CH68: Martial Tradition of the Bloodrose Region/ Province  

***

CH68: Martial Tradition of the Bloodrose Region/ Province

Going through the House's portal station underneath the Charwell mall, I teleported far east of the Bayveth Republic to Bloodrose city.

I've read and been told that each of the major cities had their own theme which differentiated them and their surrounding regions from the others.

As I walked out of one of the Bloodrose's Charwell malls, I quickly realised the difference between this city and Landrose.

Landrose is the oldest city as well as the political capital of the Bayveth Republic and was located more to the west of the republic. Due to this, the city had an air of antiquity and class unique to itself in the republic.

The people living within also unconsciously carried themselves with refinement and class. They'll solve matters through sophistry than with might.

The case was different for Bloodrose.

Bloodrose is the second youngest major city in the republic. Unlike the youngest city Lakerose which was built during the era of peace to take advantage of its location by the Rose river for a port, Bloodrose was built initially as a military fortress to block the beasts from taking back the areas humanity won during the never-ending war.

Though younger than both Landrose and Skyrose cities, Bloodrose lasted longer as a frontline battle fortress than the two older cities combined!

It is said that no part of the original fortress hadn't been bathed completely in blood, both human and beast!

Hence, its name.

Centuries after the last battle with beasts in the Republic, Bloodrose city still maintained a martial aura to it.

It's architecture was solid and gritty, reminiscent of a military stronghold.

It took a special kind of mentality to live and thrive in the city. It's a city where, even with the Republic's and its laws, the strong prey on the weak on the daily.

It was a city for the strong!

Those from other regions joke that Bloodrose region was a place for ruffians.

From what I saw after stepping out of the mall, I couldn't blame them. Almost everyone moved like they were ready for a fight. They all had their weapons ready for battle.

This was inconceivable in Landrose!

I was dressed in a generic full black suit with a white shirt. I also had a black long coat. While it wasn't snowing yet, I could see my breath before my face.

It seemed my dressing was a recipe to get picked on in this city as some men in some alleyways looked at me like a sheep walking to slaughter.

Chuckle...

It's been a while since trash has looked me such.

Perhaps I was affected by the atmosphere of the city. I recalled my past life... my time in the military. My fingers got itchy for some action.

I hoped someone would come to capture the lamb which was me.

-

Fortunately, my wish came to fruition.

I was stopped and escorted to a secluded alleyway by a group of three men with burly bulging physiques.

I was a little disappointed though.

These trash were at just two to three rings. I was sure none of them was at the Expert-rank.

Expert-rankers and above could find better jobs to do. They wouldn't degrade themselves to ruffians like this who picked on ignorant visitors in the city.

I didn't put up a fight as they led me to the alley under the guise of 'protecting me from the evils of the city'.

My enhanced senses happened to pick up sighs of regret from other ruffians around that they would've acted first if they knew I was such an obedient lamb.

I chuckled to myself. They and the three ruffians with me were quite funny.

These ruffians had the cheek to ask me to pay them one low grade mana stones for their protection...

Per day!

I almost laughed out loud.

One mana stone was enough to move an outer member of the House to takeout a knight.

1 mana stone was equal to 1000 UC. That was enough for a normal family to survive with the basic amenities for years.

And these guys had the cheek to ask me to pay that per day.

For what? Their fake protection?

When I told them I couldn't afford to pay that, they got 'angry' and claimed I was disrespecting them. They then threatened to take everything on my person for the offence. They seemed to be eyeing the briefcase with me.

I couldn't blame them. The briefcase was mostly used by rich businessmen. It was designed as a portable vault for carrying valuable documents... and money notes!

They must've thought I came from Landrose to complete a major deal in the city and hoped to profit.

Well, technically, they weren't wrong. The briefcase contained valuable documents and I was indeed in the region to close a deal.

Just not in the way they were thinking.

These idiots attack me without a thought.

The burliest of the three puffed up further and gripped my neck, threatening to snap it like a twig.

I wasn't particularly perturbed.

Compared to what I went through with the Tempering Manual, this was nothing.

A simple liver jab to his open midsection dropped him to the floor.

The two other men looked at me in shock. Then, they attacked me immediately.

One of them drew his greatsword and charged at me while the other placed his hand on the ground. The earth covered his hands into an 'Earth Glove'(?) before charging at me as well.

From their movements, they were very familiar with working together. An experience they likely built up from fighting together for a long time.

Unfortunately, in my eyes, their cooperation was rudimentary. There were too many flaws to speak of.

Their speed, power and coordination was too poor to put me on the back foot. Simply put, they were too weak.

So weak in fact that my itchy finger went numb.

It wasn't worth it to use my guns on these weaklings. Bullets cost precious MP, not to mention using a gun here might leave clues that investigators could use to track me.

Although I wasn't exactly sure of the capabilities of Law Enforcement in the republic, this was the case in my past life.

As a person who planned to live a long life as an Assassin, I couldn't be leaving easy clues for people to track me with.

Anyway, I sidestepped the one with the greatsword, then kicked his back which sent him to the floor. Just in time for the Earthen glove ruffian to arrive.

I dodged the flurry of his punches. When he got tired from the barrage, I released my wristblade and stabbed through his arm, cutting into it. He cried out in pain before throwing the other fist. I dodged under that too while also slashing through the muscles of the arm.

The man would never use the arm again without somewhat expensive treatment. Even if he could afford the basic to mid tier treatment, he will never be able to use his arm in an intense fight again.

My wristblades were coated in a potent paralytic that shut down the area it cut.

I directly stabbed the wristblades into his muscles. The poison would kill the muscles of the area.

The man would need a Herbalist and a healer at the Adept stage to have any hope. The former to detoxify the poison and the latter to heal the done damage.

Looking at these guys, they'll never be able to afford such services.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have used my wristblades. Unfortunately, my body moved instinctively.

The poison on the blades were created for work. Using it here left a clue I was trying to avoid leaving.

Oh well, I just have to tweak the formula a bit.

Then again, I wasn't satisfied with the posion's speed of effect so it was something I would have to do eventually.

The earth fist... glove guy was out of commission. The greatsword guy finally took stock of the situation.

As expected, he was pissed to see the condition of his mate.

He charged at me again.

This time, I blocked his attacks easily with my inconspicuous snakehead cane.

Haha... the look on the guy's face when I used a thin cane to block his big menacing greatsword. It was priceless.

The dance lasted for a minute or so before I eventually parried the sword out of his hand. Not one to waste and opportunity, I also let go of my cane and drove a punch into his gut.

The punch's power wasn't enough to incapacitate him or anything. It was just enough to unbalance him as I got behind him.

Dipping into my inner coat pocket in the moment, I took out another weapon I acquired from the Vault.

A Garrotte.

I wrapped the thin, barbed wire around the man's neck, then proceeded to choke him down. From his feet, the man dropped to his knees where he lost consciousness.

I won't lie, I was tempted to rid the world of trash like this but I held back and didn't kill him. At the very least, these guys volunteered themselves to help me release the pent up dark pressure in my chest.

I unwrapped the garrotte after he fell on conscious, allowing him to drop to the ground.

The barbs of the wire pierced into his throat though. While I left him alive, it was likely significant damage had been done to his throat.

I looked at the three floored men. Then, I proceeded to pick up my things... Gandr's cane form, my hat and then my briefcase.

I checked myself and confirmed there wasn't blood anywhere.

I was leaving the alley when I noticed a splash of blood on my cheek. I also happened to notice the ruffians who had previously targeted me.

They were rooted in shock, seeing me come out unharmed from the alley.

I took out a handkerchief and wipe the blood on my face before smiling to them.

I don't know why but their faces bleached for some reason. Best I knew, whether as Alex Fury or Leo Xander, my smile was warm and welcoming.

But for some reason, these guys looked like they had seen the devil.

I wonder why.

Anyway, I shook my head at the sight of blood on the handkerchief.

My technique was still lacking. I should be able to cut my target without getting stained.

Well, it was nothing practical experience couldn't fix.

I could have a lot of that in Bloodrose.

Or so I thought.

Perhaps what I did to the group of three travelled amongst the local ruffians. They all retreated from me and I got to the train station six block away without any more issues.

This was slightly disappointing as I wanted to try out my wristblades some more.

Oh well, on to the mission it seems.

**

I took a train to IronWell.

In my private cabin on the train, I looked over the documents for the contracts which were in the briefcase with me.

*

[HIGH-PRIORITY CONTRACT]

[Target: Quara Duemin]

Details: Lady Duemin colluded with enemies of the House to kill its members. The House issued a high-priority contract on the former Client in response to this. Lady Duemin was last confirmed to be hiding out in IronWell town in the Bloodrose region of the Bayveth republic. Agent is tasked with finding and eliminating target.

Type: Priority Elimination Contract.

[Sub-Target: Lars Chernin]

Details: Lars Chernin is a member of Blood coffin, one of the House's rival guilds. He is suspected of turning Lady Duemin against the House. This is a slap on the House's face. A slap that needs to be returned. While Lady Duemin takes priority, the Agent is asked to eliminate this dog of Blood Coffin should the opportunity arise.

Type: Sub-Priority Elimination Contract.

Client: House of Death

Special Requirements: The House intends to make an example of the Lady. The House intends to show it can get to anyone, anywhere and anytime without anyone knowing and being able to stop it. Agent is requested to stage a mysterious death.

*

[AGENCY CONTRACT 1]

[Target 1: Ander Poorstag]

[Target 2: Garvin Adams]

[Sub-Target 1: Burning Crawlers]

[Sub-Target 2: Blue Beards]

Details: Blue Beards and Burning Crawlers are two major criminal organisations who hold a significant stake in IronWell town. Garvin Adams and Ander Poorstag are their leaders respectively. The contract requires Agent to takeout both leaders and as many of their men as possible.

Type: Elimination/ Destruction Contract

Client: The Underworld

Special Requirements: The Client seems heavily invested in destroying both criminal organisation for an unclear purpose. Be it to remove the two organisation for the security of the town or to takeover their racket, the House doesn't discriminate. Agent is requested to destroy or at least cause as much harm to the two underworld gangs as possible.

*

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[AGENCY CONTRACT 2]

[Target: Kastor Fletcher.]

Details: Kastor Fletcher is the head of the Militia/ Law Enforcement unit in IronWell town. However, the man is as corrupt as they come. And it seems someone wants to do away with him. The contract is to clean the rot in IronWell's Law Enforcement unit by eliminating Officer Fletcher

Type: Elimination

Client: Individual/ Government

Special Requirements: An overt attack on the highest government officer in the city would draw too much attention. The Client has requested that the Target be eliminated quietly. Agent is also required to recover the target's corrupt payments ledger if possible

*

*

[AGENCY CONTRACT 3]

[Target: Malcer Evenwood]

Details: Malcer Evenwood is one of the top seed merchants in IronWell town. The man is known to have connections with the legal, less legal and illegal sides of the town, hence, his success. However, it seems Mr Evenwood has made a fatal connection. The Client wants the target eliminated.

Type: Elimination

Client: Individual

Special Requirements: The Client is worried attention would be drawn to them in the event of the client's death. They have requested the Agent to stage a robbery gone wrong eventually leading to the target's death.

*

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[AGENCY CONTRACT 4]

[Target: Melka Baldric]

Details: Director Baldric is the director of one of three government orphanages with the goal of providing for the republic's unfortunate younger generation who have no one to look after them. However, the man uses this opportunity to prey on these children with nowhere to go. The Client wants you to put a stop the Director's misdeeds... permanently.

Type: Elimination

Client: Individual

Special Requirements: None!

*