Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 62: Rhys the Espionage Master

A wall made of rocks and stones, all held by a mile of mesh wire and wood. One might think this was not enough to protect an entire settlement, but this was already one of the better ones Rhys had seen.

He had been to many human settlements in the Underworld during his time in the suicide corps, and the settlement he was in right now was objectively the largest and perhaps the most secure of them all.

Like most settlements in the Underworld, everything was either built by hand or by an elemental controller; the materials used, only what was available in the region. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

And in the case of Karem City, it is both. There were even buildings, a large market, and even a large plaza — perhaps an advancement only made possible by the fact that a lot of Explorers used the settlement as a rest and trade area.

And right now, in one of the small eateries stationed around the plaza, Rhys was currently having a meal… which he had been eating for an hour now, trying his best to blend in with the other Explorers who were also dining there.

He was even wearing something similar to what Lina was wearing; hard leather and steel plates to protect himself.

"...That Lowborn has been here for more than an hour."

"Tch, don't make trouble. This is probably the first time he is eating that well, just let him enjoy his meal."

"What do you expect, he only has one arm…pft."

Unfortunately for Rhys, with his jet-black messy hair covering half of his face, no one thought he was actually an Explorer. Fortunately for Rhys, his goal was not espionage… and he already had his targets on sight, seated at the table behind him.

The Venom Brawlers. Although they were legally registered as an Explorer guild, they were more like a party with their small number.

"The cargo this time is going to set me for a few months," One of Rhys's targets, Joshua, poured more alcohol into his friend's cup as they seem to be celebrating something, "I'm surely not gonna miss any of you cocksuckers."

"Pft. You? You're going to spend all that in a week with Viagras," Alexis, the leader of the Venom Brawlers, raised his cup as soon as it was filled, "For our families!"

"We was floating for a long time, but now we got this," Trae, the oldest member of the group, refused the alcohol while scratching his already graying beard, "My son's been wanting a new car."

"Isn't your son like 40? Zeus, you have to stop supporting the guy," Elize, the only woman in the group snarled at Trae, "He needs a job, bro."

The Venom Brawlers have two other members, but Rhys has not seen them even once since they left an hour ago.

"..."

Another hour passed, and the Venom Brawlers had already finished their food and drinks and were heading out, and yet there was still no sign of the other two. Rhys did not really follow the group yet, only watching which direction they were walking to as they stepped out of the eatery.

And after a few seconds of letting them gain distance, he finally decided to follow them. Before he could stand up, however, he suddenly found himself surrounded by several people; looking down on him, the hostility in their eyes completely obvious for everyone to see.

"Get up, my friends need a table."

"..." And as one of the thugs gestured to Rhys to stand up, he could not help but scan the entire eatery, only to see several tables completely free and empty. Rhys glanced back at the man who told him to get up, before just letting out a small but very deep sigh, "I do not want any trouble, I was getting up anyway."

And as he was about to get up, the man stretched his hand to push him back to his seat. Rhys, however, just swiftly moved to the side.

"..." And with the man slightly leaned forward, the only thing he could really was very slowly look up as Rhys towered over him. Rhys was 6'3" when he joined the Underworld Corps, and in just months after, he already stood at 6'6", towering over most normal men.

"T… the fuck. Why is this Lowborn so tall?" The man was about to grab Rhys by the collar, but Rhys just subtly grabbed him by his sleeve. The man tried pulling his arm away, but he couldn't even move it a single millimeter,

"Let go of—"

"Don't," Rhys slightly leaned down to whisper at the man's ear; his eyes, looking at the man's friends, "You and your friends are going to sit at my table, and I am going to walk away, peacefully."

"Y—"

The man was about to say something, but Rhys slightly pinched his flesh through his sleeve, pulling his arm down.

"I am going to walk away, peacefully. Smile if you understand. I do not want any trouble."

The man still tried to free his sleeve from Rhys's grip. But as he felt his skin stretching and on the verge of being ripped off from his bones, the only thing he could really do was smile.

"Hm," Rhys nodded as he let go of the man's arm, also nodding at the man's friends before just moving past them.

But before Rhys could even take 3 steps, he felt a fist moving toward him. And with his reflexes, Rhys could just tilt his head to the side — but he chose not to do so, just letting the fist smack him right on the back of his head.

"You Lowborn crip—Gah!" The man who punched Rhys screamed, and it was hard to discern which one was louder; his voice cracking, or his fist.

And even as the man cried, Rhys only released a short but deep sigh. After all, based on his ample experience, it had to be done. These people, like Lex and his friends from the High School, will not stop until they experience the same violence they inflict on other people.

And as soon as the thugs saw their friend's twisted fist, the only thing they could really do was back away as they stared at Rhys, who was very slowly glancing back at them.

All of them drew their weapons; one of them even releasing a ball of fire from his palm and pointing it at Rhys, but Rhys quickly slapped his hand away at a speed none of the people in the eatery could see.

And once again, another thug cried out as his hand now looked like it was crushed by a hydraulic press. The people in the eatery weren't the only ones shocked as they saw the man's hand almost just dangling from his arm, even Rhys's mouth was slightly gasping.

"...Shit," Rhys quietly cursed as he closed his eyes and sighed. He already had this ability for an entire month, and yet he still could not really get used to it.

The ability he received from the Commander of the Underworld Corps.

Overwhelming Herculean Strength — and not just any level…

…but the strength of the one considered to be the 14th Strongest Explorer in the entire world.