Showdown

He didn't respond to my question but he just remained on his chair and continues to sip on his beer. He was real casual about it until he stood up.

"If you are really sent by someone due to debt, then you have to prove to me you are sensible enough for me to listen in. I don't believe in pure words alone. Show me your worth," and immediately throws the empty tankard in my direction.

I calmly catch the tankard and put it back to the counter. "I won't be paying if there will be any damaged items in our fight."

He grabs the handle of his broadsword from his back and nodded at me. "If there were any damaged items, just put it on my tab."

"Well, that is reassuring, then I won't hold back," I said to him and pulls out my Versatile Weapon which is in the form of the magic sword. If the fight gets ugly, I won't hesitate to switch the Versatile Weapon's form and counterattack.

There was no sort of signal for the beginning of the battle. The two of us made a move and wielding our weapons, we started the clash.

BANG! PENG!

Our weapons clashed with each other, ready to land a wound to one another. In the view of the other's they can only see sparks and blurred movements around but to us, every single swing and movement of the other are all tracked and monitored. And with another swing, the two deflected both of their attacks causing them to drop back a little bit.

"Not bad for someone younger than me. It takes a lot of strength just to deflect my broadsword and you easily managed to do so," he said as he wipes the dust off his shoulder from our skirmish.

"Flattery won't get you that far old man, but your strikes are also something I rarely encounter in my battles. You are a good opponent and I won't deny that."

After the exchange of words, we continue our attacks on each other. His attacks were quite harsh and strong and firmly holding the versatile weapon barely managed to hold out on his strikes which makes him quite a troublesome foe. However, that doesn't mean I am losing.

His broadsword is much bigger compare to the magic sword version of the Versatile Sword I am wielding but by no means it was superior. It has flaws and I immediately take note to it in the brief second of our encounter. Its design is similar to the level 70 broadsword used by Holy Knights but it has the same pattern of the longsword used by the Swordsman class. The Holy Knight's broadsword is meant to be used as part of blessing channeling spells that Holy Knights use for support instead of offensive purposes. If it was combined with the Swordsman weapon which is for purely offensive purposes, then it will be somewhat disastrous.

In short, this particular weapon can be as lethal and strong like the sword used by Swordsman but can be as slow as the broadsword used by the Holy Knights. Its bigger size is meant to be used as intimidation to enemies to stay back but it will also not hold back its punches once it landed to an enemy.

He started to swing again his sword but this time, he is charging energy on its hilt, and based on its attacks, that was a clear Blast Skewer, a Swordsman 6th tier skill. It can be quite destructive during PVP and one of the essential skills that Swordsman needed for reducing the defense of bosses. But to see him use it on an enclosed space means he really has the confidence in blowing me away. Fortunately for me, it was a trivial matter.

Before the sword can fully charge itself, I already whisk my sword in the side and directly rush head-on to him. To the onlookers, the way I charge on him while he was charging his attack is suicide but to me, it was all calculated. The Blast Skewer finally got fully charged when I arrived in front of him and I am currently on the blast range of his skill. If you are an easily panicked player, you will die immediately.

"BLAST SKEWER!"

The broadsword he was carrying that is fully charged with energy already became a huge plasma broadsword and slam down straight to me.

BANG!

A severe explosion from the Blast Skewer immediately followed and this time, all the people fighting at each other earlier just realized the separate battle happening on their side.

"Holy sh*t! Did he got caught on it?" one of the onlookers who is already watching our battle did not follow our movements quite a bit which is why he didn't see me move to the side.

The leader frowned seeing the blast area devoid of my injured body. He was about to look around and see where I have gone into when he felt the cold and hard blade of the Versatile Weapon touch his neck.

"I win," I said while smiling.

He sighed but he didn't attack and get angry, instead, he smiled and said, "Well played, boy."

...

The battle was quite short and quick but all of the onlookers were shocked by the outcome of the battle. Based on their reactions and their gossips, the leader of the loanshark mercenary group is a formidable person. He was a warrior with strong power and strength that back up his reputation. He was quite strong that many challengers are not going to easily make a comeback against his attacks. They are stunned to see him defeated by someone easily in a duel.

However, from the looks of this guy, he isn't disappointed, in fact, he looks happier than upset about his loss. Since the first floor of the pub is destroyed and in chaos from our earlier battle, the leader leads me to the second floor which reveals to me as a place for gambling. But due to the main "fun" commonly occurs on the ground floor, there are lesser people here and the only people I saw here are those gamblers playing poker and mahjong on their respective tables.

"Since you have proven yourself as someone whom I can talk with, let's start the introductions first. I am Hyde Draugh, leader of the Loanshark Mercenary Group. What is your name and who is your client?"

"I am called Bladeheart and the client I am representing right now is the wife of Daniel Marlow. According to her, she didn't know that Daniel has a debt left before he died."

When Hyde heard the name Daniel Marlow, he frowned and looked at me seriously.

"That is impossible. The debt of Daniel Marlow has long been paid before he even died. I have not issued any kind of charge at his wife with a nonexistent debt," he said.

I checked Hyde's body language if he was lying but I find him composed and calm, and he doesn't show any signs of lying. Even expert liars can still be found easily if observed with body language but from the way he behaves and talks, he is not lying indeed.

"Daniel Marlow's wife has been approached by one of your men and asked for a charge of the existing debt of Daniel after he died. He claimed to be in your group so that lead me here to you."

He sighed and he looked at me dejectedly.

"Looks like another framing sh*t occurred again. However, you came right in time. Did Daniel's wife already paid the debt?" he asked.

"According to her daughter, they are not able to do it due to the lack of funds to pay for it."

"Then, help me with this. These fake debts have been on the rise lately and many people who already paid for their debts are now once again being charged. I have gotten a handful of it and now it reaches the peak. If you are looking for a chance to relieve your clients from a debt they shouldn't have, then assist me to find the person behind this."

After that, the interface updated the quest of Lina.

[Fake Debt]

Description: It was revealed that the debt is already nonexistent according to Hyde which means this came from someone who knows Hyde and his group. Help Hyde catch the perpetrator and choose their fate.

Objective: Catch the perpetrator

Reward: ??? and Max Reputation to Hyde Draugh.