The mayor

Arthur chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Why would I do that? I'm not stupid enough to lie to someone like you, am I?"

Adam's glare didn't waver. "Then how do you explain the monster horde? The person who wiped out those monsters should have been you."

Arthur sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It wasn't me."

Adam's eyes flashed. "Then who?"

Arthur hesitated. His gaze flickered past Adam, as if scanning the forest. Then he exhaled, lowering his voice slightly.

Arthur hesitated for a fraction of a second. His gaze flickered past Adam, as if scanning the darkened forest, weighing his options.

 Then he exhaled, his voice dropping slightly, as if sharing a dangerous secret.

"It was the… village mayor and his guards."

Adam's entire posture shifted. His arms, previously crossed, fell to his sides, his fingers twitching slightly as his expression darkened.