Puppet Master Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Return one last time

Read chapter 80 of Puppet Master by PeName on NovelPedia.

“Three days from now, we will join a merchant caravan heading to Aldor.” While having dinner, Rin suddenly heard the announcement. Surprised, she asked: “We’re leaving here so soon?” Tris: “I already told you about my travel plans. I’ve stayed in Dorn long enough; it’s time to move on.” Rin: “Wherever Master goes, Rin will follow.” She nodded firmly. Tris: “Do you have anything left to do in this town? If so, finish it in the next few days. Once we leave, it may be a very long time before you get another chance to return.” Rin: “Rin has nothing else to do here.” She shook her head immediately. Tris: “Is that so?” For some reason, Rin felt a hint of disappointment in his voice. Rin: “Did Rin say something wrong?” Tris: “Oh, I thought you might want to go back and take revenge on those who nearly beat you to death. After all, I strongly believe that blood debts must be repaid in blood.” He still remembered clearly the look in Rin’s eyes when they first met. That was not the gaze of someone who would endure humiliation without fighting back. Rin: “Could Rin really fight them back?” Her question seemed directed at herself, half doubtful, half realizing something. The memory of being beaten was still fresh, making it hard for her to recognize how much she had changed in such a short time. Tris: “They’re just ordinary thugs from the slums. If they were strong enough, they’d be hunters or adventurers, not pathetic lowlifes.” Rin: “Rin knows they were only underlings of someone else. Would that cause trouble for Master?” That was her biggest worry. Tris: “It’s not a big problem, I can handle it. And since we’re leaving soon, there’s even less to worry about.” Rin: “Then in two days Rin will visit the slums one last time.” She smiled brightly. * * * * * * * * * * A group of three rough-looking men was patrolling the slums. Many people quickly avoided them at first sight. “Damn it, life’s getting harder these days.” One of them cursed in frustration. “Money’s running low, yet the boss ordered us to sit still and do nothing?” The second complained. The third, more cautious, replied: “Don’t you idiots even know why the boss had to give that order? These past few days, plenty of guys have been casually killed by that crazy woman. If you want to live longer, shut your mouths and follow along.” “Damn it, without money it’s no different from being dead.” The second muttered weakly, clearly afraid. As they walked on, near a corner, a shadow suddenly rushed out. It was a child—or at least someone with the body of a child—dressed in dark, fitted clothes, a mask covering the lower half of the face. With a wooden stick raised high, the child struck hard at the head of the first thug within reach. The sudden, powerful blow made the other two hear a disturbing crack from their comrade’s skull. As the first collapsed, the child didn’t stop, charging straight at the second. Barely managing to panic and shield his head, the second thug suddenly felt the child’s wooden stick drive straight into his stomach. Even though the end of the stick was just blunt and had no sharpness at all, the pain it caused still made his vision go dark as he clutched his stomach and fell to his knees in agony. The child then swung sideways at the third thug. Unlike the others, he had time to react. By bending his knees and lowering his body and head, he perfectly dodged the swung stick. Using the rebound from his knees and a twist of his hips, he launched a right hook straight at the child. His movements were fluid and swift, showing that he was highly experienced in street fighting. The child quickly pulled back the stick and held it across in front of himself. Thanks to its considerable length, he managed to block the punch successfully. However, the blow from the third thug was so heavy that the stick snapped in two, and the child was hurled across the ground. Yet the thug wasn’t pleased. The stick was thick, leaving his finger bones seemingly fractured. On top of that, t