Chapter 296: BEN FAULKNER


    ( A few moments ago, Leo’s POV )


    Leo and Ben were traveling leisurely in their carriage when Ben, gazing at the scenery outside, was reminded of his days as a young assassin.


    “You know, boy,” Ben began, “up ahead on this trail is the ‘Tunnel of Doom’—a perfect spot for an ambush.”


    As he spoke, Ben’s mind drifted to an incident from long ago.


    “After I killed the crown prince and was on the run from the Virex Corps, I once set up an ambush in that tunnel where I took down 17 Virex Corps members by myself.” Ben said, chuckling nostalgically as he remembered the good old days where he lived his life as an ouw.


    “How did you do it?” Leo asked, his eyes turning from amazed to curious as he wanted to know more about this story.


    “You have taught me all your skills master, however, you haven’t taught me the basics of setting up an ambush or actually surprising the enemy.


    Since we are approaching the tunnel of doom today, show me how you set up the ambush years ago” Leo requested, as Ben waved him off at first, however, as he looked into Leo’s eyes and found his gaze to be persistent, Ben eventually relented and decided to indulge his students’ curiosity. “You want me to show you how I did it?” Ben said, abruptly opening the carriage door as a daunting smile spread across his face.


    “Yes–” Leo confirmed as Ben suddenly jumped outside the carriage and began running up the hill.


    “Then follow me…” Ben said, his voice fading as the distance between him and Leo widened.


    “Hahaha, that’s the spirit” said Leo, as he too jumped out of the carriage, without the carriage driver being any wiser that his passengers had disappeared.


    Running at his top speed, Leo soon caught up with Ben who was running vigorously on the long route across the hill, to try and reach the other end of the tunnel before their carriage did.


    “The first step to setting up an ambush is misdirection. I fastened the reins of my horse to the saddle, just enough to keep them taut, and then jumped off so my pursuers would keep hearing the footsteps from a distance, unaware that I was no longer on the horse,” Ben exined as he recounted the tale of how he ambushed the Virex Corps years ago with a satisfied smile on his face.


    Next, Ben instructed Leo to follow him as he circled across the mountain to the other side of the tunnel, urging him to keep pace so that they could arrive at the other end, before their carriage reached it from a more direct path.


    At that moment, neither Ben nor Leo were aware of the presence of Hord or the Virex Corps.


    Their decision to suddenly de-board the carriage and embark on this adventure was entirely spontaneous and without any prior nning.


    However, little did they know that this impromptu decision was going to help them avert a major disaster as by the time they circled to the other side of the tunnel and peered inside, they found a meticulously working Hord already setting up an ambush inside, much to their surprise.


    *Tap*


    *Tap*


    Watching Hord work inside, Ben tapped on Leo’s shoulder with urgency and signaled for him to not make a single sound.


    ‘Go Hide’


    Ben mouthed without making a sound, as Leo nodded his head and hid near the exit of the tunnel assuming an advantageous position for an ambush.


    Doing the same, Ben hid on the opposite end of the tunnel, as he tilted his head and watched Hord work on his ambush, in what he assumed could only be a trap to potentially kill him.


    Ben knew Hord pretty well from his days working as a doorman for the Night Guild and he knew just how talented and ruthless this kid was, as he had watched him take some of the hardest assassination missions over the years and return without having a single scratch on his body.


    Ben knew that taking him down without suffering any injuries was going to be a difficult endeavor and hence after weighing the pros and cons, Ben decided that the most effective approach was to wait until Hord was done setting up his ambush, and then ambush him from behind when he least expected it.


    At this moment, Ben had no idea that Hord was not the only unexpected variable nearby and that the Virex Corps were also just around the corner.


    Unbeknownst to him and Leo, the real surprises were only just beginning….


    ***********


    ( Present Moment, Hord’s POV )


    “Where is Ben Faulkner? Why did you try to kill the leader of your own organization?” asked the Squad leader of the Virex Corps, feeling confused as to why Hord, a known criminal of the Night Guild would try and assassinate the leader of their organization.


    “Ben Faulkner was never the leader of the Night Guild or the Assassin Alliance! We only used his name to heighten our reputation!


    However, the assassination’s were always carried out by us.


    He’s a fraud!


    The legend of Ben Faulkner is a fraud!” Hord snapped, as giving this response he turned and decided to make a run for the exit, however, to his absolute shock, the moment he turned to dash towards the exit, two men appeared near the exit to block his escape, with one of them being none other than Ben Faulkner.


    “BEN FAULKNER!” eximed Hord, as he slipped and fell t on his rear, his body having reacted automatically from fear when he saw the visage of the legendary assassin.


    “BEN FAULKNER!” Eximed the squad leader of the Virex Corps, as even the squad leader was left surprised as to how Ben Faulkner appeared on the other end of the tunnel without as much as a speck of dust on his body?


    “The legend of Ben Faulkner is fake you say? Then why don’t youe and try it for yourself– boy” replied Ben, as he pointed his de at Hord, daring the veteran toe at him if he had the balls for it.