We made it out of Ingcaster by early afternoon, despite taking several detours. To my surprise, Pearl Banner conveniently provided our transportation via an oversized horse-drawn carriage. It looked more like a mobile home on wheels than a traditional carriage, which took 12 juiced up steeds to pull.

  The interior was furnished with upholstered leather seats, weapon racks, and even a closet for storage. The most impressive luxury of all was a stone cabinet infused with ice magic—an effective mini-fridge. Even with seven passengers, the carriage was roomy. I had snagged a window seat and even a complimentary neck pillow. As much as I had enjoyed horse-riding, this was an absolute luxury. Although I hoped Greymane would be alright with me leaving him behind in The Gilded Boar’s stables.

  The carriage also conveyed the obvious message that Pearl Banner was filthy rich. And despite Tobias and Oakley being backed by such a wealthy entity, they seemed quite humble. They were definitely more well-mannered than I had been in my teens.

  I nearly fell asleep with the incessant chatter between the Twilight Rangers acting as a white noise machine. But just as I was about to drift off, the carriage came to a complete stop.

  “That's odd... The coachman said we wouldn't arrive until tonight,” Duskblade said.

  The door to our carriage swung open and the stubby coachman with a sweat-drenched face said, “Uh, there's been a complication.”

  Tobias rose from his seat, embarrassed and frustrated. “What's the meaning of this? Pearl Banner paid you well for your services, and now there’s a delay?”

  I opened one eye and let out a sigh. From the coachman's strained expression, I could tell there was a bigger problem than a busted wheel or a dead horse.

  “There are two wicked looking men blocking the path ahead. I think they are bandits,” the coachman said.

  “Are they out of their damned minds?” Tobias jumped out of his seat, his face on the verge of turning purple. “Didn't they see our banner?!”

  “Uh, yes. They said out of respect for Pearl Banner, everyone will be spared if Sir Cyprus steps out.”

  “Insolent fools.” Tobias pulled a wand from a cloth bag and stepped toward the door, but Oakley grabbed his arm.

  “You're not equipped to fight them. I'd like to request the Twilight Ranger's aid,” Oakley said, turning to the others.

  “Of course. Cyprus is an honorary member of our party. We'll face them together,” Duskblade said.

  With an annoyed sigh, I stood up and said, “They're impeding our objective because of me. I'll deal with this myself.”

  I grabbed my short sword from the weapon rack as Grace objected. “Don't be foolish. Even at a distance, I can tell they're strong. You won't stand a chance.”

  “She's right,” Duskblade said. “We'll fight together.”

  “That will only put targets on your backs, too. Don't disgrace my honor,” I said.

  As I expected, just mentioning the word “honor” was enough to get everyone to back down. Some things in this world were just that simple.

  I craned my neck outside and spotted two rough looking dudes standing in the middle of the road, about 20 yards away. I lifted the filter from Karma’s Gaze and scanned their statuses.

  Target: Jax

  Level: 4

  Karma: -1365

  Additional Data: Age 34. Junior associate of the Soul Viper organization. Karma rating severely affected by criminal activity including murder, rape, extortion, bribery, kidnapping, torture, and tax evasion.

  I skimmed over the additional data, wondering how Karma's Gaze chose which facts were presented to me.

  Target: Kelvin

  Level: 3

  Karma: -975

  Additional Data: Age 28. Junior associate of Soul Viper. Hobbies include spear fishing, candle making, and decapitating people. Consumes eggs on a daily basis…

  I scratched my chin as the additional data box dragged on, providing a slew of useless information. Was this a bug or a feature? It was as if Karma’s Gaze had pulled the data randomly. I was hoping the upgraded ability would at least reveal their spells or skill sets.

  “You're Cyprus?” Jax laughed as he pulled an iron great sword from his back. “I didn't think you'd be this short.”

  I'm not short, you're just a freak.

  Jax stood over seven feet tall and carried himself with the confidence of someone that had never tasted defeat. He wore custom fitted leather armor, probably because of his bulky, muscular stature. Scars decorated his face as if he collected them like Christmas ornaments. And he wielded the great sword with just one hand. Though the massive, dull slab of iron could hardly be called a sword.

  In comparison, Kelvin was a mere twig. A twig gripping two kusarigama's— weapons that I recognized from the History Channel. Translated, the name meant chain-sickle—razor sharp sickles on metal chains with iron weights attached at the end. Traditionally, the chains weren’t long, making the weapon more suited for close-quarters combat that excelled against swordsmen. But this variation offered an extra lengthy chain, giving Kelvin plenty of range, while still being fairly lightweight. Leather straps also secured the end of the chain to Kelvin’s wrists.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” I asked, playing dumb.

  “You should’ve never messed with Drayvoss,” he said.

  “It was nothing personal, just a simple job. Go take your complaints up with the one who issued the contract,” I said. “I'm busy right now, so kindly fuck off.”

  “This mutt,” Kelvin said, fingers tightening around the sickle’s grip.

  “We’ve done our research. You're a foreigner that doesn't know how Aclana operates. There's a good reason no one touched that contract.” Jax stepped forward, casually dragging his massive sword behind him. “You’d be on your knees begging for forgiveness if you knew our clan’s reach.”

  “I don't give two shits about Soul Viper, but if they keep pestering me like this, then I'll have no choice but to pay them a visit,” I warned.

  Mentioning the name of their “secret” organization left them momentarily stunned. I only intended it as a blow to their egos, not realizing that by removing their shroud of mystery, I had put them on guard, dispelling the notion that I was just an insignificant dumbass that had disrupted their smuggling operation.

  “Now, things are getting interesting,” Kelvin said as he started twirling the chain-sickles at his sides.

  “Careful not to kill him. He knows way too much. We need to find out who’s backing him,” Jax said.

  Yeah, nobody's backing me.

  “Absolute Rush!” Kelvin shouted as he burst in my direction, suddenly picking up an enormous amount of speed.

  A sickle whirred through the air, humming past my earlobe, inches from making contact. When the second sickle left his hand, I realized his intentions. Kelvin was trying to herd me into a lane where the first blade would return, seeking my back. I entertained his plan and stepped away from the second sickle, into the first blade’s returning path.

  While his ability, Absolute Rush, granted him a great boost in agility, it only put him on par with mine. Kelvin’s eyes lit up, counting the kill before his blades connected.

  I simply raised my right leg as the first sickle passed underneath my boot. “Shit, this one’s untied.”

  When I bent over and re-tied my laces, the second sickle whirred back overhead.

  What happens when your buff wears off?

  Just like the History Channel discussed, the kusarigamas truly sucked for the wielder’s allies. Jax found himself on the outskirts of the skirmish as Kelvin’s weapon siphoned space. With the brute more focused on the prospect of friendly fire, I concentrated on the sickles dancing through the air.

  Kelvin quickly rotated his wrists, gritting his teeth as they picked up speed. Finally, he threw his arms out, sending the flying sickles at my torso. I side-stepped them and grinned.

  Kelvin’s brow furrowed, face reddened as he yanked the chain back. But the blades lost momentum on their return, suggesting his buff had run its course. I stood still, listening to the air splitting as the sickles soared toward my back.

  I tilted my head and turned my body, completely avoiding the scythe's edge. I caught the end of the chain attached to the weapon's iron counterweight and twisted. The chain tightened as Kelvin resisted, squaring his hips, reinforcing his grip.

  Jax quickly understood the situation and charged in, but there was still a decent gap between us.

  Don’t underestimate me.

  I squeezed the chain and thrust my body backward, tearing Kelvin out of his stance, dragging him across the ground into Jax's path. Unexpectedly, the brute swung his great sword onto the road, severing the iron chains with a single strike.

  “Hey dickhead, those were expensive,” Kelvin said, regaining his footing as he clutched his left wrist. “Fuck, I think it’s broken. I don't care what you say, Jax, he dies here.”

  Jax extended his arm, stopping Kelvin in his tracks. “He's barely moved an inch and you're almost out of the fight. It might not look like it, but we're at the disadvantage. Something’s seriously off here… We’ll retreat for now.”

  “Are you serious?” Kelvin slapped Jax's arm out of his way.

  “He's right, Jax,” I said, examining the kusarigama in my hand. “I never said I'd let you leave. And now it seems I spoke too much. I can't let you report back. It's better if you both die here.”

  “How do you know my name?” Jax asked and turned to Kelvin. “I'll hold him off. Go report back to the handler. That's an order.”

  “But we can finish—"

  Mid-objection, the jagged tip of Kelvin’s scythe pierced through the side of his head. Jax jumped backwards, raising his guard.

  Perhaps it was a cheap shot, but they shouldn't have had the nerve to hold a conversation after initiating combat. This wasn’t some turn-based affair. I had simply chucked his broken weapon back at him when his focus lapsed.

  There was only a good 12 yards between us. If I used Invisibility or Dagger Step, Jax would've already been dead, but with a caravan of spectators, I decided to rely purely on my raw stats and combat prowess.

  “I'll cut your goddamned head off!” Jax shouted as he readied his weapon.

  I quickly closed the remaining gap, surprising the brute with my speed. He reacted with a horizontal slash, leaning into the attack to extend its reach. But he was much too slow.

  I slid underneath the blade, kicking up dust as I ran my short sword through his ankles. Jax collapsed onto his back, the shock of losing his feet taking a few seconds to kick in.

  “Sonofabitch,” he shouted, trying to pull himself up.

  But I turned and lopped his head off with one swift slash.

  +425 XP

  +140 Karma

  When I turned around, everyone was standing outside of the carriage with a mix of dumbfounded expressions. I sheathed my sword and headed over to them. Were they all judging me like Sairees?

  “That was over quick,” Joel said, and pat me on the back. “Boss was right to bring you along!”

  “It takes a lot to impress me.” Duskblade grinned. “But that was something else.”

  Tobias grabbed my shoulder. “Hold on. What techniques did you use back there? I couldn't tell. Captain Eric will want to meet with you.”

  I squeezed past them, climbed back into the carriage, and grabbed a chilled canteen from the stone mini fridge. “I already told you, I'm skilled at close quarters combat and dodging.”

  The rest of the party eventually took their seats, and we were finally back on the move. I sipped chilled water and readjusted the complimentary neck pillow, eager to conserve my energy before we reached the dungeon.

  “You're going to sleep after that?” Duskblade asked.

  “Yeah... Is that a problem?”

  “Oh, no,” Duskblade said, tilting his head as if he was observing some strange specimen. “There just aren't many people that could sleep after a fight like that. Those guys weren't just mere bandits. They were strong, well-trained killers, and I thought I heard the word Soul Viper.”

  Strong? Them? Really?

  Despite how close we were in levels, the gap between us felt wide as a canyon. It seemed Karma’s Gaze enhanced damage against negative karma targets was indeed a fundamental advantage. I wasn’t sure exactly how the passive ability multiplied my damage or by what amount. However, since I had increased its mastery, it felt like I could easily stand against enemies several levels higher if their karma ratings were negative.

  The boys from Pearl Banner gasped, and the rest of the party silently stared at me.

  “They were from Soul Viper?!” Tobias asked.

  “Never heard of 'em,” I said.

  “You haven't heard of a lot of people,” Duskblade said. “They're a powerful criminal organization. Not even the adventurer's guild would trifle with them.”

  “If that's the case, then why did they issue the Drayvoss contract in the first place? Apparently, that was their guy.”

  “Either somebody's trying to ruffle their feathers, or the request wasn't properly vetted. Drayvoss was famous in the smuggling world, but he was always known as an independent operator. If he was secretly affiliated with Soul Viper, I'm not surprised you've drawn their attention.”

  Hanlon's razor said to never attribute to malice which can be explained by stupidity. I wondered if that platitude held water here.

  “How troublesome. Oh well, I'll just keep killing whoever they send until they give up.”

  “It sounds simple when you say it like that,” Duskblade said.

  “Because it is that simple. Wake me up when we get there.”

  “Sure...”