WebNovels

Chapter 6 - Assassination Attempt

Beth, still startled and slightly curious, asked, "You? A merchant? What kind of merchant?"

Uncomfortable, Jax said, "Well, it's not that hard to believe, right? After all, you don't need much to be a merchant."

Adelaide smiled and teased, "You don't look very trustworthy, you know?" Beth burst into laughter alongside Adelaide, while Jax tried to defend himself.

"Come on, selling goods isn't that hard when you've got the right equipment…"

After her fit of laughter, Beth replied sarcastically, "Sure…"

Adelaide announced, "Well, help yourselves—the pie is ready."

Jax and Beth each took a slice of the mutton pie; the warm meat and fresh crust exploded with flavor. Beth thought, *The seasoning is great, the texture's tender, spicy with a hint of sweetness.* She turned to Adelaide and asked, "This is delicious, Adelaide — what did you put in it?"

Adelaide only smiled. "A family secret, dear," she said, winking as she washed the dishes.

While they ate together at the tavern, they talked.

Beth: "So… you… a merchant. Is that what I think?"

Jax: "Yeah… I'm not proud of that time. I used to steal from nobles passing through Brasswick and resell to that damned boss…"

Beth looked cautious and asked, "Did you ever kill anyone while doing that?"

Jax answered, "No… I've always been careful about taking a life… no matter how much of an asshole they were…"

Beth asked, "Is there a reason for that?"

Jax didn't answer. He avoided her eyes and took another bite of the delicious pie.

Beth: "Sorry, I shouldn't have—"

Jax: "It's fine… it's just… complicated, you know?"

Beth: "I understand."

The next morning, Jax was feeding and stroking the horse they'd fled on, thinking, *Hm… I wonder who owned him. I hope they don't notice he's gone — I've got enough trouble already…*

Suddenly a shadow fell across the stable doorway. The barn door closed, leaving only a thin strip of light through the upper windows. Jax, still stroking the horse and not looking back, said, "I was waiting for you, bastard." He turned and faced the intruder.

Stepping out of the shadow, the intruder revealed himself as Gregory. He smiled and said, "You know, I heard about you — you sold stolen goods from nobles and resold them to the Smokeveil. But one thing puzzles me: how did the boss's favorite become one of the people he hates most? I hate not knowing things. Looks like I'll be left curious, because today you're going to die…"

The barn fell silent, air thick and dry. As the horse neighed, Jax leapt up and delivered a side kick and then another straight to Gregory's face. Gregory absorbed the hits, grabbed Jax's ankle with one hand, and slammed his head into the sandy floor. Jax struck the back of his head on the ground and rose, dazed. He thought, *Damn — this guy took two kicks and's still standing. Who is he?*

Gregory smiled and advanced, raining down a flurry of blows. Jax managed to block, but the strikes landed hard — each one hurting. Then Jax had an idea. As Gregory drew back to punch, Jax shoved his fist into his arcane hand-cannon and fired at point-blank range into Gregory's fist. A blast ripped through the barn.

The barn doors burst open from the force. Gregory's hand was revealed — bloody, flesh torn away, muscles and tendons exposed. Jax had been thrown backward to the far end of the barn; his cannon was shattered and his arm burned, but his injuries were far less severe than Gregory's.

Jax stared, horrified at Gregory's lack of reaction to his wounds and wondered silently, *Who is this man? His hand… the muscle's exposed… and he… he just — it's like he doesn't feel anything…*

Out loud he asked, "You… you don't feel pain, do you?"

Gregory calmly looked at his wound and smiled. "You know, Jax… there's something I'm curious about…" he said, ignoring the question.

Jax eyed him suspiciously. Gregory continued, "When I looked into your records — from the time you sold your… products to the Smokeveil boss — there was no homicide on your file. You never killed anyone while working for him. I find it ironic: you carry a damn arcane cannon, a lethal weapon. So I ask you: only one of us walks out of here alive today, right? If you want to survive, you'll have to kill me."

Jax, serious and aware of the situation, replied, "I have my reasons… and they're none of your business."

Gregory grinned. "I hate unfinished stories, you know. But if you won't answer me, fine… I'll kill you without knowing your reasons."

Suddenly Gregory rushed forward at high speed, launching a barrage of kicks. Distracted, Jax blocked — but one of those kicks was a feint. Gregory snatched Jax's weapon and ripped the prosthetic cannon from his arm. Jax flinched and took a punch to the face, collapsing to the ground and bleeding.

Gregory crushed Jax's arcane cannon like it was nothing. "Weapon neutralized. Now it's your end, Jax." He grabbed Jax by the throat with superhuman strength and lifted him off the floor.

A burst of mana struck Gregory's arm, forcing him to drop Jax. It was Beth, her hair blowing in the wind, radiating confidence. "What are you doing, Dave? Why?" she demanded.

Gregory stepped back, assessing the situation — one arm badly wounded, the other charred by Beth's mana. "I need to finish this quickly…" he said, blood dripping under the exposed muscles of his hand. He lunged for another attack.

At that moment a tall, older man arrived. He had long hair, stood two meters tall, and bore a thinning beard. He rode in on a horse and commanded, "You — Greg — get out of here."

"Shit. It's you, Damian," Gregory spat, frustrated.

Beth blinked, confused. "Greg? But he said his name was Dave, sir."

Damian looked down from his horse and replied, imposing: "Miss, don't trust that man. I know him well…" He scanned the spot where Gregory had stood — Gregory was gone.

"Damn, I took too long," Damian muttered in frustration. "Alright… let's head back to the village center; I'll explain everything."

Beth draped Jax's arm over her shoulder, worried — he had lost the prosthetic cannon and was injured. "Are you okay?"

Jax replied, "I've had worse days… can't really lose a hand that was already gone, haha." He laughed weakly through the pain.

"You idiot, don't joke about serious things," Beth scolded as they followed Damian slowly on his horse.

More Chapters