Chapter 7: Ⅶ. Bounty Hunters
Londen City, as a trade hub on the East Shore, boasted an astonishing volume of goods and a vibrant array of docked ships.
But only merchant ships.
Secret port.
Around Londen City were several natural sea erosion cliffs, forming giant caves, incredibly hidden, which became a secret stronghold for the nobility inside the city to evade the Duchy's taxes and hoard personal armaments.
But once a significant scale was reached, it couldn't be hidden. The Navy Commander of Londen City must have known, but since these families were deeply rooted and transferred benefits, he could only turn a blind eye.
The Twin-Masted Sailing Ship of the Black Sail Pirate Group was anchored at one such secret port.
Reaching the secret port was not via a stone-paved road, but through a narrow path compacted with earth, wide enough only for a carriage, flanked by grand green forests, desolate and uninhabited.
The clang of iron continuously resounded, swords and Arm Armor striking and sparking off each other, all red-eyed, life and death hanging by a thought.
Within the greenwoods.
"You're too slow, too slow! How can you survive like this?"
Rein, with plenty to spare, swung his Arm Armor, blocking one deadly chop after another.
Two robust, fierce-looking individuals clad in Leather Armor were assailing Rein from both sides, their swords sharp and unyielding, adult men trained professionally with cold weapons, slicing flesh and chopping bones was far easier than imagined, a single successful hit would be fatally crippling.
With a loud clang, as if metal shattered.
Rein's left arm powerfully blocked, meeting the shortsword, causing the long sword to curl. A Bounty Hunter's hand split open, losing strength, the nerves in the joint completely paralyzed, his weapon clattering to the ground.
Then, as quick as a streak of silver, his sharp, gleaming claws gripped the neck, the nail, as tough as metal, completely digging into the flesh, shattering the windpipe straight to the bone, twisting it off like snapping a bamboo stick; the head hung at a strange angle, instantly slain.
The remaining Bounty Hunter, seeing his companion dead, did not panic. His mental strength was exceptionally strong, and his skills were much better than the other's, his sword moves sweeping towards Rein like a sudden storm.
Rein, having dealt with one, had no intention of engaging lengthy combat; this was no joke. A lion uses full strength to catch a rabbit, how could one gamble with life?
Amid the chaotic sword moves, Rein fully blocked with his Arm Armor, his claws waving wildly with increased ferocity, sparks flying.
The Bounty Hunter gradually fell into disadvantage, knowing the opponent had an overwhelming strength, he feinted an upward stab to deceive Rein, who crossed his arms in front of his chest. Following that, he diagonally slashed sideways, attempting to strike at Rein's abdomen and end his life.
But Rein, with his large build, was unexpectedly fast and agile; he swiftly took a leap back, landing agilely in a tree six or seven meters high, claws embedded into the bark, his cold gaze making the Bounty Hunter's hairs stand on end.
It's over.
That was the Bounty Hunter's first thought.
Rein pounced down from above, unafraid of being thrust through by a sword.
The Bounty Hunter instinctively used the best solution and thrust towards Rein's abdomen.
Indeed.
With a loud clang, birds in the forest scattered from fear, that longsword inevitably repelled by the Arm Armor, and the Bounty Hunter's sword-wielding hand was momentarily weakened.
Seeing the Swordsman about to be gutted.
Yet his left hand was more agile than his right. The long sword fell behind him, his other hand unseen by Rein grabbed the hilt from behind. Earlier lessons taught him not to strike rashly; horizontal or vertical chops would all be blocked by the Werewolf, only a stab could work, though late, everything happened in a blink, a move "Returning Horse Sword" thrust straight at Rein's head, unavoidably swift like lightning.
Snap, crackle…
Blood oozed from Rein's hand, vividly dripping on the broken stone path below, forcefully gripping the sword, firmly clamped.
"Not bad, no wonder you even dare to come for me."
Rein held the sword blade tightly in his hand, no matter how much the Bounty Hunter exerted force, he couldn't move it at all.
The Bounty Hunter quickly backed away, pulling a foldable knife from a strap around his waist for emergencies.
"Kasi! Boss!"
The Bounty Hunter roared his leader's name, knowing he could no longer turn the tide by himself.
"Ha ha." Rein let out a terrifying laugh, his fangs exposed, his gaping maw in full view. He tossed his sword away and licked the blood off his claws with his long tongue, his horrifying face struck immense fear, "Indeed, it's a reasonable arrangement for your boss to come and chop at our Second Officer, called Kasi, is it? Truly unlucky, he drew the short straw."
Rein didn't even have to think about the outcome. The renowned "Sword of Dawn," an officer from Blue Bay Port on the East Shore, was chopped up by Ox in less than a minute. Where did these Bounty Hunters stand in comparison?
In the midst of talking, Ox carried over "halves" of a body, the upper half and the lower half, grabbing an arm and a leg in one hand, to Rein's side of the battlefield. The body named Kasi had a massive cut at the waist with unstoppable bleeding.
"Damn, brother."
Rein saw that he had complete control over the situation and popped open champagne.
Upon seeing the horrible state of their leader's body, the Bounty Hunter's face turned ashen.
In his moment of shock, there was a snap.
Rein flew past, and all that could be heard was the bursting of tendons and the brittle sound of bones. As he swooshed by, he tore off the man's forearm, completely disabling this Swordsman, the cross section at the shoulder pouring blood.
"Who commanded you?"
Ox tossed the bisected body carelessly onto the ground like trash and asked the remaining Bounty Hunter.
"Need orders to kill you pirates? Stop the nonsense, let's get on with it."
This Swordsman remained defiant, aware of his imminent death, undisturbed by the injury on his shoulder.
"Fine, you're a real man."
Ox didn't say much more. The Special Large Sword in his hand felt as light as a foam board, he granted the Swordsman a quick death by thrusting the sword into his chest, coming out from the back, throwing and smashing him onto the ground, killing him instantly.
Seeing that the Bounty Hunters were now all dead,
"Could it be the Lord in the city ordered this, wanting to eliminate us? And then swallow the money in the bank's vault? Wouldn't that be dangerous for our Captain?"
Rein speculated that these men had been watching them for a while, only waiting for him and Ox to be alone on this small path leading to the secret port to ambush them.
Ox thought for a while and spoke, "Impossible, we stumbled upon unexpected riches, incomparable to the noble's wealth. Generations have been conducting business here, uninterested in such petty sums. Managing that gambling den and bank was only to show competitors some attitude, to warn them not to overextend their reach. If it were for reputation, his subordinates could take the blame. Moreover, the aristocratic families' true faces in this area are well-known, they wouldn't fear being linked with us. He also knows our capabilities. If he were to send someone, he would let his significant Guest appear, or perhaps request the Navy Commander from Londen City to send troops."
After hearing Ox's analysis, Rein felt it was well reasoned and logical.
"It seems these were indeed freelance Bounty Hunters, sigh." Rein sighed, squatting to look at the Swordsman's body, "Nowadays, people think they are invincible just because they have some skills and decide to become Bounty Hunters, tricking their buddies as if it's nothing, providing some comfort to their hearts, laughing it off, but don't take it too seriously, see what end they meet?"
Everyone had already died, but Rein still sharply criticized, with Ox clicking his tongue, Liszt's sharp and highly offensive remarks often misled many on the ship.
However, the Captain had a saying that was very true, "Birds die for food, humans die for money."
They were all just out to make a living, not asking for much.
Ox closed the Swordsman's eyes, then immediately started searching the body.
Rein also began gathering the spoils of war.
They found just over ten silver coins, some copper coin scraps from the several bodies, and no important documents. It seemed these Bounty Hunters indeed risked much for wealth.
They also found a whole eleven paper Warrants, drawn by extremely skilled artists specializing in this. Even if some minor details were not matching, the likenesses were impressively lifelike, instantly recognizable, regardless of the race.
Rein flipped through them, searching for his own.
"This time it's increased by thirty, I feel like killing myself, damn."
Rein complained, and it was just for him alone.
"Probably added by the relatives of the Blue Bay Port Lord from other places, like his uncles, since I killed his whole family, a family of cult followers. Their death was indeed a service to the people."
Over ten silver coins were still money, Ox pocketed them calmly, unbothered about his own bounty. No matter how high it was, one had to be alive to claim it.