Fire Mage

Chapter 6: Suspicion

After placing another table in the reception room, John put fourteen chairs around those two tables. He then placed plates, glasses, forks, spoons, napkins, and other utensils in an orderly manner. After that, John started putting those heads in order at the guests' plates. He left the two hosts' chairs empty and then decorated the table with red candles.

Watching the ritual-like horror scene, Rios stood around the corner and began to tremble all over.

He was deeply regretting his decision to join this hunting mission!

'He is a real demon. Is he a member of Wicked Church? Or is a member of the Demonic Church?' He stared at the deep-blue-haired kid with a terrified expression on his face.

John wasn't concerned about Rios's inner thoughts. He instead poured red wine in those empty glasses and then shifted his gaze towards the Quest completion icon.

He had already got the reward of 300 Exp for the surviving ordeal.

'Now, who is the spy?' He raised his eyebrows and then placed a few chopped pieces of raw meat on one of the two hosts' plates.

'No! These meats are not humans' flesh. Don't misunderstand. I'm not a cannibal!' He placed these chopped meats to scare off the enemy a little.

John frowned as he felt a dense urine smell!

"Damn you, boy. Why did you pee in the room? Look, it ruined the dinner mood." John complained in dissatisfaction and went near Rios.

A few minutes later, John stood alone in the reception hall and placed a few fried pieces of meat on the other host's plate. After that, he went to the opposite side and sat on the wooden chair.

He then placed the napkin on his lap and waited for the main guest.

…

Meanwhile, a long grey-haired man was pacing outside the Life Church and sank into deep thoughts.

'Why isn't he picking up the call?' He stared at the unique silver ring and narrowed his amber eyes.

'Why do I feel restless inside?' He let out a grunt and then turned his attention towards the Life Church interior.

'Damn it, that sly Bishop is still guarding Eve like a dog. I hope they will kill her boy sooner.' He gashed his teeth and waited for Rios to pick up the call.

2 minutes.

5 minutes.

10 minutes.

20 minutes.

James began to feel restless and started walking towards El Street hastily.

…

After a few minutes, a 40-year-old man in a black butler suit walking hurriedly towards the porch area and looked around cautiously.

James then sniffed the air as he arrived near the porch and became icy cold.

'Blood scent?' A foreboding sensation appeared in his heart.

He took a deep breath to calm his mind and then walked inside while opening the entrance door. He glanced warily around inside, and soon his eyes widened. He saw a long dining table arranged in the reception room. Candles were lit, plates, wine glasses, forks, and other utensils were placed in order.

All of them were perfectly arranged in order. The only thing that made James freeze in shock was the dishes.

Instead of regular dishes, he saw his followers' heads were placed in orders!

On the other side, a slim figure sat on the Host seat and seemed to be eating a slice of raw meat!

Yes, that was a slice of raw meat!

For the first time, James took a step back in vigilant. He quickly identified the boy and became shocked.

'Eve's son is a cannibal? Why didn't the informer mentioned anything about this?' His complexion turned deadly pale.

"Hehehe, Mr. James. Is it? Take a seat." John made a twisted face and let out a creepy laugh. His tone appeared abnormally eerier.

'F*ck! Where is my son?! Also, what is that creepy laugh?!' James's face went stiff as he stared at the gloomy dining table.

After looking at his followers' heads for a moment, he calmed his mind and then shifted his gaze towards the twisted monster that sat on the other end.

Simultaneously, John stared into James's eyes and released his inborn, killing intent. An invisible killing power ripped through the air and gripped the opponent's heart.

For a moment, James felt bloodlust oozing out from the boy and got astounded.

'A real killer.' Although James was startled by the boy's sudden change, he didn't get anxious.

'Even if he turned into a psychopath, he is still a Classless mortal. I have already checked his record.' James sat on the opposite host seat and asked coldly.

"Boy, where is my son?"

"I will tell you in a while. You must be hungry. Mom taught me to never speak when eating. It's basic etiquette." John said with the same devilish smile and took another bite.

'Eve! What the hell did you teach your son during all these years?!' He gritted his teeth and sat with a hesitant face. Although the food on his plate was fried meat, he felt uneasy inside.

John's face turned icy cold as he saw that hesitant look and spoke chillingly.

"If you want to know more about your son, then you have to eat it."

It was a threat!

Although James could easily kill this little brat, he didn't dare to take the risk. He also saw some changes in the boy's eyes and became more cautious.

'My son's life is at stake.' He closed his eyes for three seconds and then picked up the fried meat with trembling hands. He never expected that a simple hunting mission would turn into something like this.

'Damn you, Eve! I'm gonna kill you over and over again!' He grounded his teeth and took a large bite. Instead of a salty taste, he felt a bland taste inside his mouth. The meat was not cooked well. He chewed it for a while and then gulped it down.

Under John's piercing gaze, James groaned in displeasure while cursing Eve in his mind from time to time and started eating with bloodshot eyes.

A few minutes later, James finished eating the whole fried meat and stared back at the devil with trembling hands.

"Good! Now, I'm happy." John said while licking his red lips and then asked,

"Who told you about us? For the past 15 years, we were completely hidden from the Nightwind family's eyes, right? How did Martin find out about us?"

A look of astonishment appeared on James's face as he heard his words. He then shook his head and replied helplessly.

"We don't know. The informer sent your information to us anonymously. But we are suspecting that the informer might be Bishop Reynolds."

John had already expected this and soon asked.

"Will Martin give up on hunting us? You see, I don't have any plan to avenge my father. I will forgive his past sins and won't pursue the past matters. But if you guys come again and ruin my peaceful life, I will enter Martin's bedroom and slit his wife's neck one day. Then, I will go for his sons' heads and then his daughters' heads. I will shave his head, cut his cock, and even put him nakedly on the road. I'm a forgiving person. I won't kill him. As long as he didn't cross my path, I will leave this matter off. So, what's your answer?"

Anger boiled up in James's eyes as he heard rude and wicked words from John. He unsheathed his golden dagger and stood up. But the next instant, he felt his head began to feel dizzy!

'I'm poisoned!' He stared at John with an alarmed face and stumbled on the nearby chair.

"You are strong. I can feel the strong aura from your body. But even the mighty elephant has a weakness, James." John shook his head and added,

"Your weakness is your own son. You shouldn't have brought your son to this mission."

Gripping his head, James stared at John with full of killing intent and shouted.

"WHERE IS MY SON?!"

"Where?" John let out a soft chuckle and added with creepy laughter,

"He is in your belly, moron."

Hearing those words, James felt confusion, panic, anxiety, and other emotions appeared in his head.

"Hehehe, do you really think I will let you off easily?" John stood up from his seat and walked towards the falling James.

"I knew much about those who are in power. Even if you went there and tell them about my cruel character, they won't believe you. Your only option is to die here and become my strength. I added a strong poison. Even I didn't expect that my mother would be storing some poison bottles in the storeroom. Look at you now, pathetically crawling under the chair like a worthless worm." John arrived in front of James and smiled.

Anger welled up in James's eyes as he held his golden dagger and lunged towards John at an incredible speed. Even after being poisoned, he didn't slow down a bit and began to attack him in an agitated state.

Meanwhile, John backed away hurriedly while avoiding any fatal strikes.

Within 30 seconds, the whole reception hall had turned into a bloody mess. Chairs and tables were sliced into multiple pieces by James's attacks and were flying in all directions.

'Damn, this is exhilarating.' John felt thrilled inside and started throwing knives at James from time to time. If it were before, James would have easily crippled him. But after consuming the poisonous food, James' movement became slower and slower.

After five minutes of struggle, James couldn't keep his balance and fell pathetically.

'My body is too weak! I need to level up quickly and prepare for their next hunting squad. Moreover, I need to find more information about this magical world.' John mumbled to himself.

"Tell me, brat! Is that fried meat is my son's?" Panting heavily, James stared at the white ceiling and asked anxiously.

"Hehe, die in suspense." John let out a chuckle and beheaded him on the spot.

[Target Eliminated! 100 Exp obtained!]

[Quest reward for killing the mysterious kidnapper, James: 500 Exp obtained!]

A smile crept on his face as he saw the notification.

He then dragged those bodies and heads outside one by one and placed them in the yard. After that, he went back to his bedroom and took the land and house documents. He then walked out of his house while scaring the hundreds of onlookers and went towards the Life Church building.

After he left, security guards and town patrol units arrived at his house and became shocked when watching those multiple headless bodies. The one who led the team was Security Captain Noah. He was an average middle-aged man with broad shoulders and wore a brown uniform. He had wide-set green eyes, short black hair, an oval face, and thin eyebrows.

He glanced at those bodies one by one and started taking notes on a thick brown sheet.

Security Captain Noah then walked into the large house and started searching for clues. He saw multiple bloodstains all over the places and then turned his expression solemn. In his 20 years old experience, Noah had never seen such a horrible killing incident and got an uncontrollable fear towards his target. After looking at the markings and bloodstains, he could vaguely understand what had happened here.

After gathering evidence to make Charles the real killer, he sent a detailed report to the City lord and started searching for his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, John reached the Life Church and walked inside with a pale face.

After glancing at the front, he saw Bishop Reynolds was seated on the front pew and walked towards him.

Hearing his unsteady footsteps, Reynolds closed the Sacred Book of Life, stood up from his seat, and turning around.

"Did you bring the documents?"

"Yes," John replied with a nod and then glanced at Eve Nightwind, who was placed on the wooden table around the corner.

"Good. We should sign the contract quickly." Reynolds curled his lips upward and grinned.

Meanwhile, John stared into Bishop Reynolds's deep-set amber eyes and asked sharply.

"Father Reynolds, are you the one who informed about us to the Nightwind family?"

His sudden question startled Reynolds greatly.

"Why do you think it is me?" Reynolds turned his expression serious and asked.

"In Riverdale city, no one knew about our real identity. But you are an exception. You are a powerful Rank-3 Bishop. I heard from my mom once that Bishops have the skill to see through one's secrets and identity. What is that skill name? Ah, yes. [True Eyes] is it?" John asked while turning his expression cold.