The Hunter System
Chapter 83 - Maximus Castle
Early in the morning, Alvin followed Robert and Erfhina to the Maxwell family's residence in Maximus' castle.
As soon as they entered the fort, Alvin was immediately nostalgic for the atmosphere inside the fortress which was filled with natural forests.
He also saw the situation in the fort that had not changed too much since 9 years ago, except for a few additional novice hunter barracks around the inside of the wall.
The Maxwell family really takes care of the natural forest very well with only a few logging for the construction site of the barracks.
"Is that a barracks for beginner hunters?" alvin asked the Xavier brothers who were sitting in the front seat.
"Yes. Since 5 years ago, the son or daughter of the workers in the castle and the daughter of the guild members live in a new barracks" said Erfhina.
Alvin nodded slowly.
"It's been a long time?"
Alvin smiled faintly.
"Yes." Yeah."
"When was the last time you set foot inside this fortress? 8 years? 9 years?" Robert asked.
"Nine years."
"You just graduated junior high school that time, right? Fhina felt very lonely at that moment." Robert laughed after saying the last sentence and he ended up with in Erfhina's fist.
......................
Robert and Erfhina deliver Alvin to Arthur Maxwell's den after they arrive inside the main castle located in the central area of the fort.
Alvin himself will later live in the right castle, where the new professional hunters Maximus guild lives. The castle was inhabited specifically by male hunters. While the left castle is inhabited by women who are also the new professional hunters of the Maximus guild.
There were 4 equally large castles within the fort. In addition to the 3 castles, there is still 1 castle located behind the main castle. The castle was dedicated to the Maximus family workers. Both the castle workers, as well as the new workers who worked in the Maximus companies that were outside the fort.
The residents of the 3 castles, in addition to the main castle, will usually change every 4 or 5 years.
People whose careers have been quite successful, will usually leave the castle. However, still they went not too far from outside the fortress. They will usually buy property in the outer area of the fort which also belongs to the Maximus group.
Due to the faithfulness of the men to the Maxwell family, they were even reluctant to go far from the fortress neighborhood, worried in case of a major war between the Maxwell family and the Lewis family, who were not involved in the war, arthur did not bother him at all.
......................
"Uncle Ar..thur," said Alvin as he entered Arthur's study.
The sentence was slightly interrupted upon seeing Cyntia also in the room.
Cyntia leaves with Robert and Erfhina shortly after Alvin enters.
What makes Alvin a bit awkward is when Cyntia passed him without looking at him at all let alone greeting, even though he was just about to greet him.
'Does he hate me?'
["Why don't you just see the score?"]
'...'
["You're worried about a score of 1 or even 0?"] Mina laughed loudly after saying that.
.........
"It's been a long time" said Arthur, standing up from his chair.
The middle-aged man approached Alvin and hugged him tightly.
Arthur patted Alvin's shoulder many times. Not slowly, but with a little hard to make Alvin a bit surprised.
"You really worry me. Please don't do that to us again. Marco and I are both old" Arthur said, still patting Alvin on the shoulder.
"Pardon me, uncle."
Arthur then took Alvin to the balcony in front of the workspace.
He also prepared snacks and tea there for them.
The natural river scenery that passed between the main castle and the female-only castle became the scene where they were.
Dozens of sparrows flew by, and a few deer were drinking by the river, making Alvin feel like he was in medieval times. Had they not worn modern clothes, Alvin would have felt that he had gone back in time.
.........
Alvin felt awkward as Arthur poured tea for him. Even though he knew Arthur was that kind of person, he still felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar.
Arthur is too good a leader. While still living in the castle, he also often saw Arthur pouring drinks not only for his business associates, but also doing it for the older servants, the one he talked to in the morning and evening.
"How are you?"
"Y-yeah.., I'm fine uncle."
Arthur looked at the old Alvin while leaning his body on the back of the chair.
Being stared at like that certainly made Alvin wrong and guess what was in the middle-aged man's mind.
'Is he going to ask me what happened to Miranda? Or can he guess that I'm the one who made Brondy paralyzed?'
["Can you shut up? Don't bother me. I'm making good weapons out of lich bones."]
'I was silent. You're the one who always hears my thoughts!'
["..."]
But what Alvin thought was not said by Arthur. Arthur asked something unrelated to the two events.
"Uncle has heard the reason Vina did not come. But, is he actually okay living in City T himself?"
"Aps... Ah.yep, yeah. Vina has a lot of friends there."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"You know, right? Uncle already thinks of you, and Vina is like an uncle's own son. If you have a problem, do not hesitate to ask for help. Don't run away like that again. It's hard for us to protect you when you're not around."
Alvin was a little surprised to hear that.
'He doesn't even care when I've done a big deal?'
"S-I understand."
After a long silence, like studying what was in Alvin's mind through his expression, Arthur finally smiled.
"Son, do you remember your promise when you left this castle first?"
"Promise? Oh y-yeah... Uncle."
Arthur laughed after hearing that dubious answer.
Alvin certainly remembers that promise.
When Arthur and Marco ask him to stay inside the fort, Alvin and Vina decide to exit the fort.
Although it was hard to take off the two teenagers, Arthur eventually bought them a modest house in the best neighborhood outside the fort, although in that neighborhood there was no one from the Maxwell family confidants. It was the house that Alvin and Vina had until recently.
Alvin promised that he would return to the Maxwell family to serve the heir to the Maxwell family after the heir returned from Europe. Either his form of service was as a hunter or as an administrative aide to the heir, as his father did.
"Do you still want to keep that promise? Or are they just words coming out of a new-growing teenager?" asked Arthur, in between his smiles.
Alvin immediately turned his face toward the river, which somehow, coincidentally, he immediately looked at the heir he was thinking about and were discussing at this time.
By chance their gazes met, Alvin quickly turned his face again, staring at Arthur.
"Y-yes... Uncle."
'What is he doing there?'
["Fishing. You didn't see?"]
'i know. But..., since when does he like fishing? Wasn't he also afraid of being around that river because he had almost drowned?'
["Tsk... He's an adult. And again, how do you know someone's new hobby after not meeting him for 18 years?"]
'...'
......................
Meanwhile, it's by the river, right across the balcony where Alvin and Arthur are.
"Miss Tia. You have to put up the bait before throwing the hook" said a waiter.
He was shocked when Cyntia suddenly came to him and immediately begged him to lend the fishing rod to her.
"Feeds?"
"Yes..."
"..."