My Last Hunt

Chapter 197: Back to Middletown (5)

Back to Middletown (5)

Need to inform the organizers

They were returning the tent when someone called his name. Qiao turned back to see who it was. It was the leader of one of the teams from Starglow Guild; the same team which recruited him to reach in the Snow Island. The team leader was not in good condition. Before he was egoistic and stronger to face any opponent now it seemed he somehow faced upheaval in the circumstances; there was difference of his attitude too. He no more bore authoritative tone which was quite a surprise. Qiao greeted as usual as he acts when meeting an acquainted. 

"You are here? There were rumors that after fighting at the wooden bridge you suddenly disappeared?" the team leader seemed confused. "It is a long story but first tell me what happened to this senior and where is the rest of team members?" Qiao was not anticipating that he would by chance meet the team leader. He was sure that until now the team leader would have left to take permission from the Guild. "Do you remember the team which was constantly looking for trouble? One of them even tried to frame you back then?" the team leader gave a reference for Qiao to remind him about the team who snatched their hunt by stealing the mission information. 

"I do remember and he was punished severely after the matter got disclosed. What happened to him?" Qiao asked. The team leader shook his head with disappointment and spoke; "His team belonged to the other guild and they were purposefully trained to harm various teams of the Starglow Guild. His team framed another team from the Starglow guild and harmed various hunters from other teams belonging to this guild. It seemed they were only given mission to harm the hunters of our Guild." The team leader paused for a moment. 

"And what happened to your team?" Qiao was still confused why the team leader looked different. "They also harmed my team and three of the team members got fatally injured. They returned back to their hometowns for spending the entire winter to rest and recuperate. Though the organizers wasted the experience levels of the concerned team but it already caused much harm to the reputation and the hunters of the Starglow Guild. The remaining hunters are working under other teams before leaving the Snow Island. I need to break the peak of level five before returning back so I am hunting yet." The team leader explained briefly. 

Qiao has already some premonition of similar circumstance when he first noticed the team and the blunt team leader of opponent team. If someone wanted to blame then he could blame the organizers for being so lenient toward the scums. "And what are you planning to do since you returned back?" the team leader asked Qiao. "I am going back to the Middletown to get permission for the Hightown." Qiao spoke confident and then the team leader noticed that he was already halfway through level six. 

"I am sure the Guild would give you permission straightaway for the reason that most of the renowned teams of the guild faced backlash in the Snow Island. The guild promised to the Hightown that five teams or thirty level five peak hunters would be given permission to travel toward the Hightown but unfortunately the present circumstance has changed. Not even the teams of other guilds helped us when they saw us surrounded." The team leader spoke gloomy. He was feeling disappointed because he felt that perhaps his own deeds returned back to him like karma. 

Qiao took deep breath and nodded. It was indeed a bigger lose for the reputation of the Guild and the hunters. The other Guilds were very cautious after such incidents and they were able to protect their teams. The three months of winter were considered a golden time to travel toward the Hightown; for this reason most of the Guilds prepare their teams to get ready for the journey after spending one or two weeks in the Snow Island and hunting. It was reflected that the wandering monsters mostly hide or hibernate under the ground so the hunters could safely clear the distance of almost a big continent. 

"Then I will leave tomorrow for the Middletown." Qiao spoke. "Sure but be cautious about the Midnight Guild team' and its hunters." The team leader reminded. "I will take care of it as I have few friends with me." Qiao answered and got ready to walk toward his tent. "Oh wait; before leaving Snow Island, inform the organizers about your departure so that they could give you the pass for crossing the bridge." The team leader voiced from behind and Qiao waved his hand to gesture that he understood. 

For now he reached the tent and thought to meet the organizer tomorrow morning before leaving. Wuza also heard the conversation and he was quite surprised to find that most of the hunters become shameless sometimes but knowing about the Guilds was something different. The continent he belonged does not thrive with guilds instead it has one single association who was responsible for all matters of the hunters to solve. The association was divided in three wings and each wing was led by an elder. They were pretty strict in such matters and immediately took action in such situations where two teams intentionally confront each other. While the blood hunters were not part of the main stream. 

The tent was silent and the huntress was sleeping like a log. It seemed she does not need to exercise for maintaining her weight or she was not worried that much eating would make her chubby. "After freeloading meat; she is sleeping like won a battle of levels." Wuza criticized her. If she had had heard him; she would have given a sharp answer but she was in deep slumber. "Wuza we could not find a storage bag; you can have a meal once we leave through wooden bridge. Hunting a monster for the meal would label us suspicious especially when this place was under watch. Who knows if a wandering hunter happened to see you and then inform the organizers?" Qiao spoke. 

He initially planned to hunt a monster for this purpose but thought to wait for the right time and place. "There is no hurry as I can survive two more days without meal." Wuza waved his hand and removed the cloth from his face. Qiao nodded.

Early morning he woke up before Lowa could throw something on the ground to make noise. "I am not going with you; take these spoils and pay your eatery bill then come back. I have to go and meet the organizer at the central hub." Qiao searched his fleece and brought some stones out. Lowa eagerly picked the stones from his hand and rushed out of the tent. Qiao was speechless that she did not say anything to express her gratitude while taking the stones. He shook away the present thought and stood up to fix his appearance later he went to get the pass from the organizer. He ordered Wuza to remain in the tent. 

Since the organizers were higher level hunters so there was high chance that one of them perhaps sense the presence of the blood hunter. Precaution was better than cure. He reached the camp and gave the reference of his Guild and the team. The senior elder who happened to choose a severe punishment for him despite that fact that Qiao was not at fault; the elder was also present there. "Young man; what plans you have for future?" he causally asked. 

Qiao wanted to ignore this elder however when he directly asked question from him; he could do nothing but to answer. "My destination is Hightown after visiting my Guild." Qiao plainly answered. "I want a favor from you then." The elder asked again before Qiao could leave in hurry and he has to stop to listen what it was. "Since you are going to the Middletown; take this parcel and hand it over to the old bookstore owner, he is my old acquainted." Saying this; the elder extended his hand and a wrapped parcel handed to Qiao. It was so normal action of the elder that Qiao was standing speechless whether to deny or go with it. 

He seemed very causal as if he has strong trust on a random young man to deliver his parcel to his buddy. "Ah I forgot; tell him that his old friend wanted to bully him again badly." The elder laughed to his heart content. He seemed not affected by the silence of the young man. "Why do you trust me?" Qiao sternly asked. "Come on; if that old rascal can trust you then why not I?" the elder waved his hand to make it sound outright. Qiao walked lazily toward the tent and after thinking it thoroughly he remembered something.