Lancelot snuck up close, careful not to make a sound or get spotted.
He first saw fourteen silhouettes. Seven of the fourteen had humanoid shapes, while the other seven looked like tents.
He crept even closer and stopped when he was about five meters from their makeshift camp. At that point, he was able to see the appearance of the silhouettes better. He confirmed that the tent-shaped ones were indeed tents.
Then his gaze shifted to the faces of the humanoid figures squatting near the fire. When his eyes caught their faces, his pupils widened in shock.
There were five men and two women. People he knew too well… people he dreaded so much.
They squatted evenly around the crackling fire, the flames casting light that warmed their faces and flickered in their eyes.
They were using the fire's heat to grill meat, chatting amongst themselves in low tones, their voices controlled but lively, as if they didn't have a care in the world.
The rich aroma of grilled meat wafted into the air, and Lancelot's stomach grumbled and churned in hunger — but he ignored it. His heart was pounding harder than his hunger.
Though the seven bounty hunters appeared carefree, they still kept their voices low. They knew better than to speak too loudly and risk drawing beasts toward them.
If they had not kept it down, Lancelot would have heard them from farther away.
Still, Lancelot was shocked to see them, though somewhere deep in his heart he had already suspected this.
'Scar, Bald Eagle, Drake, Lone Wolf, Void, Scarlet Fox, and Tigress… The Top Seven Bounty Hunters of My Country… they've formed a gang to hunt me down... I need to get out of here now!'
His instincts screamed at him to turn back, to run. But he didn't move. His curiosity, and the need for information, rooted him in place. He wanted to know what they were discussing.
He needed to gather more knowledge before returning to the house where his wife and the 'Unknown God' were resting. He knew if he could just get back there, he would be safe.
Among the seven bounty hunters, one man stood out — the most muscular of them all.
He had a massive scar running across his face, an old burn mark that gave his features a terrifying edge. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and cold, carrying the weight of a man who had survived countless life-and-death situations. He was also the oldest among them, looking to be in his early forties.
He was called Scar.
---
On his left squatted a lean-looking man with pale skin and dark circles around his eyes, like someone who hadn't slept in days. His face was thin, almost ghostly, and his presence gave off an eerie vibe.
His name was Void.
---
At Scar's right was a young woman — the most chatty and, arguably, the most beautiful of the two female bounty hunters present.
She seemed about twenty-five years old, her eyes sharp and lively, always darting around as she spoke.
But even as she laughed and chattered, Lancelot could tell Scar was getting irritated by her endless talk. Her name was Scarlet Fox.
---
Beside her was Lone Wolf.
He was the most handsome among the male bounty hunters, with strong masculine features and thick black hair that framed his face. He sat quietly, barely speaking, only offering a smile now and then at Scarlet Fox's jokes. He looked to be in his early thirties.
---
Next to Lone Wolf was Drake, another handsome and well-built man, but not quite on Lone Wolf's level of looks. He had short blond hair and spoke occasionally — enough to join the conversation but not enough to dominate it. His appearance suggested he was around thirty as well.
---
Beside Drake was Bald Eagle.
True to his name, he was bald and muscular, though his face didn't carry the charm that some of the others did. He was older, maybe in his early forties, and only spoke up now and then, usually to add a comment to Scarlet Fox's chatter.
---
And finally, there was Tigress. Though not as stunning as Scarlet Fox, she had her own beauty — her body carried well-pronounced feminine features that made her stand out in her own way. She squatted between Void and Drake, her eyes cool and observant.
---
From what Lancelot could tell, Scar was the leader of the group — the strongest and most experienced. Scarlet Fox seemed the most cunning, and likely the fastest among them.
Void... he had the aura of someone dangerous, someone with power that wasn't just physical. Lancelot could sense that his connection to space and void was abnormal — deadly.
Their names suited their characters all too well.
---
Under Lancelot's watchful gaze, they continued their discussion, sometimes serious, sometimes turning lighthearted as they laughed and joked among themselves.
Scar rubbed his chin in thought, his rough voice cutting through the crackle of the fire.
"I wonder why the beasts around here retreated all of a sudden. It's like they're afraid of something."
"I'm sure it's because of you, Scar. They're all afraid of you. You're not the number one bounty hunter for nothing," Scarlet Fox chimed in, her tone playful.
All the men turned to her, their faces showing mild annoyance at her joke. But Scar ignored her completely, frowning as he thought deeper. "Whatever it is, we need to avoid it at all costs. If it's a beast, then it's at least a Five-Star. But… I have a feeling it's more than that."
His words made everyone fall silent. Even Scarlet Fox, usually the life of the group, grew serious as the weight of Scar's words settled over them.
After a moment, she lifted her head, forcing a smile as she tried to break the heavy atmosphere. "Isn't the Emperor going too far? First, he betrayed and overthrew his brother, and now he's put a bounty on him... Feels wrong to be hunting down my former emperor just for money."
This time it was Drake who answered, his voice a bit stiff. "I just hope Emperor Lancelot doesn't hold a grudge once we capture him."
Scarlet Fox snorted and snapped back at him.
"Who do you think you are, Drake? You think it's going to be easy to capture him? He's a peak Three-Star Souler!"
Drake fell silent at her retort, but Lancelot noticed the way his fist clenched tight around the stick he was using to grill the meat.
It was clear — he hated when anyone questioned his strength.
Scarlet Fox continued, her tone turning sharp.
"I've never seen anyone as wicked, ruthless, and heartless as our present Emperor."
Meanwhile, back at his hiding spot, Lancelot couldn't help but nod slightly at her words.
He had seen firsthand just how cruel his brother could be.
But as he nodded in agreement, something inside him froze. A chill crept down his spine.
His instincts flared wildly.
Someone... someone was looking at him.