Bell and Aisha walked side by side through the dark alleys, the red lights of the pleasure district slowly fading. Aisha watched the young man out of the corner of her eye, intrigued by the boldness and determination he had shown in front of Ishtar. But something in his gaze, a subtle glint, put her on guard.
Finally, Bell broke the silence.
"Aisha… I need your help."
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"My help? You mean for that suicide mission you accepted? Why would I help you?"
Bell stopped and turned to her, his expression returning to that of a vulnerable and sincere boy, almost desperate.
"Because I have no one else to ask. I know I can't do this alone, not yet. But if you give me a hand, I promise I'll pay you back."
Aisha stared at him, skeptical.
"Pay me back? With what? You don't have a dime in your pocket, and I doubt Ishtar will let you live long enough to keep your word."
Bell blushed slightly, looking away before whispering,
"If I succeed… you will be my first time."
Silence fell between them. Aisha blinked, stunned. Then an uncontrollable laugh burst from her lips.
"Seriously? Is that your big argument? You're such a case, kid."
Bell looked up at her, this time with disarming sincerity.
"I'm not kidding. You helped me when no one else would. If I survive and grow stronger… I want it to be you."
Aisha felt her heart clench, caught between amusement and a strange curiosity. There was a brutal honesty about this boy that reminded her why she despised the other men of Orario so much. But she couldn't ignore the determination in his eyes.
She finally sighed, raising her hands in surrender.
"Very well, Bell. I will help you. But know that I am not going to risk my neck for nothing. If I get involved in this, you better succeed."
Bell nodded vigorously, his expression bright.
"Thank you, Aisha. I promise, I won't disappoint you."
Bell left the pleasure district after making a plan with Aisha. But as soon as he was alone, his expression changed. His naive face hardened, and his mind kicked into action.
Ishtar's scroll contained detailed information about her targets: dissident adventurers plotting to overthrow her influence. Bell knew he couldn't face them head-on. But he had never intended to.
His first stop was an inn where he rented a room with the money Aisha had lent him. There, he spent hours analyzing the information, studying the flaws in his targets' movements and looking for ways to turn them against each other.
"Divide and conquer," he muttered, drawing lines on a map. "If I can sow distrust among them, they'll eliminate themselves."
The next day, Bell put his plan into motion. He went to a tavern where one of the dissidents was in the habit of drinking. Adopting a humble and helpful air, he struck up a conversation, planting doubts in the man's mind about the loyalty of his allies.
"I don't want to get involved," Bell whispered with a frightened expression, "but I heard your partners are talking behind your back… They say you're a weakness to their group."
The man, already drunk, frowned, his suspicion growing. Bell knew the alcohol would do the rest.
Later that night, Bell joined Aisha in a secluded corner of the pleasure district. She watched him arrive, his expression half amused, half intrigued.
"So? Did you find a way to deal with these guys?"
Bell nodded, his face returning to its sincere, determined expression.
"Yes. But I'm going to need you for the last shot. They're meeting in an old abandoned house tomorrow night. If you can cover for me just long enough, I can finish what I started."
Aisha stared at him for a long time, trying to detect any sign of duplicity. But all she saw was a boy willing to do anything to survive.
"You better know what you're doing," she finally growled. "Because if this goes wrong, I won't be able to save you."
Bell smiled softly at him, genuine warmth in his eyes.
"Thank you, Aisha. I will repay you, I promise."
But in his mind, Bell knew that this promise was just another piece on the chessboard he had begun to manipulate.
Chapter 6: The Trap Closes
Night had fallen on Orario, and the old abandoned house on the edge of town loomed like a ghost in the darkness. Bell and Aisha approached silently, hidden in the shadows. The young man held a dagger borrowed from Aisha, his gaze fixed on their target.
Aisha watched Bell out of the corner of her eye. Despite his innocent appearance, he exuded an unusual, almost unsettling confidence. "Are you sure, kid? These guys aren't amateurs. If you make a mistake, they'll kill you."
Bell answered him without looking away from the house.
<<< I know. But there are only level 1s and I think there can be unforeseen events. That's why I won't make any mistakes. >>>
"Do you really want to go through with killing him?" Aisha said observing his reaction.
"I've made up my mind, I don't want to get walked all over anymore but if you want to I can make an exception" Bell said in a provocative tone
Aisha smirked.
<< I'm starting to like you, little one. Come on, tell me what I should do. >>>
Bell turned to her, his face lit with an almost disarming sincerity. <<< Stay near the entrance. If things go south, I want you to be the distraction. I'll split them up and hit where it hurts. >>>>
She raised an eyebrow, impressed despite herself.
<<<< Not a bad plan. You know you don't have to play the hero, right? >>>
Bell looked down slightly, a shadow crossing his face. << I don't play the hero. I do what I have to do. >>>
Inside, the tension was palpable. Four adventurers stood around a rickety table, their voices low and wary. The poison Bell had instilled in their minds was already bearing fruit.
<< Do you really think I'm the problem, Bragan? >> a large man growled, his fists pounding the table. << You've got some nerve to say that after your last stupidity. >>>
Bragan, a nervous-looking archer, raised his hands in defense. "I didn't say anything! You're the one who messes things up every time, Daron. If anyone's putting us in danger, it's you."
A third man, calmer but visibly annoyed, intervened. <<< Enough. We're not going to start tearing each other apart. Not now. >>>
In the shadows, Bell watched the scene through a crack in the wall. A thin smile tugged at his lips. The dissidents were already on the verge of killing each other. He only had to give it one more push.
He discreetly took out a small vial of a thick liquid that he had purchased with the meager remaining coins. He skillfully tossed it across the room. The vial shattered on the ground, releasing a dense, irritating smoke.
The adventurers stood up in panic, their weapons drawn.
<< What's that? Who's there? »
Bell slipped inside, quick and silent, striking with precision.
He aimed first at Bragan, incapacitating him with a blow to the back of the head before disappearing back into the shadows.
<< It was him! >>> Daron shouted as he saw Bragan on the ground. He threw himself on another adventurer, convinced of a plot.
Bell watched from the shadows, manipulating the situation like a puppeteer. As the dissidents fought among themselves, he approached the last man, the one who seemed to be the leader.
<<< Do you think you're smart, sowing chaos like that? >> said a deep voice behind him.
Bell felt a cold blade on his throat. It was a woman, the only one who hadn't been mentioned in the report. A miscalculation that cost him dearly.
Before the blade could move, a hiss rang through the air. A steel chain wrapped around the woman's arm, forcing her to drop her weapon. Aisha stepped out of the shadows, a fierce smile on her lips.
"Did you forget you had a bodyguard, kid?" she said, kicking the woman away.
Bell nodded, quickly regaining his composure.
<<< Thank you, Aisha. >>>
With his help, they neutralized the remaining dissidents. Bell used a ruthless method: he gave them no chance of getting out alive. Every blow was precise, every move calculated.
When the task was completed, Bell leaned against a wall, breathing heavily.
Aisha, covered in a few blood splatters, looked at him with curiosity tinged with respect.
<<< Not bad, kid. You're more dangerous than you look. >>>
Bell looked up, his glowing gaze shining in the darkness.
<< When you have nothing to lose, you become dangerous. >>>
She crouched down next to him, a provocative smile on her lips.
<<< And this promise, then?
Still relevant? >>>
Bell blushed slightly but gave a genuine smile.
<< I always keep my promises, Aisha. But first, I must make sure Ishtar keeps hers. >>>>
Back at the palace, Ishtar waited, lying on her couch. When Bell entered, covered in blood but with an unwavering gaze, she smiled, amused.
<<<< So, little lamb? Have you completed my task? >>
Bell bowed slightly, holding out the parchment with the names, where he had checked off each of his targets. <<< Yes, Goddess Ishtar. They will never plot against you again. >>>
Ishtar burst out laughing, visibly pleased. She stood up gracefully, approaching Bell.
<<< Well, well... You impress me, boy. Maybe you're more than just a toy after all. >>>
She put a finger under his chin, forcing him to look up at her. "You want my blessing, don't you?"
Bell nodded, his eyes shining with fierce determination. <
Ishtar smiled, amused but intrigued. <<< We will see if you are up to it, Bell Cranel. Prepare yourself for a new world.
To be continued