Chapter 180 - Episode 180: Allies Or Foes?
I'm back at Fjel town. I'm on my way to the pub to see Jariel because the reason why I want to see him is that I want him to know about the plan to annihilate the Headless Cult since he trusted me and so I have to at least be open with him. I'm not hoping for him to understand and receiving his permission because the system itself warned me that if I accept this quest, Jariel will definitely be going to hunt me down and he might kill all the people that I asked him to rescue during the invasion.
I know that he knows because Jariel has so many eyes around Fjel town and the No Man's Land. I have seen so many NPCs that should be here in town are now no longer here or went missing. Those NPCs might be the spies from the three sovereignty and Jariel killed all of them and cleaned the town.
I'm entering the pub and then everyone's eyes are pointing at me. Their gazes are different from the usual, now I'm confident that they know about my plan. I walk toward the bartender and sit in my usual spot and just stay calm as if nothing has happened. I activate the [Understanding] skill and look at him.
[Name: [Faceless] Strevan Alegarn
Level: 500
HP: 104.800
STA: 6.100
Status: [Surprised]
STR: 150+100 [ATK : 1750+300] [DMG : +25%]
AGI: 750+300 [ASPD : +105%] [SPD : +105%]
DEX: 300+200 [CRIT: 70%] [SDMG: 50%] [CDMG: 150%]
INT: 50+100 [MATK : 150+0] [WIS : 150]
LUK: 200+0 [DDG: 40%] [LCKY: 0.2%]
VIT: 600+400 [DEF : 1100+200] [MDEF : 600+100]
CHR: 200+0 [REP : 200] [FAME : -]
ART:200+0 [SMIT : 7%] [ARTIS : 1%]
EXTRA PTS: 0]
Skill:
[[Dodge Mastery (Lv.Max)], [Swift (Lv.Max)], [Slight of Hand (Lv.Max)], [Critical Mastery (Lv.Max)], Juxtaposition (Lv.3)], [Third Eye (Lv.1)]...]
Strevan smiles and approaches me.
"The usual?"
I smile and nod.
"You know me."
Strevan is pouring the ale into the cup while I'm looking at him.
"Please don't put something funny in it..."
Strevan turns his head and smiles.
"Why would I do that?"
I just smile while looking at him.
Strevan then bring the ale and put it in front of me. I look at him and raise my eyebrows.
"So I assume that you guys already know, huh?"
Strevan is tilting his head.
"Know about what exactly?"
I move my eyes to the left corner.
"It seems that some of your men can't even hide their killing intents toward me. So I assume everyone in here knows about what I'm planning to do. There's no need to hide it because I can see that you're surprised to see me walk in here after you all know what my plan is."
Strevan is smiling while wiping the wooden cup.
"It is a shame..."
*Clack*
I slightly turn my head and look at the door. They locked the exit and three of the guys are standing in front of the door while the rest of them are hiding their hands under the table while staring at me. I drink my ale so calmly while looking at Strevan and raise my eyebrows. I grab my sickle and put it on the counter.
I put the cup down and licking my lips.
"I never thought that we would end up like this."
Strevan keeps cleaning the wooden cup even though it's already super clean that it starts to shine.
"Indeed. To think that you are planning to do this to us behind our back is really disappointing."
I scoff and smirk.
"Unfortunately, I don't regret this."
I grab my sickle and swing it so lightly while staring at Strevan.
"Are you sure you want to do this? You should know that I'm not locked here with you all here, but you all are locked here with me."
Strevan just smiles and then looks at the people behind me. I sigh and stab my sickle on the counter.
[Dominion is activated]
Strevan is weakened and immediately rests his body and arms on the counter while staring at me with confusion and disbelief. I stand up from my seat and turn around. Three people are on their knees a few meters from me. I'm walking toward them while holding the chain of my sickle. The clank sounds of my chains are making them feel nervous. I wrap the chain onto my right arm while looking at them. I swing my right arm so hard that my sickle is scratching and breaking the counter. I swing my sickle once and then swing the blade at the three people that are on their knees.
Their heads are rolling on the ground and I grab the handle of my sickle.
"You all are the ones who throw oil into the flame, so you all will burn from the blazing flame..."
...
...
...
I'm sitting at the table near the door while looking at Strevan who's still struggling to stand up. I look around and this pub is covered with the blood of dozens of Jariel's men. I'm tapping my fingers on the table and the hatch is opening. Finally, the person I want to meet shows himself. Jariel is glaring at me with a blank expression. He looks at all the men laying on the ground headless, armless, legless, or even cut into half.
Jariel closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Trevor... you disappointed me..."
[Your bond with Jariel cannot be... #&%!*@]
...
...
...
[Your bond with Jariel has been broken]
[Jariel Scarlettblood decreased by 200%]
[Jariel Scarlettblood (-100%)]
[Jariel loathe you and he abominated you for what youdid]
A portal is opening in the middle of the pub. Both Jariel and Strevan are surprised to see a portal is forming in front of them, then someone is leaving the portal. It's Avriel and she looks down and around the pub, she sees dozens of people lying on the ground dead. She looks at Jariel and Strevan at the counter and she then looks at me sitting at the table near the door. Someone else is leaving the portal as well and it's Krestan.
Avriel is looking at Jariel.
"What is going on in here?"
Jariel starts explaining to Avriel and Krestan about my plan on annihilating the Headless Cult. Jariel and the Headless Cult are colleagues. Avriel knows about it but not Krestan. So he explains it to Krestan and the reason why he wants me to die so badly is that he wants to prevent me from doing so. Krestan and Avriel are looking at me with blank expressions.
Jariel looks at me.
"It seems that you are finished now, Trevor."
I'm resting my head on my fist while looking at him.
"What makes you think that I am?"
Jariel looks at Krestan and Avriel then tilts his head at me. Avriel raises her eyebrow and slowly backing away while keep staring at Jariel. Jariel is furrowing his forehead because something is wrong with Avriel's attitude and reaction. Avriel keeps walking back and then stands next to me. She smirks and then sits on the chair next to me. Jariel and Strevan are shocked and look at her with disbelief.
Jariel lifts his hand.
"What is the meaning of this, Avriel?! Why are you taking a side with him?!"
Avriel is crossing her arms and legs.
"I did like what you did, father. You are loyal to the person who saved your life, and I'm also loyal to the person who saved mine. You were not there when I was in danger so many times, you told me that you knew that I was in danger, but you stayed quiet and did nothing because you were scared to get discovered. Right now, I trust him more than you."
Jariel clenches his fists and looks at Krestan. Krestan turns around and walks toward me. He then sits next to me as well. Jariel and Strevan are looking at him with disbelief as well. Strevan then looks at Jariel and he looks nervous now.
Jariel sighs while massaging his nose bridge.
"So this is how it is... to think my own daughter to betray me in this kind of situation is unexpected... we also lose our best weapon for the revolt as well..."
Strevan is leaning forward.
"What is the plan, boss?"
Jariel looks at Strevan and rests his hand on his waist. He touches his palm with his middle finger and Strevan slightly nods and looks at us.
Avriel then leans toward me.
"He's ordering Strevan to bring all of his men here."
I look at her from the corner of my eyes.
"How do you know that?"
Avriel is nodding up toward Jariel's hand that's rested on his waist. Avriel then shows the front of her hand and touches her palm with her middle finger.
"That's the code my father made. It means that they're in a dangerous situation and ordered someone who sees that code to bring all men to aide him."
I'm humming with understanding, then I look at her.
"Avriel, can I ask you something?"
Avriel raises her eyebrow. I look at Jariel while pressing my hand together and put them in front of my mouth.
"If I don't have a choice other than killing your father, are you okay with that?"
Avriel closes her eyes.
"If that is what you have to do, then do it. But don't do it in front of me."
I look at Avriel and nod.
"Okay, I understand."