The God of Jesters
Chapter 140 - 3.04.01 A little smile.

Chapter 140: 3.04.01 A little smile.

"What was that just now?... We were so close to being found out." Max with a black mask that covered his face, lifted the small body of a girl who struggled to breathe. And with the little that was left in her, she said. "Ju..st cleaning... up."

Hearing those words, Max’s face under the mask turned a bit frustrated, before he threw her to the side. "Listen to me here, I have come close to my goal and I don’t wish for any sabotage from your side."

"As long as you are learning from me, you move when I say you can move, you breathe when I say you can breathe. Don’t make me repeat myself again and again, Rose. This was real, not some dummy target for your training."

"It was real... it was why I was dealing with the traces you left behind."

"That kid was just three years old, there was no way he would have been able to describe our appearance."

"You don’t know that." The girl that barely reached his shoulder stood up proud, not backing down one bit. Her cold eyes and demeanor were wrong. So wrong in fact that Max has once considered her demon in sheep’s clothing.

It was why, after a few more missions, he gave her a green chit and allowed her to take on hits on her own.

It was not until the death of his wife and with no way out that he was forced to call for her help, the only person he believed would take the job. And in a way, he succeeded and escaped the encirclement of the assassins that came after him.

And for what she did while helping him escape, she suffered for it. She was excommunicated and probably in hiding, or so he had believed.

But here she was sitting in a small cafe of Gutters, talking with some dwarf with a serious expression. Just like a normal member of society. ’Such a crazy coincidence.’ There was no fear or worry on his face.

The woman never saw his real face and his build was also much different than before. Time and age do that to people and even if that woman was crazy intelligent, she wouldn’t be able to pinpoint his identity easily.

Which is why he was free. Which was the reason he didn’t wish to hide his face anymore. For there was no one in the world that ever knew how he looked under his mask.

And with the "mark" gone from his body, even the assassin’s league would never be able to find his location. They weren’t able to do so before, nor will they be able to do it in the future.

******

In her mind, the face of the man who just walked past her outside the window never jolted up any memory in her eyes. But still, her eyes were shining with bright lights.

"The assassins used a generic combat method, the blade also didn’t seem much special from the scratches it left on armor, and neither did we find out whether he was even hit," Fahna spoke, before saying. "So I believe it would be more appropriate to focus on someone else. The other member, the sniper."

"What of it? Everything is in front of you... the bullets were homemade, and so was the gun that was used by the sniper. There are many capable of such a feat, so it’s impossible to pinpoint who might have done it."

"We need a piece of that... thing." Salveraz struggled a bit with his words due to his drunken state. Which was why Fahna smiled and helped him a bit. "Gun you mean?"

"Yes, the gun." He said, before picking up another glass of beer, looking at the scrutinizing eyes of Fahna, and then slowly putting it down.

Fahna on the other hand smiled and appreciated Salveraz who was able to hold himself back from drinking anymore. Before replying. "What if I were to tell you, I might know who it is?"

"What do you mean?"

"It’s a bit late and they probably left."

"Who left?"

"Our sniper, along with a thin man."

"Then why didn’t you mention it before?"

"You were too drunk and besides, we shouldn’t hunt them down, not now at least," Fahna said while shushing Salveraz. "Don’t tell you don’t find something odd with this whole case?" As she said these words, Salveraz turned silent. The drunkenness from his face disappeared and a small soundproof dome covered them both.

Which caused Fahna to smile.

"I knew something was wrong when you suggested we meet at the Gutters." The dwarf sighed for a while. Almost regretting that he came here.

"Now, don’t be such a prude Detective, there is no way you expected this." Fahna was not the least bit surprised by this reaction. She just continued. "So please, I wonder what you can tell me?"

At such a question, Salveraz glared deeply at Fahna. "It’s better if you don’t learn of it... just do what you came here to do and stay away from something that might put you in danger."

At that question, Fahna went silent, before with a smile, she asked. "Detective, I wonder. Who do you think was the cause of the disaster in Durum?"

At those words, Salveraz replied almost instantly. "Wasn’t it the Blue Lotus cult?" Salveraz knew that this was not the right answer, the very fact that Blue Lotus was able to achieve it went to prove how corrupted and incapable the ruling class of Durum was. Many betrayers might be involved in this case, betrayers that the Cynark kingdom wouldn’t like to speak of.

Not so soon at least.

"No, and it’s not anything that you are thinking. It was a third party." At the mention of the third party, an annoyed look appeared on her face. "And I have to believe, this third party is currently operating in this city."

"Wait... let’s go back a bit, who is this third party and how was he involved in Durum?"

"All you need to know is, that bastard was the cause my father died and a god revived. And now he is here!"

"Are you telling me some sort of ghost story or urban legend? Heard it’s been famous among kids these days.’

"I am not joking Detective, my words hold the truth and I have to believe, the killings in the industrial district had some correlation to that being."

"And why do you believe it?"

At those words, Fahna went silent. Before shaking her head. "I can’t say for now. But back to the point."

"I believe you should now understand why I got involved in his case and the gravity of the situation."

"..."

*****

A little killer playing detective, this is what Fahna was. A massive hypocrite who lives in her own world, without a care for those around her. The only thing that she did care about was her remaining family.

Though in a certain sense, I was part of her family as well. With how close to Grifter I used to be, we were almost like brothers, twice divided by circumstances.

Hell, I was even there when her brother was born the first time, I was there when he killed his first and I was there when he breathed his last multiple times. Few of which I don’t remember. So this all makes me a kind of family to him, and by proxy, to Fahna.

So I felt bad for her, seeing her go on such a bizarre tangent that I didn’t even expect. But I was glad that she did. She was helping me see a different perspective. A stupider one, but different nonetheless.

*****

"How are you liking your new weapon?"

"Assembly is a bit odd... and the handle seems big."

"Made for dwarven hands."

"Will be made for my hands, after a few changes."

With the banter over, Max left Sheva to her devices. The small eye exchange with Fahna was still in his mind, while he tried to remember who the other person sitting next to her was.

At least from his dress, he can be sure that he was not part of the Gutters, but instead something more official. Though, due to the place they were in, the man didn’t put any kind of identifier on his body. Just drinking a cheap beer and looking jolly.

’These beard bastards.. Can’t tell them apart.’ After some casual Racism. Max checked the status of his arm. And seeing that he could move it properly without much effort. His casual smile turned into the poker face he had been keeping all this time he was alone.

There was no Sheva for him to smile to, there was no one to look at him. So there was no need to smile anymore. ’This is why I miss it.’ recalling the days he wore a mask, he started to wonder if he should do so again.

Before shaking his head.

’I won’t wear it, I won’t be a coward anymore.’ With some odd thoughts on his face. Max donned his dark uniform and then went to sleep for a while.

The next time he wakes up, it will be time for his investigations.