The next day, Victor, David and Sergeant Hawkins had a meeting in a private room. David queried, "Do you know where Percy is?" Victor forced a smile and replied, "Not yet. I sent some of my men to search New York for Percy. I believe we will find him soon."
"What if Percy's not in this damn city?" Sergeant Hawkins usually asked smarter questions, since he was older than David and Victor. Sergeant Hawkins was thirty-four years old this year.
"That would be a problem then. I can try to ask my contacts in the other cities for help. But finding Percy in other cities may take months, if not years."
David thought for a while. "Does Percy have any family in New York?" Victor looked at David in amazement. "I never thought of that before! Yes, he does. Percy has a cousin and younger brother living in the city. The younger brother is Tommy Jenkins and the cousin is Laurens Stanford. Tommy works as a dock worker at the harbour while Laurens is a businessman who owns a small mining company. I suggest you seek out Laurens first, as he is closer to Percy than Tommy."
He asked around and made his way to a building that had a sign on its front door. The sign read 'Stanford's Mining Company'. David pushed open the door and asked an employee, "Where is Mister Laurens Stanford?"
The employee questioned, "May I know why you wish to meet Mister Stanford?" David nodded and said pompously, "Of course you will know! I wish to do some business with Mister Stanford."
Nodding, the employee led David to an office on the top floor of the building. David knocked on the door and entered a second later. He took a polite bow. "Are you Mister Laurens Stanford?"
Laurens nodded and gestured to a seat. David thanked Laurens and sat down. "May I know why you are here, Mister…?" "Mister Kenway. I wish to do business with you, Mister Stanford," David said as he shook Laurens's hand.
"What kind of business, Mister Kenway?" Laurens asked. David smiled, stood up and drew his basket-hilted sword. "Scream or shout for help and I will not hesitate to kill you, Mister Stanford." Laurens pulled out a Queen Anne pistol and aimed it at David. "I do not believe you should be saying that, Mister Kenway."
David lunged at Laurens, pushing the Queen Anne pistol out of Laurens's hands. A second and a half later, David had Laurens's neck touching the tip of his sword. "What are you? I have never seen anyone move so fast?" Ignoring Laurens, David questioned, "Where is Percy Jenkins?"
"He's my cousin. But we are not close, so I have not heard or met him since two years ago. Why do you ask, Mister Kenway?" David pressed the flat side of his blade hard on Laurens's neck. "I advise you not to lie to me. I have the power to kill you in less than five seconds."
"Alright, Mister Kenway, spare me. I met him two weeks ago. He says he has sold his shop that was named Intelligent Dragon. Percy wrote down his new address on a slip of paper. It's on the table." Laurens took a slip of paper from the table and gave it to David. David looked at the slip of paper and nodded at Laurens before knocking him out.
David arrived at the address almost an hour later. He knocked on the door and Percy answered. The very moment that Percy saw David, he turned around and ran. David swiftly gave chase. Percy escaped by a window at the back of the house. David leaped out of the window two seconds later. Percy ran into an alleyway and David followed. They exited the alleyway about a minute later, David now three seconds behind Percy instead of two. As they exited the alleyway, two Templars confronted David.
He had no time for finesse in his combat. David simply unsheathed his sword and released his Hidden Blade and killed both Templars mercilessly. David sheathed his weapons and continued chasing after Percy. Percy was busy glancing backwards to see if David was still behind him when he knocked into a carriage. Percy staggered backwards as he quickly released his Hidden Blade. He leaped onto the carriage and held the carriage driver at knifepoint.
"Stay back, David. You wouldn't want to be guilty for an innocent life," Percy warned as he moved backwards. "You were an Assassin once, Percy, a Master Assassin at that. I am ashamed for knowing such a 'Master Assassin'."
Percy seemed to falter and David tried to close in, but Percy quickly held his ground and pressed his Hidden Blade harder on the driver's throat. David retreated a few paces and told Percy, "If you are still the Percy Jenkins I know, you should still have that little bit of compassion in you. Give the driver up and run. But I will not forgive you for murdering my father."
David put his hand on the hilt of his sword, getting ready to take it out when it was needed. Seconds later, Percy threw the driver aside and ran. David swiftly grabbed the driver, placed him on the ground gently, and ran after Percy. Percy eventually confronted David in a second alleyway.
"Very well, David. This shall end here. We will fight until one of us dies," Percy declared as he drew his sword. David nodded and drew his own sword. "May the best man win," he said. Percy repeated, "May the best man win."
David hastily defended against Percy's strike. Over the months, Percy had developed a new sword-fighting technique, which lacked a smooth flow of moves but was just as effective as David's fighting style. Percy kicked David in the thigh and David moved back. While David was recovering, Percy inched closer, ready to bring an end to David's life. Luckily, David recovered quickly and took a wild swipe at Percy. Percy quickly leaped back.
Percy lifted his sword to parry David's attack. Percy then spun to David's side and rammed David in the side with his head. David grunted as he moved away from Percy. Percy hopped on David and pinned him on the ground. His Hidden Blade popped out and Percy prepared to thrust it into David's chest. He kicked Percy hard in the legs and got up. Percy ordered as he panted, "Give up now. I will give you a… a merciful death."
Spitting on the floor, David answered, "I should be telling you that. You murdered my father, and I shall get my revenge." Percy chuckled as he kept his Hidden Blade, leaving only his sword. "You are what, twenty-two this year?" David nodded and Percy continued, "Revenge is all you think about. You should not let emotions cloud your mind, Assassin."
Percy charged at David, with both his hands open. David stretched out both arms instinctively. Each tried to wrestle his opponent to the wall. David seemed to have the upper hand, as Percy was getting very close to the wall. Suddenly, Percy swiped at David's feet. David jumped to avoid Percy's legs and at the same time, Percy hurled David behind him. David crashed into the wall and coughed out blood as he lay on the ground.
"Rest in peace, David," Percy brought down his sword on David. Weakly, David raised his sword to block. Percy stumbled a little, not expecting further resistance from David. "I will not fall so easily, former Assassin," David said as he slowly got on his feet.
Snick. David's Hidden Blade sprung out and he slashed Percy in the stomach. Percy clutched his stomach with one hand and held his sword with the other hand. He blocked David's second Hidden Blade attack. David still had one free hand, which was clutching his sword. He drove it into Percy's heart.
"Goodbye, Master," David sheathed his weapons and limped away.