Boom.
A sharp impact echoed through the inn as Budeen’s attack landed squarely on Ethan’s chest. The force lifted him clean off his feet and hurled him backward, his body crashed into the wooden wall with a heavy thud that shook loose dust and splinters.
Ethan slid down the wall, gasping as pain spread through his ribs. His breath came out strained, each inhale felt tighter than the last.
Leila reacted instantly. Her bow was already in her hands, fingers were moving on instinct as she reached for an arrow.
But unfortunately, she never got the chance.
The innkeeper appeared in front of her in a blink, invading her melee range before she could even draw.
His hand clamped down on the bow, twisted it sharply, and flung Leila aside as if she weighed nothing.
She slammed into a table, the impact knocked the air out of her lungs.
Maximus tried to move.
He did not even manage to take a step.
Budeen appeared behind him like a shadow and struck with a precise chop at the back of his head.
The blow landed cleanly, and Maximus collapsed instantly, his body hit the floor with a dull sound.
Budeen straightened and turned slowly, his footsteps measured as he walked toward Ethan’s struggling figure.
"I don’t know if you are foolish or just brain-dead," Budeen said, his voice came out mockingly.
"I can’t comprehend why you returned after somehow escaping the clutches of those men."
Ethan tried to push himself up, but his hands trembled as his body refused to cooperate properly.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining the floor beneath him.
Budeen stopped a step away.
The dagger in his hand rose slowly, its edge was catching the dim light of the inn.
"Should have stayed gone," he muttered, angling the blade to finish Ethan’s life.
Before the dagger could descend, a sudden ripple passed through the air.
suddenly!!
The wooden ceiling above them shattered violently, planks exploding outward as debris rained down across the room.
Two figures dropped through the opening, landing with controlled precision amid the chaos.
They wore black masks and assassin-like robes, the presence they emitted was far more dangerous than the two cultists.
The innkeeper barely had time to react.
One of the masked men appeared beside him and struck once. The innkeeper collapsed immediately and got neutralized before a single word could leave his mouth.
Budeen did not get even that mercy.
The second black-robed figure stepped forward and, in one smooth motion, sliced through the old man’s neck. The blade passed cleanly, and Budeen’s body crumpled lifelessly to the floor.
The room fell silent.
Broken wood creaked softly as dust settled. Ethan and Leila stared at the robed figures, shock etched across their faces.
Ethan pushed himself upright slowly, his breath was heavy and uneven. The earlier impact had left his chest congested and burning, every breath was scraping painfully.
He wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand and looked up at the assassin standing in front of him.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked. His voice was steady, but he knew the truth. He was no match for this man.
"I am number 35," the assassin replied calmly. "A humble servant of His Majesty Aurelius and a member of the Hound Division."
He did not pause.
"I have been commissioned to protect you at all times you leave the academy."
Behind him, the other masked man moved quickly. He restrained the innkeeper tightly using energy restriction chains and cloth, binding his limbs and sealing his mouth and eyes.
Only after the man was fully secured did he turn toward Leila.
She lay slumped against the table, breathing shallowly.
The assassin lifted her carefully and fed her a potion, tilting her head just enough to make her swallow.
"Ugh!!" Leila groaned as her eyes fluttered open. She sat up slowly, still dazed, and looked at the masked figure beside her.
The masked figure straightened and turned around to look at Ethan
"I am number 36," he said in a similar tone. "Assigned to protect Miss Leila whenever she leaves the academy."
"The Hounds?" Leila muttered, her eyes widening slightly.
She looked at Ethan, who nodded slowly.
Only then did the realization sink in. The empire’s most elite force had been watching them this whole time.
Confusion spun through their minds, but there was no time to dwell on it.
They saw that Maximus Laid unmoving on the floor.
They hurried to him, checking his breathing and trying to wake him.
"Don’t worry, Miss Leila and Master Ethan," number 35 said evenly. "He fainted due to shock to the head. He will wake up in a few hours."
Ethan nodded and carefully dragged Maximus to the side, propping him against the wall so he could breathe comfortably.
Meanwhile, number 35 walked toward the bound innkeeper.
He reached out and removed the cloth from the man’s mouth.
"Why did you attack?" the Hound asked.
The innkeeper spat on the floor, glaring with pure hatred at number 35.
Number 35 did not react.
He simply glanced at number 36.
Number 36 nodded and moved.
Grabbing the innkeeper by the hair, he pulled his head backward. Using his legs, he locked the man’s head in place, then forced his fingers apart to hold both eyelids wide open.
"What are you doing????" the innkeeper muffled through panicked breaths.
Leila and Ethan watched silently from the side, their expressions turned tense.
Number 35 walked to a dining table and picked up a jar of peppers.
Before anyone could speak, he twisted the lid open and poured a generous amount directly into the innkeeper’s exposed eyes.
"Arrghhh!!"
The scream tore through the inn.
The man thrashed violently, but the energy-restricting chains locked him in place. He could not even use mana to shield his eyes.
"Will you tell me now?" number 35 asked.
His voice remained cold and level, completely unchanged.
Number 36 did not allow the man to blink even once, forcing his eyes open as the pain intensified beyond control.
A dagger appeared in number 36’s hand as it became clear the man still hesitated.
"I will tell! I will tell! Please remove this!" the innkeeper cried, his voice breaking.
As if acknowledging surrender, number 36 released a pulse of mana. The peppers separated from the man’s eyes and fell away.
Number 35 conjured water and poured it gently over the man’s face, cooling the burning sensation.
"Aaarghhh!! Yes! Yes!!" the innkeeper sobbed as the water hit his eyes.
"That boy is Sackmadi!!" he shouted, looking shakily at Ethan.
Ethan’s eyes widened in shock.
"His name is Ethan," number 35 corrected calmly.
"No!!" the innkeeper screamed. "He is Sackmadi!! Last week he came to our inn and ordered a lot of booze. He got drunk, and then the old man and I kidnapped him and sent him away!!"
"Oh. Interesting," number 35 said. For the first time, his voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"Where did you send him after kidnapping?"
The innkeeper hesitated.
His eyes shifted nervously, pupils darting side to side.
"Umm... we supplied slaves to slave merchants in some empires," he said finally.
The lie was obvious as both 35 and 36 had already seen him hesitating for a moment.
Number 35 picked up the pepper jar again. "This time, I will cut your third leg and sprinkle pepper on the wound."
"No!! No!!" the innkeeper screamed, struggling violently.
Number 36 did not hesitate.
He reached down and began cutting open the innkeeper’s pants as the man writhed under the chains.
"No, stop! I am telling the truth!!!"
"Please stoppp!!"
The blade hovered dangerously close.
Ethan immediately moved, placing his hands firmly over Leila’s eyes and ears. He did not want her to see or hear any of this.
"Okay!! Okay!!" the innkeeper cried, tears streaming down his face. "I was lying! I was lying!! I will tell the truth!!"
His voice shook with desperation.
"We worked for the Clayman Cult!! We were kidnapping Sackmadi to send him to them, we thought he somehow escaped their grasp!!!"
The words spilled out in a rush, driven by terror and pain.
Number 35’s eyes glinted coldly.
His dagger flashed in a swift arc.
Flesh was torn away between the innkeeper’s legs.
"Arghhhhhhh!!!"
The scream echoed through the inn.
Ethan tightened his grip over Leila’s eyes and ears, his jaw clenched hard.
He did not want her getting any ideas from the Hounds tonight.