20 Chapter 20: The Kiss of Death and Chronus
Nevertheless, Alex could not simply kill them. If he did, he would be the mean suspect.
Alex had already exposed his ability to knights and mercenaries when rescuing Jewel. From here, it wouldn't be hard for the others to draw a conclusion that he was involved. Even if they didn't draw a conclusion, Alex wouldn't put it past the corrupt captain to pin it on him.
Killing the women straight up and soundlessly would only create trouble! The lineup outside the room was already impressive. Judging by how all the knights dressed, He didn't need that kind of heat? Or Jewel?
Furthermore, Ashely Vee was a dual Elementalist. Which was rare in such a weak world; killing her alone wasn't just asking for trouble; it was begging for it.
However, Alex could not leave the women paralyzed and breathing; they were his hard-earned exp.
He had to kill the women in a way that push the blame on the inn and the town of Saint Rothen. Alex's only option was to stage a scene; this was something that he had employed on a pack of church members who tried to take advantage of his innocent brother. They were all met with an "accidental death"; car accident, taking the wrong medication, faulty wiring, mudslides, drowning, and various animal mauling.
Alex was a professional!
Alex exited the rift, took away the twins' recording, and retrieved the needles he stuck in each of the women.
He then lifts and places all three paralyzed women on the bed. Next to the bed, Alex set up an assortment of wine, meat, and slices of bread that he looted. Thenceforth he retrieves the venom of the nether snake and poisons the food.
The three women watched Alex, their eyes imploring for mercy. Alex removes his mask and then passionately kisses each woman as if they were his lost lovers and sighed.
Alex's features portrayed him as an innocent boy next door. For a moment, the women thought that this young boy was not a cold hardened killer. Just maybe, maybe he would see that he did not have to do this. They had more hope after hearing him sighed so hard, as if this was the hardest thing in the world, as if there was literally pressure on his shoulders.
They held on to hope until they saw Alex smile at them as if he were looking at a worm playing the flute.
It was ridiculous that they hoped that the assassin who killed a knight, an assassination they witnessed, showed them his face, would let them go.
They would scream about his actions to the entire kingdom if he did.
Alex took out three new needles and dipped them in nether snake venom before sticking each woman.
The women would die painfully, and because of the previous venom, they wouldn't be able to utter a sound.
The crime would be pinned on someone else.
The guards would blame the inn or the lady of the night for the poisoned food and the kingdom because it happened here.
The poison would cause a burning sensation once the venom reaches the heart. This would cause the individual to bleed thru all of their orifices.
After administrating the poison, Alex left thru the void, he wanted to stay to see how the venom worked, but he was short on time. He still wanted to at least include either Luke or Wallace in tonight's schedule. As for Alice, he would dedicate more time just for her. She was special.
"Star, should I have used the mask with Ives Bray's face, then make a commotion before jumping out of the window?" Alex suddenly had an idea to go back.
"No, if you had captured Ives, then it would work. If he is at a party or with a trusted official of the king empire right now and everyone sees him, it would be hard to pin this on him. Then everyone would know that someone is trying to frame him. Making it harder to frame him again. Leading to you failing the quest." Vigerřamous dispelled Alex's idea of turning back.
"Star, What is the difference between a mage and an Elementalist?" Alex asked, remembering Ashly.
"An Elementalist can only use the elements they have an affinity with. They can quickly adapt to threats by harnessing the power of the elements. They can coat their weapon with their element, without a need for a skill, strengthening it. To use the element beyond that, an Elementalist would need to have a skill. Take Walter, for example; he was able to hurl wind-blade at you because it was his innate skill. Another wind Elementalist would not be able to do that unless they too have the same innate skill."
"Mages differ totally from Elementalist, and the process to become one is complex and never really complete. A mage will access the elements through spells; they don't need to have skills or anything like that since the spells dictate everything. However, the element a mage can use depends on three things: their compatibility with the element, the runes craved on their mana core, and their cultivation/mediation technique. There isn't a single life form that could access all the elements, so don't go thinking that a mage could. At most, with those three conditions, a mage could use two or three-element that they have an affinity with. There are rare cases when a mage could use four. mages require spells and a lot of mana.
Anyone can become a mage with the right resources. Especially those that do not have a skill or an affinity to any element.
Elementalists are like a dying linage, and innate skills are hard to come by. Innate skills are not learned from books or taught through practice. To gain a natural talent/innate skill, one must either gained them upon birth or acquire them from rune stones. Runestones aren't rare, but finding a unique one is. Only a lucky few can find those that are rare, and even then, the type of skill in the runestone might not match your element. If you had a skill like wind blade, you wouldn't be able to use it. This is why it is rare that any being chooses to remain only an Elementalist!" Star answered Alex.
"so I can become a mage too!" Alex asked with excitement in his heart before Vigerřamous smothered it.
"No, you fucking won't!" Star Hollered as if someone was trying to take the last slice of pizza.
"Cough… cough… cough…. what I mean to say is that you are a demigod, titles such as Elementalist and mage do not apply to you. These are titles for those that are beneath you. Your ability dark fusion gives you access to elements that could evolve. You don't know how lucky you are! Although there is no guarantee that they will evolve, don't you think that you are already blessed to be able to use Amaterasu's (black fire), and lightning? Plus, you also have an affinity for space. Aren't you being a little too greedy? Basic Gods only have one type of power," Star said while sighing.
"you don't understand who you are yet and why we are cursed or blessed. If your great grandfather Chronos were to hear you right now," Star trilled off, sighing heavily as he recalled a heart-wrenching memory.
Alex did not ask more on the topic, he wanted to know the full story but now wasn't the time; it was the first time Star sighed so loud. So, Alex changed the subject, "How are warlocks different from Elementalists and mages?"
"Warlocks are just like mages but better! They use spells to access the element and can transform their body at will. Warlocks have innate skills that can make their body grow scales to defend themselves or transform into an entire serpent. Some of these require no mana; it is a skill that they receive from their blood. Warlocks have the genies of ancient serpents from the blood that they ingested back in the chaotic area, which is then passed down from generation to generation. With each generation, the blood weakens since it wasn't originally their blood. Unlike elementalist, warlocks can not access the elements naturally since they are born without an affinity to any element."
Back at the rooftop where Alex had an intense fight with Walter Frazier, Matthew was being treated by a healer while surrounded by twenty knights. The knights all had dreadful expressions on their faces. Matthew's condition was severe; he was paralyzed, only his pupils could dilate. The healer said it was the first time he has encountered such a condition and was most likely caused by a poison. An adversary equipped with such a grave poison was not someone the knights would like to meet. This was part of the reason for the Knights' bereavement. The other reason was that Alex could fight two knights at once, even with the space being locked. He was able to take on two brothers that had almost perfect coordination. Some knights could not help but rethink the situation.
'was it wise to bother such a dreadful fellow? For what? He has already killed five knights in a single night, even though there weren't any corpses, who here is stupid! Even if they want to step away from the situation, they couldn't, the captain was their superior officer, and that dreadful fellow was hunting them down.'
Seeing each other faces, there was no need for words; it was clear what they all were thinking.
'Oooooohhhhh my dear captain, what have you drag us into?'
Alex was watching them in the void while he was having a conversation with Star. He anticipated they would fill the roof with knights and that they would discover Matthew. It was a risk he was willing to take! He could not pick Matthew over the witnesses. If he were a second late, Rena (the lady of the night) would have opened the room's door, startling the knights in the hall, and set off a chain of reactions. Plus, the twins had recorded his fight. Compare to Matthew, that blunder would be hard to fix. Those powerful knights would never leave the girl's side after realizing that they witnessed an assassination and who knows where the recording might be. It was not a death sentence to be exposed, but it would cause him to fail multiple quests and ruin his plans.
Alex was planning to give the knights another assailant. He would pin all the inn killing and disappearance on the new assailant. It would be hard to do that when there is a recording. Of course, the other assailant would be Alex in disguise; the other assailant was insurance; with ninety knights turning to corpses, the nobles would need someone to blame. Alex would wear the mask of infinity faces, expose himself killing a knight with a bow and arrow. Then blatantly claim that he killed and poison all those knights in the name of "Justice for the commoners."
The knights did routinely intimidate the commoners; this was no secret. Alex's action could plunge the town of Saint Rothen into civil unrest.
Alex did not need to do all this scheming; no one knew him; he could shoot arrows out from the void and poison them all. He could hide in plain sight and kill them all. Alex was going to leave this kingdom and eventually this world; there was no need to worry about someone coming after him, and if they did, they would die. But he did not want Lith's aunt to be caught up in this mess. Although he could leave, that wasn't the same for Jewel, who already had a life and husband on echo.
*Ding*
[you have received 75exp]
[You have received 130 sin points (SP)]
*Ding*
[you have received 200exp]
[You have received 130 sin points (SP)]
*Ding*
[you have received 50exp]
[You have received 300 sin points (SP)]
The system notification ringed out, and Alex knew that the three women were dead. Which was sweet music to his ears!
