Demoted

The sun hung low in the sky as the boat approached the bustling Kingdom of the Anglo's harbor. The merchant's voice broke through the murmurs of passengers, pulling my thoughts from the setting sun. "Attention, please gather your belongings. We are about to dock in London, a city far removed from the western continent, so proceed with caution."

London offered a chance to escape from the turmoil of my past. Once, I had been a loyal cavalry officer under Alexander, gaining titles and prestige. But time had passed, and the empire had crumbled, leaving me with a choice: to serve the chaos that roamed the land or seek a new beginning. Decades of mercenary life had grown tiresome, and that brought me here today on the eastern continent.

Stepping onto the harbor, I was met with a whirlwind of activity—merchants peddling wares, sailors shouting orders, and the occasional glimpse of suspicious soldiers, judging by their posts, there here to guard us. In the crowded line for inspection, a burly man's impatience got the better of him, shoving me forward.

"Sorry about that; I just can't believe that I'm on the eastern continent," I said, my voice calm and apologetic. My passive skill, Insight, gave me an uncanny awareness of the people around me. I sensed the big man's hot-headed nature and hoped to defuse any tension.

A fellow passenger ahead of me chimed in, "I know, right? The East is ripe with opportunities. But why did you choose this place?" It was a straightforward question, one that caught me off guard.

"Perhaps it's for a more peaceful life. Back home, wars and rebellions run rampant. I'm even surprised that monarchs could still survive there," I replied, hoping my choice was indeed correct.

As we edged closer to the inspection officer, I couldn't help but overhear the inquiries being made. The thought crossed my mind to ask the man up front once more, "Will you demand a fee for that valuable information?"

He chuckled. "In these chaotic times? you remind me of those Phoenician sailors, who often target newcomers near the ports. They're cunning and well-informed."

I prepared to recount my own experience with those sailors when the man ahead of me was ushered forward for questioning. Left to my own thoughts, I glanced back at the passenger behind me, asking the same question.

"Why have you come to the East?" I inquired, hoping to start a conversation.

His response was abrupt, "No thanks; I don't want to answer such trivial questions."

Stubborn silence filled the air, leaving me with a sense of solitude in this new land.

It couldn't be helped. I remained silent and closed my eyes, activating my insight to get a sense of the sprawling city of London. The streets were bustling, and I needed to find the nearest inn. Soon enough, a guard motioned for me to approach.

I complied and stood before the officer, who was seated at a cluttered desk with a stack of papers. He seemed engrossed in his work, possibly checking for wanted criminals. "What is your name?" he inquired.

"Yoshi Meatsu," I responded. The officer looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Is that a noble surname from the west?"

I shook my head. "No, just a commoner's name." His interest waned as he moved on. "What kingdom and city were you born in?"

"Kingdom of Athenia, in Athen," I answered. He jotted down a note and finally informed me that I was free to go.

As I walked away, I contemplated the guard's suspicious actions. It had worked out as planned, though, and I couldn't shake the feeling that someone might have been pulling strings behind the scenes. I decided it was time to seek out the nearest inn.

Approaching the inn, I was greeted by the receptionist. "Would you like a room, mister?" she asked. "Yes, just a simple room for three days," I replied, and I handed her one silver and five big copper coins.

She examined the coins and then frowned. "Unfortunately, mister, it costs three silver coins, and we do not accept your currency here."

It was a common tactic to rip off foreigners, I thought. "I suppose it can't be helped. Do you know where the nearest bank is in this city?" I asked, stashing the coin back into my pouch.

The receptionist gestured to the Central Castle. "It's right next to the Central Castle; there's an alley across the street that will lead you there."

Navigating the dark alley, I couldn't help but notice the foul stench. This part of the city was clearly for the peasants. As I made my way through the dimly lit alley, I tilted my head to the right just in time to dodge a dagger aimed at the back of my head.

I chuckled at the audacity. "Nice try. Paying the receptionist to deceive me and lead me into this dark place for an assassination attempt? Not very original as you have planned."

The culprits stood before me, two men brandishing swords and a masked woman poised with a set of daggers, ready to carve me to pieces. I couldn't help but comment, "You know you're targeting an unarmed man, right? Why don't you—"

My words were cut short as I swiftly ducked to evade three arrows that narrowly missed my head. Reacting to the near-death experience, I sprinted toward the two men standing in my path.

Taken aback by my sudden charge, the swordsmen slashed and swung their blades in my direction, but I moved with the fluid grace of a seasoned fighter, dodging their attacks with ease. In a swift motion, I disarmed them with my bare hands, kicking their ankles and elbowing one of them in the head to keep them down. A dagger whizzed past me, finding its mark in one of their own, who let out a painful cry.

I looked back at the masked woman. "That's the second time you've missed your shot, mate," I taunted.

More arrows were now flying at me from behind. I leaped and dodged them, leaping high into the air and diving toward the masked woman. She blocked my attack with her remaining daggers, and I capitalized on her momentary imbalance. Using my heels for leverage, I pushed myself back and distanced myself from her.

Snatching one of the daggers from a downed foe, I sprinted away, seeking an escape from this chaotic scene. As arrows continued to strike, I realized they were coming from the rooftop. I spotted an old pulley mechanism for lifting objects. Grabbing the rope, I struck it below my hand to propel myself upward. With that boost, I landed on the rooftop.

Two arrows were already hurtling my way. I tried to parry them with the dagger, successfully diverting their path. It seemed the other archer had retreated. I sprinted forward, catching the nearest archer off guard. I plunged the dagger into his chest and swiftly withdrew it, slashing upward to cut through his neck.

As he fell lifeless, the other archer's eyes met mine, his expression filled with shock and cold sweat. He made a desperate attempt to escape, but his fate was sealed by the dagger I threw at him, striking him down as he fled.