Chapter 15: Drunkard Jack
Chapter 15: Drunkard Jack
The young lady didn't answer immediately but instead turned around, bending down to gently caress a white horse hoof lily in the back garden, forming a beautiful curve.
"Shadiya, do you know what qualities one needs to possess to enter the Extraordinary realm?"
The head maid furrowed her brows, deep in thought about the question.
Although she could read and often did, most of the books she read were about noble etiquette, noble crests, or estate management.
This question was beyond her knowledge.
After a while, the head maid, with her thin eyebrows furrowed, hesitantly replied, "Talent?"
The young lady smiled slightly. "You're right about that."
"To enter the Extraordinary realm, one needs to possess four qualities simultaneously: determination, talent, perseverance, and opportunity."
"I saw determination and perseverance in Rain, which is why I asked you to call him to the back garden."
"Just now, I confirmed that he indeed has good talent."
Upon hearing this, the head maid exclaimed in realization, "Oh, I see. But..."
"Miss, you mentioned three qualities that Rain possesses, but didn't you say four were needed?"
"Shadiya, are you talking about opportunity? I am his opportunity!" The young lady burst into a brilliant smile.
Inside the Glintstone Town tavern.
Browbeard was negotiating with a well-built adult man in a secluded corner.
"Drunkard Jack, here's 10 silver coins. Just remember to break that Rain kid's sword-wielding hand." Richard said reluctantly to the man beside him.
Even with talent, if his hand is broken, I'd like to see how you'll learn swordsmanship!
"Just 10 silver coins isn't enough for me to drink for two days."
Drunkard Jack, despite his nickname, had a robust build, having once been a mercenary.
Although he now spent most of his time in taverns or with prostitutes, his skills were a far cry from his glory days.
"Richard, at least 15 silver coins, and I'll take care of that kid for you!" Drunkard Jack gestured for more money, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"Fine, 15 silver coins then! But you must ensure that this matter remains absolutely confidential!" Richard agreed to the price increase, gritting his teeth.
After all, he couldn't afford a true expert with his funds, so he had to settle for someone like Drunkard Jack.
But getting rid of Rain was enough, right?
"He should be heading home today, and after spending the night, he'll return to the estate tomorrow evening."
"So, Drunkard Jack, if you're going to act, seize the opportunity and do it as soon as possible!"
"Burp, rest assured!" Drunkard Jack assured him, burping and patting his chest.
"He's just a little brat!"
Before leaving, Richard thought for a moment and added, "This kid has some swordsmanship talent; don't mess it up!"
"Pfft! Don't forget, I used to be a mercenary! A mercenary!" Drunkard Jack muttered, dismissing Richard's concerns.
After Richard left, Drunkard Jack planned to have a couple more drinks.
However, as he lifted his head, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing by the tavern entrance.
"Hey, isn't that Rain?"
Drunkard Jack was overjoyed.
"Tsk, this money is too easy to earn!"
In the evening, as the sun set, Rain hurried home, his mind occupied with thoughts of what Miss Kylie would do next.
Would she recruit him directly? Or...
Suddenly, he heard light footsteps behind him.
A gust of wind blew past his ears!
The effect of his Agility reaching 7 points was evident now.
Rain lunged forward, and the attacker's strike, originally aimed at the back of his head, missed.
However, Rain couldn't avoid all the damage, and the blow still landed heavily on his back.
"Thwack!"
A sharp pain shot through Rayn's back, but it was far better than being struck on the back of his head.
At the same time, the attacker behind Rayn was caught off guard, as his sure-fire strike had missed its mark, causing him to freeze momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, Rayn swiftly turned around and grabbed the stick his attacker had used, pulling it forcefully! The attacker, not willing to let go, tightened his grip on the stick, but due to the sudden force, he was still pulled off balance by Rayn.
In response to Rayn's pull, the attacker's heart momentarily relaxed.
Indeed, the attacker was just a young boy, and his strength was no match for his own. Even with a calculated move, he couldn't wrest the wooden stick from his hands, proving himself too weak.
As he was thinking this...
"Thwack!"
Rayn delivered a lightning-fast upward kick, striking his opponent squarely in the crotch.
"Ahh!!"
The attacker's face turned ashen, and he released the stick in pain, covering his crotch with both hands and immediately squatting down.
Rayn, holding the stick, aimed at the attacker's temple and struck him hard!
"Bang!"
Without even a chance to grunt, the attacker went limp and fell to the ground.
At this moment, Rayn began to pant heavily.
Although the fight had lasted less than ten seconds, it was his first real combat experience in this world.
It was a genuine battle!
Fortunately, his physical attributes and swordsmanship had improved significantly recently.
Otherwise, he might not have reacted in time to the attacker's initial blow.
He could have been knocked down by a single strike!
Rayn quickly looked around, scanning his surroundings.
At this time of day, most of the town's residents had returned home for dinner, and there were few people on the nearby streets.
Rayn's home was located at the end of the town's main street, a secluded spot with even fewer passersby.
This meant that almost no one had witnessed what had just happened.
After a brief moment of thought, Rayn exerted some effort to drag the attacker into the nearby forest and found a thumb-thick vine, which he used to bind the attacker to the base of a large tree, wrapping it three times on the inside and three times on the outside.
Only then did Rayn remove the black handkerchief that had been covering the attacker's face.
"Huh? Isn't this 'Drunkard Jack,' who often loiters in the tavern?"
Glintstone Town wasn't that big, and Rayn immediately recognized the attacker.
After a moment of consideration, Rayn thought of a few people who might have been behind this. Browbeard? Freckles? Or someone else?
Clearly, Browbeard was the most likely suspect.
Rayn decided to wake Drunkard Jack up.
"Rayn, you little brat, let me go right now!"
"Mmm."
Rayn quickly removed Drunkard Jack's smelly socks and stuffed them into his mouth.
Although the forest was dense with trees, providing good sound insulation, Rayn quickly covered Jack's mouth as a precaution.
The stench from the socks, which hadn't been washed for at least a month, was so strong that even Jack himself started to tear up and sneeze!
Rayn, disgusted, rubbed his hand that had touched the socks on the ground.
"I'll ask, you answer! Nod if you understand!" Rayn crouched down and said to Jack, who was tied up like a dumpling.
Jack, seemingly overwhelmed by the stench, frantically nodded his head. Rayn removed the smelly socks from Drunkard Jack's mouth and asked, "Who sent you to attack me?"
Drunkard Jack gasped for breath and said, "Rayn, if you don't want trouble for your family, you'd better let me go right now, or else..."
"Mmm."
Drunkard Jack was silenced again by the smelly socks.
Rayn glared at Drunkard Jack and said, "Drunkard Jack, it seems you don't understand the situation. We're in the forest, and if I shed a little blood, it won't be long before wild beasts are attracted here."
"You have no relatives in Glintstone Town, and no one cares about you. After people notice your disappearance, it'll probably be ten days or half a month before they start looking for you."
"You say..."
(End of Chapter)
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