Work Prophet
Chapter 155 - 3 Assassin

Chapter 155: Chapter 3 Assassin

The swamp at night; the stench of blood emanating from the corpses would soon attract all the nearby poisonous insects and wild beasts, so after killing the men, Jude called everyone to get up and continue on their way.

Looking at the two bodies on the ground and the expressionless Jude, the mercenaries’ faces showed a mixture of emotions.

Although Jude didn’t explain what had just happened, by connecting it to the events of the day, it was easy for everyone to concoct a story. The short-statured mercenary and his partner, humiliated earlier, harbored resentment in their hearts. They attempted to sneak up and take revenge while Jude was asleep but were instead killed by Jude and his large black dog.

As for the deaths of the two, most felt no sorrow.

They were but a ragtag bunch, joining the adventure team solely for the generous reward offered by the Arias family, with little camaraderie between them.

Moreover, none of them were good people; their deaths were not worth mourning. The only thing that surprised them was Jude’s strength.

Even with the assistance of that fierce-looking hound, he was ultimately one against two, not to mention that he had been ambushed in his sleep. Yet, he still managed to react immediately, dealing with the short mercenary and his partner without even waking the others.

This meant that the fight had ended very quickly, with an insurmountable gap in strength between the two sides.

If anyone had previously wondered how this always grim-faced man, who didn’t seem to fit in well, had become the captain of the adventure team, nobody questioned it now.

That’s the way of the mercenaries—simple creatures that listen to whoever has the bigger fist.

The team silently packed their belongings and set off again under cover of night.

Aside from Jude and the three lizard people, no one knew what they were searching for in this swamp, filled with the stench of rot and death.

In any case, the days were largely the same: no watered-down beer from the innkeeper, no hot, steaming pies, let alone those beautiful women with ample bosoms...

They would be woken by mosquito bites before dawn, climb out of the trees, rub their aching old waists from sleeping awkwardly, urinate beside a puddle to clear the night’s storages.

Afterward, they’d nibble on bread as hard as rock and put their boots back on—still damp from hanging for a night—and continue on their way.

Such dreary and monotonous days continued until the sixteenth day.

Jude opened his eyes, as usual, to urinate and nibble on bread, only to see four anxious mercenaries approaching.

Jude grew impatient and, without waiting for them to draw near, spoke out, "I’ve said it many times; in two more days, we’ll be heading back to Green Field for supplies. Those who want to leave can go then. But don’t think about getting the remaining silver coins."

"We aren’t here to rush you to turn around," said a one-eyed Half-Beast mercenary, "Old George is missing."

"Who?"

"Old George, the thief Old George, the old man who is missing half his teeth and likes to perform tricks with silver coins."

"I have some recollection now," Jude said, "Maybe he’s gone to relieve himself. People of his age often take longer than the young."

"I’m afraid it’s not that. Night Owl was the first one of us to wake, and he said that by then Old George was already gone," said the mercenary, pointing to a young mercenary with pointed ears who clearly had Elf blood in him.

"How long has he been missing?" Jude asked Night Owl.

The latter said, "I woke up at dawn." After a pause, he closed his eyes again and said gravely, "I can feel an evil force lurking in the forest."

"You can’t feel shit," Jude interrupted him rudely, scoffing, "Elves’ so-called ability to communicate with nature and listen to the whispers of plants is fucking bullshit, just like women say they love you for who you are, not for your money. Anyone who believes that is a fool."

"How do you know elves don’t have that ability, you’re not an elf." Someone disagreed.

Jude glanced at the person, "Because I’ve slaughtered a group of elves using traps I set up in advance and by ambushing from behind trees. I guess those elves must have just arrived in the Westlands and hadn’t managed to get on good terms with the trees here."

"......"

"However, it looks like our poor Old George is indeed not coming back." A chill flashed in Jude’s eyes, "Go gather everyone, I have something to say."

Before long, all members of the Dragon Seeking Team had been assembled.

Jude looked around and, without wasting words, noticed that aside from the three lizard people guides and the missing Old George everyone else was present. He pulled out the axe at his waist and began, "The reason you all are here is because you’ve accepted employment from the Arias family, and of course, I’m no exception.

"Although the payment I received from the Arias family is somewhat different from what you got, that’s not important. The main point is... since you’ve taken this job, you better fucking work properly for me and set aside other matters.

"I don’t care about any grudges you had before, but if someone keeps pulling off little stunts under my watch, taking advantage of this expedition to settle personal scores, don’t blame me for not being nice."

Jude’s words had undoubtedly a lot of information, and it took the mercenaries some time to digest, after which they couldn’t help but look at each other.

But Jude didn’t give them much time to think. He strode over to a plain-looking male mercenary wearing a gray cloak.

The latter’s expression tightened, but he quickly regained his calm and said to Jude, "You’ve got the wrong person."

"Is that so, I don’t think so." Jude sneered, "On the third day we entered the swamp, the unfortunate soul that died from a snakebite in his sleep was your doing. A viper’s bite is excruciatingly painful, and one could not possibly die silently."

The male mercenary in the gray cloak finally showed a change in his expression.

"Are you an assassin?" Jude continued to ask.

The male mercenary didn’t answer, but his silence undoubtedly confirmed his identity.

"I didn’t want to meddle in this damn mess; after all, the dead guy was a piece of crap, but you shouldn’t have struck again, friend, I gave you a chance."

"Wait, I did kill Stone Shield, but Old George’s disappearance has nothing to do with me." The male mercenary, sensing Jude’s intent to kill, started to panic, "I’m from the Mutual Aid Society, you can’t kill..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his head was already flying through the air!

"I don’t care which side you’re on, just remember not to show up in front of me in your next life." Jude tossed the assassin’s head aside nonchalantly, then said to the four mercenaries who came to find him earlier, "What are you standing around for? The problem’s been solved, go back to whatever you were doing."

However, just as he finished speaking, Black Beauty suddenly began screaming loudly.