Chapter 87 White Robed
'Compensation for killing my people?' Penthe's blood boiled in anger when he heard Alex had killed his people. They were his hunting dogs. How dare someone kill them?
But before he could explode in anger, a voice echoed in his mind. Someone in the vicinity was talking to Penthe without the knowledge of anyone. The voice ordered Penthe to calm down and give compensation. According to them, they were not ready to anger the void fish tribe yet.
Penthe struggled to regain his composure, his thoughts swirling amidst a storm of resentment. While his heart yearned for vengeance, the voice's admonition echoed with an undeniable truth. The void fish tribe possessed an awe-inspiring power, a force capable of unleashing unspeakable havoc upon those who dared to cross their path. It was not yet time to go against them.
Reluctantly, Penthe conceded to the voice. He decided to compensate Alex.
Hiding his emotion, he asked Alex. "How much compensation would you like." He said meekly to ensure that Alex felt he had the upper hand. He used his skills as a merchant to boost the ego of Alex.
Alex was happy to hear it.
"1 copper coin," Alex asked without a change in his tone.
"1 Copper?" Everyone thought simultaneously. Even the Tier 4 warrior from the Void Fish Tribe couldn't comprehend Alex's thought process. If he wanted compensation, why was he asking for just one copper coin?
What can a copper coin buy? Half a banana?
However, Penthe quickly grasped the meaning behind Alex's words. He was openly belittling the Noble Trader Association. His words implied that the value of the association members' lives was equivalent to or less than a copper coin.
Getting his teeth, Penthe agreed to Alex's demand. After all, from his point of view, Alex's demand was the demand of the tier 4 warrior from the void fish tribe. He had no choice but to give in.
"Here, take this…" After scrambling to find a copper coin, Penthe handed it to Alex.
Finally, the land dispute was resolved. After leaving the Noble Trader Association, he separated from the tier 4 warrior of the void fish tribe. It took him a little over an hour to reach his home.
Meanwhile, a burly man was experiencing the worst pain in his life. A knife was stabbed into his thigh, digging deep into his bones. The pain was unbearable for him.
"Did I not warn you adequately? You were supposed to purchase the land from the commoners. You failed to do so. You failed to protect your subordinates. You even turned the Void Fish Tribe into our enemy. Do you comprehend the gravity of your actions?" Penthe asked angrily.
The burly man clenched his teeth and remained silent, aware of his boss's seething rage. He knew that speaking up could potentially lead to his demise at the hands of Penthe. Therefore, he patiently bided his time, waiting for Penthe's anger to subside. Determined to flee the city and never look back, he decided to escape as soon as he could leave the building.
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Retreating to his quarters, Alex found Arav patiently waiting for him, anxious to learn if the situation had been resolved. With a smile of relief, Alex proceeded to provide a thorough account of what had transpired with the Noble Trader Association. Following their discussion, they enjoyed a pleasant dinner before retiring for the night.
Unbeknownst to Arav, Alex had different intentions for the night. Swiftly donning his colour-changing robe, he stealthily made his way toward the Noble Trader Association's premises.
The hour had long surpassed midnight, enveloping the surroundings in a dim moonlit glow. Guided by the faint illumination, Alex surveyed the area.
"Thirty tier-2 guards encircling the perimeter, with the possibility of more stationed within the building," Alex deduced.
Aware of the Association's considerable wealth, Alex understood the rationale behind the extensive security measures. In the absence of banks, gold coins were typically stored within vaults integrated into such establishments. Employing thirty Tier 2 guards for protection was not beyond reason. There might even be more tier 3 warriors inside the building.
Intending to instil fear within the ranks of the evil organisation, Alex resolved to take drastic action that would make his presence known. Retrieving a handful of Joker cards from his pocket, he contemplated his next move.
Instead of killing everyone, he was going to bait the evil organisation into taking action.
In a deliberate display, he tossed the joker cards in the direction of the building and boldly advanced, his distinctive white robes drawing immediate attention. It was clear to the guards that he was someone of significance.
As the guards picked up the scattered cards, they gazed at Alex with growing curiosity and confusion. To most of them, a card engraved with the image of a white-robed man stepping on a black-robed man had no significance.
Who was he?
Why was he throwing garbage at them? They thought.
Their questions remained unanswered as the cards in their hands suddenly emitted a radiant glow, projecting holographic images before them. Startled, a few guards dropped the cards in fear, wary of potential harm.
However, a faction of guards, driven by their loyalty to their organization, drew their swords and charged towards Alex.
As anticipated, some of the guards were actually infiltrators from the evil organization. Their overly aggressive response to the metallic cards confirmed his suspicions.
Ten of these hidden operatives, who thought their cover was blown, all tier 2 warriors, sprinted toward Alex, their intentions clear. However, Alex knew their strength posed no real threat to him. Resolute and composed, he remained steadfast, refusing to budge even an inch.
Reacting swiftly to the impending attack, Alex summoned ten small stone bullets, encircling him in a protective formation. With incredible speed, he propelled the stones toward the oncoming enemies, breaking the sound barrier and creating a deafening roar.
Usually, a stone bullet would not have been capable of reaching that speed. But by refining their structure and properties, Alex ensured that the stone bullets surpassed their usual limitations, enabling them to reach supersonic velocities.
The stone bullets, guided by Alex's precise aim, honed in on their targets with remarkable accuracy, zeroing in on the enemies heads. Even a tier 3 warrior would have found it challenging to evade such projectiles. Despite their attempts to dodge, the stone bullets struck their mark with unwavering precision, hitting the enemies squarely on the head.
"Thud…Thud…Thud…"
With a series of thuds, the guards who had launched the attack against Alex fell to the ground lifeless, their bodies motionless. The stone bullets had pierced through their skulls, obliterating their brains with fatal precision. Their demise was swift and irreversible, leaving no chance for survival.
From the moment he appeared to the death of the members of the evil organisation who were acting as guards, it didn't take even a minute. This threw the other guards into a panic.
As the guards unsheathed their swords and charged towards him, Alex remained indifferent to their futile attempts. Having already neutralised the members of the evil organisation, he paid no heed to their pursuit. In one seamless motion, he teleported to the rooftop of the Noble Trader Association building, leaving the guards behind.
From his elevated vantage point, Alex conjured fifty fiery orbs. With a decisive gesture, he unleashed the infernal projectiles, engulfing the entire building in fire. The flames consumed the structure, turning it into a blazing spectacle.
Before the bewildered guards could comprehend the unfolding events, Alex vanished from their sight, leaving them to confront the chaos and destruction he had orchestrated.
Recognising the depleted state of his mana, Alex prudently chose to retreat and ensure his own safety. With sixty of his core's mana fully expended, engaging in a battle against a high-tier warrior would pose a significant risk.
Understanding the importance of preserving his resources and strategic advantage, he retreated from the scene, wisely deciding to replenish his mana before continuing his onslaught.
Despite retreating, it didn't mean that Alex failed to accomplish his task. His purpose was to spread fear and destabilise the evil organisation. Although it was hard to confirm if he was successful, he was sure that they would remember the white-robed man.
Through his decisive attack, he had not only demonstrated his formidable strength but also exposed the organisation's scheme to manipulate Penthe for their own ends. Moreover, the elimination of some of their members further emphasised his unwavering commitment to combating the black-robed individuals and their nefarious activities.
Having retreated to a distant location, Alex engaged in a focused meditation, utilising all his cores to absorb mana from the surrounding air. The supplements and nourishment he consumed further facilitated the replenishment of his mana, hastening the recovery process.
After an hour of dedicated meditation, Alex's mana reserves were completely restored. With his core now brimming with energy, he teleported back to the headquarters of the Noble Trader Association intending to make it abundantly clear that his initial attack was merely the beginning of his campaign against them.
If the evil organisation had underestimated him, believing that his actions would end with a single assault, they were gravely mistaken.