Dungeon of Niflheim

85 Chapter 85: Assaulting the compound (6)

“Frost stop!!!” Moments before the blade of Frost’s glaive reached Taka’s undefended neck Leo shouted out. Leo and the rest had finally caught up with Frost and were standing at the room’s entrance.

Whoooosh

Frost tensed his arms, rapidly bringing his glaive to a halt, generating a strong gust of wind. The blade’s edge rested a single millimetre from Taka’s neck, yet to draw a single drop of blood.

Frost was annoyed, although he stopped his swing with much difficulty, he wasn’t happy. He turned around to face Leo with fire in his eyes.

Leo’s mouth twitched and a cold sweat accumulated down his back when his eyes met with Frost’s.

“They’re not enemies please lower your weapon.” Frost stood still entering a stalemate with Leo not taking his eyes off him. Meanwhile Taka still had his eyes closed as he waited for death unaware that he’d been spared.

Bruno was frozen in place, his eyes darting between Frost’s glaive and Leo. He recognised him.

“Haaaaaaa” Frost eventually acquiesced to Leo’s request when he refused to back down. He sighed and lowered his glaive. Whether or not Taka died wasn’t too big of an issue, just a small loss in DP but he didn’t take kindly to being ordered on who to spare.

Thankfully, he appreciated Taka and Bruno so sparing them was fine.

.....

“Thank you Frost-senpai.” Leo smiled awkwardly before walking towards Bruno who was still speechless and frozen in place.

Frost hmphed and shrugged his shoulders before walking to the side of the room. He tapped Taka’s shoulder as he left to let him know he was still alive.

Luna and Ryuu walked over to Frost in attempt to brighten his mood.

“You’re Bruno Amin, right?” Leo asked gently.

“Ugh...yeah that’s my name young master Leonardo.” Bruno knew who Leo was, not only did he know him as the next heir apparent of the territory, but he’d also met him while working as an adventurer.

“And this must be Taka Wycrest.” Leo looked over at Taka who had just opened his eyes in disbelief struggling to understand what was happening. He placed his hands on his neck making sure his head was still there before answering.

“Y...Y...Yes that’s me.” He looked at Leo and Bruno in confusion before his gaze drifted over to Frost leaning against the wall.

‘He didn’t kill me?’

“That’s good, thankfully I arrived in time, it would’ve been a great loss for Furano to lose such talented young adventurers.” Leo sighed in relief while smiling towards the two of them.

While doing some recon and research on Adam and his activities, he received a report about these two young men. Bruno, he had already met before at the adventurers guild and Taka he knew about but hadn’t the chance to meet in person.

After a little digging it was obvious that many of their issues were actually machinations of Adam. In Bruno’s case he facilitated the gambling den, ordering them to cheat as well as guiding Bruno to the ‘correct’ loan shark.

With Taka it was much more straight forward and obvious, Adam was the backer of the gang trying to evict the orphanage. Once the two of them were in over their heads in debt Adam simply offered them a deal, hook line and sinker. He now had two up and coming adventurers who owed him a life debt.

Hoodwinking people like this was much cheaper in the long run plus it guaranteed him a higher level of authority over them. Sometimes fear and wealth isn’t enough.

Disappointedly however Adam found it difficult to utilise Bruno and Taka, they were too law abiding and refused to perform the dark deeds he bought them for. Even when threatened and coerced they still stuck to their moral ethics.

Annoyed Adam simply used them as guards, tossing them into the front lines every chance he got. The idea being that he’d suck out all their worth before they inevitably die.

In which if not for Leo stopping Frost, he may have very well succeeded.

Leo sighed as he recalled the events that brought these two young men under his uncle’s wing.

‘You really are cancer on the territory Baron Adam.’ Leo clenched his jaw in anger.

“As you may have already realised, I am Leonardo Furano, son of the Viscount Douglas Furano and I’m here to bring my uncle, Baron Adam to justice.” Leo spoke with an authoritative tone.

Bruno looked blankly up at Leo as he registered what he just said. ‘It’s about damn time,’ he smiled rather dejectedly.

Being within Adam’s employ Bruno knew full well of some of his transgressions, more than enough to warrant him the death penalty yet no one came. Adam was free to carry out his back alley deals and illegal activities without impunity, hell even the local guardsman were in his pocket, looking the other way or sometimes directly acting on his behalf.

Bruno and Taka watched as they were powerless to do anything, waiting for the Furano house to take action...and now they have, but was it enough.

Bruno looked past Leo taking a look at his entourage. He ignored Frost since he knew well of his strength plus he still held a lot of anger towards him.

‘That’s,’ he recognised Bastion and Ryuu almost immediately, they along with Viscount Douglas and the Mad Iron Chef Vaccos were shining stars of the Furano territory. The only (former) B-rank adventurers to stay in Furano. He and Taka had long held these senior adventurers in high esteem, of course they could recognise their faces.

Bruno felt a weight lift from his chest, a heavy burden had been put to rest as he looked up as his heroes.

‘With them here it can be done.’ If Leo had come with a simple entourage, Bruno would have forced him to retreat as he knew of the strength that lay behind them.

“Haaaaaaa” Bruno released a deep sigh, his shoulders relaxed, dropping his shield and hammer he smiled contently towards Leo.

“Sir, I Bruno Amin have committed several crimes while under the employment of Baron Adam and willingly hand myself over for punishment.” With Leo’s intention to bring Adam to justice Bruno could relax, he presented his arms out so as to be handcuffed and taken away.

Leo was shocked and looked towards his two uncles in confusion but before he could reply Taka spoke.

“I Taka Wycrest am also guilty of the same, please punish me as you see fit.” Taka presented his arms like Bruno with a satisfied smile on his face. They were done, no longer would they be forced to play to Adam’s tune. And with the Furano family taking back control of the territory, the orphanage would no longer suffer so Taka had no reason to resist.

A strange silence was present in the room after Bruno and Taka gave themselves up. Those present didn’t know how to react, even Frost opened up one of eyes in surprise.

“Cough cough” Leo coughed audibly to regain his focus.

“I have no intentions of punishing the two of you and neither does the Furano household, please stand up.” Leo gently moved over to Bruno to help him up off his knees.

He knew full well that these two hadn’t done a single thing that could be considered evil. All they did was guard their liege, they never harmed innocent civilians or looked the other way at an injustice or facilitate bribes of any kind. Most of the time Adam used them in wars against the local gangs when they refused to submit to his rule and the rest, they stood guard in the first basement.

The Furano household had no reason to arrest them for simply guarding a noble even if said noble himself was a criminal. In fact, Leo wished to praise and reward such individuals who even at the worst of times maintained their morals.

Bruno and Taka shivered at Leo’s reply before looking at him in confusion and then to one another. To them they had committed great crimes by assisting Adam and wished to pay their dues even if it meant prison or enslavement, they believed they deserved such an outcome.

Leo’s reply came as a shock and they didn’t know how to react, Bruno even resisted Leo’s attempts to force him to his feet.

“Haaaaaaa” Frost let out a deep sigh before forcibly marching towards Bruno lifting him to his feet before looking in his eyes.

“Leo said you’re not being arrested so you’ve not done anything wrong or are you defying the will of your lord?” Frost released a little of his bloodlust to pressure Bruno. Frost seemed to be the only one that remembered they were on the clock.

“A....u....a.....no I’m not!” Bruno stuttered at the start but under Frost’s pressure and also probably due to his lingering fear he answered honestly.

“Good looks like I didn’t judge you wrong in our fight.” Frost smiled and patted Bruno’s shoulder before turning around to Leo.

“There solved, whatever you’re going to do make it quick, remember what we’re here for.” Frost once again moved to the side of the room and rested his eyes. Maya only gave him a single night of freedom, if he takes too long to return, she’d most likely forcibly march down and drag him back.

Luna giggled cutely as Frost returned and gave him a thumbs up for a good job.

Leo however was left to sigh, people usually didn’t treat him like this given his backing, it was rather refreshing albeit slightly humiliating.

Bruno and Taka’s eyes darted back and forth between Leo and Frost, amazed by their relationship, even more so that Ryuu and Bastion seemed to agree with his methods, nodding and smiling towards him.

The two old men were accustomed to being blunt and to the point, not much for faffing about with their old bones.

Leo turned back towards Bruno and smiled; Frost had inadvertently cleared a lingering doubt he had about Bruno’s personality but since Frost judged him as a good honest person through their fistful exchange, he was clear on what to do.

He gave Bruno and Taka a quick analysed look to determine their current battle potential.

‘If they still feel guilty then they can just work to assist us in bringing down Adam.’ Unfortunately, their battle with Frost did quite a number on them.

Bruno’s shield arm could no longer be lifted and several of his ribs were broken, and other areas were sporting significant bruises. Taka was in a better situation but had no weapon or ammunition, his hands were also cut up from his rapid firing.

“Well, there you have it, we have no intention of arresting or even criticizing your actions while under the employ of my uncle in fact there’s probably something the two of you should know.”

Leo proceeded to regale the two about what he uncovered in regards to Adam manipulating them into his employment. Frost had already stated to make it quick, so he didn’t drone on.

“Bastard!” Bruno ignored the pain in his bones and slammed his fist into the floor drawing blood from his knuckles.

“I had my suspicions but wasn’t sure.” Taka frowned in frustration, his body filling with rage.

Leo let the information sink in for a few seconds before he continued speaking.

“We’re going now to bring my uncle to justice however, we do not know the layout of the floors ahead would you be willing to guide us?” Even if the two of them were injured they should still be able to act as guides after a health potion or healing spell.

Bruno looked up angrily, his eyes filled with fury.

“Not only will I guide you, please allow me to help take care of that bastard!” Bruno had lost all sense of decorum, violently cursing a noble in front of another but no one cared.

“But your injuries?” Leo awkwardly looked over at Frost since he was the one to cause said injuries. Feeling Leo’s gaze, he opened up one eye in surprise.

‘Are you really gonna tell me I went too far?’ Frost’s gaze translated roughly as such causing Leo to quickly turn back towards Bruno. Frost really couldn’t be blamed, before Leo arrived it was a life-or-death battle.

Bruno also looked over at Frost awkwardly but unable to retort given the circumstances.

“My injuries are manageable, Taka?” Bruno thumped his chest lightly, but it still caused him pain.

“I’m fine I just need a bow.” Taka was in much better shape, all he needed was a spare weapon. Unfortunately, he didn’t have one and none of the goons ahead wielded bows.

Leo sighed in appreciation before smiling and nodding towards Bastion.