Azure was taken aback by Ripper's casual mention of killing people. He had known that The Shadow Baron was ruthless, but the idea of murder being the chosen method surprised him. In all the 'jobs' he had been involved in so far, threats of death were made, but no one had actually been killed. Azure's shock was evident as he exclaimed, "Wait, what? You're just going to kill them?" Ripper nonchalantly responded, "Well, I won't be the one doing it. Valien will, but yeah, that's the plan, obviously."
Azure continued to question the situation, unable to comprehend the nonchalant attitude towards taking lives. "Really, just like that? People are being killed without hesitation?" he asked, his voice filled with surprise. Ripper shrugged, his demeanor unchanged. "Well, mate, when you're dealing with a crime lord, things tend to get messy," he replied casually. Azure took a moment to process the information, still surprised by the matter-of-fact approach. *I guess it's just the harsh reality of this line of work,* he thought, his sense of surprise lingering.
"Then how long does Valien usually take?" Azure asked, his curiosity piqued. Ripper leaned back, contemplating the question. "Depends, really. But most of the time, less than an hour," he replied casually. Azure's eyes widened in disbelief. "Less than an hour? But Ironhelm is a massive city! How is it even possible?" he exclaimed, struggling to wrap his mind around the efficiency of Valien's operations.
Ripper chuckled, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Mate, I don't have all the answers. I've only worked with Valien once, and I've learned not to ask too many questions. He's not someone you want to mess with," he explained, his tone conveying a mix of fear and respect for Valien. Azure couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in.
"Then how long does Valien usually take?" Azure asked, his curiosity piqued. Ripper leaned back, contemplating the question. "Depends, really. But most of the time, less than an hour," he replied casually. Azure's eyes widened in disbelief. "Less than an hour? But Ironhelm is a massive city! How is it even possible?" he exclaimed, struggling to wrap his mind around the efficiency of Valien's operations.
Ripper chuckled, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Mate, I don't have all the answers. I've only worked with Valien once, and I've learned not to ask too many questions. He's not someone you want to mess with," he explained, his tone conveying a mix of fear and respect for Valien. Azure couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in. The speed and efficiency with which Valien operated were remarkable, leaving him to wonder what kind of person Valien truly was.
Ripper observed Azure's expression and chuckled knowingly. "I know that face. You're probably wondering what the hell Valien is, aren't ya?" Azure looked somewhat surprised by the accuracy of Ripper's observation. "Am I that obvious?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Ripper shrugged casually. "Yeah, mate. It's written all over your face," he replied with a smirk.
Leaning in closer, Ripper continued, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone. "But anyway, if you ask Valien himself, he'll probably tell you he's just an assassin. A damn good one, mind you. But I'd personally call him a monster beyond human comprehension. He's got a darkness in him that most folks can't fathom," Ripper explained, with unease in his voice.
Azure pondered Ripper's words, his curiosity piqued by the intensity of Ripper's fear. "Okay, seriously, I gotta ask. Why the hell are you so scared of him? I mean, I've met Valien, and I know he's scary, but you seem completely terrified," Azure inquired, his voice filled with genuine intrigue.
Ripper let out a heavy sigh, his gaze fixated on a distant point as he gathered his thoughts. "Describing Valien as 'scary' has to be the understatement of the century, mate," he replied, a hint of weariness in his voice. He shifted uncomfortably before continuing, "You see, when he's on a mission, the way he carries himself... it's like he's a force of nature, a living embodiment of death itself. But that's not even the crazy part."
Azure leaned in, his eyes widening with anticipation. "What's the crazy part, then?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Ripper scanned the room cautiously before proceeding, his voice barely above a whisper. "The crazy part is that Valien is one of the very few people I know who has gone outside the city," he revealed, his words carrying a weight of both awe and trepidation.
Azure's surprise was evident on his face, his mind racing to comprehend the significance of Ripper's statement. Before he could formulate a response, Ripper interjected, "And that's not even the craziest part. That honor goes to the fact that he fought against the infamous Lorenz Mercenary Company and lived to tell the tale."
Azure's mind raced as he processed Ripper's revelation about Valien's encounter with The Lorenz Mercenary Company. The name sent shivers down his spine, and memories of rumors and tales resurfaced in his thoughts. The Lorenz Mercenary Company—a name known even within the confines of Ironhelm, a city secluded from the outside world.
Azure had heard stories about their ruthlessness and unparalleled skill. They were said to be a group of twelve relatively young men, ranging from their twenties to early thirties, who took on any job, no matter how dangerous or bloody. Their reputation alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of seasoned warriors, and their mere presence on the battlefield had reportedly caused entire armies to flee in terror.
Azure's breath caught in his chest as he asked, his voice filled with astonishment, "Do you mean Valien actually won against them?" Ripper shook his head. "Hell no, are you insane? He just survived them, which is a ridiculous feat in itself," he clarified.
Azure nodded, understanding Ripper's fear of Valien. "Yeah, I can see why you're so afraid of him now. It's a terrifying thought. I can't help but feel sorry for the people he was sent to kill," Azure admitted. Ripper shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh, don't be. After all, didn't they beat up your friends?" he questioned. Azure paused for a moment, considering the question. "Well, they're not really my friends, so I can't say I care all that much, to be honest," he replied with a hint of indifference in his voice.
Ripper shrugged nonchalantly, his carefree demeanor undeterred. "Well, whatever. Valien's gonna take care of his targets one way or another, so let's just relax," he remarked, leaning back. Azure nodded in agreement, attempting to push aside his lingering unease. As his fingers ran through his vibrant green hair, Ripper couldn't help but address a question that had piqued his curiosity. "You know, I've been meaning to ask, why'd you go with the green hair? It's not exactly blending in," Azure's surprise was evident, but he quickly responded, "Oh, this? It's not a dye job. Green is actually my natural hair color." Ripper burst into laughter, finding the revelation rather amusing. "That's your natural hair color? You sure know how to make an impression. What are you, some kind of circus freak?" he jested. Azure couldn't help but cringe inwardly at the remark. Feeling a slight pang of self-consciousness he mumbled, "Ouch."