The forest became quite as the night progressed, its air switching between an unnerving wind to a peaceful rest. The darkness encrouched it from all directions however, with only the light of the moons to guide it. Yet due to the nature of this forest, the blight of darkness that was thrown upon it, and the large trees that many monsters made their homes inbetween, it remained dark even with the moonlight. Every corner contained shadows that flickered and shifted, and no matter where one might go, there was an unpleasant feeling of being watched. At least for those who had not found a safe place to make camp.

While Kuroki was snoozing away, a group of individuals cloaked under the cover of darkness was heading towards the camp from a different direction. Their mission was clear. Abduct the targets, and anyone else that looked valuable, and call back. They had acquired many expensive objects, including Sleep Spheres, an object that when shattered would spread fast acting deep sleep gas over an area. They were all dressed in dark clothes, and had no issue dealing with the monsters that got in their way. They were just approaching the interior forest, still upon its outskirts, where not even the giant Sylvan could get near thanks to the ancient barrier stones.

All twelve of them were professionals. They were not like the ones Kuroki and the others had faced before, the thugs that attacked them in the guild or elsewhere. These were true professionals, each one knew how to work efficiently and carefully. One could say it was an overkill measure, but these were certainly not the types of people that a bunch of F rankers or E rankers could deal with. Even with the others there, they had ways to grab their targets and flee. Even if they could not take on someone like Ozlo or Vanessia in a straight up fight, they had illegal tools and dark tactics. They could break the wardstones and draw every monster in the area upon the group. They could put them all to sleep beforehand, something they planned to do while they were already asleep. If necessary, they could use them as human shields or hostages against Vanessia. They could even throw explosives all around, seriously injuring many of the ones they were not told to prioritize, forcing the others to try and save the injured and think about rescuing the others later.

One might not be able to totally discount power, but there was more then one way to win. SImply being powerful did not make one undefeatable, and these people had overcome many strong people in the past. Their strength especially came from their covert nature: generally, people were a lot easier to take down when they did not see you coming.

The leader was particularly ruthless, but within the past week or two, they had even become vile. At first it was all about money and the occasional whore, but now he was growing fond of making their targets victims too. Whether this was his fall into even more degenerate behavior after being around it for so long, or more likely, due to the revival of the Demon King, was unknown.

Still, as they crept with the dark woods, something didn't feel right. He had made sure to keep track of all of their surroundings. They had avoided the monsters they couldn't deal with, and quickly eliminated those they could that didn't make them waste their time. And yet, they found themselves being unsure. The leader especially thought that he and his ten men might have reached this camp by now, but the forest was proving to be unusually difficult to navigate.

Wait, ten?

They had twelve when they left, and yet one of them had disappeared somehow. Even more strange, it was without his noticing. He turned around, weapons readied as his men did the same. Surely enough, the one who was in their rear was no more, missing.

"Shit. Everyone, stay in formation. We have company out here" he said. The man who disappeared was their weakest, but also one of their most perceptive. For him to disappear like that was unnerving. It wasn't the first time lately that some of their accomplices had disappeared either.

"Ahk!"

They heard a noise, only to see one of their members grabbing at his neck as he seemed to be pulled into air, his body eventually stopping and bouncing about as it lay there, hanging next to another. The first missing man.

Two deaths by hanging. It was unclear what caused it, as none could see what had gone around their necks. Just that they were clearly broken, and both were already dead.

And yet, the man seemed to know immediately who was behind it.

"So, what are you, a detective, or a serial killer?" he asked the darkness.

In response, a beastkin boy emerged. With fox ears and a fox tail, he appeared delicate and cute. And yet, there was an unknown lingering around him. The leader threw a rock at the boy, but it passed right through him. He scoffed, unsurprised.

"I heard rumors there was a foxkin boy who was appearing around our bases. I wasn't entirely sure if it was you ruining them, but they all thought you might make a good prize. Yet clearly, you are more dangerous then you are worth".

"Oh, so you are saying you cannot place a price on me?"

Indeed, the man was a professional, even more then the last one Zak had appeared in front of him. But this atmosphere, this feeling. He got the same response as the last guy, when he tried to find the value of this boy. It was a feeling that it was an existence to be wary of, something that was their very bane. Something that they could not and should not try to sell.

This boy had eyes far more experienced than he should. It was obvious he was no child based on his expression and skill. He had managed to pick two of them off before being detected, and even then, this was all just a distraction. It was an illusion before them, as he was far too skilled to reveal himself in this location against this many people. He might have picked two off secretly, but this boy was not so blind as to think he could take on ten experienced members of the underworld without tricks of his own.

He had however proven the risk of his existence, which meant...

"So, will you retreat, or will you continue to try and go after innocents, knowing I will pick you off one by one, slowly if I have to. You will not reach them in time and ward me off. You must choose one or the other".

"Tsk. You are the one who got us lost, didn't you?"

"Not directly...I just negotiated with someone who could" Zak mused, being vague about the whole thing. "Now, what do you choose scum? Retreat, or failure?"

His words had a particular scorn to it, which made the man think he actually hoped they would continue so he could keep picking them off. He was remaining neutral and vague, but hints of scorn and rage at them could be felt. It was clear that whoever this was, they did not appreciate their line of work, or the targets they tended to go after.

"You say that, yet I can't help but feel like you will try and pick us off anyways as we leave. Or try to get us lost in this forest forever, and end up monster chow".

He knew better. This very offer was a trap, and a diversion. A trick within a trick, that was what this boy was doing. The boy just let out a sigh.

"I suppose it was too much to hope this hastily thrown together plan would work fully. Despite my desire to get rid of you all, I really am not a big fan of senseless murder you know?"

Despite his words, bloodlust oozed ever so minorly out of them. It was like he was trying to pick a fight with them.

"You don't care about the outcome, so long as we can't make it to the targets before they leave".

"Of course. My victory condition is easy. Yours on the other hand, is so much harder under these conditions. So I don't need to rush you".

"You can just take your time, picking us off either way. We retreat with our guards up the whole time, warding you off, and they will make it to the city before we can make it back to our own carriages. Is that about right?"

"Indeed".

"Even this conversation, you use it to buy yourself time to weave your magic about. Or whatever you used to hang those men".

"Once again, you prove why you are the boss. Such an annoyingly perceptive one. I wonder how long ago you realized that".

"Once again?"

What does he mean once again? This is the first time we have met. Unless....oh shit, has he been watching us for way longer then we realized? How long?!

He wasn't sure who this detective was, but he knew it was no boy. An immortal at the very least, or perhaps even...

Could he be a Hidden?

The man tensed up. He had heard whispers of The Hidden. There were many rumors, some likely spread by them themselves. In truth, The Hidden was just a nickname given to them, as no one knew their true name. Even they supposedly might have started using it from time to time.

Some say they are a group of immortals who secretly banded together and influence the world, controlling key aspects.

Others say they are Otherworlders summoned in secret, but then broke free of the nefarious individuals who carried out such an illegal act.

There are those that claim they are the reincarnations of previous Heroes, souls the gods would not let leave because they were too valuable, and have them be their agents in the world.

Others claim its just another name used by the Criminal Organization Blank.

There are even those who think they are just a myth, but this man knew better. He had seen it once. Not directly, but indirectly. A small shadow in the distance, after he heard the other group mention that they knew he was no normal child, and proclaimed them to be one of "The Hidden". He still remembered the chilling voice he heard respond to those claims. It sounded like a child's voice, but like the detective in front of him, the way he spoke and carried himself revealed his true age. Especially with those words.

"I see you finally figured a piece out. What a bother".

In other words, this Hidden, who he never even laid direct eyes on, butchered a dozen strong fighters because it was a "bother" for them to discover his identity. Not because it was a threat, no he heard that tone quite well. Nothing about it sounded like it was actually an issue for him, but more like he butchered them just because he would get nagged for letting them go.

This reminded him of that moment. He might just be someone who had the body of a child but the mind of an adult, a great detective who fights crime in the shadow. But the man could not discount the possibility he was The Hidden. He was showing himself in a bit of a flashy way however, which meant he knew it was unlikely.

But if this boy was a member of The Hidden, this was not the time to fight them. Especially since they lost their main advantage, surprise.

"It appears we are at a disadvantage here".

"Aww, so you don't want to play?"

For a brief moment, he actually did sound like an innocent child there. It unnerved him, to the point of being creeped out. Whatever darkness was growing inside of him, this chill seemed to make it shriek back as survival instincts took over. And they told him to get as far away from this boy as humanly possible. That this was his element, not theirs.

He was a professional after all. He was fueled by greed, but he knew better then to let it consume him. He was not as foolish as others had been before him.

He signaled his colleague, and moments later, the two hanging bodies were set alight, two flying torches. He saw shimmers in the air in that moment, and he realized what had happened...and how far it had spread.

"Wires...it appears we will be taking our leave now".

The moment he said that, vines began to grow out of the ground from below, trying to entangle them.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I see you didn't take the bait. Well, I must admit I expected this. Fine then, let us see if you can survive the wraith of the forest then".

"Shit shit...I knew he was doing something! Everyone, staggered retreat!"

A few of them ran ahead as the others fought off the vines. Once they were far enough away, they used ranged attacks to clear the vines, letting the rest run to them. Zak could already see what they would do. They would keep this up, and the fact not a single one abandoned each other had nothing to do with comraderie. It was because they were professionals, and they understood that separating would result in all of their deaths. And because professionals dont just casually abandon each other so easily either, as they worked off their reputation.

And yet in the end, whether they escaped or got away, they would still never reach Kuroki's camp, nor their inside man who had been waiting for them all this time.

I must admit, I was surprised they sent anyone when they heard about Vanessia and Baxter, but then again, these guys had the means to handle the situation. They would never win in a straight up fight, but with their inside man and their tools as well as the element of surprise, they could have succeeded. Cherry Road...I can't risk depriving Kuroki of growth, so I cannot prevent everything that I suspect will come. But I won't let any loss of life or unnecessary moments happen either. Cherry Road must be his stepping stone on the path to defeating his father. Provided I don't take him down first.

While thinking just thoughts, Zak decided he had best keep watch from a distance. He would also hunt some monsters around here, to help him with ranking up to D-Rank, since he acquired his E-Rank already.

Besides, I couldn't let the E-Rank exam get interrupted this time, let alone the casualties that could have happened. Leaving the practical reasons aside...its the duty of adults, and especially of those like me, to protect children.

While the one with the body of a child mused himself about this, he continued his assault on the group, pushing them back and picking them off whoever he could. For every one of them he took down, innocents would be saved in the future after all.

----------------------------------------

At the same time, within a different forest, Juno let out a sigh as he drew a bow again and fired an arrow.

And yet, like Zak, the target he fired at was no monster, but a human.

"I had a feeling it would be something like this. Bad enough this entire forest gives me the creeps, but its not just the trees watching us...judging us".

Juno did not need the same amount of sleep as others, and he had successfully managed to sneak away a bit after he noticed there were people following them. Naturally, these people were criminals who came after him, but they were tougher then most. Occasionally they could dodge his arrows, but unfortunately he had learned to apply magical effects to his arrows. Perhaps due to the influence of Kuroki's love of magic, but he and Reiji had picked up some magic as well. Perhaps not quite on the level of a mage, but it was more flexible then they had originally believed.

These people were quite skilled, but unfortunately not enough. Not for Juno. He was the worth matchup for nighttime raiders. His sensory and Alertness let him need far less sleep. He could sense all sorts of things, including gazes and hostility, so much easier. And his wish and his magic combined with his inherent archery skills meant he was actually one of the best fighters of the four friends. His Archery skill was essentially at the level of a B-Rank adventurer, so while he lacked the same level of skill elsewhere, it made him an absolute nightmare right now when combined with his sensory abilities.

Of course, he learned that they were not perfect. He had only just barely noticed the Vrak'shalen before they attacked. He was the best scout of all the F-Ranks here, so he was rather surprised by it. They were completely able to bypass his senses, and even some of these Elven Ruins felt like they gave off blank spots and empty feelings. Some he didn't even notice until he passed through them. It was unnerving, and it made him extra paranoid.

That was why Reiji was waiting near him, as he ambushed the first two that got close to Juno and drove them into the ground. A few tried to get behind, but they were set on fire as a flying dagger slit one of their throats.

"Shiza, what did you do to piss these guys off?" Aira asked, as he set another three on fire while walking up to their watchpoint.

"Ah, Aira, we can explain..."

"That these guys are members of that human trafficking organization, one of a few that specialize in child products, and that they are here because you keep pointing out their tails to the guards and getting them caught, and so now they dont just come after you for a price tag but for revenge as well?"

Juno was shocked by Aira's knowledge of the situation, and that put him on guard.

"How do you know all this..."

"Because, they took someone precious from me once..."

As he said that, ice extended out from his feet, freezing several of them, including the ones on fire, from the neck down, trapping them within ice. He also seemed to place magic bands around their wrists and ankles, and even around their necks as well. Non-elemental bands, something different.

"Would you mind if I interrogated a few once we are done dealing with them?"

"I don't mind, but is it safe? Wont they notice if we have all left the camp?"

"It's fine, I put up illusions for all three of us. The examiner might notice if the illusions had to be awake, but they just need to sleep, so I doubt it will be discovered for a few hours".

Juno felt like there was a bit more to this, but decided not to press the issue for now as they had to finish up with this group. Still, having Aira around did help. Even with Juno being the worst matchup for these guys, their numbers had been starting to press them a bit, so it was helpful to have an ally around.

Although Juno suspected that this ally had more to their ulterior goals then they had stated.

As they took down a good number, the others began to retreat. As for the others, a few had taken their own lives rather then talk, but Aira seemed to prevent a few of them from doing that.

"It looks like its over...still, you really did piss them off a great deal".

"Yeah. But it looks like you were expecting this?"

"Mhm. I would have warned you, but it seemed unnecessary since you were expecting it yourself".

It seemed Aira had noticed their behavior ahead of time. Juno really had to wonder who Aira actually was. He looked around the bodies and let out a sigh, before turning his attention towards the living.

"Now, talk".

The captured scum refused to answer at all, or even react. Aira reacted by summoning some sort of green energy onto his hand, which made the criminal react finally. React in fear.

"You understand now right? We do not need you alive to get information from you".

"You fucking necromancer!"

The scum spat at Aira, who seemed unphased. Juno couldn't help but notice the word he used, remembering it well.

Necromancer...wait, is Aira using Necromancy magic?

Juno remembered. Depending on the fiction, it was either used for pure evil, horribly misunderstood, or both. It appeared that Aira intended to extract information from them, living or dead. Adaptability, Mental Fortitude, and Compliance couldn't even erase their worries at such callous behavior.

"Do you really intend to use Necromancy to make them talk?"

"Yes, but not in the way they think I am" he mused.

"The way they think you will?"

The scum looked confused, but Aira just smiled at him.

"Tell me, how many people have you killed?"

Those words sent chills down all of their backs, and the scum panicked as he tried to escape his magical bindings.

"I will only do what is fair. I shall give your victims a chance to inflict the same pain on you that you have on them. Any soul unfairly taken by your actions, I shall let through. Any soul you wronged so horribly, will be allowed to even the odds upon you. For all the pain you caused others, such will be delivered upon you. And it will only stop when you tell us everything you know, and answer all of our questions".

A truly nasty spell. Juno was not sure to call it fair or unfair. The man might even expire from this spell, but if he did, Aira might just raise him again and have it continue.

"I am not a fan of using Necromancy this way, but I suppose I have no choice. Ah, but don't worry. It will build up, in ranking of being the least harmful to the most. It will only get worse the longer it goes. Oh, and I do hope you have never done anything...indecent...to anyone".

The man panicked and pleaded. He understood immediately just how screwed he was. He was a professional, and had escaped capture many times. But this was different. This was so much worse.

Aira's rage leaked through to the two boys, as they saw his hidden anger.

The man experienced what seemed to be terrible torment immediately, so clearly whatever was going on was quite painful despite no wounds appearing on his body, and began spilling the beans as fast as he could, knowing it was the only way to make it stop. Unfortunately for them, the organization was not so stupid as to let anyone know critical details go out on such an operation, so he only knew fragments here and there. A few fronts, some other agents, things like that.

It seemed that Juno was the primary target of the organization, and that they went by the name Cherry Road. However, there was also another detail that was odd.

"Who is the one responsible for the Moonlit Massacre at the Church in Tal Mirias?"

"I...don't know...the name...goes by...Red Raven".

"Tsk. Do you know a face?"

"No..."

"What about where they are?"

"Last heard...they were heading...south. Another...target".

"Tsk. Zavasha!"

It seemed that was all there was to it, as the spell ended. The man did not have any visible mark on his body, yet he was willing to talk so much.

"I am surprised. Not even a stab wound?"

"The guy was bigger scum then you need to think about. There is more than one type of suffering" he said, as he released the now corpse.

"Wait, what? When did he die?"

"Some time ago. I could do an autopsy to confirm, but it was probably poisons used for interrogations that came first. That or...other unspeakable crimes. In which case he died in a truly disturbing way, to match his disturbing crimes. I trust we can leave it at that?"

None of them wished to say the words allowed, but they all quickly understood.

"Just...how did they make him suffer?"

"Not the normal way, if that is what you are thinking. Best not to think about it".

"...right. Wait hold on, autopsy?"

Juno finally picked up on what Aira said earlier. Aira nodded at him.

"Indeed. Autopsy. Plenty of coroners are necromancers you know? It really helps detectives investigate after all".

"Ah, I see. So you use necromantic arts?"

"Normal autopsy techniques as well, but yes. Usually spirits cannot say too much about their own murders due to the traumatic nature of things, but elements can be gleamed from them. From this, we provide guards and detectives clues to help them solve mysteries and catch murderers. It is also up to us Necromancers to help troubled spirits and have them move on".

It sounded like Necromancers in this world did not fit into either category Juno knew of. Perhaps they were still misunderstood, but clearly they were accepted enough to be used by city guard to help solve crimes by investigating the corpses. It was a truly brilliant use of Necromancy, plus it sounded like they helped soothe spirits and aid them in returning to the afterlife as well, which probably made them even more favorable.

It probably let them perform tests and things that would have taken modern science and medicine normally, meaning that crimes were not so easy to get away with in this world. Although, it sounded like detectives were also a thing.

"Do you know any detectives?"

"I have various contacts" Aira said a bit evasively, although he added a bit more detail afterwards. "My master made sure to set me up with some, and I have already made some work with a few others. It seems like you might have need of my services as well".

"Thanks, we will keep that in mind".

----------------------------------------

At the same time, Akano and Tamaki were fast asleep in their room, having worked hard and finally are elligble to receive their own E-Rank promotion exam. As they slept however, there were those who were going after them as well. They crept through a dark alley, making sure not to be seen. They were clearly professionals as well, judging by the way they moved and hid in a way in which even novice adventurers, such as Tamaki and Akano, would not spot even if they were wide awake and looking right at them.

And yet, the moment they got closer to the inn, all of them stopped dead in their tracks. None of them said a word, but they all unsheathed their blades as they saw a cloaked boy holding a lantern, right in their path. Furthermore, they got the feeling the boy was looking right at each of their hiding spots, even though not a single person could actually see the figure's face with the shadows draping over him. It was the same boy as from the guild and the market, the one Akano thought might be a Starfallen.

He stood there, even in the cooling night he was perfectly fine in shorts, likely because it wasn't all that cold but the men felt like it was different. As if the cold didn't bother him at all. He was clearly waiting for them too, as he reacted the moment they approached. He snapped his fingers, and immediately the alley lit up for a moment. Wardstones activated all around them, a barrier forming around them. But this was far different then a normal barrier. Instead of the blue glow of mana, it was purple, and it formed a hexagon pattern that trapped them all inside. From the outside, no one could see a thing, but inside it was clearly visible. A clear cloakign effect that was added to it, and another major concern.

These were people who worked in the shadows. They benefited from going unnoticed. The enemy knew this, and yet sealed it off anyways.

Which meant it was even more advantageous for them.

Shadows began to emerge from the "boy's" feet, and for a brief moment, a large figure of a man was seen in his place. It appeared Demonic in origin, and clearly beyond the normal realms of this world.

As the shadows began to creep towards them, the lights began to be snuffed out one by one. Every lantern, every lamppost, even the dim glow of lights from far away was snuffed out and erased, and even the stars in the night sky began to disappear from their sight one by one.

"Impossible, you are...ghhk!"

Before he could finish his words, shadows charged up and strangled him, causing him to start suffocating. Everything seemed to grow shadows, attacking him and his men. This was not the same as Juno, Reiji, and Aira. It is not the same as Zak. Both groups looked far more reserved then what was going on here. Bodies were torn apart by shadows, and others were dragged into the shadows whole, screaming and begging for mercy. They were dragged into spaces they should not be able to fit in, let alone hide in, and soon their screams were also snuffed out.

One had their heart torn out by the shadows, while another had themselves be stabbed at various points, and yet the wounds were coated in a black flame that prevented any blood from dripping out.

"Fucking...monster!"

The boy walked towards them, and his mouth finally came into view as the leader was brought to his knees. Within his mouth, two small fangs could be seen protruding from it. The man was forced onto his hands and knees, as the shadows restrained him thoroughly.

And then, the boy knelt down and bit into the man's neck. Intense pain and pleasure went through the man's body, coursing through his veins as the man found himself being siphoned of his blood. The boy...no, the vampire held nothing back, feasting upon his blood. There was no mercy, no holding back. This man could tell, this would be lethal. He would be sucked dry of blood, and then the shadows would dispose of his body. He was quickly losing consciousness, but he understood something right now. The way this vampire was, he might be an even bigger threat to society then they were.

Because he didn't hold back when he wanted something.

Those were his last thoughts, as he lost consciousness...and eventually died of blood loss. The vampire stood up, wiping the blood off of his mouth, before looking back at Akano's inn. Inside, he and Tamaki were snugly sleeping, cuddled together unconsciously for emotional support, a source of rich blood. The vampire took a step forward, but then stopped and shook his head.

"No. Need to control myself" he muttered to himself. "Starfallen blood is rich, I need to control myself".

Was that the voice of a predator savoring a meal, or a good person resisting his darker impulses?

Only the moons knew that answer, as they watched the cleanup below.