John didn't want to waste the precious little time he had. Upon arriving at the outer area, the youth didn't proceed immediately to find an inn, but he instead searched for an isolated place to change his clothes. John felt finally refreshed when he was finally in his regular clothes. He could now blend in his surroundings as always. After renting a room, the youth headed immediately towards the Guild. Adriana had already informed him about the request for the murders, but he was still an F-ranked adventurer, the boy couldn't investigate personally. John couldn't care less if there was a Demon that was massacring innocent people. His only concern was to discover what was the connection between that Demon with Erebus. There was also a contract that was restricting him from interfering with Angelica's business, but John didn't know yet what was her real goal. In the beginning, he wanted to deal with this case personally, but Angelica's appearance forced him to change his mind.

Angelica was that dangerous. John met her many years ago. From the moment he remembered himself, she had already been in his life, she was like his sister. All the "numbers" were a family. A family of puppets without emotions, ghosts without identity. The youth guessed that when the girl had learned that he was still alive, she would have felt neither happy nor annoyed. Angelica probably would have just considered him a threat that could become an obstacle to her mission. That's why he would be careful. He would find her purpose of coming here without being noticed. And the moment she thought she had accomplished her mission would also be the moment the contract would be complete. John, who planned to lurk in the shadows, would then devour her.

...

...

The second Guild of the Empire was, in reality, the official building in the Imperial Capital. Unlike the one in the Academy, it's interior was much more spacious. John was genuinely surprised upon seeing the number of adventurers inside. There were tables on the west side of the building in which adventures were sitting there, drinking happily despite being still morning. On the east, instead, there was a crowd gathered looking at the posters on the wall. Naturally, they were adventurers searching for requests to pick. Surprisingly, though, there wasn't anyone waiting in front of the register.

"Good morning!" the youth that had approached the counter greeted the young woman that was sitting there.

"Oh, a fresh face! Are you here to register?"

"I am already an adventurer. I wanted to learn more about that request regarding the recent murders."

"May I see your information first?" The woman said as she looked at the boy suspiciously.

The woman received John's card, checking the youth's full name and ranking before she returns it quickly. During the whole procedure, her face was carrying an indifferent expression.

"I am sorry, you have to be at least an E-ranked adventurer to take that request."

"I only want some information because I am about to rank up. "

"You can find the details of the request on the wall. "

"Not this kind of information. What I want is a list of the victims as well as which days their bodies were found."

"This... Will you wait for a minute? I need to ask the Guild Master for this." As she said that she didn't wait for an answer, she left the youth alone. John could even detect the irritation on her face, clearly for giving her additional work.

Shrugging his shoulders, the boy gazed around the place, enjoying the lively atmosphere. The mixture of laughs and shouts reminded him of his father's stories about the fascinating life of an adventurer. Although his father didn't like that profession too much, John had always been jealous of the various experiences Antony would share with his two children at the nights they were sitting around the fire. They would gaze at the breathtaking starry sea, and the man would narrate them stories of his countless adventures. A world where you could live only for the present! For John, who was a slave of his destiny, it was an appealing world. The youth wasn't unhappy, though. He was grateful to the mysterious memories he inherited that day because the boy stopped being a mindless puppet anymore. He finally had a goal, and more importantly, although barely, he was still a human.

"It's a nice place, isn't it?" John, who was absorbed into his thoughts, turned around instinctively, only to realize that the woman had already returned, holding a sheet of paper.

"It is if you look at it as an outsider," John said as he recalled his father's words when he had asked him a similar question.

"That's a nice statement, young man! Not something a newbie would say!" She exclaimed with a surprised expression while nodding continuously, wanting to show her approval.

"Don't let these imaginary stories and fairy tales to deceive you! Their role is to trick you into becoming cheap personnel for all kinds of weird jobs. It's not a coincidence that all these people here are thugs that couldn't find a real job..." Although her voice wasn't too loud, it was audible enough for everyone inside to hear her. What surprised John, though, was that the adventurers seemed to laugh her comments off. While she continued complaining, they didn't seem to care about her remarks at all. Undoubtedly, they were used to the woman's attitude.

"Do you maybe have something for me?' The boy hurriedly interrupted when the woman paused for a moment to take a breath. If she could meet with Helena, what a magnificent spectacle would that be, John thought.

"Having something for you? Oh yes, silly me! Why you didn't remind me earlier, young man?" She said with a smile as she made a cute gesture of hitting her head with her fist as if to show her clumsiness.

"The Guild Master was genuinely surprised as he checked the dates of each incident. Although not clear, there seems to be a pattern regarding the time," she commented as she gave him the list.

"The murders seem to be arranged in periods. The culprit commits several consecutive crimes before taking a break for some time and starting over and over again," John answered instead, as he skimmed the list.

"That's right!" She exclaimed, impressed.

"I don't understand why this detail is important, but the Guild Master decided that this information deserves a reward. After a brief evaluation, we decided to give you ten silver coins. Be happy, young man! It the first time I am meeting someone being paid without doing anything!"

"That's a surprise!" John remarked as he whistled. He also didn't find this list important enough to be rewarded with so much money. The culprit might have acted that way to throw off his pursuers, but since they were giving him free money, he would be stupid if he didn't take it. That being said, although this information might not prove useful for the investigation, it had worth for John nevertheless. After bidding the woman goodbye, he proceeded to leave hurriedly. John was confident that the data in his hands contained more details that he needed a piece of paper and a quill to find them. Maybe it was why that as he left, he was quite careless. Or it was because the peaceful time he had since living together with his brother had dulled his senses. The boy didn't realize he had passed by a person as he exited the Guild he shouldn't have.

"My lovely daughter, how are you?" Not only the woman but every single person inside looked at the newcomer man stupefied.

"Oh my god! It's Erick!"

"Hey, stupid Erick! Why haven't you come to see us for such a long time!"

"You bastard! Don't even think of leaving if you don't treat us all today!"

"Dad! Didn't I tell you not to come to the Guild! Every time you come here, you create a ruckus!" The woman complained to the man. His wrinkles, together with his white hair, were betraying his old age, but his handsome face combined with his sturdy body, made these characteristics transfuse maturity to him instead. However, his most notable trait was the calming smile he was carrying, a smile that seemed to have magical properties as anyone felt a strange sense of peace when witnessing it.

"How could I not come to meet my friends," Erick replied as his head wandered around the crowd.

"I hope nobody dared to bully my girl! Right, guys?"

"Fuck you, Erick. She is the one that bullies us every day!

"Do you think we have a death wish?"

"You have spoiled her too much. Even the Guild Master speaks to her formally like she is some kind of..."

The woman's fiery glare made the adventurers immediately shut up. Her aura was surprisingly intimidating, making everyone gulp.

She takes after her mother, Erick thought as he stared at her with affection.

"Speak! Why have you come here?"

"Don't be angry. Marvin is the one who called me here. If you want explanations, go ask him!" The man hurriedly replied as he gestured with his hands that it wasn't his fault.

"By the way..." Erick immediately tried to change the subject of the conversation upon realizing she had started to calm down.

"That boy the passed right now, do you know him?"

The woman was about to mock him as she was still irritated, but upon seeing the serious expression on the man's face, she felt goosebumps all over her body. Her father wasn't just a random nobody. He was an elite among elites, an A-ranked adventurer!

"Why? Do you know him?"

Erick shook his head upon hearing her question. Was it about five years? Children change a lot in such a time, but the man was confident he would recognize him the moment he met him. Even if he was invisible in the eyes of the others, that boy was a terrifying demon for him.

"I think I'll stay a little longer in the capital this time."