Chapter 47 - To His Amusement

From the fifth district, where the Wayle Family Manor was located, to the seventh district, which is in the furthest corner of the sixth district, Wesley needed to walk a distance of around four miles. This distance would take less than an hour to traverse if Wesley took a straight route and walked at a normal pace.

However, it took Wesley almost two and a half hours before he reached his manor. The reason for this was very simple: Wesley did not take a direct route to his destination and avoided any well-lit or active streets.

Some people might consider this paranoia, but Wesley did not share that same mindset. From what he could tell from his conversation with Michael, the entire city was buzzing with news about an assassin. If someone saw the dark-clothed Wesley walking around and then later heard news of the Wayle Family head being assassinated, all it would take is to connect the dots.

Wesley wanted the assassination of the Wayle Family head to be seen as retaliation by the Ranes family. If rumors spread that it was done by the same assassin, then he would be surprised if the four families didn’t realize there was a third party involved.

Wesley wanted to avoid this scenario at all costs, so he chose prudence over convenience. If the four families started looking for possible culprits outside of themselves, it wouldn’t be long before they realized it was the Black Family, after all, they were the only new variable in the city.

Soon enough, Wesley reached the border between the sixth and seventh districts. It was already past midnight, so the seventh district was under curfew, meaning Wesley could not walk around carelessly.

Fortunately, the seventh district was much smaller compared to the other districts, and the distance between his current position and the manor was almost half a mile. It took Wesley two Dark Warps to arrive in the middle of his study.

As soon as Wesley appeared in his study, he slowly walked toward the nearest seat and slumped into it lifelessly. Ensuring that he wasn’t seen as leaving the crime scene and heading home took a lot of focus and mental energy. Coupled with the fact that he used three Dark Warps, each consuming a fourth of his mana, it was no surprise that Wesley was exhausted.

As Wesley sat in the seat, a blank look on his face, he stared at the ceiling of the study. He knew he looked dumb just sitting there, but he was too tired to care.

While staring at the ceiling, Wesley remembered his master. When Rale first showed him the Dark Warp, he took Wesley almost five miles away. At that time, Wesley thought that Dark Warp was a simple spell and that he should be able to perform it as well.

However, Wesley's range when using Dark Warp was barely one thousand five hundred feet. He realized that he was not even close to his master's level. This realization made Wesley chuckle slightly, and a small smile surfaced on his face.

Rale the Keeper. Wesley knew that his master was powerful, but he was simply too close to him to truly understand how terrifying he was. As far as Wesley was concerned, Rale was just an accomplished, old mage who happened to be his master, but to other mages, he was an extremely terrifying existence.

While thinking of this, Wesley suddenly felt a small fluctuation of mana in a corner of the study. Wesley immediately turned his head and stared at the corner, his blank expression still in place.

He felt the mana in that area tremble slightly, then shift, replaced by earth elements. Immediately after, an earthen pillar, six feet tall, materialized. Wesley stared at the pillar curiously, as though he was about to understand something, but he had no idea what.

As Wesley was staring at the pillar of earth, the pillar started shrinking at an alarming rate leaving behind the figure of a broad shouldered Neal. Neal turned his head a few times and then he looked at Wesley with surprise on his face.

"Wesley? Didn't you leave for the Wayle Family Manor earlier? Why are you still here?"

Wesley and Neal's initial plan was for Wesley to observe the Wayle residence for a while to try and find a way in. Neither of them expected that the Wayle Family would walk to Wesley's location on his own. This caused Wesley to return faster than they initially estimated.

While Neal was looking at Wesley with astonishment, Wesley was staring at something with a thoughtful gaze as he squinted his eyes. The moment Wesley noticed the mana fluctuations caused by Neal's spell, he felt that there was something that he was seeing. Only he couldn’t put his finger on it, he felt like he was on the precipice of something, but couldn’t take that one last step.

Neal who was looking at Wesley couldn’t help but feel worried. Wesley seemed exhausted for some reason and looked in some sort of daze. Neal once again spoke, only he almost roared this time:

"Wesley. What is the matter?"

Wesley who was feeling frustrated was suddenly brought out of his daze by Neal's voice. His eyes focused as he stared at Neal with surprise, as if he forgot he was there completely. Wesley knew that whatever it was he felt was gone, so he just smiled at Neal and spoke:

"Oh, Neal. I was coming to see you when I have rested for a while. Why are you here."

Neal hesitated at Wesley's question and then spoke again:

"I just received a report that was interesting. I came here on impulse hoping that you might be here, only I didn’t expect you to actually be here."

"Haha. I wasn’t expecting to return so fast either. Only, my luck was not bad tonight. What was this report you received."

Neal looked at Wesley curiously. His smiling face and laughing seemed somewhat forced on his pale complexion and tired eyes.

"I just received a report saying that the three remaining family heads met in the office of management a few hours ago. This would have been a nice opportunity to take out the Kader Family head. Alas, it is too late now."

Hearing Neal's words, Wesley couldn’t help but to immediately let out a self deprecating laugh:

"Haha."

Wesley's immediate laugh at his words caused Neal to be further astonished at Wesley's odd behavior. He looked at Wesley curiously and spoke again:

"What is so funny."

"It's just that I was thinking my luck was impressive tonight. But it seems it was only better than average. Haha."

"What do you mean."

"While I was observing the Wayle Family Manor, I found the Wayle Family head walking outside. After I killed him, I thought that my luck was extremely good. However, you just told me that the Kader Family head was within reach. Tell me, isn't that worthy of a laugh."

Neal's eyes immediately lit up as Wesley spoke. It was indeed unfortunate that they missed the chance to kill the Kader Family head, but the Wayle Family head was not small causing his mood to lighten and even improve slightly. As if seeing the irony that made Wesley laugh, Neal also started to laugh as he spoke:

"Haha. It is indeed worthy of a good laugh."

"Yes I thought so too. Haha."

After laughing for a few moments, Neal suddenly spoke again:

"Where you injured. You don't look too good."

Wesley's pale and drained countenance as well as how he was slouched on the seat he was sitting on made Neal slightly worried. Wesley on the other hand just shook his head and spoke:

"No. I am just overspent. A few hours of rest and I'll be fine."

"I see. That’s good then. So what now?"

"Now. Now we let things simmer down a little. The entire city believes that there is a vicious assassin on the loose, and soon, things will get even more hectic."

"That is the best course of action. But what will you do if the new Family heads are told about the Black Family history before you can kill the remaining two."

Wesley was quiet for a moment as he thought, and then he spoke again:

"I don't know. I hope that the death of two heads is enough to distract them from you. In the meantime, you should get to know these new family heads."

"I know. I was planning on visiting the Ranes family head tomorrow to pay my respects to his late father."

"Haha. Then it is settled. I'll be getting some rest then."

Wesley spoke as he got off the seat tiredly and headed towards the exit of the study. Neal only stared at Wesley as he walked away and spoke:

"I understand."