Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 542: Surveillance

Asher could be seen walking through the streets of the Sand Village, and many gazed at him and pointed at him with excited expressions, for after all, to these villagers, an adventurer was a very big deal. To them, the strength of the adventurer did not matter in the slightest; what truly mattered was that the person bore the title of an adventurer and everything that title symbolized within their modest world.

Children ran up to him, asking questions with unrestrained happiness shining across their faces, their youthful curiosity unfiltered and boundless.

"Is it true that adventurers can tear a mountain apart with their fists?" one child asked as his eyes practically transformed into stars.

"I heard the strongest adventurer can destroy the world," another child added, as though he could already imagine a power capable of destroying the entire world with his small yet imaginative mind.

"I heard they can tear down the sky itself, making it bleed red; is this true, Mr. Adventurer?" another child asked with a naive and innocent voice.

Their eyes all bore into Asher as though they desired immediate answers, unwilling to let even a second pass without satisfying their wonder. Asher could not help but smile at their naive questions; obviously, these children had wholeheartedly believed their exaggerated bedtime stories, yet that very innocence was what made children so endearing and delightful, their purity and their boundless, unrestrained imagination.

Obviously, Asher would not tell them that adventurers could destroy the world; that was impossible. No Crownstar Life Ranker in existence could accomplish such a feat. Even making the sky bleed red was another impossibility. As for tearing apart a mountain, many Life Rankers could accomplish that, and even he himself possessed the capability to do so without any strain.

"Yes, it is all true, so do not mess with any adventurer you see," Asher spoke with a soft smile as he gently patted their heads, then took out the basket the woman from the caravan had given him; within it were fruits and bread, and Asher generously shared them with the children.

As they accepted the bread and fruit with gratitude, they continued to ask questions, as though even food could not quench their dreams of one day becoming adventurers themselves.

"Mr. Adventurer, can you destroy the world?" one child asked almost fantastically, clearly captivated by the rumors he had heard.

Asher’s lips twitched slightly before he replied, "In a few years, maybe," he answered lightly, then told them to stop asking questions and go eat the fruit and bread he had given them before it grew cold or dusty.

"I will become an adventurer when I grow up and awaken!" a child declared boldly before turning and running away with a bright giggle. Asher could only watch him leave and shake his head with faint amusement lingering in his expression.

He turned and walked away, eventually coming to a stop before a woman who was selling goods by the roadside. "Excuse me, ma’am, have you seen any strange individuals who are not part of this village recently? Anyone at all?" he asked while deliberately trying to appear as amateurish and inexperienced as possible.

The woman stared at him for a moment before shaking her head in reply, indicating that she had not seen anyone unusual. Asher nodded politely before walking away, continuing to ask questions from nearly anyone he could find, maintaining the image of a novice adventurer attempting to gather clues through ordinary means.

Although Asher was walking around asking questions like a beginner, his mind and senses were sharply focused elsewhere. He could distinctly feel two gazes fixed upon him from two different directions, observing his movements carefully and without interruption. However, their vigilance was futile, for Asher could see them as clearly as day within his Omni Perception and Astra Sense.

They were dressed like every other normal villager, blending in perfectly as though they had always belonged within the Sand Village, indistinguishable to any ordinary observer.

Asher did not need to turn to face them; he possessed a flawless three-hundred-and-sixty-degree awareness of his surroundings, so he continued walking without alerting them in the slightest. ’Too bad I cannot gauge their levels at the moment,’ he thought to himself, as neither of them emitted any discernible aura or presence whatsoever. ’If I had arrived tomorrow, they would already be gone... well, the plan is working, and all that remains is to be kidnapped and taken to their hideout,’ Asher mused inwardly as he maintained his steady pace.

After walking around for nearly two hours, he headed back to the Village Chief’s residence, where he was welcomed once again. "Any developments?" the Village Chief asked, his voice carrying a mixture of hope and anxiety.

Asher remained silent for a moment before responding; he had returned primarily to maintain appearances, as though he were reporting his findings and continuing his inquiries. "I have made contact with the kidnappers," he stated calmly. Of course, Asher did not utter these words without precaution; he was certain they were listening at that very moment, so he had already used light manipulation to create a subtle illusion masking the movement of his lips, ensuring that the kidnappers could not possibly decipher his words from the distance at which they currently observed him.

Before the Village Chief’s expression could shift into one of visible shock, Asher used his light affinity once more to create an illusion that preserved the Village Chief’s neutral demeanor, preventing any sudden reaction from being noticed.

"So you truly intend to be kidnapped tonight," the Village Chief murmured under his breath.

"It is the only way to save those who are still alive. If I capture the ones currently tailing me, they will not reveal anything nor disclose the location of their base. Besides, I cannot guarantee that if we engage in battle here, your village and its people will not become casualties," Asher stated in a composed and rational tone.

After a moment of deep contemplation, the Village Chief sighed heavily before speaking. "I will wish upon the stars for your success," he said solemnly, for this was the only tangible lead they had obtained since the entire kidnapping incident began, and it was imperative that it be brought to an end.

"Never repeat aloud what I have just told you the moment I leave; the kidnappers are following me and may also be watching your movements closely," Asher instructed calmly. The Village Chief nodded in understanding, having no intention of discussing the matter with anyone, not even with the chiefs of neighboring villages.

"Tell me the name of your best inn; I will be staying there tonight," Asher added, and upon receiving the answer he sought, he rose to his feet and departed from the Village Chief’s residence, walking directly toward the inn without hesitation.