The Wind blew through the slightly opened window in a whoosh.
The flames from the lamps flickered, mirroring the emotions of Xander and Gato as they stared at Cornerstone intently.
The room had fallen into a silence so low that only two things were audible. The dripping of Xander’s blood, and Levi’s uneven breathing.
"The Life Lamp." Xander muttered.
Cornerstone nodded. "Yes. And when i got back, a certain important person was interested in my services."
"Baron Bones." Gato muttered bitterly.
Cornerstone shook his head, "try again."
Gato froze.
"You know what, if you get it, I’ll consider not playing with your corpse as you die." Cornerstone encouraged.
"Viscount Scott?"
"No."
"Baron Twain?"
"No." Cornerstone shook his head again. "How about I give you one more chance."
Gato opened his mouth, but closed it back. The names he just called were people he had refused to work for since he lost his arm.
He assumed that if it was not Baron Bones, then it was definitely them. It was not uncommon for nobles to become hateful for not getting what they wanted.
He was about to mention another name, but Xander spoke up.
"Lady Bones."
Cornerstone’s eyes brightened again. "As expected of our dear prince. You know, if you had not ended as a negative profession, I might have enjoyed working under you."
Even though Cornerstone joked around, the atmosphere was still tense.
In fact, it was more than ever.
Meanwhile, Gato was trying to figure out how such a thing was possible.
But Xander had already solved that riddle in his head.
He had been here for three months, and naturally new certain things.
Lady Bones, as she insisted everyone called her, was the Baron’s new wife.
A woman with such capability that she ensured the Baron never met Princess Linda, Alex’s half sister, on that morning Alex was sold.
Any woman that could scheme that good against Linda was not ordinary. And would definitely pry into her husband’s history.
Noble positions was not like the throne which was exclusive to the child of tge first wife until stated otherwise.
The Position usually went to the first born child.
In this case, Levi.
"Unfortunately, the promise was made to the old man." Cornerstone stared at Xander in a strange mix of pity and excitement.
He even swallowed— eyes on Xander like he could not wait to tear into him with a blade.
"Since that’s out of the way, it’s time to die!" Cornerstone reached for the Stiletto still Pinning Xander’s hand to the table.
That Leaning forward was the opportunity Xander was waiting for.
Focusing all his strength in stabbing upwards, the femur BROKE through the table and the bowl of soup separating them.
But the sound of bone tearing through flesh was not heard. Instead, it was a loud DUD!
Xander looked below, shocked.
Bone had met chain mail.
Cornerstone’s smile formed slow, but fingers moved fast.
He grabbed the Stiletto with practiced efficiency, spun it upward in between his digits, and pushed it upward.
Slush Slush slush...
Three times in Xander’s chest.
Xander paused. He coughed up blood, falling to the side, pulling the bowl of kale with him.
A THUD and CLANKING rang through the room.
"NO!!!" Gato screamed.
Cornerstone looked at Xander on the ground. "Damn! So unlucky. Who could have thought that our Fruitcake loving prince still had some fight in him."
And then his eyes stared into the emptiness. "Oh heavens. Just look at the amounts of points I get for that." Cornerstone turned to the old man.
"You know, I have to give it to you old man. You managed to resist putting a knife in his heart regardless of the Systems generosity." Cornerstone wiped some of the splashed from his face.
"Tell me, how did you resist the constant temptation to just kill him?
After all, even if you can’t use the points," He pointed at the old man’s empty right shoulder. "You can still sell the points for a lot of dough.
Maybe you would have ran away before I arrived."
Gato looked at Xander on the ground, and the Levi still struggling to breathe.
Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, but he held them back—gaze focusing on Cornerstone. "Money and Power are infinite. Family is not."
Cornerstone walked to Gato, grabbing him by his shirt with one hand and the other holding the Stiletto lifted high.
Gato did not struggle. He did not see any need to.
A clearly skilled assassin?
It would only make his death more painful.
He had lost his daughter, granddaughter, and now his Grandson, and newly adopted son.
’Maybe it’s all punishment for selfishness and arrogance.’ He thought to himself as he closed his eyes. ’At least, I’d be able to go in peace, knowing I’d see them again.’
The smiling image of his daughter, her husband, and his granddaughter all flowed through his mind.
A drop of tear slide down the corner of his eye.
He was ready.
However, the unforgiving edge of the knife did not fall.
Gato opened his eyes, "just get on with it already."
Cornerstone frowned. "I didn’t hear it." His eyes danced around empty space, as if in search for something.
Gato raised a questioning brow. "Hear what?"
"The alert of his Death." Cornerstone replied.
"Hey Clayface, over here."
Cornerstone turned—a bowl of red was instantly emptied in his face.
A vicious HISS was heard. Like water on hot pot accompanied by steam.
"AARHHHH!!!" The smell of sizzling flesh field the room as Cornerstone staggered, scattering the dishes on table.
In his panic, the Stiletto fell from his hand. "You bastard! I’ll KILL You. I’LL KILL YOU!"
Cornerstone turned, searching for Xander, but his vision was a blinding red.
Gently, Xander picked the Stiletto.
[Ding]
[Psychological Connection Depth: ▓░░░░░░░░░ 8/100]
Fueled by those grueling lessons Leopold forced Alex to take, he tightened his fingers around the blade.
He launched for Cornerstone, sliding on the ground.
Slash...
He cut the tendons behind the left knee.
"Aarhhh!"
Cornerstone fell on one leg.
[Physical Connection Depth: ▓▓░░░░░░░░ 20/100]
The Alert came. Xander ignored it.
"You fucking coward. Aren’t you supposed to be a prince? Where is your damn honor. Face me and fight like a man." Cornerstone’s hands flared about, searching for Xander.
The blade moved again, slicing the tendons behind the right knee.
"Aarhh!" Cornerstone fell on the other knee.
"That’s your mistake. I am no prince." Xander rose behind Cornerstone, "I have no honor."
The blade Came down.