Protagonist?Antagonist? I Reject Both

Chapter 393: 393



The mercenaries gathered around a table in the corner of the inn scratched their head, as conversation moved towards frustration and desperation.

"Ever since the influx of people, our hunting grounds have been taken over by those strong guilds," one mercenary said, slamming his fist on the table. "It's getting harder to make any decent earnings."

"Yeah," another agreed, "the only way we can strike big now is to explore the secret realm. But we need to know what we're dealing with before diving in.We can't just risk life for more money"

At that moment, a bald man with a scar, named Garik, felt a chilling presence. He spun around, his sword raised defensively, but halted it just inches from the figure's neck.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Who are you?" Garik demanded coldly.

Leon raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Chill, brothers. I mean no harm."

He stepped forward with a friendly smile. "I'm from Sector 11, and I'm on a mission. I'm not fully briefed on the current developments as I arrived now from the wilderness. Could you inform me?"

The mercenaries exchanged suspicious glances. Seeing their hesitation, Leon quickly pulled out a small pouch and added, "I'm not asking for this information for free. Here are 20 low- grade spirit stones."

The mercenaries' demeanour changed instantly. A grinning mercenary, named Rolf, reached out and snatched the pouch, tucking it into his pants. "Oh! Why didn't you say so, brother? As fellow humans, it's our job to help each other out."

Garik, still wary but intrigued, motioned for Leon to join their table. "I'm Garik, and this is my team. We will tell you what's going on."

The captain of the group, Kurg, began to speak, his tone grave. "Recently, a guild was hunting wild beasts when they stumbled upon a group of black demons. It was a brutal fight. The guild was outnumbered and on the verge of being wiped out. They tried to escape, but the demons wouldn't let them go."

He paused, his expression darkening. "During the chaos, some of the guild members sneaked into a weird cave. After that, the ground shook, a rainbow appeared in the sky, and a massive building rose from the ground. It's towards the south. You can catch a glimpse of it if you go a few miles away, but it's not floating very high it's still on the ground, so it's reasonable you might not have seen it from afar."

Leon's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. "A secret realm emerging and a building rising up? This could be significant."

Garik and Rolf exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the description of the mysterious building.

"If you're planning to explore the realm," Kurg continued, "be careful. It's uncharted territory and could be dangerous. But it's also an opportunity for those who are brave enough."

Leon nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "Thank you for the information. I'll make sure to proceed with caution."

Leon mind noted the black demons..

They found black demons in that region specifically...

Wait a minute?

Suddenly a terrible thought came into his mind.

In Sector 1 black demons disguised as human but they were exposed for some reason. Now this was thoroughly possible that Black demons might be here and other places.

He didn't spot them in Sectors 11 and 10 but it's not as if they looked and observed everything.

The sudden conclusion gave him a chilling sensation.

This is bad...This is bad...

'I wasted so much time when I could have nipped the buds. Moreover, I skipped a lot of sectors..'

Leon, still curious about the workings of Sector 12, turned to Kurg and asked, "Can you tell me more about the mercenaries and guilds here? How is this place structured?"

Kurg leaned back, taking a deep breath before explaining. "Sector 12 can be said to be a meeting pot of various races and factions. The mercenaries here come from all walks of life. You've got beastmen, orcs, dwarves, and even a few elves. Each group has its own territories and specialties."

"Beastmen," Kurg continued, "tend to be more primal, valuing strength and survival above all. Orcs are formidable fighters, often leading the charge in battle and commanding respect for their sheer power. Dwarves are more focused on craftsmanship and trade, known for their high-quality weapons and armor. Elves are less common here but are quite prideful so don't mess with them."

"There are also several guilds operating in Sector 12. They control different areas and resources, and their influence can vary. Some guilds are involved in trade and commerce, while others focus on mercenary work or even illegal activities. There are auction houses where rare items and artifacts are sold, and these places are crucial for acquiring rare resources and equipment."

"The structure here is pretty hierarchical," Kurg added. "At the top, you have the Inner City, which is a fortified area where high-ranking officials and representatives from other races live. The Outer City, where we are now, is more diverse and less regulated. It's where most of the day-to-day activities and trading happen."

Leon nodded, absorbing the details. "What about the people gathering here? Are representatives from other races mostly in the Inner City?"

"Exactly," Kurg confirmed. "The Inner City is where the main representatives and high- ranking individuals reside. They oversee the major decisions and ensure the stability of the area. The Outer City is more for the common folk, mercenaries, and those looking to make a

quick profit."

Leon thanked Kurg and turned to find Lucien. As he approached, he saw Lucien happily munching on hot dogs made from unknown meat, while attempting to flirt with the waitress. Lucien handed her a tip that made Leon's eyes widen in disbelief.

Leon stormed up to Lucien, who had just given the waitress a generous 50 spirit stones, despite the meal costing only 7 spirit stones.

"Bastard! That's my money!" Leon shouted furiously.

Lucien looked up in surprise. "What? I was just being nice. She's been serving us so well."

Leon kicked Lucien in the back, startling both him and the waitress. "Fucker! You gave her a 50-spirit-stone tip for a meal that cost just 7! What the hell is wrong with you?Also didn't you say you are a vegetarian so what's up with this hot dog."

Lucien, grumbling, protested, "I was just trying to be polite. Also, it's a veg hot dog."

"WHATT!"

Leon, exasperated, scooped Lucien up and turned to the waitress with an apologetic smile. "Don't take this kid seriously. He's a bit of a spendthrift. He's actually quite a good guy."

Saying that, Leon quickly fled the scene with Lucien in tow, leaving the waitress puzzled but as she turned around, her eyes widened as she saw a pouch containing the spirit stones were

missing.

"AAAHHHH!Thief..."