Deadmeat Saga

Interlude – Exiled

In a luxurious mansion in a good part of the city...

A chubby middle-aged man with a balding head and thick mustache looked through a roughly-written letter, his hands shaking.

"What did that stupid wastrel do?!" The man exclaimed in fear, shock, and anger.

He was Viscount Camden, the father of Flyx Camden, the Emerald Sword.

Two days ago, he learned about Flyx gaining the Murderer's reputation at the guilds. He already knew that Flyx's future as an adventurer would likely be challenging, if not dangerous, so he prepared to help him change his career. As for blaming Gerhart? He didn't think about such a thing. He could only blame his son for being sloppy and not doing a thorough job. He even prepared to give Gerhart an apology gift to cool things down a bit.

Who knew that his stupid son would use his connections with the City Guard, learn about Gerhart's Sewer Sweeping route, and send hired killers?

And it wasn't reputable assassins like the Black Hand, but some second-rate mercenaries... For a cheap price of 500 Silver Coins.

Now, Guild Master Abiah the Rage Hand gave him an ultimatum.

"Your son tried to buy my guildmate's life for 500 Silver Coins... How much is YOUR life worth? If I am not satisfied with your answer... You know what will happen."

That was the blatant threat he received in the letter... And he couldn't do anything about it. Even if he pleaded with the king for help, he would discard him... Because adventurers gained legal protection after reaching certain ranks. D-rank adventurers were honorary knights. C-rank adventurers were honorary Barons, B-rank adventurers were honorary Counts, and A-rank adventurers were honorary dukes, only under the king. They couldn't pass those titles on and didn't hold power, but they were protected. In particular, two years ago, Abiah the Rage Hand crippled a Count, who happened to be his superior, after his first son ignorantly tried to force himself on Abiah's daughter and was beaten half-to-death by said daughter. The king only lightly reprimanded Abiah and appointed his only other heir, his 16-year-old daughter, as the new Countess, who exiled her father and brother.

In other words, a B-rank was already a daunting existence, and angering that death god was the last thing he wanted.

"Dorian!" The Viscount yelled.

"Yes, Master?" An aged butler walked over.

"Call that stupid second son of mine over... And get his outlandish party members, too. NOW!" Viscount Camden ordered with rage. 

"Of course, Master." The butler bowed and left the room.

Shortly after, Emerald Flame entered the room. When the count saw the unkempt clothes on Flyx and the two women while Aeraf was in training clothes, he already guessed that the first three were in the middle of merrymaking before. This made him even angrier. 

"Yes, father? Why did you call us so late?" Flyx asked, a bit dissatisfied.

"Hehehe..." The Viscount laughed in anger and extended the letter. "Read this."

Flyx suddenly had a bad feeling. He took the letter and started reading it. But halfway through, his face went pale.

"Father, I—"

"SHUT UP!"

Before Flyx could say anything else, the Viscount yelled at him, making him grow silent, his face paler. He had never seen his father so mad before.

"The four of you erred not once, not twice, but thrice!" Viscount Camden angrily said, raising his chubby index finger. "One, you did a sloppy job when killing in the dungeon. I didn't yell at you because you already reflected on that mistake."

"Mistake number two... I told you, don't mess with that guy anymore, and let me handle the rest... I could have buried the hatchet with two or three thousand silver coins... But not only did you send hired killers, but you sent them when he was doing Sewer Sweeping... Cleaning the monsters that eat the shit you and your three ungrateful party members produce every day from your asses!" The Viscount said, becoming even angrier.

"But father, I—"

"I SAID, SHUT UP!" The Viscount yelled again at his incompetent son.

He then raised a third finger, "And mistake number three... When you send hired killers, send professionals so the job gets done! Not some lowlives! Just 500 Silver Coins to hire four E-rank amateurs?! Are you greedy?! Or are you just that dumb?!" The Viscount snarled, shaking with anger. "If you can't afford that, then get your hands dirty and do it yourselves, you bunch of idiots!"

"B-But he is just an F-rank..." Flyx tried to retort.

"An F-rank that survived, TWICE!" The Viscount angrily glared at them. "He has a hidden trump card... And it was fine the first time. But you morons fell to the same shit... TWICE... I should have shot you to the wall."

"Hey! Don't say that to him!" Yrenea tried to defend her fiancee.

"Shut up, you dumb harlot!" The Viscount snapped at his beautiful daughter-in-law. "You should be wiser than this! Stopping him was your responsibility... But you likely only egged him on. Be ashamed of yourself." The Viscount said in disappointment.

Yrenea turned pale and started shaking.

Viscount Camden then turned toward Galya, "And you! You greedy gold digger! I would expect someone like you to be more vicious, to be more calculating when killing others... But you failed miserably. Why do I even let you stay by this wastrel's side?" He said in disgust.

Galya also turned pale, grabbing her arm while biting her lower lips.

"And you..." The Viscount pointed at Aeraf but then lowered his finger. "Forget it. You are just a dog. It is a waste to even talk to you."

Aeraf was stumped, his face turning red and then pale.

The party of four stood there, not knowing what to say.

"Now, I will tell you what is going to happen..." The Viscount glared at them. "You are all EXILED. Not just from this city, but from this very KINGDOM."

Emerald Flame widened their eyes in horror. Exile... It was a horrible sentence. It was to be uprooted from everything you know and publicly cast out. They would need to start as nobodies in a foreign kingdom.

"W-What?!" Flyx widened his eyes, horrified. "Father! You can't do this!"

"Oh, I can, and I will. Or do you prefer being executed to appease Abiah?" Viscount Camden sneered.

"I... I..." Flyx stuttered.

"Oh, and I am confiscating that toy I gave you and all your savings save for 1,000 Silver Coins... Which is already too lenient." The Viscount looked at them in contempt.

"Not my sword!" Flyx cried.

"Shut up! GUARDS!" The Viscount yelled.

Moments later, several armed guards entered the room.

"Yes, My Lord?" The guards reported.

"Take them to the holding cells," Viscount Camden ordered.

"Yes, My Lord." The guards saluted and grabbed the shaken party of four.

"W-Wait! Unhand me!" Flyx tried to struggle. However, the guards who grabbed him were all D-rank bodyguards, about as strong as him.

"Please don't resist." One of the guards frowned. "Or I will use force."

Flyx was shaken but kept pleading with his father. "Father?! Father!"

Soon, the voices turned distant and then quieted.

"Dorian." The Viscount spoke, rubbing his nose bridge.

"Yes, Master?" Dorian respectfully asked.

"Go and gather all their belongings and sort them. Except for their armor, weapons, and some clothes, take everything else... But take the Emerald Flame Sword." The Viscount said.

"Yes, Master..." Dorian bowed and left the room.

The study room returned to silence.

"I give you one last chance to survive... whether you use it wisely or not is up to you, you stupid son." The Viscount muttered. "I need a drink..."