Peril

While the young man was closing in on them, Zeke heard a sound in his mind.

———————————

Event Quest "Peril"

Get out of your current situation. Rewards will depend on how you perform.

Condition:

-User is safe/All enemies killed.

Difficulty: B

Reward: 1000xp

Quest Failure Penalty:-1 Life (Backup Life remaining: 1)

————————————

'System, what do you mean how I perform?'

*The rewards vary based on what you do, Zeke. The only definite reward is the XP, and other rewards depends on your actions. You could choose to escape the place and be safe, or you could eliminate those who harm you. Either way will give you the xp as well as other rewards.*

'I see. The thing is, I don't want these bastards to live, so the first option's a no-no.'

While he was thinking this, the young man was slowly advancing on Rosaline.

Zeke pulled out a dagger from his inventory and waited for the perfect opportunity. As soon as he saw the man fully indulge in his lust, he quickly slashed one of his legs and punched the back of his head before he could even react. Zeke didn't plan on killing the guy easily, no, it would count as a light punishment for these kinds of people.

"Disgusting shit."

The other children looked at Zeke like he was a superhero, with surprise, shock, and hope in their gazes.

He quickly snatched the keys from the young man while also removing any possible weapon or spatial ring in him. He then unlocked his cell as he tried the other keys on all the children's cells too.

Gaia looked at Zeke with a shocked expression. She saw blood before from his father's light injuries, but she was shocked by how Zeke handled the situation. He slashed at the man without hesitation, as if he was used to it. What's more surprising to her is that Zeke wasn't weak and feeble like she was right now.

Rosaline was also shocked by what she saw. Although she was only half-awake and her vision was still blurry, she clearly saw a flash of red liquid near her as well as an ugly young man. She connected the pieces but she was also the same in shock as Gaia. His view of Zeke changed; at first, she thought Zeke was just a noble who had strength but no skills. She was amazed by how Zeke taught her and the other two different ways to work out and exercise, but only now did she realized that Zeke wasn't just all brawns. He clearly waited for the young man's guard to lower before striking.

Zeke noticed both the girl's gazes and apologetically looked at them.

"I-I'm sorry, Rosaline. I was waiting for the right chance you see. I definitely won't allow any harm to any of you."

"No. Thank you, Zeke. If it weren't for you, I would've..."

"No need to continue, Rosaline." Zeke smiled and consoled. "It won't happen ever again, I promise."

Rosaline felt touched by Zeke's words. At this moment, she relied heavily on Zeke as she too knew their grim circumstances after seeing the situation.

"Gaia, I'm sorry for what you had to see. I needed to do it beca-"

"No need, Zeke. I already know you killed people already. It's nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, I was amazed."

"W-what? What do you mean?"

"When we were shopping back then, remember? There were two disgusting men in front of Magnifique. I know you killed them" Gaia stated.

"Ah... Yes. But how did you know?" Zeke was puzzled. How did Gaia know?

"Besides the painful scream that I heard and the fact that they were no longer there when we got out, I also learned from Holmes that he saw a faint dark patch of land under the place of one of the men. He said he suspected someone used a cleaning agent on the land to clean a corpse. I guess he slipped when he said that, hehe. Now that you admitted it, my assumption really is true." Gaia smiled, as if unaware of their current situation.

"?... ah." Zeke realized that what Gaia said is something even she herself was also unsure of. But with Zeke's answer, she fully confirmed what she said.

"Nevermind about that, I need to think about how to get us out of here." Zeke pondered for a while.

He then walked towards the young man sprawled inside their cell. He held him up and 'presented' it in front of all the other children.

"I know you all have grudges on this guy, but bear with me, alright?"

"What do you mean?" said the boy who was in despair earlier. He calmed down now due to the shock he received from Zeke's actions, and he could now see the light of revenge.

"I need help from you guys. In return, I'll let you all handle this piece of shit. Sounds good?"

"Yes!" Multiple of them immediately agreed, as if they couldn't wait anymore.

"Woah. Looks like you all have grudges, alright. What I need is simple. Does anyone know where we're at?" Zeke surveyed all the children.

"Me." said the same boy earlier.

"Really? How do you know?"

"Me and Anna originally slept near the town square, but some guy lured us over here with a promise of good food. I was a fool back then to have trusted that fucker!" The boy angrily pointed at the young man while his expression suddenly became sad as he thought of Anna's demise. It seems the young man was also the reason they, or he, were in here.

"This is the southernmost part of the City. This fucking street reeks of slavers!"

"What?! this whole street?"

"Yes! If you were awake when you got dragged in here, you would've seen the looks of the people outside. It wasn't a look of concern or pity, but a look of greed and envy! I immediately realized it as soon as we stepped foot on this street but it was too late. Someone hit us and when we woke up, we're here already. I only know that we're in this street, but I don't know which building it is."

"That's good enough." Zeke looked outside a small window near the ceiling. He realized that it was already evening.

"We can't act at this time. We need to wait for a few more hours. I assume these fuckers still sleep, right?" Zeke said. He then tore a piece of his left sleeve and covered the young man's mouth.

"Alright, I need your help later on. For now, you can do what you want with this fucker. Just make sure he doesn't scream loud." Zeke dragged the young man in the middle of the room.

"Here. I fulfilled my end of the deal. No backing out, okay?" Zeke smiled.

"Rest assured. I'll help you after dealing with this fucker." the boy said with his expressionless face. It seemed like Anna's death was his last straw.

Outside the room, if one would focus on it, they would hear low sounds of screams.

————————————

In the Dragonsoar Palace, the four families converged in Charles' house.

"You mean HOLMES took them out? What the fuck?" Grad stood and shouted. The real Holmes behind him was also shocked.

"Yes. Zeke wouldn't lie to me. They really went out with a Holmes, apparently. Do you know anything about this, Holmes?" Charles asked.

"No, Sir. Based on what you told us, it seems someone impersonated me while I was out and took the children. But who would have the gall to abduct the children of the royal families? There aren't..." Holmes thought for a bit before he stopped.

"Unless.. unless they impersonated my disguise." Holmes said while gritting his teeth.

"What do you mean?" Grad impatiently asked.

"Ah, your Majesty. Whenever we go out, I always took on a disguise. The same also goes for Mr. Esteban, Glove, and Regal. They also took on a simple disguise to avoid being known by the public. However, as I am always the constant one who accompanied them, it's possible they used mine to guarantee."

"Those motherfuckers! I swear if something happens to my Young Mistress! I'll make sure they won't even have an intact body!" Glove, the butler of Featherflight Family, swore. Glove picked up his master's way of speaking, and it could be said that the master and butler really do fit.

"Chill the fuck down, Glove. I'll personally fucking kill those shits! I better not see any dent on my daughter, or else!" Fritz calmed Glove down, but he sure continued after Glove's incessant swearing.

"But where could they have brought them? I've dispersed all the guards all around the city, but they still haven't seen any of them. Hmm.." Regal, the butler of Hydrofrost Family, seemed to be the calmest out of all the butlers. He was also like Glove who had the same disposition as his master, cool-headed at any times.

"Hopefully they're not hurt. We need to know their location right now!" Alcazar shouted to the nearby guard, who in turn rushed outside the house.

"Everyone, if I assume that the four weren't separated, I can assure you there's no harm on your daughters... for now." Charles slowly stated. The parents, as well as their butlers, were all surprised, with the exception of Esteban and Catherine.

"What do you mean, Charles? Do you think your son could protect all three of them? Don't forget that your son's even younger than mine, you know?" Grad said.

"Yes, but he's far stronger than you imagine him to be."

"What?! The hell do you mean?" Fritz snapped.

"I've seen him train for the past year. I can say for certain that he could hold them off for a while if worst comes to worst."

Hearing Charles' statement, all of them seem to not believe him.

"He's just trained for a year Charles, what can he do against adults?"

"He trains under my brother's sword style"

"!!"

"He's already a magician."

"!!!!"

"Even my brother complimented my son for achieving what my brother can't in his sword style. I don't know what more I can tell you to ease your worries off a bit."

They couldn't believe what they heard. They knew Charles wouldn't joke in such a situation, so it puzzled them even more. If all he said is true, then isn't his son an absolute genius at this point?

"It's hard to believe all that, Charles. Even though we've been friends for a long time... it's just so unbelievable." Alcazar said, while the other two nodded.

"I know it's unbelievable as even I had been shocked silly by his achievements. Holmes, do you remember back then when you along with Esteban accompanied the four to go out?"

"Yes..?" Holmes was puzzled. Why would he mention that?

But as soon as he remembered it, he immediately understood. It seems like they know what happened back then that even he couldn't point his finger to.

"Esteban, describe what you and a witness saw, in full detail." Charles gestured Esteban to move closer, which he did.

"Greetings, your Majesties. Back then, when Mr. Holmes, Rosaline, and Aura were inside Magnifique, I was with Gaia and Ezekiel outside. When we were going to the supposed meeting point, we heard a call of help near Magnifique. When Zeke approached the two men, he ordered me to cover Miss Gaia's vision, to which I did. What happened next is the absolute truth, I swear. Zeke stabbed the older man in the neck while he threw a dagger bought earlier to the young man's leg, causing him to scream. That scream was probably what you heard inside, Mr. Holmes. This next string of events is what I learned from the old woman who was the closest witness as I already went in with Miss Gaia inside that time. Apparently, Zeke mocked the young man while being joined by the other nearby onlookers. They forsook the young man, saying he deserved it after doing all those wicked things. Zeke then stabbed the abdomen of the young man, letting him slowly die. The old woman was already setting off after that, but when she tried to look back, he only saw the corpse of the young man slowly evaporating until not even a drop of blood was left. I swear on my ancestors that what I said is true." Esteban slowly narrated and even swore in the end.

Hearing all this, they couldn't help but be shocked as well as horrified by Charles' son. Who would've imagined that someone as brutal and decisive as that is just a 3 year old? If it weren't for Esteban's vow, they wouldn't even believe it one bit.

"... May I add something, your Majesties?" Holmes stepped in and humbly asked.

"Sure."

"I can confirm the last part of the grandma's statement. When we went out of the shop, even though it looks normal at plain sight, I could see with my enhanced vision that there was a patch of land that was darker and reddish. Based on what the grandma said, perhaps Ezekiel used some sort of cleaning agent, and a strong one at that, to clean up the scene. If that's true, then I can only applaud Young Master Ezekiel's methods. Even I had slight problems discovering that patch of land, what more a normal person? In my opinion, Ezekiel would really make a very very good assassin just from hearing that. He utilized the blind spot as well as the target's attention while also dealing a slow and painful death. Truly a brutal individual! and I mean that as a praise." Holmes said.

A minute of silence ensued as the others were presumably absorbing the shocking information they heard as well as Holmes' sudden praise. Indeed, even a normal person would notice it, Zeke's way of thinking is very advanced, and it's as if his mind isn't that of a 3-year-old, but an older and experienced one at that.

"*sigh* Your son is really a genius, Charles, but it still doesn't change the situation. We still don't know where they're at and even though your son could potentially hold them off, it's only for a short time. We still need to find out their location and send elites to rescue them." Grad suddenly broke the silence and said.

"I might know something about that." Esteban stood again and rummaged through his pocket. After a second, he pulled out what seems to be a bracelet with a violet gem attached to it.