Chương 84: The Privileged Class

Kyle watched with wide eyes as the brown-haired female mage, Maria, hugged the blond young man. Listening in to the crowd chattering, he quickly learned the identity of the blond young man. It was the recently famous son of the Viscount, Matthias Haldren.

'So that's the guy Celia was talking about?' Kyle looked at the arrogant young man. He was dressed flamboyantly, wearing a purple and red silk outfit that was worn only to banquets. He had several gold rings on his fingers; each seemed to be an enchanted magic item. Several guards stood behind him, each of whom Kyle felt was not weaker than him. His instincts screamed when he gazed upon the knight stepping on the black-haired warrior and the old man standing behind Matthias with his hands behind his back.

That was especially the case for the old man. Based on his magic signature alone, Kyle felt that he wasn't much weaker than the president. Matthias had a disdainful expression on his face as he looked at the black-haired warrior. He seemed to consider talking to a commoner beneath him. He tightened his grip on Maria's waist, signaling for her to hurry. Maria looked at the black-haired warrior on the ground with a complicated expression. She hesitated for a moment before her expression hardened.

She took a deep breath and said,"I'm sorry, Rowan. We're breaking up. I've decided to follow Lord Matthias from now on." Rowan stared, stunned.

"Didn't we promise to go to Tarnfell to get rich, then retire and marry a few years later? Why did you betray me, Maria? Why?!" Rowan roared, his voice trembling. He struggled to stand up but was pushed deeper into the ground by the knight stepping on him. In the end, the knight knocked him unconscious and threw him away. Matthias Haldren didn't say a word from the beginning to the end. He just looked on with an amused expression, as if he were watching a show.

He looked at Rowan with a mocking smile before walking away. Maria was still snuggling in his embrace. Kyle watched the scene unfold in silence. He didn't expect to see such a scene upon coming back. He eavesdropped on the crowd and quickly learned the whole matter. It seemed that Rowan had stumbled upon his partner Maria and Matthias walking out of an inn, hugging each other and acting very intimately. Rowan confronted them but was quickly taken down by Matthias's guards.

His companion also tried to intervene but was quickly punched away. In the end, It was Maria who pleaded for them; otherwise, they might have been imprisoned on charges of assaulting a noble. Even their status as a copper-class adventurer wouldn't have saved them. Kyle looked around and quickly found the tall and burly shield bearer stuck in the walls of a nearby store, clearly unconscious. His gaze shifted between the two before looking away, his expression calm, completely hiding his emotions.

In this world, such was the fate of powerless individuals. Without strength, they couldn't even hold on to their beloved. This was especially the case in the face of nobles, the privileged class. To face them without fear, one would need strength that transcended their class. Kyle clenched his fists. He needed to get stronger. Strong enough that people like Matthias Haldren couldn't touch him or anyone around him. The surrounding crowd was whispering about the scene that unfolded.

Some had a look of pity on their faces, and some gloated. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Kyle didn't find it funny. He was well aware that what happened to Rowan today could happen to him tomorrow. As long as he didn't have the strength to resist, similar things would eventually happen. That was why he needed to get stronger. Kyle hid the glow in his eyes, took one last glance at the two unconscious men, then walked to the adventurers' guild.

The situation at the adventurers' guild wasn't much better. Most adventurers recoiled upon approaching him, covering their noses and glaring at him. Kyle didn't pay it any mind and waited in line in front of Celia's counter. When it was finally his turn, Kyle slowly approached the counter.

"Kyle, good afterno– Ugh!" Celia quickly covered her face and gagged. Even though she was used to foul smells as a receptionist who had to deal with all sorts of monster materials every day, this was too much for her. Her gaze immediately landed on the bloody bag hanging on his side, quickly gesturing for him to give it to her. It was only after taking the bag and placing it in an airtight box, then activating the inscription on the counter to purify the air that she heaved a sigh of relief.

"What was that thing?" Her lips trembled, looking at the box with a terrified expression.

"It was an extremely unusual… goblin," Kyle replied with a troubled expression. He looked at Celia and said, with a serious expression on his face.

"I need to report something to the president. It has to do with the thing in the box." Celia's gaze drifted between the box and Kyle for a moment before nodding. She pulled out a badge from under the counter and gave it to him.

"Show this to the guards at the entrance of the third floor. You should remember the office; go right there and knock." She said, handing him the badge.

"Thanks." Kyle placed the badge in his pocket before picking up the box and walking away.

"You're welcome, and don't forget to give me back the badge." Celia waved. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, showed the badge to the guards at the entrance of the third floor, and headed straight for the president's office.

"Knock–Knock–" Kyle knocked on the door.

"Come in." A cool, mature voice sounded from behind the door.

'Miss Selene is there?' Kyle raised his eyebrow. He pushed the door and walked in. On the other end of the office, a beautiful woman sat at the president's desk, looking through some documents. Kyle looked around but didn't find the president anywhere.

"Looking for something?" Selene calmly asked. She placed the documents down, took a sip of tea, and looked straight at him.

"Is the president not here?" Kyle cautiously asked. Miss Selene didn't seem in a good mood. Selene looked at him, pondering for a moment.

"It seems fine to tell you this." She muttered under her breath.

"Take a seat." She gestured to the seat next to the desk. She walked to the small table by the wall and made some tea, pouring a cup for him before refilling her own.

"The president took the strike team to attack the base of the goblin lord." She said, sitting in her seat. Kyle clenched his fist.

'So it started.' If the assault on the goblin lord base went well, the goblin disaster would subside in just a few days, restoring peace to Mirevale and the surrounding towns and villages.

'I hope it goes well.' Kyle felt a bit uneasy, but he forced down those feelings, focusing on the matter at hand. Selene looked at Kyle, waiting for him to process the news. Her gaze fell on the box he was holding in his hand.

"If you have any problem, I can help you solve it just as well as he can." Kyle didn't hesitate to place the box on the desk and recount his experience during his last quest. Selene's brows furrowed as she listened to Kyle recounting his encounter, especially upon hearing about the hobgoblin's transformation process.

"You said that the hobgoblin's head is here, right?" Her gaze landed on the box on the desk. She pulled it in and opened it without hesitation; Kyle didn't even have the time to warn her about the smell. As expected, the foul stench exploded through the office. Kyle's face turned green. He had removed the pieces of cloth in his nose, so the smell was extremely overpowering to him. Selene frowned slightly, but she didn't fuss. She placed her palm over the box and chanted under her breath.

A few seconds later, a semi-transparent barrier made of wind covered the box, completely isolating the stench. She pulled a pair of gloves from a compartment below the desk and removed the bag covering the head. Her expression was solemn as she examined the skinless, bloody head.

"An incomplete amplifying sacrificial ritual… Is it an attempt?" She muttered under her breath. After examining the head for a while, she covered it and looked at Kyle.

"You always get involved in these situations. Are you a cult magnet?" Selene sighed.

"Ahaha… I guess I'm unlucky." Kyle scratched the back of his head. He didn't want to get involved either, but he always ran into cult conspiracies wherever he went. Selene shook her head, speechless.

"Give me your quest form and the map; I'll deal with this matter." Kyle handed them to her and sat in his seat, awkwardly sipping tea and waiting. Selene looked up from her seat, puzzled as to why Kyle hadn't left. Remembering what he told her about the quest, she quickly realized something. She picked an empty pouch and filled it with some coins before giving it to him.

"Here you go." She looked at him with a faint smile on her face. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You not only reported cult activities; you have also dealt with a dangerous biologically engineered creature. Good work."

"Thank you." Kyle picked up the money pouch and thanked her before leaving the office.