Chapter 83: Gathering materials in the Split Mountain part 3

As soon as Gilbert left his position, the trunk he was standing on a second ago was soon cut in a half. Afterward, a fireball chases after him while he was trying to flee.

"Fuck!"

Kayn could hear Gilbert cursing out loud as he jumped from one tree to another.

Bang!

Gilbert nimbly avoided the fireball, which causes it to hit on a truck of a tree.

"Are you planning on helping him?" Natas can't help asking Kayn.

"Let's observe first," He doesn't know exactly the reason why the group from the Tenderfoot Village suddenly decided to attack Gilbert. So, until he knows the reason why, he won't get himself involved yet. Moreover, he can't obviously just casually reveal his relationship with Gilbert yet as that would immediately eliminate the opportunity for him to launch a surprise attack.

With that in mind, Kayn crouches down to the ground to try and hide. Slowly, he made his way to a nearby tree. Upon arriving, he quickly uses the tree as a cover while observing the situation with Gilbert.

The moment Gilbert avoided the fireball and landed on the trunk of another tree, two men from the Tenderfoot Village revealed themselves from the bush as they chases after Gilbert. One of them is carrying a sword while the other is carrying two short axes.

As sudden as their arrival, so was their halt in their approach.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Two daggers quickly landed on the ground in front of the two melee combatants. If they had continued with their chase, there's no doubt those two daggers would hit the top of their heads, instantly killing them.

"He is good," Natas applauded at Gilbert's counterattack.

Gilbert executed his attack just now in one quick motion before returning back to escaping. He didn't even bother checking whether he had landed his daggers or not. Not that he was being confident, he already expects that it won't land on his target.

"I didn't expect that I would be seeing you here Gilbert," The man who was wearing heavy armor walks out from behind a tree.

"Do I know you?" Gilbert felt confused as he can't recognize the man.

"Not really,"

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Gilbert, one of the three master assassins under the command of Old Chief George. Everyone in the Tenderfoot Village knows about you,"

"Are you trying to say that I am wanted in your Village?"

"More or less,"

"How much is the reward?"

"10,000 coins,"

"I am feeling overwhelmed,"

"Enjoy that, for now. But once I bring your head to my Village, I'll be the one to.."

Whoosh!

Before the man in heavy armor could finish his line, the melee combatant who was using a sword suddenly dropped down to the ground. Observing closely, one could see that a dagger had stabbed deeply straight into his eyes.

Evidently, Gilbert was using his conversation with the man in heavy armor as a way to distract the two melee combatants.

"I guess you don't understand clearly what a master assassin really implies,"

Whoosh!

In the next moment, Gilbert disappeared.

"For me to become a master assassin, I have to reach level 49,"

"Of course, we aren't recognized as one by the 'Tower' yet as only when you finally reached level 50 would you truly become one,"

"And unfortunately, being in 'The Bridge' restricts us from reaching that level,"

"But, our skills have already reached that level. Do you know what that means?"

Although Gilbert has disappeared, his voice implies that he is nearby. It's just hard to identify exactly where he is as his voice would instantly switch from left to right, up on the trees then below on the ground.

"Do you know what your mistake is?"

"That is you left your Mage and Priest unguarded against a master assassin,"

"Do you know just how stupid of a decision that is?"

The man wearing heavy armor immediately turned to look behind him as he heard Gilbert's voice. To his horror, he saw Gilbert has already killed the Mage in his party while the Priest has a dagger on his neck, ready to slice at him at any given moment.

"You pay the price for your ignorance,"

Whoosh!

With one quick swipe, the neck of the Priest was slit cleanly. Blood instantly oozes out from it as he kneeled on the ground and tried his best to cover the wound with his hand. Albeit it was proven futile in the end as his body turned weak and he laid down on the ground.

The Priest could only watch as Gilbert walks passed him.

"Blame your leader for his recklessness,"

That was the last line the Priest heard before he took his last breath.

"You.." The man in heavy armor started retreating while pointing his sword at Gilbert. Right now, fear has completely overtaken his entire mind and body, making him lose the courage to fight back. Looking at his back, he can no longer see his comrade. He instantly understood that the latter had long already run away.

Contrary to his thoughts though, he unexpectedly heard the voice of his comrade.

"Over there! Quickly! We need to help Scar before Gilbert takes his life away!"

"It seems like I was feeling afraid for nothing," The man in heavy armor whose name is Scar felt motivated once again after hearing his comrade's voice and multiple steps coming in his direction.

"Do you think I'll be scared now just because of that?" Gilbert smirks at Scar.

"You.. stop.. don't get any closer.."

Tung!

Scar fell with his butt first on the ground.

Unexpectedly, a yellow substance started flowing out from the lower waist of Scar's leggings.

"Did you.." Gilbert paused in his steps and started laughing.

On the other side, Kayn doesn't know whether to laugh or feel disappointed. He wanted to laugh because Scar pissed himself, but he also can't help feeling disappointed as he was expecting a lot from these people.

Imagine, they walked into this place so bold, strong, and fearless, and had even initiated an ambush against Gilbert. But in the end, Gilbert was able to eliminate all of them quickly and has even caused one to get scared to the point he pissed his pants.

"I'll spare you this time for making me laugh," Gilbert began picking up his dagger. After doing so, he turns around to look at everyone and said, "I suggest that all of you call it a day now,"

"Thank you for worrying, but it's okay,"

"Yeah, this fight only involves you,"

"If we run just like what you said, they would misunderstand that we are one of your comrades,"

"Suit yourself," Gilbert immediately decided to give up persuading them. He was only reminding them out of kindness.

Gilbert's suggestion wasn't all for naught though as some gatherers decided to stand up and go to his side. Of course, that includes Kayn as well as he uses this opportunity to continue hiding his relationship with Gilbert.

"We will be taking our leave now. I hope you'll have a bountiful harvest,"

After saying that, Gilbert started to lead Kayn and the group of gatherers that decided to follow him down the hill to the direction of the Green Horn Village.

Since there is no need for him to continue hiding his identity, Kayn approached Gilbert and started a conversation.

"I didn't expect that you are such a high-ranking individual in the Green Horn Village," Kayn expresses his thoughts.

"That doesn't mean a thing, honestly," Gilbert didn't feel like his position is of any importance.

"Why?"

"Even if I am one of the few master assassins in 'The Bridge', I am still helpless to do anything to reach the door of the 'Tower',"

"I understand," If one has that much power in their possession and still they can't do anything to change their current situation, it is only natural that they would feel like it means nothing.

Boom!

Bang!

Boom!

All of a sudden, Kayn, Natas, Gilbert and everyone with them immediately turned their heads to look behind as they heard a series of explosions a few tens of meters before them.

"What's happening?"

"It seems like a fight is happening over there right now,"

"I believe those explosions came from the gathering spot of the Twin Mushrooms,"

Hearing that, Kayn and Gilbert instantly understood what is going on.

"Start moving!"

Without any hesitation, everyone runs down.

"What are you doing?! Quickly go with them! I'll stay and buy all of you some time to escape,"

"No, you will leave with me,"

"Why would I do that? This wouldn't have happened if I simply run away and didn't kill a few of them,"

"This is clearly not just an act of killing people because of what you did. This is a declaration of war!"historical

"What?!" Gilbert felt shocked.

"If you don't believe me, let's wait here and see for yourself,"

"But you'll get yourself in danger,"

"I already told you. Do not underestimate me," Kayn showed Gilbert a dagger that he had just stolen without the latter realizing.

"How?" Gilbert was amazed as got his dagger back from Kayn. No one could easily still an item, especially a dagger, from a master assassin without getting noticed. Yet, Kayn was able to achieve that very easily. "It seems like there's more to you than meets the eye,"

"Let's go over there so that we will still be able to easily escape from here as soon as we confirm the exact situation," Kayn pointed over the dense cover of greeneries to their right.

Looking briefly, Gilbert nodded his head.

Meanwhile, Natas has already left to go and scout the situation in front.

Not long after they hid, they started seeing a few of those gatherers that choose to continue gathering uphill fleeing for their lives.

In the next moment, they started seeing an unexpected number of men that are equipped with armor for battle marching their way in order as they followed the running gatherers.

"There's a group of one hundred people coming in our direction! Quickly, run!" Natas hastily informs Kayn the moment he got back.

"Let's go!" Kayn softly pushes Gilbert.

Since they've already confirmed the situation, Kayn and Gilbert no longer bothered to continue staying in the Split Mountain.

"We have to report this to Old Chief Gilbert as soon as possible,"

War is obviously imminent between the Green Horn Village and the Tenderfoot Village.