Chapter 264: For training. (1/2)

”...I don't know what you are talking about,” the old village head averted his eyes.

Even if Ozul couldn't sense his emotions, it was obvious that he was lying. Even the surrounding herd of mercenaries clicked their tongue at his blatant lie.

Still, they had confirmed that there might really be some truth to the rumors about there being a strong Magical Beast near this village. Unlike Ozul, most of the mercenaries here had come here to investigate the situation only.

They had already confirmed the gloomy atmosphere around the village and questioned quite a few other people. Even if the village head didn't say anything, they had enough evidence to prove the rumors.

Ozul felt the extreme anxiety and fear building up inside the old man. It was apparent that he wouldn't get anything out of him even if he pressed him for answers.

Choosing not to waste his time on useless threats, Ozul left the old village head and walked away with Raven and Blaze following behind in confusion.

They didn't know what was going on and what these rumors about 'Blood Panther' were.

After Ozul left the scene, some of the remaining mercenaries tried to threaten the village head and again questioned him, but the old man was adamant.

Sometime later, the mercenaries gave up and went back to report their findings. They weren't some villains who would start torturing the old man for answers.

Meanwhile, Ozul waited for it to get dark together with the clueless duo who didn't receive any answer from him even when they asked him.

The three spent this time while idling away around the village head's house. When it had finally gotten dark, Ozul decided to give another visit to the old man.

Since it was a village, there weren't many lights around the house. It was mostly dark.

Ozul didn't bother to knock on the door. He used the Ball of Purity to unlock it from inside.

The wooden door was old and shabby. Unlocking it didn't cause any disturbance, but a loud creak followed when he pushed it open.

”W-who is there?!” a shout came from inside the house.

However, Ozul casually closed the door after entering together with the duo. Inside, there was a small lounge and the village head looking at them with horror written on his face.

”W-w-what are you doing here!? I... told you! I don't know anything about this B-blood Panther you speak of!” old village head shouted while pointing his shaking finger at Ozul.

”Listen to me first,” Ozul calmly spoke as if he hadn't heard what the old man was shouting earlier.

”I don't have to listen to anything! Get out of my house!” the village head's face reddened as he pointed towards the door.

But behaving like that proved to be a mistake when he felt the atmosphere around him starting to get cold and he noticed four eyes behind Ozul glaring at him like he was already a dead man.

The village head gulped in fright, but fortunately for him, Ozul didn't mind his hysterical attitude.

”Listen here, even those mercenaries can guess that there is indeed a strong Magical Beast somewhere around this village-” Ozul was explaining patiently when the village head immediately cut in.

”Y-You! You don't know anything! That monster will probably eat everyone if we tell others!” he cried before immediately putting his hands on his mouth.

Although he stopped himself, Ozul at least learned that the Beast might have threatened the villagers not to tell about his location.

The information that he had received told him that the Blood Panther regularly demanded a sacrifice from the villagers, so they had to be aware of its location if they had to give it a sacrifice every week.

However, it had turned out that only the village head and a couple of his trustworthy people knew the exact location of the Blood Panther.

What Ozul didn't understand was why this Blood Panther was doing all of this. If it was really a Rank-9 Magical Beast, then there was no need for it to torment a village of ordinary people like this.

”We are going to find it anyway. If you tell me its location now, it will only save me time. Otherwise, I don't mind spending another day searching for it,” Ozul replied with an indifferent face.

If the village head really wouldn't help, then he could only search the Beast himself. With his senses, it wouldn't take more than a day to find it amidst the surrounding mountain ranges.