An offer

Tyler feared for Venus's life upon noticing the swordman's complicated response to his question. However, he only tried to act as though he wasn't moved...

'What has he done to her? As he got her head decapitated?' Tyler wondered in suspicion, staring at the serious yet frightening face of the swordsman.

"So, at what hospital?" Tyler asked after a few seconds of silence.

The swordsman brought out a short white card from his pocket and handed it over to The Hangman. "This is the Entry Allowance card for James's sick room. Without this, you can't be allowed to enter the building."

Tyler nodded positively and collected the card. Written on the card was"Supreme Dove Hospital, St. Johnson's Park", and then below, it was written "Room 323 Entry Allowance Card".

Sigh...

"Thanks. Umm, may I ask what's the cost of the payment? I mean, what's the bill?" Tyler asked politely.

The swordsman chuckled...

"Oh, that... The bills have been taken care of. You just have to go see your guy, man," he said, patting Tyler's right shoulder with a cool impact.

Tyler stared at the huge arms of the swordsman and reacted with a smirk. "You paid it up?" He asked.

The swordman gave a negative nod signifying a "no".

"Nah, they paid the bills," he corrected.

Hearing this, Tyler frowned slightly. He became confused hearing the word "they" and wondered who these people were. THEY actually meant a couple or more individuals, so The Hangman wanted to know these people.

"Who are They?"

The swordsman sighed. He looked deep into Tyler's vibrant eyes and felt this urge of seriousness and curiosity. Thus, this guy just had to say what he was here for.

Yeah.

Will a normal swordsman just help a Strider save his man in this world? First of all, most armed forces are against swordsmanship due to most experts engaging in life-threatening terrorism and economic crimes, so no swordsman would ever befriend a Strider.

Although Tyler wasn't against this profession, but no one actually knew that. He had wondered why a swordsman would save a Strider, and now, it all seems to be like the reason was getting unleashed.

Tyler is a psychologist, a calculative assassin who doesn't act brutal but does brutal things in a cool way. With just hearing the word "They", he sensed the terrific smell of Godfatherlism, Gang, Crew, or even an assassin group.

"Umm, I guess this isn't what we should talk about while standing. C'mon, let's go have some beer?" The swordsman offered with a polite expression, exhibiting a look that wouldn't make Tyler dare to reject the proposal.

"Um, okay. Sure."

They walked into a bar from across the spot where they had stood for a while and had one cupful of beer each.

Although Tyler wasn't really a lover of beer... He only loved taking a small shot of brown whiskey and that was enough. But to make the swordman pleased, Tyler just had to drink beer, even though it made him wanna throw up.

The swordman took a few sips from the cup of beer, dropped it with a slight force on the table, and reacted to the alcoholic taste.

"Ah!"

He then looked at Tyler who seemed to only have made only a single sip.

"Have you once heard about The Sables?"

"The Sables?"

Tyler thought wide. At that instant, more memories came flashing in, making him feel like he had once known this name. At first, the word was entirely alien to him but the next moment, it really sounded familiar.

This was all the programming of the game system. They make Players feel like they have been in this game world for years, well, no Player would even stand a chance to notice it.

"The Sables... Yeah, I know them! The group of high-ranked combat experts owned by the Dragon Party. They are always rivals against The Descents and The Watchers," Tyler tried to explain.

"Yes! That's them," he shouted almost excitedly.

"Uh, what's with them?" Tyler then asked suspiciously. "Are they after me?"

The swordsman laughed upon hearing Tyler's questions and nodded negatively. He then took another sip of beer and banged the almost half-emptied cup on the table again.

"You know, you have just been dumped by your lover and will soon lose your post as the head of the Strider. I know you are capable of being a member of The Sables, so, why don't you join us?" The swordsman said politely with a smile.

Tyler froze.

The Sables?!

They are top slayers who only kill for the interest of their bosses, Senators in the Dragon Party. It was a deadly game played between different political parties where a rival party could task armed men to kill a particular individual from the other party.

This was a highly risky game that only the skilled and experienced could play. Literally, this was a criminal activity, but it wouldn't be contradicted because it was the leaders who had engaged in it.

The members of this group were paid huge amounts of money after every completed mission making it a very hard yet beneficial task, however, The Hangman wouldn't dare to be a part of this.

Even though he couldn't counter this activity, that wouldn't make him be a part of it. It was better he become a one-star Strider in the most inferior station than to be a member of The Sables.

"No..." Tyler frowned. "I won't."

The swordsman almost choked on drinking the beer when Tyler replied. He didn't expect Tyler to reject the offer as he knew that 99% of all Players in this game wouldn't dare to. Everyone here are criminal, and any criminal activity that could give them cool money would be their prior desire.

However, The Hangman just rejected to be a member of The Sables.

'Damn!' The swordsman cursed angrily.

"Why, man?" He asked Tyler, looking disappointed.

Tyler tried to force a fake smile. He really didn't want to piss this young swordsman off so he had to just be in the best polite expression he could.

"I just don't want to be a member of The Sables. That's all. Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it. I mean, every person will appreciate this," Tyler spoke.

Instead of getting pleased with Tyler's polite response, the swordsman's frown suddenly turned more fierce.

"That's not an excuse, Officer Hangman! This is an opportunity to transform your life. Think about it," he advised.

"You can just go home, think about it, and give us a reply later on. But make sure it shouldn't exceed a week."

The swordsman tried all he could to make Tyler indecisive at that moment, and after pondering for long, Tyler just had to accept that he was going to think about it.

However, the question that grieved in his mind was how the swordsman knew that Ciara had dumped him. He was so shocked that his heartbeat attempted to skip, however, Tyler decided to be calm and ask another time.

People like The Sables had spies all over the city, so knowing about one's relationship life was just the simplest of their jobs.

Tyler left the bar after their conversation and went to the hospital to see James. On his way, his fans couldn't help but comment about their opinion.

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[Jade12: Fuck you, Swordsman!].

[Chaos(Drill): Maybe that can be helpful though. Anyways, it might be the other way around too].

[Deathmage: I just checked the history of this group. Be ready to lose me if you are a member of The Sables].

[The Fiend: Let me in].

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Sigh...