*Thoughts*
~Sound effects~
+”Whispers”+
+++++
Chapter 48: A plan set in motion
The Defenders of justice headed right to the barracks with Kyle in tow who used the little time he had left before his encounter with Deltaio to read the instructions Neuron wrote again.
After they halted right before the entrance the Defenders of justice formed a half circle around Kyle and looked at him so Kyle guessed that they wanted him to say something and so he did:”Hrrm alright, good work everybody, Dismissed!”
* Leadership +1
*Already, I just got that stat…* Kyle asked himself but he couldn`t ponder about the sudden increase since Ardesti said: ”Alright let’s go!”
While going towards Deltaios office Kyle grew more nervous with each step since everything now depended on him and his acting skills.
“Hey Kyle, what’s wrong?” Ardesti asked since he came to notice Kyle’s nervousness
“Nothing” Kyle said while thinking: *Damn he noticed, I have to get my act together*
Then they arrived at the door that led to Deltaios office and Ardesti knocked while Kyle inhaled lots off air to prepare himself while being careful that Ardesti wouldn`t notice
“Yes!” came the answer from inside
“Ardesti here, I brought Kyle!” he shouted
“Come in!” Deltaio shouted and so Ardesti opened the door and motioned Kyle to enter who did while being greeted by Deltaio: “„hello Kyle it’s good that you are back”
“It’s good to be back” Kyle completed the truism
“We have many things to discuss but first sit down” Deltaio said then he added: “hey, what’s with that armor chinking with every movement you make?”
“I know it’s really disturbing but since I am so skinny no armor fits me except those that are personally made for me” Kyle answered
“Hrrm, then go and take some padding from the armory after we are finished talking so that it fits you better. Now tell me, did something happen on your way back?” Deltaio asked
After sitting down in front of Deltaios working desk while hiding his hands under the table to hide their fidgeting Kyle answered: ”We were ambushed”
After hearing this Deltaio sighed and said: ”As I suspected. So How was your squad faring?”
“They were quite good actually” Kyle answered
“Good to hear, so now tell me everything from the beginning” Deltaio ordered
“Hmm, I appeared in the middle of the underground fighting ring where Ardesti greeted me and introduced me to the….Defenders of Justice” Kyle said while pausing for a moment
“I see you aren’t fond of that name either, but they decided to name themselves like that and…” Deltaio said
“Yeah, it just sounds kind of like what a child would come up with” Kyle answered
“Tell me about it, but I must say it has a nice ring to it” Deltaio answered
*Oh come on, not you too, or does that mean the AI is proud of her naming sense and thus the NPC`s are too?* Kyle mused
“So tell me what happened afterwards?” Deltaio asked
“Well, the smiling Chinese appeared and…” Kyle continued his story but Deltaio interrupted him
“What!? I thought he left Saramas already!?” Deltaio shouted and Kyle jumped on that train to buy himself some time before exacting Neurons plan
“What do you mean with that Sir?”
“The Smiling Chinese or Alex broke into many houses yesterday and left some farewell messages. Then some nobles showed up and asked me about it, completely forgetting what they put me through yesterday and the day before… but enough of that” Deltaio said
*Why did he sound angry for a moment?* Kyle asked himself before continuing with the story as if he didn’t know the smiling Chinese’s personality: „I wondered why he appeared too, so I asked and he said that he came to help us since there was an ambush prepared outside”
“Did he tell you his reason?” Deltaio asked
“He said that the enemy of an enemy is a friend” Kyle answered cryptically since he decided to let Deltaio voice the questions and he would just answer them as short as possible so that he won`t reveal anything by just talking
“So that means he chose Lucro as his enemy then, I wonder what happened” Deltaio mused while rubbing his chin then he continued while smiling: ”Enough about that let those two kill each other for all I care, either way we win. So what happened next?”
“Well Ne, hrrm Alex told us about a plan to escape” Kyle answered while deciding to use the name Neuron chose for the Smiling Chinese
“And you followed his plan?” Deltaio asked in disbelief
“Well it took him much persuasion but at the end he convinced us to make some makeshift shields out of the spectator seats to shield us from arrows while we were escaping out of the building” Kyle continued
“hoh, what a crafty bastard” Deltaio mused while motioning Kyle to continue
*Tell me about it*
“After we escaped the building we regrouped in a small alleyway and Alex was dropping some enemies from the roofs to aid us while we escaped the slum as one solid group” Kyle continued
“I would have like to see that, but I can`t believe that Alex was helping you” Deltaio said
*Well I know why…* Kyle thought and then he said while praising his squad: ”Yeah, it was truly a sight to behold, to say the truth I never expected them to pull such a stunt”
“Yeah, they came a long way but all thanks to you, so tell me have you lost anybody on the way?” Deltaio asked
“No Sir, we all escaped nearly unharmed just some light scratches and bruises” Kyle answered
“That’s good. So now that this matter is cleared we have a more serious issue to discuss” Deltaio said while his facial expression froze
*Now it begins* Kyle thought full of anxiety
“So could you tell me who the person was that named himself archer, who also fought with you against a skeleton inside the underground fighting ring four days ago?” Deltaio asked
“It was Neuron… did something happen to him?” Kyle asked while sounding worried
“No, quite the opposite” Deltaio answered then he placed a sheet of paper upside down on the table and said: ”It is something that same person did after you left for four days” Deltaio said while sliding the upside down paper near Kyle
*Alright Kyle, time to act surprised and curse the smiling Chinese like Neuron wrote* Kyle thought remembering a part of Neurons Mail
“After Deltaio shows you the wanted Poster of the Smiling Chinese just curse loudly and say that he is a master at disguise, how else would he be able to fool a whole city… ; )”
So Kyle grabbed the paper and slowly turned it around since Deltaio surely expected him to do so, after he came to see the face of the person depicted he accelerated and then he became silent for a moment *What did he do to get a bounty off 20.000 gold* Kyle asked himself while keeping silent since he already knew what was on the picture.
After Kyle turned the paper around Deltaio showed a concerned look but then it changed into surprise since Kyle slammed his fist onto the wanted poster and shouted a whole lot of curses and swears while being surprised about how many he knew himself as was Deltaio, well traveling with Neuron who swears a hell of a lot had to rub off somehow…
After he finished his barrage of swears Kyle asked Deltaio in a low and threatening voice since he deemed it necessary after his act: ”Why is Neuron wanted?!”
“So you admit that the one pictured is Neuron” Deltaio sighed
“Wh, yes, it is clearly him but…” Kyle stammered since that statement took the wind out of his sails while thinking: *Damn is it already over?*
“This wanted poster of your friend Neuron was made after he broke into the castle the same night you went missing after using a high tier skill” Deltaio answered
*Good, Nothings over* Kyle thought to give himself some courage and then he asked sounding surprised: ”W, w, what do you mean inside the castle? Neuron would never do that!” since Neuron wrote
“And if he shows some suspicion just continue with your act while becoming angrier with each moment!”
“You say that it can`t be Neuron but do you have any prove?” Deltaio asked, but Kyle didn´t answer his question since he now had a plan on how to act, Neuron already wrote it in his mail, namely:
“If he still doesn`t believe you just say that the Smiling Chinese is a master of disguise, since nothings is known about him it should work quite well”
And due to that Kyle shouted: “Ohoho, now I get it you asshole, that is what you were planning all along. And you dare to show yourself before me after what you did!” Kyle cursed loudly while gathering all the anger he was feeling towards Neuron who made such a blunder to make the matter more believable while also talking himself in rage
“What do you mean?” Deltaio asked
“What do I mean…, that asshole disguised himself as Neuron to make him a wanted person, what else” Kyle shouted
“Are you sure that this person isn`t your friend?” Deltaio asked a little bit intimidated by Kyle who was still cursing through his teeth since he pictured every little trouble Neuron caused and which fueled his rage and there where quite a few, and then a repressed memory of Kyle surfaced namely the one about him being tied on the back of a big spider.
The matter was cleared afterwards by Neuron apologizing and letting himself be hit but just remembering about it was enough for Kyle.
“Am I sure!? Am I sure!? Of course I am!” Kyle shouted while drops of saliva hit the table
“Ähm, on what are you basing that statement?” Deltaio asked while unconsciously sliding away from Kyle with his seat
*Yeah, finally time for a little revenge* Kyle thought and then he answered repressing his anger: “The Neuron I know is a meek and shy loner, there is no way he would break into houses like the smiling Chinese does or even act like he does” Kyle hissed
“Alright, I get it, now calm yourself” Deltaio said but it was in vane since Kyle continued to obsess over Neuron
“He even evades crowds as much as possible, there is just no way!” Kyle finished while panting heavily and afterwards there was only silence till Deltaio began to speak after a minute
“Are you thinking that I am dumb?” he asked with a glint in his eyes
“huh?” Kyle could only say after that and then he stammered:” No, no I never, wait, why are you asking….?”
Then Deltaio began to list some facts while counting them with his fingers: ”The robbery streak of the smiling Chinese began after you returned from the fake quest Ardesti gave you. It then continued for two days in which you were inside the noble district to train. Then you fought inside the underground arena and the robberies stopped for two days and after you vanished he broke into the castle and made quite the uproar. And tonight he helped you escape the ambush.”
“Wh, what are you implying with that?” Kyle stammered: *Damn everything is over* Kyle thought depressed and then with rage: *Neuron you idiot did you have to go stealing every night you fucking kleptomaniac!*
“Don´t worry, I am not implying that you are the smiling Chinese after what happened today it is impossible since he appeared before you and many witnesses, but now I am sure that he is your friend Neuron. So stop taking me for a fool!” Deltaio shouted while slamming his fist on the table
After that outburst Kyle dropped his head and said in a rueful voice: ”Sorry”
After hearing this Deltaio sighed and said: ”Damn I was right”
“What, what do you mean, don`t tell me you invented that on the spot to catch me off guard!?” Kyle shouted astonished
“Partially, I already had my suspicions but now they are clear, Kyle you disappoint me” Deltaio answered while shaking his head
“So, what is going to happen now?” Kyle asked meekly since he already accepted the fact that everything’s busted
After Kyle asked that Deltaio kept silent for a while and then he opened his mouth: “You know….” but Kyle interrupted him and said loudly since he didn´t want everything to end right now
”Neuron only broke into houses of Nobles, well I get that this is a crime and all but he just broke into the houses of those who have enough and, well most things he stole where cheap fabrications by Lucro anyway!” while saying that Kyles voice grew more silent till he whispered: ”But he never hurt anyone”
“Never hurt anyone….” Deltaio said cryptically
“You mean he did!? Who was it?” Kyle shouted
“Doesn´t matter” Deltaio hissed and then he continued:” What was that about fabrications made by Lucro? All the people he stole from said that he only stole highly valuable items. You sure that he didn´t lie to you about that?”
“He kept bitching about those items every time we talked, so no” Kyle answered
After hearing this Deltaio sighed and asked himself in a low and depressed voice: „is there a pie Lucro hasn`t his fingers into?”
“So ähm, what did you want to say before?” Kyle asked
“I was about to say that before yesterday I would have imprisoned you immediately for treason but now…” Deltaio answered which in turn gave Kyle hope so he asked. “What happened?”
“Well, I send Ardesti to detain Merinda to ask her about the smiling Chinese since he was seen inside her shop rather often, but then your friend appeared and threatened Ardesti to burn Saramas to the ground after which Ardesti answered that we, well the city guards, will extinguish every flame. So your friend Neuron threatened to kill the king” Deltaio answered
“Wait, he did what!?” Kyle shouted since Neuron hasn`t written anything about that inside his mail
“I am not so sure if he would have gone that far anyway, but he proved that he broke into the kings quarter and due to that the king is going to protect himself while disregarding the burning Saramas and due to that he is going to cause an uprising”
“Wait, you mean he said the part about killing the king to gain that result?” Kyle asked dumbfounded: *Wow, I never could have done something like that on the spot. Neuron must be really smart…… Well the sort of smartness that goes hand in hand with craziness* Kyle thought to himself
“Yeah, I must say your friend is a crafty bastard. Anyway, Ardesti agreed to let the girl go while banishing her.” Deltaio answered and then Kyle interrupted him once again, this time to defend Ardesti since Kyle feared that he was getting punished: “And what was wrong about that, sure Neuron is crazy, but I can certify that if he says something he’s going to go through with it! For example he just told me casually that he is going to break into the castle, and guess what, he did!” Kyle shouted
Afterwards he realized that he dug both of their graves even deeper since a person that can casually say that he is going to burn down a town must be punished and Kyle just proved that Neuron would really do it, but Deltaio didn`t seem to care, he just said
“I am of the same opinion, so I decided to take the blame. And then some idiots who think only of themselves came and complained and complained, even though your friend explained what would happen afterwards explicitly”
Deltaio answered and then while mimicking the voice of different people Deltaio hissed: „What do you think you are doing! There is no way he is able to kill the king! Imprison her and capture the Smiling Chinese when he tries to free her! As long as you protect us I don`t care what happens to Saramas!” Deltaio hissed and then he huffed for air
*Wow those Nobles are assholes* Kyle thought and then he wanted to say something but Deltaio continued: ”Then came a summon from the king and inside the throne room that poor imitation of a king said to me” Deltaio hissed and then he again changed his tone of voice to mimic the speech of the king: ”Why didn´t you seize the girl? So I retold what your friend said and guess what he answered” Deltaio said rhetorically since he continued immediately while adding a hatred filled undertone: “remember who built the town. It was my family and I can always rebuild it!”
“That stupid king things he is so high and mighty but if the Smiling Chinese would have executed his plan that king would soon have nothing to reign over except the afterlife” Deltaio said while making the word king sound like an insult
This time Kyle finally could say something and so he asked: ”And what happened then?”
Luckily this king has a wife who knows how the state business works, if it weren`t for her and the location of the castle that “king” would have been killed only days after his coronation” Deltaio complained to Kyle who thought
*Well a plan to have him killed is underway right now…*
Deltaio who talked himself into a rage just continued:” Then the king said something about the smiling Chinese disgracing his daughter, then he summoned her and she indeed looked terrible, big eye bags, a red nose and eyes, shuffled hair, not like the princess I saw some years back who had such a bright smile, by the way do you know anything about that?” Deltaio directed the question to Kyle who was just thinking while resisting to facepalm:*Neuron what did you do now…*
“Hrrm, ähm, no, I don`t know, actually I haven’t talked with him since I arrived” Kyle answered
“Really, didn´t you tell me that he met you inside the underground fighting ring?” Deltaio asked
“How could I try to talk with him with all those Defenders of Justice around!?” Kyle said loudly
“Hrrm, true” Deltaio grumbled and then he stayed silent for a while and because of that Kyle had to ask again: „What are you going to do now?”
“I have to imprison you and Neuron, what a pity. Well I would spare you if you hand your friend over since you are a capable young man” Deltaio answered
For a second Kyle seriously thought about that offer but it had too many drawbacks, mainly Neuron and his inhuman urge to take revenge for everything and anything, hell he caused teh imprisonment of the Tailor back in Gaber just because he fooled him! There was also a small part of Kyle that refused to sell out a friend so Kyle was now in a serious dilemma
*Damn, I don`t want to sell out Neuron, but I don’t want to be sentenced too, loosing ten levels and every connection with all NPC`s I met this far… Damn* and at that moment Kyle thought something which he never guessed possible, namely: *What would Neuron do…* and this gave him an idea so he leaned himself back and smiled which threw Deltaio of course since he wanted to say something before but now he asked concerned: „Why, are you smiling?”
“Well, I can`t sell out a friend so I refuse” Kyle answered
“Is that your final decision?” Deltaio asked one more time just to be sure
“Yeah, but there is one thing you need to know, if you imprison me the king is going to die” Kyle said while trying to cross his arms before his chest which produced a screeching sound so he halted midway while thinking: *Damn armor*
“Wait, am I hearing this right? You threaten me by telling that your friend is going to kill the king?” Deltaio asked again just to be sure
“No, I am saying that a plan to kill him is already underway” Kyle answered
“And what do I care if this stupid king dies?” Deltaio asked while bowing forward and grinning
“No after what you told me I already guessed that you don`t care but what about Lucro becoming a noble?” Kyle asked and then he smiled since the reaction in Deltaios face told him everything
“What do you mean by that?” he asked in a shocked voice
“That the one who wants to kill the king is paying Lucro to do so while promising him the title of a noble” Kyle said which startled Deltaio but he soon regained his composure since he found a loophole
“That is a good plan and all but to make it perfect I would blame Lucro for killing the king after everything is done” Deltaio reasoned
*Damn, he got me, whatever, there is no turning back, just improvise, improvise…* Kyle thought and then he said: “True that was the plan, but do you really think that Lucro won`t anticipate that? All he needs is a scapegoat, and, I’m just saying, there is a suitable one right before me”
After Kyle said all this he expected some outbursts from Deltaio, swears, well anything but him clapping his hands. ~clap~ ~clap~
“Wh, wh, wh” Kyle stammered
“I must say, someday you will become a capable leader” Deltaio praised Kyle who still couldn`t understand what happened
“Before I was about to say that I would let that matter slide if you do something for me. But then you started threatening me just to save one single friend who isn`t even such a good one isn`t a feat many are capable off” Deltaio answered:
And due to the shock Kyle just answered truthfully: ”Yeah, he isn`t a good friend, but we work well together and I am sure he would do anything to save me, even unspeakable things, and there is also his revenge seeking part of which I am scared” Kyle answered
“Revenge?, you don`t need to fear that since his sentence is the gallows” Deltaio said
“nah” Kyle just answered cryptically while thinking *I hope he isn`t going to ask what I mean with that*
And like this conversation never happened Deltaio continued:” “But you still need to think matters trough since after you prevent the king from dying I could just rat you out, of course I would get demoted or killed for not telling the truth for so long but I can simply write a letter and leave Saramas which in turn makes the story more credible. But is everything true what you said about the assassination and Lucro?” Deltaio asked concerned
Stolen novel; please report.
*heh, the Ai works rather well…* Kyle thought before answering
“Yes, everything is true”
After hearing this Deltaios face grew pale while his hands where clutched so hard into fists that the knuckles turned white. Then he inhaled some air and exhaled it indicating that he made a decision: “Alright, I am going to overlook what your friend does, and even help you out in everything you need, if, and only if you bring me Lucro”
While he said that Deltaio grabbed a picture that was on his working desk but since his hands where trembling the picture tumbled over and Kyle was able to see what was on it.
It was a woman in her twenties who was wearing a white dress while being surrounded by two guys who seemed very familiar. One of those guys smiled so bright as if the world belonged to him while his hand was crossed with that of the girl who wore a dress that was similar to a wedding dress. The guy at the left of the woman had short black hair cut military stile with bright blue eyes and that made him realize who was depicted in that picture since that very same guy was now sitting right in front of him. Of course he was a lot younger and the scar on his face wasn´t there yet but it unmistakably was Deltaio.
And since the girl wore a white dress the other one had to be her groom. What stunned Kyle was that the woman resembled Deltaio quite a bit since she had the same hair and eyecolor, but YKle couldn`t didn`t know who the groom was till he remembered what he heard within the noble house where was being trained in fist fighting by Doran and trap triggering.
One of the guys of his squad told him some rumors about Doran about how his wife got captured and Deltaio and Doran trying to rescue her witch in turn got her killed and Deltaio lost his leg and surely got that scar.
*So Doran married Deltaios sister, and Doran is showing such a bright smile, I never guessed that he could do so…* Kyle mused
After toppling the picture Deltaio grabbed it and caressed it with his index finger while saying his voice growing darker and lower with each word: “I don`t care how, bring me his head, finger, alive or dead, just put an end to his machinations”
“I promise” Kyle said while putting as much feelings into those two words as he could but he thought that it wasn`t enough since Deltaio seemed so fragile so Kyle tried a unusual way to console him by saying: „I can`t get into details but Lucro greatly angered me and my friend Neuron, and he is one you should never piss off. I don´t know what he planned to do with Lucro, but I can tell you, it won`t be pretty”
After saying this Kyle remembered the face Neuron showed while saying that he had something in store for Lucro and a shiver run down his spine
“You mean he is going to suffer?” Deltaio asked with eyes full of hope
“Yeah, he is” Kyler answered convinced while thinking: *What a strange conversation*
but then Deltaio asked blowing out the glimmer of hope by himself: ”But you will never find Lucro, I am hunting him since many years and didn`t even come close to him”
“Nah, don`t worry, Neuron is going to find him, he already talked with him twice” Kyle said while thinking: *the second time ratted me out though…*
“Is that true!?” Deltaio asked while the glimmer of hope became stronger than ever since he seldom heard of someone who managed to talk with Lucro twice, and those who did usually died the second time or where working with him
“But, hrrm I need some sort of insurance that you won´t betray us after everything is done, sicne both my life and that of my friend are at stake” Kyle answered. Well he would help Deltaio out but to have some insurance if everything goes haywire would be great nevertheless
“So you don’t trust me?” Deltaio asked
“Well I trust you but I don´t trust the law since my friend is on the other side of it
“hahaha, you can say that twice” Deltaio laughed and then he asked:” So what do you have in mind?”
*Maybe a blood oath…. Nah, too risky since our avatars could be deleted and Deltaio could die, what else is there that binds NPC`s and players into an unbreakable contract, wait this is a game so of course it should be a quest!* Kyle thought and then he said: “Why not give me a quest to kill Lucro, and if we don`t manage to complete it you can imprison both of us” Kyle answered
“Sounds good, so do you accept this quest?” Deltaio asked
* Quest: Kill Lucro
Difficulty: Unknown
Requirements:
Make a deal with Deltaio
Reward:
Come out unscathed without being found out who the Smiling Chinese is and that you are working with him
Fauilure:
Give up
Get killed
Attention!
If you fail you have to get imprisoned by Deltaio and sentenced to death
“Looks good, but something is missing” Kyle said
“What?”
“I need your help to make everyone believe that Neuron isn`t the smiling Chinese” Kyle answered
“Yeah, about that, how would you do that anyway?” Deltaio asked
After he asked that Kyle fiddled a bit with his system window, mainly deleting the first part of Neurons mail while copying the rest into another folder and then he said: „Show the message to Deltaio!”
After Kyle said that Deltaios eyes remained fixated on a spot in the air and after he read it he said: “A great plan, but it still has some loopholes, but alright I am going to help you out, so do you accept the quest?”
* Quest: Kill Lucro
Difficulty: Unknown
Requirements:
Make a deal with Deltaio
Reward:
Come out unscathed without being found out who the Smiling Chinese is and that you are working with him
Failure:
Give up
Get killed
Attention!
If you fail you have to get imprisoned by the guard captain Deltaio and sentenced to death
Till Lucro is killed the guard captain Deltaio is going to help you to convince everyone that Neuron isn`t the smiling Chinese.
“I accept” Kyle said
* You have accepted the quest!
“Good, so do you need anything else?” Deltaio asked
*Finally this matter is cleared* Kyle thought relieved: *Damn Neuron making me do all this!*
“Could you tell me about that annual tournament? I and Neuron would like to participate” Kyle asked
And after a long talk Kyle exited the barracks a little bit worried since some information’s he got about the tournament weren`t good, especially the level required but before going to meet Neuron Kyle headed towards the armory to take some paddings so that his armor would quit chinking with each movement he performed
After he was satisfied with the result Kyle exited the barracks while thinking: *I needed two paddings and one chainmail. This game is a racist against skinny tanks! But at least I am not overloaded*
After Kyle exited the barracks he said: ”Show the position of my party member!” since he had some things to discuss with Neuron and doing so while not seeing the person you were talking to was kind of awkward
*I just hope he hasn`t logged out* Kyle thought worried since nothing happened but then a small arrow appeared in his field of vision
While walking towards where the arrow was pointing Kyle tried to send Neuron some whispers but he didn´t get a reply so now he was standing near the house on whose roof Neuron was probably hiding since the arrow pointed upward, while pondering what to do. Throwing a stone was out of option since hitting Neuron was only able with the help of immense luck and Kyle didn´t trust in his so he decided to try the whisper function out again while shouting at the top of his lungs: +”NEURON”+
+”huh, what, who’s calling…”+ Neuron answered erratically while sounding sleepy
+”It’s me, now help me up so that we can talk!”+ Kyle hissed while thinking angrily: *I can`t believe he slept*
+”Wha, A Kyle, did my plan work?”+ Neuron asked
+”Just let me up now, then we can talk”+ Kyle said and soon after a ball of wool was thrown down while unraveling itself. Once he was on the roof Neuron asked him again: ”So did it work?” but Kyle only grunted while glaring at Neuron his vision turning red since the rage against Neuron he felt while talking towards finally broke loose.
“W, w, wait, what’s the matter, Kyle come on….” Neuron tried to persuade Kyle
So Kyle ignored Neuron , clutched his right fist tightly and struck Neuron with all he had aiming at the stomach.
Since Neuron wasn`t expecting Kyle to hit him he just remained standing while holding his arms in front of himself. Well he wouldn´t have been able to evade the fist even if he wasn`t stunned since it travelled faster than the eye could see due to Kyles whole body being covered with Mana coating.
After the fist connected with Neurons stomach he bent over since the fist was still travelling on while saliva and stomach acid came gushing out of his mouth but Kyle wasn’t finished yet.
After his fist made contact with Neurons body his left foot that he lifted up before punching to perform a step forward touched the ground and Kyle used the force of the step to propel his fist even further into Neurons stomach and since Neuron couldn`t bend forward any further his feet left the ground and because Kyle didn`t stop his punch, in fact he put even more force behind it which pushed Neuron upwards. After the fist finally stopped the whole force had been conveyed to Neuron and due to that and Kyle’s monstrous strength he started to fly away.
After Kyle finally regained his senses he looked around calmly since he vented his anger then he asked himself: *huh, where is Neuron*
* Critical hit! -50%Hp
After Neuron hit the wall of the adjacent building he fell down to the ground which also reduced his health by a bit but not nearly as much as it would have done normally since due to his jumping skill the damage of falling is reduced greatly
* You fell -100Hp
* Endurance +1
After Neuron landed he remained on the ground for some time staying in the fetal position while pressing both hands on his abdomen and coughing loudly.
While in that position he received a whisper from Kyle: +”hey, Neuron, where are you?”+ But Neuron couldn´t reply since he didn´t have any air left for unimportant stuff like speech.
Then as soon as the pain subsided Neuron jumped up and climbed to the roof of the building from where he was pushed down while cursing through his teeth. Then as soon as he was over the edge he charged towards Kyle with bloodshot eyes to reimburse him but right before Neurons punch connected Kyle activated Mana coating on the part Neuron was aiming for and due to that he didn´t receive any damage, only Neuron was again crawling on the ground while holding his right fist which was apparently broken.
While flailing on the ground Neuron hissed: “What was that for!?”
+”Shhht”+ Kyle only answered
+”I’ll give you shhhht You bastard!”+ Neuron shouted this time using the whisper function himself
Then after the pain finally subsided again Neuron stood up to punch Kyle again but then he realized that Kyle was wearing body armor so he decided that it would be better not to punch him since the result would be the same and Neuron was smart enough not to engage in a full scale battle since that would surely wake up anyone in the vicinity. So the only thing Neuron could do was to stare down Kyle while complaining and planning to take revenge later on.
+“Why did you punch me all of a sudden, that hurt like hell!”+ Neuron whined
+”Shut up, I had to do all the work for you and you were just sleeping!”+ Kyle shouted
+” I wrote everything down for you!”+ Neuron answered
+”Yeah, and that plan worked oh so well”+ Kyle hissed each word throbbing from sarcasm
+”Wait, do you mean that it didn`t work?”+ Neuron asked shocked
+”Damn right”+ Kyle answered while still leaving Neuron in the dark that he still succeeded to see his expression of defeat
+”What are we going to do then”+ Neuron asked: +”I don`t want to leave this city already, I have so much left to do!”+
+”Shut it, I am in deep shit too! I had to escape Deltaios office since he wanted to imprison me too”+ Kyle shouted and Neuron jumped up in a hurry rushed towards where he placed all his belongings and took the weapons of Kyle only to toss them towards him.
Surprised Kyle caught his Warhammer and the iron ball and then Neuron took his backpack and also grabbed Kyles giving it to him who grabbed it and then Kyle asked without moving: “Since when can you throw that iron ball and Warhammer, inside the underground tournament you had trouble just lifting the ball!”+ Kyle asked
+”While you were away I did some Strength training, anyway lets bail!”+ Neuron answered in a hurry
+”hey, Neuron calm down, I joked”+ Kyle said while grabbing Neuron by the shoulder who was about to jump off of the building
+”What!?”+ Neuron hissed
+”Well I had to do all the work for you so that is just fair”+ Kyle answered casually
+”Fair!? You already punched me with all you had!”+ Neuron complained
+”That was for what I had to do for you, the rest was for personal entertainment”+ Kyle simply answered since he already knew that Neuron couldn´t deal with a straight forward approach
And indeed Neuron could only stammer while pointing his right index finger towards Kyle: +”You, what, what, damn”+
+”Sit down, and let me tell you what happened”+ Kyle answered while sitting down himself: +”By the way can I do that Strength training too?”+
And Neuron stunned by what happened in those few minutes seated himself near Kyle and answered: +“Later, but first tell me everything”+
And so Kyle did while Neuron kept silent till Kyle told him the characterization he came up for his friend Neuron
+”I am meek and shy!?”+ Neuron shouted interrupting Kyle
+”Yes, I had to invent a character for you and one who is the complete opposite of the Smiling Chinese works the best, so good luck acting that part out”+ Kyle answered while grinning since he imagined Neuron acting like that which he somehow couldn`t but that just contributed to his happiness
+”How should I do that!?”+ Neuron asked
+”Well for example don`t look people into the eyes, try fidgeting around while talking or hide behind my back”+ Kyle answered
+”Wh, but…. I can`t act!”+ Neuron shouted
+”So you do know that”+ Kyle answered surprised and then he continued: +”Don`t worry your poor acting skills will just enhance your shyness”+ Kyle answered and after saying that he burst into laughter
+”just you wait; I will act with everything I have! But I won`t ever hide behind your back”+ Neuron shouted while becoming red which only gave Kyle more ammunition to laugh about
+”hey, stop laughing and tell me what happened next!”+ Neuron hissed
And so Kyle continued to tell what happened till he told him that he received a quest to kill Lucro
+”What you too!?”+ Neuron said surprised
+”Wait you mean that you also got a quest to kill Lucro?” Kyle asked
+”Yeah, now that you mentioned it I remembered”+ Neuron answered and then a glimmer appeared in his eyes: +”lets postpone killing Lucro for now till we complete the quest about the king being killed and then we can share the quests to kill Lucro”+ he said while grinning
+”Yeah, about that, there is a problem. To prevent the king from being killed we have to enter the tournament and the deadline to apply is noon in seven days and so that you can apply you have to be at least level 100 or higher”+ Kyle answered
+”Deltaio told you that right?”+ Neuron answered and since Kyle nodded he continued:+” so did he also tell you where some good places to power level are?”+
+”Yes, do you remember the village where Ardesti sent us to and we got ambushed on the way?”+ Kyle asked
+”Raksho+ or something like that”+ Neuron answered after thinking. +”And around there are many dungeons?” and since Kyle nodded again Neuron said:+”Good, so let’s depart as soon as the sun shows up!+ Neuron said in high spirits
+”Ähm, Neuron what’s your level?”+ Kyle asked
+”71, why do you ask?”+
+”because we both have to level up 29 times within seven days, not counting the way towards Rakosh and back”+
+”Don`t worry, we just have to rent or buy a carriage with fast horses”+ Neuron answered
+”But that many levels in so little time is impossible!”+ Kyle complained
+”Normally yes but remember we will be the first to discover every dungeon we enter so we get +100% EXP”+ Neuron explained
+”Phew, I completely forgot about that”+ Kyle said relieved: +”but it’s still going to be a lot of work”+
+”I know, so how about we also annihilate the mercenaries within the forest who are going to be used as a distraction”+ Neuron said casually
+”Wait, you know where it is!?”+ Kyle shouted astonished
+”Yeah, Oasho flew around while we both where looking for it and he only found it first because he didn`t fly steadily”+ Neuron complained
+”Wait, why where you flying with Oasho”+ Kyle asked
+”It’s a long story, I`ll tell you another time”+ Neuron answered
+”Hrrm, alright, so what do we need to power level?”+ Kyle asked
+”Hmm; I’d like to have some explosive potions, they could come in handy if we are ever surrounded by enemies”+ Neuron mused
+”Also food!”+ Kyle shouted: +“And some Hp and Mp potions too”+
+”We don´t need Hp potions, I have my arrows remember?”+ Neuron said
+”But they hurt when they hit!”+ Kyle complained
+”Deal with it, Hp Potions are really expensive”+ Neuron brushed the matter aside
+”ähm I have to buy all of that right?”+ Kyle asked
+”of course”+ Neuron stated: +”Why do you ask”+
+”Where do I get that explosive potion?”+
+”Just go into the noble district and ask for Rodban, he should have the Mana potions too and everything else by the way since he’s a merchant”+ Neuron explained
+”hey, do you have some paper, I need to write everything down”+ Kyle asked and after Neuron gave him the requested items he wrote a list while saying out loud everything he wrote down.
+”Food, Explosive and Mp Potions (ask for Rodban), a fast carriage, water… Anything else?”+ Kyle asked
+”A shield for you”+ Neuron said
+”Nah, after I get to level 80 I can equip the Grakin tower shield. Alright, we can also buy all the other things we could need or come to need in Rakosh”+ Kyle said then he added: +”ähm, Neuron could you give me your money? I don´t have that much left”+ Kyle said
+”Sure, but don`t splurge”+ Neuron said while tossing him his moneybag
+”Its heavy, did you steal all of that?”+ Kyle asked
+”nah, I don`t steal money, of course I take it if I find some but I am not searching for it since I mainly steal jewellry and weapons and some items I think are valuable.”+ Neuron answered
+”Why that?”+ Kyle asked
+”to equip our guild members”+ Neuron said in a matter of fact tone
+”Guild members? Does that mean you plan to found a guild?”+ Kyle asked
+”of course, I mean we have all the necessities”+ Neuron said sounding astonished that Kyle didn`t get the same idea then he continued: +”But I am still thinking of a name for the guild”+
+”That’s a great idea!”+ Kyle shouted
+”I know, and maybe we can make our town into a starting city and then we help the players grind their stats and fighting abilities and due to that we can make our own fighting force with outstanding equipment”+ Neuron added while grinning
+”So you really thought that matter through”+ Kyle answered
+”Of course!”+ Neuron said then he added. +”added but I am still thinking about other things to add to make grinding easier, so help me out to make Kilakios an even better place for players!”+ Neuron said
+”Sounds good, but let’s do that later, by the way do we need anything else?”+ Kyle asked
+”Ah! Buy a iron chain”+ Neuron suggested
+”Why that?”+ Kyle asked
+”To attach it to the iron ball so that you can swing it around”+ Neuron answered casually
+”Good idea, so if there isn`t anything else wait for me outside of Saramas”+ Kyle said while standing up and then he halted
+”What’s the matter?”+ Neuron asked
+”Ähm, could you help me to get down?”+ Kyle asked embarrassed
End Chapter 48
So if you have a name for their guild feel free to suggest it and also a special crest would be great^^