p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center""We were just talking about you," Lance said softly, not knowing what was just going through Ace's mind./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Sitting on the opposite side of the bed, Ace couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were talking about, but he didn't have to wait long to find out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""After you lost consciousness, Lance asked me how I managed to knock out those assassins, but I genuinely didn't know; I'd never done anything like that in the past. That was when I remembered the night before we met Lance almost six years ago now. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Us and several of the townsfolk around us randomly lost consciousness. At the time, I, along with the rest of the town, assumed it was a hidden expert who acted to stop Lina Baruch from being kidnapped, but after today…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was you wasn't it? You somehow managed to stop the kidnappers with that weird energy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It was… But I still don't completely understand how I did it. All I know is that when I woke up the next morning, I had the ability to sense energy without looking at it and the ability to harden myself or external objects I'm in direct contact with. Still, the latter ability seems to be linked to my personal strength, so I can't use it for very long right now." Ace explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Technically, everything I said was the truth; I just said it in a way that allowed me to keep the knowledge of my past life a secret.' /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Why didn't you tell me at the time? You should know you can tell me anything." She asked, clearly hurt that Ace hadn't told her earlier./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I didn't…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I don't know, I'm sorry." Ace muttered, looking down at the ground, unable to look her in the eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's ok, son. Just don't hide things from me. If you tell me, then we can figure it out together." Milianna said gently as she pulled Ace into her embrace./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Sorry, mom. I don't want to lie to you, but I'm still not ready to explain everything./span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"' Ace thought to himself as he returned his mother's hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I was just telling your mother that I personally haven't heard of anyone with abilities like that, but I'm not exactly the most knowledgeable. What I do know is that there are certain families with special bloodlines that give them access to certain abilities./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Baruch family was one. Although they have declined from their peak, their bloodline ability was what allowed them to reign supreme once upon a time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"If you're like them, and these abilities stem from your bloodline, I suggest we keep it a secret until you have the strength to protect yourself from all potential threats." Lance said seriously after giving the mother and son the time to have their moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I agree!" Ace replied, happy that Lance was on the same page./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But if it is an ability tied to your bloodline, that would mean you inherited it from one of your parents," Lance said as he looked towards the dark-haired beauty beside him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I wouldn't know. Like Killian, I'm an orphan," Milianna replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Did the orphanage tell you anything about your origins?" Lance asked, clearly aware of how orphanage's typically worked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""All… All I know is I was left on the doorstep of a small orphanage on the O'Brien Empire's border when I was still a baby." Milianna said, trying to hold back her emotions./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business," Lance replied, placing his hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's ok.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"But I do need some rest; I'm pretty exhausted." She replied with a forced smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Those eyes…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The only time I've ever seen her like that was when we got home after meeting Lance that day…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"And it was only for the briefest of moments, but she had a weird look on her face when she mentioned the 'O'Brien Empire.'/span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" emWhat exactly happened in this O'Brien Empire?'/em Ace thought as he looked into his mother's eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Okay, we'll see you in the morning," Lance said, leading Ace out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""How are you doing, by the way?" Lance asked after closing Milianna's door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Today, you took a life for the first time. Your first kill is something most people take a while to get over; hell, some never do." Lance continued when he saw the confusion on Ace's face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As a pirate, he'd killed his fair share of enemies. He'd long become numb to it, but he had almost forgotten that now he was just an eight-year-old boy who had grown up in a peaceful environment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm fine. I have no regrets. If it's to protect the lives of those I love, I will always make the same choice!" Ace replied with pure conviction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It really is hard to believe you're just an almost 8-year-old boy." Lance sighed softly. "Anyway, go get some sleep; you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow, Mr. Birthday boy!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"After saying goodnight to Lance, Ace returned to his and Killian's room and sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'O'Brien Empire…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"For your sake, I hope you did nothing to my mom. If you did… I'll personally burn your whole empire to the ground!'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The next day the group of four celebrated Ace's birthday in peace, buying a nice meal from a slightly extravagant restaurant in the city and bringing it back to the inn to eat. The next few days were spent recovering or training in Ace's case./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Five days later, Killian had recovered enough to move around by himself, and Ace decided to take him to explore, as he promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Walking along the Fragrant Pavilion Road, Ace could only laugh and follow along as Killian felt the need to explore virtually every shop they passed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Aren't you ready to go for food yet?" Ace asked after almost three hours of window shopping./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yeah… Wait, what's everyone doing?" Killian asked, seeing a gathering crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace wasn't that interested in whatever was going on as he was getting hungry. Still, he had promised to do whatever Killian wanted today, so he followed along as Killian entered the crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Squeezing through the crowd, they finally got to the front. Apparently, everyone was gathering around a ring to watch two kids about their age battling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I can't believe those nobles started a betting station on their child." One of the men next to Ace said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know. It's only ten gold coins to enter, but you apparently get 100 Gold coins if you win. Part of me wants to enter as well." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Unfortunately, it's only open to children ten and under."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You can see why they had the confidence to do this, though. That kid's a little monster. He's already fought 19 matches and has easily dominated all of them." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Hearing the conversation, Ace looked up at the children battling. On one side was a blonde-haired boy about ten years old whom Ace could sense was an early rank one warrior, and in front of him was a brown-haired boy who was also an early rank one warrior, but this brown-haired boy was no older than seven at most. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Why does that brown-haired kid look so familiar?" Ace asked himself aloud./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That's Wharton, the Baruch's second son." Killian reminded him calmly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ahh, that's right… How did he become a rank one warrior so fast? He should've only turned six a few months ago." Ace wondered as he looked at the young noble./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The Baruch blood, I guess," Killian said absentmindedly as he watched the fight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Even Linley took over a year to reach that stage, and he has the same bloo…" Ace stopped talking mid-sentence as he felt a hostile aura nearby./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Following his senses, he saw Lina, Wharton's mother glaring at him. He could sense a mixture of shock, fear, and killing intent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Why is she…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Did the Baruchs send the assassins after us? Surely they're not that petty to send assassins after a couple of children, are they? But to be fair, they are the only people any of us have offended...'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The more he thought about it, the more it made sense./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'What an impressive family! Since you threw such a dirty blow at my family, don't blame me for what happens next.'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Sitting on the opposite side of the bed, Ace couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were talking about, but he didn't have to wait long to find out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""After you lost consciousness, Lance asked me how I managed to knock out those assassins, but I genuinely didn't know; I'd never done anything like that in the past. That was when I remembered the night before we met Lance almost six years ago now. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Us and several of the townsfolk around us randomly lost consciousness. At the time, I, along with the rest of the town, assumed it was a hidden expert who acted to stop Lina Baruch from being kidnapped, but after today…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was you wasn't it? You somehow managed to stop the kidnappers with that weird energy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It was… But I still don't completely understand how I did it. All I know is that when I woke up the next morning, I had the ability to sense energy without looking at it and the ability to harden myself or external objects I'm in direct contact with. Still, the latter ability seems to be linked to my personal strength, so I can't use it for very long right now." Ace explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Technically, everything I said was the truth; I just said it in a way that allowed me to keep the knowledge of my past life a secret.' /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Why didn't you tell me at the time? You should know you can tell me anything." She asked, clearly hurt that Ace hadn't told her earlier./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I didn't…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"I don't know, I'm sorry." Ace muttered, looking down at the ground, unable to look her in the eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's ok, son. Just don't hide things from me. If you tell me, then we can figure it out together." Milianna said gently as she pulled Ace into her embrace./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Sorry, mom. I don't want to lie to you, but I'm still not ready to explain everything./span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"' Ace thought to himself as he returned his mother's hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I was just telling your mother that I personally haven't heard of anyone with abilities like that, but I'm not exactly the most knowledgeable. What I do know is that there are certain families with special bloodlines that give them access to certain abilities./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The Baruch family was one. Although they have declined from their peak, their bloodline ability was what allowed them to reign supreme once upon a time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"If you're like them, and these abilities stem from your bloodline, I suggest we keep it a secret until you have the strength to protect yourself from all potential threats." Lance said seriously after giving the mother and son the time to have their moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I agree!" Ace replied, happy that Lance was on the same page./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""But if it is an ability tied to your bloodline, that would mean you inherited it from one of your parents," Lance said as he looked towards the dark-haired beauty beside him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I wouldn't know. Like Killian, I'm an orphan," Milianna replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Did the orphanage tell you anything about your origins?" Lance asked, clearly aware of how orphanage's typically worked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""All… All I know is I was left on the doorstep of a small orphanage on the O'Brien Empire's border when I was still a baby." Milianna said, trying to hold back her emotions./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business," Lance replied, placing his hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's ok.../span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"But I do need some rest; I'm pretty exhausted." She replied with a forced smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Those eyes…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The only time I've ever seen her like that was when we got home after meeting Lance that day…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"And it was only for the briefest of moments, but she had a weird look on her face when she mentioned the 'O'Brien Empire.'/span/emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" emWhat exactly happened in this O'Brien Empire?'/em Ace thought as he looked into his mother's eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Okay, we'll see you in the morning," Lance said, leading Ace out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""How are you doing, by the way?" Lance asked after closing Milianna's door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Today, you took a life for the first time. Your first kill is something most people take a while to get over; hell, some never do." Lance continued when he saw the confusion on Ace's face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As a pirate, he'd killed his fair share of enemies. He'd long become numb to it, but he had almost forgotten that now he was just an eight-year-old boy who had grown up in a peaceful environment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm fine. I have no regrets. If it's to protect the lives of those I love, I will always make the same choice!" Ace replied with pure conviction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It really is hard to believe you're just an almost 8-year-old boy." Lance sighed softly. "Anyway, go get some sleep; you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow, Mr. Birthday boy!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"After saying goodnight to Lance, Ace returned to his and Killian's room and sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'O'Brien Empire…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"For your sake, I hope you did nothing to my mom. If you did… I'll personally burn your whole empire to the ground!'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The next day the group of four celebrated Ace's birthday in peace, buying a nice meal from a slightly extravagant restaurant in the city and bringing it back to the inn to eat. The next few days were spent recovering or training in Ace's case./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Five days later, Killian had recovered enough to move around by himself, and Ace decided to take him to explore, as he promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Walking along the Fragrant Pavilion Road, Ace could only laugh and follow along as Killian felt the need to explore virtually every shop they passed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Aren't you ready to go for food yet?" Ace asked after almost three hours of window shopping./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Yeah… Wait, what's everyone doing?" Killian asked, seeing a gathering crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace wasn't that interested in whatever was going on as he was getting hungry. Still, he had promised to do whatever Killian wanted today, so he followed along as Killian entered the crowd./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Squeezing through the crowd, they finally got to the front. Apparently, everyone was gathering around a ring to watch two kids about their age battling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I can't believe those nobles started a betting station on their child." One of the men next to Ace said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know. It's only ten gold coins to enter, but you apparently get 100 Gold coins if you win. Part of me wants to enter as well." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Unfortunately, it's only open to children ten and under."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You can see why they had the confidence to do this, though. That kid's a little monster. He's already fought 19 matches and has easily dominated all of them." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Hearing the conversation, Ace looked up at the children battling. On one side was a blonde-haired boy about ten years old whom Ace could sense was an early rank one warrior, and in front of him was a brown-haired boy who was also an early rank one warrior, but this brown-haired boy was no older than seven at most. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Why does that brown-haired kid look so familiar?" Ace asked himself aloud./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That's Wharton, the Baruch's second son." Killian reminded him calmly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ahh, that's right… How did he become a rank one warrior so fast? He should've only turned six a few months ago." Ace wondered as he looked at the young noble./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The Baruch blood, I guess," Killian said absentmindedly as he watched the fight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Even Linley took over a year to reach that stage, and he has the same bloo…" Ace stopped talking mid-sentence as he felt a hostile aura nearby./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Following his senses, he saw Lina, Wharton's mother glaring at him. He could sense a mixture of shock, fear, and killing intent./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'Why is she…/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Did the Baruchs send the assassins after us? Surely they're not that petty to send assassins after a couple of children, are they? But to be fair, they are the only people any of us have offended...'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"The more he thought about it, the more it made sense./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'What an impressive family! Since you threw such a dirty blow at my family, don't blame me for what happens next.'/span/em/p