Chapter 681

682
Noon. Caleb was nibbling on a ration bar. Another member of the Blood Association sauntered over to Caleb. She grinned, “Hey, handsome, keep me company for two hours and I’ll treat you to some roast chicken.”
Caleb smiled, his lips curving gently. “Sometimes, even ration bars can be pretty tasty too,” he replied.
“So that’s a no, right?” she said with a playful tilt of her head.
Caleb felt a murderous gaze fixed on him. Looking up, he spotted a man among the group staring daggers at him.
With a casual curl of his lips, Caleb remarked, “If I agree, that guy glaring at us might just kill me.”
The woman glanced over, her eyes flickering with hidden meaning, then turned back to Caleb with a bright smile. “I’ll protect you,” she promised.
Caleb chuckled. “You’ve got numbers on your side.”
The woman sized him up and asked, “You’re not with those three, are you?”
“No, just met them on the road. We’re teaming up for now,” Caleb replied casually.
The woman asked, “So, do you know where they’re headed?”
“Yeah, the Solemnity Guild.”
The woman paused, surprised by his directness. “You’re going to the Solemnity Guild too?”
“Yeah, looking for someone. What about you?” Caleb’s expression was gentle, each word he spoke laced with warmth that put people at ease.
Before she could answer, he chuckled lightly, a knowing glint in his eyes. “I almost forgot. This mountain only leads one way. Looks like we’re headed to the same place.”
The woman arched her brow. “Aren’t you going to ask who we are, or what we’re doing?”
“Knowing too much might just get me silenced for good.”
“You’re pretty amusing. Let me give you some advice: the place you’re heading isn’t safe. You’d better turn back now.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
After the woman left, Dorian walked over to Caleb. “Why do those Blood Association folks keep bothering you?” he asked.
‘So, it really was the Blood Association,’ Caleb thought to himself. He replied, “They’re just trying to figure out if we’re friends or foes. But they won’t get anything out of us. After all, we only met by chance on the road.”
Dorian warned, “Stay away from them. If you piss them off, don’t expect us to save you.”
Caleb’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Oh? If I die, how will Arressto achieve its objective?”
Dorian’s expression shifted. “You know who we are?”
“Figured it out,” Caleb replied. He had previously placed a contract with Arressto, and the trio’s operational style bore a striking resemblance to their agents.
1/2
They deliberately approached him, probing for information. Only when Caleb strategically brought up Aria did he confirm Arressto’s true objective, so he chose to go along with them.
Dorian was a bit shocked, but quickly composed himself. “Are you testing me?” he asked.
Caleb met Dorian’s gaze squarely. “You’re from Arressto. Was that supposed to be hard to guess?” he said coolly. “What does Arressto want with my sister?”
The only thing Caleb knew for sure was that Arressto wasn’t out for revenge. “Does she have something you want?” Caleb pressed.
“No,” Dorian replied. Since Caleb had already figured this out, Dorian decided there was no point in hiding it. “Our boss wants to recruit her. Personally, I think the chances are slim, but we still have to try.”
Caleb looked skeptical. “You came all the way to the Solemnity Guild just for that?”
“Yeah, it’s that simple,” Dorian replied.
Caleb gazed into the distance. “Tell me about the feud between the Solemnity Guild and the Blood Association.”
Dorian replied, “It’s not a matter of deep-seated hatred. They’re just natural-born rivals.
“The Solemnity Guild is shrouded in secrecy. Even their own members don’t know exactly how many people are in the organization.
“The Blood Association, on the other hand, is infamous for its dirty tactics. The Solemnity Guild has always looked down on them.
“Ever since Echohawk retired, the Blood Association has been trying to poach our people, even attempting to annex the Solemnity Guild.”
Dorian lowered his voice. “They’ve only sent ten men this time, probably just advance scouts, trying to pinpoint the Guild’s exact location.”