Avater (2)

Parish has just caught up with Tila, blocking her path. With a wide grin on his face he said, "Hey girlie where are you running off to? Obediently become my hostage,"

"Shut up cowardly bastard," Tila glared at the blond man standing in front of her and cursed at him fearlessly, however inside she was in panic. "There are men to fight but instead you chose to confront a little girl like me,"

"Hehe hehe even if you say that I won't let you off,"

Tila scoffed in disdain. "Stop giggling you sound like a girl,"

Parish was finally angered. "I gave you a drink but you chose a forfeit, this is going to hurt girlie,"

The mercenary clenched his fist and punched towards her face without any hesitation, not minding that she's a girl of no more than nine years old. He naturally held back in his punch, not to kill her, but still, if the punch hit her she'll definitely be disfigured. Perhaps she might even suffer some mental issues because of it, this is the exclusive vicious punch of a mercenary. Honestly as far as she's alive even if she turn to a vegetative state it won't affect his plan.

Tila closed her eyes and lifted her arms to block, expecting immense pain. But after waiting for a time and nothing happened, she cautiously cracked open her eyes and lowered her hands.

Parish was not in front of her, instead what greeted her was a strangers back. The sight left Tila in a daze remember her father. 'Father is gone..' She suddenly came back to her senses and stopped fantasizing. Looking closer she realized the man that saved her was Black Hand. He was holding the mercenary's fist in his palm obviously having caught the punch that was meant for her.

Seeing Black Hand here Tila feared for Yamato that must be all alone with the other mercenaries and looked back at his direction only to be stunned. She actually saw Yamato and Black Hand still fighting their opponents over there. So with wide eyes she looked back to the person in front of her, looking at his side profile in a daze, she wondered who then is this stranger that looked exactly like Black Hand is. A twin brother? Possibly. Tila was not the only one that was surprised at seeing the Avatar. "Who the hell are you?! Parish shouted in agitation.

"Hmph!" The newcomer said nothing instead he replied by thrusting out his palm. Parish wanted to block but the palm was too fast, like lightning it slipped in and struck him in the chest sending the mercenary flying away.

At the other side Elizabeth had been keeping track of the Avatar with her senses so after she saw that Parish was defeated with just one move she realized that she can't win this fight.

"Draw back!" She said. Immediately Saldo and Kira retreated away from Black Hand, even Luka that was fighting Yamato stopped swiftly and rejoined the others. The retreat was so swift that even Black Hand didn't react on time till all the mercenaries, except Parish, regrouped.

Black Hand was impressed, he whistled, "Say young lady you have a very good leash on your dogs,"

Elizabeth frowned. "Quit the sarcasm Black Hand, I want to negotiate,"

"Huh?" Hearing this Yamato blinked in surprise.

"Negotiate? What's there to negotiate, you came to kill me then you must also be ready for death," Black Hand said. "Besides I am the one winning. What do you have to offer for me to consider letting you live?"

Elizabeth wasn't bothered by his words and smirked mysteriously as if she knew something he didn't. "Don't be hasty Black Hand," she said. "As I said earlier don't be conceited. I'll admit you are very strong and we can't deal with you using normal means. However it does not mean we can't deal with you entirely,"

"Really?" Old Two lifted an eyebrow. "Then why are you negotiating? Why not just deal with me, obviously you are bluffing,"

Elizabeth's faces became expressionless. Saldo took over saying, "As boss said, with some sacrifices we could indeed deal with you. However it will leave us in a very bad state ourselves even if we win, so we'd like to avoid that. We are just mercenaries so why will we go all out for a mission?"

"Is that so? What do you want to negotiate with?"

"You said you wanted to know who sent us and how you were discovered, I can tell you that," Elizabeth replied.

Old Two thought about it for a moment then nodded. "Good, then what do you want in return? It is not for me to spare you guys. Unlike what you think I am not conceited, I know that I might be able to defeat you guys but I can't stop you from fleeing if you want,"

"True you can't stop us. I indeed don't need your permission to withdraw, what I want is something else. I think that you are right maybe it is better if we work together,"

Old Two understood what this girl is playing. Because she couldn't defeat him she's now willing to work with him and fake success. Surely mercenaries are the worst of people. "What you want is my help to deceive your employees?" He asked.

Elizabeth nodded "It's a free trade, help me fake your death in exchange for information. If you can't help me it will not be too late to go all out to take you out, because my life is forfeit if I don't bring you either way. So what do you say, want to play this game with me?"

Old two grinned. "Since you dare to naturally I'll not shrink away. How do we do this?"

"Good, you first tell me how you plan to make me complete my mission then I'll tell you who sent me,"

"Hmph, faking death easy, will suffice if I give you the head of my avatar?" Old Two said. "However your answer better be truthful,"

Elizabeth thought about it in surprise. The avatar looked exactly like Black Hand, if she could bring its head back it might be able to convince everyone.

Old Two thought Elizabeth did not believe in the efficiency of his plan so he scoffed. "This is my life essence Avatar as a body cultivator of the seventh stage. Not to talk of blood test, even DNA test cannot tell apart an avatar from the real one."

"That's true," Saldo said. "There said a life essence Avatar is no different from the main body. However I didn't know you have cultivated to that stage,"

"What do you know? Don't judge me by the official profile, my enemies never figured out my strength and just assumed randomly!"

At that moment the Avatar returned with an unconscious Parish. The Avatar unceremoniously threw Parish on the ground then stood beside Old Two obediently.

"But will you really sacrifice such a valuable thing?" Seeing such a life like helper Luka sneered not believing that Black Hand will really sacrifice it.

Black Hand shrugged. "Naturally if it's worth it, anything could be sacrificed."

"True," Saldo nodded but he obviously didn't buy it. "So you mean it depends on how formidable the person that sent us is before you decide if your Avatar is worth sacrificing right to deceive the person right?"

"That's what I mean, but don't bother lying to me by creating a formidable enemy out of the air, I'll smell it in your breath," Old Two then turned to Elizabeth with a serious expression. "So girlie, tell me who sent you,"

Elizabeth grinned looking at him confidently. "You want to know?" She laughed. "I was sent by the Emperor himself,"

Hearing that Old Two's expression changed from faint seriousness to grim stillness. 'I knew it, but chose to deceive myself!' he thought.