Chapter 193 Fleeing (1/2)
Hearing what Alex said didn't make Lyner's anger dissipate, he just redirected his anger at Alex for the time being.Feeling the full brunt of Lyner's overwhelming bloodlust, Alex remained calm. Though he was a bit surprised to see the easy-going teacher act this way.
This might be his actual personality showing, Alex wasn't sure but he needed to be extremely wary.
”Alex I'll say it again, I'm not in the mood. So you better let go, or I might not be able to hold back.”
”Sir Lyner I know you're angry, but you must forgive my friend. He might sound boastful and arrogant, but that's just his way to hide his insecurities, and like you said he's just a child. So shouldn't a grown man like you be magnanimous to a junior like him.”
Lyner looked at Alex, his eyes were like daggers trying to pierce him. After a long silence, Lyner's bloodlust lessened a bit, but Alex didn't let his guard down. It was never simple with the man called the strongest of Berdonia. He was a person who sometimes looks foolish and impulsive, but at the same time, he also feels intelligent and wise. What you get when you mixed those things together is whatever Lyner was.
Matthew seeing Alex defend him was shocked. He knew the trouble he was getting himself into, and still went and said what he said. He was alright with dying in the hands of the strongest of Berdonia, thinking wouldn't that be a great honor. Still, if there was a way not to die, he would still take it. But seeing that it was his rival that he wanted to beat that was saving him, made Matthew feel mixed emotions.
He was grateful at the same time irritated and angry. He also didn't like the feeling that Alex was actually pitying him. He then noticed that Lyner was looking at him, which made him clench his fist in frustration.
Seeing the look of distress hiding behind the arrogance, Lyner sighed.
”I cannot let his insult slide, but you are right he is but a child. So I will give you a chance. If you two are able to flee from me for about twenty minutes, and I'm unable to catch both of you within that time limit. I will not do anything to that friend of yours, but if I do catch you, I'll be taking an arm from him, and you'll be my sparring partner for the next three days. Of course, while I give chase you two can try and kill me, that's if you can.”
When Lyner said these words he shrugged his shoulders, he then continued speaking. ”Do not worry the killing rule only applies to you, I won't try to kill you, but I can make this chase extremely painful. Do you agree to these conditions?”
”... I agree, but before we start can Matthew rest for a few more minutes?”
”Whatever, I'll give you about-” Lyner with his sharp eyes looked at Matthew before he continued his answer. ”Fifteen minutes, that's enough time for the baby to recover.” Alex nodded his head in agreement and left Lyner's side to approach Matthew who was trying to catch his breath.
”Why did you do that? I could have handled the situation myself!” The first thing that came out of Matthew's mouth was not words of gratitude, but his usual condescending words. Alex had no time to fight it out with Matthew, so he pushed the already tired Matthew and made him sit down.
”I have no time for whatever complaints you have Matthew. I don't care if it damages your pride, but you have to follow my orders.”
Matthew was about to open his mouth to argue, but Alex shut it close by pinching his lips shut with his fingers. Alex who was now kneeling in front of Matthew looked at him eye to eye and spoke.
”Like I said I have no time for your complaints. We are about to face the strongest of Berdonia, and it will take everything we got just to escape. So I want you to listen carefully, the rules of this game are simple as long as he doesn't catch both of us, we win. Meaning that victory is assured as long as one of us escapes. So here's the plan.”
...
Lyner watched the two kids planning what they were going to do against him. He couldn't hear them from this distance, but even if he could he wouldn't bother listening. This was the arrogance that comes with overwhelming strength.
Lyner took a cigaret from his pocket and a lighter and started smoking. While he waited he started to think about what happened moments ago. After all these years, he was still affected by the word coward.
It's been twenty years since that incident and he thought he already stopped caring, but turns out he still cared. Lyner silently smokes his cigaret as he remembered that time when he lost everything and became the man that he was now.
He remembered the scared faces of his classmates, as they looked at him asking for help. He remembers the taunting laugh of the man who called him a coward. Every time he remembers that moment Lyner no matter the circumstance gets unbelievable angry. Right now he was still able to hold it in, but for some reason he keeps on hearing Matthew's voice calling him a coward, making him want to rip off his head.
He made up this idea of a chase so he could let loose, and maybe calm himself down enough to not want to kill the kid. Cause at this moment he really wanted to tear him apart.
'It's been so long, but I guess I'm still a kid as well.' Even smoking his favorite cigaret wasn't helping him calm down today.
...
Once Alex was done briefing Matthew on what to do he let go of his mouth.
”Do you understand the plan?” Matthew glared at him and answered back.
”Of course I understand the plan, I'm not an idiot. Still, your plan has a lot of what ifs in it. I was sure you were the type of person that plans every detail and doesn't rely on guesses and hunches.”
”We are facing a person strong enough to crush us with his bare hands. We are unsure were his limits lay. I do not like facing an opponent I haven't researched thoroughly, but that's what we're about to do. All the data I gathered, everything I observed about Sir Lyner has been used to make this plan.” Alex who usually had a stoic expression looked at Matthew with an icy glare before continuing what he was saying.