Ch:8 One Step Ahead

Meanwhile while Adrian was busy running back,

[~Ding~]

[NPC Leonard has slain Player Nyx of Starter Zone 36]

[Announcement: The first kill from a NPC has triggered the Crime System]

[The Crime System shall note the name of all the NPCs who has killed Players]

[For every time a NPC kills a player, the NPC shall get 1 crime point...Players get rewards based on the crime value of the slained NPC]

[Quest: Kill Leonard of Trios]

[Reward: Appraisal(Advanced Mastery)]

[~Ding~]

[ The Mastery Tiers are released:

Novice

Players all over Zenim openly gawked at the sudden influx of announcements.

The players of Zone 36 especially became more alert. Some noob had probably died at a random NPC's hand and they could only thank them for it.

Other Zones could only helplessly complain about the unfairness of it all. Some however could already be seen trying to use the loopholes and finding excuses to kill the NPCs.

The hunt for Leonard had begun.

______________

He felt something amiss. Even while he was entering the gates, he could see people and in general the saviours, rushing everywhere around the city roads.

The scene didn't look like it had calmed down even when he came out of the Lord's castle.

He saw them asking things around. Even the people of Trios seemed cautious, both from these saviours and from something unknown to him.

He quickly paced up and walked towards a less used alley that was carved in between two crumbling houses.

Once hidden from view, he quickly removed his disguise. A black haired man with a handsome viserage, eyes full of sharpness came into display.

Relaxing his face muscles to reduce the chubbiness which Leonard possessed, he now looked like a completely different person.

Although the majority of the disguise was due to the translucent cloak he squeezed within his palms. With a mental command, the cloak flapped and integrated itself within his physical form.

Satisfied with himself, he climbed the house on whose wall he was leaning on and quickly jumped from roof to roof while making sure nobody would catch him in the act. Then shuffling down a house which faced a narrow road, he dusted his clothes and started walking as if he hadn't been acting weird and suspicious moments ago.

His eyes twinkled a little as he came across a rundown eatery which had few long benches at both its sides.

On these benches, sat the greatest critics of the government, the greatest researchers, all of whom had graduated from the University of Bullshit --- just kidding.

But Adrian's reason for coming here? The gossips. The rumours that circulate around the town...the compilation of all such rumours are known to these guys that sit here for most of the day.

The shop owner called out to him, " Whaddaya want?"

"A cup of coffee would be fine"

The owner just nodded before going back to work on the orders.

Adrian finally found himself relaxing a bit, his mind entering deep in contemplation.

'If I am not wrong, that girl didn't die. Those particles...they are as if she doesn't exist at all. But she was here right? I hit her afterall...'

His coffee came soon after. He sipped while pretending to be spacing out. Though his attention was on the older men's words.

"...yeah right? They are asking everywhere for this 'Leonard' guy. Seems he caused some trouble to the saviours."

Adrian's ears perked up at those words.

"They even met the city lord. Know the funny thing? There is no Leonard registered in this city."

"Woah...an imposter huh!"

A rotund bellied man joked and all the 'homies' erupted in laughter.

'Well well, aren't you famous now, Leonard?'

Adrian could hardly hold his chuckle that threatened to slip out of his lips.

Then as if remembering he was being hunted, his mind unconsciously started formulating a way to hide his trail completely.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he tried sucking for any last drops of coffee from the already empty cup.

They didn't come!

Standing up, he murmered, "Time to bring justice to many victims and...also a way for me to escape."

Just as he was about to go behind a house to start his jumping session, he noticed her. Again.

Nyx nonchalantly walked down the road, her attire attracting gazes while passing by him, humming a song. Adrian felt his body stiffen for a moment before a thought entered his mind.

'So these guys can't be killed?' Even though he had already guessed that, he still found it unbelievable!

He needed a plan!

And thus, he walked faster and soon caught up with her.

"Surprised seeing the dear me alive?" She cocked her head towards him, a mischievous smile drawn on her lips.

Adrian smiled back, "I am shocked yeah...but what surprised me more is the fact that they are searching for 'Leonard', not Adrian."

His smile then disappeared and a cold look radiating from his eyes were directed towards her, before he continued, "So tell me, what are u planning on? If you are hiding behind the fact that you won't die, let me assure you.

I can kill you as many times as I want.

Even if you escape,I shall hunt you down each and every single time. You might not die but the pain, the horror...I am sure you feel that.

So what say? Want your soul to be marked by the stench of death?"

Nyx's carefree attitude slowly kept on fading until her face showed hints of cautiousness.

"You are just as they said me....cold, ruthless and selfish."

"Selfish? Oh, i beg to differ on that. I am just looking after myself. Shouldn't a guy have his own needs nowadays?"

Nyx helplessly shook her head. A wry smile appeared on her. She looked him in the eyes and puckering her lips, said "You think you are safe yourself? It's my mission to kill you...maybe I won't be able to do it alone, but...let the time come. I want to see how you fare then."

Saying those words, she walked away.

If Adrian wanted, he could have stopped her but he just kept on looking at her back until she disappeared.

With a sigh, he cracked his neck. 'The performance wasn't half bad I guess. Although I feel a bit bad for trying to scare that little girl...not that it has much effect.

But she might not be that wrong. My actions do tend to border on selfishness. Sometimes I do get ruthless as well.'

Then, he continued to walk until he reached a small kutcha house in the slums.

'Cold,ruthless, selfishness...here i thought she might say something unique about me which I could use to pinpoint her organization. But no, she went on to say the same thing those righteous people would say to my face.

Now who is coming after me...sigh.

As for the reason, well there are hundreds of people who want to kill me...so why bother with it.'

His throat reverbrated under the effect of the low chuckle that came out of his mouth.

His imagination clearly manifested a 1 vs 100 epic scenario but it didn't last for long when he abruptly came back to his senses.

Taking a deep breath, he thought.

'Alright enough playing around. Time to get serious.'