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nPeklon frowned. The attendant was telling the truth. That information was for the inn manager only.

n“Where’s your manager?”

n“I’m here, my lord. I’m the manager.” A short, chubby man stepped out of the crowd.

n“You’re the manager? You’ve been here all the time. Why didn’t you come out earlier?” Peklon asked.

nThe manager didn’t know what to say. It was true. He had been there the whole time but only came out when he was mentioned.

n“I… I didn’t know what was happening. I assumed with Shif caught, everything would be alright…” he tried to explain himself.

nIt was too significant a matter not to take seriously. If he didn’t offer any explanation, it would seem that he had been watching in the crowd without trying to do anything.

n“Since you’ve been here all along, I’m sure you heard my questions. Do I need to repeat them?”

n“Of course not, my lord. I heard everything.” The manager sighed. It seemed he couldn’t avoid it after all.

nHe had been trying to find an excuse to explain it away, but judging by the city lord’s attitude, that wasn’t going to happen. If the lord found out he wasn’t telling the truth, he would be punished for it. The manager had to tell everything he knew.

n“My lord, the guest in this room was a big shot. He was the man sitting opposite you during the contest yesterday.”

nThose words caused a sensation. It was as if someone had thrown a bomb in the crowd.

n“That man lived here?”

n“That’s understandable, but why was Shif here? Did that man give him instructions to come here? Once his cover was blown, he killed Shif. Is that it?”

n“That’s possible! But I still want to see his face because I can’t remember what he looks like.”

n“I don’t think that’s true. If that man really had summoned Shif here, why would he kill him in his room? Wouldn’t that blow his cover?”

n“You have a point. If he’s capable enough, he doesn’t need to worry about exposing himself. We don’t even know his name or where he came from. How can his cover be blown?”

n“That’s true. I don’t even remember what he looks like.”

nEverybody was talking about it. If Peklon hadn’t been here, they would have let their imagination run wild. They had to watch their language in front of the city lord.

n“Didn’t you check him in? How did Shif get in? You still haven’t given me an answer!” Peklon snorted.

nSeeing that Peklon wasn’t pleased, the manager ground his teeth, took something out of his chest pocket, and opened his palm.

nRed light filled the room.

n“That’s a core! A red core!” Peklon was surprised.

nThe manager explained right away, “This red core of a magical beast is from that guest. Only a capable master could come up with such a precious object, so I didn’t take registration, nor did I dare to…

n“When I saw him in the contest, I assumed he knew you, my lord, so I didn’t think much of it… I didn’t know this was going to happen!

n“As for Shif, I really didn’t see him come in. I have no idea how he got into this room or what happened to him. I only saw him when you opened the door!

n“My lord, I’ve told you everything I know. Please take this core.”

nThe manager dropped to his knees and held the core in his open palms. His tone and attitude showed how serious he was. He wanted the trade of his life and the safety of his inn with this core.

nPeklon didn’t take it, waving the manager off. He didn’t say anything after that and was lost in his thoughts.

nThe independent cultivator, the core, and Shif…

nThe three things became entangled, and it confused his mind.

n“Is he really an independent cultivator? Did he use that red core just to pay for the rent? What’s his relationship with Shif? The two of them didn’t know each other, but Shif’s dead body has now shown up in his room.

n“What on earth has happened?”

nPeklon was so confused. If those people were right and that independent cultivator was in it with Shif, why did Shif die here?

nWas there a conflict?

nThat independent cultivator was the one that had warned Peklon. If he and Shif were partners, he didn’t need to do that. Moreover, he could have rescued Shif. There was no need to kill the man.

nThe fact that the independent cultivator had a red core meant either he was very capable or he was from a rich family because ordinary people wouldn’t come across such an object.

nIf those two men weren’t partners, could Shif be that independent cultivator’s target?

nWhere was that independent cultivator now?

nPeklon knew he could figure everything out if he could ask that man in person. But he had no idea where he was.

nThe south!

nYes, he must have headed for the south.

nPeklon had told Himmel earlier that the center of the continent was to the south, so he knew that the independent cultivator had probably gone in that direction.

nHe made up his mind.

n“Take Shif’s body away. I’ll explain everything to the Baih family. They’ll decide what happens next!

n“The wedding is canceled. Go back home and have some rest!”

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