WebNovels

Chapter 28 - The First A-Rank Mission

"Thanks for the warning," Ryan said flatly, "but let's be honest—if any of those people really had the skill, they wouldn't be sitting around here waiting on scraps."

His sharp senses had already picked up the killing intent behind those heated stares at his back, but he didn't care. He wasn't some soft-hearted child anymore. If someone wanted to pick a fight, he wouldn't hesitate to respond with blood.

"You little punk, what did you just say?!"

Almost instantly, half the bar shot to their feet, their eyes burning with rage.

Ryan's comment had insulted pretty much every bounty hunter in the place. Sitting around waiting for missions? He'd basically just called them all useless nobodies. Who could swallow that kind of insult?

"Don't be stupid! Wait till he steps outside. You really wanna die right here in the bar?" one bounty hunter whispered harshly, grabbing his hot-headed friend and dragging him back.

"Hmph. Kid, you'd better not step outside that door," a bald brute growled, his voice cold and venomous, his eyes locked on Ryan like a predator sizing up prey.

"Young men are always like this… too much fire, not enough brain. Mouth off like that and they end up asking for a shallow grave," muttered a few swordsmen who had previously been indifferent but were now clearly irritated.

The woman behind the counter just chuckled, shrugging casually. "Well, congratulations—you just pissed off half the bar. Good luck out there."

"No worries," Ryan replied without looking up. "I was just telling the truth."

He flipped open the A-rank mission booklet, scanning its pages. Most of the missions didn't require formal acceptance—but the real issue was that intel cost extra.

Then his eyes stopped on a name:

Yamada Kaze – Rogue ninja from Iwagakure. Former Jonin.

Bounty: 2 million ryo.

Last seen in Royal Leaf City on June 3rd.

Today was June 5th. Only two days had passed. Unless the guy had been sprinting nonstop, there was a good chance he was still in the area.

Ryan tapped the page and looked at the woman. "This one. Give me everything you've got on him."

"You sure?" The woman raised a perfectly shaped brow, visibly surprised. "He's a Jonin, you know."

Her voice carried just enough volume for others to hear—and the bar instantly fell dead silent. Then, a second later, it exploded in laughter.

"Pffff—HAHAHAHA!"

"Did I hear that right? This little runt wants to take down a Jonin!?"

"Maybe he just wants to admire a Jonin from a distance," one samurai mocked sarcastically.

"Got intel on him or not?" Ryan asked calmly, completely ignoring the jeers echoing behind him.

The woman didn't argue. She bent down and pulled out a thick, leather-bound ledger from under the counter, flipping through its pages swiftly.

"Found it. That'll be 50,000 ryo for the intel," she said with a small, regretful sigh—more for Ryan's wallet than for his chances.

Ryan winced. That one hurt.

He was really starting to bleed cash in this place. He'd known things wouldn't be cheap, but this? Even food and lodging didn't cost this much. At this rate, he'd be broke before even leaving town.

Still, he grit his teeth and tossed the money over.

Summer Star would absolutely lose it if she knew how fast he was burning through cash. But too late now.

The woman tucked the money away and gave a professional nod.

"Latest intel says your target's still nearby. If you're heading out now, we can send someone to lead you to the area—but for safety reasons, they'll only take you close. From there, you're on your own."

"Sounds good. Let's go." Ryan stood and stretched, a flicker of excitement sparking in his chest.

He'd been in this world for six years now.

At long last—it was time to walk the path of blood.

The woman gave him a look like she was watching a walking corpse. "Overconfident brat," she thought, before disappearing into the back to make arrangements.

Moments later, she returned with a skinny, unremarkable young man beside her.

"He's one of ours," she said. "He'll lead you to the target's last known location."

"Let's go," Ryan said simply, stepping forward.

"Right this way," the guide nodded, and together, they walked out of the bar.

But no sooner had they stepped out the front door, the bar's heavy atmosphere snapped like a rubber band.

The moment they left, those dark, predatory stares followed.

Among them, the bald brute from earlier stood up, grabbing the massive broadsword leaning on his table, and silently followed them out.

"Hey, brat…"

His voice came low and cold as he exited the doorway, clearly ready to attack Ryan from behind.

But before he could finish speaking, his expression froze.

His entire body stiffened, eyes wide with horror, as he stared at Ryan's outstretched right hand—still not looking back—crackling violently with arcs of brilliant blue lightning.

The sky seemed to flicker.

"Zzzzzztt—CRACK!!"

A spear of pure lightning tore through the man's chest, searing straight through his heart.

BOOM!

The brute's body hit the floor halfway inside the bar, smoking and lifeless.

The bounty hunters inside who had been eager to follow suddenly froze in place.

They stared at the corpse—mouths agape, foreheads beaded with cold sweat.

He was dead.

Just like that.

He didn't even have the chance to raise his weapon.

That charred hole in his chest still dripped blood onto the wooden floor, and the scent of ozone hung heavy in the air.

This kid wasn't just talk. He was terrifying.

Several bounty hunters quietly slid their chairs back into place and turned away, suddenly finding the bottom of their drinks very interesting.

Ryan didn't even glance at the corpse.

"Let's go," he said coolly to his stunned guide.

"Y-Yes, sir!" The young man jolted to attention, quickly nodding in respect.

He had never expected that this lean, youthful shinobi had such lethal strength. That bald bounty hunter may have been a nobody—but he wasn't weak either. And he hadn't even had a chance to react.

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