Chapter 44 - Time to go

(A/N: I'm back. And I decided to use this [] whenever the MC will be using a skill in the future, I hope you would like it. I thought it will make future combat scenes cooler.)

"Oh, another thing Ian, from now on don't call me Marie okay? Call me Elene, it is what I have been named by the couple who raised me." Elene said with a smile.

Ian gave a nod, whatever name she wanted he didn't mind. Then he turned his eyes to the injured person they were walking to.

Ian was actually quite concerned about this person named Bert. He didn't want to be remembered as someone unrestrained or something... So when he got near the logs where they were sitting, he was ready to apologize profusely and get this matter done with.

But then, just when he opened his mouth to speak, the lion mink person beat him to the punch and apologized before him.

"I'm sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have overreacted like I did." Bert said as admitted his fault.

Ian opened his eyes wide at this. He didn't expect that the person who he had hit, would apologize to him. He didn't know what to say…

'What is this situation… sigh these mink people are overly sentimental no?' Ian thought to himself.

"Ahm, shouldn't it be me apologizing you know? After all it appears that you are injured quite badly…" Ian said awkwardly. He felt quite bad now that he saw how much injured Bert was.

"Look man, you don't have to tell me how much wrong you were… let's just say that both of us were wrong and leave it at that. Do you agree with this?" Ian said straight after, not leaving Bert any time to apologize again or say something else.

Meanwhile Bert admired how Ian was going about this. Truthfully he knew he was right. They were both wrong. But for the sake of Elene he was planning to take all the blame. He didn't want the person she had been waiting for a while now to be blamed as soon as they met him. But since he already admitted his wrongs, then Bert could only nod a yes. What else could he do? The perfect solution to this just dropped at his doors.

"Yes." He said. Still inside, Ian had earned some character points with him with his actions this time…

"Then let me help you with your injuries." Ian said as he came close planning to heal him with his energy.

When he was just standing next to Bert. He closed his eyes and stilled his breathing for a bit. While the rest watched on with curious eyes what Ian was trying to do.

[Presence Sensing.]

Ian was using 'Observation Haki: presence sensing' to check the surroundings if anybody was spying on tem. He already did before, but it doesn't hurt to check again.

When Ian used it, he was able to see the aura of people in a blue light. The whole world turns dark, except the aura belonging to living beings, meaning it didn't matter if one was hiding in a closet, house or in a bunker underground, as their aura will still appear in the dark world.

Ian opened his eyes, as apart from the ones here, he didn't sense anyone else spying on them or even near them.

He let out a satisfied smile.

"Well, we're clear, there is no one else here apart from us." He said to the rest.

And the others when they heard what he said finally understood that he was checking if anyone was spying on them.

Stella and Bert thought that he was suspicious of them. They thought that he may have suspected them of trying to spy on him using another hidden person. Meanwhile Robin and Elene just watched on silently and calmly from the sidelines.

And when Ian saw that the Mink and the young girl had displeased looks on their faces, he hurriedly spoke up to clear the misunderstanding.

"It's not about you, rather, I seem to have gotten quite famous lately, and someone from this island may have been spying on me. And what I'm going to show you next, is something that needs to be hidden at all costs… so I had to be cautious." He said with an apologetic voice. To which they gave him a nod.

He then grabbed Bert's right shoulder with his hand.

[Heal.]

He used his energy, to heal Bert from the injuries he had sustained due to his mistake. And not even a minute past and Bert was fully healed.

He had a shocked look on his face as he stood up and moved his previously injured arm flexibly.

Ian moved and sat down in the log next to Elene.

"Well allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ian Louis. I'm sorry we started on the wrong foot." Ian spoke up introducing himself.

Bert sat back as he too introduced himself.

"It's fine. My name is Bert, and as you can see, I'm a lion Mink." Bert said with a small smile.

Meanwhile Stella pouted at the side and refused to speak anything. Until Elene who was next to her, nudged her multiple times and urged her with her eyes to talk.

She then finally reluctantly replied.

"I'm Stella, nice to meet you." But her tone was halfhearted, leaving all the people there with awkward smiles on their faces.

"Nice to meet you" Still even so Ian replied to her.

He then turned to Elene and said.

"What were your plans before meeting me?" He said. In case she had something to do, then he would have to change his plans and accompany her. He didn't even think of leaving her alone for a second. They had been away from each other for a long time…

"None. We were specifically waiting for you. Haha" she giggled as she said.

"The three of us were bounty hunters. We hunted the worst type of guys we heard about in order to get our needed money. But when I found your bounty I decided to stop by this island and wait for you." She then added.

"Then what would you do now?" Ian asked. He of course knew that Elene would be going with him at all costs. His question was directed to her friends.

"They are my family. So they too will be going with us." She replied with a gentle smile. She Bert, and Stella were really close. As such they had decided to join Ian together.

Stella gave a nod without turning her eyes to look at Ian. Meanwhile Bert nodded to show his approval.

As such all of them except Robin and Ian, got up to get their stuff ready so that they can leave. Ian had already wasted some time playing around today. It was time to go visit the old man.

He was ready to start his journey to get some answers…