Chereads / The Lockheart's Ruin / Chapter 20 - Chapter 20

Chapter 20 - Chapter 20

(After leaving Kura's home with a general idea of Eden's location, Dante spends the next day on foot traveling up North to Nanbu District. A place where criminals and numerous factions run their own organizations far from the eyes of those who seek justice. As Dante exits a forest, his clothes change to a more high class look as he wears a black slim-fit coat with a white long sleeve shirt underneath it. With this, his pants and shoes are also black. As he walks towards the entrance to the first town he sees, he goes deep within the town to it's most notorious bar and walks in. Once in, it is loud and rowdy, but once the people take a second and notices who just walked into the bar. After this, the bar goes silent for a moment, but slowly picks back up for only those who are important keeps their eyes on Dante as he walks towards the bar.)

Dante: I'll have a bourbon.

(After he says this, he sees someone in the distance walks towards him.)

Dante: Make that two.

(As the bartender makes the drinks and gives them to Dante, an unknown criminal walks up to Dante.)

Gaya: Well if this isn't a sight? The Prince of The Lockheart Kingdom, Dante Lockheart.

(Dante takes a sip of his drink.)

Dante: A bit of advice mate, move along. I'm not interested in talking with you.

Gaya: So that was a glimpse of the infamous Bloody Crow? I bet it's better when you're in your costume huh?

(After hearing this, Dante takes a glance at Gaya then takes another sip of his drink.)

Dante: Judging by your look, I take it that you're an assassin.

Gaya: You're very perceptive Dante, I'll give you that. What gave me away?

Dante: You besides the obvious? Well, how about the hidden daggers on both of your ankles? Or the blade is hidden within your sleeve? You know for an assassin, you've made your intentions very obvious?

Gaya: Is that so? Then enlighten me. What are my intentions?

Dante: Do you really take me as a fool? You are here to kill me are you not?

(Gaya says nothing.)

Dante: So...Now that our meaningless conversation is over. Before I kill you, I want to know who sent you?

Gaya: Someone you should hope you never meet.

Dante: All I need is a name and I'll consider letting you live. I will not be extending this offer again.

Gaya: My apologies your highness, but that is a secret.

Dante: Very well. Feel free to take your secret to the grave then.

(After hearing this, Gaya grabs his dagger and tries for the killing blow. Dante instantly dodges it and pierces Gaya's chest, wrapping his hand around his heart and immobilizing him.)

Dante: Well are you happy now? You're about to die in a bar because of your precious code of honor. And since you've already made your choice, there is only one more thing that has yet to happen...Your death.

(As Dante says this, he rips out Gaya's heart and drops it on the floor. After this, he downs both of his drinks and leaves. After his departure, a man far in the back of the bar snaps his fingers and then suddenly Gaya's body disappears. Hours later as sun goes down, Dante ventures throughout the large city in search of Eden. As he is searching, he comes across a large party at one of the most extravagant manors within the area and decides to investigate.)

Dante: Given the altercation in the bar, it would be for the best that I keep my head down. I don't need to bring any more unnecessary attention to myself.

(As Dante says this, he walks through the crowd of people and makes his way around the manor. While he does this, he sees a young woman with a leather hat, coat, black pants, and boots leaving the party.)

Dante: I found you.

(As Dante says this, he begins to follow her on rooftops as she is taking a much more isolated route through the city.)

Dante: Just where is she going? While this city as a whole is pretty much lawless, the area she is heading in is probably the worst place to be.

(As Dante says this, he notices that Eden is being followed by three other people wearing hoods. After seeing this, Dante vanishes to the ground and walks down the alley that Eden and the three other men went down. Once he reaches the end of it, he sees Eden at a dead end and then suddenly the three men appear behind her.)

Hooded Man 1: Daughter of The Black Crow. We have finally found you. I cannot stress how difficult it has been trying to locate you, Eden.

Eden: You've been looking for me? How funny. You see, it was I who have been looking for you. Not you in specific, but you as in your group...More importantly, the person pulling your strings. So if you three were so inclined, I have some questions that need answers.

Hooded Man 2: We aren't here to answer your questions.

Eden: Then I'm afraid that you've outlasted your usefulness.

(As Eden says this, she quickly kills her stalkers by jamming her short blade in one of their throats and snapping the neck of the other. After witnessing this, the third hooded man disappears before Eden set her sights on him.)

Eden: And just how long were you going to watch from the shadows, Dante?

(As she says this, Dante exits from the dark corner he was standing in.)