Chapter 38: II was only hired to do a job

Chapter 38: II was only hired to do a job The fight ended in seconds, and Julian and Ethan observed Eva’s expression covertly. They wanted to gauge her reaction to such a bloody scene but froze in disbelief as Eva rummaged through their space bags. Feeling their intense gaze, she looked up. "What?!" she demanded, wondering why they were staring at her with such expressions. Her attention shifted to a pouch in her hands that chimed seductively. Ethan smiled helplessly, remembering she’d severed a man’s lower part. What could possibly be gory about this scene for her? Julian squatted beside her. "Everyone fought, so you’ll be sharing the loot equally, right?’’ he drawled, eyes fixed on the bulging pouch in her hands. Eva’s grip on the pouch tightened instinctively. Julian noticed and suppressed a smile, curious about her response. Eva glanced between them and the pouch, her heart squeezing at the thought of sharing. With trembling hands and a crying expression, she counted the coins: fifty thousand gold coins. ’Angel: Give them their share. They’re your teammates and fought, too. (✧‿✧)☁️♡ Devil: But you didn’t agree to split the rewards beforehand. Don’t give them. (nʘ 〈 ʘn)⚈̮⚈’ Her mind warred as she finally counted out twenty thousand coins, splitting it into two piles of ten thousand each. "Ahem. For both of you. I’m keeping thirty because we didn’t agree to share beforehand." She held her portion tightly, throwing them a challenging look. Julian couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter. "Ahahah! Your expression... haha!’’ His laughter echoed through the room. Ethan, covered his mouth, his eyes dancing with amusement. Eva stood frozen before realizing Julian was teasing her. Instead of getting angry, she felt relieved and quickly stuffed their share back into her pouch. Her swift action silenced Julian’s laughter, leaving him dumbfounded. "You—’’ he began. "Drop that money, or I will kill you once I’m free!’’ the frozen man screamed through chattering teeth. His vicious glare made it clear he wanted to strangle Eva. His share from this mission—after all his struggles—was now in her hands like a gift. He struggled at the ice binding him; he didn’t know his actions made them aware of his presence, and the earlier playfulness vanished. Ethan’s eyes darkened at the man’s gaze on Eva. With a flick of his wrist, an ice dagger pierced the man’s eye. "Arghh!" his sharp, agonizing scream echoed through the room as blood trickled down his face. Where his eyes once were, hollow bleeding sockets remained. Julian snapped his fingers, summoning a hazy clock that hovered beside the man, ticking ominously. The man screamed again as his pain was frozen in time, denying his brain the chance to adapt. Eva wasn’t put off by their brutal actions; instead, she was fascinated, if not envious. ’Why didn’t I have such cool attack power? Hmm, but my energy-draining part is quite offensive.’ Her envy soothed at that thought. Her gaze settled on the man, looking around his body for anything of value. Since he had such a big reaction, he must have some goodies on him. "Tell us: Why did the train stop, and why are you attacking us? Who sent you?" Julian demanded, his fingers inching the clock hand slightly forward to allow brief relief. The man heaved, sweat soaking his body despite being covered in ice. He trembled from pain. "I don’t know...I was only hired to do a job.’’ He rasped. Sensing his answer wasn’t enough, he added desperately, "Please believe me! They just paid me to kill the train’s occupants!’’ His last words came out in a begging tone, hoping they would give him an easy death. He had no unrealistic thoughts that he would survive this encounter, plus his eyes were already rendered useless. No healer could possibly heal such wounds. Ethan’s brows raised. The information was useless. "How many hired killers are there?" he asked hoping to glean any useful information. What could be the possible reason for this sudden killing spree? "I don’t know. I only know their signal to attack and the payment. Nothing else.’’ Julian frowned, slitting his throat, ending the man’s life. Eva tied her hair into a ponytail, sensing the situation was about to get bloody. She retrieved her daggers from the man’s body and grabbed his goggles. "Here," She handed the goggles to them, and they put it on. Staring out into the darkness. "Eva," Ethan began his tone firm, "If you get separated from us, return to this room and wait. Don’t fight anyone stronger than you.’’ His tone held concern, and he leaned in, gently holding her chin as he kissed her deeply. The kiss ended before she could react, only for Julian to steal her lips next. Breaking the kiss, Julian whispered, "Be careful,’’ his warm breath brushed her face as he patted her hair. "What kind of dramatic farewell kiss is this? Do I look like someone about to die to you two?!’’ Eva snapped, returning to her senses. Julian chuckled, and a smile crossed Ethan’s face, lightening the solemn moment. Eva wasn’t ready to die so soon; she still had lots of meat she hadn’t eaten yet, plus...cough...sex.(⁄⁄>ᴗ<⁄⁄) They left the room, darkness immediately enveloping them; without the goggles, they’d be blind in the thick blackness. Through their green-tinted vision, they walked cautiously, hearing distant screams for help. Passing an open cabin, they saw the corpses littered across the floor. Blood soaked the ground, and the shocked expression on the victims’ faces told of a swift, merciless attack. As they pressed forward, the air thickened with the stench of blood making the trio grow solemn. The eerie silence, the ground matted with blood and littered with bodies, was the constant sight accompanying them. Finally, they chanced upon a group of hired killers, their weapons dripped with blood, and their murderous aura filled the air. "Kill every last of them, leave none alive,’’ Ethan instructed, his voice laced with fury as such senseless, brutal killings. The men noticed them as well and dashed forward.