"Blade" Yaven

[You rushed inside and found a room of roughly thirty or forty square meters. A large, long table occupied most of the space, with several bookcases and liquor cabinets neatly arranged against the walls. It was clearly meant to be a meeting room, but it was being used as a gambling den.]

[About ten people were gathered around the table, gambling. You could not make out what game they were playing. Three middle-aged men who were clearly the bosses held scantily clad sex workers in their laps and glasses of wine in their hands. Their smiles had yet to fade as they stared in shock at you bursting through the door.]

[You gave the room a single glance, then began swinging your freshly cleaned sword, slaughtering every enemy before you. By the time they recovered from their shock, you had already killed half the people in the room. Their backs had been turned to you, and you had given them barely enough time to look over their shoulders.]

[The enemies across the table finally reacted. They shoved the women from their laps, grabbed whatever was within reach, and hurled it at you, hoping to slow you down. With a casual punch of your left fist, you shattered a wooden chair that might have struck you, then leaped onto the table and charged the remaining four men.]

[They clearly possessed decent fighting skills, but to you, they were merely decent. After a few exchanges, only two people remained standing in the room: you and a scruffy, bare-chested man wielding an Imperial Greatsword. He was the only man there capable of lasting a few exchanges against you. By then, his left hand was gone.]

[Breathing hard, he dropped his Imperial Greatsword, clutched his left wrist, and fell to his knees, begging you to spare him. You did not answer his plea. Instead, you held up your sword and asked in a gruff voice where "Blade" Yaven was.]

[He told you that "Blade" Yaven often appeared at the Green Vine Tavern in the noble district to discuss business with people. That was all he knew. He also told you that Governor Justus, who ruled Marleons, was backing him. If you dared kill him, you would never walk out of Marleons alive.]

[A stroke of your sword cut short any desire he had to keep talking. You tore off a piece of the tablecloth and wiped your blade, glancing at the three surviving sex workers. They lay trembling on the floor, their heads bowed as though they wanted to bury them in the floorboards. In a gruff voice, you told them that the Snake Cult sent its regards to Governor Justus, then left the room and returned to the third floor.]

[Under the female elf's reproachful gaze, you first searched the entire room. You found three small pouches of diamonds, hard currency on the Pendor Continent. Each pouch was worth ten thousand denars and could be exchanged at an exchange office in any major city. There were also plenty of IOUs and property deeds, which you took. Finally, you approached the female elf's bed.]

[You spoke quietly with the female elf, telling her that you could take her back to the forest of the Noldor Elves, but not yet. With so many people dead, you needed to lie low. If you went swaggering outside now, Governor Justus would inevitably catch you. So you wanted to establish a few ground rules with her.]

[You told her that until she returned to the forest of the Noldor Elves, she had to follow your instructions in everything and could not act on her own. You also told her that she was worth an enormous amount in the outside world; selling her for several thousand or even ten thousand denars was no exaggeration. You said that you had no interest in money and no shortage of it, but you could not guarantee that others felt the same. As you spoke, you shook the diamonds in your hand, tossed her a pouch, and told her it was your guarantee. If she agreed to your proposal, you would accept the task of escorting her back to the elves' forest.]

[The female elf blinked at you in confusion, then nodded and put away the pouch of diamonds. You untied her and found some men's clothes for her to wear. They fit terribly, but there was nothing you could do. Her previous outfit had been far too indecent.]

[You led her out of the villa, now filled with corpses and blood, and returned to The Bountiful Tavern. You climbed back through the same window and, for the third time, saw the guard sleeping soundly. You wondered, Was this man related to the owner?]

[You climbed the stairs and approached the owner's door for the second time. Standing outside, you could hear a man's snores. You smiled and knocked.]

[You heard frantic movement inside. Soon, the fully dressed owner opened the door with a candle in his hand, staring at you in terror. You shook a pouch of diamonds and handed it to him, telling him that you needed to stay here for a while without anyone knowing. The diamonds would cover your expenses.]

[The owner gave you an odd look, glanced at the diamonds in his hand, then looked at you again. With a bitter smile, he said you could stay as long as you liked, free of charge. He would do everything he could to smooth over any trouble and would not let anyone disturb you. He placed the diamonds back in your hand, then took his candle and opened a room for you and the female elf behind you.]

[The female elf seemed reluctant to sleep in the same room as you, though she said nothing. You sensed it and told her that you had to share a room. She could take the bed, and you would sleep on the floor. She nodded and told you her name was Freya.]

[The next day, the entire middle district of Marleons was thrown into chaos. More than fifty people had died in a single night, and in the wealthy quarter, no less. The killer was reportedly a member of the notorious Snake Cult. The middle district's guard commander faced immense pressure. Even Governor Justus, who governed Marleons, sent people to demand answers and ordered him to catch the killer within a set deadline. Soon, the guards began the classic door-to-door search for criminals throughout the middle and lower districts.]

[You remained undisturbed, even as the guards turned the world outside upside down. The tavern owner told you that besides paying a quarter of his monthly income to the gang, he paid another quarter to the captain responsible for guarding this area. No matter how chaotic things became outside, the guards would never truly search this place thoroughly. They would merely go through the motions.]

[You believed him. You also believed he already knew how that Beard Gang had been destroyed. His family was staying right next door to your room, and he made no attempt to move them away. Instead, he told his wife to keep their son indoors as much as possible and assured her that he would handle everything. He was a clever man, and you were beginning to like him.]

[You hid on the tavern's second floor for three days. During that time, you often chatted with Freya. Her voice was clear and lovely, and talking with her was a pleasure. Gradually, you established some initial trust. Despite having been sold, she remained an innocent young woman. Her face and figure were unmistakably those of an adult, but her temperament still seemed immature. Within half a day, she was already talking to you about everything. She was astonished by your fluent Elvish. Had you possessed pointed ears, she would have taken you for an elf. Now she suspected you were a half-elf who had ended up living outside the forest. You teased her, telling her it was wondrous magic. That clearly caught her interest, and she kept pestering you until you admitted it was only a joke.]

[The three days passed quickly. Afterward, you began making occasional appearances in the tavern's main hall. When you saw that no one paid you much attention, you started doing odd jobs, serving drinks and food. Your public identity was Allen, the son of a neighbor of one of the tavern owner's relatives. You had come to Marleons in search of an opportunity to make something of yourself and were temporarily staying with the tavern owner. Oh, the owner's name was Paul.]

[You soon became acquainted with the tavern's regulars, often chatting with the drunkards to gather news from outside. One day, these drunkards, whose information was inexplicably accurate, told you that the middle district's guard commander could no longer withstand the combined pressure from the wealthy residents and Governor Justus. He intended to pick some random Snake Cult member from the dungeon and hang him in the square at noon the next day, bringing an end to the "massacre" that had shaken Marleons. One drunkard snickered and casually remarked that they had been a bunch of scum, and their deaths hardly warranted such a fuss. His companion stopped him before he could say more.]

[You had no interest in going to some square to watch the farce of hanging the "murderer." You had seen far too many such performances staged to catch a killer, and you would not make that mistake. That was good for both you and the guard commander.]

[Soon, the matter was settled. The tense atmosphere that had gripped the streets over the past few days vanished. You knew you still had unfinished business.]

[You had not forgotten that "Blade" Yaven was still posting bounties for your capture. But the noble district was not easy to enter. The entire area was protected by walls, with genuine Imperial regulars constantly patrolling them. Even if you wanted to climb inside, there was no opening to exploit. Most of its residents were relatives of Imperial knights and officials. Without the appropriate status, you needed travel documents every time you entered.]

[You approached the tavern owner again. You had little choice; you were merely an outsider who had arrived less than half a month ago.]

[The tavern owner told you that he did not have the connections to secure an identity that would let you enter and leave the noble district freely. However, he could write you a letter of recommendation to the proprietress of the Green Vine Tavern. That suited your current identity as someone looking to get ahead. As it happened, he was buying a shipment of fine wine from the Green Vine Tavern the next day. He could issue the documents needed to enter and leave the noble district, but he begged you to return within the time specified on them. Otherwise, both of you would be finished.]

[You had no reason to refuse. You set out the next day, and after presenting your documents and surrendering your weapons, you entered the noble district without difficulty.]

[The living conditions here were indeed far better than in the middle district. Greenery lined both sides of streets several meters wide, with benches placed along them for pedestrians to rest. The streets were spotless, apparently swept and washed regularly. Houses stood in orderly rows on either side, clearly built according to a plan. Patrols passed from time to time, watching strangers like you warily.]

[None of the stalls that crowded the middle district could be seen here. The gentlemen and ladies walking the streets were neatly dressed, their steps leisurely and confident, with one or more maids and servants following behind. Lavishly decorated carriages occasionally passed you. You did not know what the crests on them meant, nor did you particularly care.]

[Under a guard's wary gaze, you politely asked him where the Green Vine Tavern was. He gave you directions, then added, "Behave yourself. Don't cause trouble here." You thought that might be something he said to everyone.]

[A quarter of an hour later, you reached the Green Vine Tavern. On your way there, you had deliberately wandered around the noble district. Pleasant as it was, the area was small. You could walk all the way around it in half an hour, and it was only about the size of an ordinary residential complex from your previous life. As you wandered, you memorized the layout of the buildings in case you needed it later.]

[There were few customers in the Green Vine Tavern that morning. Sitting at the bar, you felt that the place should not be called a tavern at all. Given the choice, you would have called it a club. It was a two-story building, with none of the tables that filled the main hall of The Bountiful Tavern. There were only booths and private rooms upstairs. Its furnishings and decorations were far more luxurious than those of ordinary buildings. Even the liquor cabinets and the bar where the bartender worked were gilded. You could not understand that aesthetic.]

[When you arrived, you explained your purpose to the guard at the entrance and handed over the tavern owner's letter of recommendation. Naturally, you had read it yourself and found nothing wrong with it. Indeed, there was nothing wrong. Before long, while you were sitting at the bar, word came that Sophia, the tavern's proprietress, wanted to see you.]

[She was a woman of mature allure, wearing light makeup, with long, curly brown hair, deep blue eyes, a prominent, upturned nose, and full lips. She wore a long white lace dress whose cinched waist displayed her exaggerated curves. Even you had rarely seen such a beautiful Western woman.]

[She sat beside a table with a glass of wine in her hand, watching you with an ambiguous smile.]

[You approached and asked what you could do for her. Sophia set her wine on the table beside her and, smiling with feigned surprise, asked whether you had not been the one seeking her help.]

[Her voice was sweet, soft, and enticing. At her prompting, you explained the two purposes of your visit: first, to take back the wine Paul needed, and second, to obtain an identity that would let you enter and leave the noble district freely, giving you more opportunities to get ahead. The lady seemed surprised. Blinking, she covered her mouth and laughed as she asked what made you think you could make a name for yourself in a place where the upper classes lived.]

[You said you had no particular talents, but you were reasonably good in a fight. Perhaps that would earn you the favor of someone important.]

[This time, Sophia seemed genuinely surprised. She looked you up and down, and just as her scrutiny began to make you inexplicably uneasy, she dismissed you.]

[She told you that she needed to think carefully about how she could help. She would also prepare Paul's wine. You could return that afternoon.]

[As you left the Green Vine Tavern, you vaguely sensed something was wrong. You did nothing else, simply sitting on a bench outside the tavern for four solid hours. That afternoon, you went back inside. The guard at the entrance told you that Lady Sophia was waiting in the same room.]

[The moment you stepped into the room, you felt the rush of air from both sides. Under sudden attack, you briefly thought your identity had been exposed.]

[You easily evaded the ambush from either side and subdued both attackers with a few casual moves.]

[The ease with which you dealt with the ambush made you stop short of killing them. You thought this might merely be a very clumsy test.]

[Sure enough, Lady Sophia stared at you in surprise and voiced her admiration. Smiling broadly, she invited you to sit, poured you a glass of wine, and asked how you had become so skilled.]

[You could only offer the lie you had prepared beforehand. You told her that your father was a retired mercenary, and that your skills came partly from his instruction and partly from your own talent. You were naturally stronger than most people.]

[Lady Sophia raised an eyebrow, and the smile on her alluring face grew brighter. She lightly ran her tongue over her lips and told you that she could give you an identity that would allow you to enter and leave the noble district freely, but you would have to do something for her.]

[You asked in confusion what it was. Lady Sophia said that you could only agree or refuse. There were no other options, and you could not ask questions.]

[You agreed.]

[Hearing your agreement, Lady Sophia stood. She told you that she had already arranged for Paul's wine to be delivered. You would stay here for the next two days, and afterward, she would tell you what you needed to do. She had also arranged for someone to handle your travel documents and your weapons. Now, she was going to take you to meet some people.]

[As you followed Lady Sophia, a faint sense of foreboding crossed your mind.]

[Soon, Lady Sophia led you into a private room where four shrewd-looking, powerfully built men sat. She first introduced you to the four men, lavishly praising your deft fighting skills. You distinctly sensed hostility from two of the middle-aged men. All you could do was inwardly sigh that beauty brought trouble.]

[Before long, Lady Sophia introduced the last man. He had a buzz cut and a short, full beard. With his beard covering his face, you could not judge his age, but his narrow eyes gave you an extremely dangerous feeling. He wore an ordinary jacket, with a gold-hilted saber at his belt. Several magnificent gems adorned its scabbard. Lady Sophia spoke his name, and it set your nerves on edge: "Blade" Yaven.]