Favor

A few minutes later, everyone was back where they were a few minutes ago.

For the Chief, it all felt like a dream, or rather, a nightmare.

Only, the tied-up body that lay in the room along with them kept telling him that it had all been real.

At the moment, they had sent a notification to the Town nearby, and World Government Officials were expected to arrive at any moment.

As for the man and the Tera who were responsible for it all…they were sitting down with almost sad expressions while looking at the empty plates from which they had wiped off the oil and spices to apply around their mouths.

All of the villagers were also here, and where they hadn't paid too much import to these two starving individuals before, they now saw them with awe and respect.

They…had saved the hamlet, and they knew that they were now indebted to both them, and Max.

Max was unconscious again, as his body had been extremely taxed both due to the recent healing, and the fresh injury which was now sealed.

It had to be healed when he was awake and stronger, and because it was at a place which didn't make it too threatening, it wasn't too much of a priority.

This was an unbelievable thing, in itself. Who knew that there was such a place in the human body, through which a hole could be punctured without risking the life of the human? One would expect that any hole as clean as this one would be one that should be treated with grave seriousness, but even the healer had been shocked to see that it impinged on no vital organs, with them almost being pushed aside to accommodate for the wound.

He didn't know how it was possible, and if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he said that he would have scoffed at the notion if someone else had brought it up.

Anissa, the girl who had come along with the one they had called 'Aaron', was outside, and she seemed to be waiting for whoever would come from the Town.

Soon enough, she entered the overly crowded little hut with a man wearing spectacles in tow.

He was wearing a white shirt with a dark pant, and wavy hair that looked as if it had just been combed, and as soon as he entered, he went to the body without further ado.

Untying the clothes that had been used, he saw the face of the man for a few moments before saying, "Jabar Kifort. Wanted fugitive from the World Government. Crime: Manslaughter, mass destruction. You say it was these two that did it? Really? He's supposed to be powerful enough to rival 10 of them!"

The man looked like he had already gotten the details regarding Max and Aaron, and as he said this with disbelief, Anissa smiled sweetly and said, "You better believe it, Jake. I saw it with my own eyes. I was of no help, whatsoever. The reward should go to them."

With a sigh, the man stood up and closed his eyes, as if he was communicating with someone.

After a few seconds, he said, "Aaron… 'No last name given' and Max Cain. The World Government thanks you for this great service that you have rendered. As a reward, you can either avail a monetary reward, or a favor at the level of a Town Mayor. You can-"

"I want to be free!"

It looked like Max had a knack of waking up whenever the time was perfect, because the word 'reward' seemed to have jolted him awake, causing him to shout this and look at the man from the World Government with hope in his eyes.

Shaking his head, the man replied, "Your favor cannot be exchanged for the safeguard that has been placed on you to be on house arrest for 6 months in a Hamlet of your choosing. However…"

Eyeing Aaron with his beady eyes, the man continued, saying, "If he chooses to give up his favor, you can do so, and you will be free. You have one week to decide. After that, return to the Town from where you departed to give your decision, and have the cuffs removed if needed. If you choose otherwise, Ascender Aaron is beseeched to continue on his mission. My work here is done. Survivor, I'll see you around."

Those last four words were shot at Aaron, before the man promptly walked out, followed by Anissa who seemed annoyed.

Meanwhile, Max had fixed his gaze on Aaron, who knew where this was going.

"Can you-"

"No!"

Giving his answer, Aaron left the hut, too, while Woof also yelped 'ow!' and strutted out, as if it was rejecting Max just like its companion.