Chapter 19 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

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The Naive John

 

 

The newcomers were none other than Rex and Ge Yan's "old acquaintance," Captain Locke. At this moment, his eyes ignored Jay and John entirely, focused only on the Shadow-Winged Tiger in the sky, his face alight with ecstatic excitement.

 

It seemed luck was on his side after all; he hadn't expected to find the Sacred Beast so soon. If he could capture it, even if Norman only recovered Lord Cecil's remains or death notice, having the Sacred Beast would likely spare him the Duke's wrath. With that thought, Captain Locke's gaze grew more fervent. Just as he was about to give the order, another group approached.

 

Locke's face changed instantly when he saw their leader.

 

"Black Crow? What are you doing here?"

 

"If you can come, why can't I? Tasha Forest doesn't belong to you alone," replied Black Crow, a man with a mature bearing and an unusually youthful appearance, looking around thirty but actually closer to seventy or eighty. Despite being a mercenary leader with blood on his hands, he had a gentlemanly smile, though everyone who knew him understood it concealed a blade.

 

Black Crow was the leader of the Raven Mercenary Corps, a name that held an ominous reputation. As a swordsman on par with Captain Locke, he was also a symbol of slaughter, contrary to his gentlemanly appearance.

 

Locke's face hardened. "Then let's see who's more capable."

 

Black Crow laughed. "Fine by me. But if I capture the Sacred Beast, don't try to snatch it from me, Captain Locke."

 

"That's if you have the skill to keep it," Locke retorted, and with lightning speed, he drew his sword and charged at the Shadow-Winged Tiger.

 

"So that's how underhanded you are, Captain Locke," Black Crow chuckled and moved without hesitation.

 

Meanwhile, Jay and John took advantage of everyone's attention on the tiger to slip away, fleeing with such speed that no one would suspect they were injured. They only slowed down once they were far enough to neither see nor hear anyone. Sharing a glance, they felt a mutual sense of relief; they had narrowly escaped, thanks to everyone being distracted by the Sacred Beast. Otherwise, they'd surely have been eliminated by one of the mercenary groups. While the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps might let them go, the Raven Mercenary Corps would have left no loose ends.

 

Realizing that too many were interested in the Sacred Beast, they abandoned any thoughts of capturing it; they were nobodies in a crowd of powerful contenders. Instead, they returned to where they had hidden the magic beast egg.

 

"John, I'll stand guard while you dig up the egg," Jay said suddenly.

 

John was momentarily surprised, then touched by Jay's trust. Whatever grudges remained between them from their earlier dispute faded. Relaxed, he turned away, missing the brief flash of malice on Jay's face. As John bent down to retrieve the egg, Jay's sword thrust clean through his chest.

 

Under normal circumstances, John might have evaded the fatal blow, but his injuries from the fight with the Shadow-Winged Tiger had weakened him, slowing his reactions. The attack hit its mark, sealing his fate.

 

"Jay!" John fell, glaring at him with venomous rage.

 

Looking down with a triumphant, crazed grin, Jay sneered, "You really are naive. Did you truly believe I would share the magic beast egg with you? It's a Sacred Egg! Why would I split it with a fool like you? Once I sell it or gift it to a noble, my future is set. I'll never have to risk my life in places like this again."

 

Overwhelmed with anger, John spat a mouthful of blood, and before he could even curse Jay, he died, his head slumping forward.

 

Without a shred of remorse, Jay kicked aside his corpse. Sheathing his sword, he knelt and eagerly clawed at the earth where they had hidden the egg. The soil was loose from previous digging, which Jay failed to notice in his excitement. Yet, after clearing the top layer, there was nothing—no magic beast egg in sight. He froze. "Nothing? How can there be nothing?" he muttered, his hands moving frantically, digging deeper until he had hollowed out a large pit with nothing to show for it—not even a rock. The further he dug, the harder the soil became, until he fell back onto the ground, stunned.

 

"Could John have taken the egg ahead of time? Impossible! We've been together the entire time; he had no chance to sneak back here. Did someone else find it and take it?"

 

This conclusion filled Jay with fury, his fists pounding the ground until his hands turned red.

 

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind him.

 

Jay spun around, his gaze immediately falling not on the stranger's face but the magic beast egg in his arms. His expression flared with wild delight, then twisted with vengeful malice. "You stole my egg! Put it down!" he snarled.

 

The newcomer was none other than Ge Yan.

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