Merc Who Hunts

...

Minion #15201 and #14444 are nameless mobs— they are insignificant, small, and weak... But even these small guys have their pride.

"Let's investigate since we are here, to begin with."

"Hmmm... I know this smell. It's wine. Looks like a cellar."

15201 and 14444 took their jobs seriously since they are being paid by the organization very well.

This world is filled with war and strife. Especially now that such sorcery plagues the lands.

Before, it was just kings and peasants. Now, they have all kinds of maniacs playing gods on the higher ladder of power.

15201's wound in his shoulder aches. He found two dead bodies hidden in the dark corner. They were splattered wetly with wine. He reckoned that it's the assailant's ruse to fool their noses, but they have Palnes. Though the said executive is not currently walking by their side, 15201 feels pretty confident in accomplishing the mission.

After all, what could a bunch of kids do?

However, the appearance of a variable is telling 15201 otherwise. Maybe this mission is not as easy as it appears.

There is a mace and a sickle chain lying on the floor, weapons belonging to their perished acquaintances, these weapons will do. 15201 chose his pick, since he is not used to unorthodox weapons, he opted for the mace.

"Fuck! You brat! Get away from me!"

15201 heard his partner, who went further than him, cursing, he rushed his way to help as he wield his heavy mace.

“Shit, what is it this time?”

...

Executives in the organization are not nameless— it is not figurative, it's meant literally as every executive is burdened with a greater purpose.

They are more than mobs as they enact the will of Zentury, to return the world to its rightful place where people live as equals.

This is why executives use their real names and not their codes. This symbolizes their devotion to the cause.

"I will kill you!"

But Palnes is different. He is a pure mercenary at heart that seeks wealth more than the cause. Despite this, his loyalty to Zentury is true.

A merc is someone who would betray their employer at the drop of the hat if it would profit them. But Zentury is not just any employer, it’s a merc’s paradise. In a way, his loyalty is more sincere than the nurtured officers commonly found in the organization.

That’s why Palnes is enraged.

“What are you doing? 12913, tell me, why?”

Palnes only saw the culprit’s silhouette, but he is certain. Despite the shadows that stretch from the torches, through his intuition, he confirmed the turncoat’s identity.

“I have been a hunting dog for a long time. Do you know? I used to belong to a squad that specializes in killing betrayers. 12913, is this how you repay the favor?”

“Wow, that’s impressive. You knew it was me. Let me guess, is it from the smell?”

Palnes rushed past the flickering lights of the torches along the tunnel walls. His face scrunched in fury, his mind filled with killing intent. He arrived at the tunnel’s mouth within seconds.

Alfir's stack of arrows is no more. However, he didn’t panic. From his [Inventory Bracelet], he summoned a packet of stinky-bomb.

“AaAAa-cK! PeTty TRICKS!! I WILL KILL YOU!”

It is time he ends this. Palnes activated his mutation powers. With fur growing from his skin and bestial morphing ears, Palnes took the form of a half-wolf-half-man. The Wolf Gene made its appearance, and features of a canine could be observed from Palnes.

Alfir drew his steel sword, brandishing it with the familiar combination he practiced every day for the duration of his vacation. Palnes’s curved sword came crashing at him, but Alfir is undeterred. He confronted it head-on.

When Palnes's attack finally arrived, Alfir received it calmly. The sound of steel colling mad a tnggggggggging… a screech that would scrape the insides of your ears.

Alfir then countered cunningly. He slid his sword, allowing Palnes’s sword to veer off course. Palnes lost balance for a moment, which Alfir capitalized to increase his momentum.

Palnes was surprised by Alfir's intensity of attacks. Alfir confronted Palnes with all he got. Alfir's mutation is not strong enough to guarantee a victory. But... Who needs strength when you have~ the pettiest trick you could find in the book?

Alarm bells rang in Palnes's ears, but it was too late even for him. It is only now that he realized the odd smell pervading his surroundings.

“Why is the smell of liquor so strong in here?”

The cellar is still a tunnel away, but Alfir already has a torch in his hand.

“You!? Don’t?”

“What? Are you scared of a little fire?”

“You will burn too!”

Palnes smelled it just before entering the tunnel to the basement. It didn't escape his observation, but his blatant show of inattention to such a small detail is what led him to his demise.

It should have occurred to Palnes a long time ago that the smell of liquor is too strong. He looked at his surroundings, incensed that he was being played like a fool. The floor is wet with the alcoholic substance.

“Ooops,” Alfir released the torch from his hands. “It dropped.” He snidely remarked as he leaps off and lands in a spot where not much liquor was spilled.

When the torch finally dropped, a chain reaction occurred. Alfir made sure to soak some of the rags around with liquor, as a result, the conflagration became more aggressive as it consume everything in its path. Alfir stood atop a cabinet, aware of the destructive catastrophe he machinated.

Alfir has several more torches in his [Inventory Bracelet]. He summoned another torch and started throwing them one after another.

“Hahahaha! Burn! Burn!!”

Palnes struggled to escape the flames, but it seems that everywhere he goes, it leads to a dead end. It is painful. It burns. Your skin slowly chars black whilst your meat cooks, and the water content within your flesh boil from the searing flames.

“Bastard! Coward! Fight me!”

With his sword cloaked in flames, Palnes lunged in his pathetic attempt to express his indignant fury. Because of the searing heat of the sword, its handle started to glue itself to Palnes’s palm. Sticky blood and burnt skin.

The pain is terrible, but Palnes persisted. He swung his sword at Alfir’s. However, his efforts are futile. His every strike was parried and dodged too easily. With his strength sapped by the heat and pain, Palnes is left at Alfir’s mercy… Just like a lamb left for slaughter.

Alfir nimbly dodged from his little isle, jumping to another spot where the flames don’t reach.

It was all in Alfir's mind. The setup, where to put the flammable liquor, and how he should react to his foe's every action. Palnes has been read...

Alfir showed his merciless nature as he retrieve a sackful of Powdered Fiery Garnets. Alfir added the unique flaming agent to the blazing spectacle, providing further flames for Palnes to bath in.

"It's a good investment." Alfir teasingly commented as he derives joy from the burning executive. “Do you know? There is a bounty for every turncoat caught alive? Was that what you were aiming for? You got too ambitious.” He added.

Palnes finally recognized the reason for his suffering. He was arrogant. He thought he could deal with the traitor by himself. While at it, maybe enjoy the process of the hunt too. He liked to prey and trample on the weak, slaughter the innocent, and lord over his inferiors.

As a merc, he lusted for wealth and the hunt. His name… is Palnes, the merc who desired the hunt. In the end, the hunt was reversed. He, the merc, should’ve stayed with his gold… and not desired more.

…