In a city made of iron, filled with lights that can be seen from hundreds of kilometers away, like a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of the outside world, the buildings of the iron city towered up to the clouds. There were vehicles flying in the sky like giant iron birds; if someone from ancient times were to witness this, their heart would likely stop from shock. Poverty in cities like this was as abundant as sand in the desert.

A man dressed in a black cloak, covering his head, walked through the alleys until he reached a train station. He didn't wait long before the train arrived like a flash of light. He boarded the train, which was extremely crowded, to the point that there was no room to move, as if it were a carriage taking the sinners to their final resting place. As the train began to move, the anxiety on the man's face eased a little. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an oval-shaped red ball. At first glance, one would see it as an ordinary ruby stone, but this ball was the reason for the fierce competition among companies.

In the iron city, there were millions of inhabitants, spread across many areas. In the northern part, there was the wealthy district, a luxurious place filled with lights and vibrant shapes. Most of the buildings were gigantic, like palaces. All the residents of the iron city dreamed of at least setting foot in this place. There were many luxury cars that could only be seen here.

Although Iron City is the last of its kind, the police officers there were known for their strictness in their work and their commitment to ensuring justice for all. However, behind the mask of justice and honor, there exists a dark side known only to a very few.

There are many hidden wars between companies happening in the Iron City. In natural cities, the government would intervene in matters like these, whether it involves embezzlement or inappropriate issues like harassment. However, in the Iron City, these matters are like clouds in the sky; there is no visible intervention from the police or trials when it comes to one of the major companies. The reason is very simple: it’s as if the companies are the government of the city itself.

To the extent that these companies have taken things to a very extreme level, it has become normal to see someone being killed in broad daylight in front of thousands of people just for opposing a certain company. The police do not intervene in such matters simply because they do not want to wake up the next morning without a job or, in the worst-case scenario, without their heads.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Although these companies are always at war with each other, there is a well-known alliance among them called the Black Iron Alliance. The sole aim of this alliance was to secure this red stone after they found it outside the Iron City in the wastelands.

The train finally stopped, the doors opened, and people poured out like a flood. The man in the coat had a serious expression now that he had exited the train; he knew that at any moment the people from the Black Iron Alliance would find out that he had stolen this red stone, if they didn't already know. He didn't understand why he had done something so dangerous. One day, he received a message from an unknown person offering him a deal to steal this stone for an amount of money he had never seen in his life. He could envision what he could do with that kind of money and escape from the slums.

As he was walking, he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. The man experienced a sudden wave of nausea in his stomach, and he began to sweat as if a bucket of water had been poured over him. He turned his head back and saw who had placed their hand on his shoulder, and to his misfortune, his greatest fears were realized.

There were two men in black suits wearing sunglasses, even though it was nighttime. Their expressions were devoid of emotion, as if they didn't possess any. These two were not just ordinary people in the iron city; if they were seen anywhere, everyone around would know that someone was going to be killed that day.

No one knew the origin of these individuals; some said they were hired by the Black Iron Alliance to carry out their dirty work without tarnishing their reputation or hands, while others claimed they were not actually human but machines used by the wealthy to dispose of those they disliked, whether they were ordinary people or emotionless machines. The only thing everyone agreed on was that they were a harbinger of doom.

"Can I contribute..."

He interrupted the man's speech in the middle.

"The name is Vincent, 23 years old, living in the slums, working in the field of theft. I have worked as a thief for ten years and have been involved in several criminal operations."

Vincent's eyebrows furrowed, and he began to sweat more than before.

"It seems that you finished your homework before coming to me," he said sarcastically, as he cautiously awaited their next move.

"Half an hour ago, I left the Alliance building and stole the secret project. Return it, and we promise you that we won't do anything to you."

Vincent almost fell to the ground laughing at what he heard. Were they mocking him when they said they wouldn't do anything to him? Was this a joke? These people were even killing those they suspected, let alone if the target had stolen something that the alliance considered extremely important, to the point that they buried it underground a hundred kilometers away.

"What if I said I won't hand it over?"