Chapter 3: Chapter 3 : The Good Deed

Arthur’s expression sharpened in an instant.

The faint curiosity in his eyes vanished, replaced by cold focus.

Time seemed to slow as his mind raced like lightning.

’Three men… with handguns.’

One of them sat in the front seat of the first car, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, making sure no one interfered. The other one was dragging the woman, and one of them was holding the little girl as they took them toward their car.

Arthur’s gaze flicked around quickly.

’A trash can…’

A dented metal dustbin stood a few steps away.

’If I angle it right, it might stop a few bullets from a handgun.’

Suddenly, the woman struggled harder, screaming.

One of the men cursed and struck her across the head with the butt of his gun.

Her body went limp.

The man dragged her without hesitation.

Arthur’s jaw tightened.

’Alright… let’s do this.’

He grabbed the metal trash can and began walking toward them.

One of the men noticed him.

“Hey, kid! Stop right there!” the first man shouted, raising his gun. “I’m warning you, I’ll shoot!”

Arthur didn’t stop.

The man fired.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Arthur lifted the trash can just in time. Bullets slammed into the metal with deafening clangs, sparks flying. The impact rattled his arms violently.

A sharp pain exploded in his left hand.

One bullet grazed it.

“Damn…”

He pushed forward anyway.

Closing the distance, Arthur lunged toward the first man dragging the unconscious woman.

Before the man could react, Arthur moved.

He twisted the man’s wrist, slammed his elbow into his jaw, then swept his legs out from under him. The gun clattered to the ground.

Arthur followed up with a kick straight to the man’s face.

Crack.

The man went limp.

Arthur hissed in pain as his foot throbbed.

“Damn it… shouldn’t have done that.”

The second man froze for a split second, eyes wide.

Then he set the girl down in an instant—

And pulled out his gun.

Arthur reacted on instinct, kicking the man’s wrist.

The gun flew out of his hand.

The man roared and charged.

Arthur barely blocked the first punch. Pain shot through his ribs as another hit landed on his shoulder.

Arthur grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into his eyes.

The second man staggered, vision blurring.

He began swinging wildly.

Arthur ducked under a wild swing, slammed his knee into the man’s stomach, then drove his forehead into his nose.

Blood sprayed.

The man still fought, desperation fueling him.

Arthur took another hit to the face, stars bursting in his vision.

With a final surge, Arthur grabbed the man’s collar, twisted, and slammed him headfirst into the car door.

The man collapsed, unconscious.

Arthur stood there, panting heavily.

Two down.

He turned toward the car that stood a little farther away, where the third man was.

As he reached it, he realized the driver’s seat was empty.

Before he could react, a cold voice spoke behind him.

“Hey, boy… hands up.”

Arthur slowly turned.

The third man stood behind him, a gun pressed against the little girl’s head.

The girl trembled violently, tears streaming down her face.

“You think you’re tough, huh?” the man sneered.

Arthur’s body shook uncontrollably.

“I’m not,” Arthur said honestly. “My whole body is screaming in pain. I’m gonna feel it tomorrow. Please… let the girl go and turn yourself in.”

The man laughed.

“No can do. We already took money in advance for this job. If we fail, we won’t live to see the next day.”

“And you will pay for ruining our plan.”

His eyes darkened.

“You made a mistake, fighter boy. Now die.”

The man was about to pull the trigger.

Arthur closed his eyes. He knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge in time.

Bang.

Arthur waited.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

He was still standing. The impact didn’t come.

Instead, the man holding the girl collapsed forward, blood spreading beneath him.

A police officer stood behind him, gun smoking.

Into his microphone, the officer said, “Suspect neutralized. Attempted kidnapping and firing at civilians.”

The officer rushed forward, grabbing the little girl and pulling her to safety.

He looked at Arthur.

“Are you okay, lad?”

Arthur let out a shaky breath.

“Yeah… officer. Thanks for saving me.”

The officer nodded. “It’s my job, kid. Don’t worry.”

The unconscious woman stirred and finally woke, yelling her daughter’s and husband’s names.

The little girl broke free and ran to her, crying as she hugged her tightly.

Arthur relaxed slightly.

Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.

The man on the ground—the third man—his fingers twitched as his eyes opened and his hands moved.

’No…’

The man pulled out another gun and fired toward the woman and child.

“Die!”

“LOOK OUT!” Arthur screamed.

Without thinking, Arthur threw himself in front of them.

Bang.

Pain unlike anything he had ever felt tore through his chest.

The bullet pierced his heart.

The man tried to fire again.

Bang.

A bullet pierced straight through his head.

The police officer shot him directly through the skull.

The man died instantly.

Arthur collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him, a gaping hole in his chest.

The woman rushed toward him, hands shaking as she called for an ambulance.

“Don’t close your eyes, kid!” she cried. “I’m calling an ambulance! Please… please stay awake! I won’t let you die!”

The little girl clung to her mother, sobbing.

The officer knelt beside Arthur.

“Son, everything will be fine. Just keep your eyes open. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Arthur stared at the sky, his vision fading.

As he thought inwardly, ’Did the night sky ever look this beautiful? I guess not.’

’So… wow. Looks like it’s goodbye to this boring life, huh…’

He weakly smiled and reached out, gently patting the little girl’s head.

The woman kept pressing on his chest so he wouldn’t lose more blood, thanking and apologizing to him over and over.

But her voice grew distant.

’At least I did one good thing before dying…’

’Maybe I’ll get rewarded for it… instead of living this shitty life.’

Voices shouted around him, telling him to stay awake.

But the blood loss was too much.

His mind spun.

Arthur closed his eyes.

As darkness claimed him.

——

A seventeen-year-old boy gasped awake.

He took heavy breaths.

His blood-red eyes snapped open.

He lay on a dueling platform.

A sword rested against his neck.

A beautiful girl with dark purple hair held it, her expression cold.

Suddenly, another voice rang out.

“That’s enough,” the voice commanded.

The girl withdrew the sword and stepped aside.

A man walked forward.

His presence alone was overwhelming.

“Arthur Evan Imperius,” the man declared loudly. “From this day forward, you will give up the Imperius name.

“You are hereby banished from this family.”

Arthur stared blankly.

Nothing made sense.

Only one thought crossed his mind.

’Looks like that’s my reward for doing a good deed, huh. That settles it. There is no god.’

——–

A/N : –

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