"Well, it's going to involve both of you," I said, pointing at Edmund.
"And if it works, we get to stay together and enjoy ourselves," I added, smirking.
"Really?" Edmund said, springing up to Kevin's surprise.
"Finally. You've decided to join us," I added.
He's been pretending to sleep and listening to the conversation since.
"You mean we get to stay together, right?" he added with a curious look, bringing his face forward.
"Wait... Before that," Kevin interrupted, pushing Edmund's face off.
"How is this plan of yours going to make us stay together? And what's that about enjoying?" he added, looking at me suspiciously.
Well, fair. He's got a lot of questions and I haven't told them the plan, so it's understandable.
"You're both going to rush to the square and call the soldiers while I take down this Garrick and his men—"
"Wait. You? Take down Garrick and his men?" Kevin interrupted, looking at me from head to toe.
"You've been acting weirdly since yesterday. Do you think you're some knight now?" he added.
"Should we go meet the doctor? I helped him recently, so he could take a look," he added, as he touched my head to feel my temperature.
"Don't worry about it. They're not going to be more than third rates. Trust me," I added, pushing his hand off my head.
He took some time to look at me before talking.
"I trust you, Theo. We do. But this is illogical in all ways. They might be third rates or whatever you say, but they're still adventurers who kill demonic creatures as their normal job. That's why the Barony hasn't done anything about them," he said, with worry in his eyes and Edmund looking equally worried.
Hmmm. Understandable. It is indeed illogical of me to tell them I'd take care of someone whose lackeys have messed with us and beat us countless times.
I stood up, walked towards the walls, clenched my hands into a fist.
"What are you doing?" Kevin asked, surprised.
I wrapped my hands in some qi and punched hard on the wall.
Bang.
"What?!" they both screamed as they sprang up and came towards me.
"What was that for?" Kevin shouted, holding me by my clothes.
"Wait..." Edmund held him back with surprise.
"Look," he added, showing Kevin the wall.
I had ingrained a fist mark on the wall.
"What? How is that possible?" Kevin let me go, touched the mark on the wall and sharply turned to me, grabbing my hand to examine it. No injuries.
"Wow," Edmund added, still admiring the mark on the wall.
"That's strong."
"I told you. I'm going to take care of it. Just trust me," I added strongly.
"Hmm..." Kevin stood to think for a while, looked at me, thought more, looked at the wall, and sat down.
"Okay... That was weird but assuring. So how is everything going to go? We need a valid plan," he added.
"I'm not going to just barge into their base when I don't yet have an idea of how strong their forces are," I replied.
"We're going to split their forces before I do anything," I added.
"Sit down, Ed..." I turned to Edmund, who was still engrossed and amazed by the mark on the wall.
"Will I be able to do that someday too?" he asked as he took his seat, with so much enthusiasm in his eyes.
"Yes. I'll teach you how to do that. And even more. Let's go through this first," I replied, trying to calm him down.
"Me too," I heard Kevin mutter under his breath.
Would you look at this kid? Haha.
"Since we're going to be doing this, we'll have to split it to make sure it goes according to plan," I said.
"Kev, do you know about this Garrick dude well? His men and maybe enemies?" I asked.
"Well..." he replied,
"Garrick and his men are just some thugs disguising as adventurers. It is rumored that they're backed by some other Baron who has feud with the Lord of this Barony, and based on how fearlessly they carry out their activities, it should be true," he added.
"His men should be low ranking adventurers, but there's some rumors that Garrick is a mid-ranking adventurer. That's pretty strong," he added.
"Ah, and his enemy around here is the Gustav gang. They're headed by a dude called Gustav. They often have quarrels and fights. That's all I know."
"That's good," I replied.
"What's good?" Kevin asked, surprised.
"Them having enemies makes it easier for us," I replied.
"Hmm..." Kevin stopped to think for a while.
"You want to use them against each other? That's going to be tough."
He certainly is smart.
"Not exactly against each other," I replied.
"That'll take time. Edmund is going to go to the square to alert the Baron's soldiers. That should take around an incense stick worth of time with his speed," I faced Edmund.
"No delays."
"They're not going to believe him if he just walks up to them," Kevin added.
"Well, yes. That's where you come in. You're going to spread a rumor around Gustav's part of the back alleys—that Garrick and his team brought back some valuables from their last adventure and are hiding it in one of their warehouses. Then you're going to go to Garrick's part and spread a rumor that Gustav's men are attacking."
"Hmm. Not bad. With this, we can split their forces and you can go to their base. Will you be alright though?" he replied.
"Don't worry. Right now, I'm around second rate so I should be fine," I replied.
"Again with the rates thing. Are you sure you don't have to see the doctor?" Kevin added playfully with worry mixed in his voice.
"Don't worry. If we do this well, we'll have enough freedom and maybe some enjoying to do," I added reassuringly.
"Remember. Don't be distracted. No delays," I added as I stood up to go.
"Where are you going without knowing where the base is?" Kevin called out as I walked towards the door.
Ah. I'd forgotten the most crucial part.
"At this point you're going to be the cause of delay, no?" he added.
"Where's the place?" I asked, not turning because of the embarrassment on my face. I didn't want to give him a laugh.
"Three streets from here. You'll know as you go. Opposite a place called Julia's. It's a brothel. Opposite it is Garrick's base," he replied.
"What's a brothel?" Edmund asked, curious.
"Uh. It's a—" Kevin tried answering.
I took a peek and he seemed confused as he tried to explain.
"Bye," I replied, as I sped off the room laughing to myself.
"Hey!!" I could hear Kevin calling out to me as I ran off. Served him right. Haha.
---
I stood at the front of the place. By now, Kevin and Edmund should be carrying their own tasks. I hope. Well, Kevin's smart. He should do well. Edmund's task is simple, so it should be okay.
Ha. Those little pups. I hope they don't get distracted.
With my speed, it took less than a quarter incense stick worth of time.
Time to get this done.
I kicked the door down. Entered, and I could see the men flustered, holding their knives, ready for some action. They looked surprised to see a young boy such as myself.
"Ho... Just some little kid," one of them said as he walked towards me.
"Are you lost, kid?" he added.
"Get the kid out of here," a man with bulky stature said from the back of the men. He was seated down like the boss.
"The guest's going to be here anytime soon," he added.
Guest? Well, that wasn't part of the plan. I should get this over with. I looked around. Just a bunch of wastes. And they call these guys low-ranking adventurers. A third rate martial from Murim would mop the floor with their asses. Ha. The strength system of this world must be so backwards.
"You must be Garrick," I said.
"Is this kid mad?" the one walking towards me asked, laughing.
"Permission to gut the little fucker?" he added with a weird laugh that made my skin crawl.
The rest of them started laughing.
I took a piece of the wooden door that was broken, wrapped it in Qi and launched it towards his head.
Bang.
He fell to the ground. Dead. It had pierced his head and killed him.
The rest of them quickly became alert.
It was too late.
I used my mobility techniques, rushed towards the man that was heading for me, took his knife and before they could react, I'd killed five more of them.
Four to go.
I could see the fear in their faces.
I could feel my hand tremble.
Hmm. I guess it's a new feeling for this body.
I clenched my hand as I looked at the bodies and at the others. Garrick looked terrified.
"Who sent you? Was it Baron Michael? Are you from the guild?" he shouted at me.
"Get him!" he ordered his men.
I quickly sliced them down, and moved towards him.
"Stay back!" he shouted as he retreated, hitting some of the furniture.
I took a sword from one of his men and walked towards him.
A stench came from him.
Ugh. What was that?
I looked down and he'd pissed himself.
I swung the sword towards him and he fainted.
Mid-ranking adventurer, my ass.
"Hoho... what do we have here?" I heard a voice at the entrance and quickly jumped back.
"Isn't this pathetic?" he added as he took a step in, looking at the bodies.
He must be the guest.
His energy flow seemed stronger than these wastes.
Around second rate.
Demonic energy?
A demonic practitioner?
Shit. Just who is this?