abcnovels
Chapter 99: Saint Jayson
Chapter 99: Saint Jayson
Chapter 99: Saint Jayson
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Below the Irycrest's streets, the hidden network of sewer tunnels and passageways extended in every direction like a labyrinth.
At the heart of the underground chamber, the broad-shouldered figure of a man stood tall in front of the lonely-looking door.
It was just another day for him, standing in front of the entrance of the underground city. "Shit, this smell is going to kill me one day." The man murmured to himself in annoyance, then took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up.
After placing one between his lips, he suddenly heard a faint echo of footsteps.
It was easy to hear when someone was approaching, as the sewers echoed like a never-ending tunnel.
From the depths of the sewer, a figure of average height slowly emerged, an ordinary backpack slung over his shoulder and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.
"Stop right there." The man ordered and took a puff of the cigarette. "What's your business here, stranger?"
"I am seeking entrance to the Red Thread." Adam said this while adjusting his backpack and stepping forward confidently.
"Never seen you before." The man said, then dropped the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his boot. "We don't like strangers here."
"I understand. Do you need my identification?" Adam asked with a smile under the baseball
cap.
"Go on, give it to me." The man leisurely put his hand forth.
He was acting very carefreely, even though his job was very dangerous.
After all, he was guarding the entrance of the underground city-one would think it was a place where one would try to sneak in each passing day.
However, no one dared, because everyone knew this man in the underground circle.
Adam rummaged through his backpack, found his ID, and then gave it to the man.
He didn't want to cause trouble with this man either.
'Saint Jayson, a legend.' Adam thought while looking at the man. 'He is the fighting champion of the underground world. However, that is in the future, but that doesn't mean he isn't strong.
'He started as nothing but low-grade thug and worked his way up through sheer determination and skill.
'Now, he is the gatekeeper of the Red Thread, a dangerous and well-paying job. He is feared and respected by all who know him in the underground world.
'In a couple of years, he'll participate in the fighting championship of the underground world and win it all.'
Saint Jayson checked out the identification papers. It had a picture of Adam, a young man with a pale face, a navy-colored eyes, and slightly long black hair.
"Take off your cap." He ordered, as he couldn't tell whether the owner of the ID was really him.
Adam slowly took off his baseball cap, then fixed up his hair and showed his face to him.
"Mm..." Saint Jayson nodded after seeing the face match the picture, and then looked at the name. "Adam... Palestar."
He hadn't been playing Mortal Online at all, but even he recognized the name-it was a name that had been spoken quite often during bar nights at the inn.
"Interesting." Saint Jayson said and he then closed the ID and gave it back to Adam.
"May I enter now?" Adam asked and pocketed his ID.
Saint Jayson crossed his arms and leaned on the door.
"No."
"Why?" Adam asked with a frown.
"Why forfeit your life like this?" Saint Jayson asked. "This is not a place for wet-eared brats. Come back in a few years when you know more about the world."
Adam put the baseball cap back on and shook his head.
"Do I need to pay you or what? I don't have time to waste on this."
"Leave, brat." Saint Jayson lazily waved his hand. "Death is not the worst outcome in here. There're fates that you can only imagine in your worst nightmares."
"I appreciate the concern, but I didn't ask for it." Adam said that and stood his ground. "I didn't come here just to get turned around at the front steps. Step aside."
Saint Jayson scratched the back of his head and picked up his baseball bat from the ground.
"Alright, you're stubborn." He placed the bat on his shoulder and smirked. "Make me move then, kid."
"Are you serious?" Adam asked with a cold look.
"You might be famous in the fake world." Saint Jayson said: "S-ranker or not, none of that really matters to me. I live in reality, unlike you fakers."
Adam dropped his backpack to the ground and then brought out his two red-handled knives.
"Oh, prepared, are you?" Saint Jayson laughed.
Adam lowered his gaze to the dirty ground and saw broken glasses, dirty rags, and folded cardboard boxes.
Saint Jayson raised his bat over his shoulder and put it into a hacking position.
It was solid aluminum, a real slugger's bat-it was enough to crack skulls and crush bones with ease.
Adam suddenly slid his boot across the coarse, dirty ground and kicked up the broken glass that was sharp enough to slice skin open.
Those flew straight at the broad-shouldered man.
Saint Jayson smashed his bat through the glass, but a few shards still pierced through his skin,
causing blood to trickle down his arm.
Adam made a dash forward and whirled his knives in Saint Jayson's direction.
Saint Jayson quickly backed off, narrowly avoiding the sharp blades.
It looked bad for him as he didn't have a lot of space to move around; the door was right
behind him, and in front of him was a somewhat narrow sewer tunnel.
Adam rushed straight in and jabbed his red-handled knife towards the cornered man.
With a swing of the arm, Saint Jayson brought down his bat and struck the knife off Adam's
hand.
The red-handled knife flew away and landed in a small, dirty puddle on the ground.
"Ngh!" Adam grunted in frustration and tossed his left-handed knife to his dominant right
hand.
At that moment, Adam grabbed the folded cardboard box from the ground and tossed it over
to Saint Jayson.
It perfectly blocked his vision.
Saint Jayson smashed his bat through the cardboard box, and then saw Adam's knife heading
in his way.
His eyes narrowed into a narrow line, and he quickly pulled back, but the knife sliced through
his cheek all the way to the ear.
It was a scar-inducing attack.
"Fucker!" Saint Jayson shot his leg up and kicked Adam to the chest.
Adam staggered backwards with a loud grunt and almost dropped to the sewer water.
The kick rocked his insides and he had difficulties of breathing.
'What a tremendous physical prowess.
'I always wondered how strong Saint Jayson would be in Mortal Online. Shame that he never
had the desire...'
"Argh, shit!" Saint Jayson touched his bleeding cheek and felt the ringing in his ear. "The
fuck!"
"..." Adam wiped the sweat off and picked up his backpack from the ground. "Fine, I'll
leave..."
He knew he wouldn't be able to defeat Saint Jayson. It was a losing fight.
However, he didn't want to look weak. It was good to show a strong impression and perhaps
he'll change his mind about letting him in.
Now, it started to look like the fight was heading in a dangerous direction.
It could lead into Adam's untimely death.
It was a risk he didn't want to take.
"Wait..." Saint Jayson said coldly and looked at him with a sharp gaze.
The atmosphere turned cold and tense.
Adam gulped and tightened his grip on his knife.
"Haa..." Saint Jayson let out a deep breath and then smiled through pain. "Not bad... not
bad..."
He turned around and swung the door wide open with a fresh scent wafting through the open
door.
It was rather good smelling scent, compared to the disgusting stench of the sewer.
"What is this?" Adam asked.
"I changed my mind." Saint Jayson said with a smirk and looked at the door. "Go on, enter
that place."
Adam raised an eyebrow in surprise, then slung the backpack over his shoulder and slowly
walked past Saint Jayson and through the open door.
At that moment, a voice came behind him. "If you die, there'll be no one to bury you there."
With those words, the door closed behind him.