Chapter 43 Maelis is back but with a bat treatment

“Hey boss,” Ofurd said. “Can you tell me something? Why is it that you keep losing your men? They aren’t just dying… they’re leaving you. Why is that?”

Asual stopped for a moment. “You’ve got a point,” he said. “So tell me, what should I do?”

Ofurd thought for a second. “When we capture an enemy, we should tell them to serve us… or die.”

Asual nodded slowly. “Why not?”

Ofurd continued, “We’re all level twenty-three now, right?”

“Yes,” Asual replied.

Suddenly, Kamil threw his hands up. “Why are you talking to them like they’re real people?”

Ofurd froze. His eyes widened in shock.
“I… I totally forgot about that.”

Before anyone could say more, one of Asual’s new men ran up to them.
“Sir, we’ve spotted someone suspicious.”

Asual narrowed his eyes. “How many? What’s their status?”

Then Asual turned to Kamil. “Use disappearance. Sound magic too.”

All nine of them held hands, and vanished.

Even though they were invisible, they could still speak and move freely. Lorfer moved behind a small body hidden nearby and began using magic to sense its power.

“Bola… jabol… hablo… zafer…”

A large magical screen appeared in front of everyone.

On the screen was a boy wearing heavy armor, standing before over a thousand soldiers, each one as strong as a bear.

Then the vision shifted into the past.

The boy spoke softly but firmly.
“I might be level one… but I will never give up, no matter what it takes.”

Ofurd looked at Asual. “Boss… I think we should kill the boy. You can see his future. He kills many.”

Asual smiled faintly. “You’re right. If he levels up, he’ll become a serious threat.”

The eight men around him began chanting.
“Kill him! Kill him!”

Ofurd raised his hand. “Stop. You are our leader. This decision is yours.”

Asual said nothing.

Suddenly, Lorfer stopped the magic.

A sound echoed.

Pow. Cough. Cough.

The boy fell to his knees, clutching his legs.

Ofurd stared in shock. “You said you wouldn’t kill him. Why did you do it?”

Asual turned away. “He was going to report us to the city. I had to end his life.”

After a moment, Asual spoke again.
“We should join a guild.”

Kamil frowned. “A guild?”

“It’s been a long time since we last met,” Asual said. “Since those two traitors left us.”

Ofurd nodded. “Yeah… it has.”

“But we are no longer the old bandits,” Asual continued. “We’ve changed.”

Asual pulled out a mask made of wood and placed it over his face.

One by one, the others did the same.

Ofurd.
Kamil.
Jorvek.
Thrynn.
Orvian.
Kryndel.
Valtor.
Qyren.

Night fell.

A presence appeared in the darkness.

Asual looked forward. “What do you have for me?”

Kamil, Jorvek, Thrynn, Orvian, Kryndel, Valtor, and Qyren drew their weapons.

Ofurd raised his hand. “Lower them.”

A voice laughed from the dark. “So you noticed me, Ofurd. Hahaha.”

“Of course,” Ofurd replied. “I know who you are.”

Only Asual and Ofurd recognized her. The others thought she might be an old member from four years ago.

The woman stepped forward.
“It’s been a while,” she said. “Maelis.”

Maelis continued, “I’ve gathered information on the target. There will be forty-two guards this time, and security will be very tight.”

Asual frowned. “Why?”

“Because the Dock of Severn, State Eight, Carter Magarey, will be there,” Maelis said. “And the Great King, Abnal Aval.”

Asual narrowed his eyes. “What does the client want?”

“The client’s wife works there,” Maelis explained. “She was enslaved. He wants her freed.”

“How much is the payment?” Asual asked.

Maelis smiled. “Nothing. He had no money. So I told him we’d do it for free.”

Asual smiled slightly. “You should have told me from the start.”

Maelis relaxed, thinking he wasn’t angry.

Then Asual turned suddenly.

A brutal spine kick struck her.

The Micro Killer.

Maelis slammed into the ground, gasping for air.

Kamil rushed to her side. “Why would you do this to her?!”

Asual sat down calmly.
“There is a man coming that we cannot fight yet. Doing jobs for free will only get us killed. Protecting ourselves comes first.”

The forest fell silent.