The decision was made, and the teenagers immediately headed for Thorn's Tabernacles.
The guards responsible for the city exit casually waved at Grey in greeting, as they always did.
Lately, he had been passing in and out of Thorn's Cloaca so often that he had become good friends with the city patrolmen stationed at the entrance.
Those guys dreamed of getting a discount at Embraces of Venus, where Grey still worked as an accountant, while Grey was always happy to hear the latest news from them.
Everyone had their own goals, and within just a few days, a friendship built on mutual benefits had grown so strong that it could practically be forged into iron.
"Hey, Fatty! Is it your turn to play statue today? You should move around more, or you'll soon start looking like a hog."
Grey greeted the overweight guard with a laugh, playfully slapped him on the belly, and chuckled.
"I don't have as much energy as you do," the fat man joked back without taking offense. "Where are you headed? Going herb-gathering again?"
"Of course," Grey nodded confidently. "Just take a look at me and the girls. Do you think we make much money at Embraces of Venus? I assure you, there are so few coins in my purse that I have no choice but to find other ways to make ends meet."
The fat man was so outraged that his face turned red.
"You raised the prices for the courtesans' services so ruthlessly, and you're still complaining about being broke?"
"Hehe, it's a necessity. Do you think it's easy to maintain such a luxurious establishment in this dump? The few coins you people spend don't even cover a tenth of our daily expenses. But soon, all our problems will be gone.
I only recently came up with a new concept, and in a month's time, you'll be able to experience an entirely different kind of pleasure. I assure you, you won't regret coming."
Grey never missed an opportunity to advertise the establishment's new concept, so he casually dropped a few words while exchanging greetings with the patrolman.
However, the man reacted with such exaggerated fear that he might as well have witnessed the beginning of a magical beast tide.
He immediately checked his purse, afraid that his coins might have vanished.
Although Grey was a cheerful and very pleasant young man, he didn't have the best reputation among the city patrolmen.
That was because everyone knew he was in charge of the brothel's finances. And ever since that brat started working there, money had been flowing out of their pockets faster than water slipping through their fingers. They had even given him the nickname Alex Blackheart.
Still, the fat guard couldn't suppress his growing curiosity.
"Come on, tell me what these changes are! Are you going to start charging us for breathing? Good heavens! Do you really think we get paid in gold?"
"Hey, I'm not forcing you," Grey raised his hands in surrender. "Whether you want to go or not is entirely up to you. You can simply assume I'm talking nonsense and ignore everything I've said. But I assure you, you'll regret it when your fellow guards start bragging about their unforgettable experience the very next day."
"Damn... Oh, to hell with you! You've convinced me. But I really don't have any spare money. Alex, my friend, can't you do something to help me out?"
The fat man flashed his warmest, friendliest smile and even put an arm around the boy's shoulders.
"We're all friends here," he said, thumping his chest. "Just tell me what you need, and I'll do anything you ask. I'm not asking for much. Just let me see... that show you promised."
Grey casually glanced at the hefty hand gripping his shoulder. Then he looked around as if afraid someone other than the girls might overhear them.
"Well, there's one thing..." he drawled.
"What is it?" the fat guard immediately asked.
"You're a runic knight, and you have a Great Vitality Rune, right?" Grey didn't answer, but instead asked him a question.
"Of course. When I was young, I deliberately crossed the Devil's Ridge to find a skilled runic mage. My kind father spent all his savings to convince him to create a special rune for me, allowing me to become a rather influential figure in Thorn's Cloaca."
"Then your strength is comparable to a Centurion?" Grey asked another question.
"Of course! Do you think they'd put me in charge of an entire patrol squad for nothing? I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm even stronger than an ordinary Centurion, since I've made some progress in my mace skills. Give me another couple of years, and I'll be able to sense aura and become a true expert. Then you'll stop underestimating this old man. But why all the questions?"
Grey winked conspiratorially and whispered right into the fat man's ear:
"You know, I'm a little worried that the new show might become so big and spectacular that the drunks will start causing trouble at my establishment. If you agree to keep order, I can not only let you in for free, but even pay you for security. But I'll make one thing clear. I won't allow even a drop of alcohol to touch your lips, and your main task will be to protect the girls, not hit on them. What do you say?"
"Then what's the point of going?" Fatty protested indignantly.
"Am I forcing you? You're the one who asked for it. I was just offering you some options... Ahahaha! If you don't want to, then don't. It's just that... Ah, never mind. Forget I said anything."
Grey immediately waved his hand as if his previous offer had been nothing more than a concession on his part.
He had no intention of burdening the fat man if he wasn't interested. There were plenty of other candidates who would gladly agree to work at the brothel and guard the girls. And what if one of them took a liking to him? Wouldn't that make his services free?
Of course, such fantasies were a bit far-fetched. But wasn't a man allowed to dream?
The fat guard felt an overwhelming urge to punch the cheeky brat in the face. Grey was clearly provoking him and deliberately leaving things unsaid.
Could the show really be that impressive?
His hands were itching with impatience.
"Fine, you crafty little brat. You win. I'm in. But not this month. Yesterday, they had us all running around because of the panic in the city. I'm afraid things won't settle down anytime soon..."
"What happened?" Grey asked curiously, pretending he had no idea what the man was talking about.
"Some kind of hero went on a killing spree right in the city and even burned down an entire building in the noble district. Can you imagine how much trouble that caused us? Fortunately, the place was full of Cult members who had seriously damaged their reputation lately. That's why our superiors aren't in much of a hurry to investigate."
"I see..." Grey raised his eyebrows theatrically. "And what about it? Were there any survivors or witnesses?" He asked another question as casually as he could, but he clearly felt his palms getting sweaty.
"Not a single one." The fat man shook his head helplessly. "That killer is a real professional. In just five minutes, he turned the entire Merciful Flame's Cult into a mass grave for brothers. We wouldn't have learned anything if he hadn't used thunder abilities that could be heard throughout the city and set the building on fire after finishing the slaughter. In certain circles, they've started calling him the Quickshot Butcher..."
Grey listened intently to the fat man's account of his own exploits and even took a sip from his waterskin to clear his throat. But the moment he heard the ridiculous nickname he'd been given, he coughed violently and nearly spat out the water.
"Cough... Cough... Quickshot Butcher? Where did such a ridiculous nickname come from?" Grey asked breathlessly, feeling his chest tighten.
The fat man patted him reassuringly on the shoulder and immediately explained.
"Do you think it's easy to get rid of fifteen people who are almost as strong as me? Only a madman would charge into an enemy's lair over some rumors. He must be a true champion of justice to do something like that. And yet, he succeeded. Five minutes, and it was all over. If that's not a Quickshot, then who is?"
At that moment, Grey was genuinely speechless. He didn't even know what to say. He was so outraged that he couldn't find the words.
He failed to notice that the young rabbit girl beside him had suddenly gained a look of understanding and genuine admiration in her eyes.
Cheryl, who had been waiting impatiently just a minute ago for Grey to finish buttering up the guard, immediately perked up when she heard about "yesterday's incident."
'Could this be why Grey came back covered in wounds? Did he wipe out the entire Merciful Flame's Cult in a single night? But he's crippled... How exactly did he manage that? Was it really his doing, or am I just imagining things for no reason?'
Cheryl's mind was working at full capacity as she tried to piece together all the facts and analyze the situation.
Her heart was pounding wildly, as if she had just witnessed the birth of a true legend.
Grey was so powerful and composed. He had done so much to keep his friends safe, yet he hadn't even intended to tell anyone about it... Only a truly sincere person who didn't seek recognition would do something like that.
At that moment, the image of Grey in her mind became so lofty that he seemed almost godlike.
Lily noticed the change in her friend and immediately asked, "Did something happen?"
"No, Cheryl is fine!" The rabbit girl practically jumped. She had completely forgotten that she wasn't supposed to reveal Grey's secret and failed to keep a straight face.
"I'm glad you're in such a good mood," Lily patted her friend on the shoulder. "You know, you don't have to push yourself. Just relax and use your abilities like you did the first time. Grey won't judge you at all if you fail once or twice."
"Ah?... Yes... Cheryl understands... Cheryl will do her best," Cheryl replied, though her attention remained fixed on the news the fat guard was sharing.
She held her breath and clenched her hand into a fist. So tightly that her knuckles cracked. Her emotions were simply overwhelming at that moment.
Lily raised an eyebrow when she sensed the strange emotions coming from Cheryl. After all, she was a true succubus and could feel the emotions of those around her as if they were her own. She could practically be called an empath at the highest level.
At that moment, Cheryl was more excited than ever. She was nervous, afraid, and full of anticipation...
'Does she really want to impress that guy so badly?' Lily thought with a sigh.
She glanced at Grey, who was chatting cheerfully with the guard. His profile really was quite attractive.
Almost unconsciously, Lily tried to focus on the boy's emotions and figure out what had made him so happy. However, when she "looked" into his mind, she realized that Grey didn't feel the slightest bit of warmth toward the guard.
There was nothing but fear and murderous intent, as if he were ready to draw his dagger at any moment and plunge it straight into the fat man's heart.
And yet, despite all those emotions, Grey wore a genuine smile and continued joking with the city patrolman as if they were brothers-in-arms and true comrades.
The sheer contrast nearly made Lily faint. Just how depraved did Grey have to be for his emotions to be so... dark?
'A true harbinger of the night indeed. He was so friendly that I completely forgot what he was really like... What a pity that he's just a cripple... But those emotions... They really do make me feel uneasy.' Lily thought, failing to notice that a cold sweat had broken out across her back and a shiver had run through her body.
She looked at the beaming Cheryl and wisely decided to shift her attention to her friend's emotions instead.
Grey was simply too strange, complicated, and incomprehensible.
No matter how much Lily thought about it, she still couldn't figure out his true personality. One moment, he could be kind and considerate, yet quiet and reserved. The next, he would become a charismatic speaker who manipulated everyone around him and stopped at nothing to achieve his goals.
=========
Before we move on, Iust want to remind that you can support me with a like, a comment, or a review.
The book is completely free right now, and your engagement is the only thing helping me move forward. So please, don't hold back. =)
If you're enjoying this book, you can also support me on my Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/CircleGray
Big hug to all my dear readers!