“If you were fighting a group of Frog Warriors, what was I doing, playing catch?” Keni said in a sarcastic tone.

  He wasn't going to let Zhen put the blame on him.

  “You! How dare you talk to me like that?” Hearing Keni's remark, Zhen lost it.

  He never liked anyone questioning his decisions, and now Keni was openly mocking him.

  “Instead of fighting, you guys better take me to the doctor.” Amidst their argument, Joon's weak voice sounded.

  “I am done with you. Get lost and never show your face around here.” Zhen said before pouring a healing potion down Joon's throat and tossing the storage bag to Anon.

  “Remember to collect the King's Poison.” Reminding Anon, Zhen ran off with Joon on his back.

  “I think that was too much. If he could, why wouldn't Zhen have helped Joon? You better apologize when we get back.” Surprised by the sudden spine that Kenji had grown, Anon advised him to seek forgiveness.

  As for Keni's remark about Zhen being in a better condition to help Joon, he didn't buy it.

  “You shouldn't have talked to Zhen like that. If he could, why wouldn't he help Joon?” Kenji too felt Keni's observation was wrong.

  “Kenji, I am telling you that guy is a snake. When he was ordering me to save Joon, only four Frog Warriors were attacking him. With his speed, how could he not get away from them?” Keni advised him.

  Kenji didn't reply; he felt there was some truth to what Keni said. While Keni was entangled by 6 Frog Warriors, Zhen was only fighting 4.

  While Kenji was thinking about Keni’s words, Anon finished collecting the spoils, and they headed back to the city.

  “I am…sorry about…that. Sometimes Keni…gets a little…out of hand.” Entering the clinic, Kenji apologized to Zhen.

  “You don't need to apologize. I don't care if it was your alter ego or not, but today, because of your failure to follow orders, you put Joon's life in danger. And instead of feeling sorry for what you did, you turned around and started pointing fingers at me.” Zhen took a long pause before continuing.

  “Starting tomorrow, you can find another party.”

  Zhen wasn't going to let Kenji stay in his party after he hurt his ego.

  “Kenji, forget it. We are better off without him anyway.” Just as Kenji was about to beg Zhen not to kick him out of the party, Keni said before forcefully taking over the body.

  “Since I am leaving, let's settle the account. I want all of Kenji's contributions to the party fund back.” Keni spoke with resolve.

  “What contributions? You should be grateful that I am not asking you for money. The gold coins I spent on your gift and for the potion are far more than what you contributed to the fund.” Zhen was angry.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  How dare Kenji ask for money?

  “Don't try this bullshit with me. Not to mention the daily contribution, there are hundreds of gold coins from the gold chest and thousands from the Howlers raid in that fund.” Unfazed by Zhen's tone, Keni calmly stated.

  “This is interesting. It seems that guy is getting kicked out of the party.”

  “Did I hear it correctly? A golden treasure chest?”

  “Forget the treasure chests. Didn't you hear they participated in the Howlers raid?”

  “That guy should be the leader. He wants to kick him out and not pay at all.”

  “Has anyone heard of them? Thousands of gold coins aren't a small amount.”

  It wasn't long before their argument attracted the attention of nearby hunters.

  “You….” Seeing so many people focused on them, Zhen knew he couldn't just kick Kenji out of the party without paying the price.

  “Your total contribution up till now has only been like 1,500 gold coins. All the materials for your gift cost around 800 gold coins, and you have used more than 400 gold coins’ worth of potions.”

  To save face, Zhen made up numbers on the spot.

  “Don't lie. Even at Sky Treasure House, the cost of all the materials for the [Dual Soul] was just 505 gold coins.” Keni wasn't willing to give any face to Zhen.

  “Damn! Things are getting interesting.”

  “It's normal. Which party leader is willing to give out money once it hits the party fund?”

  “I like the kid. He seems like a tough nut to crack.”

  The number of hunters in the lobby kept increasing as many passersby stopped to watch the commotion.

  “Do you think we wouldn't have found the golden treasure chest without your help, or that we wouldn't have helped clear the Howlers territory? Even without you, we would have done all that. Instead, you should be thankful that I even let you join my party.”

  Not having a counter to Keni’s remark, Zhen just started spouting whatever came to mind.

  “Low move. I hardly hear people use this move.”

  “Man, he is part of the party. It doesn't matter if you have earned everything with or without his help, he deserves his share.”

  “Right, you can't just kick him out without giving him his share back.”

  “Should we report this to the Party Hall? Many such cases have been handled by them.”

  “Good idea, let me call my friend. He works at the Hall.”

  “Young friend, let the members of the Party Hall handle your case,” an older gentleman softly said to Keni, while shooting a furious look at Zhen.

  Seeing so many people involved, Zhen chose to remain silent. He had heard about the Party Hall resolving disputes between parties and individual hunters.

  Only a few minutes passed before a member of the Party Hall arrived.

  “Jrue, it's like this……” The person who called the Party Hall slowly whispered all the details into Jrue’s ear.

  “You both can follow me. After some investigation, we can help you resolve the matter.” Knowing the situation, Jrue guided both Zhen and Kenji back to the Party Hall.

  “Don't worry, it won't take much time. I am sure you both will be pleased by the Hall's decision.” Arriving at the Party Hall, Jrue reassured them.

  After Jrue left, Zhen remained silent but kept staring at Kenji intensely, as if he would eat him alive at any moment.

  It didn't take the Party Hall much time to gather all the data and make a decision. By the time Jrue returned, he had an older man accompanying him.

  “So, the Hall has decided that you, Mister Zhen, will give Young Sir Kenji here 300 gold coins for his contribution to your party.”

  “Did you see how I handled that guy?” Leaving the Party Hall with 325 gold coins, Keni proudly asked.

  “Yes,...Keni is…great.” Kenji was genuinely impressed by Keni. He never thought he would be able to get 300 gold coins out of Zhen.

  “Now…what should…we join…another party? Maybe Mary can…introduce me to some…parties.” While heading to get some food, Kenji asked.

  “Why join a party? We can hunt on our own,” Keni replied. “Also, hurry up. Yesterday, I didn't get to taste that burger.”

  After dinner, Kenji called Mary. The call stone kept ringing for a while before going silent completely. Waiting for a few moments, Kenji called again, but the result was the same: no answer.

  “Why are you getting worried? She must be busy with the kids. Let's just head over and meet her there.” As Kenji was getting worried, Keni spoke.

  He was happy after having a delicious feast, but Kenji's mood was affecting him.

  “Good…idea.”

  Kenji headed to the [Hunters School]. Using [Flash] a few times, he arrived at his destination in a couple of minutes.

  “Mary? I don't know. She has taken leave for a few days. Something about going to look for her brother. Now that I think about it, it is strange. I never met her brother. Maybe he is in that Sugar Town,” answered the only free person that Kenji could find in the [Hunters School].

  “She didn't tell you? Don't worry, she will be back in a few days. Wanna stay for dinner? Tonight it's homemade mac and cheese.”

  The Professor assured Kenji before inviting him for dinner. Although he had never met Kenji, he had heard a lot about him from Mary.

  “I am…good. I have…just eaten…dinner.” Declining the Professor's offer, Kenji returned to the inn and went to sleep while worrying about Mary.

  [Ancient Calendar: 10 April 0001]

  The first thing that Kenji did after waking up the next day was call Mary. But like yesterday, the stone vibrated for a while before going silent.

  “Don't worry, she will be back.” The moment Keni woke up, he found Kenji anxiously pacing around the room.

  [User: Kenji

  Age: 18

  Ki: 8,234 (Bronze)

  Profession: None

  Innate Ability: Devour

  Heavenly Gift: Recovery (F), Rapid (E), Dual Soul (C)

  Skills: Flash (E), Ki Blade (E), Bull Fist (F), Beam (C), Enforce (C)]

  __________

  Author’s Note:

  Read advance chapters on Patreon:

  patreon.com/BurningSunlvl99