*Thoughts*
~Sound effects~
+”Whispers”+
+++++
Chapter 45: Merinda
Neuron entered the mage tower and froze dead in his tracks after he saw the secretary since she was the girl that not long ago hurled a fireball at him but she only looked up from her desk smiled towards neuron and asked: ”What can I do for you?”
“no, no, ähm, please could you contact the head mage, he promised to give me something” Neuron um and erred while fidgeting around. And because she suspiciously looked towards him he added: ”so ähm, would you please be so kind as to tell him that Neuron is here.”
“Alright” she just answered, spoke into the brass pipe and after she finished she said towards neuron: “Please go stand on the first step so that I can send you up” and after neuron did so she performed a spell and the step brought Neuron up to the highest story of the magic tower
After the step halted neuron got off from it only to immediately receive a bear hug. Neuron was first paralyzed from the shock then he tried to push the head mage back but this old guy was surprisingly strong, then he finally let go of Neuron and said: ”hello, hello, welcome in my office”
“What the heck was that for!?” neuron couldn`t refrain himself from shouting while backing away from the head mage while disgust was shown on his face
“It is just my research got a boost with the information’s you gave me, and I was also able to make something incredible which should surely be to your liking
“Yeah, and?” neuron asked clearly annoyed to signal the head mage to get to the point since he performed a dramatic pause
“Come on, don’t you want to know what I found out?” the head mage asked disappointed
“Sorry, but I am in a hurry, I just came here to receive what you promised me, whatever it is” Neuron said apologetically while he whispered the last part not letting the head mage hear it
“Sigh, o well can`t be helped” the head mage simply said and then he turned around and began searching through his office which was even more messy than the last time Neuron was inside of it. While searching, well more browsing through a mountain of scrolls books and half eaten meals the head mage mumbled: “Where did I put it, here, no, maybe there, no…” and so on
*Hurry up, I have a lot of stuff to hide!* neuron urged the head mage in his mind and then finally after five minutes of searching the head mage returned while holding something behind his back
*Oh great is he going to ask me to guess what he is giving to me?*
“I believe you will be very pleased with what I came up with, it was a lot of work but I just had to make something for you as an additional reward since mere money couldn´t show how grateful I am to you”
*I would have been pretty happy with this mere money* neuron thought but he became curious what the head mage came up with
“So there you have it, the product of my work!” he shouted and finally showed Neuron what he hid behind his back.
“An arrow, why an arrow?” neuron asked disappointed
“Well I thought that you would need it since you always carry a bow and a quiver with you, which you don`t do at the moment, I wonder why?” he asked himself
“Don`t mind that, anyway could I take that arrow for a moment?” Neuron tried to change the topic
“Ah, yes of course, you have the identify skill do you?” the head mage asked
“Yes I have it” Neuron said while taking the arrow while the eyes of the head mage gleamed in anticipation. And so while rising an eyebrow Neuron said: „Identify”
* Mana Leeching Arrow
Forcefully extracts 200 Mp from the target it hits.
Only works when the target is casting a spell
Interrupts spell casting
Durability: 20/20
Damage: 0
The extracted Mana randomly converts into one of the following elements:
Fire
Wind
Water
Earth
Holy
Dark
Special option:
Since you have the skill Mana connection you can add the extracted Mana Points to your Mana pool
“Awesome, that is exactly what I needed! But how is that possible?” neuron exclaimed while looking at the arrow in awe
”I used what you taught me about your skill Mana connection” and because neuron looked like he didn`t get it the head mage continued: „I used the arrow as a connection from the Mana of the person it hits to the outside world. The person you hit with the arrow has of course to first channel Mana through his body since no one knows where the Mana Pool is located. It just vanishes once your dead. ” the head mage began his lecture but neuron interrupted him saying
“Thank you for the arrow” while he turned around to leave
“Wait, wait, I also wrote you a manual on how to make this arrow, sadly it is quite the difficult process and needs much Mana and some minor spells” the head mage said apologetically while he rummaged through the staples of paper on the desk nearby
“Ähm, that won`t….” neuron tried to say but he got interrupted by the head mage who shouted: ”Ah, there it is! Did you say something?”
“No, never mind thank you but I have to go now” Neuron while he took the paper the head mage gave to him and put it into his pocket, after he did so Neuron reached out his hand to bid his farewell.
“I hope to see you again” the head mage said while shaking neurons hand wildly while neuron thought: *Won`t happen, since you will not like to see me again after today is over*
After the farewell was over neuron stepped on the step which brought him back down into the lobby. Once there he rushed outside, and then on a roof as soon as he was sure that nobody would see him and then he flew over the roofs and streets heading towards the room he rented to hide everything he stole.
Finally back into his room neuron looked at the pile of stolen goods that was located in a corner of the room.
*Damn, I hope I can carry all of that, hey wait many of the things I already identified are cheap fabrications made by Lucro, so don´t tell me…* neuron thought since the pile reached higher that his waist but it couldn`t be helped and so he started identifying al of them.
After identifying what he stole he either putt it into his backpack or on the growing pile behind himself on which all the documents he stole landed too without as much as a look since he didn´t need them anymore.
While neuron was doing so the image of a girl appeared in his mind with a height of 1.60, short maroon hair and a cute snub nose full of freckles.
„I can`t believe I forgot about Merinda, you fucking idiot!” Neuron cursed while he punched himself in the face
Then he continued while thinking: * Of course she will get the brunt of it after the new wanted posters appear after all I bought her shop from Rodban. Wait Rodban knows my name too, a nothing to worry about, it will just give him a fright since he traded with the Smiling Chinese keke. I also spent a lot of time inside her shop so they surely will apprehend her and then question her about me, maybe even torture her. NONONO LIKE HELL I AM GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN!* Neuron vowed to himself
After this was clear neuron moved up a gear and soon enough all of the things where either put into his backpack or thrown behind him, while he did so his identifying skill leveled up too.
After he was finished Neuron shouldered the backpack which was surprisingly light: *That strength training really paid out* neuron thought but then he turned around and realized the true reason
*Shit, can`t believe most of the things I stole are junk, damn this is so unfair!* After he thought this his glance fell onto his bed where he placed Kyle’s stuff and at this moment his mouth dropped out of surprise
*Kyle you damn bastard, no wonder your backpack is so heavy look at all that junk you are constantly dragging with yourself!* neuron complained in his mind. What he saw where many rusty knifes and swords, he even spotted pieces of his broken armor and shield made by Warnton.
Of course neurons reaction was to throw everything he didn´t want to carry onto the large pile while the rest went into Kyle’s backpack, but before he placed Kyle’s weapons inside neuron tried to swing them around a bit since he was curious how much they were weighting and if he would be able to fight with them
The war hammer was rather easy to lift but swinging it around was already harder, then came the iron ball that was, well, lighter than before but neuron couldn’t remember its weight because too many things happened since he last lifted it so Neuron dropped it disappointed since he couldn`t evaluate the results of his strength training. After wards neuron lifted the mace up while grunting and then he immediately dropped it again since he was certain that he would never use such a weapon or a two handed by the way, too much restriction in movement and heavy as shit, bows excluded of course.
Then neuron moved towards the black shield made entirely out of Grakin, tried to lift it with his left hand like it was supposed to and failed miserably.
*How is Kyle able to fight with such heavy weapons and his armor has to weight a ton too!?* Neuron thought while panting then he put the shield into the backpack and left the room to climb on the roof of the building.
Once there he pulled the backpacks up with a Mana thread he fastened onto each of them beforehand since the Mana connection skill only connects everything in a straight line. After both backpacks where placed on the roof, with great effort by the way especially Kyles, Neuron jumped from roof to roof to find a good hiding spot for them.
Two roofs away he found a place that was perfect, two houses that where build adjacent to each other while one of them was a little bit higher so its roof protruded out and formed a snuggly little cave where his stuff would be save from rain and other weather phenomena
*That’s just perfect* Neuron thought while he went back and grabbed his backpack jumped back to the hiding place and put it inside. Now only Kyles back was left
* You are overloaded!
Movement speed is reduced by 30%
Stamina consumption is doubled
*Still too heavy, I reduced the weight by more than half! Just how strong is Kyle?* neuron thought.
But Neuron had no other choice than to climb down to the ground and walk till he reached the house where he decided to hide everything which bore quite the risk but since Neuron was sable to take side alleyways no one saw him.
Once everything was in place neuron put a brown blanket over the stuff to hide it even further, but before he did so Neuron equipped himself since he was strangely missing the feeling of security his weapons gave him, but even though he was now able to equip the new bow he decided to take his old one since Neuron didn`t know if he would need it or not so he decided to take the one he was accustomed to.
Neuron also took the kings garments he stole since he wanted to make quite the ruckus within the city to ensure that he would be harder to find and by the way also increase his fame since he questioned that the king would make it public that someone managed to break into his castle, or at least into his bedroom.
After Neuron was finished preparing everything he rushed towards the tailor shop to inform Merinda of the situation at hand.
As soon as he was near his shop neuron jumped down to the ground and went towards it and before entering Neuron took a deep breath, grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open which was accompanied by the jingling of a bell and immediately afterwards a girl said: ”hello, what can I…, neuron, your back!”
“Ähm, yeah I am back so…” Neuron um and erred but Merinda interrupted him while saying really fast
“Did you know, yesterday the king ordered me to make him some clothes, the king! I did the best I could and I am so nervous, what if I left a needle inside then he is surely going to punish me, but what an honor to make clothes for the king” after saying this she halted since she needed some oxygen
While Merinda talked Neuron thought:*Ah this is why he had some clothes to wear for the evening party, but what a coincidence that he chose this shop, oh I´d like to see his face when he realizes that!*
After catching her breath she continued: “But enough about that. I made something for you and I am sure it will be to your liking” she said while smiling knowingly
“But, I….” neuron tried to lead the conversation but to no avail since Merinda already turned around and rushed into the store room
~sigh~ *Why is she making it so hard for me?* neuron asked himself but then he was interrupted by Merinda who came back with a pile of clothes on her arms which she put on the counter
“Here, take a look at them and tell me what you think” she simply said and then she leaned herself against a wall looking at Neuron while crossing her arms
“Alright” Neuron said with a hidden sigh and then he took a vest that was dyed in a matt black color which also had some pockets sewn around the chest area and many vacant slots on both sides
* Vest
Made by an experienced Tailor from hardened wolf hide while being careful that her work would not obstruct any kind of movement.
On this vest many hidden pockets where sewn in for quick access to either potions or weapons
Durability: 70/70
Defense : 20
Bonus:
Dexterity +3
Strength +2
Requirements:
Level 90
Dexterity 250
Strength 100
The next thing he took was a shirt that was died in a dark brown color while on the elbow parts and under the shoulder leather patches were sewn in which had the same hue as the shirt.
* Shirt
Made by an experienced tailor, although it’s made from simple fabric its durability is rather high since the tailor who made this shirt reinforced the parts where it is going to wear out first with patches of wolf leather
Durability: 30/30
Defense : 3
Bonus:
Dexterity: +7
Strength: +1
Requirements:
Level 90
Dexterity 350
Strength 50
Next he grabbed the pants that were colored in a dark green while outside on the outer tights a strange contraption was sewn in
“Ähm, Merinda, what is that there on the outside of both tights?” neuron asked
“You were always complaining about how hard it is to draw your throwing axes from behind your back since their blade always gets entangled with the strap of the quiver or the bow you hang on your shoulder and you can`t attach them on your belt since then you have to cover the blade so as not to cut yourself and removing that is a pain in the ass” she quoted Neuron: ”So I sewed a sheath for those axe blades onto the outer tights of those trousers while also adding a strap of leather to hold them in place also I prevented them from moving around by adding another belt that you simply have to fasten.
“Wow, you really put much thought into it” neuron said amazed while he felt a stabbing pain sicn he was well aware why he came all the way here.
* Trousers
Made by an experienced Tailor from wolf hide while being careful that her work would not obstruct any kind of movement.
Provides quick access for throwing axes
Durability: 50/50
Defense : 8
Bonus:
Dexterity +6
Strength +3
Requirements:
Level 90
Dexterity 300
Strength 150
Next up he took a shin guard that had the same hue as the vest and it also had many empty slots, who were aligned into three rows who each had five lines and at the end of each row a small iron plate was fastened colored in a dark grey, that went down to the end of the shin guard.
”hey Merinda, what are those empty slots for?”
“Just identify the shin guards, then you will know” she only answered
* Shin guards
Made by an experienced Tailor from hardened wolf hide
Has place for 15 Kunai on each that can be quickly drawn while also increasing the defense by 0.4 per Kunai still in its slot.
Durability: 90/90
Defense : 26 (max Defense addable: +6)
Bonus:
Dexterity +3
Strength + 5
Requirements:
Level 90
Dexterity 150
Strength 250
After identifying it neuron immediately took the arm guards since he also noticed that it had the same design as the shin guards, with the empty slots and iron plate. The only difference was that the slots went all the way around the same for the iron plates.
* Arm Guards
Made by an experienced Tailor from hardened wolf hide
Has place for 18 Kunai on each who can be quickly drawn but they also increase the defense by 0.4 Per Kunai still in its slot.
Durability: 100/100
Defense : 30 (max Defense addable: 7.2)
Bonus:
Dexterity +4
Strength + 3
Requirements:
Level 90
Dexterity 300
Strength 250
“this shit is fucking awesome!” Neuron couldn`t help but shouting and after he saw Meridnas smile he felt a deep pain since he knew that she spent hours making that armor and what he had to say to her now hung above him like the sword of Damocles but he didn´t want to say it without preparing her for it so he kept silent, and took the boots that where under the pile and colored again in a dark green color
* Shoes
Made by an experienced Tailor from hardened wolf hide
The sole is made from leather that was carefully softened to decrease the sound while walking
Durability: 80/80
Defense : 18
Bonus:
Dexterity +4
Reduces the sound of walking while sneaking by 5%
Requirements:
Level 90
Stealth Skill
Dexterity 340
Strength 100
“Ähm, thank you for the present but….” Neuron tried to begin his hated duty
“Wait that isn´t all, here catch” she said and threw something towards neuron. After he caught it neuron immediately identified it since he was sure that it was what Merinda wanted”
* Kunai
Durability 20/20
Damage 25-35 (pierce)
Requirements:
Level 60
Throwing skill
After he read the description of the weapon he looked up only to see Merinda who said: ”Don`t worry, it are enough for all slots and even some spares”
“Ähm, Merinda”
“Yes, what is it?” she asked back
“Who made those Kunai?” neuron asked since they were very of the same quality of Warntons work and he needed a good smith to repair his new bow and his other weapons: *Damn I can`t just simply go in there and say please repair my weapons for me! Hmm I could ask ykle after his ban is lifted…* neuron thought
“I don´t know the name of the smith but he always had a armor in exhibition that had something like a lion design”
*It had to be him huh, tough luck* Neuron thought with sarcasm while Merinda continued to talk:” Ah, right when I went to take those Kunai the armor wasn`t there anymore and he also lowered the price on what we agreed upon before. When I asked him about it he sent me away. So I asked his neighbors and they said that he lowered the prize of all of his products, but nobody knew why!” Merinda finished her story and Neuron couldn’t stop grinning since he knew what really happened, after all Kyle told him about it while they were waiting to fight the forgotten warrior in the underground arena
“And what do you think about the new armor I made for you?” Merinda asked Neuron while fiddling around with the edge of her blouse
Neuron looked at her about to say something but his countenance suddenly froze and he said in a really sad voice: ”Sorry Merinda I, I just…..” And at that moment neuron, for the first time since he started playing Royal Road, was at a loss of words, to make the matter worse the little stings he felt in his chest while identifying everything grew into an awful feeling of guild.
“What is wrong?” Merinda asked caringly
“It is just, I am not worth any of those presents, and it surely cost you a lot of work and money making them, but I simply can`t accept it” Neuron whispered
“Why?” she asked and then she went near neuron, took his hands that where fidgeting around to hold them within hers but neuron drew his hands away
*Fuck, why am I suddenly beginning to hate myself, such a shitty feeling*
“Believe me, I am not what you think I am” he tried to explain but she said: “yeah I know”
After hearing her answer Neuron was only able to stutter: “Y, Y, You know!?”
“Yes, You haven`t convinced Rodban to reconsider my dischargement, you bought the shop from him, I already know so please take the present” she said and then Merinda slowly approached neuron with watery eyes who couldn`t help but laugh out loud since it was now clear that Merinda had feelings for him, but that laugh wasn`t born from happiness at all.
*Come on, first a princess whose idea of love was to marry and now her, a person I soon have to tell that I am the Smiling Chinese and that because of me she has to leave her hometown!!* Neuron cursed in his mind:*No, wait think positive, two girls fell in love with you…. But why do they have to be NPC`S!!!*
Even though Neuron laughed at her statement Merinda still went closer to him since she heard the pain that was contained within it and that pain ripped her heart apart: so she tried to comfort him: “Hey neuron, don`t be like that, I don`t mind that you lied to me about it”
“Lied to you yeah I have but not about what you think” neuron spat out
“Then tell it to me already!” Merinda shouted
“What would you say if I told you that I am the Smiling Chinese?” neuron asked in a low voice
“You, the smiling Chinese, the greatest thief who ever set foot into Saramas, yeah right!” she said while laughing
*I hoped to avoid it telling to hear like that* Neuron thought
“Sadly it’s the truth” neuron answered looking her into the eyes while a weak smile formed itself on his face and then he activated his Hawkeyes.
The reaction he got was immediate and the same as from anybody else, still coming from her it hurt way more than an enhanced right hook from Kyle. To say the truth Neuron enjoys the different reactions his Hawkeyes or the eyes of the judge produce
As soon as she saw his eyes she jumped backwards, fell on her butt and robbed backwards till she got halted by the wall while whispering: “No, no, that can`t be, no, no!”
“Now you know, so it would be best to run away. Here you have some money, with that you can start a new life for yourself and your family” neuron said while tossing his money bag right in front of her but she didn´t move a muscle
So even though that situation was impossible to bear for neuron he stayed and continued to talk while sounding really sad: “Sorry that I had to tell it to you like that but something happened of which I am not proud of and my real face got seen so the wanted posters will surely be updated and well, I was worried about you since many people know that you taught me how to sew and so they are surely going to arrest you, or worse”. After he said this neuron took a step closer towards Merinda who embraced her feet while shouting in a shrill voice: „Go away, go away!”
“I am not here to hurt you, please trust me” neuron pleaded and afterwards he would have given everything to redo the sentence he just said but he didn´t give up since he swore to himself that he would protect Merinda from any harm of which he is the cause of.
“You lie to me the whole time about who you are and now you ask me to trust you!?” and while saying this her voice gave up and a sobbing noise left her mouth
After hearing this Neuron dropped his head and asked in a weak voice: ”I swear, that I won`t hurt you so please hurry up and leave Saramas, I don´t want, I don't want anything happen to you!”
“You swear huh, Like I`ll ever trust a lying bastard like you!” she shouted but neuron wasn`t even hearing her since he remembered the last time he was as desperate as he was now and what he did then.
*This is my last resort if I can’t make her believe me this is all for naught and I have to drag her out of the city, I just hope it also works without water* neuron thought while he pulled out a knife, of course Merindas eyes where clued onto the knife while she began begging for her life since she thought that the last thing she said was her doom.
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Neuron thought that he was already at the bottom but hearing Merinda begging for her live like that was just unbearable. But he couldn’t stop now, so he just sadly looked at her and then he cut himself deep into his left hand. After the cut was of a satisfying length Neuron made a fist and let some drops of blood fall down to the ground and while thinking:*Please work* he started to recite another blood oath.
“I swear that I won`t let any harm befall Merinda. This I …”he said and then Neuron was hit by a heavy object which made him crash down onto the ground while a voice shouted into his ear making his eardrum tingle: ”STOP YOU IDIOT!!!!!”
* You fell -10 Hp
“Do you believe me?” neuron asked confused but happy about the fact that she stopped him
“How stupid can you be, performing a blood oath, don´t you know what that oath entails?” she shouted her eyes full of tears while still laying on Neurons back
“If you don´t fully abide by it you die, so yeah I know” Neuron simply answered while lying face first on the floor since Merinda refused to stand up
“And why the heck where you prepared to perform such an oath?” she asked while trying to hold her tears back
“I just couldn`t live with the fact that I am responsible of what is going to happen to you from now on, I was also prepared to drag you outside of Saramas if needed” neuron simply told her his intentions since he was so relieved that she wasn`t afraid of him anymore. After he said his true feelings he noticed that Merinda started to shiver so he tried to stand up but Merinda asked: “Could you stay like this for a while?”
“Ähm, okay” *Shit she’s crying, what do I do? And worse, what do I answer if she suddenly tells me that she loves me?!!* Neuron asked himself, well for the matter of her crying neuron decided to do nothing and let her calm down by herself like she asked him to do, as for the love thing he wasn`t able to find an answer, he could just hope that she wouldn`t say it.
Once she was calm again she stood up and neuron followed suit. Back on his feet Neuron turned around to look at Merinda but she turned her back towards him while wiping her eyes and blowing her nose then she turned around and said: ”Sorry about everything, do you hate me now?”
“Hate, why the heck should I hate you?” Neuron asked dumbfounded and because of that reaction Merinda couldn`t help but crack a smile and as not to show it she bowed down and took neurons money bag which he tossed towards her. After she lifted it her eyes grew wide because of the weight that was now in her hand and so she couldn´t help but to open it.
After she saw the gleaming that came out from the money bag her eyes alternated between neuron, the purse, and Neuron again then she asked: “You really would have given me so much gold?!”
“Why would have given?, it is yours, remember, I can always get more” neuron said while smiling and after it was already too late neuron realized what he said and banged his head onto the wall while thinking
*she started trusting you and now you say this!*
* You’ve been hit hard on the head – 50Hp
*Think before talking*
* You’ve been hit hard on the head – 50Hp
*IDIOT*
* You’ve been hit hard on the head – 50Hp
“Stop it, I understand what you meant!” Merinda shouted to stop neuron from hurting himself
“You did?” neuron asked
“Yes, but have you truly stolen all that money?” she asked while her tone of voice grew darker
“Nope, actually not, I simply sold something to the head mage and this is what I got for it” Neuron answered
“Then you sold something you stole to him?” she again asked warily
“No, no, I made it by myself!” Neuron exclaimed while waving his arms around in panic
“hehe, it’s alright, now that I think about it you only stole from the nobles who have more than they can spend, or have you stolen from poor people too?” she asked while poking Neurons chest with her index finger.
“No, never!” Neuron shouted looking at her with wide open eyes and then she began to laugh
“You are still the same old Neuron, so now go and take my present!” she said while suppressing a smile
N “Really?”
“Take it already!” she said out loud and pushed Neuron in the direction of the table where the armor was laying.
“Thank you” Neuron said as he grabbed his soon to be armor while thinking *I`m glad I told it to her* then he remembered why he did so in the first place so he said: “Alright, now you start packing too and leave the city, by the way, what about your family?”
“I don`t have a family” Merinda answered while she took some clothes from the shop and put them inside a bag.
“Then, you grew up on the street?” Neuron couldn`t refrain himself from asking since he remembered the fact about the orphanage burning down a long time ago and he just couldn’t imagine that Merinda lived that kind of life.
After Neuron asked that Merinda looked at him questioningly and so Neuron immediately added: “Wait, you don’t have to answer if you don`t want to”
“Yes, I lived in the orphanage…., well until it burned down, luckily an old married couple adopted me before it happened but I still think of my friends who weren´t as lucky as I was” she answered while looking down
“Sorry for asking” Neuron said, while the wrath he was feeling for Lucro changed from a mountain into a bottomless pit.
“No need” Merinda simply answered while she placed a long coat into a bag: ”Hey, neuron do you hear that?”
“Yeah, sounds like marching steps, damn they are here already!” neuron hissed and as to prove that he was right a voice shouted from outside the shop: ”Merinda you are under arrest, by order of the King come out of your shop and don`t resist,!”
M “Neuron, hurry and take the back exit!” Merinda whispered
N “No, you come with me
M “I’ll stay here, you won`t be able to escape if you drag me along!”
N “but they are going to put you in jail” Neuron tried to convince her
“Merinda if you won`t come out we are going to bust open your door” the guard shouted but he was ignored
M “Then you just have to bust me out, you are the smiling Chinese, or not?”
N “Yeah, but the prison is inside the castle do you really think I would be able to get you over the lake without being spotted?” Neuron voiced his thoughts
M “What, inside the castle!?, there is no way they will put me there! It is for the lowest scum or those who know too much” she added while whispering
“Sounds good but just so you know I won`t let you set even s single foot into prison” he said and then he repeated as if to make a promise with himself: “Not one foot”
“Break open that door!” the guard leader ordered
“Coming, I`m coming!” Merinda shouted and went towards the entrance door but Neuron stopped her and said cryptically: ”Regardless of what happens from now on” then Neuron inhaled some air and continued: ”please trust me!”
“I will” she said and then they both parted ways
While neuron was rushing out of the back entrance he covered his face with a scarf, of course neuron knew that hiding his face wouldn`t help him anymore since nearly everyone inside Saramas should have seen the new wanted poster or is going to see it, but neuron deemed it necessary for his act, and hiding once face also increases the dramatic effect.
Immediately afterwards neuron jumped on the roof of the tailor shop and sneaked towards the edge of it to have a good look at whatever was going to happen in front of the shop.
While neuron rushed through the back entrance Merinda slowly opened the door and walked outside towards the leader which was easy since he was standing right in front of the tailor shop while a cordon of five guards on each side of the street stopped the onlookers and passerby’s at an appropriate distance
“May I hear your name and what I am blamed for” she asked the leader in a calm voice
“My name is Ardesti and we have information from a reliable source that you worked together with the Smiling Chinese so I am now here under order of Deltaio to detain you and ask you about said criminal” After he said the word Smiling Chinese many onlookers who gathered inside the street gasped as if only saying his name would bring misfortune
“Hey, he is just a lowly criminal that the Defenders of justice are going to catch”
“Defenders of Justice? I never heard of such a name” Merinda asked Ardesti
“This is what we call ourselves since our leader Kyle is a defender” Ardesti answered proudly
On the roof Neuron barely suppressed a loud laughter into a cough: *Defenders of justice, bwahahaha, oh I so wanna see Kyles face when he hears that name, or even better, I’ll tell it to him myself!, * neuron thought while chuckling mischievously but he couldn´t imagine the reactions Kyle would show since he had more urgent things to do, for example figuring out a way to get Merinda out of Saramas.
“And who is that reliable source that accused me of working together with that criminal?” Merinda asked while placing disgust in her voice while apologizing to neuron in he mind
“Well he wanted to accompany you personally, so he should arrive very soon” Ardesti answered without hiding the fact that it wasn`t to his liking: ”So all we can do now is to wait since he is a rather influential person
*Why hasn`t anybody moved for about three minutes, what is happening* Neuron asked himself since the position he was in, lying flat on the roof while stretching his head to be able to see something, was rather uncomfortable but he still used that time to think of a possible solution *I don´t want to kill any guards, if I do so more will come running and like that it will never end. No, they have to bring Merinda out of Saramas by themselves, or else it is impossible. So how could I get that result… By threatening them! But how am I going to do that, first I could…* and so neurons train of thought continued till he heard many shouts coming from the left and then a red monstrosity turned around the corner
*What is that Hippo doing here?* neuron asked himself while down on the street Ardesti said to Merinda: ”It seems he has arrived.
As soon as the heavers stopped right in front of Merinda Rodban literally crawled out of his red palanquin and once he was standing he planted himself in front of her and said: ”I see you got the little bitch!” loudly so that everyone could hear him
After he said that neuron rose up from his hiding position to take action, to hell with the consequences, but Merinda was faster since she didn´t bother to reply or to stand up at all, she just spat directly into his face.
*Nice!* Neuron thought while he took his bow in his hand and knocked an arrow on the string.
“You whore dare to spit into my face!!” Rodban shouted his face red from anger while he raised his right hand without bothering to first wipe the spit out of his face, to slap Merinda as hard as he could while Merinda clutched her teeth to prepare for it. But she already knew that doing so was meaningless since Rodbans slap would at least knock her out. He wasn`t strong or anything but his biggest weapon was momentum since once moving this mountain of fat was unstoppable.
So she just waited to be hit, then a felt eternity later which in fact was only two seconds she heard guards cursing and swords being unsheathed, people who screamed while something big and soft crashed to the ground right in front of her and then a voice she recognized as that of neuron who shouted: ”What a wuss!”
So Merinda gathered her courage and slowly opened her eyes to see what had happened.
Rodban laid right before her on the ground without moving a muscle while his right arm was nailed to his shoulder by an arrow preventing any form of movement, the onlookers who gathered where running away like crazy while all of the guards looked at a single spot behind her, their weapons shaking wildly
What she saw after looking where everyone else was staring was Neuron standing on top of the tailor shop holding his bow in the ready and his face covered by a scarf.
After a few moments of silence Ardesti shouted: “Smiling Chinese, quietly come down here and let yourself be arrested!”
“Yeah right! Did you really believe I would do that?” neuron asked sarcastically
“No, actually not but I had to try” Ardesti answered
“Hey, do you know what would be better, if you started threatening me” Neuron suggested
*What, did he say what I think he did?* Ardesti asked himself
“Do I have to write it down for you!?” Neuron taunted while Merinda looked at him her mouth wide open to show her disbelief while Ardesti did what the smiling Chinese suggested, namely taking Merinda hostage who didn´t even resist since she was still in a state of shock.
After Ardesti twisted Merindas left arm behind her back and put a dagger on her throat he said: ”Alright now I have a hostage so come down here and let yourself be arrested!”
“Nice, I doubted that you had the guts to do so” neuron said and then he added: ”and now it’s my turn!” he said and after a little dramatic pause that worked perfect since everyone couldn’t imagine what would come next, then neuron continued: ”If you dare to draw even a single drop of her blood this city is going to burn, BURN!” he shouted while raising both of his arms high into the air. That scene was even more dramatic since Neuron was still holding his bow in his left hand.
*`Crazy, he is crazy* Ardesti thought: *Threatening me while I am holding a hostage…, hey was that the reason why he proposed this to me…*
“Hey you, by the way, what is your name?“
“A, Ardesti” he stammered since he was completely overwhelmed by the situation at hand.
*Ardesti, where have I heard that name before? Well doesn`t matter now*
“Alright Ardesti, what is your answer?”
First Ardesti had to think a little bit and then he shouted heroically “You think such a thread is going to work? The guards of Saramas are going to extinguish every single spark!” then he twisted Merindas arm making her scream in pain: ”You see, I can cause her pain without drawing blood! So come down or…” he added but the reaction neuron showed made him stop in the middle of his sentence.
The smiling Chinese’s face couldn´t be called human anymore. His eyes where flaring while his face showed raving madness well, the part that was above the scarf which only made it more frightening.
While showing that expression neuron slowly moved his right hand back to pull an arrow out of his quiver but Merinda shouted: ”Don`t kill him!” since while he twisted her arm Ardesti whispered into her ear: “Sorry”
“Äh, hrrmm, Sorry about that” neuron said while looking towards Merinda then he added: ”You know I somehow am not able to control those eyes very well when I get angry….” He stammered then neuron inhaled a lot of air and exhaled it again: ”I must say Ardesti, you are a crafty man”
“ähm, thanks, well I reasoned that to deal with a crazy enemy you have to become a little crazy yourself” Ardesti answered truthfully since he now realized that it would be better for him not to anger the individual in front of him and because of that he also loosened the grip on Merindas arm but the dagger remained on her throat. Strangely Merinda didn’t show any signs of fear, which in some other situation would be worth investigating but not while dealing with the Smiling Chinese.
“oh, thanks for the compliment, but by the way, burning the city is just a distraction, while you are busy extinguishing the fire I will sneak into the royal castle and kill the king” Neuron told them while waving his hands around theatrically
“You, break into a castle that is surrounded by a lake and then also kill the king” Ardesti shouted back: ”don’t take it personally but that is clearly impossible” he added while some of the guards around and also some gawkers who gathered again to see the smiling Chinese, from a safe distance, started laughing but it somehow seemed forced.
*I was right, the king is trying to keep it secret that I broke into his castle, I wonder how he managed to do so….., Well not my problem* Neuron thought while he put his backpack down to the ground,
“Hey, could you bother to answer or have you lost your tongue” a very brave gawker shouted since he felt secure within the mass of people but neuron completely ignored him while rummaging through his backpack and this reaction encouraged the onlookers to taunt the smiling Chinese a bit more, but everyone shut up after neuron threw a bundle high into the air
While flying through the air the bundle fell apart and the kings garments out of which it was made began fluttering to the ground beautifully, each and every one of a different color and richly decorated to prove that only a king could have owned them.
After the last one landed on the ground neuron continued talking while pointing towards Ardesti: „So, what’s it going to be, protect Saramas from burning or protect the royal family, your choice”
“You, you think I have the authority to choose!?” Ardesti shouted while becoming pale since the Smiling Chinese was controlling the situation now
“True, so let me tell you what is going to happen” Neuron said while smiling: *Alright, got them*
And after thinking that neuron started talking while he walked up and down on the roof his hands constantly moving as if to underline each word he was saying: “Since the King is a coward he is surely going to order his guards to protect his miserable life, which I could have ended TWICE already, not bragging about it, the first time yes, but the second… I mean he can you believe that the king didn´t even bother to place a single guard inside his room after I broke into it a day before!?” Neuron shouted while shaking his head: ”But I am going off topic here. So those guards the king placed into the castle are then going to see their hometown burn to the ground and here comes the question, will they still follow that king, or are they going to kill him?”
“Impossible, each and every guard that is allowed into the castle has to perform an oath to never harm the king!” Ardesti shouted confident thinking that he won the argument.
“So what!?” Neuron continued to talk while resuming his act of walking up and down while gesticulating:” The populace of Saramas still knows that the king put his live over their wellbeing and thus revolts and uprisings are going to start everywhere. And last Agakyos is going to fall apart internally or it will be overtaken by an adjacent kingdom while thousands of lives will be taken either way. And why did all of that happen? Because a single leader of a group of city guards hurt one woman” Neuron finished his monologue without further interruption
“Don`t listen to that asshole!” Rodban shouted
*Why had that hippo to wake up now, I had Ardesti in the palm of my hand!* neuron cursed in his mind, *by the way where is he, I can`t see him anywhere?* Neuron asked himself so he said in a really sweet voice that wouldn`t even convince a child: ”Rodban, Rooodban where are you?” while he looked around shielding his eyes with his right hand, then Neuron noticed that Merinda was secretly pointing towards the entrance of her shop
“Hey Rodban hiding right below me ain`t heroic” Neuron tried to taunt him
“Heroic, as if you lying bastard would even understand the meaning of that word” he spat out
“Oi don`t get too personal here, have I ever lied to you about the effect of those arrows I sold to you?” After he said this Neuron could Rodban hear cursing trough his teeth:” Sorry, was that supposed to be a secret?”
“Anyway where was I again, a, yeah, Agakyos will cease to exist, so what are you going to do about that Ardesti?” Neuron said
And Ardesti now asked back since he thought he found a loophole: ”Tell me, why won`t they blame the one who set the fire?!”
“Of course they will blame me too” Neuron answered deadpan: ”But what did I do just now? I warned you of what is going to happen and if it truly happens like I predicted then you and the king will receive the wrath of the populace” and as soon as he finished his speech Neuron started to laugh like some third rate villain
“ähm, err” Ardesti was only able to stammer since he didn´t anticipate that
“But don’t worry, I have found a solution to that dilemma.” Neuron said
“And what do you propose?” Ardesti asked making it sound like a sight since he realized that he lost this match
“oh, don`t sound so sad” neuron consoled him: ”Anyway, the situation at hand is like this: You can´t let her go, but you also can`t imprison her since then I will stay true to what I said before”
“You said that you will only burn Saramas if a drop of her blood is being shed” Ardesti tried it one last time
“Sorry, changed my mind” neuron simply said while tilting his head: ”So my proposal is banishment! With this you are able to punish her for the ~cough~ crimes ~cough~ she committed, while also letting her go”
“And do I have an alternative?” Ardesti asked while already knowing the answer but he didn`t want everyone to believe that he caved in that easily.
“Nope, sorry buddy” Neuron answered and then he vanished from the roof
“Alright guys, you heard what he said! Now take Merinda in your middle and go for the south entrance!” Ardesti shouted while Rodban shouted completely enraged
“You can`t do what that criminal said!”
“Rodban, have you ever heard someone talking about killing the king?” Ardesti asked
“Hundreds of times!” Rodban spat out
“And have you ever met one who could back up his words, or show prove that he could have done it already?” he added while nodding towards the garments that where still lying on the street. After Ardesti said that he turned around and headed towards the south entrance with his ten city guards who surrounded Merinda to shield her from the mass of onlookers since Rodban didn`t answer.
“ähm, Merinda, don`t be said about how it turned out” Ardesti tried to comfort her, to tell you the truth, the only thing that would have awaited you is death. You know, the king would have surely sentenced you to death since you worked together with someone who managed to break into the castle” and since she didn`t answer Ardesti continued: ”You see, the smiling Chinese, or Alex…”
*Alex?* Merinda thought surprised, but since her face was looking away from Ardesti he didn´t see it showing on her face so he just continued talking: ”must have a place in mind for you to stay, since he wouldn´t have made such an act only to get you banished at the end”
“I know” Merinda simply answered and with that the conversation was over.
At the south gate someone waited for their little group that Ardesti would have never expected to see: ” Ardesti, I heard you are letting a friend of the smiling Chinese go?” Deltaio asked while sitting on the back of a horse.
“Captain, I am sorry” Ardesti answered while bowing his head
“Don`t be, don´t be, I will take full responsibility” Deltaio answered
“Why Captain, it was clearly my fault! I even let Merinda go!” Ardesti shouted
“Yes that’s right, and because of that you will be punished with another week of kitchen duty” after he said that Deltaio slowly descended from his horse, his left leg was kind of a hindrance since it was made out of wood.
After he was on the ground Deltaio walked up to Ardesti and said: ”Merinda, you are now officially banished, if you ever set a foot into Saramas or the Agakyos kingdom you will be declared an outlaw, this will take effect within a month to give you time to leave Agakyos” after he said that a shadow leaped over them and outside of the gates The Smiling Chinese landed who then headed towards the forest from where he first came from with amazing speed while dozens of arrows flew after him but without hitting him
*Amateurs*
“I knew that he was following us” Ardesti exclaimed and then he asked: ”Captain, Why aren`t we taking Merinda now and preventing the Smiling Chinese from entering the city again?”
“Do you think we can prevent him from entering?” Deltaio only asked
“No, of course not, but you ordered me to arrest her and I couldn`t, it is just…” Ardesti stammered
After he said that Deltaio turned towards Ardesti and asked him: ”Do you know why I ordered you to arrest her?”
“Ähm, because I already had contact with the Smiling Chinese, sir?” Ardesti guessed while sounding embarrassed since the person in question was now outside the city gates.
“Yes, that and also because you can think rationally under pressure” Deltaio answered
“What, you anticipated something like that happening?” Ardesti asked while completely forgetting to be formal due to the shock
“No, not really, but I knew that the Smiling Chinese was crazy and who knows what a crazy person is capable of doing? So don`t worry and take the day off” Deltaio said while patting Ardesti on the shoulder”
“Sir, should I send some scouts out to follow them?” Ardesti asked
“You could try but I don`t think it will work” Deltaio said: ”Anyway, come with I think I have something to do for you and your squad” he added cryptically
End Chapter 45
PS. I am not very good at thinking up names for armor
Anyway i hope you liked this chapter