On a lively night in Orario, three adventurers walked without drawing anyone's attention. After all, adventurers were a common sight in Orario.
However, if looked closely, their eyes gleamed with cunning, reflecting the hidden malice behind their fierce expressions.
With slow but steady steps, they approached, sinister smiles on their lips, ready to carry out their vile act.
Seeing their target enter an alley, the three adventurers paused. One of them, the tallest man, grinned as he stared at the entrance to the alley.
"What a fool, choosing such a quiet place. This is our chance!"
The short man grinned, his eyes flashing with malevolent intent.
"This will be easy. Just watch, he'll panic as soon as we show up."
Unlike the optimistic attitude of the two men, the burly man was more cautious.
"Don't be complacent; that person is a member of the Hera Familia. He won't be easy to handle."
"You're too scared. We're three Level 2 adventurers, and he's just a Level 1. As long as we attack together, victory will be ours."
"That's right. Did you notice the gear he's wearing? We could sell it for a fortune!"
The short man and the tall man mocked the burly one.
"You're both right. I guess the name Hera Familia spooked me a bit. In the end, he's just a Level 1, no match for the three of us."
The burly man was convinced by his companions.
With that, the three of them stepped out of the shadows and into the alley.
To their surprise, the other person was standing in the middle of the alley, as if waiting for their arrival.
"Let's finish this quickly. I'm tired and want to sleep."
Charlie didn't even bother asking their intentions. He observed them closely, sensing their stronger aura, but it didn't scare him in the least.
"Hand over everything you have, kid!" A hoarse voice came from one of them.
"Life is precious. Take good care of it."
This was Charlie's warning. If they refused, he wouldn't hesitate to send them to the afterlife.
"You're overestimating yourself, kid. If this were the Hera Familia from fifteen years ago, you could act without thinking about the consequences. Unfortunately, this is no longer the era of Hera Familia's glory. Joining them was the dumbest decision you've ever made." The short man said sarcastically, his eyes filled with greed.
"Sigh... Let's just start." Charlie sighed, dealing with fools was exhausting.
"Physical Enchant." He muttered softly.
He enhanced his physical strength with Spirit Art. After all, he was only a Level 1 adventurer. He wouldn't underestimate enemies stronger than him.
Better safe than sorry.
The burly man growled angrily at being underestimated by the person he considered his prey.
"Arrogant rookie! I'll crush you!"
He charged forward with his dagger, aiming to stab Charlie's chest with great force. But Charlie remained calm. With a swift movement, he shifted his body to the side, letting the dagger pierce empty air. In an instant, he grabbed the burly man's wrist and, with a smooth motion, twisted it behind him, causing the burly man to cry out in pain as his dagger slipped from his grasp.
Without giving him a chance to retaliate, Charlie struck the burly man's face with his left elbow. The blow was strong enough to make his enemy stagger, and with lightning speed, Charlie followed up with a spinning kick that slammed into the burly man's chest, sending him crashing hard against the alley wall. The burly man collapsed helplessly, unconscious before he even realized what had happened.
'So weak? Even without Physical Enchant, I could have beaten him using my martial arts.'
After this brief confrontation, Charlie didn't expect his opponent to be defeated so easily.
On the other hand, seeing their comrade fall so easily, the two remaining adventurers were shocked. But they quickly prepared to attack together. The short man began chanting a spell, summoning a small fireball in his hand, while the tall man with a sword stepped forward with caution.
The tall man attacked first, swinging his sword with deadly precision.
*SLASH*
Charlie jumped back, dodging the sword's swing, and continued to move nimbly around his opponent. Every time the other tried to get closer, he always managed to evade with agile movements, like a shadow that couldn't be caught.
"Too slow."
When the tall man attempted another strike with a downward slash, Charlie swiftly lowered his body, then with full force, he struck the tall man's knee from below with a powerful punch.
"AHHH—"
The sudden pain caused the tall man to lose his balance, and before he could recover, Charlie seized the opportunity by delivering a series of blows to the opponent's upper body.
Each punch was perfectly targeted, hitting vital points that rendered the tall man incapable of continuing the fight. In no time, the tall man collapsed unconscious.
Now, only the short man with his magic remained. The fireball in his hand began to grow larger, and he hurled it toward Charlie with great speed.
*WHOOSH*
But Charlie remained calm. As the fireball approached, he moved with extraordinary agility, leaping to the side to dodge the attack.
*BOOM*
The fireball struck the wall behind him, exploding with a loud bang and leaving a charred mark.
"What? You dodged it!?"
The short man was shocked to see how easily the other avoided his magic. But before he could cast another spell, Charlie was already in front of him.
"Oh crap!"
The short man tried to retreat, but Charlie didn't give him a chance.
With one swift move, Charlie struck the short man in the chest with his palm.
*BAM*
The blow startled the short man and made him lose his balance. His magic dissipated, and he felt the strength drain from his body.
*BAM* *BAM* *BAM*
Charlie continued with a flurry of quick and powerful punches, striking the short man in his vital points with deadly accuracy. Finally, with one strong kick to the gut, he sent the short man crashing to the ground.
The short man's body slumped, and he lost consciousness instantly.
Charlie stood in the now-silent alley, his breathing steady despite just finishing a fight.
"Goddess Hera was right, most adventurers in Orario are sissy. They're too reliant on Falna, neglecting technique and other aspects." Charlie shook his head and spoke lightly.
The three adventurers who had previously threatened his life now lay helpless around him. Although they were stronger in level, his experience and expertise in martial arts had given him the upper hand.
"I didn't even need to draw the Sword of Damocles."
"Slash Air."
Using Wind Spirit Art, Charlie generated three wind blades as sharp as swords.
*Pu-chi* *Pu-chi* *Pu-chi*
Three heads rolled, and the scent of blood lingered in the damp alley.
Then Charlie walked away from the alley.
He was no longer the idealistic cop who would put criminals behind bars. Now, he didn't hesitate to kill his enemies to avoid future trouble.
"Huft... I'm no longer an enforcer of justice, just a cruel and ruthless man."
He lifted his head to look at the night sky adorned with countless stars.
The night in Orario returned to calm, and Charlie searched for an inn near the Dungeon.