Book 8, The Ten Thousand Kilometer Journey – Chapter 15, The Apothecary
After experiencing yet another assassination attempt, Jenne and Keane both truly understood how dangerous this trip to Cerre City would be. They were at risk of dying at any moment. Unconsciously, both of them turned towards Linley.
“Big brother Ley, what should we do in the future?” Jenne looked at Linley as she asked this question, her heart filled with worry.
Right now, both Keane and Jenne felt as though they were lost within a boundless haze, unable to see the future. They didn’t know what would happen if they persevered.
Looking at this pair of innocent siblings, Linley consoled them, “Don’t worry. I’m confident in my ability to deal with an acting city governor of a prefectural city.”
Right now, Linley had reached the eighth rank, and was a peak-stage combatant of the ninth rank when Dragonformed. The Blackcloud Panther, Haeru, was also a peak-stage magical beast of the ninth rank, and Bebe’s power was no lower than that of Linley and Haeru’s either.
If this man and these two magical beasts attacked together, if no Saint-level combatants appeared, no matter how many people came, they would not be able to stop these three.
Hearing Linley’s words, Jenne and Keane couldn’t help but begin to worship Linley.
Although up till now, the two of them still had no idea as to how powerful Linley truly was, in their eyes, Linley was an amazing, mysterious individual. As for Lambert, upon seeing all this, he felt gratified as well. As long as Jenne and Keane could live a safe life, he would be happy even if he had to die. For such an expert to be willing to help these two countryside-raised siblings without quibbling about anything else was more than enough for this old servant to be filled with gratitude.
“Knock!” “Knock!” “Knock!”
A knocking sound could be heard from outside.
“I’ll get it.” Lambert chortled. “It is probably the attendants bringing breakfast.”
“Let’s get ready to eat.” Linley chuckled as he led Jenne and Keane to the living room. Lambert opened the gate to their residence, and two attendants pushing two food-laden trolleys entered.
“Deliver these to the living room.” Lambert chortled as he instructed them.
“Yes, sir.” The two attendants were extremely meek as they each pushed their trolleys inside. But as they moved in, they glanced at each other, a hint of determination in their eyes.
In this assassination attempt, regardless of whether or not they would succeed, they definitely would die.
They knew that Linley, that powerful expert, was still present. Either Linley or his black panther could easily kill them.
….
Within the living room, Linley was seated at the head of the table. Jenne and Keane were seated at the sides. The two attendants smiled meekly as they pushed the carts into the room.
“Sir, miss, where should we place this whole roast sheep?” The attendant opened one of the lids.
“Place them over there.” Linley gestured at the stone floor nearby the table. The Blackcloud Panther, Haeru, was resting next to that table. Smelling the roasted meat, he raised his head.
For Haeru, an entire roast sheep was nothing more than a light breakfast.
“Yes, sir.” The attendant very obediently placed that huge lamb-covered tray onto the floor. Bebe immediately ran over as well. With a swipe of his sharp paws, he ripped off one of the roasted lamb’s legs.
Haeru stared at Bebe, and then he too went over and began to bite off large chunks of the roasted sheep.
“Sir, please enjoy.” The attendant placed a tray in front of Linley, and then put another tray in front of Jenne.
At the same moment, the other attendant was placing a tray in front of Keane.
Currently…
The two attendants were to each side of Keane. Keane wasn’t suspicious at all, and happily picked up his knife and his fork as he prepared to enjoy this sumptuous meal.
The two attendants exchanged glances. As though they were psychically connected, they suddenly reached out at the same time towards Keane. Their four hands were formed into claws, piercing at Keane’s chest, head, and throat.
Four hands attacking at once!
Ordinary warriors of the fifth and sixth ranks could shatter stones with a single blow. Even warriors of the fourth rank could shatter thick wooden planks.
The vital points of a weak child like Keane probably couldn’t withstand a single blow, whether it was at his head, his chest, or his throat.
They were simply too close.
The two attendants were simply too close to Keane, and they attacked from too close as well. At such a close range, even a warrior of the eighth rank wouldn’t be able to react before Keane was already dead.
Linley let out a cold snort.
A dazzling violet light suddenly flashed, then disappeared. Ear-piercing screams could be heard as the four limbs of the two attendants fell to the floor.
“Ah!!” Jenne was so scared that she jumped to her feet.
“Young master!” Only now did Lambert realize what had almost happened. He angrily kicked the two attendants into the walls, causing the walls to shake.
Those two attendants were moaning in pain. They only exchanged glances, despair in their eyes.
“You…how…” One of them stared at Linley disbelievingly.
They had been less than half a meter away from Keane. Although they were only warriors of the fourth rank, at such a close distance, they didn’t even need more than a brief instant to kill Keane.
In such a short period of time, even an expert shouldn’t be able to react fast enough.
But not only did Linley manage to react, he had been able to cut all of their arms off.
“Surprised as to why I was able to react in time?” Linley looked calmly at the two of them. “How would ordinary attendants have arms like yours?”
The two of them looked at their severed arms.
The people under the command of that red-haired man were all elite archers. As elite archers, they would often train, causing the veins and muscles in their arms in particular to be protruding.
The two attendants exchanged glances, their eyes filled with despair.
What’s more, their arm sockets were constantly leaking blood. Very soon, the two of them would definitely die of blood loss. But they knew…having failed their mission, even if Linley spared them, their captain and Madame Wade wouldn’t spare them.
“Don’t pay them any mind. We leave now.” Linley stood up.
Jenne and Keane, having experienced two assassination attempts already, didn’t have as huge a reaction to this third one as they had before. Keane said softly, “Big brother Ley, what about breakfast? Should we wrap it up and take it with us?”
“No.”
Linley shook his head. “Be careful about the food you eat in the future. I suspect all this food is poisoned.”
“Poisoned?” Keane looked at the food in his plate, terrified.
“Squeak!” Off to the side, Bebe suddenly began to squeak at Linley. Looking at Bebe, Linley couldn’t help but begin to laugh.