Chapter 120: Chapter 97: Extortion and the Silver Faction Secret Technique

Emerging from Fude City’s government building, Baron held an official document certifying him as "Allen."

"The Fude City Guard Post is an independent institution," Yarilan said as they walked. "It and the other government departments keep each other in check. Not even City Lord Lewis has the authority to command them or interfere with their enforcement of the law."

"The current Guard Commander was a comrade-in-arms with Ferdinand during the Second War of Faith. The Iron Thorn Gang will definitely use that connection to come after you."

"The best way to resolve this is to ensure the Guard Post can find no procedural flaws."

Baron nodded. ’Yarilan really is a tiger,’ he thought. ’She’s just as swift and decisive in action.’

Yarilan stopped, glancing at the darkening sky and the armored cavalry emerging on a nearby street. "The guards and their collaborators from the Iron Thorn Gang are here," she said coldly.

Baron looked over and immediately spotted a man in a crocodile-skin hunting outfit astride a tall horse. The man had a criminal’s tattoo on his face.

It was none other than the Vice Gang Leader of the Iron Thorn Gang, the Bronze Beast Demon Hunter Tate Rodney! The very man whose horse Baron had set loose, only for it to be killed by vagrants.

The instant Baron saw Tate, Tate recognized him as well.

’I can’t believe it...’ Tate thought. ’The Demon Hunter who caused my convoy such heavy losses this morning is actually the L the gang leader ordered us to capture alive!’

The surprise on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a furious rage. His features twisted as if he were chewing on hot coals.

With a wave of his hand, he commanded the guards and the Iron Thorn Gang members to surround Baron and Yarilan.

Tate’s gaze lingered for a moment on Yarilan’s beautiful face and trim figure before shifting to Baron. He said coldly:

"Fancy meeting you again, L."

He spat out the "L" with extra clarity.

Hearing this, the Guard Commander beside him immediately understood that the young man in black was the one who had been reported. With a wave of his hand, the guards raised their swords and stepped forward.

"You know him?" Yarilan asked, frowning at the glint of drawn swords surrounding them.

Baron shook his head and whispered, "I spent last night at a camp after arriving in Fude City. Turns out, their convoy’s horses went missing, and now they’re blaming me for it."

Tate sneered. "Impersonating Allen to kill Gray, then killing Allen to cover your tracks. That’s some deep scheming, L."

Baron glanced at the surrounding guards, noticing Iron Thorn Gang Demon Hunters mixed in with them, but still said calmly, "You have no proof."

"We’ll be beating the evidence out of your mouth soon enough."

Tate sneered again and nodded to the Guard Commander beside him. "Commander, this is L, the man who impersonated ’Allen’ and brutally murdered both Allen and Gray. To prevent further complications, please apprehend him immediately!"

The Guard Commander said impassively, "Seize him. We’ll take him back to the interrogation room for questioning after his arrest."

The guards advanced a step. The cold light of their blades was blinding, and in the dim glow of the streetlamps, their expressions were as hard as iron.

But then Yarilan’s cold gaze swept over them. "He’s not going anywhere," she said.

"My apologies, Viscount Yarilan, but the Guard Post is conducting official business. Even being an honored guest of City Lord Lewis won’t help you here."

The commander said coolly. So, he had recognized Yarilan’s identity from the start.

Hearing this, Tate raised an eyebrow, and his gaze instantly lost its insolence.

"Even the Guard Post must abide by the law."

"I am acting in accordance with the law," the commander said, narrowing his eyes. "This Mr. L by your side is the one we are here to discipline."

Yarilan nodded, but replied calmly, "You’re mistaken. L is merely his moniker. His real name is Allen."

Baron produced the official letter of identity, stamped with the City Lord’s seal, and handed it to the Guard Commander.

The commander took the letter and read it with a frown, then glanced at the Attendant beside him from the corner of his eye.

The Attendant nodded.

The commander turned back and pointed to the name "Allen" on the document. "Is this really you?"

"I swear on the name of Jack Caesar Napoleon Hannibal Bismarck Tang," Baron said.

"Jack Caesar Napoleon Hannibal Bismarck Tang? Who’s that?"

The Guard Commander frowned. He had never heard such a strange name.

"He’s the Ancient God of [Misfortune]," Baron lied through his teeth. "In my homeland, an appearance from this deity almost always signifies misfortune."

"Your document is in order... Mr. Allen. I suppose there must be some misunderstanding."

The commander glanced at the starless, moonless sky. "However, it’s quite late, and I’m tired. We can leave this ’misunderstanding’ for me to clear up for you at a later time."

With that, he led his men away.

Tate snorted and pulled on his reins to leave, but the black horse beneath him refused to budge, remaining rooted to the spot.

He looked up to find Lord Viscount’s hand resting on his horse’s back. Her intimidating, pale-green eyes were fixed on him.

Tate’s heart skipped a beat. If he wasn’t mistaken, that eye color was the sign of a transition from the Bronze to the Silver Tier!

This Pure-blooded Fierce Tiger was about to enter the Silver Tier!

A Silver Tier Demon Hunter this young...

Lord Viscount’s red lips parted. "Mr. Tate, one must pay a price for making false accusations before leaving."

The silence stretched for half a minute before Tate finally broke eye contact. "What does Lord Viscount desire?"

"A Silver Faction Demon Hunter Secret Technique in exchange."

It was common knowledge that the Alchemy Circuits of Silver Faction Demon Hunters could enhance their physical abilities.

The different arrangements and patterns of these Alchemy Circuits would, in turn, grant Demon Hunters a variety of enhancements.

A Demon Hunter Secret Technique was simply a specific arrangement of Alchemy Circuits that provided a short-term boost.

"The Secret Technique: Burning Blood. It uses Alchemy Circuits to enhance one’s blood and the flow of Spiritual Power within it, granting a Demon Hunter immense power for a short period."

Tate didn’t try to bargain. He pulled a piece of parchment from his coat, handed it to Yarilan, and then departed with the rest of his Iron Thorn Gang members.

Once the sound of hoofbeats faded, Baron asked Yarilan, "Lord Viscount, why are you helping me like this?"

He didn’t think the goodwill he’d earned from the Mundra incident was enough for Yarilan to help him twice in a row, let alone be willing to call in a favor from City Lord Lewis on his behalf.

Yarilan said lightly, "Stephen has taken an interest in you."

"What?" Baron instinctively took a step back, covering his rear.

Yarilan said, "Don’t get the wrong idea. Stephen is a high-ranking executive in the First Hunter Association and also the future Sword Puller for Elector Liuxia. I need your assistance."

"How can I assist?"

Baron’s quick understanding earned him a surprised glance from Yarilan. "I need you to join the First Hunter Association and build a relationship with Stephen. The favor he owes will be mine. As compensation, this Demon Hunter Secret Technique is yours."

"You’re a Silver Faction Demon Hunter too, aren’t you? I’ve already memorized the technique, so you can have this."

Yarilan said with an expression that permitted no refusal, cutting off Baron’s attempt to decline.

Baron scratched his nose and accepted the parchment scroll.

’At this point, I can’t exactly tell her I’m not a Silver Faction Demon Hunter,’ he thought.

"By the way," Yarilan added, "your Hunter Badge is quite interesting. It reminds me of an old acquaintance’s." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"An old acquaintance?" Baron seemed to realize something. "You and Ludwig were..."

"The winner and the loser."

Yarilan smiled, then turned to leave.

"Lord Viscount."

Yarilan turned back, her red hair fanning out like a blooming flower.

"Thank you," Baron said, his tone sincere.

Without Yarilan’s help, he might have been forced to start "Fugitive in Fude 2.0."

Yarilan just gave a faint smile and leaped onto a nearby roof. A moment later, her mature and authoritative voice drifted down:

"Put on a good show. I’m looking forward to the Hunting Competition tomorrow."