Alan saw Haina’s eyes redden with fury and rushed to speak. “Haina, stay calm. DarkMages destroyed your room. Three of them attacked. I blasted two with magic. The third escaped. Don’t lose your temper, or your house will truly become ruins.”
Alan stood three meters away, soothing her gently. He had no choice—flames already danced on Haina’s palms. Fire magic was devastating. If she snapped, Alan knew her three-story home would vanish in seconds.
He wouldn’t stop her rage normally. But Haina always blamed Cloud Peak Guild for the wreckage. That was unacceptable.
“Damn DarkMages! I’ll make you pay!” Haina snarled, glaring at Alan. “Why stand so far, Alan? And who’s that girl clinging to you?”
Whoosh! Cold sweat beaded on Alan’s forehead. Tricky. If he called Medi his fiancée now, Haina’s fury might reignite. Better to say she was a random tourist.
Alan forced a smile. “She’s—”
“I am Alan’s fiancée, Bacas Medi,” Bacas Medi cut in, clinging to his arm.
Plop! A sweat drop hit the floor. Angelic Wings flared behind Alan. “Haina, I can explain!”
“You bastard!! Explain now!! What’s with flying off?” Haina roared, engulfed in flames, as Alan soared out the window with Medi.
“I’ll wait at the guild,” Alan called, vanishing as white light. He hated fleeing, but Haina’s rage could turn Medi to ash. Better safe.
At Cloud Peak Guild, Alan landed gently with Medi. He released her, but she still clung to his neck. Alan sighed, prying her hands off. As he turned, Medi stuck out her tongue—playful and cute. Alan missed it.
Inside, Laziel, head of Forest Sprite Guild, swirled wine at the bar, chatting with Emma.
“Alan!” Emma beamed, leaping into his arms the moment she spotted him.
Alan chuckled, stroking her green hair. “So happy to see me? Did Laziel scare you?”
“Hey now, Alan,” Laziel sipped wine. “Don’t slander me. Little Wolf Girl might report me for breaking racial peace. Also, that foul aura vanished. Did you kill them?”
Alan nodded, then shook his head. “Two dead. One escaped.”
“Hmm. Three DarkMages entered Newdali City, matching our intel. Not wiping them all out is troublesome.”
“No trouble. They were weaker than expected. Find the last one, and he’s easy prey.” Alan felt no pity. Without Medi, Haina might have died. Their lives meant nothing.
As Alan spoke, Laziel’s right eye flickered with a green Magic Array. It vanished instantly.
“The last DarkMage broke the Magic Array and fled Newdali City,” Laziel set down his glass.
Alan froze. The survivor didn’t seek revenge? Just ran? Typical DarkMage—no humanity left.
Wait—if he escaped, the bounty mission ended. Alan’s eyes gleamed gold. “Laziel, does that mean the DarkMage bounty is closed?”
“Indeed.”
Alan rubbed his hands eagerly. “How much gold do I get? I killed two. At least fifty thousand, right?”
Laziel’s smile widened. “You’d have earned it. But Arcane Academy’s elders claimed your reward minutes ago.”
Alan’s hands stilled. His hard-earned gold? Robbery! “Laziel! Why?! That’s highway robbery! How can the mayor allow this?”
“Alan,” Laziel sighed. “The mayor was once an Arcane Academy student.”
Alan gaped, then exploded. “Corrupt officials and bandits colluding!”
“Vivid description. I sympathize. But the elders left you two thousand gold—as pocket money.”
Two thousand? Alan bit back a roar. Arguing with those old fools was pointless. Still, it covered half a year’s guild expenses.
“Your two thousand is in Forest Sprite Guild’s account. You still owe us ninety-eight thousand gold. My business here is done.” Laziel stood, waved, and vanished from Cloud Peak Guild.
