Rise of the Crusader

"How may I help you, sir?" Said the woman at the gate of the mansion.

Her voice was soft, and as she stared at Raphael, there was a noble look on her face. Almost as though she were aware of his status.

Raphael, however, had the usual expression on his face, "I want this man," Raphael said, and then showed Jake's picture to the woman.

The same manner in which the man from the counter reacted when he laid eyes on the picture also emerged from the woman.

"I haven't seen him here." The woman responded.

"But, young man, I must warn you, whatever it is you want this man for, it best you forget it. The man is a monster, and only death befalls those who seek for him." She added.

Nonetheless, after hearing all that was said, the look on Raphael's face didn't change in the slightest.

He was least concerned about those who had died in the cause of search for Jake and ignoring the woman, he moved past her very quickly.

"Y-You…" The woman stuttered as she was Raphael making his way to the mansion.

She rushed towards him quickly.

"Where do you think you're going to, young man?!"

"Since you said, you haven't seen him, you wouldn't mind me scouring for him here, right," Raphael said.

The woman's eyes twitched from the response she had just received. She was about to respond when she realized that Raphael was no longer in front of her.

While the mayor's mansion was the most elegant household in the city, it was also the least guarded place, as no one in their right mind would choose to attack the mansion.

Words were… You mess with the mayor and his family, and you also mess with the heroes league.

"What!" Raphael blurted as he saw the brunette woman in front of him again.

But this time around, he didn't mask out his contempt for the woman, and he made it evident from the expression on his face.

The woman skipped a heartbeat when she saw that look. Then avoiding eye contact, she said.

"You can't go in there."

"And if still, you decide to take a step from here, I will be forced to make a move against you. I'm being polite right now, turn around, before I'm forced to do something, you will regret" The woman added.

Raphael knitted his brows, he seized the woman from head to toe, and then shook his head.

Raphael ignored her warning, and he took a step forward.

However, he had only taken a step forward, when a gun was placed at the back of his head. Raphael felt the pistol's muzzle, and his lips curved inwardly.

"I'm going to warn you, one last time. Turn a…"

Before the woman would utter the rest of her words, the pistol in her hand was gone, and before its realization would strike her, she was grabbed tightly.

"Y-You…"

Raphael held the gun with one hand, while the other was grabbed onto the woman's neck.

He lifted her body off the ground, "Are you so tired of living, that death is what you seek." Raphael blurted.

"I just had my hand cleaned off my body, I don't wish to have it dirty, except it is necessary, of course."

Followed by those words, Raphael threw the woman away.

Thud!

It was merely a casual throw, but the damage it caused to the women was severe.

The woman's clothes became tattered from the hit, while a few areas of her body were covered in bruises.

"Ptueeh!"

Raphael watched as the woman spurt blood from her mouth, before then moving his gaze away from her.

The pistol was still in his left hand, and Raphael was about to head towards the mansion door when it was suddenly pushed open, and six figures stepped out.

Instantly, Raphael's eyes went into the green-haired youth in the middle, and as he saw the youth, his lips curved into an amused smile.

It was none other than Jake Harper.

Jake's eyebrows furrowed, as he saw the look on Raphael's face. His instinct told him danger was in front, and he was to flee this instant, but after the self-praise, he had done in the mansion, he rejected the idea.

Barnett Gilman, the mayor of Portland city, and his wife, Lizzie Gilman.

Raphael assumed the three beside them were their bodyguard, and after staring at them for a few seconds, he slowly moved their gaze away from them.

"The audacity!" Barnett exclaimed.

Barnett had wanted to be polite to Raphael because of the guest beside him, but as soon as he saw the woman on the ground, he lost his cool immediately.

The three bodyguards beside him took steps forward immediately, however, much to their surprise, there wasn't a change in Raphael's stance.

"I see," Barnett muttered.

Knowing those who were backing him, only an insane person or someone who wasn't afraid of the heroes league would be able to commit this sort of offense.

Barnett flashed a rough smile soon after.

"I'm Barnett Gilman, mayor of Portland city, and messenger of Holy Savior academy," Barnett stated.

"Which force or society does sir come from, and how may I, the messenger of Holy savior academy, help you?"

Even a fool could notice what Barnett was trying to infer, and after Barnett spoke, Raphael slowly pointed his hand to the youth beside him.

Jake's body trembled as soon as Raphael pointed his finger at him. Terror swept through his body, and instantly he took a step backward.

"Ah-Ahem!" Jake realized that he lost his composure, and quickly, he adjusted himself.

He placed his hand behind his back, adopting a powerful stance, he said, "You must be looking for the wrong person, for I can't recall having any business to do with you."

Raphael sneered.

"Mayor Barnett, I have failed you."

Raphael was only just about to speak when he heard that voice.

He slowly turned, and as he saw the woman back on her feet, he raised his left hand gently, and before everyone's gaze, he pulled the trigger.

Pa!

Two seconds after the gunshot sounded, and the woman stumbled to the ground.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!" Lizzie, who was only just a few meters away, screamed loudly.

Barnett was quick to hold her tight, and as he also stared at the body with a bullet right at the forehead, there was a grim look on his face.

He had watched as one of his guards died in front of him.

It would only be insulting if, as the mayor of portland city, he continued to allow this vile being to remain living after committing such atrocities crime.

"Kill them." Barnett declared.

The three guards moved instantly, however, before they could get any close to Raphael, three bullets were impeded through their heads.

Thud

As their bodies dropped to the ground, Raphael stared at the pistol in his hand, he didn't seem to be impressed, but at the same time, he wasn't satisfied with it.

"You're from the academy, isn't it?"