Chapter 320: The Worth of Steel
Alexander marched with steady steps through the crowded city streets until he arrived at the imposing facade of the Adventurers’ Guild. Brianna, Paige, and Sydney walked a step behind him, acting as perfect escorts and drawing the attention of more than one passerby due to the sheer submission reflected in their postures.
Stepping through the oak doors, the usual hustle and bustle of the headquarters flooded his ears. Alexander walked to the submission counter. Unhooking the pouch from his belt, he emptied the previous day’s loot onto the wooden table.
The sharp fangs of the bloodbats and the glowing cores of the slimes rolled across the desk in front of the clerk, who began inspecting them with a magnifying lens and separating them into neat piles.
"Fangs in good condition and intact slime cores," said the clerk after a few minutes of inspection. "Here is your pay."
The man placed a leather pouch on the counter, which settled with a metallic clink. Alexander picked it up, opened it, and counted the contents with a slight smirk.
One hundred and fifty energy stones.
Alexander slipped the pouch into his inventory while an ironic thought crossed his mind. He had spent hours hunting in the shadows and risking his neck to earn that amount, whereas a single night of indulgence, control, and intimacy had granted him far more valuable skills and resources. There was a vast difference between making a living as an adventurer and reaping rewards through pure sex dominance.
Alexander stepped out of the guild with a steady stride, nodding to the three women to fall in beside him.
"Alright," said Alexander in a low, calculating voice. "Where are the closest ones?"
"There are many small hideouts scattered throughout the city that act as the headquarters’ eyes," Brianna explained, leaning closer to his ear. "They are their scouts. The main base is outside the city hidden in the forest."
"I see," said Alexander, weighing his options. "Well, pick the most discreet location. We’ll take the enemy by surprise."
"Follow me, Master," said Sydney.
The three led him through a series of narrow alleyways until stopping in front of a picturesque storefront: a modest flower shop filled with the scent of lilies and damp soil. To the untrained eye, it looked like any regular business, but after stepping through the threshold and heading toward the back counter, the three mercenaries pulled back a thick curtain to reveal a reinforced wooden door leading down into a cellar.
Brianna pushed the door open and headed down the stairs first followed by Alexander, Paige, and Sydney.
The smell of weapon oil and steam filled the basement air. Down below, two women dressed in light leather armor were busy cleaning their daggers. The moment they snapped their heads up and saw the three intruders accompanied by an unknown man, sheer panic seized them.
Knowing what such a breach meant, both reacted on instinct and tried to bolt toward the exit. However, they froze dead in their tracks halfway across the room: the only way out was blocked by the imposing figure of Alexander and his three new shadows.
"How about we talk a little?" said Alexander in a friendly tone, taking a step forward with open hands.
However, the two women didn’t hesitate for a single second. Cornered and recognizing the danger, they drew their daggers and, without blinking, plunged them into their own jugulars. Blood spurted everywhere, and both collapsed onto the tile floor, losing their lives before anyone could react.
Alexander frowned as he looked down at the two lifeless bodies.
[2 Skills detected: Fleeting Shadow and Silent Poison]
[Error: Extraction failed. Target must be alive during synchronization]
The system panels flashed red in front of his vision before fading away. Alexander clicked his tongue in annoyance. The system’s confirmation was clear: to steal their power, he needed them alive.
"Damn it..." Alexander muttered, adjusting his gloves. "Their suicide instincts are fast."
"They are trained to slit their own throats if they see no way out," Sydney explained, cautiously approaching the corpses. "The three of us didn’t have time to do it because you knocked us out cold before we even understood what was happening. If we don’t immobilize them fast, they’ll choose death over talking."
"Well, now I know how they operate," said Alexander, a calculating smirk returning to his lips as he looked at his three companions. "At the next location, I won’t even give them enough time to draw their weapons."
"Let’s move on to the next location," Alexander ordered, turning around without sparing a single second glance at the corpses.
Brianna, Paige, and Sydney nodded and followed him out of the basement, leaving the flower shop behind. Guided by Sydney’s directions, they crossed through the commercial zone until entering the high-society district. The cobblestone streets here were cleaner, and the structures featured marble finishes and polished glass.
Finally, they stopped in front of a high-end clothing store. The store’s facade looked opulent, displaying mannequins dressed in fine silks and gold embroidery behind display windows. A carved wooden sign with gilded lettering adorned the entrance, emanating an air of exclusivity and luxury that few could afford.
"This is it," Sydney whispered beside him, keeping her voice low. "It’s one of their most influential hideouts. They handle filtering information from the nobility and trading in secrets."
Alexander stared at the lavish building with a cold smirk on his lips.
"A perfect location," said Alexander, adjusting the lapel of his coat. "This time, they won’t get the chance to touch a single dagger. Let’s go in."
Alexander pushed the door of the store, making a silver bell chime with an elegant ring inside. The place was carpeted with thick velvet and displayed rows of evening gowns and formal suits under warm lighting.
"Brianna," Alexander said without stopping his advance, keeping his voice low, "make sure no one enters. Sydney, find them."
"Understood, Master," Sydney replied.
Brianna stood guard at the entrance, blocking the door with a firm yet casual posture, while Sydney concentrated and activated her Thermal Perception ability. Her eyes glowed subtly as she scanned the heat signatures through the walls and ceiling of the luxurious establishment.
"Locate her" Paige whispered beside her.
Sydney frowned, tracing the invisible heat trail moving rapidly through the back hallways of the store.
"She’s running over there...!" Sydney cried out, pointing toward a service door hidden behind a rack of fur coats.