The little girl had long hair tied into twin ponytails. The color was a striking crimson red, and her big eyes blinked cutely.
"It's nothing, nothing," Horn mumbled. He couldn't very well say that his older brother was a wild witch and that the notes in this notebook recorded taboo knowledge that could enhance a wild witch's combat power. If the Church found out, it would mean execution.
"Aria, be polite. Don't ask about other people's things."
Horn's hairs stood on end. How could there be another man's voice!
He had his senses fully open all the time!
Horn quickly looked up and saw a tall and handsome man standing right in front of him, without any disguise. But in Horn's perception, this man simply didn't exist!
The man was wearing black scale armor, and on his back was an oddly - shaped, dark - white greatsword almost as tall as Horn.
How did this man manage to hide from his senses!
Horn dared to read his notes in the carpenter's shop because he was confident that he would detect anyone approaching the shop, and he would have enough time to put away the notes.
But he hadn't detected either of these two people!
Horn suddenly felt a slight sense of frustration about his perception.
"Is this a carpenter's shop?" the man asked Horn. His voice was clear and loud, and he sounded very confident when he spoke.
"Yes, this is Douglas' Carpenter Shop. May I ask what you need, sir?" Horn took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, thinking that as long as they didn't cause trouble, he'd just treat them as normal customers.
"Have your carpenter make a wooden sword for Aria. Make it according to her size. The style doesn't matter. I won't short you on the money." The man pointed at little Aria, who was about one meter tall.
"Ilya! Didn't you say you'd buy me a sword?" Aria glared at Ilya angrily and said, "Why do you want to make me a wooden sword!"
"A wooden sword is still a sword," Ilya said matter - of - factly.
"Wow! You big liar!"
Aria pounced on Ilya, showing her slightly sharp canines and trying to bite his face. Ilya just moved his hand slightly, and Aria had no chance at all.
Finding that she couldn't bite him no matter what, Aria angrily jumped down, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and turned away, not looking at Ilya anymore.
"A wooden sword. I'll make it for you," Horn said. A wooden sword didn't need the old Douglas; Horn could make it himself.
"Are you a carpenter?" Ilya asked in surprise.
"Why, don't I look like one?" Horn countered.
"No, you look like a scholar when you wear glasses and read."
Ilya said very sincerely. He wasn't lying. Although Horn had worked as a carpenter beside old Douglas for nearly ten years, his temperament was more like that of a scholar.
Horn found a thick oak board, took a rough look at it, and then started to get ready to work.
"Are you an adventurer?" Horn asked Ilya curiously while using a knife to shape the wooden strip.
"I'm a bounty hunter."
A proud smile curved Ilya's lips as he said,
"A very good one!"
"There aren't any powerful monsters around Leon City for you to hunt."
This guy was a master, but it had been very quiet around Leon City recently. Except for Horn, there shouldn't have been anyone causing trouble recently.
"My secondary target is a wizard. I heard he's come to this area."
Ilya paused for a moment, as if waiting for Horn to ask further.
"What about the primary target?" Seeing that Ilya hadn't said anything for a while, Horn asked.
Ilya leaned his head close to Horn and whispered,
"Kid, have you heard? A powerful wizard called the Magician was last seen here. That's my primary target!"
The Magician!
This guy was after Teacher Douglas!
Horn's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly suppressed it, trying not to show any abnormality.
But that instant change in Horn's expression didn't escape Ilya's notice.
"What, do you know something about the Magician, kid?"
"No, I've just heard of him. How could a little carpenter like me know about such a dangerous person?"
Cold sweat that Horn had just managed to dry suddenly broke out all over his back again. This man in front of him was too perceptive!
"Oh, I see," Ilya didn't press further. Instead, he stood aside, stroking his chin and watching Horn work. Horn let out a silent sigh of relief.
It was just a wooden sword for a child. After all, Horn had been a carpenter for a long time. It didn't take him long to finish it. He handed the finished wooden sword to the little girl, but Aria refused to take it, looking dissatisfied.
"Humph! I want a real sword!"
"What do you think?" Horn looked at Ilya helplessly as Aria refused to take the sword.
"Aria, your brother worked hard to make it for you. Take it quickly!" Ilya said to Aria in a slightly stern tone.
Finally, Aria took the wooden sword reluctantly.
Seeing that Aria had taken the wooden sword, Ilya said to Horn, "Kid, how much is this wooden sword?"
"Five copper coins will do. It's not difficult to make."
Right now, Horn just wanted this guy to leave quickly. He felt like he might give himself away at any moment!
After hearing the price, Ilya took out five copper coins from his pocket, motioned for Horn to hold out his hand, and put the money in Horn's hand.
But instead of withdrawing his hand, he held Horn's hand!
Horn tried to pull his hand back, but he couldn't. Ilya held on tightly!
"Kid, I think you're acting a bit strange. You're not a wizard, are you?"
Ilya held Horn's hand firmly and said to him with a smile. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. He was sure that Horn was a dangerous person!
He'd been discovered! Then he couldn't let them leave!
Horn made a prompt decision. After chanting the spell, he used the hand held by Ilya to cast Lightning Touch!
A pale - blue light emitted from Horn's palm. The current, strong enough to knock an adult man unconscious, instantly flowed through Ilya's body, and sparks crackled on him.
A look of ecstasy appeared on Ilya's face, and he even wriggled a bit with the current!
"Oh, it's so comfortable. It's a bit numb! Give me a few more! Are you a lightning wizard, kid?"
Ilya moaned in comfort. The first - ring magic not only had no effect on Ilya but also made him feel good!
Seeing that Lightning Touch didn't work, Horn didn't dare to be careless and quickly tried to take out the walnut - wood staff from his bosom to chant a more advanced spell.
But Ilya didn't give Horn a chance. His fist blurred as it struck Horn in the stomach.
Before Horn could even see Ilya's movement, he felt a sharp pain spreading from his abdomen to his whole body. There was also a strange energy in the pain that rendered Horn immobile.
Horn fell to the ground painfully and coughed painfully.
Ilya walked around behind Horn and gave him a hard kick with his big foot, knocking Horn flat on the ground.
Then he stepped on Horn's back with one foot, lowered his head, and looked at Horn mockingly,
As if looking at a dog!