(A/N: So, this chapter might be a little short. Like, about 2000-ish words short from the normal 3000 to 4000 words per chapter. This is due to real life keeping me busy, so expect the next update to be around one or two weeks from now. This Chapter has 2460 words.)

And to that one person who left a review: I see you and i love you!

Somewhere in Kazimierz/1000 Hours.

"we're close… I think." I spoke as the jeep took a rough fall, "Was that another pothole?" I looked back.

"…You should focus on the map… And get that gun away from me." Fred, who was in the driver's seat said irritatingly.

I was in fact pointing a gun at him whilst also leading us towards Dewville with a map. I know. Very advanced.

"Come on, don't be like that. I can't trust you yet with this sort of thing, y'know?" I chuckled, "you still have that KRISS Vector, right? You'd probably need it 'cause we're going against a number of bounty hunters."

This caused him to eye roll at that statement, "Was it really wise to leave the hospital and go straight to Kazimierz because you heard a rumour about some treasure?"

"Treasures wait for no man! At least, that's what my dad would've said if he were present in my life,"

"…"

"Hey look! The road's getting better!" I point at the road.

Sure enough, the previously muddy road riddled with wet potholes and uneven terrain gave away to a flatter, and paved roads.

"Thank God for that." I sighed as I laid back in the seat.

To be honest, I am still feeling quite weak at the moment. Really, going straight out of the hospital when your stomach got wrecked by an arrow might not be the smartest choice at all.

But hey, live and let live, is what they say. Or, it is what it is. Life is short, might as well enjoy it and make bold and daring decisions which I might regret later on.

I rented this jeep back in Columbia immediately after getting out of the hospital. Might've been a slight oversight, but I forgot to pack essential survival equipment aside from my standard clothes. I'm sure Fred also forgot this.

I did however wore gloves as to not get my hands dirty, as well as my hat that has a big hole in it.

My stomach is still bandaged and it does still pain me a bit, but nothing major. I hope.

"Oi, look ahead. " Fred spoke as he points his finger ahead.

Ahead of us was a group of people dressed in shady clothing. Ah, I get it. Bounty hunters. Of course! They're here for the treasure too!

Better to get rid of them then.

"Fred, as a man of God, I compel you to ram them." I state simply witha tad of sarcasm.

"What?" He looks unsure. Hey, the car's still moving you know?

"Just do what I say and press on the gas!"

At this, Fred pressed on the gas and accelerated the jeep towards the group of bounty hunters.

The bounty hunters, hearing the sound of an engine roaring closer and closer from behind them, looked behind curiously only to be shocked and rammed by a 2 ton jeep wrangler.

Fred also drifted for maximum impact and launched multiple of them into the air.

That's not enough though. I guess they aren't called bounty hunters for nothing.

"You bastard!" One of the bounty hunters shouted and readied his weapon, he was then promptly silenced by a .44 Magnum.

Yes, despite my weakened state, I can still shoot people through the front passenger seat. All the while Fred was drifting the jeep in circles and confusing the bounty hunters.

"Alright, Fred! Let's get a move on!" I said as I reloaded my gun and bashed the dashboard.

Fred broke the drift and sped up towards Dewville. Leaving the bounty hunters in the mud and bleed to their deaths.

"Whoo! you and i make a pretty good team, don't you think?" I joked to Fred, but as always, he ignored me, "Alright, that's Dewville right there!"

There it is! Dewville, according to Graaf, the locals should know something, especially the Chief. So i should find him first!

Ah, but of course! More bounty hunters!

As the jeep approached a lone bounty hunter and inevitably rammed him, i took out a modified M16 assault rifle.

Instead of the standard 20 inches, it has a shortened 14.5 inches barrel to make it easier for me to navigate on the uneven and bushy terrain. I also installed a holographic sight on top of it.

Fred skilfully maneuvered the jeep by slamming it into the bounty hunter's side and pinning him between the vehicle and a nearby building. Making us face the rest of the bounty hunters, who looked at us Incrediously.

Uh oh, Fred goddamnit!

By logic, i obviously unloaded a storm of bullets at them through the windshield, which caught them all off guard.

"What the fuck?!" Fred cursed beside me as he covers his face from the shattered glass.

However, my focus remained on solely shooting people rather than being concerned with the wellbeing of my face.

CLICK! CLICK!

Seems like i need to reload, though that might not be necessary, as they already have retreated.

Though i heard one of the shouted something...

?!

"Holy shit, an islander!" I blurted out.

I don't know why, but my first instinct was to reload and immediately light the islander up with my M16. Which i promptly did without hesitation. Must've been my Iberian blood.

The islander dodged the bullets with an incredible speed and blocking them with ease. Oh fuck, she's going towards us. Oh hell nah, i ain't gonna have my innards turn inside-out.

"GET THE FUCK OUT!" I yelled frustratingly as I forcibly pushed Fred out of the jeep and ducked.

Mere seconds later, the jeep was launched high up and far away from us.

In place of our jeep was the menacing figure of an islander, a term for an Ægirean exile, standing proudly with her greatsword ready to strike us down.

I nudged at Fred and he seems to get the message.

As the islander readied to strike her great sword, I yelled a war cry, "Go back to where you came from!" I yelled right as me and Fred unleashed a bullet storm at her.

She quickly dodged, blocked, and retreated to somewhere, I guess she's smart enough to understand the lethality of bullets. And perfect timing too, I had just run out of ammo, which in this scenario, is equal to a fucking death sentence.

Phew, looks like I survived this time.

I motioned Fred to follow me and we retreated to an empty house.

It was a quaint, and nice house. Wooden furnitures, the lack of technology, and lots natural light. I'll admit, this place is cozy!

I plopped down the couch and stretched my legs out and resting them above coffee table in front of me.

Ahh~. Just don't think about the jeep right now… it would ruin the mood.

Fred's probably looking out for any signs of would-be intruders.

Hmm?

Don Quixote? Both parts? How did those books get here?

Well, I suppose literature can be enjoyed by people all over the world, regardless of their race or nationality.

Oh? I just noticed the paperwork surrounding the books. Looks like whoever is reading it is in the middle of translating it from the original Iberian to Kazimierzian.

Well, Godspeed to you.

"Oi." I heard Fred whistled at me and pointing towards the door.

Seems like there's noises outside. People fighting and weapons clashing. Oh what the hell, this peace and serenity ain't gonna last forever.

I attached a bayonet at my rifle and got up to take cover beside the door.

Nothing happened for a minute or two. Just when I was about to let my guard down, a man crashed through the door, looking dead. Which he is.

And guess what! It's a bounty hunter!

We both looked outside and saw, one; the previous islander demolishing the bounty hunters.

Two; the villagers hiding from their half-destroyed homes.

And three; I saw an unusual group of three consisting of 2 Kurantas by the looks of it, one was wearing… fuck… the uniform of the Victorian mounted police… while the other was wearing your typical villager dress.

The other person in that group was a heavily suited individual. Not 'suited' like wearing classy and fancy suits, no. they were wearing heavy armour. Emphasis on the heavy part.

Naturally, I decided to follow them because the most unusual and diverse groups of people are always onto something. That's how it works, right?

Anyways, we both followed them effortlessly by tailing them.

The trek up the mountain was surprisingly peaceful and serene, despite the fact that the area was known to be frequented by violent bounty hunters searching for lost treasures.

I was able to fully appreciate the sounds of nature for real this time. Unlike the bustling metropolitan areas of Londonium and New York.

"Now, Fred. I hope you don't do anything rash, okay? I'm entrusting you to watch my back this time." I looked back at Fred who was troubled about something it seems.

Whatever, as long as I have his family's fate in my hands, he wouldn't dare to betray me. This I'm sure.

Anyways! They're just up ahead! Surely we'll get to the treasure in no time! Just have to eliminate them after we're there!

Mountains/2000 hours.

"Where are we?"

"Now Fred… I don't want to alarm you… but it appears we are lost." I said as I kneeled down to inspect an interesting, "Do be careful of these traps… you might become cat food."

"haha very funny. You've been saying that since we started going up this mountain." He replies with a monotone voice.

Hmm?

Bits of water are pouring? I looked up. Oh come on! Is it going to rain?!

"Fred, we might need to build a shelter. It's gonna rain." I stood up and turned towards him, "ideally, we want to find a cave that can be a suitable overnight shelter."

Come to think of it. The first time me and Fred ever interacted was during a rainy storm. What? Will something happen to affirm our friendship during this rain? Hah, I hope he just trust me a li~ttle bit more so I can make him do dangerous tasks alone.

After a bit of walking, the rain suddenly intensified and obscured our vision. We were being bombarded by the pouring rain; I can even hear lightning strikes not far from our position.

We just need to find a-

ZAP/BANG!

Correct me if I'm wrong… but-

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Am I being shot at?

I… can't feel my legs and body…

Damnit… Fred?

I collapsed on my stomach to the mud with a thud as the intense rain pounded on me. I can hear Fred growl…

"Do you remember that night, Valor? The night we met in the pouring rain? You helped a soon-to-be mother deliver her baby, and I helped you with it. but I had no idea I was helping a monster, a murderer, a thief! Little did I know, I was providing aid to the very subject of my upcoming article."

He paused as I can hear his footsteps coming closer to me.

"Oh, how I wish I could go back in time and change the course of events. I remember the pain, the unbearable agony, when you waterboarded me until I almost drowned. You had me on the brink of death like a fragile flame on the wick of a candle, just waiting to be extinguished by a single breath."

He seems to pause for a bit, and he then turned my body to face him.

I can see his face with hints of anger, disappointment, and a look of superiority. Bastard.

The rain continued pouring onto us. I found myself squinting my eyes against the rain drops.

"You know, I'm tempted to do the same thing to you. But I'm not you. I'm not a monster. I have morals, I have a family, I have principles. What do you have besides an insatiable lust for money and power and more POWER? You have no conscience, no remorse, no empathy. You've even gone so far as playing with God's words, masquerading as a man of God, if such a thing even exists in today's world."

I can't help but let out a strained laugh. Me? A man of God? I never claimed to be one. I never claimed to be a righteous figure. Thus begs the question;

Can a man without faith have principles?

Just look at the state of the world. And looking at the man who stood above me. Trying to justify his actions.

"You're helpless… It ends here… Alter Valero…It ends in the very same rain that brought us together. I could put a bullet through your skull and end your misery, but I won't. I'd rather watch you suffer a slow, agonizing death in the middle of nowhere. Oh, but before that."

Fred then kicked me in the head, which sent my world dark.

"Careful! He's waking up!"

I opened my eyes to see…

The Kuranta with the Victorian mounted police uniform, the big guy, and the other Village girl.

Groaning, I said, "Who are you? And where am I?" my voice came out weak, which is not a good first impression.

Taking a look around, I can hear the rain still pouring outside. And It appears we are in a rather large cave that has a fireplace in the middle. Shelter, huh?

"I'm Grani, officer of the Victorian mounted police."

"Carol, Chief of Dewville."

"Big Bob."

They all introduced themselves in that order. Hopefully the police Kuranta doesn't know me back in Victoria.

"Call me Valor." I said as I attempted to sit up.

"Careful! You were badly shot with multiple bullets in the legs and back!" Grani warned as he rushed to hold me up.

"Nah don't worry. This is nothing…" Considering I just got shot by Fred multiple times, adding to that my stomach which somehow always gets slashed, this really is nothing.

"You better listen to her. She treated you all night." Big Bob, was it? Said as he faces the outside rain.

Wait. She?

"She?" I asked incredulously.

"Hehe I might not look it, but I'm a proper maiden on the inside~!" She smiles. That smile is so precious it healed me straight away. Figuratively.

And ohhhh, Fred… I want blood.

"Ahem. Anyways. I heard you guys are searching for some treasure?" I smiled.

For now, I'll move along with this merry group. And when I meet Fred again…

Heh.

I quietly whispered a prayer. Not much of a prayer, really. But more of a wish. A wish for revenge.

"Noli misereri: vitam pro vita, oculum pro oculo, dentem pro dente, manum pro manu, pedem pro pede"

Amen.

Finis Fabula.

(A/N: I have no idea how much time Grani and the others took to get to the caves in the mountain, so i did some creative liberty to make it so that it takes more than a day to reach it. Also, expect the next update in one or two weeks.)