United in Hatred Arc: Chapter 22.
Dippte Ann Jew and Groze carried Winter. The two helped him walk, maintaining a steady pace. Virgin Besong trailed from behind. She was healing him, focusing a healing beam of light-green energy on him.
"You're crazy, man..." Dippte said, adjusting the hold. "I didn't think you'd come out alive from that. I thought you were a goner." He said, while Groze silently agreed.
◆ [ General opinion of you have positively increased.] ◆
Biggy Dakpanay kept an inscrutable expression, deep in thought. "Fifty-fifty. That's how we split the reward. You killed most of the wolves, and we're healing your injuries."
"Seems fair to me, is it to you?" He said, glancing back at Winter, who's being carried.
(That's not fair at all. At the very least it should be sixty-forty. Ah, whatever. I want a meal.) Winter thought, eye closing.
"Yeah, that's fair to me." Winter agreed.
"After this job, we'll never team up with you again. Let's make that clear."
Biggy said, irking Winter, but he kept silent. Lamion quickly agreed with Dakpanay; they clearly had a quick meeting earlier.
With a raised brow, Winter inquired. "May I ask why?"
"You're reckless, and we don't synergize well with you," Biggy said with a stern yet polite voice. He then faced forward, continuing to lead the group outside the forest. "Maybe it's just me but, I have a suspicion that you just want people to witness your strength, not allies."
"That's not a bad thing, of course, but I don't like narcissists," Biggy added, brows furrowing.
"I understand. I apologize for my inability to work well with your team." Winter said and stopped walking, surprising the two who were carrying him. "I'm fine, I was able to somewhat walk by myself some minutes ago."
Biggy clicked his tongue but kept walking. A small audible crack stopped them on their tracks, instantly unsheathing their weapons. The source of the crack was from their left side, deeper in the forest.
A dagger flew straight towards Lamion, but she instantly deflected it with her left arm's bracer.
*Crack!* *Crack!* Someone was approaching, but the group couldn't see them. The footsteps were light and casual, walking as if there was no danger.
"Who's there!? Show yourself!" Lamion shouted as Biggy placed himself at the front.
"My, my, are you really a bronze adventurer? With instincts and skills like yours, you're like a silver tier at the absolute minimum." A feminine voice remarked, but they still couldn't see her.
At this point, they were squinting their eyes hard but still found no one.
"Invisibility!" Virgin added, informing the group.
"Quite smart." A dagger flew straight towards Virgin, but Winter immediately intercepted the dagger. Although his face was serious, inside, he was surprised. His body had moved on its own again.
"I only want Winter and him only. The rest I am not interested in. I am from the Thirteen Daggers and trust me when I say that I really have no interest in you." The invisible woman said and revealed her form.
"You say that but you were throwing daggers at us." Dippte added.
"It's meant to scare bub and I wasn't aiming at them. Had your two teammates stood still, it would've missed them." The woman said, crossing his heart. "Promise!"
A woman, taller than average, wearing a full padded armor outfit with a black scarf. Her face was obscured by a black balaclava-like mask. The sigil of the Thirteen Daggers was sewn on both her padded arms.
A small red star stabbed with exactly thirteen daggers. Thirteen Daggers is an infamous underground group that takes assassination tasks. An underground group only contacted by those who have an intense grudge or a substantial amount of wealth.
Most adventurers would never chance upon this group, and if they did, they knew to keep their distance lest they be a part of the kill count.
"Thirteen daggers!?" Biggy said in surprise. The group kept silent, glancing at Winter and then the woman. "We knew him just today; we don't know him." He pleaded.
"That assassination group!?" Virgin said, fearing for her life already.
"I know, that's why I am giving you the chance to run away. I have no interest in your group." The woman said with a sneer and a quick chuckle. "I won't repeat myself." She said with a cold tone, sending a shiver down everyone's spines.
Virgin stopped healing Winter and stepped away. The rest of the group slowly stepped away from Winter while keeping an eye on the woman. Virgin and Geese took one final glance before they were grabbed and then forced to run away.
"Let's go, hurry up!" Groze said.
The group then ran away with quiet determination, not turning back.
The woman's form flickered, then approached Winter, stopping only two meters away from him. Winter kept panting, holding his injuries.
(I'm not really injured, but if I play my cards right. She'll probably believe it and might not take me seriously...) Winter thought.
"Quite a fight you gave to those manifested wolves. A shame you couldn't redeem the rewards, though."
"What do you want with me? Who hired you?"
"I have an only-reveal-the-employer-once-the-target-is-dying policy." The woman added with a mocking tone, chuckling.
The woman then charged forward, thrusting the dagger straight towards Winter's face. Winter swiftly dodged it and delivered a jab straight to her face. The woman was caught off guard and quickly leaped away.
The woman's eyes turned cold. "You're not really injured or hurt, are you?" The woman said, taking a closer look at Winter's body. The wounds were superficial or were already healed.
"That healer girl couldn't have done all that. There's something else about you." The woman said and lowered her position, almost crawling on the floor. Her chest was touching the ground while her rear was positioned upwards.
"Minor strength, Minor Speed, Improved Speed." The woman shot forward, leaping with great speed. Winter barely parried her thrust. The woman then planted her hand on the ground and flipped forward, striking her crotch on Winter's chest, locking her upper limbs with her legs, and then pinning him to the ground with the force.
The woman smiled beneath her mask and tried to stab Winter in the face, but he managed to wriggle free somewhat and dodge the stab.
A sweet fragrance then met his nose, it was proper hygiene maintenance.
The padding was softer and thinner in the crotch and thigh area. Winter bit on the thigh area, drawing blood.
"AH! You piece of shit!" The woman said, loosening her leg lock, giving Winter an opportunity shove her away.
"Minor Speed, Minor Strength, Fleet-foot, Minor Agility, Enrage, Small Boost." Winter activated six techniques, massively shocking the woman.