"Of course! Big Ben and I were already..."
The words were just halfway out.
Trying to leverage his knowledge of the "Big Shot" for a way out of the dangerous situation, Iron Head suddenly realized there might be an unknown relationship between these two professionals and Big Ben.
If they were enemies, would connecting himself invite big trouble?
He quickly stifled his laughter, looked down, and lowered his confident tone:
"I t Mr. Ben a few years ago, but have since seldom..."
"Where is he? Take us to him."
Xia Nan and Wood, of course, weren’t fools.
The bald man’s behavior just now clearly concealed part of the truth.
They presud he indeed knew Big Ben’s address.
Xia Nan stood aside, silent, with an equally indifferent expression, devoid of any extra emotion.
Not just any ordinary resident living a stable life, it was better to be straightforward with these street hooligans.
"No, I really..."
Iron Head opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to argue.
But when his guilt-stricken eyes t the cold gaze of the silent dark-haired young man,
for so reason, he felt an inexplicable chill around his neck.
Circled around the front of his throat, raising goosebumps.
His heart went cold instantly, body trembling for a mont.
Not daring to hide anything anymore, he forced a wry smile onto his stiff face.
"No hiding it from you, I do know Mr. Ben—he helped the boss out in the past, and I assisted from behind."
"But where he lives... I truly don’t know!"
"You should know too, adventurers like him with so status in the city are generally unwilling to associate with people like us."
"Thus, when Mr. Ben was working, the gang would send a few of us to help with small tasks."
"Usually, it’s only the boss who contacts him often."
"If it’s not inconvenient, I can help convey a ssage or directly take you to him, so you can talk yourselves?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Nan frowned.
Making Iron Head nervously wipe the sweat from his forehead, wondering if he said sothing wrong.
Given the bald man wasn’t lying, not knowing Big Ben’s address.
The two options he provided were both precarious.
For the forr, having him relay a ssage,
apart from efficiency and accuracy, there’s the possibility—what if he uses it as a pretext and runs away?
Neum is vast, and as a small gang leader in the Lower City District, he could easily evade pursuit.
As for the other option, following him to their base, eting the Gray Badger Gang boss face-to-face...
Could be dangerous, right?
Contemplating this, Xia Nan turned his gaze towards Wood beside him.
Seeing a barely noticeable nod from him, he looked at Iron Head ahead and coldly said:
"Lead the way!"
A sudden realization hit.
True!
How did it slip his mind?
Though rely a newcor to Neum, an ordinary adventurer, Wood is the personal guard to the City Lord "Wakefield’s" young master.
Even amidst chaos from shifts among upper echelons, he still has status and background.
Without life-and-death concerns, rely approaching a dium-sized gang leader, surely they’ll offer so respect.
This long-ti guarding Wanderer’s conduct suggests he’s confident enough not to endanger them.
Thinking this eased Xia Nan’s mind, allowing negotiation with assurance.
"Gentlen, follow this way."
The initial oppressive atmosphere, with the two bosses watching him, slightly relieved.
Iron Head visibly relaxed a breath.
Turning around, he signaled to the confused juniors behind him to disband temporarily, letting them attend to their own matters.
Cautiously, he began leading Xia Nan and Wood.
...
...
"Is this it?"
Xia Nan gazed at the dim sewer inspection entrance ahead, questioning skeptically.
It had been just over an hour since they left the Iron Bucket Toad.
Following Iron Head through the alleys beside the street, twisting and turning, the setting grew increasingly rundown as it neared the slums.
They finally stopped at one end of a concealed alley.
Iron Head, having long stuffed the blood-stained package into his arms, grabbed the newly lifted manhole cover.
His hefty face showed an extrely contrasting awkward smile:
"You’re overestimating us, sir. While the slums aren’t small, our Gray Badger Gang occupies but a tiny area, with perhaps as many residents as in several West City District blocks combined."
"We’re not about to seize these poor folks’ hos."
"Moreover, above ground there’s always foot traffic, making anything inconvenient."
"Though the sewer stinks, it’s spacious and concealed, the most suitable spot."
His explanation surprisingly made so sense.
Nodding, he stepped forward, intending to descend the manhole.
Wood beside him suddenly extended a hand, stopping Xia Nan.
"Hold on."
With a silent glide over his belt, he gripped a cold short dagger tightly.
His sharply focused guard’s eyes coldly scanned the bald man’s fra.
"I’ll go first, you’re second."
"Xia Nan, you last."
The Neum Sewer’s complexity could easily lead to losing one’s way without guidance.
If Iron Head led and tried escaping within its labyrinth, they’d likely fail to catch him.
And if it’s a trap pre-set by him, closing the cover after they enter would be troubleso.
Keeping Iron Head in the middle, they could react to incidents and tackle them.
Why did Wood choose to lead their precarious journey and have Xia Nan trail?
The answer is simple.
Similar to sacrificing his vacation to help Xia Nan,
months ago in the Mist Forest adventure,
during the encounter with the Demon "Corrosive Monster," he failed his duty, putting the young master at a life-threatening risk.
At a critical mont, Xia Nan managed the pressure, saving the young master.
That’s the reasoning behind Young Master Hai’an’s favor with Sir Fengang.
The near disaster Wood attributes to his oversight, still weighing heavily on him.
For the professional who saved his career, sparing him lifelong regret—
His attitude towards Xia Nan is obvious.
This overly young adventurer barely spent a year in the River Valley Town before the Association mission took him to Neum.
As the host, he should welco him properly.
Unfortunately collided with the master’s incident, amid political turmoil, neither he nor the young master dared drastic actions.
Even daily routines faced constraints.
Post-"vacation," he must return to duty imdiately.
Using spare ti to assist Xia Nan with minor tasks posed no reasons for refusal.
A gleaming flash as the dagger flipped.
His eyes shifted from Iron Head’s tense expression.
Wood looked at Xia Nan, his expression ever stern, reminiscent of their first encounter.
"Watch out."
"Stay focused."
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