Just as Kaelen was getting used to his new muscles, someone knocked on his door.
"Young Lord, Lord Dorian of the Drake Family is here to see you."
Kaelen blinked. He searched his memories.
Dorian Drake. The 3rd Young Master of the Drake Family. He was one of Kaelen's best friends. They were known as the "Lazy Duo" of Whitewater City.
Kaelen put his herb box away and walked to the reception hall.
Dorian was sitting there, drinking tea. He was wearing a fancy blue silk robe. He looked like a typical rich playboy—not ugly, but not exactly handsome either.
"Kaelen! You finally came out of your hole!" Dorian laughed. "You haven't left your house in days."
"It was raining," Kaelen shrugged. "I hate getting my boots wet."
"Well, it's sunny now!" Dorian stood up. "Today is the big day. My brother is opening the Southsmoke Treasure House. There will be rare items and cool stuff. You have to come."
Kaelen thought about it.
The Drake Family was very powerful. They owned most of the casinos, theaters, and taverns in the city. If you wanted to have fun in Whitewater City, you paid the Drakes.
Kaelen was bored of staying home. He also wanted to see what the city looked like.
"Okay," Kaelen said. "Let's go."
Usually, the Young Lord of the Vane Family would travel with a huge carriage, two maids, and eight guards.
But Kaelen didn't want a parade. He took only four guards and told them to walk.
"Walking?" Dorian complained as they stepped onto the street. "Why are we walking? The ground is dirty!"
Dorian was used to riding in a high carriage, looking down on everyone. Walking among the commoners made him uncomfortable.
"It's good exercise," Kaelen said, looking around with interest.
The streets of Whitewater City were busy. Peddlers shouted, selling candied fruit and roasted nuts. Women looked at jewelry shops. Farmers carried baskets of vegetables on poles.
It was loud, smelly, and alive. Kaelen loved it.
"Ugh," Dorian covered his nose with a fan. "Can we hurry up?"
Suddenly—
SCREAM!
A loud shriek cut through the noise. Everyone on the street froze.
Kaelen looked ahead. About twenty feet away, a horrific scene was unfolding.
A man with messy hair and crazy eyes was holding a long, bloody knife. He had just stabbed an old porter in the chest.
The old man fell to the ground, dying.
"Hahaha!" the madman laughed.
He didn't run away. Instead, he swung his knife at a young girl in a green dress standing nearby.
Slash!
The girl didn't even have time to scream. She fell, bleeding.
The crowd panicked. People screamed and ran in all directions, knocking over fruit stands.
"What are you doing?!" Kaelen shouted at his guards. "Stop him! He's going to kill more people!"
Dorian was shaking. "Kaelen! Let's go! That guy is crazy! The City Guards will handle it!"
"The City Guards are too slow!" Kaelen yelled. "Go!"
Two of Kaelen's guards drew their swords and rushed forward.
They were trained fighters. The madman was just a crazy person with a knife.
Clang! Slice!
It was over in two seconds. The guards cut off the madman's arm and stabbed him through the heart. The madman fell dead.
"A lunatic..." Dorian wiped sweat from his forehead. "Just a random lunatic killing people in broad daylight. This city is getting scary."
Kaelen let out a breath. "At least it's over."
Suddenly, one of the two guards standing behind Kaelen smiled. It was a weird, creepy smile.
His name was Jaxon. He had grown up in the Vane household. He was supposed to be loyal.
But in that second, Jaxon drew his sword.
He didn't aim for the enemy. He aimed for Kaelen's neck.
"Kaelen! Look out!" Dorian screamed.
Kaelen's new Agility stat saved his life.
Hearing Dorian's scream, Kaelen instinctively threw himself to the side.
Swish!
The cold steel blade missed his neck by an inch. It sliced off a lock of his hair and nicked his ear.
Kaelen rolled on the ground and jumped up. Cold sweat poured down his back.
What the heako? A traitor?
"Jaxon! Are you insane?!" the other loyal guard shouted. "How dare you attack the Young Lord!"
Jaxon didn't speak. His eyes were empty. He raised his sword and charged at Kaelen again.
He was fast. He wanted Kaelen dead.
The loyal guard jumped in the way, blocking Jaxon's strike with a loud CLANG!
"Now!"
Kaelen saw an opening. He didn't run. He stepped forward.
Tiger-Crane Style!
He clenched his fist (Tiger Form) and punched Jaxon in the chest.
Thud!
Jaxon stumbled back half a step. He looked surprised, but he didn't fall.
Kaelen cursed internally. My Strength is only 0.7! I'm too weak to knock him out with one hit!
A normal guard had much higher strength than Kaelen.
"Fine," Kaelen gritted his teeth. "If one punch won't work, take the whole combo!"
Kaelen didn't stop. He moved like water.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
He unleashed all six moves of the Tiger-Crane Style. His fists and fingers rained down on Jaxon like a storm.