Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 323 (Part 1):

Talon was visiting Fidelis.

This city was located between Greencana and the royal capital.

To monitor the movements in Greencana, doing so from Fidelis was most appropriate.

Of course, the Duke of Fidelis did not welcome him. What noble would be pleased to have Black Hawk within their domain?

Even if it was the King’s policy, in the Duke’s eyes, Black Hawk was nothing more than an underworld organization. He tolerated their presence because they were supposedly transitioning into a legitimate information guild, but nothing more.

People don’t change overnight. It would take time for a group like Black Hawk to change.

Even with orders from the top, the young, morally lacking members of Black Hawk were causing minor and major issues, leading to small conflicts.

However, as anywhere had its share of thugs and ruffians, no significant incidents had occurred yet.

That is, none that the Duke of Fidelis could hold as serious crimes such as murder or assault.

In that sense, the current incident was surprising in another way—because the victim was one of theirs.

Talon tilted his head and asked,

“There was a disturbance at the inn’s restaurant?”

“Yes, it seems a dispute arose. But I hear one of our boys is in critical condition…”

The head of the Fidelis branch lowered his head. Fidelis was a significant city even within the Kingdom of Veneta.

The position of the branch head of Fidelis was not insignificant. But even he was just another branch head before Talon.

Talon detected from the branch head’s subtle behavior that there was an unsaid issue.

“What was the person involved doing there?”

“W-Well, about that…”

Even the branch head, known for his venomous nature, was at a loss in front of Talon.

Lies would be useless. Talon was known for seeing through people’s minds.

A stern rebuke followed immediately.

“Did I not tell you to keep your subordinates in line? I said Black Hawk would no longer be what it used to be.”

If issues arose in an important city like Fidelis, how much worse would it be elsewhere?

“He wasn’t one to cause significant trouble. Just someone who did things like twisting a child’s wrist for pocket money…”

The one involved was the branch head’s nephew. Blood, after all, was thicker than water.

If Talon hadn’t been there, the branch head of Fidelis would have gritted his teeth and immediately sent assassins to whoever had harmed his nephew.

‘There are no competent people.’

Talon clicked his tongue internally. How could there be so much noise while he was trying to achieve great deeds?

He resolved to focus on disciplining Black Hawk’s members once the Rodril affair was concluded.

“How critical is his condition?”

Muttering, Talon soon saw the condition of the branch head’s nephew, who was in critical shape.

A glint appeared in Talon’s eyes. Judging by the way his arm had been broken, it was no ordinary skill.

‘A highly skilled swordsman who can wield Vis. At least at the level of second-rank mercenary.’

Who could be a second-rank or higher mercenary near Fidelis? His mind quickly gathered the information, and a picture began to form.

“They said he was a young man with blonde hair. A handsome youth, who looked like a nobleman’s son…”

Suddenly, a certain image flashed through his mind.

He couldn’t understand why that old, faded memory was now coming to him so vividly.

The cruelty, decisiveness, and the cold, icy demeanor shown through the wound. The simplicity yet ruthlessness in how the opponent was crushed.

There was such a person. No, there had been. In the distant yet recent past. But that person had disappeared and never shown himself again.

Talon had his suspicions, but he hadn’t been able to confirm them.

There was too little information, and it was unrealistic. The role of an information broker was to consider plausible scenarios.

‘No need to overthink.’

Whether he was collecting debts or not, a member of Black Hawk had been attacked. He couldn’t overlook it. He could confirm with his own eyes. His mind hadn’t forgotten.

Talon ordered,

“Bring me a paper.”

Hours later, Talon sat with a piece of paper in his hand, a portrait drawn on it.

The face in the portrait was painfully familiar. A face so handsome it stood out even on paper.

Though the portrait failed to capture his gaze and aura accurately, one thing was certain. Talon knew that person’s name.

‘Hyde.’

No, Helmut. The boy who disappeared over four years ago. Now, had he become a young man? Time was fleeting.

But Helmut’s sword was likely sharper than it had ever been in the past.

How many could now stand against that blade?

The greatest genius Talon knew.

He was abnormally strong. To the point where his strength didn’t seem human.

He couldn’t even imagine how much stronger he might have become by now.

‘You’re alive. And never appeared in our information network all this time.’

That was something so difficult it felt strange. Black Hawk’s information network was incredibly intricate.

Unless someone was living in extreme isolation, it was hard to avoid detection.

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