System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 46: Chapter 45: I was just doing business!

---

Reuben arrived at the Colston Estate first, having finished his task in Easton, which was the closest to the estate.

The moment he laid eyes on the scene before him, his breath caught in his throat.

From the massive gates all the way to the entrance of the mansion, bodies were scattered like discarded dolls as their blood were pooling into dark puddles on the floor. Severed limbs, broken skulls, and sliced torsos painted a gruesome picture of what could only be described as a massacre.

He swallowed hard while his mind was spinning.

’D-Damn... did Alaric do this alone?’ he thought, his eyes scanning the sheer scale of the carnage. ’Did Thulani and Jonathan help him?’

His silent thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning his head, he saw Thulani arriving, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

”W-Woah... did you guys do this? Why’re you still here?” Thulani asked, his voice carrying a mix of awe and unease. ”Did Alaric tell you to guard the gates?”

Reuben exhaled, shaking his head slightly. ”...No, I guess Alaric did this alone.”

Thulani let out a low whistle as he stepped forward, surveying the battlefield. ”A monster... that’s what he is.”

Reuben nodded while his expression was grim. ”You’re right... it’s good that it’s him who’s our ally.”

Before either of them could say more, another set of hurried footsteps approached. Jonathan arrived, panting heavily while sweat could be seen dripping from his forehead. ”Hey... I guess I’m last-DAMN! Did you guys do this!?”

Reuben smirked at Jonathan’s shocked expression while Thulani answered dryly, ”No... Alaric did.”

Jonathan’s gaze traveled across the field of corpses, his throat tightening as an old memory surfaced. He recalled just this morning when he tried to assassinate Alaric, and to how easily he had been spared.

’Damn... to think I threatened him for leaving me alive...’

His thoughts lingered as Reuben and Thulani started walking towards the mansion, carefully stepping over the bodies. After a brief hesitation, Jonathan followed suit.

---

As the three men stepped into the mansion, they were met with an even more grotesque sight. The lavish hallways were littered with corpses, blood smeared across the floors and walls. The once-pristine interior of the estate now resembled a slaughterhouse.

Jonathan let out a shaky breath. ”He really went all out, huh...?”

Reuben shook his head in disbelief. ”No kidding.”

Thulani grimaced as he stepped over a body whose face had been caved in. ”At this point, I don’t know if we should be impressed or terrified.”

Jonathan scoffed. ”Both. Definitely both.”

As they ascended the stairs, more bodies lay in their path as some slumped against the railings while others sprawled across the steps.

The silence in the mansion was deafening as only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the blood-stained halls.

They soon reached the last door. It stood grander than the rest. The three of them exchanged glances before stepping forward, pushing it open further.

Inside, Alaric sat in a chair, one leg resting over the other, a casual smirk playing on his lips. Before him, kneeling on the floor, was Edward Colston. The once-powerful man was reduced to a sobbing mess, tears streaming down his face as he begged for mercy.

Alaric’s gaze flickered to them as they entered. ”Sup.”

Jonathan, still slightly stunned by the bloodbath they had walked through, hesitated before speaking. ”Did you... actually kill everyone outside?”

Alaric raised a brow, looking genuinely surprised at the question. ”Obviously?”

Reuben and Thulani chuckled at his complete nonchalance, shaking their heads.

Edward Colston, still kneeling, turned his tear-streaked face towards them. His eyes widened in recognition as they landed on Thulani. ”Y-You... I know you! You’re that slave who escaped years ago!”

Thulani’s body tensed as his jaw clenched. The face of the man who had once held him in chains and profited off his suffering was now right in front of him. The rage that burned inside him surged to the surface.

Alaric noticed the look in Thulani’s eyes and smirked. ”This is my gift for you, Thulani...”

Reuben and Jonathan remained silent as Thulani’s gaze shifted to Alaric, understanding dawning in his expression. ”So this is what you meant...”

Alaric simply nodded, rising from his seat. ”He’s all yours, my friend.”

Thulani inhaled deeply, his fists clenching before he nodded in thanks. His piercing glare returned to Edward Colston, who flinched under his gaze.

”Please! Mercy! I can give you anything! I-I was just doing business!” Colston pleaded, his voice trembling.

Thulani didn’t respond. He took a slow step forward, then another, until he towered over the man who had once seen him as nothing more than property.

Then, without a word, he drove his fist into Colston’s face. The force sent him sprawling onto the floor, a sickening crack echoing as his nose shattered. Before Colston could even react, another strike followed, then another. Thulani’s fists rained down upon him, each blow carrying years of pain, of suffering, of injustice.

Blood splattered across the floor as Colston’s pleas turned into incoherent gurgles. His face was barely recognizable, swollen and broken, his teeth scattered like pebbles.

Still, Thulani wasn’t done.

He grabbed Colston by the collar and hoisted him up as his strength showed no limits. With a guttural growl, he slammed the man’s head into the wooden floor so hard that the boards beneath them cracked from the impact. Blood spread beneath Colston’s twitching form as his breaths turned into weak, pitiful gasps.

Thulani’s chest rose and fell heavily as his hands coated in the filth of the man who had once stolen everything from him. His eyes darkened as he reached for his greatsword.

He gripped the handle tightly and slowly unsheathed it.

He looked down at Colston, who barely had the strength to lift his head.

With a voice barely above a whisper, Thulani spoke. ”This is for my family.”

Then, in one swift motion, he swung his blade.

Colston’s head separated cleanly from his shoulders. It rolled a short distance before coming to a stop, his lifeless eyes still frozen in fear. His body slumped to the ground as blood was pouring from the stump of his neck, staining the floor in red.

The room fell silent.

Alaric, Reuben, and Jonathan had been mere spectators, watching as Thulani delivered justice in the only way fitting.

Finally, Thulani exhaled. He lowered his greatsword and closed his eyes, letting the weight of the moment settle. He then looked Alaric and stared at blonde’s eyes.

”Thank you...”

”You’re welcome,” Alaric replied, then walked towards the door. ”Let’s go.”

Everyone nodded as they followed Alaric outside the Colston Estate.

---

As everyone got outside the mansion, a single person was looting all the weapons, armor, paintings, and every furniture in the mansion.

It was Alaric.

The one who Reuben, Thulani, and Jonathan accompanied was a clone.

’I can’t leave all these behind and miss out on a few coins...’ He thought as he proceeded to touch every single item and furniture inside the mansion.

He slipped £10 inside every knocked-out servant’s pockets, with a letter containing: ’I’ve given you £10, leave this place and find a new job somewhere.’

With that, he finally left the mansion.

[+ £12,488 11s. 3d.]

[Current Balance: £11,244,683 0s. 1d.](359,829,856R)

’Individually... I don’t think there’s anyone richer than me...’

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