Free Web NovelChapter 147: Open the Gate
The winter fog enveloped all of Klento that night, including the warehouse, providing a natural cover that Victor used to his advantage.
The air was cold, and the humidity made the city glow under the light of the iron street lamps. But with such good street lighting, the shadows in the darkest corners were long and even more frightening.
Victor adjusted the hood of his cloak, hiding his face even more, and observed the movements of the approaching guard. The man walked slowly, aware of his surroundings but unaware of the imminent danger. When the guard was close enough, Victor, like a ghost in the night, emerged from the shadows and, with a swift and precise movement, killed the guard by striking him in the neck. The man fell without a sound, and Victor quickly dragged him into the darkness as well.
Victor looked around to make sure no other guards had noticed the absence of his two companions. He had to be patient, even if every second counted. He had to neutralize the guards one by one, making sure their presence went unnoticed.
Victor deftly moved to a more advanced position in the side corridor and looked toward the entrance where the other guards were, then hid between two large crates.
The remaining guards were in a small group, talking loudly. Since there were many of Garret Darksoul’s warehouses scattered around the city, they seemed skeptical that it would be theirs that would be attacked.
Victor picked up another pebble from the ground and quickly analyzed the trajectory of the throw. With one fluid motion, he threw the pebble down the side corridor, near where he had hidden the bodies of the other guards, making a soft noise that finally caught the attention of the other guards. They turned toward the sound, confused, and began muttering to each other.
"What the hell was that?" One of them asked, frowning. "Did anyone else hear it?"
"It’s probably just a mouse or something," another replied, but there was uncertainty in his voice.
"Should we go check it out?"
"It’s up to you. I’m not leaving here, if I move any further, all the work I’ve done to keep warm will be ruined."
"Ah, I’ll go there. It might be something."
So Victor took his third victim and dragged the body into the darkness.
There were only three of the six guards left, and Victor knew he had to be even more careful. He noticed that two of the guards were beginning to worry about the absence of their companions.
"Hey, but what about the others? Where are they?" One of them asked, his voice full of suspicion. "This is starting to get weird."
"Maybe they’re all in the back, taking a smoke break," the other suggested.
"Shall we have a look?"
"Arh! Okay..."
"Hey, you can’t leave me here alone in the lobby. Just one."
The two guards had to agree, and only one of them left.
While the guards waited for news, they talked in low voices. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"You know what, Ed? You’re worrying for nothing. I think the others are shirking their duties," the more skeptical one commented, lighting a cigarette. "We’re doing all the actual work while they relax."
The other guard laughed, but it was a nervous laugh. "If the boss hears about this, he’ll have a problem."
"Yeah, but we’re here, and that problem won’t be left to us."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them. Thinking their colleague was coming back, they turned around.
"Like I said, they were just..."
However, their expressions changed instantly when they saw Victor walking towards them as normal. White-haired, broad-shouldered, two meters tall and old, he fit the exact description of the man Garret Darksoul had put a bounty on his head.
The guards put their hands on the handles of their swords, but had no time to draw them.
Victor moved with impressive speed, his sword sliding from his belt like an extension of his arm.
His blade flashed as he disarmed the first guard with a single strike, knocking the man’s sword away. The second guard, still in shock, tried to react, but Victor was already on him, making a clean and efficient cut to his neck. Blood spurted out, and the guard fell to his knees, gurgling before collapsing completely.
The remaining guard, Ed, stood paralyzed for a moment, terror in his eyes. He saw his companion’s body still writhing on the ground, and the sight made him pale.
Victor, however, was as calm as ever. He pointed his sword at Ed, who raised his trembling hands in surrender.
"Open the gate," Victor ordered.
Ed’s eyes widened, and he hesitated, looking at the bloody sword and then into Victor’s cold eyes. "P-please... I’m just doing my job... I have a brother and..."
"Nobody who works for Garret is a saint. Open the gate," Victor repeated, his patience beginning to wear thin. He stepped forward, bringing the blade close to Ed’s neck. "Now."
With shaking hands, Ed turned and began walking toward the warehouse gate. Each step seemed to weigh tons, and the sound of his feet dragging on the stone floor of the courtyard echoed in the still night.
Victor followed close behind, looking for any sign of betrayal.
When they reached the gate, Ed took a bunch of keys from his belt and, with trembling fingers, began to search for the right one. It took him a few seconds to find it, then he inserted it into the lock and turned it with an audible click.
The gate opened slowly, creaking on its rusty hinges. On the other side was the inside of the warehouse, full of crates, barrels, stacked sacks, wagons, and guards.
One man making the rounds near the gate was one of the renegade hunters, the one with the club.
"Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on here? They said they weren’t going to open this place until early tomorrow morning for the wagons to leave!" He said, raising his voice as the gate opened wider.
The light from outside illuminated his face, and soon he saw the face of the guard who opened it. But before he could say anything or rebuke the guard for what he had done, a sword went through Ed’s chest right in front of the club hunter’s eyes, startling him.
