Eddie stood up, dusting himself off with a grin, "I see you're not a fan of the first draft. But trust me, the revised version will blow your mind. It's a piece of my most profound inspiration and a true reflection of my poetic spirit!"
The thief rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin, "Fine, let's hear this 'masterpiece' of yours. But I warn you, no more nonsense!"
Eddie cleared his throat dramatically, ready to unveil his 'revised' version of the poem. "Under the bed, a pair of old boots, the floor is cold as frost; I look up to the silver moon, then down at the letters lost. The moonlight weaves through the window, casting shadows of the past, as I ponder, oh so gently, on memories that last."
The thief was taken aback. The lines, though unexpectedly sentimental and somewhat cliché, held a certain charm. Eddie's dramatic delivery, coupled with the unexpected turn from his usual frivolous banter, left the thief momentarily speechless.
"See, not all is lost in the pursuit of love and poetry," Eddie boasted with a wink.
"Maybe not as hopeless as I thought, but don't get ahead of yourself," the thief replied, his tone slightly softened, a smirk hiding his mild amusement. "Stick to your day job of being a charlatan; it suits you better."
Eddie laughed, "Charlatan by day, poet by night – I wear many hats! And who knows, maybe one day, my name will be whispered alongside the greats, revered by all!"
The thief just shook his head, chuckling quietly. Despite the absurdity of it all, there was something undeniably engaging about Eddie's relentless optimism and unabashed self-assurance. Maybe in another life, he mused, Eddie could have been a true poet or even a bard, wandering the lands, captivating hearts with words alone. But for now, he was just an entertaining enigma, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, all packaged with an insufferable grin.
Eddie immediately protested with a flare of creativity, "Changed, of course! It's no longer 'a pair of shoes by the bed', but 'two pairs of shoes, undress and laid on the ground; raising head to the bright moon, lowering head to kiss the girl!' Oh heavens, let's talk this out. Gentlemen use words, not violence!" No sooner had he uttered the words than he bolted, as the thief had drawn his dagger, swearing to skewer the shameless classic distorter.
After a nine-block chase, the thief was relentless. Eddie, desperate, yelled, "Everyone come quick, there's a naked beauty running down the street!" This caused a flurry of mercenaries to peer out curiously, buying Eddie a moment's respite as the thief, unable to endure the absurdity, kicked him and vanished into the shadows.
Dusting himself off, Eddie mumbled, "If an old monk kicks me, I'm compensated with a sword spirit beauty for a wife. After your kick, it's only fair I consider adding you as a secondary spouse... Well, enough dilly-dallying, time to check if 'Iron Fury' is spent yet!"
Originally, Eddie's plan was to spend some cash to exhaust Iron Fury through an evening's dalliances. There are many ways to kill a man, and the method of 'lovely maidens soft as butter, wielding swords that slash the doltish nutter. Though no heads fall in the fight, secretly they drain your marrow right' is among the most effective and terrifying.
As the saying goes: "Wine is a sword through the gut; Lust is a blade scraping the bone." Eddie figured if Iron Fury withstood these two formidable weapons and wasn't lying down by now, he might as well skip makeup and audition for a superhero role directly.
Whistling a jaunty tune, Eddie approached Iron Fury's residence nonchalantly, only to discover a buxom woman lurking at the door in the shadows, waiting for him.
"Young master, not only did we intoxicate and lull Iron Fury to sleep, but we've also tied him up. You can enter anytime and finish him off!" The woman knelt down, bowing deeply in submission.
Eddie was genuinely startled by her words. How did these women know of his intention to slay Iron Fury? Fortunately, they hadn't warned him, or else his walking into a trap would have been inevitable. Per the buxom woman's words, it seemed they harbored a grudge against Iron Fury. Eddie was inwardly pleased, thinking how serendipitous this twist was.
The woman, with tears streaking her face, knelt down and implored, "Young master, I'll keep watch outside. Please proceed swiftly and eliminate Iron Fury. The longer you delay, the riskier it becomes. His summoned beast is formidable; please be cautious!"
"How do you know my intent?" Eddie was curious. These women seemed more astute than he'd credited them for.
"We all have been wronged by Iron Fury."
" He's killed our husbands and forced many of us into this sordid life to fatten his pockets. Do you think such a man would actually pay for women? "
"When you mentioned Iron Fury's men calling for us, we knew it was a ruse. And your eyes, they don't resemble those of a servant. They carry a nobleman's pride and clarity. So, we deduced you must be an avenger, here to exact justice on Iron Fury on behalf of all of us who've suffered under his tyranny."
Touched by her heartfelt words and astute observation, Eddie was taken aback. He underestimated the people of this world. Just a few clues led the woman to an accurate theory, a testament to her intelligence and desperation.
Now, he understood why they didn't tip Iron Fury off: they were his avengers, united in their loathing and desire for retribution. But still, he asked, "If you've managed to intoxicate and bind him, why haven't you killed him yourselves? It seems straightforward enough."
The woman's gaze lowered, "We've longed for this day, but fear grips us. His cruelty is legendary, and even bound, the mere thought of laying hands on him terrifies us.
We needed someone fearless, someone like you, young master. Someone who could deliver the final blow and free us from this nightmare once and for all."
Eddie understood their fear and the crippling power of a tyrant's shadow over the oppressed. Nodding solemnly, he assured her, "Then rest easy. Your long-awaited justice will be served tonight." With a determined stride, he headed into the lair of Iron Fury, ready to end the tyrant's reign of terror.