“An ambush?! No! That means—”
Durinn finally understood the situation he’d put himself in, but it was already too late. My wicked grin stretched as the screams of Durinn’s men pierced through the air. One lackey was cut open with a knife, while another had his head crushed by a puppet soldier. In the blink of an eye, Durinn’s forces were little more than corpses littering the ground. The only ones who remained were Durinn himself and the Varen brothers.
Alma wore a wicked smile as she circled behind Durinn and his two bodyguards. Hugo joined her, his gaze like ice as the puppet soldiers stood before him.
“I knew you would come for me,” I said, taking a puff. “The way you were raging, it was clear to everyone in the conference room that you couldn’t stand Finocchio becoming head of the family. But if we took the initiative and killed you first, it would only send the wrong message to the rest of the board—that Finocchio intends to rule by fear.”
I relished the pitiful and oh-so-stupid Durinn’s bewilderment.
“I made it easy for you; I made myself the target. You didn’t even give it a second thought—you just jumped right into the trap like it was exactly what you wanted. From the moment you set your men to tail me, my friends were watching you.”
“B-but that’s just asinine… The boss being the decoy? Are you freaking insane?! It would have been all over if you died! It don’t make sense!”
I sighed. “That’s exactly why you can’t beat Finocchio.”
“Are you saying I’m inferior to that clown?!”
“You haven’t bested him at a single thing.”
Durinn growled through clenched teeth, consumed by his anger and humiliation. The Varen brothers had their weapons at the ready, watching us carefully for any movement.
“Durinn,” said the Swordsman. “You have to make a choice: run or fight.”
“He’s right,” said the Lancer. “Whatever decision you make, it had better be quick.”
“I know, I know! I ain’t going down like this! Let’s get out of here!”
“Got it!”
Durinn took off like a scared rabbit, with the Varen brothers securing him a path away from us.
“Not so fast!” said Alma, unleashing her steel needles.
The Varen brothers quickly cut down her attack with their weapons, and Alma clicked her tongue in frustration before moving in to attack. Sparks flew from a blade moving faster than sound. At the same time, Hugo’s puppet soldiers jumped into the fray to back her up.
“Our team work has really improved,” I said, glancing at Leon beside me. “They can hold their own against the Varen brothers. Pity we’re not here for a teamwork session. Leon, lead them with your barriers to the waiting point.”
“Got it,” said Leon, preparing a skill. “Holy Shield.”
Leon’s skill created an invisible barrier around the Varen brothers. Though most commonly used for protection, the skill could also be used to block or redirect. The brothers quickly found themselves pushed back by Hugo and Alma.
“Their time away from Seeking has dulled their senses. Any current A-Ranker could handle them,” I said, watching things play out.
“They’re strong, but no match for Alma and Hugo,” said Leon, nodding. “Those brothers would be dead already if that’s what we wanted.”
“Yeah, they’re too valuable for a quick death. A-Rank opponents are a rarity. I feel bad for them, but it’s too good a chance to pass up.”
Leon’s barriers and Hugo and Alma’s pressure kept the Varen brothers backing up until they reached the intended area. Then, it was the older brother who noticed first.
“Watch out! Something’s coming!”
The very moment the Swordsman warned his younger brother, a sharp flash gleamed in the darkness—the light of a cruel and beautiful blade. The Swordsman lifted his weapon to block the strike, but it was utterly meaningless.
“Brother!”
The Lancer’s pained scream rang out as his older brother and the blade he held were cut in two before his very eyes. Blood and guts spilled across the ground. No healing skills could save him now.
“Son of a bitch! You killed my brother!”
The Lancer thrust his spear into the darkness to avenge his brother’s loss, but his efforts only opened him up for an attack. Another light flashed through the air, and the Lancer was likewise bisected with one strike.
Durinn yelped in fear. “Th-the Varen brothers! They’re…they’re…!”
The dwarf slumped to his butt in terror, his only protection cut down in seconds. He let out a girlish shriek. The fight was over. Out of the shadows came a Longswordsman with a blade in his hand: Koga. Enduring his training had earned him a rank-up, and it was with this newfound power that he dispatched the Varen brothers.
Koga swung his sword to flick off the excess blood, then slid it back into its sheath with a smooth, well-practiced movement. Finally, he put his hands together for a moment as he faced the fallen Varen brothers.
“Hate me if you will,” he said, “but I offer a prayer for your souls.”
I watched Koga as he prayed, but I felt the corners of my mouth curl into a grin.
“Amazing. He’s only just ranked up and he can already take out two A-Rankers before even taking a breath. He’s a monster.”
“He did it for you,” said Leon. “Don’t forget that.”
I frowned at his admonishing tone. “You saying I should go ruffle his hair and call him a good boy?”
“If that’s what you think is appropriate, then yes.”
“Hmph. I’ll give him an A for effort. That enough?”
Leon let out a defeated sigh. “Grow up, Noel.”
“Shut up. I am who I am.”
I turned away and sucked on my cigarette. Alma sauntered over toward me, and I could tell by the look on her face that she was mad.
“Noel! What the hell was that?!”
“What is it this time?”
“Nobody said anything to me about you going into a hotel with that girl! Was that what you wanted?! You’re going too far!”
Ah, so that’s it, I thought. I chucked my cigarette away and laughed.
“This is stupid. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of her.”
“Of course I am! I deserve a kiss too! C’mon, me too!”
Alma closed her eyes and stood on the tips of her toes, waiting for a kiss. She had no shame. As if to make it more obvious, she puckered up and pointed at her lips. It made me so mad I wanted to slap her, but I quickly decided on a different approach. I couldn’t help wondering if she made fun of me like this because I always waved her off. If that were the case, I knew what I had to do.
“Fine. I’ll give you exactly what you want,” I said.
“Huh?”
I took Alma in my arms and sealed her lips with mine. She wasn’t expecting it, and her eyes practically burst out of her skull. Ignoring the fact that she’d gone stiff as a board, I continued to kiss her, and I gradually felt the strength dissipate from her body. Any more than this and she’d probably pass out. I let her go, but it was all she could do just to keep standing.
“Satisfied?” I asked.
“Uh…yes?” she replied with a vague nod, walking away from me with a drunken swagger.
I had a feeling she wouldn’t try that again anytime soon. It was incredibly satisfying. Then I noticed the cold glares coming from Hugo and Leon.
“Noel, you are truly the worst,” said Hugo.
“An enemy of all women. You’re going to get yourself stabbed.”
I sneered. “If you’ve got a problem with my methods, you deal with her.”
The two men averted their eyes after that. This was exactly the reason I couldn’t rely on anyone. I sighed and turned my attention to Durinn, who was trying to escape.
“Where might you be going?”
Durinn slowly turned to face me, his face etched with terror.
“The night is still so very, very young,” I said. “There’s still so much fun to be had. So. Much. Fun.”