233 Just an ordinary 'Sword Master'

Sabastian put his hand on the trigger and walked toward the front door of the car.

Just as he opened the door,

(Bang*)

A loud sound of a gunshot was heard.

The gun fell from Sabastian's hand.

Sabastian shook his hand and swiftly crouched down.

(*bang)

Another shot was fired but it missed Sabastian.

Sabastian looked in front of him.

The barrel of the gun was right in front of his face.

Sitting in the driving seat of the car, was an armed man bleeding from his chest.

Sabastian could see the driver, sneering at him.

In front of death, Sabastian did not cower.

He did not have any fear in his eyes.

Instead, he had a kingly arrogant look in his eyes.

He smirked at the face of death.

The man holding the gun stiffened feeling noble kingly aura from Sabastian.

"Omae was mou shinderu." Sabastian said to the sneering driver.

(*bang)

Blood splattered in his face.

"F*ck, filthy blood!" Sabastian cursed wiping his face.

The driver in front of him had a hole in his head as he fell dead on the steering wheel.

The driver did not notice Ana standing behind the window on the other side of the car.

"You almost died!" Ana berated Sabastian in Deutsch with an angry look on her face.

"Sorry." Sabastian apologised before getting up.

By that time, Erisviel and Daniella arrived behind Sabastian.

"You okay?" Erisviel asked in concern.

"Fine, fine..." Waving his hand, he takes a look inside the car.

Sebastian frowned.

"Where's Aleksei?" He heard Ian ask him.

Hearing the question, Sabastian turned towards the man who was shaking in fear looking at the misfits.

"Ask him."

Ian nodded before turning towards the last Twilight Throne member who was on the ground.

He grabbed the man's throat.

"Where's Aleksei!"

The man trembled in fear seeing the menacing look in Ian's eyes.

"WHERE IS HE!!!" Ian asked raising his voice.

He slowly tightened the grip in his hand.

The man choked from Ian's grip.

"Let me azk, 'im." Ana said to Ian.

Hearing Ana, Ian let go of his grip.

Standing before the man Ana asked him in, Russian.

"Where is Aleksei Sobolev!"

The man turned to Ana, before replying in Russian.

"In-n...In.. the trunk..."

Hearing the man, Ian swiftly went toward the back of the car.

The trunk was unlocked.

It opened as soon as Ian pulled it.

A boy, the same age as him was lying motionlessly inside the uncomfortably restricted space in the back of the car, with his hands tied and face taped.

It was Aleksei!

Aleksei looked at Ian with frightened eyes.

He could not see the face of the person in front of him because of the dark.

In fear for his life, Aleksei started quivering.

"Mmmhmmmhmmmh!"

"Aleksei, it's me, Ian! We met yesterday afternoon, remember? I came to rescue you!" I am said to Aleksei to calm him down.

Recognising Ian, Aleksei's fear seemed to subside a little.

Ian quickly untied Aleksei and helped him get out of the trunk.

Aleksei after being freed from the ropes looked at Ian who had untied him. He immediately embraced Ian with his free hands.

Hugging Ian, Aleksei started crying like a child.

Was it the tears of happiness from being rescued?

Or was it the tears from the trauma of being kidnapped?

It didn't matter to him, he just bawled his eyes out and cried hugging Ian.

Ian let him be for a minutes before he separated himself from the hug.

"Bro, is it the time to cry? Look there are others here, don't embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend, eh! Let's get you out of this cramped space, come out." Ian said to Aleksei as he carefully helped him out of the trunk.

At first, Aleksei didn't understand Ian.

But when he looked around, he saw the others that Ian just mentioned.

He didn't recognise the others, it's probably Ian's friends that he talked about when they met.

Then he met eyes with someone.

He stood still for a few moments before he ran towards the person he locked his eyes with.

It was Daniella, his girlfriend, his love, his Daniella!

Aleksei hugged Daniella and started crying once more.

Daniella hugged Aleksei back and cried alongside him.

"Jeez, come one these love birds... Tsk..." Sabastian clicked his tongue.

After a couple of minutes, Aleksei and Daniella calmed down.

Daniella introduced Aleksei to the others and started telling him everything that happened today.

Everyone started talking and laughing to reassure and comfort Aleksei that it's all over.

He's safe.

~~~

The police arrived 5 minutes after Aleksei was rescued.

Sabastian pulled his family card and called the minister Aleksei Sobolev to deal with the police.

He also informed Aleksandr that he has rescued Aleksei.

Aleksandr and his mem are on their way to pick them up.

Aleksei and Ana were talking with the police.

The other misfits were around them.

Sabastian looked toward an empty area in dark.

Without the others noticing, he broke away from the misfits.

But before leaving, Sabastian sent a delayed message to the misfits to inform them not to worry about him.

He also said in the message that he will meet them at Aleksandr Sobolev's administrative manor.

~~~

At an abandoned alley, Sabastian stood alone.

"You can come out now," Sabastian called out but no one replied or appeared.

"You probably followed us after we separated from Danil and kept an eye on us."

Sabastian started speaking up, he was not in the mood to play around.

"You came to kill, Zulkernyn, right? But seeing that we are after Twilight Throne, you didn't go through with your little chore... I wonder who you might be? You're stronger than Danil. If I were to evaluate you, then I would put you somewhere in between at 'Elite' and a 'Master' rank in the Abyss ranking system...Hmm...So I wonder who you might be? The Bloodlust you emit is a bit strong for a Master... You're probably someone experienced. You're bloodlust rivals 'Epic' rankers... There's no way you're an Epic! An Epic is two tiers above Master and one below Legends. Also, Epic's have pride that knows no bounds. They will never lower themselves to kill someone who hasn't even debuted in the Abyss world... Right? Just the thought of someone, a rank below my sister who's a Half-Saint, ranked as a legend in the Abyss world to kill someone. A complete joke! So who are you? ... Still silent?... You're not someone young for sure. The Vassiliev's would have advertised you in all sort of ways."

Sabastian stopped talking.

He looked like he was speaking to himself or someone imaginary.

If someone were to pass by him, they will definitely call him crazy!

But Sabastian knows that someone is hiding around here, listening to him intently.

"Yo, old man! I don't have much patience. Come out and show yourself! I left that guy from the Twilight Throne alive for you. Is that how you show my goodwill? Tsk, the Vassiliev's are sure something. Tsk, tsk..." Sabastian clicked his tongue feeling annoyed.

A few moments later, finally, someone appeared before Sabastian.

It was a middle-aged man in his 40s.

The man had a fierce glaring look on his face and a long scar on his cheek.

He was wearing all black clothes and a long coat.

He also had a short sword hanging around his waist.

Sabastian recognised right away, who this man is.

Scarface, also known as Valmir Mikhailovich Vassiliev.

"At least, you're a man of integrity. Thank you for not killing my friend in exchange for that Death Parade mutt."

Valmir stared at Sabastian for a few moments before he spoke up.

"Death Parade has been active for a couple of years in Russia. We have been looking for leads for a while. The election was the perfect bait for us to snuff them out of hiding. I'm very surprised, young Heilige! It took you only a day to get a major lead on something we have been working on for months. I will be honest with you. If we were to handle this case? We probably would not have gotten such results in a day. The news of Aleksei's kidnapping has reached our ears. We also approached the minister to help him rescue his son. Instead of taking actions, we waited for the kidnappers to contact the minister. Earlier today, they did contact the minister but we weren't able to trace them fast enough. But we did get a name! Yet, it went cold by the time we got to him. The guy was murdered. We came to know of a location, however, the kid was moved."

The old man said before stopping.

"... So we got lucky?... We were able to catch up after you...Then I guess, all's well that ends well. Still, you owe me for that guy that we left alive."

"Yes, and you're friend is lucky too... My priority shifted from petty revenge to Death Parade, who are slowly trying to take over my country... You're an interesting kid, even among the younger generations, Sabastian Heilige! To have such bloodthirst that rivals my 'Lord'? No, it's much stronger than my Lord! I heard that you practice a sword art that doesn't allow you to kill. So how is this possible? One cannot have such Bloodlust without taking a single life, young Heilige!"

"..."

*ching*

Sabastian saw the old man taking his short sword out of its sheath.

"Are you going to attack an unarmed child?" Sabastian calmly said to the old man.

"I wonder, are you a 'Child'?" Valmir replied narrowing his eyes at Sabastian.

He swung his sword towards Sabastian.

*shiiing*

The blade of the short sword stopped just a few centimetres away from Sabastian's left eye.

Sabastian didn't even blink.

He stared at Valmir before speaking to him in Russian.

"You owe me a favour, Scarface."

The two stood still for a few moments before Valmir took back his short sword before sheathing it in its sheath.

"And I returned that favour. Zulkernyn Yazid Hassan will have a grace period of 24 hours in Russia."

Sabastian nodded before turning back.

He didn't say anything to Valmir anymore since his business with him is finished.

Walking back from where he came from, Sabastian left the alley.

Just after Sabastian left,

Valmir plopped down to the ground on his knees.

His whole body was shivering in fear, his mouth clattered making noises.

He held his throat with his arms and tried to calm his ragged breathing.

He also started sweating from his back and his head.

The fear he felt from Sabastian, was something he never felt even in the face of death!

If the Bloodlust he felt from Sabastian earlier tonight when he was 'escorting' Danil, rivalled his Lord, the current patriarch of the Vassiliev family.

Then what he felt right now, is something that rivalled the people who are at the peak of the Abyss world.

No, he felt that it surpassed the peak Mythical rankers of the Abyss.

Sabastian Heilige has the potential to surpass the peak rankers of the Abyss.

Sabastian Franz Heilige has the potential to surpass the Sword Saints!