"You're being too full of yourself, shitty masked man. Talking big ain't gonna salvage you."
Bethel seemed to be not buying Invictus' words.
'What does this fucker think he can do alone? The other eight factions will not support this. Most of them are irredeemable pieces of shits that would rather stay here than see the outside world again.'
When your plan of escaping the city failed, the second thing you'll come up with is gathering allies to escape with you. Bethel tried convincing the other factions but also were told the things he was saying to Invictus at the moment.
"I'll fill you in on my plans once you decide to join hands with me," Invictus stood up. "Just standby for now and wait for news to spread around. Alright, then I'm gonna have to leave now."
Bethel had been trying to see if Invictus would show fear towards him by being surrounded by his men. However, Bethel had never noticed terror in Invictus. He does not even break character in front of them and still manages to shock all of them by eating a piece of himself.
"Leader! Are we just gonna let that fucker leave?!"
"Cut it, guys."
As Bethel watched Invictus back, imagining how bad things would turn if they ever pursued Invictus there, he concluded that many of his men would die.
"I can't risk losing my men just to deal some damage to that bastard. It's
not worth losing our force over our egos."
"But he's just alone! Is he really that much of a threat?!"
"You're too young, Yosef. That man is not alone. He came prepared and is ready to kill us all."
From the crowd, a man they know but has no relation with came out with a dissatisfied expression on his face. Only then they realized that all this time they were sharing the same space with Jorp.
"Isn't that Jorp?"
"What's he doing here? Oi! Do you have a death wish?!"
Walking away, Jorp bid farewell to everyone, "see ya', suckers! Oh, don't you guys dare try to follow us, or all of you will go "kaboom!" Buwahahaha!"
Invictus and Jorp proceeded to leave the basecamp, unscathed and successful in leaving a strong impression on Bethel's faction.
"You're nuts, Meliora."
"Call me Meliora. I can't have people circulating that I'm still alive."
"Okay, Meliora," he mumbled gaily. "But are we really doing this overnight?"
"The sooner, the better."
Inside Bethel's basecamp, everyone was in a state of panic, looking for the explosive Jorp planted around their place.
"I found one!"
"Here too!"
"That bastard Jorp! I thought he was going after that masked man. I didn't think he'd end up becoming an accomplice to that shithead!"
More explosives had been found installed everywhere around their basecamp. One wrong move from them and all of them will turn to ashes.
"I like him! That bastard exceeded my expectations!"
As Invictus' plan progresses smoothly, more and more people begin to notice his existence in the city, even the heads of the other 8 factions.
Two days had passed since Invictus arrived in Haven City, taking measures and instructing Jorp on what he ought to do.
"Once we leave this hellhole, I have an important role for you," suddenly,
said Invictus whilst the two of them were casually eating in Jorp's place.
Their lunch was all vegetables, different dishes made by Invictus, and bought by Jorp fresh from the farm using Invictus' money.
Jorp was glad to have eaten something deliciously nutritious after days of going on a bread diet just to suffice himself and survive the day.
"If it is something feasible for me, then I might consider doing it." Responded Jorp with lettuce in his mouth, which was also covered in white sauce. "But if it turns out to be a bummer, then I want no part in it."
"It has been almost ten days since I left Hubert inside the Oubliette," started Invictus. "Cleoantra and the others must be worrying about him since Hubert is a valuable aspect of their party. I was keeping in touch with someone I know in the Capital but there is no news if Hubert was found or not. What I am saying is I'd like you to disguise yourself as Hubert once we leave this hellish dumpster. You will act as one of the seven heroes that save Estaria from utter destruction."
Just the thought of acting as though he was one of the heroes sent Jorp to cloud nine. He could not be more excited than he is already.
"Does that mean I get to kill all of them?"
Intense bloodlust was immediately directed to Jorp's location. He shivered, instantly disregarding the foolish thoughts he just blurted out in front of the vengeful Invictus.
"You know exactly what my purposes are, Jorp," his trifling anger subsided almost immediately after recalling how they violated Uria in front of him as they tied Austria up to burn at the stake. "No one except for me will put them out of their miseries. By my hands, they will suffer an unimaginable death only they themselves will know."
Each word was fierce, full of emotions, remarks that should not be ignored by a cadaver that lost its happiness. Invictus is a deadman walking, treading on his own thin path he forges, always onward towards his goals. His goals, keep him alive and willful.
No matter how wicked, inhuman, or cunning he may become, Invictus will definitely do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means turning himself into the evilest person his past self utterly despised.
"Jeez, man. No need to be so stiff when we are eating lunch. I completely understand. I was just playing with you."
"Clarifying my intentions is better than leaving you clueless when it should be obvious."
Jorp sighed, "I've seen Hubert countless times before, in portrait and newspaper. I don't see how I will disguise myself as him."
"Your physique and height resemble me of Hubert. Also, I reckon you've heard of "Simulate" or "Potion of Disguise" in simple terms, right?"