"I was informed of a braggart who speaks too much," the young boss said, his eyes like a viper, glaring at the half elf. He exuded confidence, the kind that came from a lifetime of surviving within the underground, and eventually rising to the top, at least within this neighbourhood. "Of course, I would not say such a thing to a Mo."

"You would brag too if you were married to the most beautiful woman," the young fool replied, smiling innocently, though his eyes narrowed to match. He exuded confidence, the kind that came from a lifetime of surviving against greater threats than the young boss could possibly imagine.

"A Ray of Life's Rose?"

"Not just any Ray of Life's Rose, I believe she is the youngest to hold such a title," Adam confirmed, his eyes beaming with delight as he spoke of his wife. "She was able to cast Fourth Gate spells when she was only twenty… two?"

'Who does this fool think he is trying to play?'

"No, that sounds wrong. It was back in…" Adam thought for a long moment. "No, we were married when we turned twenty two, meaning it must have been the year before, when I fought in the tournament? Yeah, that sounds about right now that I think about it."

"Yes, and you won that tournament?" the boss accused, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Win? How could I win? The nobles threatened me! I was fighting on behalf of the second son of Baron, and the King's Sword's daughter was fighting, so was her cousin, but I wasn't allowed to claim victory, so I beat them up and then surrendered!" Adam narrowed his eyes, his heart rising with annoyance, before he smirked. "Well, I suppose I got the last laugh. A couple of years ago I fought in another tournament, and this time, since I had made quite the name for myself, and had the backing of the Grand Duchess, not even the King's Sword's daughter was free from my axe."

The half elf's laughter filled the air, while the others thought of how insane he was, obviously a fool. Yet he laughed so heartily, so free, even surrounded as he was, though they supposed he could, for he was a Mo.

"I heard you are quite strong," the boss said, reaching up to brush along his moustache, his thoughts racing within his mind, finally feeling it from the half elf. "Is that how you became so powerful?"

The half elf continued to smile for a long moment, but a darkness flashed across his face as his smile began to fade. He glared at the boss, a long moment passing by, before the half elf sighed out, calming him.

"Strong? If you compare me to the various dragons across this land, I would be considered weak. If you compared me with the various Fariqi, the Grand Commanders of all the Orders, then I suppose I would be considered quite strong."

"Is this the…" the boss began, his eyes not drawing away from the half elf, his eyes falling for just a moment. "Did you hire him to assist you, kal ahm?"

"He is a customer, a companion of a Mo of Black Mountain," Ali replied. "I did not hire him for anything."

"My friend, Mo Dunes of Black Mountain, and I hear many others within Black Mountain, rather like this place," Adam said, his voice light once more.

'So, he is threatening me? Me?' Aklas thought, his blood heating up against his face, though he pressed his anger downwards.

"I am just here to speak of a matter with you, of the debt," Adam finally said, smiling innocently. "I hope you are willing to listen."

"It does not concern you." Aklas continued to glare at the half elf, who held his gaze.

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"I see, what a shame," Adam said, reaching into an inner pocket, holding out a gold coin Ali, bowing his head gently towards the old man. "I'll just wait for my brother, who will also want to receive a haircut from such an amazing barber."

"Perhaps you should leave now, Mo," Ali said.

Adam tilted his head, smiling even wider towards the young boss, cracking his neck lightly. "I'll wait for my brother, unless someone wants to step forward to try and make me?"

"Mo, perhaps you should leave," Ali offered.

"Ahm Ali, why are you so worried?" Adam asked, reaching out to the old man, before reaching for his helmet awkwardly. "I promise, if I damage this place, I'll pay for the damages. If it's one hundred gold, one thousand gold, ten thousand gold, even if it is…"

'I must speak with Mo Dunes,' Ali thought, since Adam was about to get them all killed.

"No, I don't think I have one hundred thousand gold. If you take payments in magical weapons, I can probably ask permission to pay using them if that's acceptable?"

The heat of anger spread through Aklas, and though he was about to call out an order, a hand at his shoulder stopped him, as Big Butrus stared at the half elf. As much as he didn't want to believe the half elf's words, he did not have such a liberty, and if even the half elf had accomplished half of what he had said, he was already someone who was too big to handle.

"Mo Adam, may I ask your intentions of your business here?" Butrus asked, the older warrior showing a hint of deference to the Mo.

"Mo Dunes likes this place, and when we heard there was a small matter of a debt, we wished to handle it politely. I thought I could speak with yourself, kal creditor, to see if we could pay off the debt. If I can't, then I suppose I can't."

"Mo, your heart is as wide as the sky, but in this matter you must consider the heart of ahm Ali, who is well known, and he, too, has his pride."

"I already agreed with your words, perhaps you should consider my pride, who has already stepped back, and yet you want to drag me back in?" Adam asked, tilting his head, as though confused by such foolishness, though his eyes remained sharp.

"Of course, Mo, I just hope you understood the matter from our point of view."

Adam waved his hand, too dismissively. "What is there to understand? You have your contract, and I'm sure you are free to choose the manner in which you wish to accept the coin. I'm not going to interfere in your ability to regain your silver and gold, we all have to eat."

"Much gratitude," Brutus replied.

"What gratitude must we show?" Aklas asked. "This matter does not concern an outsider. If you continue to interfere, I will petition the law to assist."

"This is the second time you've dragged me back in after I already said I wasn't going to pay the debt," Adam said, letting out a soft sigh. "At this point, I wonder if you're here for something else?"

"Why else would we wish to speak with you?"

"Well, though I often invite trouble with my attitude, I believe I have shown you enough respect, and considering I am a Mo, I have let your attitude slide thus far, but it appears to be the case you think I'm some kind of a, what do the nobles dare to call me? A braggart? A fool? Though I'm sure you would not say such a thing."

"I would never, for I hold the appropriate fear for Lord Noor," Aklas stated.

"The appropriate fear?" Adam's lips formed the widest of smiles, his eyes narrowing, holding a knowing gaze within his eyes. He kept an eye upon the boss, his smile growing even wider with each passing moment, barely able to contain his laughter. "I, too, hold the appropriate level of fear."

Aklas tensed his jaw, his entire body growing itchy as he wished to put the young man in his place. However, he was a Mo, and for whatever reason, the fool was baiting him. Is that what he wished for?

"Adam," called a voice, as a figure adorned in dark vestments approached, with two others. "What are you doing?"

"What? Why are you holding that kind of accusation in your voice? You make it sound like I kill everyone I meet, or something. I mean, jeez, the last time I killed someone was… okay, earlier in the year, but in all fairness, that was a duel to the death. I'm not going to kill commoners, not unless they're truly evil."

"I am just worried since you always cause such great trouble," Dunes accused, approaching the half elf, ignoring all the others around them. "Also, there are so many, I doubt even you could…"

"Are you worried about little ol' me?" Adam teased in return, since Dunes didn't believe the words he spoke. "If I was in real trouble, I'd just have to…"

Dunes stared at the half elf, noting that the half elf's eyes glanced to the side for a moment.

Adam smiled awkwardly. "Well, I suppose I might have killed them accidentally. I forgot how powerful some of these spells are."

"You sound like a noble."

Adam blinked, his eyes turned to face Dunes, the half elf taking more of a beating from Dunes' words than Butrus when they fought. 'What?'

"He is right." Jurot said, noting the arrogance in the half elf's tone, especially after trying to humble himself.

Adam gasped, his breath hitching within his throat, almost causing him to choke.