109 Cut the crap
The gates of Mayor Bertram's manor loomed before Alex, imposing and foreboding, but such weak and underwhelming defences would not deter him. With a determined stride, he knocked loudly on the gates, ignoring the shaking guards on either side of it, who had their spears pointed at him, but were too scared to move.
"My goal is the Mayor and his ever so loyal butler, if you step aside now, there won't be any unnecessary and easily avoided casualties." Alex spoke in a cold tone to the guards, prompting a quick reaction from them to drop their spears and make a run for it.
The moment they heard Alex's cold tone, they knew he wasn't joking around. They had known him from his first entry into Monty town, and they were creeped out when they saw how he dealt with the two guards who tried to extort him.
They had no doubts that the Mayor wouldn't be able to escape from this. As town guards, they had access to information the residents didn't, and they had heard inklings of how the Mayor wasn't as kind and innocent as the act he put on.
Seeing that there was no reaction from inside the manor, Alex didn't hold back anymore and directly launched a light fist into the steady steel gates, sending them flying off their hinges with little effort.
He stepped through the threshold, his footsteps echoing off the cobblestones as he made his way towards the courtyard.
Inside, Bertram and Kilian were taken aback from the sudden intrusion, their faces pale with shock as they emerged from the safety of the manor to confront their unexpected visitor.
"Alex! I wasn't expecting you'd return to this small town, and so soon after your departure too!" Bertram put on the best smile he could muster and 'enthusiastically' welcomed Alex, ignoring the broken gates and the dead body leaking blood all over his precious gardens.
"Cut the shit, Bertram. You know why I'm here." Alex's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Bertram, his voice steady and unwavering.
Bertram had also realised this, and seeing that things had already gone past the point of return, he finally gave in.
"Oh fuck it, I can't deal with this shit anymore. He's a spy! Are you people hearing me?? This brat Alex was sent here by our enemies to spy on us and cripple us from the inside." He started desperately shouting towards the residents standing on the side lines, revealing Alex's 'secrets' to them.
"Don't you get it? This man here was a loyal soldier of our lord, the Count, sent here to investigate and eliminate him when all of the facts were obtained. Now look, he's not even trying to hide anymore; so brazenly breaking into my manor in the middle of the town!" Bertram continued his tirade, his confidence heightening when he thought his act of exposing Alex was working.
But when he was finished, trying to catch his breath after so much shouting, Alex only chuckled.
"Does everything always have to be so political with nobles like you? So far up your own asses that you think anyone and everything is plotting against you – out to get you? Haha."
Alex paused for a second to laugh, then continued.
"I wasn't lying when I said I was a wandering warrior. I really am, and I really did just come here to make a quick buck before I left this place and continued my travels elsewhere. Everything would have proceeded as I just mentioned, but you just had to involve me in your meaningless affairs because of your arrogance."
Alex looked with disdain at Bertram and Kilian, he still remembered the first time Kilian appeared in front of him and practically demanded he meet with Bertram, out of their own 'kindness'.
He could barely stop his anger from welling up when he recalled how arrogantly Kilian had told Alex to act in Bertram's presence, telling him to bow and demanding respect.
n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om