"..."
'What to do. What to do.'
"..."
Eying the bright coloured bottles stacked on the shelves behind the masked information broker. He once again realised how different the world was compared to his young mercenary days.
'This guy is so stuck up!' With his lower jaw forward, he openly sneers to the side like a grumpy old man.
"So we can't negotiate? Make a deal?" Raising his left brow at the masked man.
"Come on! I just want to know where my little sister is located. That's all. I would even—" Checking his wallet with hesistance apparent on his sweat covered face, "I would even give you my entire fortunes."
"..."
"What do you say?"
The masked man's slow, deliberate turn felt like a silent verdict—a judgment passed from his cold eyes hidden in the shadows.
"Identifications first."
'But how do I even prove my identity?!'
Thinking back on his past, he remembered where he left his mercenary badge.
'Its in that house!' He envisioned his mercenary badge being burnt to crisp, or hidden in the midst of rubble.
The hooded figure next to him taps onto his shoulder.
Doni reacts with a sharp edge pointed at their neck.
"Ki~hi~hi. Calm down, I can help you."
His voice rat-like, it was annoying and itchy on his ears.
But, his danger senses conflicts with his purpose in his current life.
"What is it? Can you actually help me?" Doni's said curiously but laced with lingering skepticism.
"Ki~hi~hi. Of course..."
"Give me a down payment first," his blade up against the rat's neck, his words weighted with immense authority, his eyes colder than the finest steel against the coldest winds.
The back room eerily dark, the air thickens causing the rat's breath to be hurried and discrepant.
The patrons nearby gasps, some ignore the situation altogether.
Their murmurs continue to revel up the tension between the two figures with contrasting positions.
"I ca—can't!" The rat responded, fear hinted at his tone.
"Hey owner!" Doni turns his face back at the owner with steadiness.
"Is this person's identity adequate enough to ask for Highest Level information?"
"..." The owner silently continues to make more drinks for the other guests sitting nearby.
'This guy is so infuriating!' Stomping on the ground with an openly aggressive face, he cracks the rough timber below.
Breathing in slowly again, he regains his composed senses.
Looking back at the rat, he gives in to his antics. A possibility was a possibility he would take, no matter how slim the chance.
"What is the favour, rat?" Doni asked.
"Ki~hi~hi. Nothing much really." The rat's eyes mixed with terror and eagerness.
"Just a little errand that requires your… special skills." He clasps his hands in nervous excitement.
"Don't take me a fool. No mercenary works for free. You should acknowledge the mercenary rules."
"I guess you are right." Taking out a bag of coins, the rat hands it over to Doni.
'What the... He just gave it to me just like that?'
'Hold on. This reminds me of a certain situation. Hmm...'
However much he glosses over, he couldn't put a pin to the memories like a needle in a haystack.
"I need you to come with me, mercenary." Strolling to the front of the Tavern, Doni curiously followed suit with his entire guard up until he was met with a strange and sketchy location.
The darkness looms over what resembled a shady back alley.
It was filthy with the intense smell of rotten meat and dirtied wet trash bags, in which were scattered across.
He was greeted with three well armed men who were taking a glass of beer, a light smoke and aloofly making jokes.
Noticing the new face, the three armed men slowly walked up menacingly.
"Surround him."
'So it's a trap. I guess it was too good to be true.' Doni thought as he held the hilt tightly.
The rat clasping his hands together, he whispers, "What a fool."
Doni readying his stance with a slight lean.
"Kill him!"
The three armed men charged with thorough positioning.
But it was all meaningless in the face of speed.
Their heads lopped, sliding of their necks slowly, and rolling on the ground behind them.
"Impossible?!"
The Rat moved back scared witless.
'So satisfying.' He thought, staring into the bright moon above, dazzling a radiant shine upon his figure.
'I didn't know cleaning up dregs was so amazing.'
With heavy steps, Doni approaches the rat with malicious intent.
"Please let me live!" Kowtowing in front of Doni knowing escape was futile, the rat pleas with his whole being.
'His life is in my hands.' Doni creepily smiles.
"…"
"I guess I can use you."
"Ki~hi—!" Screeching in utter terror to the pointed blade aiming at his forehead.
"Your laugh is annoying."
"Now tell me all the information that I asks you from now on. You know what happens when you don't." Staring down, the atmosphere around the two continues to be chilling.
"Y-ye-yessir!" The rat stutters.
"First question. What information can you ask of the Tavern owner?"
"L—low…"
"Hmm?!" Doni cuts a little deeper into his forehead, his patience breaching, "Speak clearly!"
"Lowest Class, Sir!"
"Second question. What are ways to rank up so I can access higher level information?"
"For realistic approaches for someone of your high calibre. Y—you can become a titled sword expert graduated from the prestigious Ertree Academy, Sir!"
'How useful.' Rubbing his chin, Doni looks at the rat bending his back for him in satisfaction.
"So." Retracting his blade, he draws his mouth closer to the rat's ears.
He whispers, "How do I enroll into this prestigious Ertree Academy?"
"Y—you can apply the entrance exam hosted every year. It will start in a week, S—sir!"
"…"
"Very well." Slowly lifting the hooded rat up, tapping his shoulders.
"If I catch you doing more stupid shit behind my back."
"Your life will be the first to forfeit itself. Remember that clearly."
Slowly striding away, Doni disappears into the darkness.
Taking deep breaths, the rat felt both extremely thankful and relieved that he had gotten out of the monster's grasp.