Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

Night had fallen over the imperial city, its grand architecture sparkled in the moonlight. In the upper Western District, the manor houses of the rich families stood like sentinels, their grounds protected by high walls and elaborate gates.

The streets were largely empty at this hour, the wealthy residents safely ensconced in their luxurious homes.

"You realize this is technically illegal," Lianna commented, keeping pace beside him. Despite her words, she seemed more amused than concerned.

"I’m collecting a debt," Grim replied. "There’s nothing illegal about that."

"Showing up unannounced at a noble lord’s residence after dark might be viewed differently by the imperial guard."

Grim shot her a sidelong glance. "Then why are you here?"

"To watch the spectacle," she answered with a small smile. "And to make sure you don’t do anything too stupid."

They turned onto a broad avenue lined with precisely trimmed trees. Ahead loomed the largest of the manor houses, its facade illuminated by lanterns.

"You killed a man today," Lianna said suddenly, her voice losing its casual tone. "Split him in two without hesitation."

"I did."

"How are you so comfortable with that? With taking a life?"

Grim was silent for several steps, his expression unreadable in the dim light. When he finally spoke, his voice was detached, almost clinical. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"It started with my training. Yongrun brought people who had committed capital crimes. Some murderers, some traitors. He handed me a sword and told me to execute them."

Lianna’s eyes widened slightly. "How old were you?"

"Ten for the first one. A man who had killed three women."

"That’s..." She seemed to search for words. "Harsh training for a child."

"I threw up the first time," Grim admitted, his voice dropping lower. "Something came over me afterward. I wasn’t okay. I went into a slump where I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and could barely move."

They walked in silence for a moment, the memory of it settling between them.

"What changed?" Lianna finally asked.

"My grandfather told me I had to get over it and become a man." Grim’s hand unconsciously moved to Echo’s hilt. "He said there might come a time when I would need to kill my father, and I would have to steel myself for that moment. If i want a life for myself and to bring our clan back to what we once were, I need to be able to take a life and eat a meal while the blood os fresh on my fingers."

Lianna stopped walking, forcing Grim to turn and face her. "Your grandfather told you that?"

They had reached the ornate gates of the Terras estate. Two guards stood at attention, their posture stiffening as they noted the approaching figures.

"Lord Terras isn’t receiving visitors," one of the guards called out.

Grim didn’t slow his pace. "Get the fuck out of my way or I’ll cut your ear of as well.

Before the guards could react, Grim’s hand flashed to Echo’s hilt. A heartbeat later, the massive iron lock on the gate sheared in half, the pieces clattering to the ground. The gate swung open with an ominous creak.

The guards scrambled for their weapons, but Lianna stepped forward, flames dancing between her fingertips. "I wouldn’t," she advised coldly.

Grim strode through the gate as if he owned the property. As they moved deeper into the estate, shouts of alarm began to rise from different quarters. Guards emerged from doorways and garden paths, converging on the intruders.

"Stay back!" the captain of the guard commanded, leveling his sword at Grim.

Grim’s smile was predatory. "Tell your lord I’ve come to collect my debt. The longer he makes me wait, the more expensive this visit becomes."

The captain hesitated, clearly weighing his options. The stories of what had happened in the arena earlier that day had spread throughout the city. This white-robed devil had sliced a ranked imperial fighter in half with a single stroke.

"Wait here," the captain finally decided, motioning for his men to surround the intruders while he disappeared into the main house.

"Subtle as ever," Lianna commented dryly.

"Subtlety is overrated," Grim replied, entirely unconcerned by the ring of guards around them.

Minutes later, the massive front doors of the manor burst open. Lord Terras stormed out, his face mottled with rage, flanked by his son Terrin and a half-dozen household guards in formal armor.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Terras bellowed, spittle flying from his lips. "Breaking into my property, threatening my men! I’ll have you executed for this!"

Grim regarded him with bored contempt. "Are all old men this dramatic, or is it just you, Terras?"

The lord’s face darkened further, a vein pulsing visibly at his temple. "You insolent little shit. You think because you had one victory, you can come here and—"

"I’m here for my money," Grim cut him off. "Forty thousand imperial crowns. I’ll take ten thousand tonight as I stated yesterday during the meeting."

"You’ll get nothing!" Terras snarled. "That bet was made under false pretenses. You concealed your identity, your true skills!"

"I was five, and your son was fourteen. Regardless if I’m a prodigy or got lucky, we made a bet and you lost. Than you couldn’t stand it and I dueled your son. He lost. Than the Chancellor announced gambling debts have to be paid. It’s a capital offense not to pay."

Lord Terras’s hand trembled with barely contained fury. "Guards! Escort this... this vagrant from my property. If he resists, disable him."

The guards exchanged nervous glances but moved forward. Lianna tensed, but Grim placed a restraining hand on her arm.

"Don’t bother," he told the approaching guards. "This is between me and the old man who doesn’t honor his debts."

With casual precision, Grim drew Echo from its scabbard.

"Stop!" Terrin shouted, pushing past the guards to stand between Grim and his father. "This is madness. Father, just pay him what he’s owed and be done with it."

"I will not be extorted in my own home!" Terras shouted back. "And you.... you spineless disappointment. Stand aside!"

Terrin flinched from his words.

"You couldn’t even defeat him when we was five years old. Your a disgrace." Lord Terras said.

Grim stepped forward, Echo’s point coming to rest against Terrin’s chest. "Can’t you see Terras, Your boy is scared shitless, he’s afraid of me."

Terrin swallowed hard.

"Last chance, old man," Grim said, leveling his sword at Lord Terras. "My money, or I’ll cut an ear off."

"You wouldn’t dare," Terras breathed, though uncertainty had crept into his voice.

"Wouldn’t I?" Grim smirked. One moment Terras was looking at Grim, and in the next Terras felt a sharp pain on his right ear.

Blood spattered across the pristine marble steps as Terras screamed, clutching at his head.

"Ten thousand crowns," Grim repeated calmly. "Now. Or the next cut goes deeper."

"You’re insane!" Terras gasped. As blood flowed down his wrist

"No, just impatient," Grim replied. He wiped his blade clean on the sleeve of Lord Terras’s expensive robe. "And really fucking tired of pompous old men who think their titles mean they can break their word."

Terrin had rushed to his father’s side and was pressing a cloth to the wound. "Father, please. Just give him what he’s owed."

For a moment, it seemed Lord Terras might still refuse. Then, with a defeated slump to his shoulders, he nodded once. "Terrin. The study. The lockbox under the bookcase."

As Terrin hurried inside, Lord Terras glared up at Grim with naked hatred. "You’ve made a grave mistake, boy. The other houses will hear of this."

"Good," Grim replied. "Let them know what happens when someone tries to cheat me."

"It won’t just be me," Terras continued, his voice shaking with rage and pain. "Every noble house will turn against you. You’ll be hunted down like the dog you are."

Grim’s smile was cold. "Let them try. They’ll end up like Jin Tao." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for Terras. "Split in half and cooling on the arena floor."

Terrin returned minutes later, carrying a heavy leather pouch. "Ten thousand, as requested," he said, holding it out to Grim.

Grim took the pouch. "A pleasure doing business with House Terras," he said with a mocking bow.

"You’ll regret this," Lord Terras promised, blood still seeping through the cloth pressed to his face.

Grim turned to leave, then paused, looking back over his shoulder. "One more thing. I’ll be back for the remaining thirty thousand. You better get your shit together or I’ll take the other ear from you "

With that, he strode away, Lianna falling into step beside him. The guards parted before them, no one willing to be the first to challenge the man who had just carved open Lord Terras’s without hesitation.

Once they were clear of the estate and moving back through the darkened streets of the Western District, Lianna finally broke the silence.

"That was excessive," she said quietly.

"It was necessary," Grim countered.

"You’ve made a powerful enemy tonight."

Grim’s laugh was without humor. "I’ve been collecting enemies since the day I was born. What’s one more?"

"The other noble houses will hear about this by morning," Lianna warned. "They’ll band together against you."

"They might, but I bet there will be someone who wants to be my friend."