The guard leader dropped to his knees, holding the left side of his abdomen; above his left kidney. Blood seemed to flow endlessly, but even the large amount thinned before the dissipating mana left in the human's body healed whatever damage remained.
Alex slightly lowered his blade, placing the tip of his sword underneath the leader's chin.
"Ugh!" The guard groaned as the sharp blade drew blood, and he locked rage-filled eyes with Alex.
The young Recen wore an unbothered expression, forcing the man's head upward. "Are there any other fuckers like you?"
*Spit*
The leader spat in response, but Alex cocked his head to the side, evading the disgusting, bloody filth.
In response, the Recen forced the blade deeper into the guard's flesh, causing more pain.
"Leave him," Darius said from the side as soon as he finished dealing with the rest of the fodder guards. "You'll cause more problems if you kill him."
"I wasn't planning to," Alex said succinctly.
"Hah!" The man on the ground snickered. "What? Don wanna deal with the Moonmare dogs? We got fine hounds, you fucker."
Alex ignored the guard's yapping, focusing his energy on the weaponsmith. "Since these idiots planned on setting fire to your house, they deserved at least this."
The weaponsmith shook his head, looking at the puddle of blood beneath the guard superior, and sighed. "This won't turn out well."
"It will be perceived as an attack," Elara said as she walked out of the house, looking over the knocked-out men sprawled over the street.
Alex nodded, sheathing his blade. "You will have a cause to defend your actions," He told Darius. "It was your house that was attacked, not mine. I merely defended you against a strike that would've killed you.
"These Moonmares will have to come after me. After all, I was the one that crippled one of their dogs. Even if all I did was defend you."
"Haa!" Darius sighed, nodding, but Alex continued right after.
"All I need you to do, is make my sword. I don't want you to share the blame for my actions. If people come asking, tell them I was the one that crippled him." He said, pointing at the superior with his chin. "Then again, I don't think that will be necessary. He will be more than happy to yap about what had happened."
Elara looked around and then shifted her eyes to Alex. It was clear she was confused. "Thank you for your help, Alex... But you don't want us to help you? You want them to know it was you?"
"Someone must be held accountable for what had happened here. This is why these idiots could run around robbing people. They have a massive backing behind them. Nobles do not care who was right. They only care about themselves and their image."
"Yeah, I know, but why take the blame?" She continued.
"I have my own reasons. Personal ones." He said matter-of-factly.
Alex couldn't care less about being in the Moonmare's sights. Since he would make the nobles pay for their actions one way or another, he didn't mind being blamed for crippling a guard. He will do worse in the future.
Sighing out loud, he turned to the two weaponsmiths. "Make me my blade, and I will be out of your hair. I believe Violet paid you already?" He asked, seeing his companion stepping out of the house.
Violet nodded, and so did Alex.
Grabbing the guard leader's breastplate, Alex said his goodbyes and dragged the man toward the guard's office, leaving the two hosts aback.
Alex knew what he was doing was beyond dangerous, as he had no ability to defend himself against a dozen guards hell-bent on arresting him.
Then again, Alex had no intention of stepping on a sleeping dog's tail.
The leader groaned and moaned as the breastplate strangled him, kicking back to somewhat catch his breath.
Alex dragged the man, not saying anything until he was close to the guard's office.
As soon as the guard superior found himself on familiar grounds, he took a deep breath, ready to shout to his colleagues, but a fist found its way into the leader's face, knocking him unconscious.
"Good," Alex said, wiping his fist off the snot and drool of the leader, using the man's clothes.
Alex then returned to Night's Sky, where he wanted to meet with Violet.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?"
As Alex opened the doors, Violet went up and personal to the Recen, shoving her hand under his chin. She shouted profanities and things about how Alex would do his job if he was shackled in some prison.
The Recen was taken aback by Violet's firey outburst, rendering him speechless for a few seconds.
"You'll be a wanted man the moment the Moonmares find out what you did."
"Okay. First, calm down." Alex said, walking past Violet and into her establishment. It wasn't because he wanted to be rude, but because he didn't want to talk about this outside.
"Calmed down?" He asked, seeing the Madam reining in her emotions. "Cool. I don't know why you're so upset about this. I would be fine even if I was a wanted man. I'll leave the city shortly. After I will deal with your targets, I'll take my money and sword and leave."
Violet put her hands on her hips. "And go where? This whole area, from Vizin to the western border, is all the estate of the Moonmares. You have nowhere to go."
Alex looked at her and answered promptly. "I'll leave Blackwater."
Realizing she was talking to a brick wall, Violet threw her hands in the air. "Fine. Do what you will. But make sure to do your job. I don't want to search for another assassin to deal with my targets."
Alex nodded. "That's what I wanted to talk with you about."
Violet froze as she heard these words. She immediately exploded, anger and irritation apparent in her voice. "You're pulling out of our deal?"
"What? No." Alex looked over his shoulder, unable to come up with a proper reason for Violet's chaotic temperament. "I wanted to let you know I'll start right away. You can call off your girls."
It was Violet's turn to be confused. "You'll act without knowing the full strength of the targets? After you told me you're betting your life on an assumption?"
Alex nodded without feeling much embarrassment. "Although I don't care about entering the Moonmares' sights, I won't sit around waiting for them to catch me. I'll deal with your men and then get out."
Violet sighed. "Okay, your first target should be..." She took out a small notebook and flipped through its pages. "The owner of a small brewery near the Production District."