---
One guard looked toward Snake. "What happened here?"
Snake walked toward Ned's body and studied it. His expression became serious.
"I arrived after the battle."
Fartray pointed wildly toward the place where John had stood. "John was here. He killed everyone. He made a hole."
Snake looked at him for several seconds. Fartray started laughing again while pointing at Ned's body.
"No legs."
The guards exchanged uncertain looks.
Snake turned toward the battlefield. Most of Fartray's hired fighters were dead. Some carried payment marks connected to House Aqua, while others had no clear identity. Ned's upper body remained near the center, and his trusted followers were nowhere to be found.
"This appears to have been a secret conflict between House White and House Aqua," Snake said slowly.
Fartray screamed, "No."
