Chapter 297: You Won't Make It

"It's good to see you." Without much to talk about, Sujiro took the initiative to leave while he could as Hunter Quentin was slowly approaching their side. "Wasn't he the one that is always drunk in here?"

Sujiro had to hiss before he left the Pint as he looked at Hunter Quentin.

"Were you like this when not drunk?"

"No. But that guy... I don't like him."

"You know he's here most of the time? During the time when you're drunk."

Hunter Quentin pondered for a moment before he decided to have a sit opposite of Ned.

"Just one. That's all you'll get from me."

His voice was deep, unaware of how his face went from comical to a tough one.

"You know what I need."

Hunter Quentin crossed his arms as he threw his back to the cushioned chair.

"Why do—no, nevermind. So you're looking for that beast?"

Ned nodded. A trade for a trade. Gogmurch for Katolin's freedom. As to the result, Ned wasn't some oracle that could see the future. In his mind was simple: to return the favor. Katolin had saved Ned numerous times as how his Master had saved him.

I am not the same as my past anymore, Ned thought with his eyes boring the table.

There were already a decent amount of guests the Pint was having, even though it was too early in the morning. For Hunters, the concept of time was subtle. A team of old hunters, with hidden necklaces, approached the table far situated from Ned and Hunter Quentin.

Hunter Quentin nodded to these Hunters, which the latter took the initiative and moved to a different table far away from them.

This guy wasn't someone to mess with, Ned thought as he watched Hunter Quentin remained silent for a good minute.

"You see..." He began with his fingers tapping the table. "The beast—goblin—you were looking for is held under the dungeon of the House of Soak. Before you ask why under the House of Soak. It was due to the edict by the Hunter's Guild."

Ned frowned. Hunter's Guild Association was like a privately owned and managed organization. While the Great House of Soak belongs to the government type. Surely, each of them has their agenda on running their respective organization. But, to think that the Hunter's Guild themselves asked the House of Soak to hold Gogmurch. Seems odd enough.

"Wait." Ned raised to interrupt Hunter Quentin. The used cup of Ned and Sujiro was set aside on the table, indicating how busy the Pint was with the twins running the front of the house. "This level of information wasn't something you're allowed to know."

Hunter Quentin cocked an eyebrow as he shrugged his shoulders listening to Ned and followed it with a nod.

"Impressive. Never knew locals of Shattered Bay this quick to digest information. You don't like—how old are you? 14—15? You don't look like one. Perhaps, you were sent here with someone like..."

Hunter Quentin made a gesture of his index finger as though sketching a rectangular object over the table, he then finished his imaginary shape of a card with writing in the center that resembles the number 13.

"Ghost..." He leaned closer to Ned and whispered. "Blood. You see the card given to you was an invitation. Survive the trials the assassin who gave you the card and—perhaps—you might make it inside."

"I'm not interested in your whimsical organization. Just tell me, where exactly or how do I find that old goblin?"

"Tch! Boring. Fine, fine. The beast was currently held somewhere in the dungeons of the Great House of Soak. The only way to make it past the guards of the House was either you're a Soak or was invited by the Soaks."

"Why would the Guild be associated with the Soak?"

"That's the second one, and it's not mine to tell, and it doesn't concern you. Let's just say... House of Soak needs to strengthen their foundation."

"Someone is shaking the trunk, and one-by-one, the leaves were falling."

Not something a kid like Ned must be said. But, he can't help it. It was common to have House wars, and it was something cannot be avoided especially with one to have such a great name.

"I have said more than enough."

"And I've heard more than enough."

"I could be lying."

"And I could be as well. I could be a spy from other Houses. I could be someone trying to get close to you. Perhaps, someone of the Ghostbloods and trying to gauge your loyalty. Perhaps, I could be just a boy asking for some help?"

"A boy that kicked my student's ass without even breaking a sweat? Perhaps you are right; perhaps you are wrong. But what will this gain you?"

"Everything, and it doesn't concern you."

"For a kid... you're full of surprises... Ned of Sskat."

Hunter Quentin stood and looked down at Ned in silence.

"Sskat... somehow the name sound familiar."

Ned waves a hand to dismiss the Gold Rank Hunter. If people would see them, they might be in surprise as to how a kid was casually gesturing to a Gold Rank Hunter.

Now that Ned thought about Quentin being a Gold Rank, he can't dismiss a thought of him comparing him with Hunter Jo, the leader of the team Hallowguard. The two were like... complete opposite.

But Ned can't also let go of the thought on how did Hunter Quentin got his rank, and also a member of the Ghostbloods.

He certainly can't gather information if he was simply a lacky from Houses, surely being a Ghostblood comes with weighty advantages. Thanks to that, Ned now have something to start with.

After leaving the Forgotten Pint, Ned caught a glimpse of Market Ventura. Out of hundreds of market established by different Houses in the Bogblot region, Market Ventura was prominent of them all. This place was favored by mostly Hunters since it was closer to the Center of Sudden Plate. Also a little farther, perhaps 2 minutes of riding a carriage, was the cliff fixed with a mechanical left that would lift and bring the passengers back to Bogmoor.

"Bogmoor." Ned thought for a moment about how he would reach the capital of Bogblot. He smiled.

In the Bogblot region, Bogmoor was the seat of power of the House of Soak. But that doesn't mean that the capital was unbreakable. In that manner, Ned thought of Twali. If Hunter Quentin knew something about Gogmurch. Pretty sure the loyal servant of Lord Sven might know a thing or two.

"But first." Ned thought of his goals: the Hunter Exam (which, if he passed would give him access to libraries in the region, and hope that they might have written something about the ancient power that Master Will passed onto him).

Next was his equipment. Firstly, he needed to have a weapon that could hold much of his mana without breaking. Luckily for him, Kon Sas Koron gave Ned the Silk Road, which saves him gold on buying new armor.

Ned wasn't bothered much by the Hunter Exam. He sighed as he caught a glimpse of a Hunter followed by a massive and dotted cat.

It has been months, seven, that he left the doomed place of O'rriadt. He was happy there with his newly formed friends. Only to be surprised by the appearance of Ser Edwin and the Dark Mage that his name was etched on Ned's memory.

"Park Han Fu," he muttered. The carriage stopped as the pedestrian was going shoulder by shoulder before their carriage. There were elderly, kids and Hunters walked along together.

Although the Sudden Plate was a busy place to start with, now that Hunter's Exam was fast approaching, Ned can't deny what he saw. Thousands of people were teeming the city.

"Should I walk?"

Ned was so bored he started talking to himself. Perhaps, he might want to round the carriage and went back to the Market Ventura. But thinking that he was getting near Lord Sven's manor, he declared to stay.

After 20 to 30 minutes of pushing forward and stopping, Ned reached the manor.

Ned wasn't planning to stay longer for some reason:

One. He wanted to pay the Hallowguard team of his missing payment.

Second. He wanted to talk to Twali. If he was there. But thinking that Sasani had traveled to the Capital, Ned gave up to meet Twali. He knew, where his Lady goes; he goes as well.

But he was mistaken. Twali was already waiting at the entrance of the manor, along with Hunter Jo and his brother Hunter Ja.

"By the Maker!" Twali wasn't a man that shows much of his feelings toward others. But seeing Ned, whom they taught to have died, shows otherwise. He came to Ned even before he reached the gate of the manor. "Sujiro was right! You're alive, Ned!"

Ned wasn't fond of people hugging him, the only person he was comfortable doing this was his Master whom he considered to be his only father figure.

But Ned wasn't naive to not feel how genuine Twali's emotions were. Ned smiled, the least he could do towards other people.

If there were people that I cared about outside Master Will. Twali would be one of them, Ned thought as he tried to push Twali away from him.

But Twali was having too much of it, so much that Ned could barely breathe.

The two hunters behind Twali nodded to Ned. Especially Hunter Ja, whom he thought was being cold toward him.

After clearing a room for the three. Ned started.

"I'll be joining the Hunter's Exam."

"No!"

It was Twali that retorted Ned.

"Why?"

"You won't make it." Twali did care for Ned. He even stood from where he was seated and looked at the two Hunter sitting opposite him.

"Why?" Ned had to ask. It was another thing for Twali to be afraid of.

"The Hunter's Exam this time... is open for all. Thousands will join and there's no telling what would happen."