The Info Merchant [Chapter 59]

We walk deeper and deeper into the tunnel, the moist walls slowly getting wider and taller. Soon it opens up into a massive underground city, formed on top of mined stone. I stare in awe at the formations around.

Spanning miles ahead of us, we all see the underside of the city. Several people with fur, or other bodily features, are watching us carefully from the city before us.

"Welcome to the Underworld."

Warren says as he takes a deep breath. He coughs slightly and waves for us to follow him. We all slowly walk on the solid stone, the sound of bustling life above us vibrating through the cave. We walk passed several people and buildings and arrive at a rundown looking stone building. It's built into the side of the cave itself.

We quickly push the stone door to the side and enter.

"Hey, Kain, you here?"

Warren asks within the building. We all walk further into the building, noticing it looks like an old bar or tavern.

"What do you want, Warren."

We hear a deep and rough voice grumble from behind a wooden door.

"We need some info, and you know how I am about following out contracts. Therefore, you have no worry on payment."

The wooden door opens and a tall, very muscular man walks out. He has a thick black beard with slight streaks of gray. He has thick and neat black hair slicked back. His eyes are gray and green with bags under them. He's adorned in ornate heavy metal armor, a pendant of a griffin on the chest plate.

He stands against the doorframe and crosses his arms.

"So, what do you want to know?"

His words are rough and uncaring. His eyes look each of us up and down. Warren speaks up.

"Did they ever finish the technology to bring people back from the dead? Or did they cancel that project?"

Warren asks while sitting at a dusty table. Kain stands up straight, revealing a sword strapped to his back. He pulls a chair over and sits down, sighing deeply while scratching his beard.

"They completed it, but it costs a pretty coin to even get the chance to use it. Around five-million gold by what I've heard. But as per our agreed rules for questions, who's your new group? I don't recognize any of them, are they still green?"

His looks to all of us and reaches under the table for something. I ready my weapon as Warren speaks up.

"Actually, this is the Guild I joined. And we're X-Class."

Warren says, full of pride.

"Maker's breath, that's quite impressive. How did a narcissistic criminal like you get into a guild like that?"

He mumbles while pulling out a bottle. He pops the cap and starts drinking. Warren looks to us then looks back.

"W-well, how are you so accepting of that? Class-S is the highest level Guild until this guild started."

Kain looks to Warren and scratches the back of his neck.

"With all the experiments Risti has been up to, nothing surprises me now. If you haven't noticed, the general populous of the Underworld is nearly all gone. Risti sends in her troops night after night, it's been stealing my clientele, but it is suicide to fight back."

Kain grumbles while yawning. Vex whispers under his breath.

"That sounds like a plot point if I've ever heard one."

I nod in agreeance as Warren speaks up again.

"Risti? You mean the Baron's daughter? What would she want with the people down here?"

Kain leans forward and leans on his left forearm.

"She experiments on them, trying to find a way to circumvent the leveling system; I don't know the reasoning, it seems ultimately pointless to me."

Kain looks at me for a moment, then stands up.

"You."

He walks over to me. He stands almost a full foot taller than me and stares down at me.

"What's wrong with you?"

He asks calmly while looking to me. I laugh and look to Warren.

"Not sure what you're talking abou-"

"No, you're sad. I've seen, and worked with, enough broken people to spot them easily. Now don't keep it in, that'll only make it more volatile when you finally break down."

I grit my teeth and look up to him.

"What gives you the authority to act like you know me?! What makes you think you can read me!? I'm unique, one of a kind! Do not lump me in with those weaklings you've worked with!"

I growl and hiss, feeling my fist clench tightly. He stares down at me then turns away.

"In my forty years on this planet, I've come to realize a few things. Anyone who says they aren't like others, are emotionally closer to everyone else than they'd like to admit. You aren't special, and I can tell. You may be strong, but emotionally you're only human."

Kain quickly kicks over the table. I jump from surprise and notice a large metal shield strapped to the bottom of the table. Before I can think, he pulls out his sword with his right hand. He puts the large metal shield on his left forearm and readies it towards the door.

"You were followed."

He says calmly. I start to step forward, but he puts the flat side of his blade on my chest.

"I couldn't have my guests dirtying their clothes and blades, I'll take care of this."

He walks out the door and we all move to the boarded windows. We pull the boards down and look out. We see Kain standing defensively and looking towards a group of men.

At the front of those men stands a unique man. His hair is long and white, a deep blue streak at the right corner of his forehead stretching down. He has a long white and blue uniform, and white and blue boots.

"Now, those are criminals. If you wish to defend them, we will have to take you down as well."

He steps back and into the crowd of guards. They all march forward as Kain slams his sword against the front of his shield. Warren speaks up as Kain charges forward.

"Let's see how rusty he is, the Prince of Death."

I chuckle at the nickname, but instantly fixate my attention on Kain. In the short time I drew my attention away, he killed two guards. He kicks them towards a large hole in the ground, and they roll off the ledge.

Another two guards run towards him, but Kain blocks the left man's sword with his sword. The right man brings his sword down towards Kain, but Kain drops to one knee and holds his shield over his head. As the man on the right brings his sword down on top of Kain's shield, Kain pulls his sword down and cuts through both of the guards ankles. A scream of pain echoes through the cave as Kain proceeds to jam the pointed edge of his shield into the left guards foot then jam his sword up through his jaw and head.

I can't help but nod in respect for his form and ability. Kain proceeds to easily take down another 3 guards. Then 4. Next he takes on 6. Wave after wave, he dispatches them all with ease. It comes down to Kain fighting the guard captain. The man with long white hair sighs and pulls on white gloves.

"Fine, I'll do it myself."

The man readies himself and pulls his fists up. Kain once again pulls his shield in front of himself and slams his sword against the front repeatedly. We watch the man lunge towards Kain, and Kain tosses his shield. In the same motion, Kain thrusts his blade forward. As the guard slaps the shield away, Kain's blade plunges into his skull.

Kain rips his blade out and wipes it on the man's white clothes. He grabs his shield and starts walking back towards the building.

"He's definitely rusty."

Warren says next to me. I look to him, confused.

"Kain killed all those men in thirty-five seconds. When I first met him it would've taken him less than twenty."