One-Eyed Monster

”What kind of weapon are you used to using?” Master Lao didn’t care about the two boys’ surprise at all, and still asked in his own way what weapon Kadi was used to.

Kadi was clearly unprepared for this question. He couldn’t figure out why this Master Lao would ask him that; he’d never once thought about having any weapon forged for himself!

”What, you can’t even think of what weapon you’re good at?” Master Lao kept pressing, looking like he really was going to forge a weapon for Kadi.

”He’s good with knives.” Igor answered for Kadi directly, and after he said it, he stood there quietly feeling very pleased with himself.

Kadi looked at Igor. He knew exactly what Igor was so pleased about; it was written all over his face. Kadi didn’t even have to guess to know what this guy was dying to say—nothing more than: ”See, I didn’t lie to you, right? Look, it’s someone gifting me a weapon.” That kind of thing.

”Knives, huh. Long knives or short knives? Knives aren’t like swords, there are a lot of different kinds of knives!” Master Lao said. When it came to weapons, he really did know his stuff.

”Uh…” Kadi wanted to say something, but he didn’t know where to start, so all he could do was stammer like that.

”He’s good with all kinds of knives. No matter what kind of knife you put in his hand, he can play all sorts of tricks with it.” Igor chuckled and immediately added.

Master Lao took a look at Kadi and couldn’t help secretly marveling in his heart. This boy looked a bit strange, but to actually be proficient with all types of knives—that was indeed rare.

”Um, I…I never planned on having a weapon of my own!” Kadi finally squeezed out this sentence. A lot of things were beyond his understanding—for example, he still couldn’t understand why this master in front of him wanted to give them weapons. This felt a bit too overly enthusiastic!

”Everyone needs a weapon that fits their hand. Believe me, having a weapon and having nothing at all—that feeling is completely different.” Master Lao said calmly, like he was telling a child about something fun.

”Is that so?” Kadi turned his head toward Igor. He felt Igor could give him an accurate answer, since Igor already had a sword on his back.

”That’s how it is!” Igor nodded at Kadi again and again. He felt this kind of thing was way too ordinary, not even worth mentioning.

”Think it through, kid. Having a weapon for self-defense will always be better than having empty hands.”

”I…” Kadi still couldn’t make the mental shift. In his mind, weapons were supposed to be unnecessary things.

”Alright, don’t hesitate anymore. Let Master forge a knife for you.” Igor urged Kadi from the side.

”Fine then, please forge two short knives for me. I’ll pay you in Gold coins.” Kadi stood up and bowed to the master, then glanced at Igor. The look he gave Igor was straight and clear: Hurry up and pay the master his Gold coins!

”I said I’m gifting it to you, so I won’t take your Gold coins.” Master Lao said. The reason he wanted to forge a weapon for Kadi was mainly because his hands were itching; Igor’s sword just now had only been an appetizer. He had to forge a few more things to satisfy that sense of honor in his heart.

”Since Kadi’s already decided what to forge, then let’s hurry up. I’m kind of itching to see Master’s skills again—it’s a really enjoyable thing to watch.”

”Heh heh, I’m a bit impatient myself!” Master Lao rubbed his hands together; clearly, he’d been wanting to give it a try for a while.

”Then what are you still standing around for? Let’s hurry to the smithy!” Kadi urged.

The three of them were in high spirits. After draining the wine in their cups, they were just about to get up and head to the smithy across the street…

When suddenly, the tavern door was kicked open roughly by a big burly guy.

The kick from the big guy made a huge bang, scaring the tavern’s patrons half to death. The tavern’s lady boss had been about to shout, ”Who the hell is that, who’s so clueless they dare kick the door of my tavern?” But as soon as she saw the weapon in that big guy’s hand, she fell silent, and started silently calculating how many Gold coins she was going to lose today.

”What a coincidence!” The big guy, Ruben, grinned at Igor. He’d thought he’d have to search the whole tavern for a while, but who knew he’d spot that boy the moment he walked in!

”Yeah, what a coincidence.” Igor answered awkwardly. He felt it was necessary to switch modes right now; playing crazy and stupid was absolutely a great idea.

Because after the big guy came in, Igor saw that the rest of the people who’d originally been with him also walked in. Leading them was still that mysterious woman, except this time Igor felt her appearance had changed—by more than just a little.

”Hey, kid, been enjoying those hundred Gold coins you got so fast?” Thin and Tall Pole also appeared in everyone’s field of view, and as soon as he came in, he greeted Igor.

”Heh heh, enjoying? I wouldn’t say that, wouldn’t say that.” Igor kept playing dumb and crazy, all the while thinking about how to slip away from here. He didn’t want to go head-to-head with this bunch at a time like this; he’d have to wait until he felt the timing was right.

”You little punk, you’ve got some nerve, actually playing us like that!”

”Huh?” Igor stared blankly at this group of people, then turned his head in surprise to look at Kadi, thinking: And you still want me to go back and infiltrate them again… I’m completely exposed now, what am I supposed to do!

Igor’s pleading look made Smoke’s group turn their eyes to Kadi as well. At first, they were a bit shocked—after all, Kadi was wearing a mask and dressed strangely; at a glance he didn’t look like any sort of good guy. But Smoke’s lot had been crawling around in the dirt for many years; they’d seen all kinds of oddities, so someone like Kadi looking weird and freakish wasn’t anything special to them.

”I’ll give you a chance to admit you were wrong, kid. Don’t force us to make a move.” The old man with the cigarette spoke slowly. He’d already returned to his original state; there was no trace of that earlier weakness on him now!

Ever since Smoke walked into the tavern, the drinkers had naturally moved off to the side. They didn’t want trouble; anyone who could slip away had already done so. The ones left behind were a bunch of unlucky souls. Now they were standing together, hands trembling as they held their cups, watching these strangers with doubt and fear, wondering what the hell they were planning to do.

Igor scratched his head, not knowing what to do, but he still kept that shocked look on his face. He figured he’d keep playing crazy and stupid and try to muddle through first…