Chapter 3- Welcome back, sir.

Erick's POV:

The 2 soldiers who were with me take the slaves while I head upstairs to check the situation. Small situational tremors make the floor shake as I head towards their source. Soon screams are heard in the distance, I try to get there as quickly as possible. When I finally reach a small hallway with a single door at the end I speed up my pace as the screams become quite clear. Just before I could touch the door, it shatters in front of me as something launches itself at me at full speed.

- Ugggg

Although at first I tried to dodge it, I quickly changed my mind when I saw that the projectile was one of the mercenaries. The mercenary who was launched is bleeding from several parts of the armor while he remains unconscious.

- It seems that the armor saved his life.

I look relieved at the slight movement in his chest. I quickly put him aside and launch myself towards the room without a door.

- Is this the best you have? To the sub-leader of the flash gang, you are nothing more than mere toys.

A man of almost 3 meters is there. With a sword almost as tall as me, he threatens the remaining knights while waving it around the room. Around him are about 8 knights in the same state as the one who flew out the door. The remaining 3, with their weapons in hand, try to hit him from a distance while being careful with their sword.

- Get out of the way mercenaries, I'll take care of this battle from here. You recover the wounded and give them treatment.

The remaining 3, understanding the situation, turn their backs on me and run towards their fallen companions who are crushed against the walls of the large room.

- Huh? And who are you?

The man looks at me with annoyance as I stand in front of him to face him.

- There is no need to give my name, I'm just an adventurer who was passing by.

- …

The man studies me carefully while pointing his sword at me. He finally lets out a sigh as he looks over my shoulder.

- Listen, Mr. Hero, I don't want any trouble with you, I'm just doing my job.

I'm momentarily shocked by his words. The revelation of my identity leaves me greatly surprised as the big guy continues to point his sword at me.

- A hero? Don't confuse me with someone like that. I'm just a simple adventurer.

His gaze becomes more resigned as he watches me.

- I don't get paid enough for this.

A light murmur comes out of his voice before he disappears from my sight. The movement was so sudden that it took me a second to assimilate that he had moved. Before I could fully understand the situation, a huge sword attacks me from the right flank. Although it wasn't a direct blow, the momentum sends me flying a few meters back. Faced with my desperate defense, the man just sighs heavily.

- I really wanted this to end here.

He barely finished his sentence when he disappeared again, only to reappear in front of me and deliver another powerful blow to my left flank. Although I barely blocked it again, the recoil left me separated from him by a few meters.

"Erick, there is something very strange here."

- I know, I don't know how he does it, but I can't keep up with his speed.

As he said that, another blow came from above and faced my rapier. Although I endured the blow, the ground beneath me cracked as my limbs creaked under the powerful blow.

- Mr. Anonymous Hero, could you faint once and for all? I don't want to kill you by accident.

- I won't fall that easily!

A powerful kick reached my stomach before I could compose myself, throwing me back a few meters. I barely held back the urge to vomit as I carefully observed the man in front of me. The blow had shaken my stomach so hard that I felt like all my insides had changed places. When the man disappears again, I manage to see his shadow move as he quickly approaches from my right. I quickly raise a wall of fire in that place.

- Hot!

The man quickly backs away while putting some distance between us. The man looks at me with apparent annoyance.

- I'm already used to your speed, you won't take me by surprise again.

I point my rapier while the man calmly observes me. He sighs again to finally throw his sword at my feet.

- Good decision, although I know you were doing your job, I can't let you go without questioning you first.

With rapier in hand I approach the man, who only smiles at me mischievously.

- I'm sorry, but I can't let you catch me here. See you, anonymous hero.

Before he could complete his sentence, he disappeared again, but this time instead of launching himself at me, he launched himself at the window on the wall.

- You won't run away!

A large wall of fire stands in the way of his escape, however, instead of stopping, he charges at the window and the wall of fire. Within seconds, the wall of the room is shattered and the huge man steps out of it. Before I could put up more barriers to prevent his escape, the man disappears into the darkness of the forest.

- What do we do sir?

One of the three mercenaries approaches me after the man leaves. I sigh and look back at him.

- Don't chase him, that's exactly what he wants. Instead of focusing on him, we have to find his client before he manages to escape.

- Understood sir.

With those words, the mercenary and I turn to look at the shattered bookcase and the secret passage behind it. Apparently, the rush did not allow Crassus and his accomplices to cover their tracks. As the knight and I enter the passage, a voice sounds in my head.

"That giant's power… didn't it look familiar to you?"

I nod as I quicken my pace.

- I've felt that "spark" before.

With new and growing concerns, I enter the mansion's passageway.

..............

After 3 hours of exploring the passageway, we only managed to catch a few of Crassus' accomplices. Crassus himself and his closest confidants managed to escape while I and a few mercenaries who arrived later just got lost in the complex labyrinth of tunnels.

As I returned to the camp where the mercenaries had gathered the treasures they found in the mansion and the rescued slaves, a voice rang in my mind.

"It's a pity we didn't manage to catch that fat merchant. How can someone so fat run so fast?"

- That man gave them the time they needed to flee, from the beginning, he was just buying enough time for them to escape.

"That giant… Didn't he introduce himself as the sub-leader of the Flash Gang?"

- I remember hearing it, but… What is the Flash Gang?

"No idea…"

A silence ensues as I try to think of the term "Flash Gang" but nothing comes to me. Before I could finish my thoughts my hand is suddenly pulled down.

- Huh?

When I look down, a little girl pulls my hand. The girl who had made me promise to return was there as she timidly pulled my hand.

- Welcome back, sir.

A wide smile appears on my face as I kneel down until our eyes are at the same level.

- I'm back, little one.

I gently pat her head as she hugs me tightly. A man in elegant clothing approaches me as I hug the girl. The man gives a small bow before he begins to speak.

- Preparations for the return and relocation of the slaves are ready sir. Everyone will be sent to Cannes City so they can travel from there to their respective homes.

- I understand, then proceed as estimated.

- … Regarding that sir, we have a problem with that.

- A problem?

- Yes…, you have that right in your arms.

Feeling that the conversation turned to her, the girl in my arms is startled as she buries her face even further into my chest.

- That girl doesn't want to tell us where she comes from, even when we offered to take her to her parents, she insists on not telling us anything.

I look down at the girl there. She looks up timidly while avoiding looking me in the eyes.

- Don't you want to go home?

She remains silent for a while while avoiding my gaze. I wait patiently for her answer while she takes a few deep breaths. After a few moments of apparent indecision, she throws herself against my arm squeezing it with her entire small body as she had done before we parted the first time.

- Can't I go with you?

- … Huh?

Those words leave me breathless for a few moments.

- Is that a no?

Her small body presses even tighter against me as she looks at me with her pleading eyes. I don't know how to respond to this sudden turn of events.

- Wait a second, I can't take you with me. I'm in the middle of an adventure, it's too dangerous to take such a small child with me.

Unlike my expectations, instead of convincing her she pouts deeply as she looks at me resentfully.

- Small? I'm not small! I'm a full-grown woman.

She puffs out her small chest proudly as she presses it against my arm as if she wants me to notice. This situation only makes me laugh ironically.

- Even if you say that…

- You promised! You promised you wouldn't abandon me again.

A few small tears peek out from the corner of my eye as she presses her body against my arm. A sudden headache hits me as I rub my forehead tiredly.

"It seems she doesn't want to let you go my dear beau."

- …Vulk, right now is not the time for your sarcastic comments.

- Did you… Did you lie to me?

Large tears begin to flow from her eyes as she trembles slightly as if she were holding back the urge to cry. Panicking, I lift her onto my lap and hug her carefully, trying to calm her down.

- I could even cook for you. I'm sure I'll be useful to you.

She squeezes those words almost into my ear between sobs. The scene breaks my heart as I try to find some way to convince her, but nothing comes to mind.

- … Okay, I'll take you with me.

With those words, she immediately jumps off my lap with a smile from ear to ear. Her sudden change in behavior throws my mind into a state of chaos. She smiles at me as she addresses the elegant man.

- I heard him, sir. Mr. Hero said he would take me with him.

The elegant man sighs as he glances at me out of the corner of his eye only to quickly turn back to the camp.

- Come on, miss, you have to go to sleep, we have a long trip ahead of us tomorrow.

- I want to sleep in the same tent as Mr. Hero!

They slowly walk away as I watch them go, still not having recovered from the surprise.

"You really are too naive."

I can only smile bitterly at her comment.