Chapter One-Hundred and Nine: No need for rm, it’s just my smartass talking.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shit’s been pretty quiet since that big quest ended huh, Bert?” the man said, leaning onto his ymore.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well yeah, Tom… Isn’t that how these shows do it? A little break from big event to the big event?” Bert replied, using his rifle’s scope to look out into the treeline of the forest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bert… we aren''t in a tv show. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A lot of things but I thought we were talking about the quiet peace we’ve got now, not my crippling depression and bad habits,” Bert said nonchntly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tom looked over, his face incredulous.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good thing too, we would be here all day if we were.
<span style="font-weight:400">Turning from his scope to Tom a smirk on his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tom, we are here all day, remember? We got in trouble for cking on guard dutyst time, and I don’t need Bear standing five feet above me looking down again. Felt like being above average height meant being as small as a mouse next to him,” Bert said, shivering visibly, remembering the experience.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tom shook his head, his arms suddenly wrapping his body.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, never mind, you’re right on that one. Guy’s built like a tank if the tank had an old estranged uncle that just came out of prison,” he said his body giving a quick jerk, “But he’s a nice guy though, gave out those potions that tasted like grape juice. Remember that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh yeah, nice guy. Can kill you with his pinky toe, but a nice guy,” Bert agreed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly a new voice chimed into their conversation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aw, well that’s nice of you to say, guys. I’ll make some more of those potions for ya,” the voice said behind them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh no problem, thanks,” the pair said before realizing they hadn’t answered the other but someone entirely new, their heads slowly turning, then tilting upwards to meet the eyes of the new man.
<span style="font-weight:400">Behind them stood Bjorn, a smile on his face, his mat gray armor covering most of his body, only his right arm showing any of his skin and the rippled muscles of his shoulder. His enormous two-handed sword’s handle eerily glowed a faint ck as it peeked over his left shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bear! Sir! We weren’t cking! Just a little guard duty chat!” Bert said, scrambling for an excuse.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn waved them off, trying to calm them as he turned his focus to the forest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry about it, bro. I’m not going to hurt you for talking about me. Takes a lot more than that to get under my skin,” heughed, “And I’m going to have to ask you to go grab everyone. I think we have visitors.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The pair of guards changed from an expression of panic to one of confusion. They both followed his gaze turning back to the forest, a single man and woman walking out from the tree line, both lit by the orange of the dusk of the setting sun.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are they enemies? It’s only two,” Tom said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn smiled,” Oh no, there''s more. But I’m more excited about seeing an old friend,” Bjorn said to the two, his eyes shing to white for a moment as he utilized his legendary skill revealing the man’s name despite his alias.
<strong>[Drake Wallen Level 20]</strong>
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<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh looks like they spotted us. What a wonderful wee party,” Drake said, giving a soft whistle at the people pouring out of the extended rampart, “Look at that, they even put up an extra barricade, that’s some points to Shigure,” Drake mused aloud, the worried Miss Braun looking over her shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, it seems to be a new addition from when I was here. I’ll be goi-” she started exining, but Drake didn’t let her excuse herself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, no, I insist you mean them with us. After all, you were such a wonderful guide,” he said evenly, “You can stand at the head of the rest of the ones we’ve captured. Exining how and why you decided to try to kill well over 200 people for your own gain and pleasure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The woman began running for the camp, her cover blown and cat now fully out of the bag.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake sighed knowing this was going to be a problem, but nevertheless had to stop her before she could cause more trouble.
<span style="font-weight:400">Stepping forward, Drake moved quickly to intercept her. Miss Braun’s stats paled inparison to his own as he moved in front of her, gripping her by the wrist in front of the entire camp and the rest of his group moving out of the tree line.
<span style="font-weight:400">Within seconds he felt the stares of Shigure’s camp fall on him, hostile.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Saw thating. Now if someone….</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought just as a shout sounded over the crowds.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let that woman go!” a voice yelled.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Why. Why is this happening? I’ve been a good person, right? I’ve built up my good karma, right? </em><span style="font-weight:400">Drake cursed inwardly against the high-pitched giggling of Natto in the background.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned expecting to see a younger person based on the pitch of the voice and was not surprised when they were exactly that.
<span style="font-weight:400">The teen wore a loose robe not unlike Drake’s but in a more oriental sense. The robe or kimono was well fitted to the teen’s figure, leaving enough room for movement but at the same time not loose enough to be a hindrance. On his side two swords, one much longer than the other in scabbards of pure ck, ented by rose gold markings, the handles covered in just as dark ck as the scabbards, hilts of beautifully shimmering rose gold.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake took a moment, his eyes focusing on the man, staying a clear blue.
<strong>[Shigure Kenzo Level 24]</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake also turned his attention to the smiling giant sticking out like a sore thumb behind the crowd of people from the camp.
<strong>[Bear Level 27]</strong>
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Did Bjorn not tell the kid who I am? Or does he have a heroplex?</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought, looking back at the teen glowering at him, his hand on his sword hilt.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">You are by far thest person to say anyone has any sort ofplex…” </em><span style="font-weight:400">Natto said pointedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake opened his mouth underneath his mask but closed it, unable to argue.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, she’s a criminal,” Drake said finally addressing Shigure.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Regardless of her crime, you should not treat her as such. She is still human,” Shigure countered.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake raised a brow, “Have you not dealt with the people in the tutorial that have killed swaths of people just for the hell of it? She is no better than a monster killing indiscriminately for their own pleasure,” Drake exined evenly, hearing murmursing from his own group as they now fully exited the forest into the opening of the Outpost.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There’s that boss music again. Please someone else tell me they hear it and it’s not just me,” Tom whispered from behind Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake ignored Tom and kept his focus on Shigure.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Should I goad him? I wanted to fight him anyway and seems like Bjorn is making sure no one else is going to step in.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought, going through the options.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake decided to have some fun.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m here at the request of Bear. This woman is a criminal and responsible for nearly killing all of the people you see behind me,” Drake said pointedly, “Are you simply going to have her run around freely? If so, then I may have made a mistake bying here. I expected too much from a child who ys at being a leader.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure’s face instantly deepened into a fierce scowl at the jab.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Uh oh. Too far?</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake said, his eyes shing yellow, his aura beginning to boil ready to be released to calm down the teen.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Imbecile…. Must you make every person you meet hate you instantly? It makes doing anything we need incredibly difficult!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake mentally shrugged as he kept his eyes fixed on Shigure.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I <em><span style="font-weight:400">know</em><span style="font-weight:400"> who you are, Shot. And you may be weed here by Sir Bear but he is not a member of the coalition and holds no power here. He is simply a guest. Regardless of what you hold as a preconceived notion of my leadership, I am in charge and if you wish to enter you will have to adhere to what I say. So let the woman go and we will take it from here,” Shigure growled out, his hand almost quaking as it gripped his sword.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Oh, he’s surprisingly calm despite himself. </em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought impressed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Certainly leagues ahead of yourself,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto snickered.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Rude.</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">“I came here only because of my friendship with Bear. And the promise I made with him, these people behind me are here for shelter and protection. Are you going to deny them that because I refuse to give up a criminal? What about the rest of the ones I have captive who have done just as much as her if not worse? Are you really going to demand I give them freedom when they have forcibly and violently tried to do the same to these innocent people? How do you expect to protect anyone with such a soft attitude,” Drake jabbed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure’s face contorted to true anger at hisst words. As he lowered his stance.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know nothing of what I will do to protect these people and my family! I won’t allow you to continue to insult me and my honor as a leader of this coalition. Let her go, this is thest time I will ask!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake smirked under his mask.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Theo.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shimmering into existence next to him was Theodore, in all of his butler glory, his mustache a work of art as it stayed picturesque on his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, my Lord?” Theodore answered his body in a slight bow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Take Miss Braun to the other prisoners. Everyone who wants to stay with this <em><span style="font-weight:400">child,</em><span style="font-weight:400"> can stay. The criminals will have to be judged for their crimes by someone more <em><span style="font-weight:400"petent</em><span style="font-weight:400"> it seems,” Drake said, making sure to keep eye contact with Shigure as he did.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure’s eyes cracked with malicious intent at the final jab, his honor insulted for thest time by Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">First Strike, Blood Moon Style, Ket-</em><span style="font-weight:400">” Shigure began to whisper, his sword and drawing hand moving as he twisted his body, but he was interrupted by just the man Drake wanted to see.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay okay! That’s enough,” Bjorn said, holding Shigure by the shoulder, “Ever your own pace huh, bro?” Bjorn said, his smile still asrge as it was moments ago from the crowd.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know me Bear, I like to be shy and make an entrance,” Drake said, breaking his evil facade and turning back to Theo, “Thank you for ying along Theo, can you please get the rest of the prisoners from Hudson, I’d like to hand them over like we nned.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure rxed slightly but still red daggers at Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake chuckled, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” he said, holding out his left hand, “I just wanted to get a gauge on who you were, and I’m d you are who I thought you would be.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn not Shigure raised a brow curious, biting on the leading statement.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh? And what’s that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake moved his mask so his face showed hisrge smile, “A snot-nosed brat,” Drakeughed sarcastically.
<span style="font-weight:400">The surroundings suddenly cracked with dense mana, Shigure’s visage turning dark.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn scoffed, shrugging as his hand came off of Shigure’s shoulder, Bjorn looking at Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey bro, I tried.”