"I Reincarnated But Have No System? You Must Be Kidding Me!"

"Ughh… my head… my tooth…"

Jessie stirred awake, groaning through the throb in his swollen jaw. His vision swam, blurred shapes shifting into focus. One eye refused to open fully, puffed and blackened from the beating he had suffered.

When the haze cleared, two silhouettes stood before him.

Auren and Austaire. But not as themselves. Tonight, they wore borrowed names and false faces- Nathan and Angela- disguised as low-ranking knights, their levels masked to appear unremarkable.

"You… you're courting death!" Jessie snarled. He tried to surge forward, but ropes bit into his wrists and ankles, binding him to the chair.

"Fuck! You think these ropes can hold me?" His laugh was a guttural bark. A level 35 soldier like him could normally snap bindings like twigs.

But the ropes did not yield. Panic flickered in his eyes.

They were no ordinary restraints. The cords shimmered faintly with etched runes- hunter's ropes from Runewood, crafted to capture Night Stalkers. Enchanted to block mana flow, they rendered his strength useless and his skills inaccessible.

Jessie's bravado cracked. He jerked against the bindings again, veins bulging in his temples. "Shit! What is this? Why can't I break free? Cut me loose, or you'll regret it! Do you worms even know who I am?!"

His voice echoed in the dim, oil-lit room. The smell of old ale and damp stone clung to the air.

Neither of his captors flinched.

"It's no use," Auren said coldly, stepping forward. His false frame emerged from the shadows, but the dangerous gleam in his crimson eyes betrayed who he truly was.

Jessie smirked despite the situation. "Out of all the people to mess with, you really decided to pick a fight with me? You fools."

Auren ignored the taunt. He dragged a chair forward, the legs scraping against the wood floor with a sharp screech, and sat down directly in front of the prisoner. His expression was carved from stone.

"We have questions, Mr. Jessie. Only you can answer them."

"What the fuck do you want!?" Jessie spat, blood flecking from his split lip.

"Robert the herbalist." Auren's tone cut through the air, quiet but lethal. His gaze flared with killing intent. "Where is he?"

Jessie barked out a bitter laugh. "Who gives a shit about that dying fool?"

"He does," Austaire said, finally stepping forward, her voice carrying a blade's edge. "And you'd best answer before he loses his patience."

Jessie's eyes flicked between them, his confidence curdling into cruel amusement. His lips curled into a bloody grin.

"Hahahaha… You think I'm afraid of you?" His teeth shone red. "Once I break out of here, I'll make you regret this. I'll chain you in my quarters and make you scream every day. Just like I did to that stubborn Robert."

Auren's composure shattered. His hand shot forward, clamping Jessie's throat in a white-knuckled grip. Rage burned through his veins.

"What did you say?" His voice was low, dangerous- a knife pressed to the soul.

Jessie gagged, words rasping out. "Y… you… crazy… fools…" Yet the bastard's smile never faded, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pride.

Austaire's hand landed firmly on Auren's shoulder. "Aur- Nathan. Careful. We're not here to kill an innocent man."

"Innocent?!" Auren snapped, his crimson glare darting to her. "Did you even hear him?"

"I heard." Her voice was steady, though her eyes burned. She crouched low beside Jessie, her hand tightening on his bonds. "Listen, Jessie. If you want the pain to stop, answer us clearly. Do you know where Robert is?"

Jessie wheezed through the chokehold, then gave a slow, deliberate grin. "He's dead. I made sure of it. Cracked a couple of his ribs myself last night."

The words lit the fuse.

WHAM!

Auren slammed him to the ground. The entire shack shuddered from the impact.

"Auren!" Austaire shouted, real fear cutting through her voice.

Auren loomed over the bleeding man, fist cocked and trembling. "We've heard enough. He's scum. Let's end him now."

"No!" Austaire grabbed his arm, eyes wide. "If you kill him out of anger, what difference will that make? You'll be no better than he is!"

"It's one less monster in the world."

"And you? Will you turn into one?"

The words cut deeper than she realized. Auren's eyes twitched, his fury battling with restraint. At last, he tore his arm free, but not before delivering one savage kick to Jessie's face, knocking him limp.

He turned to Austaire, his voice cold as winter steel. "Listen, princess bubblegum. We're dealing with corruption festering at the root of this kingdom. These people don't hesitate to kill innocents. Don't forget that."

"But killing without confirming- "

"There's no time to confirm," Auren interrupted sharply. His voice carried a weight of finality. "Any moment now, someone will realize he's missing. We move. Now."

His hand reached into his storage ring. A glass vial shimmered into existence, its contents a swirling gray mist flecked with silver. Auren uncorked it with a pop, knelt down, and forced the potion between Jessie's slack lips.

The liquid slid down his throat with a faint hiss.

"Now this better work…" Auren muttered under his breath. Sweat beaded his brow.

It was no ordinary draught- it was one of his own creations. A hypnosis potion, brewed weeks ago in anticipation of situations exactly like this. A poison for the mind, twisting the victim's will into pliant obedience.

Austaire watched, frowning at the ruthlessness in Auren's movements. Yet she did not stop him. The mission came first.

Moments later, Jessie's eyes fluttered open. But their malice was gone. His pupils had dulled, his stare empty as if his soul had been hollowed out.

"Good." Auren smiled faintly, exhaustion seeping into his expression. He leaned close, voice dropping to a command. "Where is Robert the herbalist?"

Without hesitation, Jessie answered in a flat monotone.

"Third underground floor of Forgotten Wailes. Ninth cell on the right."

Auren's jaw unclenched. Austaire whispered under her breath, "The potion actually worked…"

Turning to her, Auren asked, "Forgotten Wailes. Do you know it?"

Her expression darkened. "Yes. The western side, behind the castle. A place for torture, for prisoners no one is meant to remember." She hesitated. "But that place is heavily guarded. Even with disguises, getting inside won't be easy. Unless…"

"Unless?"

Her eyes drifted to Jessie. "Unless we use him."

"How long does the potion last?"

"Fifteen minutes at most."

"Then it's enough."

The moon glared down over the western ramparts of Austerra's castle. Clouds drifted like watchful ghosts as two armored guards stood at the iron gates of Forgotten Wailes. Their polished breastplates glimmered beneath the night sky.

"Oi… is that Jessie?" one guard squinted, noticing the lumbering figure approach with two shadows behind him.

"Looks like it. But who're those two with him?"

"Never seen 'em."

The guards lowered their spears as the trio drew near. "Jessie, care to tell us who these two are?"

"They're my friends," Jessie replied dully, voice flat as stone.

The guards exchanged looks. "You sound strange, mate. You sick or somethin'?"

They inspected Auren and Austaire carefully. Their suspicion melted once their appraisal revealed the supposed levels- barely thirty. Compared to their own level forty strength, these recruits posed no threat.

"You sure they're not trouble?"

"I am well," Jessie said blankly. "They are my friends. I'll take them with me."

The guards' eyes narrowed. Something felt… off. One leaned closer, frowning.

Before suspicion could sharpen, Auren and Austaire moved.

A blur. A flash.

Austaire's foot swept low in a precise arc. One guard crumpled before he even registered her movement. His jaw slackened in shock as he hit the dirt.

The other turned- too slow. Auren's fist cracked against his chin, dropping him instantly. Both fell unconscious before a cry could leave their lips.

"Efficient," Austaire whispered.

"Let's hurry," Auren said, already striding for the gate.

"We can't leave them here. Suspicion will spread." Austaire dragged one body to the shadows. "Go. Find Robert. I'll clean this up." She flicked her gaze at Jessie. "You- help me."

"Yes," Jessie droned, bending obediently to lift the armored weight.

Auren paused, watching them move the bodies. For a moment, he softened. "Thank you," he murmured. Then, with a final nod, he vanished into the yawning mouth of the dungeon.

The stench of rust and mildew swallowed him whole.

Meanwhile, Austaire gritted her teeth, still dragging one of the guards when a voice sliced through the silence.

"What seems to be the problem here, Jessie?"

Her blood ran cold. She turned sharply.

A man stood at the far end of the courtyard, his posture loose but his gaze sharp with suspicion. His familiarity with Jessie was evident in his tone.

Jessie turned robotically. "Hello, Jembook."

The newcomer's eyes narrowed. "You don't sound well. I came to check on Robert before leaving, but it seems there's trouble here." His gaze swept over Austaire, lingering. The suspicion in his stare grew heavier by the second.

"I am fine. No problem here," Jessie replied.

But before the words had even finished leaving his lips, Jembook's hand flashed.

Steel sliced the air- straight at Austaire.

CLANG!

Sparks exploded as she caught the blade on her bracers, the impact ringing through her bones. Her movements were swift, honed.

Jembook's eyes widened. "A knight below level thirty, parrying me?" His lips curved into a dangerous grin. His eyes glowed like embers.

"It seems," he said, his voice dripping with menace, "I've found myself a thieving cat."