35 Unconventional Means (2/2)

Sebastian took the [s.h.i.+eld Bash] head-on with his two wooden swords.

Jin was obviously surprised as he looked at Sebastian who didn't even budge and took his skill head on. 'It's like I just hit a boulder! This is crazy!'

'Tense right shoulder and left leg. He's going to duck down to break my balance and stab me with his spear. As if I'd let you!' Sebastian pushed still-surprised Jin back with raw power behind his two swords!

Since Jin placed all his weight on his left leg to prepare for his [Spear Slash], he was forced to take a step back instead.

BLAM! BABAM!

Sebastian didn't waste time as he struck Jin's buckler with his right sword and spun around to hit him with his other sword. With the momentum, he turned once more to roundhouse kick him while he was still off balance.

Thud!

Jin fell down and when looked up, Sebastian was already pointing his two swords at his neck and chest, with a blank stare. Even if it was a practice match, he clearly felt the killing intent.

”Stop! Finished!” Mel took a step forward as she placed herself between Jin and Sebastian.

Sebastian released his skill and tried to help Jin stand up by offering his hand, however, Jin shook it away. ”It almost reminds me of our first match. Although now the results are stark different. You actually broke my left arm. I couldn't block your blows, they were monstrously strong. I need to heal myself before I can stand up.”

Sebastian looked down and saw that Jin's left forearm was indeed bent at an awkward angle and started to swell. It happened most likely when Sebastian used his raw power then. Feeling apologetic, he tried to open his palm and made the motions to cast [Heal] on Jin, when Mel stopped him.

”You can't cast spells yet right?”

”Ahh. You're right. Then I'll leave Jin to you then.” Sebastian went inside the warm house as he prepared tea for the others. While waiting for tea leaves to steep, he thought back to his private training just a few days ago. He still couldn't cast offensive spells, however, he could cast [Heal] only to himself. Checking his mana flow once more revealed no abnormalities whatsoever. Unable to find the source of the problem, he continued to focus on his [Augment] skills like before.

Jin and Mel entered the house and took their places on the dining table as they warmed themselves up with the tea.

”So Sebastian, what is the next plan? Are you really okay with us helping you subjugate Nate?” Jin opened and closed his left fist to check on it while he was asking Sebastian.

”You know what he is capable of, and you also know that he is a Forgotten One like me. It saves me having to brief other people. I simply ask that you agree to my condition.”

”Which was to leave him to you when we found him right?” Mel was holding her warm mug with both hands, trying to warm herself.

”That is correct. I will try and make him talk, however, I will use 'unconventional' means. Leave him to me.” Sebastian tensed his muscles as he thought about his plan to extract information from Nate when they captured him.

”Just be careful though. While we're thinking of how to capture him, what does 'f.u.c.k' in his notes and journal mean? He uses it a lot, and I don't think he means s.e.x in this context.” Jin held the notes up, looking at the unknown word.

”Ah, that's actually used as a curse word from Earth. We simply say it when we're angry or fl.u.s.tered.” Sebastian snickered as he thought that they found it strange when it was merely crude language.

”Wow, he does use it a lot.” Mel picked up some papers and leafed through it, looking for instances of the word. ”So what does a 'f.u.c.king midget' mean? He said he found one and this 'midget' is making his weapons?”

Sebastian picked that paper and started rereading it. ”It's also a derogatory word, I think he meant a dwarf. We need to find this dwarf who manufactured his weapons. He might have answers to lead us to him.”

”Where should we look for him?” Both Jin and Mel looked at Sebastian with expectant eyes.

”We should ask a dwarf that we know that has connections,” Sebastian answered with a smile.

***

A few days later, in a dark alley, a small hooded figure was running with three burly men chasing after her.

”Don't run too far missy! n.o.body can hear ya in these back streets. We'll need our stamina for when we catch ya!” One of the muscular men took out a small dagger when they started to close in on her.

Her hood came off and revealed a dwarf with red hair, who was pretty if you didn't count the fact that she looked fl.u.s.tered and was sweating buckets at the moment. 'I knew I shouldn't have made that deal! Stupid coin! This will be the end of me!'

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