Leaving LA was not something Eren was willing to do. Not before that event took place. That's why he didn't take much time before politely refusing Jason's offer:
"The offer is indeed tempting, Jason. I can't speak for Renita, but I'll have to decline. We all know Royal Ren is not a nice place for commoners like me.
Maybe things would work out for you and our friend Ivor here. I can now see why he sticks close to you. You are his ticket to enter the place he couldn't go because of his brother's death."
Eren looked at Ivor and said this in a plain voice. He remembered Ivor's long-winded speech about how he was unable to go to Royal Ren because of Isaac's death. With Jason's support, Eren didn't think the guy would have to worry about excessive non-disclosure contracts. His succession to Isen's position also won't be hampered.
Ivor wanted to rebuke Eren but he couldn't. This was exactly why he was mindful around Jason.
"I'll always… *cough... I mean I'll also stay with Eren."
Renita declined Jason's offer as well. Jason raised his eyebrows after hearing Renita's reply and asked them both one last time:
"Do you guys know what you are denying? Eren, LA is indeed good for close combat experts. But Royal Ren has top-of-the-line close combat experts serving as assistant professors and professors.
Renita, you'll be losing the most out of denying this offer. LA is just not suitable for a capable ranger like you. No matter how much you strive for greatness, your growth will always be stunted here. Are you sure you don't want to change your opinion?"
Eren and Renita looked at each other after Jason finished. Eren could see in Renita's eyes that she wanted to take Jason up on his offer. But not at the cost of getting separated from him. He nodded at her and then looked at the royal bastard before replying:
"We are positive, Jason. Thanks for asking though."
Jason had a stoic expression after he heard Eren's reply. He wanted to get the close combat expert under his banner who was calm and collected, unlike a certain someone from his team. But since he had received a clear-cut no, it was about time he moved to recruit a few more trusted retainers of his age before his time in LA was up.
"You'll regret this, punk."
Ivor couldn't help giving Eren a threat before leaving. Only time could tell if it was empty or not. But for now, Eren didn't feel like engaging with him or Jason.
Veronica was silent the whole time. She was trying to steal a glance at Eren during the whole time of conversation. But Renita would catch her doing so and narrow her eyes looking at her. The ranger's vigilance made the young lady self-conscious, preventing her from observing Eren up close.
************
There were two groups of rankers meeting inside an abandoned castle ruin. One group was made of two people who had worn eye-catching masks to cover their identities. The other was made of a young elf and three captives.
"These are the people you want. Do what you want with them. I believe the deal we had with each other is concluded with this delivery, right?"
Arizihana asked the man in the mask while folding her arms under her bosoms. Renar and the two young anthropes that were caught and enslaved with him were standing behind her. Their mouths and eyes were sealed with runic inscriptions. Plus, their hands and legs had been chained.
"Hm. You did a good job, miss Arizihana. Nobody is looking for them right?"
The broad-shouldered man asked to confirm. Ari nodded before responding:
"That's right. I did what you asked me to do. Lent them from the city administration under a made-up Beast Bloods case and declared them dead on paper soon after. There's no heat in taking them."
The masked man seemed pleased:
"Haha. Good. Then I believe our business is done here, miss Arizihana."
Ari felt a little relieved when she heard the reply from the masked man. She was also smiling internally thinking she had played him.
'You'll soon regret blackmailing me, you masked bastard.'
Ari had just thought this when she heard the masked man's deep voice:
"I hope you don't try to pull a fast one on me with this deal, miss Arizihana. Otherwise, I won't be responsible for the fallout."
'Did this guy just read my mind?'
Ari thought and labelled it as a coincidence before replying coldly:
"I hope you also don't try to do anything 'mischievous' for your own sake. I'll be going if there's nothing else."
Arizihana soon left the ruined castle building. Ronny AKA Eren waited for some more time before asking his pet about something:
"Reen, are they clean?"
Reen spread her mana sense and covered Renar and the other two young anthropes, affecting their psyches. The three captives were scared shitless when they felt the mana sense that was scanning them. But they couldn't run nor call for help. All they could do was to stay still and wait for the nightmare to get over.
"Apart from the weird smell they now carry, nothing else that sticks out like a sore thumb."
Reen shared her findings with her master. Eren scratched his chin when he realized what was done to the captives:
'Weird smell, huh? Since Marie was a former apprentice of Levine, I can imagine her concocting a potion that can help Arizihana track Renar and the rest when she wants to.
And this after I had told that cute elf to not try anything funny with me. I was half-expecting this anyway.'
Eren thought and shook his head. He was going to let Arizihana go without making her connections to the cultists known to anyone. There was no benefit to be had making her a wanted criminal in Edinburgh after all.
'How should we get rid of the smell, Erni? Should we consult Levine discreetly?'
Reen asked in the butcher's head. She had fused with Eren once again after Ari had left. To which he smiled cunningly before making his intentions known to her:
'Why should we? Let her track us. Hehe.. We were short on the number of helping hands anyway.'