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Raphtalia gripped the long sword firmly, staring down the leading gangster. This sword, left behind by the adventurers Jason had encountered on their journey, was now battered and worn, riddled with gaps and stained with hardened black blood. Despite its tattered condition, Raphtalia's cold, fierce gaze and the aura radiating from her evoked genuine fear among the thugs surrounding her. This was not merely an innocent child; this was a warrior shaped by the harsh realities of life and death, carrying the faint scent of blood that lingered in the air.
"Who allowed you to touch Master Jason with those dirty hands?" she demanded, her voice low and filled with authority.
At her words, the gangsters trembled. They shifted their gazes nervously between Raphtalia and Jason.
Jason, burdened by a large pack, stood before them. The storage shield on his back had a capacity of ten cubic meters, but after their relentless battles and the numerous monster drops they had accumulated, it was overflowing, making it challenging to carry in the usual way. He wore only a simple shirt and trousers that, while clean, were tattered and dotted with small rips. With the escalating threat level of the monsters they faced, his clothing suffered considerable wear and tear during their encounters.
In that moment, he looked less like an adventurer and more like a refugee fleeing with his family, disheveled and dusty.
The gangsters turned their attention back to their boss, who wore a flashy outfit that contrasted sharply with Jason's worn appearance. His hands were visibly cleaner than Raphtalia had claimed, but the fear in the air was palpable.
"Boom!"
As the leader's severed arm dropped to the ground, fear silenced any complaints from the gangsters.
"Ah! My hand!"
Realizing the severity of his injury, the disoriented leader suddenly screamed in terror and crumpled to the ground, his face paling significantly.
"You... do you know where this is? How dare you attack us here!" A gangster in the back stuttered, gripping his dagger with trembling hands.
"Why not? Do you think my absence means I've lost my reputation?" Jason replied, wiping some dust from his face, revealing a confident grin that displayed his white teeth.
"Shield... Shield Hero!"
"It's really him! The Lord Shield Hero!"
"Run, quickly!"
The gangsters recoiled in shock at Jason's face and turned to flee without a thought. The leader gangster didn't even bother to retrieve his severed arm, viewing Jason as a demon or a horror that would consume him if he lingered.
But Raphtalia was quicker, blocking their escape in an instant.
They had nowhere to run in the narrow alley.
"Lord Shield Hero, please let us go! We didn't know it was you!"
"That's right! If we had known, we wouldn't have had the courage to approach you!"
"Please, grant us a chance!"
Seeing no hope and imminent danger, the thugs sank to their knees, desperately pleading for mercy.
"Anyone who offends Lord Jason will be dealt with mercilessly!" Raphtalia declared, raising her long sword threateningly, causing one gangster to faint from sheer fear, a yellowish liquid pooling beneath him.
"Raphtalia... wait! I have questions for them first."
Hearing Jason's command, Raphtalia reluctantly lowered her sword, nodding in understanding. "Understood, Master Jason."
"Please, Lord Shield Hero, ask away! We'll tell you everything—we won't hold back!"
The thugs, sensing a glimmer of hope, pled with tears streaming down their faces.
"Very well. First of all, while I am somewhat known in this city, it shouldn't frighten you like this. Why is that?" Jason inquired, frustration creeping into his voice. He felt their fear had escalated beyond reason.
The thugs exchanged nervous glances, and one stepped forward hesitantly. "Master Shield, don't you know? Your exploits have spread throughout the city."
"If I knew, would I be asking you? Speak quickly! If you dare waste my time, I will end you right here!" Jason warned, his tone threatening.
"Yes, yes! You slapped a clerk in a restaurant, which made the baron embarrass himself in fear. Everyone in the city knows about it, and it's become common knowledge that among the four heroes, only you, Master Shield Hero, cannot be provoked."
The gangster shrunk back slightly, but gathered his courage to continue.
"It's not just that, is it?" Jason pressed.
"Actually, I have some brothers who work in the palace. I heard from one of them that after the incident, the baron went to the king, seeking revenge, but the king refused. It's said that even the king fears you, Shield Hero-sama."
The gangster paused for effect, then added with a hint of self-deprecation, "If even the king is afraid of you, how could we possibly think of provoking you?"
Judging by the gangster's expression, it was clear he wasn't lying—fear gripped him, and he lacked the courage to fabricate a story.
However, when they mentioned that the king was afraid of him, Jason couldn't bring himself to believe it. That man hated him too much to be intimidated. Unresponsive silence indicated that the king was likely plotting a larger conspiracy against him.
"By the way... you said you have some brothers working in the palace, right? Your only chance for survival now is to cooperate with me. You understand what I mean, don't you?" Jason said, his gaze piercing down at the thug.
"You mean... you want me to bring you news from the palace?" the gangster stammered, his lips twitching slightly as he tried to gauge Jason's intent.
"You're quite perceptive. That's exactly right. I want to know about any trouble brewing in the palace. Can you do that for me?" Jason clarified, leaning in closer.
"Y-yes! Of course... I can do it," the gangster hastily nodded, fear driving his eagerness to comply.
"Good. Now, how about the trustworthiness of the people in your circle? Are they reliable? Remember... I want the truth," Jason's tone turned icy, instilling further dread into the thug.
The gangster hesitated, glancing back nervously at the other members of his crew before shaking his head. "To be honest, I just joined them recently, so I'm not very familiar with them."
"Well then... kill them."
Before the gangsters could process Jason's command, Raphtalia moved with swift efficiency. Her sword sliced through the air, cleanly severing the necks of her comrades with a precision that left no room for doubt or hesitation.
With blood splattering across the ground, Jason's cold gaze turned back to the only surviving thug.
"So... what's your name?" he inquired, his voice steady yet firm.
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 50+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 50+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11 Additionally, I have many other works you may be interested in. Please enjoy!
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The name of the gangster is Lex, a professional fighter at level 21.
Originally a soldier in the palace, Lex was expelled due to a minor mistake. He claimed to have some brothers who still worked within the palace. After contemplating the idea of becoming an adventurer, his resolve shattered during his first venture when he witnessed a companion die right before his eyes. This traumatic experience led him to abandon that path.
In a state of aimlessness, Lex crossed paths with the leader of a gang and fell into this current life, one he felt was simply waiting for death. Once handsome, his looks had deteriorated; he grew a beard and became disheveled, embodying the decay of his spirit.
He believed this would be his existence until he met Jason today.
At this moment, Lex watched in horror as the gangsters fell victim to Raphtalia's sword, his face paling. He never anticipated that life as a gangster would be more perilous than adventuring.
"You should know that if word gets to the old king about our deal, I don't care. After all, I'm a quit powerful, and you… that old man likely won't let you off easily."
Jason regarded Lex, who was kneeling before him, his expression one of fright and uncertainty.
"Y-yes, Sir Shield Hero, you are absolutely right! Thank you for considering my situation."
Although Lex appeared timid and frail, he was certainly not foolish. He quickly grasped the implication behind Jason's words.
If the king discovered that he was spying, it would undoubtedly lead to his demise. As a mere gangster now, even former soldiers were seen as disposable in the king's eyes, easily crushed without hesitation.
"Good, you understand. This will be beneficial because you will be assisting me in the future. Here are 10 silver coins. Take this for now. If you can bring me more valuable information, I will ensure that you are adequately rewarded."
Jason produced 10 silver coins from his purse and tossed them in front of Lex.
Jason understood that to motivate others to work for him, sheer threats wouldn't suffice—he needed to offer some incentive, to sweeten the deal so people would be more inclined to help him.
"Thank you… Thank you, Lord Shield Hero!" Lex exclaimed, his excitement evident as he picked up the silver coins from the ground.
While 10 silver coins were trivial for Jason, for Lex, it was a significant amount. Ordinary food cost mere copper coins, and a decent meal at a restaurant required over ten copper coins.
"Do your best. If you have any news, head to that weapon shop and find me!" Jason instructed as he stepped forward. As for the fallen gangsters, it mattered little if they were left unattended; patrol soldiers would soon arrive to clear the scene.
They wouldn't investigate the gangsters, as corruption was deeply rooted in this country, and the authorities would not engage in laborious tasks that bore no benefit. Moreover, a new wave of disaster was looming, leaving them little time for trivial matters.
At most, they'd send a notice for the families to collect the bodies; if no one came, they would simply find a place to bury them.
...
"Brother Shield Hero, have you managed to escape and return?" the owner of the weapon shop exclaimed upon seeing Jason enter, his surprise evident as he noted that Jason certainly looked like someone who had just come back from a harrowing experience.
"Relax! I'm not at my lowest yet. I've just been either hunting monsters or traveling to hunt monsters, leaving little time for equipment changes. I may look a bit worse for wear, yet I can assure you I have grown significantly stronger—I'm not the same as before."
Jason waved his hand dismissively, akin to shooing away flies, but he wasn't lying. His level had reached an impressive 31, and his attributes had increased substantially.
[Jason]: Human.
[LV]: Level 7 → 31
[HP]: 1520 → 2310
[SP]: 370 → 630
[Strength]: 70 → 95 (Ordinary 5)
[Agility]: 64 → 125 (+3)
[Defense]: 136 → 305 (+5)
[Spirit]: 41 → 90 (+1)
[Luck]: XX
Although he hadn't made any system selections during this period, the upgrades from leveling had increased his Garp template to 15%. His defense had surged past 300, a statistic that Jason didn't give much thought. After forcing Raphtalia to attack him previously, he noted even her weakest strikes failed to leave a scratch on him—indicating that his defense was extraordinarily high.
But just how extraordinary was it?
Jason didn't quite understand his own abilities. Despite his remarkable defense, he had never faced a monster capable of injuring him, which left him unsure about the extent of his power.
Of course, it wasn't just his defense that had improved; both his strength and agility had seen significant enhancement as well. However, his mind hadn't fully adapted to the capabilities of his newfound body, which meant he wasn't able to utilize his full strength. After a period of training, though, Jason felt confident in his ability to wield the full extent of his attributes. In certain extraordinary circumstances, he believed he could even surpass them.
Simply put, Jason's combat prowess was far beyond what the numbers indicated.
Additionally, Jason had learned defensive skills such as Aura Shield and Shield Prison, though he found little interest in these. After all, a tank that neglects attack power isn't a good tank at all.
"Huh~~~ I haven't seen you in a while, but you're completely different! She's grown into a beautiful young lady," the weapon shop owner remarked, noticing Raphtalia stepping in behind Jason.
"Thank you, boss, for the compliment!" Raphtalia responded, nodding slightly. Under Jason's guidance, she had become much more composed and graceful compared to her former self.
"Yes… my figure has improved too. I'm quite different from the skinny girl I used to be," she added, a hint of pride in her voice.
The shop owner couldn't help but gaze at her for a moment, displaying a smile of satisfaction. However, Raphtalia, sensing his lingering gaze, marched up to him and pressed two fingers lightly on his eyelids.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" the owner yelped, covering his eyes with his hands. Despite her actions not being deadly, they still stung enough to garner a reaction.
"It's very rude to stare at others so indiscriminately. If I didn't consider you a good boss, I would have dealt with you as a hooligan already," Raphtalia scolded, turning her head and letting her long hair dance with the movement.
"Hooligan? You're dressed so modestly; what could I possibly see?" the owner retorted while rubbing his eyes. Once his vision cleared, he sighed deeply. "Compared to this boldness, I preferred the timid character you had before. Shield Hero Brother, what have you done to her?"
"Haha… it seems I might have influenced her a bit too much. I apologize on her behalf," Jason said, motioning for Raphtalia to return to his side. "Come back, Raphtalia; the boss means no harm."
Immediately, Raphtalia complied, stepping back obediently behind Jason, adopting an air of innocence as if to show she was well-mannered.
Jason then approached the counter and turned his attention to the shop owner. "Alright, let's get down to business. The disaster wave is approaching quickly, and I need equipment!"
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 50+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
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