The ones guarding the wagon were the Severed Swords; all of them, since security over the wagon was prioritized over the rented lot that they use for their shops. Graten felt a buzzing on his head, his Feat warning him of an impending attack from dozens of people. The Feat even gave him insight into the nature of their enemies; [Thugs] and [Thieves], as well as [Mercenaries].

“All men and women, we’re going to be under attack! Surround the wagons, two lines! Front, shield, and sword! Rear guard, to the wagons, bolts, and wands!”

The fifteen men and women of the surviving Severed Swords hastily formed a semicircle formation around the three wagons; at least somewhat close to it since they are few Their vanguard has their shields up, swords pointed forwards, and the rest of them pointed their crossbows and enspelled wands, using the wagons as cover. Palden reinforced the wagons with his Feat, which made the canvas and the wood as strong and hard as metal for a time. He already retrieved the books, keeping them safe within his coat.

All of them have swords. Contrary to popular belief, swords are usually sidearms; polearms, axes, spears, and other long weapons are primarily used on battlefields as one’s main weapon. But Graten is a [Sword Captain], and some of the Feats of his only apply to the [Mercenaries] carrying swords or sword-like weapons.

There’s a reason why the Severed Swords is named as such aside from having swords on each of their hips. The Severed Swords were founded by veterans aside from Graten, which have their swords severed from their last battle against a high-level army. “A severed sword” is often a derogatory Libertalian metaphor for a [Mercenary], [Fighter], or [Soldier] who was unable to fight because they were physically or mentally broken after a battle, weary of war; which is why they take on contracts that protect assets within settlements.

Now he faced another battle. For what reason other than coin? Graten didn’t have the time to think as he saw the…[Mercenaries]?

Familiar figures walked amongst the other figures who hold cudgels, knives, wands, hatchets, and other concealable weapons. Some of them, Graten guessed, were [Brawlers] and [Grapplers] of sorts. He knew them to be a gang of [Thugs] and [Thieves] because of the weapons they hold, even if their Feats concealed or blurred much of their identities.

The [Mercenaries] of Atasaney’s Prowlers were led by Ridi Gadihew. They held at least a spear or two, and Graten knew from experience that they are mounted, specialists. The rest of their gear was in the wagons though, giving the Severed Swords the advantage.

“I’ll give you one chance at mercy, Captain Graten! Hand me the books, and we’ll leave you alone!”

Palden noticed that their leader, Atasaney, is not with them. He and the rest of the company didn’t know the reasons why, but Graten had an inkling.

“Palden, throw as many combat-Feats as you can, and run towards the Sitting Wagon to alert Cultrost!” Graten ordered.

“Got it, I only got a handful!”

Seeing that the Severed Swords will not relent, Ridi activated the few group-Feats that applied in dismounted combat. Those with spare javelins threw them in an arc, attempting to go over their shields and pierce the vanguard with the first volley, and the Severed Swords’ [Mercenaries] on the wagons let loose crossbow bolts and projectile Spells contained within the wands.

“[Unit: Parrying Arcs].”

Graten used a Feat at the right moment, and his [Mercenaries] parry off the hail of javelins with their swords that swung in wide arcs. Not one had hit them, due to the overlapping arcs conjured by his unit-wide Feat.

The [Mercenaries] of the Atasaney’s Prowlers sped up as they charged towards them, spears sharper than usual. The [Thieves] and [Thugs] were more disorganized, throwing knives, darts, and even rocks that peppered the wagons and the shields of the vanguard, with their [Squad Leader] Josaif using a Feat to make them resistant to projectiles. Palden deployed the same Feat that tripped over their horses at the Overthere Hills, making them trip over a field of taut ropes. Palden stared where the pile of ropes was supposed to be and realized that he was out.

“[Empower Guards]. Graten, I’ll get out of here while I still can!” Palden hopped off the wagon that he was in after he empowered the Severed Swords with his Feat. He ran away from the battle before the two dozen [Thugs] were in a melee with the Severed Swords, hacking and bashing as best as they can.

“[Unit: Cleaving Arcs].”

Before the vanguard was broken from the number of enemies, their swords swung, creating wide cleaving arcs that sliced through the scores of [Mercenaries] and [Thugs] that piled up against their shields. Many of them were cut, but some of them had dodged the slashes or were saved by their armor.

Graten has a veteran’s experience, and he remembered when he first became a [Sword Captain] when he and his squad had survived a row of pikes by cutting through their shafts using their swords. He also knew how to fight off gangs of criminals when they guarded certain buildings in cities. He knows how to deal with numbers such as these, but still, there are too many for his liking.

Already, the nimbler [Thieves] had passed through the defenses, now attacking the wagons themselves. The people in the wagons had loosed bolts and spells towards them, killing a few, but some of them dodged and even caught the bolts and even Spells and threw them back.

“Three steps back! Deal with the ones behind us!”

Some of them abandoned the front, hacking and slashing the ones who bypassed the front. As Graten’s men and women retreated three steps back, he stood in his position in a sword stance. He swung with blinding speed, killing a score of them with his Sword Art that created a silvery, liquid arc that melted through the armor of Atasaney’s [Mercenaries]. For a moment, he stared at them and he was reminded that he had worked with them for the past few days.

Ridi charged toward Graten in the middle of the chaotic battle. The memory of Graten killing a young Satyr on a battlefield halted him for a second as he saw the memory of his desperate face superimposed on his enemy.

The Satyr lunged his spear towards Graten’s chest, but Graten parried the spear and swung his sword in the opposite direction, but with a Feat, Ridi backstepped; what would be a deadly cut now mitigated to a lucky scratch on his stomach.

Graten knew that he and the [Mercenaries] of Atasaney are exclusively [Riders] of some sort, and that gives them a disadvantage when it comes to dismounted combat since some of their Feats only apply when they ride their mounts, and they were fortunate that they left their mounts on the stables near the wagons.

Graten stepped forwards and raised his sword. Ridi raised his spear to block. [My Blade Carried My Loss]; Graten's sword became heavy with his guilt and loss and cut through the spear's enchanted shaft, and bisected Ridi's head.

The sword had cut sword was stuck on the base of his skull. The attempt to pull it out had cost him, as a [Grappler] grabbed his arms from behind, as a [Thug] pointed his knife on his abdomen.

“You are all arrested for disturbing the peace! Seize the criminals and help the victims!”

Gaxston boomed, his voice echoing through the dark streets. He stood in front of three dozen [Guardsmen] and [Guardswomen], who were summoned by Gaxston after receiving a report by the dying [Guardsman] who spotted the Jodas Gang rushing out of the Mugged Mug. Gaxston had used the second highest-priority alert without the Watch Commander’s permission, and he expects to be removed from his position after this.

But he did the right thing, and that was enough for him. The sight of the seemingly invincible Jodas Gang that the Watch of Tucken was wary of running away from the marching [Guardsmen]. Graten fell to the ground, cushioning his fall. A hand pulled him up and he looked up at Gaxston.

“Cultrost told me about you. He might need you. Head to the Mugged Mug Tavern in the east of Warden’s Walking.”

The [Sword Captain] ran as he saw that the Watch was taking care of the remaining criminals. After moments of running, he stopped in front of the shop and barged inside to find Atasaney still guarding the shop, although lazily sitting on the chair as if nothing happened.

“What do you know? Did you betray us?”

Graten pulled his collar up and stared at Atasaney’s eyes. He didn’t have time to waste.

“I did not. Ridi and the rest did it of their own volition.”

Atasaney told half of the truth. He merely subtly suggested that Ridi should betray Numisley, which technically doesn’t break the [Bloodbound Contract].

“Then come with me. Cultrost is already going to the Mugged Mug.”

The bloody crest appeared on their hands, painfully urging them to go east. They ran through the streets at high speeds, faster than many people because of their high Levels. It was a few minutes before they caught up with Cultrost, running with Palden and seven members of the Watch, holding a hatchet. The Mugged Mug was two dozen feet away, and it didn't seem to be guarded.

"The Watch Captain told us that Numisley is inside the tavern!"

Cultrost ran and accelerated as soon as they were a few paces away. He charged towards the door, forcefully swinging it open.

"Get down!" A gruff voice barked. The Dog Beastkin who yelled was decapitated in an instant.

The Satyr in a dapper form-fitting suit faced them, relaxing on a stool in front of the wooden counter.

"Kill them."

The Satyr twisted one of his rings on his left hand. Something shimmered in the candlelight and three heads were already rolling on the cracked wooden floor. They sensed danger, their [Dangersense] Feat ringing in their ears. They attempted to form a tight formation but something in the air slashed at them. Limbs flew and blood sprayed as the air itself seemed to slice them. The Satyr pointed a ring towards them and three of the [Guardsmen] were slowly burning from the inside. Palden shielded Cultrost as they spontaneously combusted. The remaining [Guardsman] fled the scene.

But Atasaney saw the shimmering light of a humanoid floating towards them from his [Sense Magic] Feat.

"Invisible summons! They have blades!"

Atasaney ducked the summon's invisible blade and stepped left.

"Graten, Cultrost with me. Palden, rescue Numisley."

Atasaney would prefer leaving them to die, but he was still bound by Numisley’s Feat. The Satyr pointed a ring at Palden who was running towards the door towards the cellar, but Palden whispered something under his breath and he became insanely fast that not even Graten could follow him; the product of a Feat that is only used when he needs to escape. People forgot that a [Caravan Master] of his level has some tricks because he is an unassuming middle-aged man who drives a wagon.

The Satyr saw the door of the cellar already open, but he turned and saw Graten charging at him. His sword chopped the stool he was sitting on, and the Satyr ran. Graten was wary of the magic ring that made the [Guardsmen] explode and so he did not stay in one place as the Satyr tried to aim the ring at him. Cultrost seemed to read Graten's thoughts as he too didn't stay static.

Cultrost dashed diagonally to the Satyr's left, avoiding the magic ring, he swung his mace and hit a barrier of silver light. He hit him again and again, the magical barrier stopping his weapon every time. As Graten joined the attack, the barrier form a shining transparent orb around the Satyr, who is now on the defensive as he cannot use his Ring of Combustion; a specific one that possesses a rechargeable bound [Invisible Ray of Spontaneous Combustion], a Tier 5 Spell that is closer to Tier 6 in power. His magic barrier will interfere with the spell and Graten knows it because he had battled [Mages] who relied on their magic too much, and he knows that his barriers will run out of mana the harder he hits.

Atasaney was lucky that he had his Feat because he was struggling against the invisible summoned creature. It moved with a strange, brutal grace as it spun, clashing with Atasaney's spear shaft as he blocked it. Already, he has suffered a few cuts since his [Sense Magic] doesn't prevent him from making mistakes. But still, he saw holes in the essence of the summon, affirming that the antimagic tip of his spear that he bought recently had an effect.

Still, he is at a disadvantage because he was sure that he cannot throw his spear to instantly kill the summon. After all, it is mostly incorporeal, made out of magic, and admittedly, it is faster than he is that it can catch him even if he distanced himself.

"[Spear Dance: Flowing River]."

Initially, it seems like Atasaney danced forward with careful twisting steps, thrusting a flowing flurry in the air with his spear; face twisting in irritation because he hated using his estranged father's Art that he learned from him. The curving afterimages now seemed to paint an azure-blue illusion of a flowing river from his spear, cutting the summon into nothingness.

Cultrost's eyes widened as he looked at Atasaney performing an Art, like what he helped Graten obtain by chance.

The Satyr stared at the ring where the summons came from, and both the orange and blue gems were dim. After that distracted moment, the barrier broke.

-

Raudaeiz barged into the cellar. Numisley’s eyes widened, but he smirked devilishly as Raudaeiz cut his bindings. He heard fighting on the floor above them, and he assumed that it was Cultrost and the others.

“I will take your offer. I will not let anyone take my opportunity to get back at them. Even someone from Thousand Roads. I heard from one of my men that many of my gang ran. The Watch is involved. How?”

Numisley instantly had an idea as Raudaeiz muttered to himself in distress. Using the snippets of information from Raudaeiz's words, as well as overhearing the conversations between him and the [Negociator] from Thousand Roads from below the floorboards, he had concocted the greatest lie he had ever made. However, he didn’t know why the Watch was involved, but he can guess.

“My plan worked splendidly.”

Raudaeiz stared at him as if he saw a ghost. Numisley’s devious smile crept wider.

“What do you mean?”

“The Watch getting involved, my company fighting upstairs, and me getting kidnapped to get to you. This is my power, the power of scheming, you see. I’m not bluffing when I said that I can help you get back against your family. In time.”

In Raudaeiz’s eyes, what Numisley said adds up. If he planned all this, the Watch catching his gang in the act of attempting to steal his books, and finding out where Numisley was hidden because he let himself get kidnapped, then he was a man worth allying with for the time being because of his terrifying competence. He didn’t notice the truth stone glowing red on the table at the corner because he was too preoccupied with Numisley’s words.

Something crept behind Raudaeiz, flickering in the candlelight. It floated closer and closer, conjuring a thin blade of air from one of its appendages. It swung-

Raudaeiz had stabbed it with a potent antimagic blade at its chest, thrusting deep. The summon didn't detect his intent hence why it slowly disintegrated back to the mana in its natural state: in the atmosphere. Numisley was surprised because Raudaeiz stabbed something in the air without looking.

Palden barged into the cellar, hopping down the rickety wooden stairs, and charged toward Raudaeiz with a hatchet.

"Stop! He's with me!"

Palden stopped when he heard Numisley. He lowered his hatchet. They followed Palden upstairs, and Numisley was finally free.

Cultrost, Atasaney, and Graten had cornered the Satyr on the wall, pointing the tips of their weapons at him.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Numisley turned to Cultrost, leaning on a lanky man wearing a blue chaperon.

"Who's that guy?"

"Raynios Joda. The leader of the Jodas Gang. He is now with me."

Numisley words made the Satyr [Negotiator] falter. Raudaeiz was surprised that he used his fake name. Cultrost raised an eyebrow as he knew that he did something to get him on their side.

"So you broke the agreement, eh? [A Breach Of Contract] then."

Raudaeiz felt the chest of overflowing gold that he was paid for was gone, in the locked secure room within the tavern. Unbeknownst to him, the gold was teleported back to the treasuries of the Thousand Roads.

"Who sent you?"

"Thousand Roads. We will make the sky fall on you, whether you like it or not. Unless you will give me the book written by Jascias Gildin. The Book of Secrets."

Numisley felt intimidated by the threat, and he saw the authority that he represented, but literally and figuratively because of the [Negotiator]'s Feat conjuring the aura of the authority of the Thousand Roads behind him. But he always knew that people like them will always hunt them no matter where they go; even if they didn't have the books because he knew of their existence.

"Tell your bosses, whoever they are, to suck a big ol' bag of cocks. Kill him."

Graten and Atasaney stabbed the air. Numisley was surprised that he suddenly disappeared in an instant.

"He teleported. One of his rings most likely."

Atasaney reported based on his encounter with the Satyr. His [Sense Magic] Feat saw the mana in the air being changed upon his teleporation. Numisley turned to Graten.

"Graten, what has happened?"

"Atasaney's officer, Ridi Gadihew, had betrayed us and tried to steal the book. Atasaney has nothing to do with this. Cultrost called upon the Watch Captain to assist in rescuing you."

Numisley mentally deliberated on the information that he was given. He limped towards his brother with the help of Palden, and he is whispering something to Cultrost

"I see. Atasaney, did you have something to do with it? Did you…nudge him to betray us?"

"No-"

Atasaney gritted his teeth in pain as the bloody brand appeared on his hand. He kneeled, and Atasaney looked at him as if he were a pest to be dealt with. His blood urged his body to follow Numisley’s orders.

"Atasaney, what is the clause in our [Bloodbound Contract] regarding the truth?"

"The signatory…is required to tell the whole truth to Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin when asked. They aren't allowed to lie nor tell a half-truth, nor use Feats to obfuscate the truth upon questioning during the duration of the [Bloodbound Contract]."

"Tell me. Who was the person who sent you to attack our manor back in Renimburg?"

"Some poncy ass named Dusitoz Gaviolos. A Duke… [Marquis] or something. Your father mentioned a place called Torregorn before he was killed by him. I was the one who was hired to attack the manor."

Cultrost balled his fists, his pale knuckles turning red with blood. Numisley's expression turned to anger, grief, and everything in between. Then, grim determination.

"Thank you, Atasaney. Your job here is done. So I order that…you will stab your own heart with your spear. Now."

Atasaney's instant of hope turned to despair as his body moved in a quick motion. He stared at the spear that impaled his heart, vision fading as he can't even find the strength to look at Numisley.

But he can spit out one more insult.

"Bastard…"

He fell with a thud. Cultrost stepped back, still processing what is happening. Graten stared at his hand, and Palden stared at Numisley like he was a monster. Some of Atasaney's blood crawled towards Numisley’s hand by creeping up from his shoes to his clothes. Strangely, they did not leave a stain on his clothes.

"I had always known that you would betray me," Numisley muttered.

In one fell swoop, Atasaney's Prowlers had ceased to be. Raudaeiz was reminded of the brutal [Crime Lords] he hears of in the underworld, but this is worse. Numisley scares him, more than any other [Crime Lord].

The Watch barged into the Mugged Mug Tavern. Gaxston stepped toward and pointed to the [Thief Leader].

"You are detained, Raynios Joda, until further notice! The rest of you will be questioned. Stand down. "