One-Eyed Monster

Mutual trust is a rare thing. Coban Kangen also didn’t know why he had such trust in Igor and them. This trust made him share some of his family’s secrets...

Coban Kangen couldn’t quite explain this feeling, just that there was something about these two young men that made him instinctively want to believe in them.

"I’ve always felt like you were destined to come here!"

"Why do you say that?" Igor asked, finding it a bit strange and magical.

"I can’t put my finger on it, but you just give off a reliable vibe, which is why I shared so much about the Kangen family with you."

This openness also showed the kind of trust Coban Kangen had in Igor and them.

"Trust is mutual. You trust us, and we trust you," Igor scratched his head, unsure how to respond to Coban Kangen.

Kadi shrugged at this point, clearly uninterested in the conversation between Igor and Coban Kangen.

He looked out of the steam vehicle’s window; the sky was gradually getting brighter, and without realizing it, the night had passed.

That night, Igor and Coban Kangen shared a lot, surely needing some time to process everything.

The steam vehicle chuffed along; they were more than halfway to Xinbal, and it wouldn’t be long before they reached the imperial capital of the Kayne Empire.

No one could foresee what kind of storm they would stir up upon reaching Xinbal.

As the imperial capital of the Kayne Empire, Xinbal was naturally a gathering place for major powers. Besides, the headquarters of various Adventurers with Class organizations like the Alchemy Workshop, Scholar Commons, and Wizard Alliance were set up in Xinbal, with only the Fighter and Hunter headquarters outside. The Fighters’ Martial Arts Home was on the North Shore, and the Hunters’ Dark Cabinet was in Burstan. These two organizations had their peculiarities, inclined towards combat, and their headquarters couldn’t be situated in the capital because the Kayne Royal Family disapproved of such martial scenes.

Xinbal gathered forces from all sides, and the situation there was indeed complicated. Unlike Bistal and Luona, every person emerging from here could potentially be a significant figure.

However, it was still too early to talk to Igor and them about these matters, as they had not yet felt the suffocating atmosphere of Xinbal.

Bistal had a relatively slow pace, whereas Xinbal had a completely different style!

Igor and Coban Kangen fell asleep one after the other, having confided secrets to each other at night and slept deeply during the day, leaving Kadi feeling quite awkward.

At this moment, Kadi felt a profound loneliness; he also wanted to close his eyes and sleep with Igor and them, but he couldn’t fall asleep, having slept too much at night...

Kadi looked left and right, feeling utterly bored and eager to find something to do, but he couldn’t find anything.

All he could do was listen to the sounds of the steam vehicle to pass the time, with it occasionally moaning and chuffing, making him a bit uncomfortable.

Time gradually passed, and by the time Igor and them woke up, it was already afternoon.

As Igor and Coban Kangen were just eating something, Kadi eagerly approached them.

"You’re finally awake; I was about to go crazy with boredom. People on this steam vehicle look at me like I’m some kind of monster; the braver ones dare to exchange a word or two, while the timid ones don’t even dare to look me in the eye."

Igor thought to himself, with your appearance, it’s no wonder people treat you like a monster.

Though such thoughts were inappropriate, Igor couldn’t help but think this way. After all, Kadi did have an unusually distinctive face, which anyone would find monstrous.

"So, did you just daydream alone all this time?" Coban Kangen asked curiously.

"Exactly, you have no idea how unbearable it is," Kadi replied blankly.

"Logically, people heading to Xinbal should have a purpose. Who would travel to the imperial capital for no reason? There aren’t many people on this vehicle, and I think those who seem fearful might be a little suspicious," Coban Kangen suddenly said.

Hearing this, Igor became immediately alert.

While Kadi’s appearance was unique, it wasn’t so frightening. With Coban Kangen’s reminder, Igor also noticed this glaring issue.

People heading to Xinbal were generally not the average sort. Even if they were civilians, being able to travel to Xinbal meant they were worldly. These people would at most show curiosity at Kadi’s appearance, never fear...

This person showing fear toward Kadi was clearly overacting and blew their cover!

Igor and Coban Kangen exchanged a look, then both turned towards Kadi, hoping he would immediately tell them who showed fear towards him.

Kadi was completely confused, having no idea what Igor and them were talking about. He stood there, baffled.

"Which people were the timid ones? I’d like to see them!" Coban Kangen said to Kadi, pretending to be relaxed, not wanting to alarm anyone.

"Haha, well, I’ll point them out to you later," Kadi responded, excited again.

"But you have to do it quietly, so you don’t scare them again." Seeing Kadi didn’t understand their intention, Igor and Coban chose to go along with him instead of explaining further, as too much explanation wouldn’t lead to Kadi understanding immediately.

"Okay, I know what to do!"

The minor commotion passed, and Igor and Coban Kangen were now on high alert, ensuring no mistakes before reaching Xinbal.

"We’re almost at Xinbal. We need to be extra cautious," Coban Kangen quietly said to Igor.

"Of course, with such people present, it means our whereabouts have been exposed early on."

"Yes, we’ve been out of Bistal for less than two days, during which the steam vehicle has stopped at several stations to replenish coal and other resources, where people came on and off—it’s perfectly normal."

"Indeed, there’s no wall without a crack. Even Lord Popovich couldn’t prevent leaks despite his caution!"

"The enemy is so hidden, there being some lurking among us isn’t impossible either," Coban Kangen continued.

"What are you two whispering about? Can’t I know?" Kadi was upset about being left out.

"Haha, of course, you can’t know. We’re discussing you!" Igor chuckled foolishly, teasing Kadi.

"What could you possibly be discussing without me knowing?" Kadi wasn’t satisfied with Igor’s answer.

"We’re afraid you won’t be happy if we say it since we’re discussing you!" Coban Kangen naturally picked up Igor’s words, continuing to mislead Kadi.

"What exactly are you discussing about me?" Kadi was getting anxious!

"See, I told you!" Coban Kangen spread his hands, showing a helpless expression.