052. Masked Men

Proofread by Dark Pride

***

After arriving at Harris's home, Adam saw many people that he forgot about. There was Mike's group, and he also saw Mario among them.

After talking with them, he finally knew that they had worked for two days in a row. So they had slept like logs since this morning. Adam felt sorry for them, so he invited all of them to have dinner at his expense.

They were cheering for a while, but Mike refused it politely. He said that he was worried that AAM members would make some trouble if everyone left.

Adam couldn't refute, because what Mike said might actually happen. In exchange, he gave them one gold coin for them to buy something to celebrate their success. Everyone was glad to receive it. Actually, Adam doubted that they would buy food with it. He had a feeling that they would divide the money, but that would be fine, as he gave it as a reward to them.

After saying goodbye, Adam, Ruby, Alba, the cameraman, Cleon, Pete, Mario, and Victor left the area in two carriages. As for Gavin and Logan chose to stay with their former team in the area to guard it.

Adam made Mike the leader and Traze the assistant. He made Traze stay there so he could keep an eye on the situation in the area and inform him through mental communication if anything happened. As Zeen had been unsummoned. He told them to coordinate with Tristan and Harris if they needed something. He also left 10 gold coins for the emergency to Traze.

***

Riding the carriage at dusk was a unique experience for Adam. He felt at peace for the first time in a long while. He saw many workers going home and some merchants' caravans moving slowly along the road. Even the slum that looked like a hive of bees looked majestic when the fading light touched them. Although the bad smell ruined it.

Just as Adam's group's carriages were nearing the South gate, Adam felt the carriage rock to the side from a large impact

*Bang*

The horses panicked after the collision. Fortunately, the coachman was able to quickly calm the animals. The carriage came to a stop without hurting the people around it

"What was that?" Ruby asked.

"Let me check it," Adam left the carriage and was surprised by what he saw.

***

"Run! Get to the city gates! I will delay them," Fox saw Sam became a werewolf and turn towards the back. He could see some masked people that were chasing them. Sam pounced at them without hesitation.

While gritting his teeth, Fox, who was in werebeast form, was running while carrying the unconscious Hector. He was in a sorry state, covered in blood from the numerous wounds all over his body.

"I won't forgive them," He said, his voice full of hatred.

"And why did you all betray us? We've been teammates for years. Captain has done so much for us. Why did you leave us?" A line of tears formed on his cheeks, his sight became blurry from the tears. He wiped the tears from his face.

"Don't be silly. It's embarrassing enough to be carried by a man, and now it's more embarrassing, you're crying like a girl, idiot!" Hector said in a weak voice.

"Captain, Are you okay?" Fox didn't mind his remark, he got used to it a long time ago. In fact, he was relieved to know that Hector had woken up.

"Okay you as*, I can't feel some parts of my body," Hector's complaint made Fox laugh.

"Don't hate them. they're my brothers just like you are. I had a feeling this situation wouldn't end anytime soon. You should go too. Don't worry, they won't kill me," Hector's voice became serious.

"F**k you boss. They won't kill you directly, but you will die of blood loss. The main road is right there. We'll be saved if we can reach it," Fox said in an annoyed tone.

Fox quickened his pace so they could exit the alley sooner, but he felt something hard hit his back and it launched him forward with his passenger.

Fox's mind went blank, he felt an enormous pain from his back. He was afraid the bones were broken. Then his body and Hector's flew into a carriage that was passing the road.

*bang*

The impact made Fox spit blood. He bounced off the ground and spun a few meters before coming to a stop. He couldn't feel anything at first, so he tried to stand up. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't move his body. As he almost fell to despair, he heard hurried steps approaching him.

"Are you okay? Oh God, you are that bastard Fox right. How come? Eve, save him," Fox was shocked to hear the man's voice. How he could forget this voice. It's him, the man who he hated very much. The man who defeated him. But he didn't know why. He felt safe now. He and Hector were saved at the moment.

***

Hearing Adam's shout, everyone in the two carriages came out. Looking at the injured Fox and Hector, Alba looked hesitant about what to do. Ruby however, quickly strode to Hector who was closer to her.

After checking his condition, Ruby looked at the frozen Alba and shouted, "Alba, what are you doing?! Come here and help me!"

Alba was surprised, and stuttered, "Y-yes.I'm coming."

She then ran over and helped Ruby with treating Fox.

Looking at the two, Adam nodded. He then looked at Eve who was treating Fox, "How is he?"

"This will be too tiring on my own, hurry up and summon Callen and Idril? It would be very helpful," Eve said in an annoyed tone.

"Sorry," Adam replied in an embarrassed tone. He then summoned the two elves. After summoning the two, Victor strode past him and then stood in front of him.

"Show yourselves! I know you're there," Victor looked at the alley and said coldly.

Then three masked men came out of the alley.

"Fufufu, Actually we wanted to leave, after seeing you folks. But it seems like you nobles want to talk to us," A tall and thin masked man said.

"You are lying! I know you were observing us and you didn't have any intention of leaving. What do you want? And why did you attack them?" Victor questioned.

"It's none of your business, so stay out of it, you rotten nobles!" the masked man said.

Not wanting to hide behind Victor, Adam stepped forward, "How do you know we are nobles?"

"Is that important? For us, you nobles smell like dried fish. I don't need a dog to identify you in a radius of 100 meters," The masked man answered.

Adam was shocked, then he tried to smell his clothes. Indeed, he was coming from a fishing area where drying fish is a common practice. He was afraid that he might actually smell like dried fish. But after he smelled his clothes, the scent was nowhere to be found.

Adam then looked at the masked man angrily, "You lied! You damn liar!"

The masked men, and even Adam's party were dumbfounded. The masked man then coughed, "That's a metaphor! Are you stupid?"

After realizing that he had acted stupid, Adam's face reddened, "O-of course I knew. I was just kidding."

Just as the masked man wanted to mock Adam again, they heard a weak voice of Fox, "Sir, my friend is still in the alley. Please save him."

Adam's face turned serious, he then summoned Haldir and said to the dark elf, "Haldir, check the alley. Find this guy's friend!"

"Yes, master," Haldir then entered his shadow.

The masked men were stunned as if realizing something, the thin masked man then said, "It seems we met Sir Adam. You are famous, you know. So the red-haired girl must be Princess Ruby. You are lucky Fox, today, you could get away. So, heed my advice. Leave this city, and we won't chase you again. See you!"

The masked men entered the alley and then ran deeper.

Adam didn't want to chase them. As he wanted to find out more from Fox, he got news from Haldir.

'I found him. He was injured badly. I will take him to you,' Haldir said suddenly in mental communication.

'How about the masked men? Let us come to you. It will be safer,' Adam replied.

'I don't see anyone around here. But, okay master,' Haldir said.

After that, Adam asked Victor and Mario to come with him into the alley. Adam also told the girls to be careful, but Adam actually wasn't worried about them because he knew there was a level 7 mage that always protected Ruby. Adam left Cleon and Pete, just in case the girls needed something.

As they entered the alley, they didn't see the masked men anywhere. After walking for three minutes, they came to a place behind an old and abandoned building. They saw Sam who was unconscious lying down on the ground. Adam rushed to him and checked his injuries.

He found out that he was still alive, but because he had many injuries, he would die of blood loss if he didn't get treatment soon. Adam tried to lift him, but Mario insisted on letting him carry the unconscious Sam. Adam nodded.

As they prepared to leave that place, Adam heard Victor's voice, " Young master, watch out!"

Victor then pushed Adam to the side and a large object fell from the top of a building at high speed and hit Victor. Victor coughed up blood and was thrown a few meters away.

"Victor!" Adam shouted in panic.

***