Chapter 9: Marked for Ambush  

Garga’s sorcery-laced voice reverberated through the room, causing some to wince in pain, others to let out brief cries, and a few to stumble.  

Rapir was no exception. Grimacing, he dispersed the mana he’d been gathering and turned to Garga.  

“Have you forgotten where you are?” Garga said, his tone sharp.  

But inwardly, he was rattled. What’s going on?  

Despite his cold demeanor, Garga was shaken. 

One person stood unaffected by his sorcery—Gaon, the mage from Gardion Tower. 

Gaon showed no pain, no cries, no staggering, just a calm gaze fixed on Garga.  

Unaffected by sorcery?  

Rapir was a 3rd Circle Master, poised to reach the 4th soon, yet even he had been affected. 

For Gaon to remain unscathed implied a level beyond Rapir’s—possibly 4th Circle.  

Impossible.  

Gaon looked barely in his early teens. 

A 4th Circle mage at that age? 

Such a prodigy would never be left to wander alone, especially with Gardion at war with the Fire and Rud Towers.  

If not 4th Circle, how had Gaon nullified the sorcery? 

Experience with sorcery could explain it, but at his age? 

That was as improbable as being 4th Circle.  

An artifact, maybe?  

As Garga wrestled with his confusion, Rapir spoke up. 

“Sorry, I was just disciplining an insolent kid.” He glanced at Gaon.  

Gaon said nothing, watching the scene with an intrigued expression.  

Garga signaled Jeff with a look, and Jeff approached Gaon. 

“This way, please.”  

Gaon nodded, and Jeff led him away.  

“Let’s continue inside,” Garga said to Rapir, turning toward his office. 

Rapir followed.  

Once inside, Rapir asked, “Who was that kid?”  

He was burning with curiosity. 

A child with a Kerhen Mid-Grade artifact—initially, he’d assumed it was a fluke. 

But Jeff, Garga’s trusted aide, treated Gaon with deference, suggesting he wasn’t ordinary.  

Garga hesitated. 

Telling the truth meant revealing Gaon’s ties to Gardion Tower, which was at war with Rud Tower. 

Rapir would likely try to kill him. 

But staying silent wasn’t an option either—Rapir would investigate and learn the truth, potentially accusing the Slayers of sheltering a Gardion mage.  

Buying time is enough.  

Garga decided to be honest. 

Rapir would uncover Gaon’s identity eventually, so there was no need to risk a misunderstanding. 

Besides, Gaon had entered Tren knowing about the rival towers—he likely had a plan.  

“He’s a mage from Gardion Tower,” Garga said.  

Rapir’s eyes widened. “Garga, you know the feud between our towers! How could you—”  

Garga tilted his head, frowning. 

“And? What does your war with Gardion have to do with us?”  

“W-well…” Rapir stammered, unable to respond.  

The Slayers were a neutral third party, uninvolved in the towers’ conflict.  

“Do we need Rud Tower’s permission for every transaction?” Garga pressed. 

“You’re acting like we’re your vassals.”  

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!” Rapir waved his hands, backpedaling. 

“I misspoke. Thank you for the information.”  

Garga thought, I hope he stays far away.  

“Sorry!” Jeff bowed deeply to Gaon. 

“I didn’t know the Rud Tower’s deputy branch leader was coming…”  

“So he’s the deputy,” Gaon said, nodding. 

“Does he have another title?”  

“Yes, he’s the third son of Count Sailer from Glaco Kingdom, where Rud Tower is based.”  

“I see,” Gaon said, understanding.  

He didn’t know the Sailer family, but that wasn’t important. 

What mattered was that Rapir wasn’t an heir—just a third son.  

Gaon glanced at his shoulder, where a mana mark pulsed—Rapir’s doing, likely to track him later. 

The greed in Rapir’s eyes suggested ill intent.  

No big deal.  

Gaon could erase the mark but chose not to. 

He was curious to see what Rapir would do.  

“Let’s handle the trade,” he said to Jeff.  

“Of course! I’ll get the payment. Please wait.”  

Jeff left, and Gaon began laying out the materials—Aslan Flowers, Suares Tree Sap, and Tapo Roots.  

Jeff returned with a large brown pouch. 

“Five hundred gold.”  

“Wasn’t it four hundred?” Gaon asked. They’d agreed on that amount en route.  

“These are top quality,” Jeff said with a grin.  

Gaon nodded, accepting the pouch.  

“Leaving now?” Jeff asked.  

“Yeah.”  

Gaon had come to the Slayers branch for the trade, nothing more.  

“Mind using the back exit? Rud Tower mages are likely at the front,” Jeff said.  

“Sure.”  

Gaon didn’t care either way—any trouble would harm Rud Tower, not him. But a conflict could drag the Slayers into it, so he agreed.  

“This way,” Jeff said, leading him to the back exit.  

At the door, Jeff bowed again. “Thank you for saving me.”  

“Become a great sorcerer,” Gaon replied, stepping outside.  

He headed to the mercenary guild to obtain a mercenary badge—not to work as one, but to use as identification. 

Without an official badge, future travels could be troublesome until he reached the Varta Kingdom.  

Wonder when he’ll show up.  

Glancing at the pulsing mana mark on his shoulder, Gaon pondered when Rapir would confront him.  

At the mercenary guild, the interior was quieter than expected—most mercenaries were out on jobs.  

“Hm?” A drunken mercenary nearby tilted his head at Gaon. “Kid, looking for your mom—”  

“Sleep.”  

Thud!  

The mercenary collapsed, head hitting the table.  

Other mercenaries, watching with interest, now stared at Gaon in shock.  

Ignoring them, he approached the counter.  

“What brings you?” the receptionist asked warily.  

“Mercenary badge.”  

“Which rank?”  

“Silver.”  

Mercenary badges came in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. 

Gold required more than money, so Gaon’s options were Silver or Bronze. 

He chose Silver, as Bronze was often disregarded.  

“Two hundred gold,” the receptionist said.  

Gaon placed the coins on the counter, sensing greedy eyes behind him.  

How many will follow?  

The receptionist took the gold and slipped into a back room. 

Gaon waited, wondering how many would trail him.  

***

“Head back,” Rapir told his mages. 

“I have personal business.”  

“Yes, sir.”  

“See you later.”  

The mages left for the Rud Tower branch, and Rapir smiled.  

A Gardion mage…  

He’d marked Gaon with a mana tracker, which Gaon hadn’t noticed—proof of his low level. 

Rapir was confident he could kill him alone.  

And Gaon’s possessions were anything but low-grade. 

The Kerhen Mid-Grade pouch alone was worth at least 100,000 gold to the right buyer—potentially more.  

Killing a Gardion mage is a feat, and I get the artifact? Jackpot.  

Best of all, he’d keep it all for himself.  

Grinning, Rapir followed the tracker’s signal. 

Gaon was heading to a secluded area—likely to hide or flee.  

Perfect.  

No witnesses meant he could claim the artifact without interference.  

Soon, Gaon stopped moving. 

Rapir quickened his pace and found him.  

“What?”  

Rapir froze. 

Gaon wasn’t alone. 

Dozens of figures lay collapsed around him—mercenaries, by their attire.  

Why are they down?