood.
The man beneath had sharp features and cold gray eyes. His dark hair was tied back neatly, and a thin scar ran across his cheek.
He studied Alex carefully.
"So," the man said calmly.
"You're the one."
Alex frowned slightly.
"The one what?"
The man ignored the question. Instead, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a small metal emblem. He placed it on the wooden counter beside Alex. The emblem was shaped like a black triangle with a silver circle inside it.
Alex had never seen the symbol before. But Kael reacted instantly. His posture stiffened slightly.
"…That symbol," Kael said quietly.
The cloaked man glanced at him.
"Ah."
His lips curved into a small smile.
"Interesting."
The second cloaked figure stepped forward as well and removed her hood. She was younger, perhaps in her twenties, with long dark hair and sharp green eyes. Her gaze moved between Alex and Kael with quiet interest.
"So this is the one?" she asked.
"Yes," the man replied.
He looked back at Alex.
"We heard about the ogre."
Alex crossed his arms slightly.
"A lot of people did."
The woman tilted her head.
"But what interests us is not the ogre."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's you."
Several nearby adventurers had begun noticing the conversation now. One of them whispered to another.
"Who are those people?"
"No idea…"
Bren, sitting at a nearby table, also looked over with curiosity. Alex remained calm, though his mind was racing.
"What do you want?" he asked.
The man tapped the metal emblem lightly.
"We represent an organization that investigates unusual phenomena."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds vague."
The woman smiled faintly.
"That's intentional."
Kael finally spoke again.
"You shouldn't be here."
The man glanced at him again.
"And why is that?"
Kael's eyes hardened slightly.
"Because Riverwood is not within your jurisdiction."
The woman chuckled softly.
"Jurisdiction?"
"Please."
She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering.
"When something unusual appears, jurisdiction becomes irrelevant."
Alex felt the system flicker again in his vision.
Warning
Energy Signature Identified
Classification: System-Related Detection
Risk Level: Increasing
His heart skipped a beat. They're looking for the system. The man studied Alex carefully.
"We would like to ask you a few questions."
Alex kept his expression neutral.
"About what?"
The woman answered this time.
"About the… unusual speed of your growth."
Several adventurers nearby began whispering again. Even Bren looked more interested now. Alex shrugged.
"I've been lucky."
The man smiled faintly.
"Luck."
He stepped closer.
"You killed a Shadow Wolf Alpha."
Another step.
"A Goblin Brute."
One more.
"And now an ogre."
His cold gray eyes locked onto Alex's.
"That's a remarkable amount of luck."
The guild hall had gone almost completely quiet now. Everyone was watching. Kael moved slightly forward, placing himself half a step closer to Alex.
"That's enough," he said calmly.
The cloaked man studied him.
"And you are?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"Someone who doesn't like strangers interrogating my companions."
The woman sighed dramatically.
"Oh dear."
She glanced at the man.
"I told you this would be complicated."
The man nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Then he looked back at Alex.
"But we didn't come all this way for nothing."
He reached into his cloak again. This time, his hand rested on the hilt of a weapon.
"Perhaps," he said quietly,
"…a demonstration would help answer our questions."
And suddenly the tension inside the Adventurer Guild snapped like a drawn bowstring.