Isaac was walking alone along the dirty streets of Wiltshire as it was starting to get dark.

​’What the hell is wrong with the people that run the inns around here? Every single inn I visited today said some crazy, inflated prices. The lowest-costing inn I found actually asked for one entire gold coin! There is no way everyone in this town is paying one gold coin just to sleep around here. It means someone must be specifically targeting me. Is it maybe that old man from earlier with the eyepatch? Is he trying to show me he can influence all the inns here?’ Isaac thought, walking quickly while his stomach growled loudly.

​’If I hadn’t rushed out of the estate this morning, I could have grabbed some more money. But Vincent was rushing us out of the mansion for no reason, and now I only have fifteen silver coins to my name,’ Isaac sighed internally, looking at the small pouch of coins he had. ’Fifteen silver coins only cover one night at that old guy’s inn. But what about meals? That is where the real problem comes in. I never thought I would ever suffer from money problems in my entire life.’

​With no other choice, Isaac finally returned and pushed open the door to the small inn run by the old man with the eyepatch. To his absolute surprise, Ian was already inside. He was sitting alone at a corner table, eating a massive meal.

He wasn’t just eating a massive meal, he was surrounded by ten completely empty wooden bowls, stacked precariously on the table in front of him. Ian was currently inhaling his eleventh bowl of thick meat stew with a deeply serious expression on his face.

’What’s with him did he usually eat this much?’ Isaac thought staring at Ian.

"Oooh, you are back! How did it go out there?" the old man with the eyepatch asked with a small, knowing smirk.

​"Seeing that I’m back here, it means you were kind of right about the prices out there," Isaac said dryly.

​"Of course I would be right! Everyone in this town already knew you two were Thornes," the old guy laughed loudly. "So of course they would charge you guys crazy prices! I myself am not a greedy person so I just increased 10 silvers only to charge you guys."

​"Wait... wait... wait. You said that everyone in this town already knows who we are? But how?" Isaac asked, panicking slightly.

​"Mmmm... you weren’t with your gluttony buddy there earlier, huh? Go ask him. Maybe he knows about it. I don’t want to waste my time explaining I have business to run," the old man said, casually shooing Isaac away. "And just for your information, that specific black hair and those golden eyes are a huge red flag here in the western part of the kingdom, where the Thorne family own an estate. Next time you boys try to hide your identities, you should at least put a little more effort into it."

​Isaac walked over to where Ian was eating alone and sat down opposite him with a serious look.

​"You look pissed. Did you lose your fight or something?" Isaac asked, casually grabbing a bowl of Ian’s food without asking.

​Ian just looked at the bowl and didn’t even say anything to stop him. "They played me like an absolute fool. Everyone in this town," Ian said angrily.

​"If you want me to judge whether you are actually a fool or not, then tell me exactly what happened," Isaac said before taking a bite.

​Ian then started explaining everything to Isaac, from the moment he threw his first punch up until the Wilson family completely revealed their ploy and left him standing alone in the dirt.

​"I see... the Wilson family..." Isaac muttered, holding his chin in thought. "If I had to guess, they were definitely testing you for something. And since Vincent is involved, it must be something like a temporary alliance. Vincent was probably using you to show them that the future strength of our house and if are worth that alliance," Isaac said, pausing for a moment. "Well, I could be wrong. Who knows, maybe the Wilson family just has a sick hobby of testing other noble houses."

​"No, you maybe on to something on what you said first, but there is still something bugging me," Ian said, his brow furrowed.

​"What is it?"

​"The anger I saw in that kid’s eyes... it was truly real there is no way that could be fake. And I even heard the crowd whispering about slavery. What was the name they used again? The... S-Scorpions," Ian said seriously.

​"For the anger part, I don’t know much about emotions. But for the slavery part..." Isaac suddenly lowered his voice, leaning slightly over the table. "All I know is that before the Wilson House was officially founded and legitimized, they used to be slave traders. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they still do it in secret."

​"Still doing slavery these days? Isn’t it strictly banned in this kingdom? I’m sure they wouldn’t risk doing that," Ian argued.

​"Then can you explain the slave caravan your father raided a few years ago that was passing right through our territory? The exact same caravan where he found those five children at your estate," Isaac said sharply. "I was there when mother was interrogating them. If I remember correctly, some of them said they originally came from the Tessan Kingdom."

​Isaac took another bite of food before continuing. "So, can you explain to me why a slave trader from the Tessan Kingdom—which is located all the way in the south—was traveling all the way up here to the far west of our kingdom? To the ’outskirts’, huh?"

​"Well...?" Ian didn’t even find the words to say anything back. The realization hit him like a brick.

​"You see, that is exactly why I heavily suspect they are still in the slavery business. And it is also why I didn’t want to get involved earlier," Isaac said coldly. "You may be lucky right now and you are still alive, since it seems they were only testing you. But you won’t be nearly as lucky next time if you pull the same crap of trying to help people when you still don’t even know who your enemy is or their strength, you will be in a tight situation. At least when you are saving someone do it, if it benefits you."

​"....I’m not gonna lie, I learned a very big lesson today. What you just said kind of helped me understand," Ian sighed, relaxing back into his chair. "I can’t have a soft heart for everything."

​"I really hope you do understand. Because this afternoon, I was just thinking that thanks to you helping Adam heal his curse, we wouldn’t have to put up with you as the Clan Head," Isaac said, still eating casually while looking right at Ian’s shocked expression.

​"Because if you did become the Head, our family would definitely be killed off within three years with you in power because of you being stupid," Isaac stated bluntly. "And I also thought that if by some chance you did become the Head and kept trying to act like a hero and putting our family into danger in the future... then I would be forced to kill you myself."

​Isaac stared at Ian with his dull, golden eyes. His voice held absolutely zero emotion. "Believe me, Ian, I would do it. I don’t need a stupid variable endangering my mother’s life. And that strong body of yours, which you trust so much, would not stop me. It doesn’t take long to find a weakness on someone."

​’Is he literally threatening to murder me right now?’ Ian thought, looking at Isaac sitting opposite him. ’But why do I feel like he could actually do it?’

​"Ha-ha-ha, you should really stop joking around, Isaac! It doesn’t suit you at all," Ian laughed awkwardly, aggressively scratching the back of his head, trying desperately to ease the sudden, suffocating tension in the air.

​"Whatever you say," Isaac replied flatly.

​’This guy...is he for real’ Ian thought, swallowing hard. "Anyway, why are you talking so much today? I’mstartingto miss your usual quietness."

​"Well when I’m hungry, I talk too much and complain a lot. And I kind of don’t have enough money so, that is exactly why I’m eating your food right now while actively distracting you with a conversation and a lecture at the same time," Isaac admitted shamelessly. "By the way, where did you get the money to buy this much food and rent a room at the same time? BecauseI still remember you only owning 15 silver coins like me."

​"Ooh, that..." Ian started smiling mischievously. "I just put the entire tab under Zena’s name. He seems pretty popular in this town, especially at this specific inn."

​"At least tell me he actually knows about this," Isaac sighed, staring at Ian.

​"O-of course he knows! He definitely said this meal is an apology!" Ian stammered, lying straight through his teeth.

​"I see... we should make sure to thank him, if we ever get the chance," Isaac said simply, eating another bite.

​"Yeah, we definitely should."