Chapter 509 An Unexpected Encounter with a Demon Hunter
The bookstore was already sealed, a warning sign blocking the entrance. A few Patrol officers in dark green uniforms were searching inside. Among them was a middle-aged man in leather armor, a silver sword on his back and a firearm at his hip – a Demon Hunter!
I immediately grabbed Jayad and turned to leave. This was an obscure alley, rarely frequented by anyone other than those headed for the bookstore. If we were spotted, we’d be questioned for sure.
However, we were too slow. The sharp-eyed Demon Hunter caught a glimpse of us as we passed the intersection and immediately shouted, “You two, stop!”
My heart sank. Just as I was about to tell Jayad to run, a figure suddenly teleported to the alley entrance, blocking our escape. He was clad in leather armor, with several dimly glowing runes fading on his person—it was the Demon Hunter.
“Who are you two? Why were you spying on us? What is your connection to this bookstore?” the Demon Hunter demanded, his sharp, cat-like amber eyes scrutinizing us, as if searching our faces for any sign of guilt or deception.
This was a interrogation tactic, applying pressure and making assumptions to gauge the other party’s reaction. Fear, guilt, or outright anger could all reveal useful information.
Unfortunately, I had a guilty conscience. I was no match for the experienced and cunning Demon Hunter. I hid behind Older Brother Jayad, terrified he might see through me.
However, this seasoned Demon Hunter had miscalculated this time. He saw the young man opposite him ignore his questions entirely and instead reach for something on his back.
It was a long, rectangular object wrapped in white cloth. Even without much experience, one could tell it was a weapon. The other party intended to attack without a word.
I knew well that Older Brother Jayad was incredibly ruthless. He wouldn’t have survived the Slums otherwise. For him, if escape was impossible, his first choice would be to incapacitate or even kill the opponent before escaping.
But the Demon Hunter was also a seasoned veteran. The moment he saw Jayad draw his sword, he launched his own attack, intending to subdue the young man before questioning him.
The Demon Hunter instantly teleported in front of Jayad and swung his longsword down, simultaneously drawing a rune with his left hand and releasing a wave of light, attempting to disrupt Jayad’s balance.
At this moment, Jayad hadn’t even unwrapped his sword. The Patrol officers behind them were already flanking and drawing their firearms – a critical situation.
In that instant, Jayad grabbed the unwrapped sword and met the Demon Hunter’s attack. Simultaneously, his body erupted in a dazzling white light.
The moment the Demon Hunter’s sword struck Jayad’s weapon, he knew something was wrong. An immense force surged through his right hand, nearly making him drop his sword. Then, his chest felt as if it had been struck by a monster.
It was a force no human could withstand. Drawing on years of combat experience, the Demon Hunter made a split-second decision. He kicked backward, using the Holy Light’s propulsion to quickly retreat and dissipate the force.
The targeting Patrol officers were blinded by the sudden burst of Holy Light, instinctively covering their eyes. Because I had anticipated this and was facing away from Older Brother Jayad, I was the only one unaffected.
The Holy Light erupted and vanished as quickly as it appeared, having only pushed the Demon Hunter back. He flew through the air for a distance, landing and taking five steps back before managing to steady himself.
“Clang!” His steel sword clattered to the ground, bouncing twice. The Demon Hunter’s right hand, which had been gripping the sword, remained in the same posture, but his fingers twitched. He could no longer hold the sword.
In a normal fight, losing one’s sword meant defeat, but the Demon Hunter was immensely relieved that it was *only* his sword that had been knocked away. If he hadn’t retreated decisively, he would likely be on the ground now with several broken ribs.
What kind of monster was this youth? Was he an Ancient Dragon disguised as a human? This exaggerated burst of power far exceeded human limits. The Demon Hunter himself had undergone Potion modifications, giving him strength far beyond that of an ordinary person, yet he was no match for this incredible power.
He immediately drew his firearm with his left hand, aiming it at Jayad, preparing to cover his teleportation escape. As for the Patrol officers who were investigating with him, he couldn’t worry about them anymore. They’d have to fend for themselves.
However, the young man didn’t attack. The Demon Hunter’s sharp gaze followed the burst of light. The white cloth wrapping the weapon in the youth’s hand had shattered and was now falling, revealing the weapon in its entirety.
“Silver Cross Sword?” The Demon Hunter frowned. It was a Standard Weaponry of the Church, a sword only worn by Church members.
Silver swords were difficult for outsiders to use. They were soft and not sharp. Without Holy Power, they would deform after a few blows. The Demon Hunter used a silver sword himself, so he understood. They relied on special forging methods and Runes to ensure their combat effectiveness.
There might be audacious individuals who dared to impersonate Church members with a Silver Cross Sword, but one thing they couldn’t fake was the pure Holy Light. The light the youth had emitted was undeniably that.
“Are you… from the Church?” the Demon Hunter asked vigilantly. Jayad remained silent, merely nodding.
Just then, the Patrol officers behind them finally recovered their vision and lowered their hands. They also saw the silver sword in Jayad’s hand, and their brows furrowed. Church members were notoriously difficult to deal with, often perceived as unreasonable or even fanatical.
“Are you here to investigate this underground trading fair as well?” one of the Patrol officers asked. If the Church decided to get involved in the investigation, it would be a real headache for them.
The Demon Hunter remained noncommittal. His organization often cooperated with the Church, so he wasn’t particularly opposed. However, generally speaking, in terms of social status, Demon Hunters were far below Clerics.
“Yes, what happened here?” Jayad asked, seemingly casually. My mind stirred again. They mentioned the underground trading fair, which meant they likely knew about the secret passage behind the bookstore.
Hearing Jayad’s question, the Patrol officers breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he didn’t know much. They simply said, “This involves the large fire a few days ago. We were ordered to investigate the arsonist. There are no monsters or heretics, so please rest assured.”
“Hmm?” Jayad seemed confused by their attitude. Truthfully, he knew nothing about the recent fire or the Patrol officers’ investigation here. At most, he had heard my account of an underground trading fair.
I, however, was shocked. They certainly didn’t expect that the arsonist they were looking for was right here—me.
“Please rest assured, sir. With Mr. Demon Hunter here, no monster can escape his notice. If there are any issues, we will report them to the Church immediately. There’s no need for you to investigate personally.”
