The Dark Sorcerer

"Now you're hungry, huh?" Glen couldn't help but tease.

Bonnie didn't answer, only lowering her head in embarrassment.

Suddenly, Glen stood up and opened the cloth bag on the table. A large piece of pork, a basket of vegetables, seasonings, cooking oil, and even a flat frying pan were all pulled out one by one, leaving Bonnie with her mouth hanging open in surprise.

"Where's your kitchen?" Glen asked, looking at Bonnie, who was still staring in awe.

Bonnie reflexively pointed to a room, and Glen immediately carried the items toward it.

It was only then that Bonnie seemed to realize what was happening, and she quickly rushed forward to stop him. "Glen, we can't eat all this. It's too expensive!"

"But you ate quite a bit when you visited my house," Glen replied with a half-smile.

"I... I..." Bonnie felt both ashamed and guilty.

"Well, I don't mind this little bit of food. After all, I did bring some unnecessary trouble to your family. Let this be compensation," Glen said, brushing off her objections as he walked into the kitchen.

Watching Glen roll up his sleeves and effortlessly get the fire going to cook, Bonnie bit her lip quietly...

"I'll help you, Glen," she said, also rolling up her sleeves and entering the kitchen.

"Then wash these vegetables. It's a good opportunity for you to learn. You should make these dishes for your mom, or your friends. A girl should have good cooking skills, it's essential," Glen said, pointing to the vegetables on the side.

Bonnie nodded enthusiastically. She really liked Glen's cooking, and if she could learn even a little bit, she'd be satisfied.

Time passed, and when Bonnie's mother entered the room again, the fragrant smell of food filled the air. Several dishes had already been placed on the dining table.

Bonnie was just coming out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of stir-fried meat. When she saw her mother, she immediately smiled. "Mom! Come sit down! Glen made some special dishes from his homeland. You have to try them!"

"Uh..." Bonnie's mother seemed stunned, completely unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before her.

Glen also came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a cloth and smiling. "Madam, I borrowed your kitchen for a while. I hope it didn't cause you any trouble."

"Of... of course not..." Bonnie's mother waved her hands repeatedly.

"Good." Glen gestured to the table. "Please, try my cooking."

Bonnie's mother blinked and, sitting beside her daughter, looked at the dishes in front of her—fragrant, beautifully plated, and absolutely tempting. She instinctively swallowed.

Taking the spoon her daughter handed her, she scooped up a bite of the stir-fried meat and put it in her mouth.

Just a single bite, and the taste filled her entire mouth. She couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise.

Meanwhile, Bonnie, who had been starving for quite some time, was already devouring her food without any regard for appearance.

Glen watched them both, secretly pleased with their reactions. This is exactly the kind of reaction I love to see...

The three of them sat together and enjoyed the meal. Glen occasionally chatted with Bonnie's mother about various trivial matters, quickly getting a good understanding of their situation.

Bonnie's mother worked at a cotton factory, earning a relatively stable income. The neighbors called her Mrs. Sally.

As Glen had suspected, she was a widow. Her husband had been killed by a passing noble for offending him, leaving Mrs. Sally to raise her daughter alone and provide for her schooling.

Though Bonnie had lost her father, she hadn't suffered too much hardship, thanks to her mother's steady job.

After the meal, Glen prepared to leave, but Mrs. Sally immediately urged him to stay.

"You should rest here tonight, child. It's already quite late, and the town hasn't been peaceful lately. It's too dangerous to travel now."

"Yeah, if you walk all the way to Baiyeck, you'll probably arrive around midnight," Bonnie added, kindly advising him to stay.

Staying here would make me uncomfortable... Glen smiled helplessly. "Don't worry, ma'am, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

With that, he turned and walked into the dark night.

At the Channis Estate

Lord Channis set down the letter he had been reading and sighed ever so slightly. He turned to his butler and said, "Go and fetch Barbell."

"Yes, my lord." The elderly butler nodded, standing upright before leaving the room.

Soon, Barbell, dressed in full armor, entered the room with the butler. He stood tall, giving a proper knight's salute as he awaited instructions.

"Find a way to bring that commoner, Glen, back here," Lord Channis said, his voice cold. "I want him to understand the consequences of offending a noble. Teach him a lesson he will never forget!"

"Understood!" Barbell bowed again and turned to leave.

Lord Channis added, "Just don't go near Baiyeck. If something goes wrong, I won't be able to help you!"

"I'll keep that in mind!" Barbell nodded seriously before striding out.

At that moment, Lady Sophia, Lord Channis's wife, entered the room. Her gaze lingered on Barbell's retreating figure, her expression unreadable.

"Why are you here?" Lord Channis noticed his wife and asked.

"I noticed you summoned Barbell. Has your friend replied? What did they say?" Lady Sophia asked.

"The commoner named Glen seems to be just an ordinary person. My friend told me they had no knowledge of him. They even used their channels to confirm that," Lord Channis replied.

"That's good! He dared to strike our son! We cannot let him off lightly!" Lady Sophia sneered.

Lord Channis hesitated before responding, "I don't plan on killing him, just giving him a suitable punishment."

Lady Sophia looked surprised. "Why?!"

Lord Channis's tired eyes showed signs of wear. "Baiyeck's situation is delicate, and our family is already in decline. Even if we kill a commoner, the consequences might not be worth it."

He had recently tried to approach Baron Berlin to build some connections, but unfortunately, the man had refused to see him.

At an Unassuming Tavern in Dud Town

The tavern door creaked open, and a middle-aged man, looking weary and travel-worn, stepped inside. His plain clothes and gloomy expression made him easy to overlook at first glance.

The man scanned the tavern, his gaze eventually settling on a striking figure by the window.

He walked straight over and sat across from her.

"A sorcerer dressed like this? A... commoner?" The woman, Mo Fei, looked at the man with clear disdain.

"Stop wasting time! Give me what I asked for, damn vampire!" the man said, his tone blunt and filled with loathing for vampires.

"This is how you ask for a favor?" Mo Fei narrowed her eyes, clearly irritated. "Let me remind you, great sorceress Mo Fei, you came to me for this deal. If you want it done properly, you should learn some respect!"

"Vampires don't deserve respect," the man retorted, clearly uninterested. "Enough talk, just give me the goods!"

Mo Fei's fingers clenched under the table, and her pupils began to turn a deep red. She spoke coldly, "I don't think this deal needs to happen anymore. If you want it, find someone else."

With that, she stood up, ready to walk away.

Before she could take a step, the man's next words made her freeze.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want your castle to be visited by those powerful knights and sorcerers, would you?"

"You're threatening me?!" Mo Fei's eyes flashed red, and the air around her seemed to twist.

This change wasn't visible to the naked eye, but the other patrons in the tavern felt a sudden pressure on their chests, unaware of the cause.

"Yes, I am threatening you. Don't look at me like that. If you try anything here, you'll be the one to die, foolish vampire." The man leaned back against the wall, his finger tracing the rim of his wooden cup, his eyes void of emotion, yet still locked onto Mo Fei.