Kingdom's Bloodline, page 449
Still, that was not all.
Thales "saw" a lot.
The Power of Eradication in Marina's body raged madly. It gathered in her hands as well as arms to soothe the fatigue of her muscles and nerves. Meanwhile, it strengthened the senses on her skin in order to predict her opponent's next attack. At the same time, there was also a terrifying aggressiveness to her Power of Eradication. It would spread through her madly every single time her opponent delivered a violent attack on her. Thales suddenly realized that he had somehow come to know this.
With trembling hands, he touched the dagger behind him.
'But…
'As long as I move in place... I can take her by surprise and kill her.'
An impulse screaming at him to attack filled Thales' mind, making him want to immediately attack her.
It was very calming.
The impulse made him very calm.
He really wanted to…
As the Sin of Hell's River urged him to take her, he subconsciously wanted to reach out and grab his dagger.
However, Thales suddenly felt a strange sting in his forehead.
What followed was a burst of inexplicable coolness that spread from his mind.
"'May you…'"
A strange and light ringing sounded in his ears.
"'Ne… ver…'"
The coolness and tinnitus seemed to have some effect, almost instantly cutting off the connection between the Sin of Hell's River and Thales!
The desire to attack disappeared, and Thales regained his senses!
He took a deep breath and immediately discovered what was wrong.
The mercenaries in the tavern, including Ricky, Klein, and Masked Man were staring at him strangely while frowning.
They looked at Thales, who was panting with his head lowered.
It was as if there was something different about him.
And to the other side...
"Nooooo, arghhhhh—"
Quick Rope still had his face contorted. His screams could be heard without end. He trembled non-stop, and there was cold sweat all over his body.
"Aarghhhh—" His screams grew increasingly miserable.
Marina still had her hands on their shoulders. She stared at Quick Rope as he endured great pain, then at Thales, who seemed as if he was completely fine. She became even more confused.
She muttered a puzzled "hum" and increased the strength of her grip over Thales' shoulder.
"What…" Ricky narrowed his eyes, then whispered to Klein, who was next to him.
Thales instantly reacted when he heard Quick Rope's screams.
Warning bells rang in his head!
'Damn it.
'Damn it!
'Quick Rope and I are reacting differently!'
The next second, Thales tried his best to imagine the worst, most painful and most terrible experience he had ever encountered in his life. It was not simple because he could hardly tell which one was "the worst". Still, once he had one event in mind, he tried to emulate his emotions and reactions at that time.
Thales gritted his teeth, lowered his head, then wailed at the top of his voice. "Ooww, aarghhhhhh—Nooooooooo—"
He pretended to be in pain, as much pain as he could imagine.
It was really hard.
After all, an act was never better than the real deal. Thales had to use every ounce of energy in him to focus before he could imitate Quick Rope's hysterical screams, anguish, and crazed trembling, as though he was being flayed.
Marina's eyebrows slowly eased when she saw Thales' pained act.
'There we go.
'Looks like… this short sissy is just someone who reacts slower.'
She nodded her head in satisfaction.
The mercenaries stopped doubting, but the process was gradual.
"Enough!"
Tampa's roar stopped Marina from torturing the two people, though one of them was really in pain, and the other was just acting. She let them go.
Quick Rope collapsed on the table with a dull look on his face. He let out a miserable whine as he spasmed occasionally.
Thales imitated Quick Rope's actions and collapsed on him. That way, as the latter trembled, he would move Thales, and Thales would not have to force himself to continue his act.
Nevertheless, his heart was filled with extreme shock and puzzlement.
'What was that earlier—'
"What was that?!"
Tampa looked at the two miserable people in rage. "Your poison? Bone Blunting Skill? Or the legendary magic?"
"We just showed you some of our methods to let you learn of our determination." Ricky still looked at him politely.
"I know that you were once a soldier, Tampa. You might still be a stubborn person, but… If they are truly your people, then treat this as us urging you to be faster and us giving you a a motivation." The leader of the mercenary group chuckled. "If they aren't… then we will treat them as examples."
He waved his hand at Marina. "Increase your strength."
Thales and Quick Rope shuddered.
Tampa stared at them in disbelief, and his expression was filled with shock and hesitation.
"Enough!"
Before Marina smiled and pushed her hands down again, Tampa spat in indignation. He glared at Ricky in a bad mood.
"The Nine Powerhouses. That's right, I remember them now."
Ricky nodded in satisfaction.
Thales and Quick Rope sighed in relief, then looked at the owner of My Home in gratitude.
"F*ck it all…" Tampa cursed softly.
"Try saying that again." Ricky continued smiling.
Tampa clicked his tongue in anger, then spoke with great reluctance.
"Around ten years ago, during the Bloody Year, most of the Western Peninsula was engaged in war. The desert was in chaos. The nobles in the south and the people rebelled. In the end, Eckstedt even sent their army south out of nowhere. Some of the famous mercenary groups in the Western Desert: Soul Rippers, Double-Edged Sword, Moon Scar, Evil Punishers, Immortal Hunters, and Sunrise's Servants were all affected by the chaos. They fell into misfortune. They either died or disbanded. In fact, some of them had their names wiped off, and it was the same for the Nine Powerhouses…"
The middle-aged man named Klein cut him off rudely. "We know that period of history more than you do. Cut to the chase."
Tampa instantly froze and threw a displeased look at Klein.
"But under that image presented to the public, some people in the circle knew that the Nine Powerhouses lived through the Bloody Year…" he said in indignation.
Ricky's gaze focused.
"That's something I heard from Old Ronnie… One night after the war, the Psionic accountant among the Nine Powerhouses carried their leader while he himself was covered in wounds and blood to knock on the tavern's door," Tampa said while gritting his teeth. "On that night, Old Ronnie searched for a doctor for them, and during that one night, he helped the Nine Powerhouses handle all the resources they left behind so that they could disappear without a trace."
Tampa snorted in anger.
"And that person you asked about only appeared a few years after this happened."
The mercenaries in Blood Whistle cast each other glances. Their faces were grim.
"Some of the old men who stayed here since the start told me that some underground gang that rose to power and had great influence in Constellation and the south within a period of ten something years treated him like some form myth.
"He became stronger, even stronger than when he was a mercenary. At the very least, he dared to stand up against Blood Bottle Gang, who were the claws and fangs of the nobles. He practically suffered no losses," Tampa said coldly, "And every single time he appeared, he would appear like the legends depict him. He will appear, but will disappear without anyone being able to find him."
When he heard this, Thales shuddered.
'A new underground gang who rose to power and had great influence… Stood up against Blood Bottle Gang…
Tampa exhaled, then glared hatefully at the other three people. "He even had a new name…"
He did not finish speaking, because someone else had already answered for him.
"Black Sword."
Masked Man clenched his fists, and his voice was as cold as ice.
Tampa was stunned.
During that instant, practically all the mercenaries in the tavern had their breaths still.
They stared at each other, as if they had found the greatest treasure in the world.
"Isn't it?"
Masked Man slowly enunciated each and every single one of his words. "Because he used… a black, ancient magic sword that is incredibly difficult to use and is extremely bizarre be it when used to slice, cut, thrust, parry, or defend."
In an angle no one could see, Thales' eyes slowly focused.
Chapter 394: New Gues |
'Black Sword.
'This name…
'I haven't heard it for a really long time.'
Thales lay on the table, remembering the strange man in his memory.
When they heard Masked Man's words, Ricky and Klein looked at each other.
This time, it was Tampa's turn to be stunned.
"You know him? Black Sword and his Black Street Brotherhood?"
He looked at the mercenaries in confusion.
"We've met him."
Ricky spoke plainly, but his eyes stayed fixed on the same spot for a long time. "We also saw his extraordinary saber. It's likely the one with the great origin.
"It wasn't long ago."
Masked Man folded his arms and coldly said, " He left a lasting impression."
Thales, who lay gasping on the table, was surprised and bewildered.
'Black Sword used to be a mercenary?
'The Nine Powerhouses…
'This group of people... What connections and grudges does Blood Whistle have with them?
'So much so that they would attempt to abduct Tampa even at the cost of challenging the law, just to learn about that man's whereabouts?'
The confused Tampa look around. "Since you already know, why are you―"
Ricky raised his hand and interrupted him.
"We just want to confirm that you're aware of his current status.
"And now, we want to know his past, Tampa."
Ricky clasped his hands together and looked at him seriously. His tone was solemn and his demeanor grim, as though he was carrying out a sacred ceremony.
"We especially want to know the things he did as a mercenary before he joined the Brotherhood. We want to know every mission he's carried out, every business, and every story."
The bewilderment in Tampa's eyes grew.
"His origin, his identity, his background..." Klein added quietly. He sounded like he was facing an archenemy.
Tampa's eyebrows were drawn together tighter.
"Not only that..."
Masked Man raised his head and spoke coldly, "His skills, his swordsmanship, his weapons, and most importantly, his..."
Masked Man paused.
Behind the mask, his eyes shone with a cold light.
"Power of Eradication"
'The Black Sword's… Power of Eradication.'
Thales' breathing became rapid.
'And…'
As he listened to the other two, Ricky nodded in agreement.
"In other words, we want to know everything, Tampa..." Ricky looked at the tavern owner and narrowed his eyes. "Everything... about the Black Sword."
Tampa seemed to realize how unusual recent events had unfolded.
"You're not doing this for Blood Bottle Gang, right? Since the Red Viper was driven out of the baron's guards..."
Ricky and his two companions looked at each other and cracked up.
The tavern owner glared at them.
"But based on the situation now… just who are you?"
Tampa looked at them in puzzlement and wanted to get an answer from the faces of that group of bloodthirsty mercenaries.
However, he failed.
The three heads of the group remained collected, and the mercenaries around them were silent.
Tampa only sighed. "Black Sword… Just how great of an enmity has he formed with you? Is he worth you causing such a big scene, to the point of destroying your reputation and future?"
Ricky snorted lightly.
He shook his head slowly, and a bright spark shone in his eyes.
"You have no idea...
"You have no idea just how many things he has on his person that have caught our interest."
Once he finished speaking, Klein and Masked Man's eyes became fierce.
"You have no idea what kind of miracle and opportunity he represents."
Tampa looked at him grimly.
Ricky curled up the corners of his lips and tapped the table as if he was immersed in his own world,
"For us, he will mark the end of the old era and the beginning of a new century."
Thales listened to everything with a dumb expression on his face…
He felt like he had been dragged into another major event.
"Is this some kind of cult group?"
Quick Rope whispered into Thales' ears while he lay on the table.
"I saw this sort of stuff in Vallier Union before. A group of madmen shouted the names of demons and evil spirits, then made their sacrifices bleed..."
"I don't know," Thales whispered to him, "and I don't want to know. I just want to leave this place."
Quick Rope sighed and carefully observed their surroundings. "I'd like to as well, but there are too many of them."
As he watched the dozens of murderous mercenaries and observed their steady, calm demeanor as well as their orderly breathing and well-trained movements, Thales' heart tensed.
'Right.
'Their numbers are too great.
'No matter to whom.'
At that moment, Shawn, the mercenary went up to Ricky. He was the one who previously blocked their path when Marina as well as the other two brought Thales and Quick Rope over.
"Ricky..." Shawn's face was tense. He did not lower his voice, so everyone in the tavern heard him clearly. "Our guest is coming.
"He's alone."
That second, Ricky's stare became extremely piercing.
Klein and Masked Man also reacted. The former gently pressed down on his sword hilt, which was placed by his waist, whereas the latter's sight was fixed on the table.
"That's fast. It's an hour earlier than what we agreed."
Klein spoke coldly, "I guess their people are in position too. I've dealt with that guy before; he's definitely not alone."
Thales could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the tavern had changed.
If Blood Whistle previously appeared to be relaxed but were actually on edge while they detained Tampa, Thales and Quick Rope, it could be said that they were at ease and in control of the situation despite their tension and low spirits…
After Shawn spoke, however, only a suffocating pressure and dead stillness was left in the air.
Many of the mercenaries' breathing grew heavy, and their faces were indignant. Many people stood up and even pressed their hands on their weapons.
"Restrain yourselves, all of you."
Ricky swept his gaze over the crowd and looked unhappy. He yelled at them as though they were disobedient wild dogs, "Our plan will not be disrupted by this accident...
"It doesn't matter what they do."
The worked up Blood Whistle then became quiet. They looked at each other, and returned to their positions.
Thales looked at them curiously.
'A guest?
'Who's coming?
'What's their plan? Wasn't it just to kidnap Tampa?'
Quick Rope also cast him a questioning look.
"I guess we'll leave our friendly conversation here until later, old friend." Ricky turned back, and that pleasant expression of his returned on his face.
"Later?" Tampa gritted his teeth. "You're not going to let me go, are you?"
Ricky ignored him.
Marina came forward. "I'll take them upstairs—"
A thought then struck Thales' mind. If they were held in separate rooms, there would be fewer opponents to face...
However, his hopes were lost.
"No, they'll stay here, under everyone's supervision."
Klein interrupted Marina, and it seemed that his status came in second only to Ricky in the mercenary group.
"Tampa has been conducting his business here for too long. He knows his tavern too well, and his role is too important for us," Klein said cautiously. "We can't take even the slightest risk before dawn."
Thales just sighed internally.
'But...
'Before dawn...'
Thales caught this particular detail.
'When dawn comes... what are they going to do?'
Marina frowned slightly and looked at Ricky.
Ricky had no objection. He just pondered for a moment before he nodded slowly at Shawn.
"Bring him in."
"Be careful," Masked Man reminded them coldly. "The damn cockroaches are the best at surprises."
Finally, amid Thales' deep doubts, the door to My Home was opened.
A man hidden under a cloak walked into the tavern, which was controlled by Blood Whistle under the watchful gazes of the mercenaries behind him.
Just like the time when Thales first entered the place, the fierce eyes and mighty presence of the mercenaries instantly oppressed their new guest.
Nonetheless, the guest under the cloak still moved forward at a steady pace and an indifferent posture.
The mercenary, Shawn stopped the guest.
"Check out his body," he said coldly.
The guest shrugged and raised his hands obediently.
"Forget it, Shawn." Klein shook his head. His expression was hostile. "I dare say that even if you really want to confiscate his weapons, even if you checked and stripped him of everything, this guy can still dig out a dagger out from his a**hole. "
Shawn made way, not forgetting to give the guest a fierce glare.
The guest seemed to be rather resigned as he walked into the middle of the tavern. He saw the table where Ricky, Klein, Masked Man, and Tampa sat at together.
