Absolute Cheater-Chapter 143: New Life III

Serena studied the map closely, her fingers tracing the path. "It looks like there are several narrow trails through the woods. We should stick to the less traveled ones to avoid drawing unwanted attention."

Asher offered a small smile. "Exactly. And if any trouble does find us, we can handle it together."

With that, they left the relative safety of the city behind. The road ahead was dimly lit by the light of the moon and scattered lanterns from nearby cottages. The countryside was quieter now, the hum of urban life replaced by the rustle of leaves and distant animal calls.

After hours of travel, the city lights faded into the dark silhouette of the forest. The air grew cooler and damper as the dense canopy overhead blocked out the stars. The duo moved cautiously along a narrow, winding path, alert to every sound.

As they ventured further, Serena whispered, "I have a bad feeling about this place. It’s too quiet."

Asher paused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the undergrowth. "Stay close," he advised, his voice low but steady. "Disappearances like this never happen without something lurking in the shadows."

Every so often, they caught glimpses of movement—shadows flitting between ancient trees, or the glimmer of eyes reflecting the moonlight. The forest felt alive in a way that made both of them uneasy.

After a short while, they reached a clearing surrounded by towering trees. In the center lay the remnants of what once might have been a campsite—scorched earth, broken tools, and the eerie silence of abandonment. The signs were subtle but unmistakable: people had been here, and something had forced them to flee in haste.

Serena knelt near a smoldering fire pit. "This is it," she murmured. "There was a struggle here. But where are they?"

Asher stepped forward, examining the area. "We need to search for clues. The locals spoke of strange lights and unsettling sounds. Maybe we can find evidence of what happened to those who vanished."

Their investigation began in earnest. Together, they sifted through scattered belongings, looking for any detail—a dropped personal item, unusual markings on the trees, or even tracks that might hint at what had driven the campers away.

As the night deepened, the tension in the clearing mounted. Every crack of a twig underfoot or whisper of the wind seemed laden with warning. With each piece of evidence they uncovered, the mystery of the disappearances grew, and so did the certainty that this quest would test their limits far beyond a typical D-rank challenge.

"It’s definitely more than a D-ranker’s work," Asher said, his powerful soul and Absolute Appraisal ability revealing exactly what had happened here.

"So, do you want to continue?" he asked.

Serena looked at him with concern. "Can you handle it?"

Asher smirked. "In my current state, I can even beat a B-ranker," he replied confidently. Now that he was fully healed, he just needed time for his Myriad Energy Veins and Prismatic Core to fully adjust to this world’s mana density and signature—and now, that process was complete.

He was back in his prime.

"You sure are confident, lad," a sudden voice sounded from the darkness.

In an instant, Asher snapped his fingers, surrounding Serena in a Blood Veil. Despite its thin appearance, the veil was an incredibly powerful protection—strong enough to withstand and even kill anyone who dared to touch it, except for the one inside it.

Clang!

"It’s powerful. I guess your confidence is not without basis," the voice spoke again as its owner stepped out of hiding. He was clad in a dark robe, but Asher could still see the white beard on his face.

"Care to tell me why an old man like you is killing people or kidnapping them?" Asher asked coldly.

The old man chuckled darkly. "Kekeke… questioning me, are you? You must have a strong ability, then. But you will never understand."

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"Never understand the pain of the helpless…!" His voice grew louder, filled with twisted emotion. "Never! You people with your bestowed gifts—you can do whatever you want! Kill, betray, trample on the weak! You’ll never understand… never!" Find adventures at novelbuddy

"I see… you’ve been wrecked by someone powerful," Asher said as he stepped toward the old man. "I can kill him for you."

The old man looked at him suspiciously.

"I don’t sense any murderous aura around you, so you haven’t actually killed anyone. You’ve just been kidnapping them—holding them hostage until your target, the adventurer you want to kill, takes this mission and comes here, right?" Asher asked, his sharp gaze locked onto the old man.

The old man smirked. "You’re quite perceptive for a brat."

Asher shrugged. Living in a war-torn world will teach you all kinds of scenarios and tactics, he thought. Then, he spoke, "Name him and tell me his crime."

"Why would I believe you?" the old man scoffed.

Suddenly, he felt something sharp press against his neck.

"Because if I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead," Asher’s cold voice came from behind him, his blood-red scythe resting lightly on the old man’s throat.

The old man gulped in fear. "O-Okay! I’ll tell you!" he stammered.

"Good," Asher said as he removed the scythe but kept his Blood Veil around Serena. The three of them sat near the fire, the old man sitting across from Asher while Serena walked over and sat beside him.

"Can you take it away now?" Serena asked, gesturing at the Blood Veil around her.

Asher shook his head. "It’s for your safety."

The old man scoffed. "Like I could even harm her in your presence." He rolled his eyes.

Asher smirked. "One can never be too safe." Then, he added, "Besides… you’re not alone."

The old man’s eyes widened in shock. His expression stiffened as he realized Asher had sensed something he hadn’t expected anyone to notice.

"And whoever is with you… they’re completely unexpected," Asher said, watching as the old man’s face paled in realization.

The old man’s hands trembled slightly as he clenched his fists. His face twisted, struggling to maintain composure.

"You… noticed them?" he muttered.

Asher gave a small smirk. "You’re not very good at hiding your emotions. The moment I mentioned you weren’t alone, your pulse spiked. Not to mention—" He suddenly vanished, reappearing several meters away as he swung his scythe at empty air.

CLANG!

A sharp metallic sound echoed as his scythe clashed against an invisible blade.

The air shimmered, and a masked figure in black robes materialized before him, their dagger locked against Asher’s scythe.

Serena gasped. "W-What—?!"

The masked assassin immediately leaped back, landing beside the old man, their glowing red eyes visible through the mask.

"Tch… perceptive bastard," the masked figure growled.

The old man sighed. "I told you not to act unless necessary," he muttered.

Asher spun his scythe once before resting it against his shoulder. "Now that we’re done playing games… tell me the name of your target."

The old man exchanged a glance with the assassin before speaking.

"His name is Garen Althor. A B-rank adventurer… but that’s just a title. In reality, he should’ve been executed years ago." His voice darkened. "That bastard… he and his men wiped out my entire village. Men, women, children—he slaughtered them all for some noble’s request and then framed our people as criminals."

Serena’s eyes widened in horror. "That’s… awful…"

The old man clenched his jaw. "And because of his connections, the Guild never punished him. He kept killing and killing, hiding behind the system. That’s why I started taking adventurers who accepted this mission."

"To lure him in," Asher finished for him.

The masked assassin crossed their arms. "Not like we could ask for help. No one believes us."

Asher stood silent for a moment, processing the information.

"So, what now?" Serena asked hesitantly.

Asher turned his gaze to the old man and the assassin.

"Where is he now?" he asked.

The old man looked surprised. "You’re going to help us?"

Asher’s eyes were cold. "I don’t care about revenge. But I do care about eliminating problems before they become mine. And if this bastard is as strong as you say, he might come after the village that rescued me."

"Asher..." Serena smiled as she heard him.

"So tell me, where is he?" Asher asked.

The old man nodded. "He lives in Pallax City. He’s a B-rank adventurer registered there, and that rank earned him his own mansion in the city. You can find him there, usually taking advantage of new female adventurers."

Asher’s expression darkened. "I see…"

The old man sighed and glanced at Serena. "If I’m not wrong, his men might come after her sooner or later."

Asher’s red eyes flashed as he turned to Serena. "I see. Then we just have to wait."

The old man nodded. "I can provide the exact address." He pulled out a small piece of parchment, scribbled something on it, and passed it to Asher. "This is where he stays."

Asher took the slip of paper, glanced at the address, and clenched it in his fist.

"Then it’s time to pay him a visit."