Chapter 97: Breathing Techniques!

“Do you have a lot of questions?” The owner of Pine Hotel suddenly asked as he walked through the streets of Luster, carrying Swart.

“No!”

“I will follow your orders in everything!”

“Of course, if you would let me walk on my own, I would be most grateful!”

Swart lifted his head, trying to maintain a humble posture.

Then, the sheriff was suddenly thrown to the ground. The impact made him grimace in pain, as he clutched his bruised elbow and knee, while glancing around.

They were near the Pine District. He quickly identified the location. He wanted to run. But…

He didn't dare.

He could only stand up, preparing to follow behind the owner of Pine Hotel and continue forward.

But then, the hotel owner suddenly spoke.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

“Right now, I’ll turn my back to you and count to thirty. You can run without worry. Before I finish counting, I won’t turn around or chase you! And you don’t need to be found. As long as you can survive for ten minutes, I’ll consider it your win!”

“If you win, I’ll give you your freedom!”

“Of course, if you lose, I’ll kill you. How does that sound?”

The hotel owner asked with a smile.

Seeing that smile, Swart wanted to refuse immediately. He was all too familiar with that smile. It was full of malice.

But the owner of Pine Hotel didn’t give Swart a chance to refuse and simply turned around.

“1...2...3...”

Swart was stunned. He could tell that the other was just toying with him. No matter what he chose, he would end up losing.

But if he didn’t run and stayed where he was, the other would surely kill him.

And if he ran now, at least he could live a little longer!

Was there even a choice?

Swart bolted.

As he ran, the counting voice of the hotel owner became more and more distant, until it completely disappeared when he stumbled and fell. It was as if he had escaped the clutches of the devil.

But deep down, Swart knew better.

This was just the beginning!

So, he didn’t even bother with the pain and immediately got up, continuing to run forward, stumbling as he went.

At this moment, there was only one thought in the sheriff’s mind—

Run!

Run faster!

Get as far away from Skiffens Steinbeck as possible!

He had heard some rumors about the owner of Pine Hotel before.

Madman!

That was the most common description of this hotel owner.

But he hadn’t paid any attention to it.

In the sheriff’s view, the hotel owner might just have been misunderstood in some of his actions. After all, compared to the guys he had thrown in jail, the hotel owner seemed so normal.

But he was wrong!

After being knocked out and taken away, the sheriff realized just how true those rumors were!

No!

The rumors only described a fraction of it.

The man wasn’t just crazy; he was a psychopath!

He even dared to scheme against the 'Flesh Church,' a group full of madmen!

Having witnessed everything from the sidelines, Swart was certain that the owner of Pine Hotel harbored nothing but ill intentions towards the 'Flesh Church.'

And now?

The man was obviously trying to silence him!

Why else would he play such a twisted game with him?

Fear overwhelmed Swart, making him run in a blind panic.

The rapid running quickly exhausted his strength, and his breathing became increasingly labored.

Seeing the corner up ahead, Swart decided he wouldn’t run anymore. He needed to hide and make it through those ten minutes!

Otherwise, if that psychopath didn’t find him, he’d probably die of exhaustion.

With that in mind, the sheriff sped up, but as soon as he rounded the corner, a hand grabbed him and pulled him in. Before he could react, a knife was pressed against his throat.

The sharp, cold blade made Swart immediately raise his hands and give up any resistance.

But then, the sheriff cried out in surprise.

“Görde?!”

Seeing Görde so close, the sheriff was moved to tears.

Especially when he saw that Görde was still maintaining his usual unflinching posture, Swart’s voice choked with emotion.

“Hotpot, beef tripe, slices of mutton.”

“The broth is a mix of mushroom, tomato, spicy, and clear.”

Swart recited the code.

“What about the condiments?” Görde continued to ask.

“Huh??”

The sheriff was dumbfounded. Condiments?

What condiments?

But the next moment, when Görde moved the knife away, the sheriff quickly realized that Görde was just testing him again.

But Swart didn’t have time to worry about that.

Because he heard the hotel owner’s counting voice again—

“25...26...27...”

“Run!” The sheriff urged urgently.

Görde pulled Swart behind him and focused his gaze on the entrance of the street.

The owner of Pine Hotel stepped in.

He was still dressed the same as before, but now, in addition to the cane, he was holding something else: a head!

A head that, even in death, still had eyes glowing red!

A member of the 'Flesh Church!'

And not just any member, but one of higher rank than the 'Children of Flesh!'

“Hey, we meet again, Görde Wayne,” the hotel owner greeted.

Gawain pointed the gun at his opponent.

After what had just happened, Gawain's vigilance toward the other person had reached an unprecedented level.

"Don't do that; I was wrong earlier."

"But we're still friends, aren't we?"

"Look, I even brought a gift as an apology!"

Saying this, the Pine Nut Hotel's owner lifted the head he was holding and gestured toward Gawain.

"This was a 'Flesh Priest,' a high-ranking member of the 'Flesh Church'—though, of course, this alone isn't enough to truly represent my apology."

"So, I can offer you something else: a breathing technique!"

"A breathing technique from the Steinbeck family!"

He continued.

A breathing technique? Some kind of secret art?

Gawain wondered, but he didn't lower his gun.

"Truly befitting of a 'Mad King's Legacy' guardian, to remain so composed in the face of a breathing technique."

"Then again, you must already know a breathing technique."

"Otherwise, without undergoing any rituals, you couldn't possibly have attained such physical prowess."

The Pine Nut Hotel's owner praised.

Gawain's expression turned strange.

'Mad King's Legacy' guardian?

Another one misled by the 'Mist Killer'?

Seeing Gawain's odd expression, the hotel owner chuckled.

"I have a small business in Lust, and to protect it, I must keep an eye on certain people. One of them is Miss Scylla."

"Based on what I know about her, she wouldn’t approach you for no reason."

"And given the materials she's been researching lately, it's not hard to figure out the truth."

The hotel owner explained.

Gawain remained silent.

What could he say?

He could only silently label Scylla as useless!

A bar owner being watched without realizing it? If that’s not incompetence, what is?

Gawain’s silence further deepened the hotel owner’s misunderstanding.

Clap, clap, clap!

The Pine Nut Hotel's owner applauded enthusiastically.

"I never imagined that the 'Mad King's Legacy' guardian was here in Lust. If we'd met sooner, you wouldn’t have had to give up part of it."

"Or rather..."

"Is this the opportunity you've been waiting for?"

"To join the 'Secret Keepers'!"

"After all, their initiation rites are the safest, not to mention the transformation after the third initiation!"

A transformation after three initiations?

The 'Secret Keepers' are the safest?

Does that mean a higher success rate? Or fewer side effects?

Gawain speculated based on what he knew.

The hotel owner, however, was watching Gawain closely as he spoke.

But Gawain, deep in thought, stood there expressionless, giving nothing away.

Because of this, the hotel owner became even more convinced of his assumption.

Gawain's actions were all about joining the 'Secret Keepers'!

No one knew better than him the allure of the supernatural for ordinary people, especially those with talent and knowledge of a breathing technique.

In some ways, such people were already extraordinary.

They might not yet display supernatural abilities, but their foundations were stronger.

He was one of them. So was Gawain.

And they shared another similarity: both were hiding their true selves, waiting for the moment of success.

"What a shame."

"I should have met you sooner."

"We're so alike—I was amazed by how you used the 'Mist Killer' to completely shed your old identity. I don’t know if I could have done it."

"And how did you get those people to blame the 'Mist Killer'?"

"If it were anyone else, your plan might have failed!"

"Such a pity!"

"I don't have much time to chat."

The hotel owner sighed.

He looked at Gawain with a gaze full of curiosity.

It was the curiosity one has when meeting a kindred spirit.

But soon, the curiosity in his eyes faded.

Though they seemed similar, they were still different.

Gawain chose to follow the rules.

And him?

He chose a more daring path.

"Stay here or hide for the next hour, and the Steinbeck family's breathing technique will be yours—you must have heard of it. Although it takes a long time and causes extreme pain, it’s a treasure for the gifted!"

"It can effectively enhance your talent, making it a perfect match for the breathing technique you’re currently focusing on!"

"I promise I won't harm you within the next hour!"

As he spoke, the hotel owner produced a scroll.

Enhance talent? Increase [Heart]?

Gawain was instantly intrigued.

But he didn’t lower his guard.

"And after that?"

Gawain asked.

"After that?"

"Fine!"

"As fellow kindred spirits, I’ll promise not to harm you for two hours—just as long as you don’t interfere with my plan!"

The hotel owner replied.

"Deal!"

Gawain nodded.

The hotel owner didn’t hesitate, tossing the scroll over before turning to leave with the head.

Gawain didn’t catch the scroll, letting it fall to the ground.

Then, he looked at Swart.

Thud!

Swart immediately fell to his knees.

"Don’t kill me!"

"I understand the rules!"

"I heard nothing, saw nothing, and I certainly don't know you two made a deal!"

The sheriff’s voice was trembling with fear.

Why?

Why am I so unlucky?

Encountering one madman is terrifying enough!

Why did I have to meet a second one?

Hearing those words, 'shed your old identity'!

Why does that make me shiver so much?

Swart trembled all over.

"Pick up the scroll."

Gawain frowned and kicked Swart.

Pick up the scroll? Just pick up the scroll?

Swart was momentarily stunned, then looked at Gawain and the scroll on the ground. This was just like before, wasn’t it?

Noticing Gawain’s growing impatience, the sheriff quickly picked up the scroll and handed it to him.

As soon as Gawain's fingers touched the scroll, text appeared—

*[Discovered Secret Technique: "Steinbeck Breathing Technique," Checking...]*

*[Possess "Heart" attribute, Check Passed!]*

*[Master "Diagrammatic Language (Basic)," Check Passed!]*

*[Check Passed, Can Be Learned with "Bloody Honor"!]*

*["Bloody Honor" insufficient, cannot learn!]*

...

(End of Chapter)