After dealing with what happened with Vein, I took my leave discreetly without trying to get to know him or anything.
Sometimes it was better to leave a mysterious figure behind then a known one… it was much cooler.
Our journey later didn't come with any trouble or discoveries. It was almost too quiet except for the birds and animals making some noises. But for precaution, I kept my perception up to a level enough to know if any enemy or trap would spring up on us.
It took us close to eight hours to reach Captain Klein's, but even than we only came upon a somewhat empty camp. There were a few soldiers behind, belonging to Klein's regiment.
Asking them about him, they told us he went to attack the next bandit base. So it was a bit of a bummer to go after him again but the journey was short.
Only another hour later, I finally found the guy and he was in the midst of battle.
I mean not really; he was about to finish off the final guy.
Let me give a better explanation.
A guy wearing expensive clothes with shreds and a beaten expression knelt before Klein. Klein on the other hand displayed the eagle on his armor, bloodied but strong. His breathing leveled enough to say he could go for another round.
In his hand was his long silver spear, pointed sideways to the man. At the sharp end of the spear, blood was dripping from it, possibly from the knelt man before him.
The guy on the ground spoke first, "Hah… you fought well… enough to defeat me. You should be proud… whoever you are."
"Proud?" There was confusion on Klein's unmoved face, "With only this level of display? Even a roughed up soldier of mine could show this much, it's nothing to be proud of."
The bandit gave a losing laugh, "Haha… even as I kneel defeated, you bring me down even further. You are quite arrogant… what's your name again?"
"It's Klein Gantrow but don't waste your breath on it. You won't be remembering it later anyway."
"Damn! Talk about bringing a guy down even on his last stand." The bandit said, yet there was something suspicious about him, "Something could bring your end too."
"Well that's yet to happen so…" Klein shook his spear, indicating it was time to end this conversation.
"It was good talking to you." The guy said as a dangerous glint flashed on his eyes, "You talked too much!"
The guy kneeling on the ground suddenly showed strength that wasn't on him before as he leapt at Klein. On his right hand, there was a small dagger with a purplish glint on it, most likely poison.
The leader knew it wouldn't be enough to straight out kill him and escape, especially with so many soldiers still standing around. So if he was going to die, he would take Klein with him too as the poison had very high potency.
The leader roared as he was inches away from slashing Klein's stomach. Yet even with such a danger looming ahead, there wasn't a hint of fear on Klein.
"Stone Break." Klein mumbled that word as the leader stopped in his path.
I saw from my point that underneath the leader, multiple sharp stones protruded upwards and impaled the guy. There was one in the hand with the dagger, one on his other hand, one on each leg and finally two in the chest.
It was a painful way to stop someone, but when they were about to kill you in a slow way, it was well deserved.
"Hah… So that's it then."
"It is." Klein said and beheaded the guy's head, not wasting anymore time and giving him another opportunity.
Klein didn't even give another look to the guy and turned around to leave.
Suddenly he heard what seemed like a clap.
But it seems he wasn't wrong as heard the claps coming more. Turning around he saw someone that he couldn't recognize but didn't find unfamiliar either. It was in between.
"That was a good show, Mr. Klein. I almost thought maybe he got you."
"Did you? Because your expression says otherwise." Klein said with an almost robotic tone.
"Well… truth be told, if he were actually a threat, I would have killed him."
Klein raised a brow at that but didn't find him lying. In his mind, he found the stranger somewhat strong but couldn't depict his power level.
Then he glanced at the smiling strangers body. He saw an armor that was in the history books and which he saw a few days ago. Then he turned up to his face and spoke after a while, "I presume you're the one called Mr. Tax?"
"Correct! Was this too much for you to recognize me?" I point to the armor.
"Not really, it was your armor that identified you. More so, when I haven't seen your face to begin with."
"Oh, my apologies." I give a small bow, "I forget that none of you have actually seen my face back in that meeting. No wonder everyone seems to think I'm something else."
"Either way, it's good to see your face, to know that your… human." Klein said and looked once more at my smiling face to confirm that.
'Damn… does every captain think I'm some kind of inhuman creature or have facial dis-figuration because of the armor?'
'Wouldn't be too farfetched with monsters and other things roaming around this planet.'
"Please follow me." Klein walked and I followed him while talking.
"Did you perhaps, not find my camp and came here?"
"No, I actually went to your camp first."
"Hmm, weird. I seem to remember telling my men to say that I'll be gone for a while and to lodge you in the time being."
"Yeah they did and even told me to stay behind. But if I did, I wouldn't have witnessed such an introduction though." I say to him as he stopped and looked at me. The rightful source is n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
"Have you not rested from your journey yet?"
"Oh? How do you know that?" I curiously ask.
"The men following you have drained looks." He pointed and I look back to understand why.
Everyone with me definitely looked drained. Their tired faces called for some food and a comfy bed.
I turn to him, smiling again, "I couldn't lay back and rest while it was still enemy territory."
Klein nodded and gestured ahead, "I have set a temporary camp ahead, please take your men and rest while we patch up and gather our things."
"Alright, call me when you're ready." I didn't want to disturb him on our first greet so I let him go.
With Klein's instruction, a few soldiers came and brought us to the temporary camp where they gave us food and a bed to rest.
Unlike me, who wasn't hungry or tired yet, the others were. They showed it by downing all the food that was given to them and almost asked for more if I wasn't sitting next to them with a stern gaze.
I was trying to make a good expression and a starving company didn't bring one.
After resting for half an hour, a soldier came and brought me to Klein's tent or more like a separate space actually.
"Mr. Tax, care to tell me what you're really here for?"