One year later,

In front of the outer gate of Phirie city, there was a group of young people in their early twenties wearing exquisite clothes standing while looking at the enormous outer wall of Phirie city.

“Looks like the wall hasn’t been upgraded for the last 10 years.”

Leo observed the familiar wall in front of him and shook his head with an emotionless look on his face.

He was six feet tall with black-coloured hair and a cold yet handsome face. He was wearing specially designed black-coloured clothes made up of a mutated beast’s skin.

Two young men and a young woman silently stood behind Leo while listening to his words.

The young men were handsome, and the young woman was as beautiful as a fairy; however, the weapons she had equipped with told a different story.

Each of them was wearing specially designed clothes just like Leo.

‘Swoosh’

“Young heroes, are you planning to enter the city?”

Seeing the four members, the watchers of the outer city wall rushed towards them and asked with a polite smile on their faces._-.

Even though it was their first time seeing the four young heroes, the watchers could tell that they were at least Elite heroes or even Advanced heroes.

So, they were very polite as the leader of the watchers asked them.

“Yes.”

Leo nodded his head as he looked at a young man on his left.

“I am the captain of the ‘Golden Giants’ mercenary squad and we are here on the invitation of the Ambermane family.”

Dominic showed a small gold coloured badge along with an invitation letter that had a red lion’s insignia.

“Mercenary squad?”

For a brief moment, the leader of the watchers looked down on Leo and others; however, he quickly went back to his polite smile.

In the eyes of almost everyone, mercenaries are the people who would do anything as long you pay the right amount. So, of course, they were not as respected as the City heroes who protect the city from the mutated beasts and the otherworldly monsters without asking for anything in return.

“The Ambermane family has sent someone for you and he is waiting for a while now.”

The leader of the watchers looked over his shoulder and signalled a watcher, who nodded his head and hurriedly rushed back.

“Please follow me. I will guide you to him.”

At the same time, the leader of the watchers politely asked them to follow him.

“Sir Aidan, please send a rescue team to the Serpent Caverns.”

As Leo and others were silently following behind the leader of the watchers, a group of young men rushed from the distance while shouting out loud.

“How many of your friends are left behind in those caverns?”

However, Aidan was calm as he asked a question.

It was not Aidan’s first time, or it was not the first time someone got stuck in some dangerous place.

“Only one and she only has a healing talent but doesn’t have any combat talent. You need to quickly talent in a rescue team.”

The leader of that group was a young man in his early twenties. He even fell to his knees and begged Aidan.

“Currently, there is no available rescue team in the city barracks. I will send them as soon as they are available.”

Aidan looked at a small building in the distance and shook his head at that young man.

“Zac, let’s not waste our time with the watchers. Let’s go and ask for help from your family.”

A young man from that group helped the kneeling young man as he scoffed at Aidan.

“Wait”

However, Zac didn’t stand up; instead, he looked at Leo and his group.

“Sir, you look powerful. Can you save my fiance?”

Judging from the clothes, Zac could tell that Leo’s group were definitely powerful heroes. So, he requested their help.

‘…’

However, Leo’s group didn’t say anything, and it was clear from their silence that they didn’t have any intention of helping Zac.

“Damn…”

“Zac, what are you doing?”

Just as Zac was getting angry, a voice came from the distance that made Zac calm down.

“Uncle…you are here? Please save Julia.”

Zac rushed toward his uncle and requested him for help as he briefly explained the situation she was in.

‘Julia?’

When Leo heard that name, his entire body shook a little as some memories from his childhood flashed in his head.

“Zac, you know we can’t save her now. Even if we go now, we can’t find her body as it might have been devoured by the serpents in those caverns.”

Zac’s uncle shook his head and asked Zac to accept that she was gone.

“My poor Julia…we were planning to marry next month but now….”

Zac fell to his knees, crying like he had lost something precious in his life; however, they could see an evil smile under his crying if one looked closely.

‘Leo, did you notice something?’

Dominic walked closer to Leo and asked about something.

‘I am going for a walk.’

‘Teleportation’

‘Swoosh’

However, Leo replied something else as he had a concerned look on his face before disappearing from his place.

‘What?’

Even though it was only for a brief moment, Dominic noticed the concerned look on Leo’s face, making him surprised.

‘Julia? Is she one of the reasons why he was eager to enter the city?’

Dominic looked at Zac and his uncle Seth before shaking his head, ‘You messed with the wrong person. If something happens to her, you can’t afford to face his wrath.’

*******

Author’s note:

Toby returns to the Phire City with his new identity ‘Leo’. So, please don’t get confused and continue reading.