by Sarah Lin
Fortunately, he didn't see any sign of the camper or any other meth lab. Apparently his threat had worked. Technically that didn't clean his conscience even slightly, but at least it let him focus without any worry of getting shot by some methhead.
After all the excitement of the previous day, this was utterly boring. Rick found himself going back through exercises just for the sake of having something to do, even though he'd already passed the point of optimum benefits. The boredom made him wander too far occasionally, losing the thread of his work, so he had to double back to get it right.
Eventually he found the anomaly in the middle of a normal field. When walking closer he did notice an area of dead grass that smelled like something toxic had been dumped on it. Otherwise, there was absolutely nothing unusual about the area. Maybe Granny Whitney had used it to hide something and maybe it had drawn the cloud wolf, but either way, it was over now.
Since the area was particularly clean with the departure of the rolling meth lab, Rick registered the find with the wooden sphere. After he got confirmation, he decided to check the merit scoreboard again.
[1) [redacted] - 248 merits
2) Pan Zhou - 244 merits
3) Kate Durham - 233 merits
4) Heidi Cunningham - 225 merits
5) Damian - 220 merits
6) Machk Bearan - 207 merits
7) Jack Ganess - 206 merits
8) Oswaln - 190 merits
9) Elliot Rutherford III - 189 merits
10) Rick Hunter - 186 merits]
He was surprised to find himself back in the top ten, potentially higher once he got credit for the anomaly. It was possible that others would also gain merits before he received his, yet many of the numbers looked stagnant to him. Most likely just a symptom of lucrim anomalies in the region drying up, though he wondered just how far they could extend from Branton. Far enough and he wouldn't be able to bike there and back.
Getting into the top ten was a strange thing and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. Continuing to draw a paycheck and get large bonuses... those were definitely good things. But even if he wasn't ever called on for another major assignment, he wasn't sure he wanted the attention that came with the position. Basically everyone had warned him about the potential consequences.
Rick put his phone away and looked back to the road, trying to decide if he would keep working or not. It was the afternoon and he was hungry. There were still a lot of hours left in the day, but having found one lucrim anomaly he wasn't likely to find another. Maybe if-
Aura flared nearby and Rick threw himself to the side a moment before something tore into the earth where he had been standing.
The force from the explosion prevented him from standing and he skidded on his side. Dragging one hand in the dirt, he managed to slow himself down and then vaulted to his feet. He wasn't hurt, but as Rick raised his fists, he found himself staring at the man who had attacked him.
"There you are!" Jack raised his hands to either side, aura burning brightly. "Finally got you without anyone nearby... let's finish this!"
Chapter 43: Terms of a Vendetta
"Wait!" Rick raised his hands as if he didn't intend to fight, though he was ready to run at a moment's notice. "Why are you going so far? I only fought in the tournament because I had to, and I didn't target your cousin or anything. Whoever they were, they fought a bunch of other people too - why are you coming after me?"
To his surprise, Jack glared at him in pained rage. "Of course. That's the kind of arrogant bullshit I'd expect from someone like you. Never giving a thought for those who are beneath you."
"All I did was participate! I don't think I even seriously injured anyone... what do you want from me? An apology? A-"
"I want to see you suffer as much as she did!" Jack's aura burned down his tattoos and he hunched forward, but he didn't attack. "She bet everything on that fight! My baby cousin was never a fighter... she just needed to win a few points to pay her debts. And you crushed her, without mercy."
Never having expected something like that, Rick was struck silent. He tried to search for words, yet the hatred in Jack's eyes suddenly seemed so familiar. The other man tightened his fingers, the aura in his tattoos flickering unstably.
"That loss bankrupted her and you didn't even give a shit. Even now, you talk like it doesn't matter. Family may not mean anything to you, but it sure as hell means something to me. I'm going to extract every bit of pain from your body!"
"Please, just wait!" Rick took a deep breath and forced himself to focus. "I have family I care about too. I was only in the tournament becau-"
Jack let out a roar and charged. Rick's attempt to bridge the gap between them died on his lips - it was too late for words.
Needing time to think, Rick leapt through three Bunyan's Steps in a row. They stretched his core to the limit, but they got him some distance away faster than Jack's raw speed could keep up. The man was disoriented for only a moment and then charged him again, but that gave Rick enough time to think.
First, what about Granny Whitney's deal to help get rid of Jack? It immediately occurred to him that it was possible that she had betrayed him, giving Jack his location as soon as he'd accomplished what she'd needed. He didn't want to underestimate how ruthless she could be, and getting an enemy minion to murder a liability might look like an elegant move to her.
None of that mattered, though, compared to immediate concerns. This far outside town, was Jack trying to kill him? Or would it just be the maiming promised earlier? Either way, Rick had no backup and no choice but to fight. And if it came down to a fight, he was still outmatched.
Jack caught up to him, hand flying out like a claw. Rick managed to spin aside and hammered his elbow into his opponent's arm. It was a solid hit, but the other man only flinched briefly and then struck at him with his other arm. Now that he wasn't charging from such a long distance, he didn't leave enough of an opening for Rick to retaliate easily.
Hand to hand, his opponent's superior Lucores would soon give him the advantage. Rick realized that his only chance at victory was to land a critical blow early in the fight.
He started with an exploratory kick, counting on Jack to deflect it with a kick of his own, then attack hastily. Rick lunged in, deflecting the blow on his braced shoulder while lunging in with the other for a blow to the-
One shoulder screamed in pain and then the other crashed into the ground hard. Rick realized that the blow he had blocked had sent him flying before he could land his own strike. Usually his defensive core kept him anchored, yet Jack's offensive power was just too high. This time his core wasn't torn apart, but it had still failed to completely protect him and he knew his shoulder would have a nasty bruise.
Somehow he managed to catch one hand on the ground and flip himself back to his feet. He wasn't a moment too soon, because Jack was leaping after him. Jumping like that would have been a stupid move under normal circumstances, but Rick wasn't braced and had no time to react. It was the most he could do to throw himself back with a Bunyan's Step as his opponent smashed both fists into the ground.
When Jack connected, a large furrow of the ground exploded in aura that leapt from his tattoos. So that was how he had destroyed the ground earlier. If Rick hadn't used a Bunyan's Step and had tried to dodge normally, he would have been hit by the impact.
Worse, hitting the earth had barely slowed Jack down. He lunged from his crouched position, crossing the distance between them in shockingly little time. Though Rick could have tried to hold his ground, the way those tattoos were glowing, he didn't want to take that much aura head on. Instead he fled directly back with another Bunyan's Step.
The next moment he executed a Step in the opposite direction. Jack had anticipated him retreating and immediately followed, but he hadn't anticipated the reversal. Rick's elbow connected directly with his face and slammed him back into the ground.
Though Rick knew it had been a good blow, almost all the momentum from bot
h of their movements going directly into his opponent's face, his elbow hurt. Jack lay on the ground, stunned, yet Rick didn't feel stable enough to take advantage.
A moment later the other man vaulted to his feet. Blood ran down his chin, but when he grinned it looked like he still had all his teeth. His tattoos had guttered out from the blow, though they soon roared back to life and then Jack was charging again.
Another trick with the Bunyan's Step wouldn't work, so Rick resolved to rely on his agility next. He'd use one Bunyan's Step to get away predictably and let his opponent see an opening. Then instead of retreating, he'd dodge at close range and counter-attack.
Except the first Bunyan's Step faltered midway through, Rick's overtaxed Lucore giving out. In panic he tried to feed it new lucrim, but he was too late. The moment of delay made him stumble and then Jack was on him, dealing a devastating blow to his side.
It was the same arm as before and this time Rick's defenses couldn't hold. He screamed in pain as he felt something crack, but Jack wasn't done, spinning in a kick at his legs. The most he could do was step back and try to deflect the force, but it still cracked against his knees painfully. And in the time it took him to recoil, Jack was attacking again in a flow of devastating blows.
Rick collapsed to the ground and tried to protect his face and vital organs... but no further attacks came. He wondered if it could be a trick, yet couldn't help but look up anyway.
Jack was staring in a different direction and for a moment Rick hoped that Granny Whitney was there to assist him, yet it wasn't her or anyone he knew. Instead, it was a tall man wearing the black combat suit of the servants of the American Basilisk.
"So this is your little vendetta?" The man approached with a sour expression on his face. "Your potential employer is not impressed."
The look of fear on Jack's face would have made Rick happy, if he wasn't aching from so many injuries. That fear was probably warranted, since they were dealing with a mafia boss who thought little of putting out a hit on people who were inconvenient to him. Rick hoped he wasn't one of those and struggled back to his feet.
"The bastard ruined my cousin!" Jack stepped up to the man, raising his hands in protest. "I'm just making it right!"
"They fought in a tournament as opponents of equal weight classes. You're ambushing a boy who's barely stepped into welterweight." The look of scorn on the hitman's face gave Rick a flicker of hope that he'd get out of this alive.
"But he must have been cheating! There's no way he could have won otherwise!"
"More importantly," the hitman kept speaking as if he hadn't been interrupted, "you're drawing the wrong kind of attention to yourself. If you can't obtain a position in the CSLA, your work so far has been completely useless to us."
"I... I know that." Jack seemed a bit chastened, but still shot a glare of hatred at Rick. "You can't tell me I have to just forgive and forget."
"There's no sense in profitless compassion. We'll give you a chance, but we have terms." The hitman raised his hand and began listing off items finger by finger. "First, no official duels - you don't need that kind of scrutiny. Second, don't get others involved and nothing overtly illegal - same reason. Third, you will receive one and only one chance to discharge this vendetta. Fourth, it must occur within three months and before the end of the examination period."
While Jack grumbled, Rick just tried to figure out what the specific consequences were for him. Most likely it meant that Jack was still coming for him, but hopefully it meant that he couldn't try to attack Melissa or anyone else. That was better than nothing, but he still faced an attack from a superior opponent.
The hitman pulled something from his coat and moved over to Rick, who flinched but held his ground. To his surprise, the object was not a gun, but a small wand that reminded him of a hand-held metal detector. When it came close there was a surge of aura, so it was obviously something different. Though Rick might have been able to resist if he'd marshaled his defensive core immediately, he was too beaten for that and felt something pass through his lucrima soul.
"Do you accept?" The hitman stared at him with cold eyes and Rick just stared back.
"What? Do I have a choice?"
"Limited vendettas like this are a tradition in the mafia. You will be targeted regardless of if you agree, and if you do not agree, you'll be at a disadvantage." The hitman waved the wand back and forth. "As part of the terms, both of you will receive information on the other's lucrima portfolio. I already have yours, so only refuse if you aren't interested in your opponent's."
That was no choice at all, then. Rick nodded grimly. "Fine, I accept."
"Very good, then. Hopefully this will all be wrapped up smoothly." The hitman waved the wand near Jack, who seethed, then tapped several buttons on it. Moments later, Rick heard a notification from his phone. Despite the tension, he found himself checking out the data he'd been sent.
[### Unsigned Lucrima Portfolio ###
*Data is not verified and may be suspect.*
Foundation: 4200 (Lv V)
Aura Ink Foundation: 37,875 (Lv VII)
Offensive Design: 43,500 (Lv IX)
Defensive Design: 12,125 (Lv VI)
Raging Eagle Design: 7600 (Lv VII)
Acceleration Lucore: 8700 (Lv VI)
Total Lucrim: 38,250]
His opponent was definitely no coddled Birthrighter: Jack's portfolio spoke of skills earned through combat and hard work. The gap between them wasn't quite as massive as he'd feared, but it was still sizable: his opponent had over 75,000 lucrim invested in cores, and over 110,000 lucrim if his foundation was counted. Rick looked up and saw Jack glaring at him, his tattoos still spitting out sparks of aura. How could he win this?
There was no more conversation, and apparently the terms prevented Jack from attacking him right that moment, because the other man left with the hitman. That left Rick to limp back toward the highway, nursing his wounds. He didn't think his arm was broken after all, but it was going to hurt like hell in the morning. Most likely with Lisa's help he could heal from this, but that wouldn't be enough.
When he got to the highway he fumbled with his bike chip, failing to properly manifest it. Before he managed it, a dark car with tinted windows drove up beside him, gliding silently just above the road. The window slid down and he wasn't surprised.
"Get in, dearie. Oh my, you look a fright."
He eased into the seat she offered, forced to admit that at least the seats were comfortable. This vehicle was much more like a limo, though with no driver. Granny Whitney sat on the opposite side, looking at him as if entirely too pleased with herself.
"You heard the terms of the agreement, yes? Now you have a bit of protection."
"That was what you offered?" Rick was too tired and injured not to scowl at her. "He's still going to do his best to maim me - that's barely any help at all!"
"All I wanted was for you to carry a few dozen packages." Granny Whitney's eyes met his without the slightest trace of mercy. "But you chose not to help out a poor old woman and to barter like a skinflint. Well, Granny can be stingy too."
So this was punishment. Rick groaned to himself and closed his eyes. "Why meet with me now, then?"
"I just wanted to be sure that you understood. Oh, and to check on how long it would take you to remove the anomaly."
"It's done."
"Really? Then you've fulfilled your part of the deal." Granny Whitney sat back with a pleased expression. "In that case, all you need to do is survive Jack's assault and everything will be wrapped up with a nice little bow."
Rick stared at her. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
"You're a resourceful boy. I'm sure you'll figure something out."
Chapter 44: Planning a Rematch
Kept on his guard by the possibility that Granny Whitney might be trying something, Rick actually felt strong and alert the entire way home. He could probably have fought, though not at his best. When no attack occurred, however, and he e
nded up safely walking up the stairs to his apartment complex, the adrenaline started to run out.
When he reached the door itself, he found himself just staring at it instead of turning the handle. Though he'd been in worse shape before, that didn't keep him from feeling shitty while carrying so many injuries. Trying to survive it all felt so useless... no, sleep first, worry later.
He managed to get inside the door with only a little trouble. Though Melissa was busy with her work, she did a double take and jumped up. "Oh, god, what is it this time, Rick?"
"Just had another fight with Jack." He accepted her help and eased down onto the couch, though doing so forced out an involuntary groan. Somehow sitting felt worse than standing. "At least there are terms for the fight now, but they're not much better..."
Without bothering to hide anything, he explained the terms of the vendetta. The only thing he didn't mention was what Jack had said about his cousin, because it still bothered him. If someone had ever hurt Melissa, Rick wondered if he would feel just as much rage and hatred. He told himself that he wouldn't be that angry if it was just a fair competition, yet...
Melissa listened quietly, concerned but not acting so upset that it made him feel guilty. When he showed her the data on Jack's portfolio, however, she grimaced.
"That's a lot of lucrim, bro, and he's no amateur. Do you think you can do this?"
"I might not have to fight him." Rick let his head roll back to rest on the couch, though that made it hurt in a different way than keeping it upright. "Since there's a time limit, I win if I can just avoid him for long enough."
"Can you do that, though? I mean, you'd have to go outside to work, so he'd have a lot of chances to take a shot at you."
"Maybe. Maybe not. I'm ahead of the quota, so if I just stop working I won't get fired right away. I'd have to run the numbers to see if I could really sit out the entire time." Rick rubbed his eyes wearily. "No, I don't think it will work. Not with the requirements increasing every month. Plus, I still need to save more to get a better apartment, much less to afford it long term. My income will be a problem if..."
