Kingdom of Night

Chapter 12: The Rookie Trio

Humans possess a sense of justice that drives them to be heroes, but also a rebellious spirit that can lead them to become bandits.

When Neo kicked open the door of a civilian house, he felt a thrilling rush similar to that of a dark cultist committing arson and murder—an exhilarating sense of lawlessness.

On the edge of life and death, even the shyest person can become a dancer. Neo was that dancer now, having shed all worldly morals and etiquette except his fundamental principles. In a bandit-like tone, he thought, "Today, I’m eating and drinking for free. So what?"

The homeowner's fate was unknown, but judging by the room's cold temperature, it was clear no one had been home for at least half a day.

Bringing in a bundle of firewood from the door, Neo carefully closed it and checked for any gaps. Once assured, he stripped off his heavy, muddy clothes and tossed them into a corner.

In winter, wearing wet clothes is colder than wearing nothing at all, but for the sake of concealing his presence, Neo endured the rapid loss of body heat until he found shelter.

Neo knew his time to relax would be short, so he moved quickly.

The kitchen fire was more important than the fireplace. He couldn’t bake bread, but he could make something hot to eat. He boiled water on the stove, washed himself with water from a bucket, and felt somewhat warmer. The water in the tank, though cold, was better than well water.

After washing, the water on the stove had boiled. He made dough into small pieces and dropped them into the boiling water. Once the water boiled again, the food was ready. Adding salt and diced ham, he had a filling, warm meal.

However, fate seemed to envy Neo’s midnight snack. Before he had taken a few bites, uninvited guests arrived.

Creak...

Vini glared at Matt, who had pushed the door, thinking, "How unprofessional..."

Matt sheepishly glanced back at Vini, smiled awkwardly, and continued with his short sword raised.

The main room was empty, and the fireplace was unlit.

Bang!

"Oh!" In the dark house, Matt stumbled over something and nearly fell.

"...” Vini was exasperated.

Erik, bringing up the rear, whispered, "Should we... leave?" He was promptly slapped on the head by Vini and fell silent.

"What's that smell?" Matt asked, suppressing his voice.

"Awful!" Erik responded, frowning.

Vini pointed towards the kitchen.

Matt swallowed and moved forward with his sword.

The kitchen door was mostly closed, but light flickered through the c***k.

Matt looked back at Vini and raised his index finger.

Vini shook her head and raised two fingers, signaling the second plan: charge in directly.

Taking a deep breath, Matt let out a yell like a pig being slaughtered, kicked the door open, and rushed in with his sword, followed by Vini and Erik. They planned to scatter and form a semi-circle upon entry.

Matt saw no one in the kitchen, just a table. He turned, only to be kicked in the rear, stumbling toward the table. The table was heavy, and Matt hit its edge hard, almost knocking himself out.

Simultaneously, a sharp blade was placed against Vini's neck, and Erik, who thought he might escape, found a sword at his throat, forcing him into the kitchen. They were all captured.

"Close the door!" Neo’s voice was colder than the wind outside.

Erik, prodded by the sword, closed the door without turning his head.

"Why aren't you wearing clothes?" Vini’s blushing, frowning remark made the situation awkward.

Indeed, Neo’s posture was far from dignified. One leg was on the floor, the other on Matt, with a sword at Vini's neck and another at Erik’s chin, exposing himself to Vini and Erik.

"Drop your swords!" Neo commanded sternly.

Erik, trembling, placed his sword on the floor. Vini reluctantly dropped hers with a clatter.

"Don't kill me! I'll drop my sword!" Matt, confused, pushed his sword forward on the table. They were disarmed.

"Move to the side!" Neo's tone was cold. Inwardly, he was both amused and annoyed. How did he end up with such useless captives?

Neo picked up their weapons and tossed them onto the table. The swords were uniform, with stamped numbers near the hilts. They were of decent quality but poorly maintained.

Neo looked at them and asked, "Sols militiamen? Or trainees?"

He knew Sols organized militia training every year, starting in the month of brewing. These three were likely 16 to 20-year-olds undergoing basic training. Despite having militia swords, they were clearly inexperienced.

Erik shrank like a quail, while Matt admired Neo's muscular physique. Neo’s muscles were not overly prominent but well-defined, showing strength and grace. His scars were particularly striking, each one once a fatal wound, making it hard to believe he had survived.

Vini noticed the shackles on Neo's wrists and ankles, usually reserved for serious criminals. "An escaped convict? He doesn't seem like a bad person..."

However, Neo’s attitude, as if dealing with children, annoyed Vini. He was skilled, but so what? "He stinks, steals food, and isn’t much older than us, acting all mature!"

Thinking of the earlier glimpses of his exposed body, Vini’s anger rose uncontrollably. "Thief, p*****t, exhibitionist..."

Ignoring their chatter, Neo returned to the stove, warming himself and eating the mush as if it were a delicacy.

The mush, along with the foul smell, made Vini nauseous. Bravely, she asked, "Who are you, and why are you in Auntie April's house?"

Without looking up, Neo twisted his left arm, making the chains rattle.

"Show-off, you’re just an escaped convict," Vini muttered.

"I get it!" Matt suddenly realized, "He’s the death row prisoner from the plaza at noon. Erik was there too!"

Erik nodded vigorously.

"A traitor!" Matt declared, "A defector!"

Neo paused, turning to glare at Matt, making him feel like he had fallen into an icy pit.

"What are you doing!" Vini, sensing the cold menace in Neo's eyes, asked with false bravado.

"Do you think those in power are just and fair? If I were a defector, would I be hiding here, stealing food? Who are the real traitors, letting dark forces invade Sols and control the city's magical defenses? You’re idiots!"

The three young militia members were stunned. Vini asked, "So you mean..."

"Shut up and think for yourselves!" Neo snapped, continuing to eat, feeling much better after venting his anger.

The trio whispered among themselves.

"He doesn't seem to be lying."

"He's strong; we need his help."

"Forget it, he's a wolf. If he's telling the truth, he won't help us."

"Why not? He can prove his innocence."

"To whom? The ones who framed him? Or the citizens who threw stones and spat at him?"...

"Where is he?" Vini suddenly noticed Neo was gone.

They grabbed their swords from the table, ready for action.

Suddenly, the kitchen door was kicked open, the latch breaking. Two dark cultists burst in.

"Haha, more kids!" The first one mocked.

Thud!

The more composed cultist was stabbed from behind, the sword tip emerging from his mouth. At the same time, a kick sent the first cultist stumbling towards the table, like Matt earlier. However, he reacted quickly, sliding towards the trio on his belly.

Erik and Matt, inexperienced, froze in shock. Vini screamed.

Chains clinking, a figure leaped from the door, landing on the cultist’s back, grabbing his hair, and pulling back. The sword thrust down, piercing the neck and out the mouth, blood pooling on the floor.

When the trio recovered, Neo was eating his second bowl of mush. The smell of blood and decay mixed with the room's heat was nauseating, yet Neo ate with relish.

Swallowing the last bit, Neo tossed the bowl aside, looked at the dazed trio, and said, "Want to graduate from militia training early? Practice on corpses first. Can’t handle this? Forget about fighting dark cultists."

Neo guessed their intention to capture a dark cultist for interrogation. However, their naivety and lack of combat skills would lead to tragedy, not success.

The trio trembled, hesitant to stab the corpse. Neo efficiently stripped the other cultist of his clothes. The house had only boy's clothes, which didn’t fit Neo, but the cultist's clothes were suitable and of good quality. The cultist seemed well-off, making Neo wonder why he chose to serve evil.

"Damn, such a big guy with small feet!" Neo muttered, finding the shoes too small.

"Give me two of your hairpins," he asked Vini without hesitation.

Vini’s braids were pinned up neatly. After a moment’s hesitation, she handed over two pins.

Neo sat down, used the pins to pick the locks on his shackles, and removed them. The trio was still struggling with the corpse.

Neo shook his head. "Sols citizens, huh..."

He tore the curtains into strips and wrapped them around his legs, including the soles and ankles. Putting on the short boots and shin guards, he tested them for comfort. Satisfied, he finished dressing quickly.

Neo's technique was skillful and professional, and incredibly quick. Vinny, Matt, and Elick watched in awe; even the old soldiers from the Westwind Berserkers who specialized in demonstrations weren’t this deft. Reflecting on Neo's professionalism and cold-bloodedness during his earlier killing, their mouths went dry with astonishment. They were of similar age, but the difference in skill was striking.

The cotton shirt Neo wore was quite good, crafted with diamond patterns using the latest popular sewing machines, making it warm, lightweight, and snug. The coat reaching down to his thighs was clearly meticulously made. It looked ordinary at first glance, but it was designed with a layer of fine wire mesh inside, providing substantial protection.

"Hmm?" Neo's suspicion was piqued by the high-quality attire of the dark cultist. He removed the cultist’s mask, pulled up the hair, and asked Vinny, Matt, and Elick, "Has anyone seen this person before?"

Vinny and Matt shook their heads, while Elick looked as if he recognized the face but couldn’t recall after a moment of thinking.

Neo thoroughly searched the corpse again. Apart from a brocade purse full of silver coins, he found a ring with a faint magical aura. While many rings with faint magical auras existed, this one had a unique design: a silver-scaled snake biting its own tail, crafted with great detail. Neo suspected it might be some kind of token, so he decided to keep it.

From this dark cultist, Neo also acquired a better-quality sword, replacing the inferior sword he had taken from another cultist.

Concerned about the major threat of the evil fire golem, Neo first ensured he was properly equipped before continuing to deal with the manacles on his wrists.

This approach proved to be extremely effective. As soon as Neo removed the shackle from his left hand, he heard the "thud, thud, thud" of approaching footsteps. This time, the rhythm was noticeably faster, with a more urgent and oppressive feeling. Neo smiled faintly. He feared the evil fire golem might not be anxious. To Neo, if the golem remained cold and steady, it would truly be despairing.

To bring about its destruction, first drive it to madness! Neo was ready.