My Last Hunt

Chapter 198: Back to Middletown (6)

Back To Middletown (6)

Lowa came back from the eatery. She was no more limping while walking. So it was a benefit to take meat meals of similar level monsters. "Get ready for long journey." As soon as she entered the tent; she heard the stern voice of the young man. He already mentioned that today they will be leaving. Lowa and Wuza have nothing to prepare other than their spirited minds. Qiao put the parcel carefully and then stood up to leave. Lowa has no issue since she has taken another meal of the monster and the deeper injury has been healing fast. 

It was in the middle of the day when they walked out from the entrance of the encampment. There was a dagger; other than the hilt it was covered with the strips of the shard cloth hanging at the waist of the huntress. Wuza was covering more than half of his face; it did not look off the trail because many hunters chose mysterious appearances during their normal journeys. Qiao was walking with elegance of a level five hunter; a big sword was hanging at his back while the shapeless weapon was in his hand. He was not sure what was sealed inside the parcel however he did not rip the wrapping to take a look. 

He knew there was strong connection between two things; the first one which the bookstore owner handed him and this second one which the elder gave responsibility to deliver. The first one brought a severe punishment and nobody knows what this second parcel would bring for him. He was not disappointed or unwilling for the fact that the punishment proved beneficial for him in many ways and he no more label it as punishment. Actually the old bookstore owner was a retired hunter and when he noticed strong potential in this young hunter; he wrote a letter of recommendation. 

Half of the retired elders and hunters felt the need of a Hunter Monarch to appear but it was a pit that potential hunters were unable to access most of the resources or they were hindered in succeeding the Hightown approvals in due time. Due time was a critical measure and one must necessarily pass it through within set time frame and become Hunter King before reaching hundred or up years of age. From previous two thousand years; no one was able to reach the due time in the limited time frame. 

The beasts were slowly taking control over many parts of the continents. They were getting stronger by every day and the Hightown was under the serious threat of invasion in the next hundred years. To address this issue; almost all the honest elders and the retired hunters decided to provide opportunities to the potential and young hunters in a way that no one else could go through but the stronger and the chosen. When the elder saw Qiao alive after the rumors of his disappearance; he confidently handed the parcel to him. 

Soon they reached near the wooden bridge and showed the pass to the team leader. "You are going back?" the team leader asked surprised. Usually hunters prefer to reach level five peak and then go back to their Guilds for permission. "My mission here in the Snow Island is also ending at the close of this month and I will return back to Hightown" the silver class leader spoke. "I have few matters to attend there in the Middletown before leaving nonetheless we'll sure meet in the Hightown if it is fate." Qiao waved his hand and crossed the bridge. The lake was smoothly flowing and no signs of danger were present. Lowa turned a last glance at Snow Island before entering in the narrow path. She would remember this place and if possible visit again. 

The narrow path soon ended and they reached the other side of the wooden bridge. It was whole new world for Wuza and the huntress. Both sides of the path were densely packed with forest and bushes. Due to harsh winter; everything seemed covered with white. The pathway also turned plain. Here in the periphery of Middletown; the monsters were not of higher levels so they simply hibernate during winter causing the snow accumulating without facing disturbance from the wandering monsters. 

Lowa hid her hands in her fleece; she was only level four and yet to defeat the physical temperature traits. Wuza was not affected by the difference in the weather. Qiao was walking as if he has nothing to do with weather or the surrounding. This was the place where he first appeared after being trapped by the wicked hunter and he loathed whenever he remembered that moment of helplessness. His expressions changed from stern to neutral and then hatred glinted in his eyes. 

Wuza and Lowa noticed this change and kept silent. Qiao walked with deliberate pace; he was directly going to meet the bookstore owner and handover the parcel then reach the Guild for permission. This was he won't be taking a double route or wasting much time here. He wanted to shorten his stay in the Middletown. Wuza was unable to tell whether they were going at the right path or just randomly taking turns. Qiao was familiar with these paths and he was heading toward the Middletown market; at the end of the market was the old bookstore. 

Compared to the normal days the market was dead; most of the shopkeepers were sitting in the hope to trap some customers during the dull days of business. Qiao walked past the straight lane full of snow. It seemed the market became an orphan as no one was here to clear the snow from the carved pathways. "I am beginning to like this place." Lowa spoke fascinated by the landscape of the Middletown. "You said the same for Snow Island." Wuza reminded her immediately. "I never knew that the other continents can be this beautiful." From her tone she seemed not care the mocking of the blood hunter and answered without minding coming back to him. 

Wuza got shocked; he was expecting some harsh turnover at him. "You both will stand here." Qiao gestured them and then entered in the bookstore. "Finally you are here." The voice came from behind the bookshelves. "I had to; there is a parcel for you." Qiao brought out the parcel and placed it on the old table. "That oldie bastard told you something to convey?" a retired hunter wearing his exceptionally fine fleece appeared from behind the wooden shelves. "Ah, it was" Qiao turned silent; thinking whether to utter those words or not. 

It would be little off if he repeated the same words in front of the senior. "I already know what he conveyed." The old hunter sat behind the table and took the parcel. After taking pause of brief moments; the old hunter gave the parcel back to the young hunter. "This parcel only needs my approval; here take it." Saying this he carved a mark and then handed back to Qiao. "What is in the parcel and why the senior is giving it to me?" Qiao asked puzzled. He cannot just rip apart the cover and see what was inside. It might offend the trust of the senior. 

"There is a chosen time for everything to disclose and when a hunter try to steal which is meant for future then he had to face the outcome." The retired hunter said so and buried his face in reading a script. It was gesture for the young man that he can no more ask question and stay longer. Qiao sighed and kept the parcel with him. Few things were really mysterious but as the old hunter pointed about the outcome; he chose not to steal before the real time comes.

"The Hightown is different from Middletown; beware young man." When he was leaving through exit; he heard the warning of the old hunter. So it turned out that he handed the same parcel saying that it belong to him then why the elder said that he should hand it over to the bookstore owner. Qiao looked at the mark which does not give any impression of authority but a mystery; it seemed this mark meant something important or the two oldies were playing with his curiosity. He came out and started walking toward the lane carved for Guilds. It was outside the Middletown market at the third entrance spanning toward the fourth and fifth market hills. The Guilds were not built at much distance from each other however they were not closer either. 

Starglow Guild was among renowned Guild's so it has naturally better place in the Middletown. Only fifty feet away the entrance could be seen so he stopped. "Stay here; the guild has strict rules so I can't take both you there, the consequences you already know." Qiao looked in the surrounding and made sure that no one was there to overhear. He was fortunate; his deep rooted enemies were outside the Middletown.