Murder in the dark alley

Hunter walked out of the merchant guild with a large sack filled with astral coins on his back covered with a black cloak, feeling a sense of accomplishment. As he stepped out into the eerily quiet astral street, his guard went up. He knew that with such a large amount of coins in his possession, he was a prime target for thieves and muggers.

Hunter looked around at the lavish buildings, their intricate designs and gilded rooftops indicating the wealth of their owners. He couldn't help but wonder how these rich people kept their astral coins safe. There were no banks in this world, no security vaults or safety deposit boxes like on Earth. The thought made him nervous.

As he walked, he remembered how Parker's family, the Phoenixes, kept their valuables. They had a secret warehouse, hidden away from prying eyes, where they stored all their wealth. It was rumored to be guarded by magic and traps, making it almost impossible for anyone to break in.

Although the idea of having a secret warehouse appealed to him, Hunter knew it wasn't his top priority. He needed to focus on leveling up and becoming stronger, so he could protect himself and his empire.

Kolvar turned to Hunter, his face expectant. "Where to next?"

Hunter furrowed his brows, his mind preoccupied with their next steps. "We need to find a way to get the duke to give ownership of the tavern to us. Somehow I doubt we could go ask him directly."

Kolvar nodded in agreement, the weight of their mission apparent. "That's true. But how do we do it then? We don't exactly have any connections in this city."

The two of them wandered the street aimlessly, lost in thought. Hunter's stomach began to protest loudly as they walked, eliciting a chuckle from Kolvar.

"Sounds like someone's hungry," Kolvar teased.

Hunter rubbed his belly ruefully. "Yeah, I didn't have time for breakfast this morning. Let's head towards the bustling Burling Street and grab some food."

Kolvar nodded, his eyes alight with excitement at the prospect of a good meal. The duo set off towards the tavern district, their minds still preoccupied with their problem, but their stomachs demanding immediate attention.

While they were on their way, Hunter couldn't help but feel the weight of the looming challenge ahead of them. They needed a plan, a way to convince the Duke to give them what they desired. But for now, their mission could wait - they had more pressing needs to attend to, like finding a good meal.

As Hunter made his way back to the bustling Burling Street, he couldn't help but admire the luxurious restaurants and food stalls that lined the bustling avenue. The colorful banners and mouth-watering aromas wafting from the street vendors made his stomach rumble with anticipation. With the heavy sack of astral coins still weighing down his back, he couldn't help but feel vulnerable to thieves and muggers. Kolvar, walking beside him, voiced his concerns.

"Is it really safe for us to be walking around with all these coins? We should find a safe place to hide them," Kolvar said, eyeing the sack warily.

Hunter paused for a moment before summoning the system and asking, "Do you have any suggestions for storing my belongings safely, like space rings or something similar?"

[The current system level is too low to provide such artifacts. If you want more powerful items, you must earn more badass points and upgrade the system to a higher level] The system's response was less than helpful.

Hunter rolled his eyes in frustration. "So, in other words, you're useless to me now," he muttered, closing the system.

Kolvar's question lingered in the air as Hunter deep in thought, searching for a solution to their problem. Finally, Hunter broke his silence, "I am working on it," and continued towards the bustling burling street. As they walked, Hunter couldn't help but admire the opulent and luxurious restaurants they passed along the way, each one seeming more extravagant than the last. His mouth watered at the thought of trying the delicacies of this world.

As they approached the junction where three streets branched out, Hunter glanced at the road sign that pointed to the third street, leading to the noble district. He quickly averted his gaze and headed towards the burling street, where the number of people increased significantly compared to the quiet astral street. The air was filled with the enticing aroma of freshly baked goods, the sounds of vendors shouting, and the buzz of the crowd. Hunter felt a sense of familiarity in this bustling street and knew that he could find something to eat here.

Hunter's footsteps echoed against the cobbled pavement as he walked down the street, his senses on high alert. He had learned to be aware of his surroundings during his time as a dictator; always watching his back, scanning the area for potential threats. The danger had been a constant companion, and his vigilance had saved him more than once.

As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling of being followed. Despite the bustling crowd around him, he knew that someone was tailing him. His trained instincts picked up on the subtle changes in the atmosphere, the way the crowd parted and closed around him. He couldn't see anyone following him, but he knew they were there.

Hunter's hand crept towards the hilt of his devil's cry, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. He kept his pace steady, not wanting to give away the fact that he was aware of being followed. Instead, he began to take a more circuitous route, using the winding streets and alleys to shake off his pursuer.

Kolvar watched as Hunter left the street and entered a narrow, dimly-lit alleyway, his curiosity piqued. As he followed Hunter, the sounds of the busy street faded away, replaced by the sound of their own footsteps echoing off the walls.

Hunter moved quickly and confidently through the shadows, his back pressed against the cold stone wall. Kolvar had to focus to keep up with him, his eyes adjusting to the darkness as they walked deeper into the alley.

Finally, Hunter came to a stop and held up a hand, signaling Kolvar to be quiet. They both stood in silence, listening intently for any sounds of movement. The only thing they heard was the distant chatter of the people on the street outside.

Hunter peeked around the corner, checking to see if anyone was following them. Satisfied that they were alone, he turned back to Kolvar and whispered,

"We're being followed. I don't know who it is, but they've been tailing us since we stepped into the bustling street,"

Kolvar's eyes widened in alarm as he realized the danger they were in. They both knew that they couldn't let anyone find out about the astral coins they were carrying. They had to find a way to lose their tail and keep their treasure safe.

Hunter's heart was racing as he knew he needed to act fast to deal with the person following him. With a deep breath, he summoned the system and quickly navigated to the magical skill tab in the system store. As he scrolled through the options, he noticed four magical skills glowing in blue letters.

God's Eye was the first skill, allowing the wielder to determine if someone is stronger or weaker, indicated by red for stronger, green for weaker, and yellow for equal strength. It was a powerful skill and could give him an edge in any battle.

The second skill was Telekinesis, which would allow him to move objects with his mind. However, he could only move objects that were no more than a few pounds in weight, which made it less useful in a battle situation.

The third skill was Healing, which could help heal minor injuries. But, it required great concentration and a long period of time to heal, making it impractical in a fast-paced situation.

The last skill was Illusion, which could create minor illusions with great concentration but only within a small area. It was a weak skill and not suitable for a battle situation.

Hunter didn't hesitate for a moment before deciding to purchase God's Eye. It was as if the system already knew he would need this skill and made it available for him to buy.

"How much is the skill God's eye?" Hunter asked the system.

[Fifteen thousand badass points] said the system.

Hunter frowned at the system's response.

"Fifteen thousand badass points? That's an outrageous price!" he exclaimed, feeling frustrated. He had just dealt with a greedy appraiser, and now the system was trying to rob him blind.

The system responded nonchalantly, [That is the price for God's eye. It is a rare and powerful skill]

Hunter sighed heavily, feeling his desperation for the skill growing. He only had twenty-one thousand badass points and knew he needed the God's eye. "Alright, I'll buy it," he said begrudgingly.

[If you want more badass points, you can always take a loan from the system] said the system.

The system's words echoed in Hunter's mind, tempting him with the promise of more power and influence. He briefly considered the possibility of taking a loan, imagining the rush of authority that would come with it. But as quickly as the thought entered his mind, he dismissed it. He had always been a self-reliant man, and the idea of owing anything to anyone didn't sit well with him. Besides, he was doing just fine on his own for now, and the risks involved with borrowing from the system were too great. So he ignored the system's suggestion and continued on his way, confident in his own abilities and determination.

Still, the idea of having the option to take loans from the system intrigued him. The thought of having access to more resources and opportunities to enhance his skills was tempting.

The system processed his request and deducted the fifteen thousand points from him. Hunter was left with only six thousand points, but he felt relieved knowing he had the skill he needed.

As Hunter made the final purchase of the God's Eye skill from the system, he felt a sudden wave of intense pain rushing through his eyes and his mind. The pain was so acute that it felt like a hot iron rod was being inserted into his head.

His eyes started to ache and throb, making him close them shut tightly. He tried to shake off the pain, but it seemed to be spreading like wildfire through his brain, causing his temples to throb as well. The sheer intensity of the agony was making it hard for him to stand on his own two feet.

He gritted his teeth and tried to endure the pain, knowing that this was the price he had to pay for acquiring such a powerful magical skill. After a few moments, the pain started to subside, but his eyes were still stinging, and his mind was still feeling a bit fuzzy.

After the throbbing pain in his head subsided, Hunter could feel an additional sense, as if he had gained a new ability like breathing. He focused his mind on activating God's Eye and directed his gaze towards Kolvar. To his surprise, he could see a faint green aura surrounding Kolvar, indicating that Kolvar was weaker than him. The green aura seemed to pulse and flicker, like a dim light in a dark room. Hunter could feel the power of the God's Eye coursing through him, his eyesight sharpening as he scanned the aura around Kolvar. The green hue seemed to dance around Kolvar's form, revealing to Hunter that Kolvar was no match for him in terms of power. A sense of relief washed over Hunter, knowing that he had the upper hand if things turned sour.

With his newly acquired skill, Hunter patiently waited for his follower to appear in the dark alley. His back was pressed against the wall, and his heart was pounding in his chest. As he watched, the hooded figure appeared, walking silently into the alley without a single glance in Hunter's direction.

Hunter felt a surge of relief when he saw the green aura around the figure. If it had been red, he would have fled in the opposite direction, but he knew he could handle someone weaker than him. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the confrontation.

"Get ready," Hunte whispered to Kolvar.

As the hooded figure approached, Hunter lunged out of the shadows, his gaze fixed on the figure's face. The hooded figure stopped in his tracks, surprise written all over his face as he realized that Hunter had been waiting for him.

Hunter's hand moved swiftly as he drew out his devil's cry dagger from its sheath, the silver blade glinting ominously under the dim light of the alley. He lunged forward, the tip of the dagger plunging straight into the hooded figure's gut, causing the figure to cry out in pain.

Hunter twisted the dagger, adding more pressure to the wound, causing the hooded figure to weaken and fall to his knees.

Gasping for breath, the hooded figure looked up at Hunter with fear in his eyes. Hunter knew he had the upper hand and was in control of the situation.

"Why are you following me?" Hunter demanded as he watched Kolvar approach them and remove the hood covering the figure's face.

As Kolvar removed the hood from the figure's head, Hunter could see the face of a young half-elf with strikingly beautiful features. The youngster's skin was fair and smooth, and his blonde hair fell over his forehead in disarray. Hunter noticed that the half-elf's ears were slightly pointed, a telltale sign of his elven heritage, and his skin had a light tan tone, showing a bit of his human ancestry.

Hunter couldn't give a damn about his race. Instead, he pressed his devil's cry dagger deeper into the figure's gut, causing him to wince in pain, and repeated his question in a slow, cold voice.

"Who are you, and why are you following me?"

The half-elf winced in pain, but he kept his lips sealed tight. Hunter's patience was running thin, and he could feel his anger boiling up inside him.

"Search him," Hunter commanded Kolvar, who quickly ran his hands over the half-elf's body, searching for any weapons or items of interest.

As Kolvar searched the half-elf, Hunter pressed his dagger deeper into his gut, causing the young man to cry out in pain.

"Feel that?" Hunter said in a cold, menacing tone. "That's my dagger cutting through your guts and causing you to bleed like a pig. The sooner you answer my questions, the sooner you can get yourself patched up by a healer. So tell me, who are you, and why are you following me?"

The half-elf remained silent, his face contorted in pain. Hunter was about to drive his dagger in even deeper when he heard a small, almost imperceptible sound coming from the young man's lips.

"Speak up," Hunter said, easing the pressure on the dagger slightly.

Finally, the hlaf elf gave out to pain and opened his mouth.

"I was sent to follow you," the half-elf said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sent by who?" Hunter demanded.

"I can't say," the half-elf replied, his voice trembling with fear.

Hunter glared at him, his mind racing with possibilities. Was the half-elf working for the Arcanum Academy? Or was he just a pawn, sent to keep tabs on him by someone else?

"Hunter's expression was cold as he looked down at the half-elf. "Fine," he said, his voice laced with malice. "You don't want to talk? That's your choice. But let me give you a taste of what's to come." With a swift motion, he twisted his dagger, causing the half-elf to cry out in agony. But his scream was abruptly silenced as Kolvar quickly covered his mouth.

"You see, we're not messing around," Hunter continued, a dangerous glint in his eye. "We know how to make people talk, one way or another. So I'll ask you again. Who are you and why are you following me?" He leaned in closer, the tip of his dagger pressing into the half-elf's gut. "And this time, I expect an answer."

The half-elf's body convulsed in pain as Hunter twisted the dagger, causing a stream of blood to pour out of the wound. His face contorted into a mask of agony as he tried to scream, but Kolvar's hand firmly covered his mouth, muffling the sound. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Hunter leaned in closer, his cold eyes locked onto the half-elf's face. "Speak," he commanded, his voice as icy as his gaze.

The half-elf's head bobbed up and down frantically, indicating that he would comply. Hunter signaled to Kolvar to release his grip, and the hand covering the half-elf's mouth was removed.

The half-elf gasped for air, his breath coming in ragged wheezes. "I was sent to follow you," he managed to say between gasps of pain. "By the thief guild."

Hunter's expression darkened. "What does the thief guild want with me?" he demanded.

"I...I don't know," the half-elf stammered. "They just said to follow you and report back to them."

Hunter's grip on the dagger tightened, and he pressed it further into the half-elf's stomach. "You expect me to believe that?" he snarled.

The half-elf winced in pain, his eyes squeezed shut. "It's the truth, I swear it!" he cried out. "Please, I don't know anything else!"

Hunter held the dagger in place for a few more moments, studying the half-elf's face. He could sense the fear and desperation radiating off of him, and he knew that the half-elf was telling the truth. Slowly, he withdrew the dagger and took a step back.

But when the half-elf was relieved to have the dagger removed from his gut and thought Hunter would spare him, with a swift motion, Hunter cut the half-elf's throat. The half-elf let out a final gurgle, a sickening sound as blood spurted out of his throat, drenching Hunter's hand and the ground beneath them. Hunter watched as the half-elf's lifeless body slumped to the ground, eyes still wide with fear and confusion. The metallic scent of blood filled the air as Hunter wiped his dagger clean on the hem of the half-elf's cloak. For a moment, he stood there, staring at the corpse in front of him, feeling a sense of emptiness wash over him. But he quickly shook off the feeling and searched the body one more time.

Hunter rifled through the half-elf's belongings, his fingers deftly probing every nook and cranny. It was then that he discovered a small scroll tucked away in the boot of the unfortunate half-elf. It was tightly rolled, with a red seal affixed to one end. Hunter wasted no time in breaking the seal and unrolling the parchment. The handwriting was small and precise, indicating that the writer was well-educated and meticulous.

As Hunter read the contents of the scroll, a devilish grin spread across his face. "It seems like luck has blessed us once again," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "The Duke's daughter is scheduled to have dinner at the Golden Goose tonight."

Kolvar felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the bloody grin on Hunter's face. "What are you planning, Hunter?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Hunter turned to face Kolvar, his eyes glittering with malice. "I think I've found a way to get what we want from the Duke," he said, his tone ominous.