Chapter 005:

Grim Alec’s Point of View:

Being sure to keep the nobleman within his peripheral vision, Grim nodded toward Edward who reciprocated, showing his understanding.

‘As such, this matter shall be completed with haste and, hopefully, ease,’ His eyes flashed with intelligence, betraying his drunk facade.

Though this would be the first time he and Ed would attempt such a brazen act, he wasn’t as anxious as he thought he’d be, perhaps the alcohol did indeed have an effect on him. Grim had always had a high tolerance to Alcohol, but he wasn’t completely resistant to it.

‘As expected of the oaf, he seems unaffected,’ Ed on the other hand seemed to drink with ease, added on to that was the fact that his acting was good too.

Noticing the nobleman begin to lower his hood, his attention snapped back as he reviewed the plan.

‘First, we get closer to the mark, establishing a good rapport. After an appropriate amount of relation is established, contact will be easier, allowing me to slip my hand into his pocke-What the fuck!?’ Grim’s eyes popped wide open as they landed on the hooded nobleman’s face.

It was the face of an angel.

………………………………………………..

Alexander was rather smug at the moment as he enjoyed the shocked faces of both Grim and Ed.

‘I fucking know right? I’m a pretty boy~’ He thought to himself as he tilted his head upward, heroically. The multiple colored lights highlighted his sharp facial expressions while concealing any defects.

Additionally, Alexander’s delight grew brighter as he noticed several women looking his way.

‘Fuck, Timmy you marvelous bastard!’

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most of the club was currently taking glances his way; the main exception being a distance away where a group of customers were huddled, encircling someone.

Alexander’s eyes furrowed and he asked aloud “Hey, isn’t that where Big Ed’s sweetie is?”

Instead of a verbal reply, Alexander heard sudden movement next to him and when he looked over, he saw the big boy bolting from his seat with unexpected speed.

The young giant was surprisingly nimble with his movements, completely unlike what his bulky frame would suggest. His movements told Alexander many things, but the most important of them was the fact that Ed was almost certainly trained in combat.

“I should get going too,” Grim said with a resigned look on his face, completely dropping the drunk facade. Before leaving, he made sure to down the last of his drink.

“Why, the big man seems capable enough. Besides,” Alexander’s gaze swept across the entirety of Grim’s body, “You don’t look like you can help in any way,”

The scrawny youth’s brows twitched in anger but they soon calmed themselves, “I assure you, brother, looks can be deceiving,” He ended his sentence by taking a meaningful look at the large youth’s speeding figure.

“It’s been a pleasure,” Grim bade his farewells with a tip of his head.

“Yeah same,” Alexander replied as he took another sip of his drink.

Now alone with his thoughts, Alexander recalled a certain issue.

‘D-did I just get stuck with the bill?’ He thought to himself as he struggled to recall how many coins he had in his sack.

Regretting the fact that he did not restock back at the manor, Alexander considered escaping.

‘Nah that’s a coward’s play,’ Alexander decided, ignoring the lingering gaze the bartender had on him.

He sighed before standing, “No choice then, I guess I’ll have to help the kids out. I really am a kind person”

He hurried off toward the direction Ed and Grim had gone as if running away.

………………………………………………..

“Get away from me!” A shrill voice sounded but it was drowned out by the thumping music and ridicule-filled laughter.

Michelle grimaced as the man and his friends continued laughing. Their breath stank of alcohol and their eyes were glazed over with both intoxication and lust.

“Come on dollie, play nice,” Their leader, a tall man with an intimidating scar over one of his eyes, whispered into her ear.

“Don’t touch me! You think management will let you get away with this?!”

“As a matter of fact…” The scar-faced man’s words trailed off as he lifted the side of his cloak. Beneath the lifted fabric, a sword rested within its scabbard.

Michelle gasped and her face paled in fear. “K-knights…”

The fearful voice caused another wave of laughter as the other men, presumably knights as well, looked at each other with gloating eyes.

“Come on love, just play along~” The scar-faced man whispered before tightly pulling her into his embrace. He circled his tongue around her ear and she shriveled in disgust. “I promise it won’t hurt,”

“I’m sure you’re right, I probably won’t even feel a thing,” She spat back venomously as anger returned to her face.

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The man’s embrace tightened, making it difficult for her to breathe. In retaliation, she struck out with her knee, aiming for his crotch.

The scar-faced knight snickered, as if finding her action cute, and caught her knee with his free hand.

With her leg now caught, Michelle scrambled more fiercely but her assailant’s strength was too much for her.

The knight’s lust-filled eyes burned brighter as he slipped his hand from her knee into her upper thigh.

Just as his hand slipped under her short skirt, Michelle had finally had enough and she spat into his eyes.

“Ah, you bitch!” Having had his good time ruined, the scar-faced knight angrily withdrew his hand from her skirt before raising it up in a fist.

“Ahhhh!” Michelle screamed once more as she lowered her head in fear.

But after a few seconds passed without her being hit, she tentatively looked upward and gasped as she saw a large hand grasping the knight’s fist.

The owner of the hand was an abnormally large youth with a boyish face.

“Let her go…” His voice, not fully matured but deep nonetheless, echoed out calmly.

Sensing a threat, the scar-faced man let Michelle go and stared the boy square in the eye with his hand still caught in the giant’s vice-like grip. The youth’s overwhelming stature made it so that the knight had to look up.

“Who the fuck let a kid in,” His gruff voice sounded as he angrily shook the boy’s hand away.

Edward ignored this and simply turned to look at Michelle, who had yet to get away. Noticing her hesitation, Ed merely nodded before motioning with his jaw.

Michelle finally nodded and turned to run.

One of the men accompanying the scar-faced knight attempted to stop her only to be reprimanded by scar-face.

“Let the bitch go, we got ourselves a larger pig to roast,” The scarred knight said venomously as he took out a roll of smoking grass from his pocket.

“But Dirk..”

“Shut the fuck up!” The scarred knight, Dirk, commanded before motioning to the surroundings, where everyone in the club was looking at them with wary eyes.

Evidently, this was thanks to Michelle shouting out about their identities as knights.

Finally understanding the situation, the men following Dirk stood up sternly.

As knights, it was unbecoming of them to even be in a brothel, which was why they had donned long robes over their armor, but now their cover was blown.

If that wasn’t enough, they were caught and confronted by a, though overgrown, mere child.

The latter issue was what aggravated Dirk the most. Being caught harassing a whore? What knight didn’t have that as a sin? But being taught a lesson by a fucking toddler? Unacceptable!

“I know you from somewhere,” Dirk’s now sober voice sounded menacing as he blew a puff of smoke directly into Ed’s eyes; all the while, his crew surrounded the youth.

Edward sighed in exasperation as he waved away the smoke, “What is it with you old-timers and smoke? Your breath is already lethal as is, must you make it worse with smoke?,”

Big Ed nonchalantly turned his back to Dirk and pushed away one of the encircling men with ease.

“Who said you could leave,” Dirk’s ice-cold voice stopped Ed in his tracks,

Ed turned to look back; his eyes sharpened as he noticed Dirk’s hand over his scabbard.

By now, everyone’s attention was on the fight about to break out; even the band stopped the music, and the girls stopped their dance.

“Threatening to draw your sword when facing a youth, how unsightly!” A new voice interrupted the confrontation and Grim appeared beside Ed. “You of all people should know what it means for one of our kingdom's knights to draw his sword…”

“I’m aware,” Dirk admitted before stopping his hand, “I think I finally recognize you,” He pointed at Ed. “Yes, that condescending look in your eyes...just like your old man,”

“I’m nothing like my father!” Ed erupted in anger and balled his hand into a fist.

“Do it then,” Dirk approached, unafraid.

Edward’s grip tightened before loosening. He turned away, resigned.

“So the rumors are true…coward. Come on boys, the party's been spoiled,” Dirk tossed the remains of his smoke roll toward the retreating Ed and moved to leave.

The majority of patrons heaved a sigh of relief but Ed was not happy.

“It’s fine Ed, you did the right thing,”

“I know,” He replied to Grim’s comfort. Both youths nodded to one another with bitter smiles on their faces.

But just as everything seemed resolved.

“Fuck kind of shit show is this? Just about the softest thing I‘ve seen in a while, that’s what,”

A loud and brash voice stopped Dirk dead in his tracks.

Alexander, now with his hood back on, strode forward gracefully before stopping in front of Grim and Ed, facing Dirk.

“Ed, you gonna let this walking talking scar tissue speak to you like that?” It was clear in his manner of speech that he held no regard for Dirk or his men.

“What did you say you little fuck?” One of Dirk’s men struck back as his hand cupped his sword’s hilt.

“Fuck off no-name,” Alexander brushed the newcomer off with ease before addressing Dirk. “Hey, Dirt,”

“Name’s Dirk,”

“Don’t fucking care. How about you stop with your chin wagging and buck the fuck up you sorry excuse for a man. Jesus Christ; like, how dirt-poor do you have to be to have to harass a hooker man, just slip her a gold coin. What, are you too poor to do that with your pittance of a salary? Here,” Alexander scoffed before tossing him a couple of copper coins which fell loudly on the floor.

Luckily, only Alexander knew that that was everything left in his wallet.

“That should double what you have,” He continued with a laugh.

A couple of people in the Brothel couldn’t help but laugh along with Alexander's provocation.

“What an idiot. Wasting money like that!” One man said.

“You’re the idiot, look at his clothes, that man’s a noble for sure, probably could afford tossing out gold coins as well!” His friend retorted.

“Kyaah so cool, toss a couple of coins my way too sir!” One of the dancers spoke seductively.

The lively chatter of the surroundings irked Dirk and he too grasped his sword, an action that silenced the crowd immediately.

Alexander, however, was unfazed, “Oh what are you gonna do with that dull stick, Dirt? Gonna bake me a cake? Careful now, lest you slash up your other eye like you did with your first, wannabe,”

That last line seemed to have struck a sore spot with Dirk as he fully unsheathed his sword in anger “You fucking brat!”

“Ooh, struck a nerve did I?” Alexander continued to mock.

Though he seemed to be speaking wildly, he was not guessing blindly. From the angle of the scar to its shallow depth, he deduced that rather than an injury from a glorious battle, the scar was self-inflicted.

“Brother, I suggest putting the matter to rest,” Grim spoke solemnly.

“Yeah…” Ed echoed but his eyes showed gratitude.

Alexander nodded toward the both of them before turning around to address Dirk.

“Well it’s been fun, Dirt, but I gotta go. Peace,”

But before Alexander could take a step, he heard Dirk’s voice.

“Do you know what it means for a knight of Iron-wall to unsheathe his sword?” his voice was now eerily calm and composed. He seemed to have made a decision.

“Oho, what?” Alexander asked, genuinely curious.

“When an Iron-wall knight draws his sword, a life is taken; when he re-sheathes it, a life will have been lost,”