Pal Padraig got up from his rocking chair and called out to his students who had just finished their run and were waiting.
- Today we will go to the city and get some things we need. Go change your clothes and wait for me at the entrance of the camp. You have twenty minutes.
He turned around and went to his hut, ignoring Han and Berfin's surprised looks. Twenty minutes. The time is very short. Berfin knew that if they did not make it, the punishment they would receive would be very severe. So she did not wait any longer and turned around and ran out of the courtyard. Of course, Han would not remain idle. He also followed Berfin.
…
Pal Padraig was very pleased with Han, who had been training with him side for twenty days. Having such a student after his spoiled grandson was like a reward for all the troubles he had gone through. But he didn't have enough confidence in this kid.
Fortunately, a letter came from Eren two days ago. It was a letter that confirmed Han's story. Eren, during his return journey, encountered a red orc who claimed to be Han's mother at the place where they found Han. They talked for a while with the help of the other red orc next to him...
He placed the letter proving that Han was not a spy or an assassin of another group in his desk drawer. Then he leaned back in his chair and thought for a long time.
Finally making his decision, he got up from his chair and left his room. He called his aide to him and explained to him what he had to do. After two days of work, everything was ready.
A test prepared to take Han's training to the next level. Let's see if Han can pass this test. If he doesn't pass, it's okay. He can continue his life as an ordinary assassin like his grandson.
Pal Padraig changed his clothes and left his hut, taking with him the things he might need.
...
A horse carriage was waiting for them at the entrance of the autumn forest. When the three of them got in the carriage, Berfin's attitude changed instantly. The serious girl who cared about her superior-subordinate relationship from previous was gone, and a spoiled little girl came in her place. She immediately went to her grandfather, sat down and hugged her grandfather's arm.
- Grandpa... I thought you forgot my birthday like the previous. Although I must admit it. You remembered my birthday every once in a while. But this year is different from the others. This year you remembered my birthday and you are taking me on a wander around. This thoughtful behavior made me very happy.
- (Pal Padraig, who had gotten over his momentary surprise, reached out with his free hand and patted his grandson's head.) It is not right to forget some things. Don't worry, I haven't reached the age of forgetfulness yet. Happy birthday, the rose of our family.
- Thank you, Grandpa.
Berfin hugged her grandfather's arm tighter and began to wonder what kind of gift her grandfather had bought her. When the happiness of the gift she was going to receive was reflected on her face, she put her head on her grandfather's shoulder and started to look out the carriage window.
At that moment Pal Padraig was thinking, "This girl's birthday is today?" This was very bad. He would have to change most of the things he had arranged beforehand. Moreover, he had to buy a gift too. Oh, what a tough day.
...
Towards noon, the carriage entered the city and stopped in front of a two-story arcade inside the second wall. Inside this arcade, there were many shops selling the skins of various animals, beasts and wild creatures hunted in the surrounding forests.
Occasionally, animals caught alive were displayed in a few shops inside the arcade to be sold as pets. The valuable animals and skins among the goods hunted and brought were separated and sent to the central arcade located there to be sold to the nobles inside the first wall.
When the Padraig family carriage stopped in front of the arcade, the arcade guards approached the carriage and formed a partial security perimeter. Pal Padraig and his two students got out of the carriage and entered the arcade through the gap opened by the guards.
The place was very crowded like a marketplace. People were coming and going everywhere... Since it was his first time in an arcade, Han was looking at the architecture of the building rather than the crowd around him. When they retreated to a quiet corner of the arcade, Pal Padraig left his students there alone.
- I have some work to do. You look at the pets upstairs. I will finish my work and try to come back soon.
When the thought that her grandfather would buy her a pet settled in her heart, Berfin could not stand still and as soon as her grandfather left, she quickly walked upstairs. Han followed her.
There were three live animal stores upstairs. Berfin had been come to this arcade before and knew the contents of the stores here. Therefore, she walked towards the largest store one and the one with the highest quality products there.
Although she almost ran to the store, she stopped just before entering the store, pulled herself together and then walked in calmly. There were interesting and diverse animals everywhere and Berfin was looking at them all with great interest.
Han could not understand this sudden change in Berfin. The rebellious, irritable and outspoken girl left and was replaced by an excited, cheerful and loving girl. She stood in front of each cage and carefully examined the animal in the cage.
Finally, she stopped in front of a wolf cub sleeping in its cage. It looked very cute with its big head and fluffy tail. Its fur was white and light blue. Berfin immediately read the description on the side of the cage
"Blue wolf cub. 3 months old. The ruler of the Kerv Mountains. As the wolf grows, its white fur turns gray and its light blue fur turns night blue. If well nourished, its adult height can reach up to 2.50 meters… This wolf is called "the night wolf" among the people."
Berfin, a sales representative with years of experience, gave him full attention as soon as he walked through the door. He did not go to help the other customers in the store and observed Berfin for a while. And finally, when Berfin stood in front of the wolf cub cage, he made his move.
- Excuse me! If you want, I can help you.
- I like this wolf. What can you tell me about it?
- It has a good-natured and calm temperament. It never shows any signs of aggression when you leave it alone. It is not very mobile. Wherever you put it in the morning, it stays there until the evening.
It shows complete loyalty to its owner. If it is trained in the right way, it can even give its life to protect its owner when it grows up...
Are you thinking of it for yourself or for someone else?
- Of course, I will buy it for myself.
- From your behavior and the sparkle in your eyes, I can tell you that this cute blue wolf will be the best companion in your store for you. And you have already chosen it.
- Yes, that's right. I really liked this wolf. I want to take him.
- Should we send our cute wolf to your house or would you like to take it with you right away?
- I want to take it with me but my grandfather has to come first. Let my grandfather come, then we will decide.
Han, who was standing aside and silently watching what was happening, thought he should at least warn Berfin when it became clear that Berfin wanted to buy the wolf. When the salesperson left, he approached Berfin.
- Senior! This wolf is not a well-behaved and calm animal as the salesperson said. I...
- (Berfin got angry before Han could continue.) What do you mean it is not well-behaved... Do you know better than the salesperson? Then sell these animals instead of the seller.
That man has been here for years. I won't trust him, but will I trust you who just came into my life? Don't interfere in my business...
Of course... Oh yeah... How could I not notice? You were jealous of me because I was going to buy an animal, right? You are pathetic. I didn't think he would stoop so low as to put himself in this position. What a shame for you... You are so pathetic...
Han's face turned red from embarrassment at being scolded. This woman! She deserves everything that will happen to her. If so, buy the blue wolf and see what happens. He turned his back to Berfin and silently stepped aside to wait for Pal Padraig to come.
After a while, Pal Padraig came to the store. When he heard that Berfin wanted to buy the blue wolf, he seemed to object, but then he gave up. "Today is my granddaughter's birthday. He can buy whatever he wants. After all, this is a punishment for my forgetfulness," he thought.
They took the cage and the sleeping blue wolf inside and left the store. They entered a leather shop on the lower floor. They bought two or three pieces of animal skin from this shop and left the arcade. After placing what they bought in the horse-drawn carriage, they went to a weapon shop inside the first wall.
Pal Padraig bought himself a new pair of daggers from here and then sent Han and Berfin to the Padraig family residence. While his students drove away, Pal Padraig walked into the back streets and disappeared.
...
Hours later, the Padraig family's carriage stopped in front of a popular and high-quality restaurant within the second wall. It's time to see the results of the test he did today. Besides, it's his granddaughter's birthday. Should he at least buy her a meal.
They entered the restaurant and sat at a table next to the wall on the second floor of the restaurant and ate their meal. After drinking his coffee, Pal Padraig started talking.
- As you know, we are elite soldiers who receive special training. Even though we have now left the military camp and are mixing with the public in civilian clothes, the fact that we are soldiers does not change. As a requirement of the training we receive, we must always be careful and alert.
We have enemies who want to ambush us, attack and kill us when we are most vulnerable. That's why we must pay attention to everything. We must take a good look at the layout, structure and order of every environment and place we enter. We must check if there is anything different than what is supposed to be.
Of course, the most important detail we must pay attention to during these checks is the people around us. Now take a look around you… As you can see, everyone is busy with their own business. They are eating and chatting. Everything seems as it should be, but if there is an enemy among them, he will definitely be following you with one eye.
You will catch this hostile look and defend your cat. You understand, right? The job of an elite soldier is to find and destroy the enemy hiding in that crowd, no matter how crowded the surroundings are.
(When Berfin and Han became alert as if they were surrounded by the enemy, Pal Padraig warned them.) Stay calm. With your current training, it is impossible for you to understand who your enemies are in this crowd.
They are smart, they hide well… But there are also stupid ones among them. It is easy to recognize them. These stupid ones follow you instead of waiting for the time to come. They either come after you themselves or they hire someone. It is very easy to distinguish them.
Your perspective should be in this direction. Your first encounter with someone is normal. Your second encounter is a coincidence. But the third encounter with that person in the same day is clear evidence that he is your enemy.
I know today happened quickly and it got to be evening quickly. Now our daily rush is over. We are calmer and our thoughts are calmer. We are in a period where you need to think, be aware and reveal some things.
Now take a look around you. Is there anyone among all these people who fits the description I just mentioned?
As Han looked around at the people around him, Berfin did not understand what her grandfather was talking about. Today is her birthday. Of course, all her attention was on her new pet. She wanted to go home and play with her new pet as soon as possible.
But her grandfather brought her to dinner and then told her that they were surrounded by the enemy. What happened? Did many events happen without realizing it? Or did something else happen that did not know? Now she looked around and could not understand who she was supposed to see.
While she was looking at her grandfather in surprise and trying to understand the events, Han got up from the table and walked around the restaurant for a while and then came back. Her grandfather's gaze was on Han. That is why Berfin started to look at Han.
Han got up because he could not see everyone in the restaurant from where he was sitting. When he found the answer he was looking for, he came back and calmly sat down.
- (In a low voice) Master, the two people sitting at the table in front of the window across from us and the blond man sitting behind the middle column have been following us since we entered the arcade this morning.
I know that the men in front of the window are men from our military camp, but I don't know who the blond man behind the column is. I've never seen him before.
- !??
…
Two days ago, Pal Padraig had called his aide and asked him to arrange two men for them to follow his students when they went to the capital. Now it seems he made a mistake in giving this task to his aide.
It was not right that the men chosen from among the soldiers remaining in the camp should be recognized by the Han. Did the aide do this on purpose or was it a wrong choice? He could not reveal the truth without asking his aide about this matter.
This pursuit had somehow ended. It was not important that his own men were exposed. What mattered now was the blond man who was following his students. He raised his hand and called the waiter to his side and asked for the bill. After paying money for the meals, he sent his students out of the restaurant.
- You said the third person following you was behind the pillar, right?
- Yes, master.
- Okay. You go to the carriage, I'll become in a little later.
As Han and Berfin were leaving the restaurant, the blond man got up and started to follow them. It was getting dark. As the last rays of the evening sun illuminated the street, Berfin and Han started walking towards the carriage.
When the blond man entered the alley right next to the restaurant to avoid being seen by the children, Pal Padraig made his move. The man's attention was on the students, so he did not notice the danger approaching from behind.
Pal Padraig quickly moved forward and stabbed the man's neck with the newly acquired dagger in an instant. When the man grabbed his pierced neck to stop the flow of blood, Pal Padraig stabbed the man's heart with the other dagger.
The man who staggered and leaned against the wall, soon scraped against the wall and fell to the ground. Leaning towards the man who was taking his last breath, Pal Padraig cleaned the blood on his daggers using the man's clothes. Then he stood up and left the alley as if nothing had happened.
He did not use his karambit knives because he did not want to expose himself to his enemies. He did not know whose man this blond man was, but that did not really matter. If there was anyone who should think and worry, it should be his enemy who set this dog on them.
When he came back to the main road, he stopped and observed his surroundings. Then he calmly walked towards the carriage...