The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 164: Leaving the ruin

Chapter 164: Leaving the ruin

’She looked like a snake.’

Although Elsa’s face looked like it always had, Hex was certain he saw her face morph into something else.

He looked at her and she looked back at him. Her eyes were clear and a soft smile hung on her lips.

’She isn’t shaken by anything. It’s as if a Disaster isn’t enough to faze her.’

"Are you ignoring us?!"

Hex turned his head, hearing someone roar close to his ear. Tarquin stood so close to him; they stared into each other’s eyes as soon as he turned his head.

"What?"

He had seriously forgotten about the others for a short while. They all stared at him with scowls on their faces.

"What do you mean ’what’?" Gabriella said with gnashed teeth. Seeing Hex genuinely confused, she had the urge to smash her hammer in his face. He actually ignored them. But she tried to hold her anger. "Why didn’t you help us earlier?"

"Oh." Hex looked at her, then at the supports who had looks of disgust on their faces. Then he looked at Elsa, who smiled innocently, finally looking at the furious Tarquin, who was close enough to give him a head butt, and replied, "I thought you guys were strong,r, but I was mistaken. That poor guy died quicker than an ant being stepped on. My bad."

"YOU!"

Save for Elsa, everyone else screamed and was about to attack him. Tarquin, who was closest, swung his arm but Hex caught his fist. They wrung their fists and struggled, but neither gained the upper hand.

"Stop!"

The others reached them, about to hit Hex when a thunderous shout came from the back. They turned at once. A group clad in green leather armor appeared. They radiated killing intent and stood in perfect formation behind their long-legged officer.

"Fly away, Hawks! This is our business. It has nothing to do with you guys." Gabriella shouted, annoyed at their interference.

"He is with me," Althea said coldly. "Hit him if you wish. But then we fight till one group only remains."

Althea’s beautiful face didn’t diminish the seriousness of her words. She meant what she said.

"Is not worth it," Elsa said to her team. She was the only one who wasn’t near Hex.

"Go!" Tarquin gritted his teeth, relaxing his grip.

"Hehe." Hex chuckled, enraging Gabriella more and nearly causing blood to burst from the throbbing vein on her forehead.

"Get.the.fuck.out."

The fifth princess of the kingdom only managed to hold her rage in by clenching her teeth so hard that her gums started to bleed.

But Hex didn’t move. He only said those things when he sensed another group of people nearby. He didn’t know they would be the Hawks, but since he had a team here backing him, he couldn’t leave empty-handed.

"Ahum," Hex scraped his throat. "What about my share in slaying the Disaster? My sword is still sticking in it."

He pointed his finger in case someone wanted to deny his contribution.

Tarquin, Gabriella, Elsa, and the two men looked at him with blank eyes. For a moment, their minds were empty.

It took a second for them to understand what Hex meant. They drew their weapons.

"Fuck him!"

"Kill him!"

"Deal with the Hawks later!"

They all shouted different things but with the same goal. They would kill Hex and deal with the aftermath.

Althea shot out with her spear and the Hawks followed behind. Hex, too, was about to join.

Woosh!

Just as the teams were about to clash, a person glided through the air and landed in the middle. The people didn’t look at him and were about to ignore him.

Bang!

But Old Gargoyle wouldn’t allow others to ignore him. He moved his hands and the air split, blasting both sides away.

They tumbled and scrambled, trying to hold on but except for a few, everyone else hit the buildings around them before they stopped.

"You guys did well. But the first week is a bit too soon for you guys to clash."

The Hawks groaned but stood up, accepting his word. Hex too, nodded. The others groaned, too, but looked unwilling to accept things.

"Enough!"

Another group arrived. Rayos and the Duke were at the front.

"Give him some Fiend crystals and be done with it. Leave here."

The Duke said and left with Rayos. Tarquin was unwilling but he took ten Fiend crystals and threw them toward Hex. He couldn’t ignore his father’s orders.

Hex caught them. He nodded and turned toward the direction Rayos and the Duke went.

"They are going toward the inner section of the market district," Hex said to Althea.

"Yes. Now you young ones have cleared the outer area and had your fun, the older teams will clear the inner area. Don’t worry. Once you guys consolidate your gains, you will join them."

Althea wasn’t aware of the plan but Old Gargoyle filled them in. The governor was serious. He came personally to oversee the progress.

Hex joined Althea and the others to exit the ruin. They would return to Notrelune for two weeks and return after that.

At the gate, they were required to reveal their harvest. Hex gladly did so. Demon crystals were rewarded one point and Fiend crystals were rewarded ten points.

Hex made a total of eleven hundred points. According to the list he was in the top ten. Althea was in the top hundred with five hundred points. That was the disadvantage of being part of a team. Hestia only had a hundred points but she wasn’t trying. She was focused on having fun.

Tarquin was in first place with two thousand points. It was mainly thanks to his Disaster crystal. Elsa and Gabriella were in the top twenty.

They smirked at Hex smugly. Hex smiled back. He even waved. Seeing Hex act like they were irritated. With a huff, they left.

Hex didn’t mind them. Why would he? They would help him increase his energy faster.