Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 270

“How so, Grandfather,” Lam asked?

“You want to become a Village Head, don’t you? Although the position is yours by birthright, you aren’t a New Type, and are weak. There would most likely be opposition to your ascension to the seat of Village Head. And this would most likely be led by the current Village Head – Samoa”

“But with someone as strong as Mane on your side, that wouldn’t matter. Dan cannot interfere in the affairs of the village due to a promise he made to an old friend many years ago. Or else he would have killed Samoa a long time ago”

Lam gulped when his Grandfather mentioned killing Village Head Samoa like it was nothing. But since it was Dan he was talking about, Lam knew it was true. That usually smiling man was vastly stronger than anyone in the village and could kill anyone he wished to kill.

“But Mane isn’t bound by any such restrictions and is very young. He may become just as powerful as Dan given a few years” Old Fan was confident that Mane had the capability to even surpass Dan, but he kept that to himself. Although he knew Dan’s greatest secret, he also knew that the man had lost most of his power. And although Dan was still powerful now, Mane who supposedly shared his bloodline, could surpass him. Old Fan couldn’t help but wonder how powerful Mane would have become if Savior hadn’t been lost.

“If he’s on your side, Samoa wouldn’t do anything stupid. Granted that he’s still alive by close of night of course” Old Fan smiled mysteriously.

“What do you mean Grandfather,” Lam asked?

“You are very slow today,” Old Fan ridiculed his grandson. Lam could only smile in embarrassment. He was usually fast and accurate in his analysis; but whenever he was next to his Grandfather, his brain would become slow and lethargic. It was because he was still subconsciously dependent on the old man.

“Samoa sent an assassin after his nephew. How do you think Dan would react when he finds out?” Old Fan said with a helpless smile.

“But I thought you said he made a promise to someone that he wouldn’t interfere with the affairs of this village,” Lam asked, genuinely surprised at what his Grandfather said. After all, Old Fan had just told Lam that Dan promised never to interfere with the affairs of the village and that was why even though he disliked the attitude of Village Head Samoa, Dan didn’t do anything about it. But now Old Fan was saying something contrary to his own words.

“Dan did make that promise. There is no denying that. It is something that every Elder of this village and Samoa know. Which is why they’ve been dismissive of him in their dealings. They dare act so pompously exactly because of that promise Dan made decades ago” Old Fan sighed as he seemed to recollect the events that led to that promise. Although he was old, his memory was still good. He could remember everything perfectly. And the events that led to that promise still haunted him even to this day.

Lam noticed his Grandfather’s reminiscent look, but didn’t say anything. It did serve to increase his curiosity though. What exactly was it that led to Dan’s current shackles? And who was so impressive as to get Dan to make a promise, and keep it after all these years.

“But that promise made had its conditions. Although Dan wasn’t to interfere in the business of the village, the village wasn’t to interfere in his business either.” Old Fan sought to clarify the situation.

Lam nodded with an understanding sigh after hearing his Grandfather’s clarification. Although it sounded like the village elders and leaders had also been shackled by the promise, it wasn’t so. It was rather a way to protect the village. Basically, as long as they stayed out of Dan’s way, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to them. It was a shame that they wouldn’t be able to demand a hunting quota from him, but it wasn’t like they would have gotten it even if they made any demands. The most likely result would have been their deaths. So in a sense, the deal was beneficial to them in so many ways. It prevented Dan from doing anything to them without a valid reason. And since Dan was alone in this village and had no next of kin, they didn’t have to worry about offending or hurting any of his relatives. But they had done just that tonight.

“If Mane had died, Village Head Samoa would have just denied that he had anything to do with it. Without any evidence, Sir Dan would be bound by his promise and be incapable of seeking his revenge” Lam analysed.

“It seems your brain has returned to its peak state. Good to see it back in business.” Old Fan teased Lam.

Lam could only smile wryly in response. It wasn’t difficult to guess this much. It seemed that Village Head Samoa was so confident in his victory that he didn’t even consider what would happen should he fail. Unfortunately for him, he had failed and the face of his most trusted warrior was exposed to Dan. That was all the evidence Dan needed. Samoa had gone after his ‘nephew’. This was at the stage of interfering in Dan’s life since his family had been attacked. The man was within every right to act now.

“Which means that even if Dan were to kill him and his entire family now…” Old Fan started.

“He would be within good reason and wouldn’t have broken the promise he made in any way” Lam finished.

“I wonder what will happen when he returns,” Lam sighed. But there was a bit of expectation in his tone. It seemed his hatred for Village Head Samoa and his family run deep.

“How about I ask him myself,” Old Fan smiled and stood up? He held onto his walking stick for balance and slowly walked towards the backdoor. Because of his discrete actions, Mane and Lily who were still engaged with each other didn’t notice his departure. Added to the fact that the room was spacious and the grandfather-grandson duo were all the way across the room, even the usually alert Mane and the doted upon granddaughter – Lily – didn’t see him leave.

“You mean…” Lam had a stunned expression on his face as he watched his grandfather leave. Suddenly he felt a chill down his spine. It was almost as if he had been doused in a bucket of icy cold water and was left to freeze to death. It was like there were several ants gnawing on his flesh. It was a feeling he had never experienced before. It was the touch of death.

“It seems you have been around too many dead bodies. You can now feel killing intent which isn’t even directed at you. Though to be fair, the killing intent is very thick so it is no surprise that you can feel it.”

As Old Fan stepped out of the door, he stopped to say this. His words enlightened Lam. The killing intent was from Sir Dan! This feeling that left him helpless and scared was Sir Dan’s wrathful anger bubbling over. And it wasn’t even directed at him!

“Hold yourself back Dan. You are scaring the boy.” Old Fan said as he closed the door behind him. Before the door closed fully, Lam could hear Sir Dan’s voice, although he couldn’t see his figure.

“I’m sorry kiddo. I lost myself there for a bit.”

Lam could only look lifelessly at the closed backdoor as he relieved the very recent experience all the while saying to himself,

“So that is Sir Dan’s anger. If he goes against Village Head Samoa, there is no way that man would survive!”

“You should have been more prudent. You have scared the boy” Old Fan reprimanded Dan once he closed the door. In the vast space of the backyard, Dan’s figure still couldn’t be seen.

“I’m sorry. I was truly furious” Dan’s voice sounded in the compound, yet his figure was nowhere to be seen.

“But you still decided to come here to check on the boy. How did you know he was here?” Old Fan wondered. After all, it would have been logical for Dan to go after Village Head Samoa in the hope that Mane hadn’t rushed there. But the man came here.

“Mane is a very logical boy. He wouldn’t rush into the enemy’s camp. This place was my first guess. If he was injured, this would be the place he would come to” Dan’s argument was sound and reasonable.

“I see,” Old Fan nodded and struck his cane on the ground.

“But it seems he was barely hurt. To think he took care of three assassins without any major injuries.” Dan said something which startled Old Fan to the extent that he almost lost his footing.

“Three,” the old man exclaimed! He was under the impression that Wild Boar was the only assassin sent after Mane. Yet there were actually three of them. How badly did Village Head Samoa want the boy dead?!

“Yes. It makes sense when you think about it. If he wanted to make sure there were no mistakes, he would send an insurance. In this case he seemed to have sent two insurances.” Dan’s words were cold. They sounded expressionless, but Old Fan knew he was genuinely angry. It was only when Dan was furious that he would cast aside his jovial personality for his ice-cold one.

“So what are you going to do,” Old Fan looked into the sky and asked? He had a slight frown on his face when he posed the question.

There was silence for a while, then Dan’s figure suddenly appeared right before Old Fan. It was almost as if he teleported there. But Old Fan wasn’t startled. It looked like he was used to this.

“I wanted to kill him – I still do,” Dan uttered with a cold gaze.

“But you wouldn’t,” Old Fan knew Dan long enough to piece together what the man would do from his words.

“No, I wouldn’t. Mane would want to take care of it himself. That’s the kind of lad he is” Dan sighed helplessly. Although he had known Mane for only a month, he deeply understood the boy. Mane was independent in most of his actions, and he wouldn’t be best pleased if Dan took away his right to decide what he should do.

“You have a good nephew,” Old Fan smiled and hit his cane on the ground.

“I do,” Dan confessed.

“So what are you going to do now,” Old Fan was smart enough to understand that although Dan wasn’t going to kill Village Head Samoa, he wasn’t going to leave things lying down either.

Dan’s figure disappeared once the question was asked, but his voice found its way right into Old Fan’s ear like he was still there.

“Return their garbage to them.”