The atmosphere was as murky as cement, the suffocating pressure pressing on everyone's nerves, while the air was thick with the scent of adrenaline.
"Shh—" Brook drew the large blade from his waist, resting it against Paladin's throat, his other hand extending toward Kino, his face once again wearing a simple, yet sincere smile. "I admire you, truly. At such a young age, you hold such a high position. You must be the youngest civil officer in the Kingdom of Gulan, and that fills me with fondness. Now, take my hand. Once I sever this Centurion's head, all blood debts will be wiped clean, and we will return to friendship, joining forces to serve the city of Twilight."
The heavy blade rested against Paladin's throat, its sharp edge already slicing a thin line, sending waves of sharp pain and coldness through him.
On the brink of life and death, Paladin's breathing was erratic, his limbs numb, and his heart frozen in place.
I do not want to die...
Not because I fear death, but because I fear dying without purpose.
If I were to die on the battlefield, sacrificing my life for a great victory, at least it would have meaning.
But now, why die?
Is it for heroism?
Just because I helped a bullied child?
Isn't it those who bully the child who are truly wrong?!
What have I done wrong?!
I do not want to die in such a pathetic way...
No matter how Paladin felt, everything was already out of his hands.
In the game of power among the elite, a mere Centurion was nothing more than a pawn—one to be used and discarded at will.
...
Kino glanced at Brook's hand. The man didn't seem to care much for cleanliness, his hands were as dark as if he had just dug through dirt, like a black bear.
Slowly, Kino extended his hand. Brook, about to grasp it, missed entirely.
Kino's right hand descended, and the space around them seemed to warp, a silent, invisible storm roaring forth, with telekinetic power seizing the blade as if a beast's jaws had locked onto it, rendering it immobile.
"I have a better offer," Kino said, a smile curling his lips. "I'll pay you 500 Silver Moons. That should be enough to hire 100 attendants."
Brook grinned, showing his yellowed teeth. "What if I refuse?"
Kino's smile grew, his eyes narrowing into crescent-shaped slits. "How many wrong decisions have you made in your life?"
Brook shrugged. "Quite a few."
Kino: "If you refuse, you will make one more—a mistake more severe than all the others combined."
At his words, Brook's eyes blazed with fury. His right arm bulged as he forced the blade downward, its sharp edge descending toward Paladin's throat with immense force.
At the same time, Kino's pale hand tensed, veins bulging, and though there was no direct contact, a powerful invisible current gripped the blade, preventing it from cutting Paladin.
Both exerted force, their powers seemingly evenly matched. The blade lowered slightly, only to be pushed back up. It was pushed forward, and just as quickly shoved backward again.
The sound of metal groaning filled the air.
No one knew how long they were locked in this standoff, but suddenly, with a loud "clang," the steel blade snapped under the pressure, breaking into pieces. One of the fragments sliced through Paladin's scalp, sending a shiver down his spine.
Brook, now gripping the broken knife, was filled with a rage so intense it seemed to burn like molten lava.
"ROAR!!!" Without warning, Brook's body swelled, dark gray fur sprouting across his skin. His limbs thickened with muscular power, his muscles coiling like the peaks of small mountains, his nails sharper than any blade. His face contorted into a feral visage, with a protruding snout and fangs gleaming with terrifying malice.
The Third Sequence's calamity—Pandemic Beast form!
The wild, beastly aura exploded like a hurricane, sending the nearby soldiers into a panic. Some were so terrified they collapsed, unable even to touch their weapons.
Kino quickly distanced himself, subtly using telekinetic power to probe Brook's form, feeling the feedback it gave him.
Brook's muscles had become as solid as stone, his strength several dozen times greater than his human form. His cellular activity, muscle power, defense, reflexes, and motor skills had all dramatically increased.
His skin was as tough as steel—small-caliber bullets might not even pierce it, and trying to cut through with a dagger was entirely hopeless.
In this form, even a giant like Ule's brother, or the formidable Single Ghu, would be shattered by a single blow from Brook.
The beastified Brook stood a towering 4 meters tall. He looked down at Kino, his beastly eyes glowing with a sinister red hue, his mouth exhaling clouds of white mist. His saliva dripped steadily onto the floor, his voice distorted by his transformation: "You broke my knife."
Kino slowly raised his gaze, his words laced with hidden meaning: "It seems I owe you more than I thought. How about this? Civil Officer Percy recently submitted his resignation. The position is now vacant, and we can discuss a replacement."
A glint of amusement flashed in Brook's beastly eyes. He turned to look at Fick, growling, "What's the name of your attendant?"
Fick hesitated before bluntly answering, "Barn Russell."
Kino spread his hands. "Russell... it seems he's not from the 'Troy' family."
Amidst the swirling white mist, Brook reverted to human form. His loose armor, custom-made with high flexibility, remained intact despite his transformation.
He scratched his head, feigning confusion. "If he's not from the Troy family, why should I help him avenge blood with blood?"
Kino's smile was as if it were an expression worn like a mask. "500 Silver Moons, and we'll find a time to discuss the Civil Officer position."
Seeing that Brook had no further objections, Fick, standing nearby, exploded with anger. He shouted, "Father, just let it go? This Centurion killed my attendant in public. I demand his life in return!"
"Fick," Brook's voice grew colder, "Adults speak. Children should not interrupt."
In front of his father, Fick could only seethe in silence, unable to vent his frustration.
Though an agreement had been reached, it was clear that Brook was not pleased about his son's attendant being killed. He kicked the bound Paladin toward Kino and pointed directly at his nose. "You take the money and deliver it to my estate personally."
Kino: "I'll personally deliver it."
Brook grunted, grabbed Fick by the back of his neck, and walked away.
After the Troys left, the soldiers untied Paladin. He wobbled to his knees before Kino, trembling as he said, "Thank you for your mercy. I will forever..."
Kino cut him off. "I have many reasons to save you—I am the Civil Officer of Twilight City, and I cannot allow my Centurion to be killed in the government estate; it would damage my reputation. You and I have shared hardships, abandoning you would cause discontent among those like Bessa and Lugo. You are my dog, and no one else can decide your fate but me. There are many reasons I saved you, but 'mercy' is not one of them."
"I saved you because the sum of these reasons outweighed 500 Silver Moons and the Civil Officer position. If you get into trouble again, as long as the value of saving you exceeds the cost, I will save you. If you get into trouble a hundred times, I will save you a hundred times, without hesitation. But—"
"If one day, saving you is no longer worth the cost, you will be abandoned, just like those stray dogs left to wander the streets. So, I suggest you take the time tonight to reflect on one thing: why, when you did a good deed, did you end up being a sinner? Figuring that out will be very beneficial to your life."