UNLIMITED SPEED

Chapter 422 422. DEFIANCE

"This is oppression," Even Noah felt forced to speak. Things had gone out of hand just because of an event more than half a century prior.

"Unfortunately there's nothing we can do. He brought individuals with tier 3 power, and we have no way of doing anything against him."

"He cut off all types of cultivation manuals and any martial arts, or magic items. We were searched many times until truly no one could hide any of it," The man sighed.

"There are many individuals like me. We were unable to increase in strength but we try to teach the youngsters anything we can still grasp. It's hard, but it's worth it. These children don't know life outside here. I desperately want to do that." The man paused.

'But you don't have the power to," Nah completed his words heaving his won sigh.

Things were different now that he had gotten all that information. He had stopped thinking the town's head was as decent as Jon had.

"I'll help rescue her brother, after that maybe I can do something about you guys leaving," Noah spoke unsure of his plans.

"Without the bandits, he would be able to take any legal action he wants. That would be dangerous waters," Noah muttered out loud.

'I might have to sneak them out,' Noah thought not finding that outcome as a bad one.

"What about their parents," Noah asked even if he expected a sad story.

"The bandits claimed their lives when they first raided the town," The old man stated shaking his head in pity.

"It's only been a few months, but since I had known them since they were babies I could easily bring them into my care, but all obviously isn't well.

"I go hunting tier 2 beasts, but my income is cut due to rules from the town's head."

"We are only allowed to sell to the merchants within the town who then travel about to sell it. There's still a lot of trade that happens here, but we get the short end of the stick."

"I've considered running away during the past few months but I can't leave them alone. I won't die In peace if I did such," the old man chuckled with a light of sadness in his brown eyes.

Noah remained silent at that point, and before they could continue their words, the kids entered, and Erolia looked better, She even had a smile on her face.

Noah immediately switched his tone to something less depressing.

"Who wants to eat?" He asked waving his hand to bring out the table he had gotten from Riveta. He had asked for one since he had taken lots of her food.

Noah watched their eyes begin to shine when he waved his hand and filled the table with all sorts of mouth-watering delicacies.

None of them moved however, they simply switched gazes between him and the table full of food.

"You can have your fill. You don't want to know the amount of food I have stored," he smiled, meaning the last part of his words.

Riveta had made him eat twice in a day during the days he had stayed with her before finally leaving. The dummies had also prepared banquets for him every time he asked for food. And he had done so every day.

It seemed they had been set to cook that much every time.

Noah knew he could spend a whole month eating to his fill and he still wouldn't finish his stored food.

The four of them and the old man, whose name was Herald dug into the food, and so did Noah, but he mostly enjoyed them east while having fun.

Something about that scene reminded him of something he had once longed for.

He found himself taking a liking to the kids more and more.

Noah had shocked to find that they ended up clearing the table. He didn't mind, however, and set out after about an hour later.

He had actually gone to check out the area in which the bandits stayed. He made sure to remain a safe distance so that he was not seen, since he knew they couldn't feel his presence due to the bracelet.

The map provided by the kids had been accurate. And what they had described when they were last there was still all he saw from his position.

He returned to his lodge at some point, but his presence caused fear to remain evident on the face of the owner of that own the building, so much so that he asked him not to pay, even if he insisted.

He didn't want to owe any of them. They had stopped being the friendly people he once thought they were and now felt corrupted.

The night went by pretty quickly, and Noah returned to Erolia and the others to finalize the plan.

He would not act however until the next day, and he had chosen only her to follow him into the den of the bandits so she could reunite with her brother. Noah had only agreed to her coming because he didn't know her brother looked since there were other children too.

Noah began to get stares every time he walked the streets of the good portion of the town.

The stares were mostly out of fear. But he felt hostility amongst some.

They couldn't touch him of course, and even if he had his mask on, his expression remained mocking since he could spot such individuals, and shatter their confidence by glaring at them.

Noah visited Diro's tavern. The man had not been distant like the others, but he kept advising Noah to stay away from the kids.

Noah left the tavern early because of that. And in his way doing his own thing. A group of three individuals had rushed towards him. Eyes filled with defiance.

One of them being a man who had tried to attack, but his fist had smashed into Noah's mental consciousness. It felt like a literal wall.

From the man's words which had come in screams, he had apparently been in a relationship with the woman Noah ended.

The two ladies were apparently her sisters, and their cries were genuine, but Noah felt nothing before them.

After all, any of them would join in the act of the cruelness. They weren't innocent. And although he wasn't in the position to judge, he had the power to do whatever he wanted. But even he didn't go about oppressing people.

After living with a tier 5 for a while such actions felt meaningless. Heck they were childish to him now that he thought of it.

Noah had shoved them to the side with his consciousness.

"Come back when you can really do something," his voice had been cold and his tone mocking, but silently furious.

The insults they hurled at him met a cold heart, and he had simply walked away.

The next day eventually arrived, and Noah returned to the slums to pick Erolia up while going over his instructions again. They would infiltrate the hideout at midnight.