Kapitel 4: Breaking Bad

Adrian strolled down the rotting, nauseating roads of Revernus Town, enjoying the usual attention he draws from people around him.

Normally, the eyes pursuing him would have been a badge of honour, maybe even respect, surging him with an overwhelming feeling of pride and victory. Adrian liked being noticed; it fed his pride.

But it was different today. Amid all the usual stares, he caught something he didn't normally see: pity. And perhaps, fear?

Adrian continued his way down the street when he chanced to look up at Alex, a fat shopkeeper of a grocery store, running over to him, his eyes again moving restlessly round as if doing something dangerous. At least Alex was known to Adrian: a year ago, Adrian had saved this man's life; since then, the shopkeeper was loyal to him.

"Adrian!" Alex whispered urgently, scanning the area, then inching closer. "You heard what happened?! It's real serious this time, Caius posted a price for your head, declaring you a traitor to the Shadowborn Mercenaries. Now, the whole regiment is hunting you. You shouldn't be out here like this!"

Adrian let out a short, quiet laugh, his lips curling into a confident smile. "Let Caius try all he wants," he replied confidently. "He knows I'm not the kind of man who runs."

Alex looked impressed and terrified at the same time but nodded. And without another word, Adrian continued on his way, ignoring the whispers and wary glances following him.

The normal folk in Revernus Town were of no concern, but Caius' spies were another matter. He spotted two lurking in a shadowed alley, and they quickly crouched out of sight when they noticed him looking their way. It didn't matter, though—Adrian had a destination in mind, and he wasn't going to be stopped.

Revernus Town was small, yet full of travellers and merchants.

After walking for nearly ten minutes, he turned on the northeast corner of town, where the warehouse district was. It was a pretty active area; it was a commercial centre for traders who pass by this place to go inside Kruger's interior.

It was established by the mayor of the town, Marlo, as a business district, where he had leased spaces where traders would occasionally store their commodities.

But Adrian had a small warehouse for himself there, where he kept the fruits of the last raid.

But the last words Leo told him were that Tyro, on Caius' orders, had seized Adrian's warehouse and caught several of his men, including his own right-hand man, Kuro. This was why he had gone to the warehouse district. Adrian's face grew darker.

When he got there, two mercenaries of the Shadowborn stood at the gate. They stood straight and proper as he approached. And one of them finally stepped forward when Adrian drew near.

"Boss Adrian, uh, boss Tyro said not to let you through," stuttered the guard, shifting uncomfortably.

Adrian's eyebrow shot up. He crossed his arms. "Kaylel," he said, calmly, "how many times have I pulled you out of trouble? Last year you would have been chained in a mine if I hadn't saved your neck. Now step aside."

Kaylel lowered his head, unable to argue. The second guard, Cyrus, looked ready to intervene, but Adrian's cold gaze silenced him. "And you, Cyrus. Who paid off your gambling debts last season?" he asked sharply. "Now you're standing in my way?"

The two guards looked at each other, looked away and stepped aside with a gesture to pass.

Adrian wasted no more time with them, turning and continuing forward into the warehouse district, his steps heavy and purposeful. He passed a few more patrols set up by Tyro, but none of them dared to stop him. At last, he reached his own warehouse, for which five mercenaries stood guard outside.

Unlike the others, these five didn't blink. They brought their arms closer, hands gripping weapons as they glared at Adrian. Their leader, half-orcish warrior Brandon, grinned, the axe nearly too big for him, as he hefted it. "Well, well, if it isn't Boss Adrian, come to pay us a visit. I don't think you'll be leaving this place today."

Adrian met his gaze without flinching, his tone calm but sharp. "Get out of my way, Brandon. I'm here for Tyro. Don't waste my time."

Brandon sneered, stepping forward. "You'll have to pay for that mouth, Adrian." With a roar, he charged, swinging his axe toward Adrian's chest.

Adrian didn't move to grab his sword. He instead stepped forward in the path of the charge, and caught hold of Brandon's wrist with a grip like a vice, as the axe came crashing down. Brandon's eyes went wide at the sudden halt to his swing.

Without a word, Adrian twisted Brandon's arm until the half-orc's wrist cracked sickeningly; Brandon's voice rose in a wail of pain but Adrian didn't let him go. He brought his knee up into the half-orc's belly, then scooped him up by the neck, lifting him off his feet.

In one smooth move, Adrian threw Brandon to the ground. The half-orc's head thudded on the stone floor, making a loud noise, as he contorted his face into a grimace of pain while blood ran from his nose down into his mouth.

Brandon wasn't done. Adrian yanked Brandon's head back up again, slammed it viciously to the ground once more. Again and again, he pounded the half-orc's head into the dirt, slamming it a second and then a third time before Brandon finally stilled, his bruised and swollen face covered in blood pooling around his head, Adrian gripping him tightly before finally releasing him.

He rose and fixed a cold, unflinching glare at the remaining guards. The four mercenaries gazed back in shock and horror. Brandon was a good fighter, but they had always known Adrian was a better one. None of them made the same mistake again.

"Anyone else?" Adrian asked, voice low and eerily calm. The other guards averted their faces, not wanting to see him. They stepped back nervously as Adrian walked past them and kicked open the warehouse door.

Inside the dusty, wood-scented air, Adrian's voice echoed, "Tyro! Where are you? Get out here!"