Ch 19 - Master Plan (2)

Knowing that I would never be able to catch up to Edward, I take my time traveling through the town.

It was still dark out and the streets remained empty. Yet the scenery was beautiful.

I paused in the middle of the road and took a deep breath as I starred up at the sky.

After just a moment passed I sighed before continuing on my way towards the gate ready to see how my master plan would play out.

After a while of moving I began to come close to my destination.

'It should be the prefect time,' I say to myself.

***

Aaron was a lower to middle class merchant who traveled all around the continent.

He was almost ready to retire as he was making his last trip to the town of Wingston where he would sell off all of his merchandise and settle down in the small town.

He didn't have any remaining family and never started one. So as age caught up with him he decided that he would sell off all that he had. Then he would buy a small wooden house and live the rest of his life quietly.

However, everything changed when he was attacked one night.

He had come across many bandits throughout his lifetime and he learned that it was best to just listen and comply with their demands. Making a ruckus and causing problems led to many of his friend's deaths.

So when he felt a flame at the back on his head that night he immediately knew how to act.

When Aaron first realized that he was in danger his heart dropped. He thought that he would no longer be able to retire as he had planned, and end up be robbed just a few feet away from the guards.

However, he knew that if he tried to call for help or make a run for it he would turn to ash.

Knowing that he was in a predicament he decided to go along with whatever the man told him to do.

But to his surprise he was offered a great deal.

Sure it would take more time to make his money back but the amount of profit was insane.

Seeing the possibility to maybe be able to buy a stone house Aaron was overcome with greed and asked for a lower percent taken.

Yet the moment he said that he felt a chill in the air and a threatening aura around him.

'Fuck! This guy can let our killing intent! I'm so fucking dead! Why did I have to let my stupid mouth say that? Only high ranked mages can let out killing intent. I've only heard stories about mages being able to express their emotions through magic. I must have come across an old master. He is probably using magic to change his voice so that I don't recognize him... I am so fucked!'

Cursing himself over and over Aaron instantly agreed to whatever the alleged master asked.

At the end of the deal Aaron was just happy to make it out with his life.

Once done he quickly made his way over to the guards for at least some protection in case the man changed his mind.

Yet when he saw that the man didn't follow him Aaron knew he would have a long night and day ahead of him.

When Aaron made it to the town square where all the markets would be set up for trading in the morning. Aaron instead began preparing his station at that moment.

While the town was empty and the people were sleeping, Aaron was hard at work to make sure that he could make the most of the day and get as many sells as possible.

When the other merchants woke up and began setting up their stations Aaron was already done and waiting for the citizens of Wingston to wake up.

Then all throughout the day he shouted, advertised, traded, bargained, and sold all that he could.

By the time nightfall set he had sold everything he had to his name. Even if he lost money on some of the items he knew that he would make it back. But that was only as long as he lived and to make sure of that he needed to sell everything to guarantee that the master would have enough money.

Once Aaron finished he tore down his shop and collected the coins he made and placed them in a pouch.

Knowing that it would take some time to make it to where the guards where deployed he set off as soon as he was ready.

After making his way through the town and closing in on the gate Aaron began to get worried.

'What if he just kills me? Once I hand the guard the money he won't have any need for me and could just end my life so that he doesn't have any loose ends. Shit, what do I do? It's not like I could run from him.'

All the while Aaron was thinking these thoughts he was walking towards the gate and before he realized it he was in front of two guards.

"What are you doing here? There is a curfew you should be inside it's dangerous out," One of the guards said who took the lead and approached him.

"Umm I was told that one of the guards here would collect the mo-"

"That for me," Greg said cutting Aaron off.

'Damn that kid is smart sending another person to drop off the gold,' Greg thought to himself.

Taking the pouch of money from Aaron, Greg said, "Thanks, you can go now."

When Aaron heard that he almost jumped for joy believing he would be able to make it out alive.

Right after handing over the money to Greg, he was about to asking to leave the Town to go and get the carriage however, luck was not on his side.

*RUMBLE*

An earth dome sprouted to life and encompassed the two guards as well as Aaron trapping them.

"WHAT THE HELL?! We had a deal! You can't just kill me!" Aaron shouted as his worst nightmare came to life.

A moment after he shouted that the man who trapped all of them revealed himself.

"Edward what are you doing?," The lead guard asked recognizing him instantly.

When Greg saw that it was actually Edward that created the dome around him, he got depressed thinking that the mayor would just take the money and reprimand him.

However unexpectedly Edward said, "I am ashamed. I've been the head of this town for nearly 38 years and l would have liked to think I did a pretty good job keeping trouble away. But it turns out that I have been lenient, in fact so much so that one of my own would betray me. And not only that but he would also cooperate with an outsider to kill a couple of kids."

"WHAT?!" All three asked in unison.

"Now you are lying to me even after I've caught you? How lowly of a person are you? At least accept that it's the end for you and that justice will be served," Edward said truly sad that someone he once considered his friend turned out to be such a wicked person.

"I don't know anything about some kid's deaths I'm just here to turn in the mo-" Aaron tried to say before he got knocked out by Edward.

"The killer has the audacity to say that he doesn't even know who the kids are?" Edward said aloud to himself as he shakes his head.

"Now it's your turn," He said as he turns to look at Greg.

"What is going on Edward? You are acting crazy. You just knocked out a man who came to give something to Greg and you've been talking about the kid's deaths from this morning," The head guard asked still confused about the situation.

"You see, Greg here for some unknown reason decided to frame Luke this morning. Greg actually hired that man," Edward started as he pointed to the unconscious Aaron. "To kill the kids in the alley."

"What?" Greg said once again. "I didn't hire anyone to do anything to those kids."

"QUIET!" Edward shouted.

At the sharp voice and the authority that it carried Greg was forced to take a couple steps back.

"Who do you think you are? Did you really think that you would be able to to get away with it? Huh? Did you?" Edward screamed furiously.

"I-I don't know what your talking about. I just wanted to make some extra money. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the deal. You can have all the gold. Here, take it," Greg said as he held up the pouch of coins and tossed them towards Edward.

When Edward caught the bag his anger grew by leaps and bounds.

"For some spare CHANGE?! Is that how little you valued their lives?" Edward said seething.

"I really don't know what you are talking about," Greg said terrified as he continued to take more steps back.

"Edward I don't think Greg did-"

"SHUSH!" Edward commanded to the lead guard who tried to defuse the situation.

"This kid who spent his time MY town. Who lived here all his life betrayed ME and THOUGHT HE COULD GET AWAY WITH IT?"

"Oh no. No, no, no," Edward said approaching Greg.

Unable to move back any further due to fear Greg fell on his ass and began to crawl backwards begging for his life.

"Please I don't-"

"I will show you what suffering really is..."

"I didn't-"

"Just like what those..."

"Kill the kids-"

"Kids went through!" Edward shouted blocking out any of Greg's pleas.

However, just as Edward finished chanting his spell.

*POP*