Hitman with a Badass System

(Five days before Nightmare's death)

Michael sat with an air of quiet confidence at a wooden table in the dimly lit tavern. His eyes flickered around the room, scanning the faces of the other patrons with a sense of unease. The atmosphere was thick with tension, punctuated by the occasional clink of glasses and murmurs of hushed conversations.

As he waited for Mutrad's arrival, Michael's mind was consumed by the danger that lurked around every corner. He had already shed blood to obtain the information they needed, and he knew that there were those who would stop at nothing to prevent him from completing his mission.

But Michael wasn't worried. He remained calm and patient, knowing that panic and fear would only lead to mistakes. Instead, he sat quietly, his senses on high alert, waiting for Mutrad to arrive and deliver the next piece of the puzzle.

The door creaked open, and Mutrad stepped into the dimly lit tavern, his eyes scanning the room nervously. His steps were hesitant as he approached Michael, the weight of the information he carried heavy on his shoulders.

"It's true. The house of Gladwrath took the artifacts, and they are challenging both House Halrid and House Bigmag for trial by combat," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

Michael's eyes narrowed, a steely determination settling in his gaze. He knew that their mission had become even more dangerous and urgent. The fate of the entire Arctic hall now rested on their success in retrieving the stolen artifact.

"So House Gladwrath had a hand in Harry's disappearance," Michael said calmly, his voice belying the intense anger burning within him. Mutrad saw the thick killing intent in his eyes and knew that the Dark Lord was not to be trifled with.

The tavern was silent, with the occasional clink of glasses and murmurs of conversation. The tension in the air was palpable, and it felt as though the entire world was waiting for Michael's next move.

Mutrad looked uneasy and opened and closed his mouth as though he had to say something but couldn't find the courage to speak those words.

"When I wipe Gladwrath off the map, you can find your scepter without going through this trial by combat," Michael calmly said. Mutrad wasn't shocked by his words as he expected Michael to react this way. Hence, he came prepared to sway the Dark Lord from wreaking havoc.

"Just hear me out first. I know it's highly likely House Gladwrath took the spirit child and used his blood to steal our artifacts. But if you attack them now, the entire sea realm will wage war against you and won't stop until one of you is wiped out. Do you really want another enemy? You already have enough of them to deal with," said Mutrad, trying to change the Dark Lord's mind. To be honest, it was surprising for Mutrad to see the Dark Lord be calm and talk to him instead of destroying House Gladwrath.

"I assume you have a plan to rescue the spirit child with minimal damage to your world," said Michael, and Mutrad nodded.

"There is a rule that allows one to fight for more than one house. So if you help us win the trial by combat against House Gladwrath, I will pursue the head of House Bigmag to use their artifact's ability to locate the spirit child," said Mutrad, hoping the Dark Lord would agree to his plan.

The air around Mutrad grew heavy with palpable tension as he spoke. He could feel the weight of Michael's gaze on him like a physical force, and he struggled to maintain his composure.

"Why didn't you say anything about the Bigmag family's artifact before?" Michael's voice was cold, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.

Mutrad swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves. "I didn't know until today," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Michael's intense gaze lingered on Mutrad, searching for any signs of deceit. When he found none, he leaned back in his chair, but the tension in the room remained thick.

"Explain your plan," he said, his voice low and measured.

Mutrad took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Attacking House Gladwrath directly will only put the spirit child in danger. But if we follow my plan, we can rescue the child without risking their life."

Michael considered Mutrad's words carefully. He knew that direct action would be risky, but he didn't want to waste more time. The fate of the spirit child hung in the balance, and every passing moment increased the risk of harm.

After a moment of silence, Michael spoke. "What's the plan?"

Michael's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, intrigued by the complexity of the trial by combat.

"Go on," he urged, his voice low and measured.

Mutrad hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The challenger is the one who stole the artifact, and they can choose up to twenty warriors. The challenged party is the one who lost the artifact and can only choose one warrior. The two parties will fight in a sacred land where the challenger's artifact is kept. To win the trial, the warrior chosen by the challenged party has to take the challenger's artifact through the twenty warriors and the guardian. It is an almost impossible task, but it's the only way to win the trial,"

Michael's mind raced as he absorbed the information. Twenty warriors and a guardian? This trial was far more challenging than he initially thought. He could feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders as he realized that Mutrad's family's fate rested on his success in this trial.

"So, you need me to be your chosen one," Michael said, his voice heavy with understanding.

Mutrad's eyes were filled with desperation as he pleaded with Michael. "I understand that it's a lot to ask, but my family's future rests on this trial. We can't afford to lose."

Michael's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. "Twenty warriors and a guardian? This trial is more perilous than I could have imagined," he said, his voice low and intense.

Mutrad's face was etched with anxiety. "That's why I need your help, Dark Lord. I cannot face them alone."

Michael leaned forward, his gaze never leaving Mutrad's. "And if I accept your request and manage to retrieve the artifact, what happens next?"

"The elders will return the artifacts to their rightful families and act as if nothing has happened," Mutrad replied.

Michael's surprise was palpable. "That's all?"

Mutrad nodded, but there was a tense silence before he continued. "losing the artifact is viewed as the ultimate sign of weakness. If the chosen one fails to retrieve the artifact, the family who lost it will be exiled from the Arctic Hall forever. The victor would keep the artifacts and have the power to give the artifacts to whoever they want and form two new families under their rule. If the stakes weren't high, I wouldn't have asked for your help, Dark Lord,"

Mutrad's body language spoke volumes about his desperation. He fidgeted in his seat, his eyes darting around the dimly lit tavern, and nervously bit his lower lip. Sweat glistened on his forehead, despite the chilly atmosphere of the place. He hesitated before speaking, his voice shaking slightly as he explained the gravity of the situation. Mutrad knew that the stakes were high and that his family's future hung in the balance. The weight of responsibility weighed heavily on him, and he knew he couldn't handle it alone. It was clear from his demeanor that he needed the Dark Lord's help and was willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.

"What if the House of Bigmag doesn't want to use their artifact to find the spirit child?" Michael asked, his eyes piercing into Mutrad's. "And what if they don't want me to be their chosen one? I am the big bad Dark Lord, after all. What makes you think your family and the Bigmag family would be willing to bet their fates on my shoulders?" Michael snickered, his tone laced with skepticism.

Mutrad's desperation was palpable, his eyes pleading with Michael. "We don't have any other options. You're our last hope, the only one who can save our families' future."

Michael leaned forward, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "And what made you choose the big bad Dark Lord instead of one of your strongest warriors?"

"Because you're the Dark Lord," Mutrad replied, his voice shaking with fear. "You have the power to destroy us all. But you also have the power to save us. Please, help us."

Michael leaned back on his chair, his expression unreadable. The weight of Mutrad's words hung heavily in the air, and Michael knew that he had a difficult decision to make. The fate of two families rested on his shoulders, and the trial by combat was far more dangerous than he had imagined. But Michael was the Dark Lord, and he knew that sometimes, to gain power, one must take risks.

Michael leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Mutrad, his eyes blazing with intensity. "You're asking me to put my life on the line for your family's fate. Do you understand what that means? It means I'm risking everything, and for what? A promise that you might not even keep?"

Mutrad shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the dimly lit tavern. "I know what I'm asking, Dark Lord. But I'm desperate. I have no other options."

Michael's jaw tightened as he weighed his options. He knew there would be no turning back if he agreed to help Mutrad. But the thought of the spirit child in danger stirred something in him, a sense of duty that he couldn't ignore.

"One way or another, I can find the spirit child," Michael said, his voice low and serious. "But I need to know that I can trust you. Swear your loyalty to me, and I'll win the trial for you,"

Mutrad hesitated, his eyes locked with Michael's. "I can't swear my loyalty to you just like that," he said finally. "But I promise that I will do everything in my power to repay you for your help,"

Michael's expression hardened. "That's not good enough," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I need your loyalty, Mutrad. And if you can't give me that, then I can't help you."

Mutrad hesitated to swear his loyalty to the Dark Lord because he knew that it was a significant risk. He had always been taught to fear the Dark Lord and had heard the tales of his immense power and cruelty through the prophecies. He had also seen the devastation the Dark Lord had wrought upon those who had crossed him.

But Mutrad was desperate and knew he had no other choice. He needed the Dark Lord's help to retrieve the stolen artifact and save his family's future. He also knew that the Dark Lord had a reputation for keeping his word and fulfilling his end of the bargain. Ultimately, It was a difficult decision, but he knew swearing his loyalty was the only way to ensure that the Dark Lord would help him. He also knew that once he swore his loyalty, he would be bound to the Dark Lord and have to follow his orders no matter what. But Mutrad was willing to do whatever it took to save his family, even if it meant sacrificing his own freedom.