The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 46 (262) - Plan in Motion
Each droplet of rain fell faster than the next, and soon the entire city and its surrounding area were covered in heavy rain.
Lightning struck in the distance, and thunder roared.
Velakia, Tahreni, and Lendros followed Blanc silently off the square, walking through the main road.
The trust Blanc requested was running ever so thinner, with Velakia ready to argue, to scream, and perhaps even punch the man who walked casually through the rain.
His attempt at solving their situation, if she could even call that an attempt, put them right in the middle of it. Not only that, but his declaration to the entire city will surely bring in even more problems with it.
She was exhausted of this place, of this man, of this Empire, of everything really.
She just wanted to get back home and live out the rest of her days as the Vita would allow it.
If she were to die, if she were to never make it home, at least she prayed she would die soon.
“Do not worry,” said Blanc, turning to look at the three as they walked behind him, “The plan worked.”
“The lack of shame to call that act a plan baffles me to no end,” Velakia sighed, frustrated that she could not even think in peace without Blanc meddling.
Blanc looked behind them, then at the buildings they passed by. Many people stood watching their every step. Some more directly, some discreetly.
But the truth was, they were followed from the moment he defeated that topless man.
And that was the issue.
But, as another thunder clap roared, silencing every voice or thought, Blanc knew this was their only opportunity to get some distance between them. With that in mind, he did not get to explain his thoughts or reasoning to his ever-so-worried companion, as he didn’t see the value in it.
She promised she would trust, so he hoped she would hold onto that promise until the end.
As they walked through the rain for minutes now, he finally managed to see an inn that fit all of his needs.
“We go inside,” he said out loud before opening the door.
The three followed without question as they entered behind him.
“Good morning… sir,” the young man at the reception muttered, recognizing who he was speaking with.
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After the rain began and people scattered, some made their way here, loudly retelling everything that had happened barely ten minutes earlier. And since the inn served both as a place to rest and a diner, it was no surprise to Blanc to see tables spread throughout the room they were in.
All the tables were full, with people awaiting their food and drinks as they spoke.
Or used to speak, at least, for when the man at the reception hesitated, they all slowly moved their heads towards the entrance, only to see the subject of their conversation enter, wet from rain.
“Sorry for disturbing,” Blanc said to the man, “I need the best room you have.”
“Sir, that would be the highest room in the inn,” the man began, “Seven silvers until tomorrow, enough beds for all of you.”
“And we will also come down for a meal after drying ourselves a bit,” Blanc continued, agreeing with the price, “Do you have any fish?”
“Certainly, sir,” the young man nodded, “Half of our meals consist of fish. Best for muscles, strength, vigor, and fertility.”
“Never knew that,” Blanc said, surprised as he placed the seven silver coins on the table, “Then we will come back soon to eat.”
The young man nodded, handing over the key to the room they had just paid for. Blanc accepted it without a word and turned toward the stairs on their right.
But before he could take a step, the door behind them burst open, wind and rain crashing in as a man and woman rushed inside, cloaks soaked and heavy, their hoods pulled low to obscure their faces.
“This rain, I swear,” the man muttered as he reached up to remove his hood.
Blanc’s hand tightened around the key.
He did not know the man, but as the man peeled back the hood, just before his face came fully into view, his eyes flicked in their direction, only to feign ignorance once fully into view.
It was just a flicker, but a flicker full of meaning. They were elites through and through, acting like normal, unfortunate people, only to remain close to him.
Since the challengers planned to make sure Blanc wasn't going anywhere.
What a pity,
Blanc thought, already moving towards the stairs in front of him.
The room was plain, four narrow beds lined up a foot or two apart, their frames creaking with even the lightest touch.
A single door in the corner led to a cramped toilet, no bath, no private rooms, nothing. Nothing about the space invited comfort.
But that didn’t matter.
What Blanc needed most was here, and that was enough. Still, as much as he ached to do it, he couldn’t, not yet at least. The performance downstairs wasn’t over. Maybe they were anxious, maybe they were too excited, but their eyes were on him.
And until the eyes lurking blinked, he had to play.
Luckily, they thought of him as only a fairly strong man with good genetics.
Nothing more. He didn’t plan to show them more. Not his speed, not his strength, not his durability. Just a man with a strong punch and good reflexes.
The only thing that made this plan of his work.
With that in mind, he looked out a window towards the sky. Clouds as far as the eye can see.
“This rain would take a day to pass,” he muttered out loud.
“So what?” Velakia asked, “You plan on staying here until it passes?”
“Of course,” he smiled towards her, pointing downward then towards his lips, “But we can talk downstairs while we eat, hm?”
Velakia was confused at the signs Blanc was showing her, but sighed, already done with all of this, “Fine.”
.
!
Volume Two ; Chapter 46 (262) - Plan in Motion
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