When the clock tower finally fell silent again, an owl swooped through the open window.

  Its sharp, intelligent eyes scanned the room before its form melted and reshaped into a man in a black uniform.

  He gestured quickly, and several others rushed in after him, pistols drawn, scanning the shadows.

  Their bullets were special—purified rounds that could harm both demons and corrupted beings alike.

  “They’re gone,” said the owl-man coolly.

  The others looked bewildered—they’d arrived too late.

  Still, the leader felt a pang of relief. The lingering aura in the air was that of a high-grade abomination—something far beyond his team’s ability to handle.

  He himself could barely stand against a second-tier evil spirit. Most of his squad were only first-tier, and a few were mere humans.

  Meanwhile, on the jolting deer cart, Danny couldn’t help noticing how strangely quiet the three new passengers were.

  They seemed tense, anxious even, and spoke little during the journey.

  Her instincts were right—they had, after all, just watched Glenn kill a man with their own eyes.

  Still, none of them feared him. The man Glenn killed had been a dark mage; even if he hadn’t, justice would’ve found him sooner or later.

  Out in lawless places, people vanished every day—no one asked questions.

  As the three sat in uneasy silence, Glenn up front laughed and chatted with young Ricky in his arms.

  The boy, no longer shy, had become a stream of endless curiosity—asking about every village they passed, about the deer, the sun, the moon.

  Glenn answered what he could, and for what he couldn’t, he made up whimsical, imaginative stories that made the boy giggle.

  They stopped occasionally to rest, then pressed on again.

  By afternoon, the towers of Dood Town came into view.

  Seeing no sign of damage, Luther and the Carter brothers cheered with genuine relief.

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  Though Glenn had assured them earlier, the sight itself filled them with gratitude and joy.

  “I have to check my house—make sure no one broke in!” Kater shouted, leaping off the cart.

  Kajin followed close behind.

  “Everything’s ready at the shop,” Glenn called after them. “Be there tomorrow morning on time!”

  “Got it, sir!”

  Watching them leave, Luther smiled faintly. “I’ll come with you to the store. I’m not in a rush to go home.”

  Glenn nodded his approval.

  The streets were busier now, lined with knights in heavy armor—Land Knights, sent from above to secure the town and deal with any remnants of the chaos.

  Glenn ignored them, though he could feel their energy scanning through him from time to time.

  He didn’t like it, but endured.

  When they reached his shop, Danni’s eyes widened in astonishment at the beautifully crafted storefront.

  “This is yours? It’s wonderful! How did you ever think of all this?”

  “Just a spark of inspiration,” Glenn said with a modest smile. “Come inside.”

  He opened the door, leading Ricky by the hand.

  Inside, Danni couldn’t stop admiring the place. Ricky darted about in delight, laughing and spinning circles.

  “Luther,” Glenn said, pointing to a back room, “I had uniforms made for you and the brothers. Go take a look.”

  “Yes, sir.” Luther nodded and disappeared inside.

  “Wait here a moment,” Glenn told Danni. “I’ll go prepare your room.”

  He’d already decided to let her and her son stay here temporarily. If she went back to Bayek, she would only insist he leave with her. This was safer.

  He would stay here too for a few days, just to keep watch.

  “Let me do it,” Danni said instinctively. “You’re hopeless at these things.”

  “You don’t know the layout,” Glenn replied, gently pressing her shoulder before heading upstairs.

  The building had two floors. The upper one, originally meant for storage, could easily be rearranged into bedrooms.

  Danni sat down, running her fingers over the clean wooden table.

  The style was simple—minimalist, she might have called it—yet pleasant to the eye.

  It was more than a butcher’s shop needed, really. But Glenn had decided to add a small beverage counter, selling tea and drinks—a modest side business born of curiosity.

  Fresh meat on one side, refreshments on the other. Oddly mismatched, yet somehow fitting.

  Danni didn’t know that. She just sat there, half dazed, realizing how far her once aimless brother had come.

  Ricky ran around the shop, then leapt into her lap, looking up at her with shining eyes.

  “Mom, this place is so pretty! When can we have a house like this?”

  “Someday,” Danni said softly, smiling. “Your uncle Dylan will build one for us.”

  It was only to soothe the child—she had no intention of troubling Glenn. To her, his business had only just begun, and the future was uncertain.

  But upstairs, Glenn heard every word—and quietly made a note in his heart.

  Elsewhere, Douglas and several constables escorted five children before a female knight.

  “My lady,” Douglas said respectfully, “these children have lost their parents. We ask that you send them to the Relief House. You’d have our deepest thanks.”

  The knight glanced at the tear-streaked, hollow-eyed children and nodded.

  “Over there—find Knight Elena. She’ll see to them.”

  Douglas bowed in gratitude and led the children away.

  They were the ones Glenn had saved—their parents, caught outside the town during the attack, had been slaughtered by the red-robed fiends.

  Now, they would grow up as orphans under the care of the Saint Savier Church’s charity home.

  Douglas didn’t know how well they’d be treated there—but it was all he could do.

  When Elena learned their story, her eyes glistened with sorrow. She knelt, gently kissed each child’s forehead, and personally led them into a commandeered building filled with other refugees—those who, too, had lost everything.

  She found the children a quiet room, and placed attendants to watch over them in turns.