Dove Alley was intended to be a bar for everyone, but the owner’s primary intention was not fully realized due to the mercenaries, hunters, and adventurers who often gathered there. Most of the time, mercenaries occupied the place, especially at night. When the sun broke out, the bar would be filled with drunkards. The owner found it challenging to handle formal customers mixed with troublesome patrons from three guild branches. Adventurers rarely set foot in the place, unlike the mercenaries.

Henry did not expect any guests, but three people suddenly entered. They were all dressed in white coats with earthly faces. The youth approached Henry and asked, “Hey, mind if you cook us a steak?”

“Sure, as long as you have money to pay for it,” Henry replied promptly.

However, one of the men in the group intercepted, his jaded eyes flickered. “Forget it, we’re leaving.”

“Ugh, but we just came here. Come on, don’t be such a killjoy, Lance. We’ve been working nonstop these days. Right, Ina?” The youth raised a protesting tone.

“I thought the reason we came here was because of your information. Nah, we’ll just go. Do whatever you want.” Ina said.

Lance and Ina seemed to be alike in their strictness, but their friend, Gary insisted. He was the least tense among the group. He scratched his head and said, “Dude, you know what? Just shut up and eat something healthy, okay?” He then stood up and pushed the two of them to sit on the woollen chairs. They gave up. Besides, their stomachs growled.

Henry gave each of them a menu. Their eyes were heavy as if they hadn’t slept for a couple of days. The man who seemed to be the leader of the group sighed, forfeiting against the energetic youth. He fixed his sight on the wooden floor, lost in thought. The woman, Ina, sat beside him, noticed his contemplation and disturbed him of his daydreaming by clicking her fingers. Lance expelled the air that made him feel heavier than he would normally be.

“So, have the two of you already picked your delights?” Henry asked.

Ina pressed the tip of her finger on the menu as though she was selecting a dish. He noticed just now her tied red hair, her glamour, and her radiant skin, along with her red lips, attracted the attention of other customers. Henry cautiously glanced at the corner of the pub and saw five drunk men gazing at the woman. They didn’t even bother to hide their lustful glances. Deciding what to eat, she raised her hand and gently pressed her tip to it.

“I want this and this,” she said.

Henry glanced over to the man, waiting for his order. It didn’t take long.

“Also, steak and a cup of coffee.” Lance sharply said, putting down the menu and resting his arms on the table.

“Coming right up.” Henry proceeded to the back, listed down the orders, and gave them to the chefs in the kitchen.

“We shouldn’t be here,” Lance said without moving his eyes on the table.

“Relax, chill, and enjoy the food,” Gary replied, not even bothered with Lance's words.

Gary yawned in stress as his stomach growled in hunger. They waited patiently, and it wasn’t too long until Henry came back with a tray, placing the plates one by one in front of them. Upon accepting the payment, he went to the counter and counted the amount of money they earned that evening.

“Hey, not bad.” Gary used the fork and knife to slice a portion of steak before tasting it. He could feel the tenderness and the juiciness that slipped down his throat. His comrades silently ate their food.

Henry’s eyes darted when he noticed the men staring at the lady, rose, and walked toward them. “This could be trouble,” he muttered. Lance caught the phrase and felt the presence approaching them. They were about to get closer, but a seven-foot-tall man holding a butcher knife stood in front of them, threatening them with his glare. “You already gave us trouble last time. We were quiet on what you did. If y’all insist on doing it again, then you’ll be facing all of us.” The kitchen staff were ready to throw some knives at them.

“Tsk. Fine,” the five of them had no choice but to retreat.

Observing the situation, he got closer to the chef, thanking him, “You saved us from trouble, thanks.”

“It’s nothing. Besides, those men have been a pain in the ass for the past few days. I guess it’s time for them to learn their lesson.” He gave a smile before returning to the kitchen.

Lance lay down, drank his coffee, and pulled out cash from his pocket, handing it to Henry. “Hmph, we should go now,” Lance said, pulling on his trench coat before walking out. Ina nodded in assent and pinched the young lad, pulling him over.

“Ow, ow. Hey, I haven’t finished eating yet!” Gary yelled.

“Forget it. We need to get out of here,” Ina replied.

“Oh, man,” he sulked.

***

As soon as their presence resurfaced from the alleyway below, he took a deep breath. The moonlight illuminated the area like a strip film. The lights of the buildings and the bustling noise of the crowds sank the loud clamour of vehicles as they made their way away from the metropolitan. They had a hard time jostling through.

“Dude, I haven’t finished eating yet,” Gary said.

“Forget it, Gary. We don’t want to attract any attention, especially from the criminals lurking around here,” he snorted as his plain white hair gently swayed in the air.

“Whatever,” Gary hissed.

They stopped at the pedestrian lane, waiting for the stop signal.

“We came here to investigate, not to go sightseeing,” she interjected with an indifferent tone.

“Yeah, I get it. But we need to rest. I mean, look at our eye bags,” Gary emphasized. He tried to put on a smile, but his tired, saggy skin would pull it back to his tired expression.

Ina looked at Gary’s face as if he were about to have a mental breakdown. She sighed, “I understand why you’re worried, but it’s our job to keep an eye on Kayon City.”

It has been two months since they were assigned to this city. Their superior officer ordered them to investigate the unusual crime that had been escalating for the past year. They were working non-stop to unveil further cases, such as missing persons, rumours about bio-weapons, and smuggling.

“So much for the past months we spent investigating, but we still ended up with nothing. Even the riot that happened last week didn’t give us any clues,” Gary murmured, sulking while crossing the street.

“Not for long,” Lance said as he looked at him, wondering what was on his mind. Gary noticed that they were taking an unknown route, at least for him. The two of them followed him. A few meters away, the odour of graffiti lingered in the air. The words written on it were more like an eyesore with profanity about the treaty of other nations.

“You remember what happened in the Elfin Region?” Lance questioned Gary as he began to walk steadily. He limited his breathing as he could taste the strong smell of odour coming from the spray can that the delinquent used.

“Oh yeah, a tension between their nations has arisen. If I remember correctly, it’s because of the commotion about the boundaries when they found minerals lurking in the Alfahon Mountain. Am I right?” Gary replied.

“Not exactly. That was two weeks ago. There’s a new issue rising,” Ina intercepted.

“Do you know about the Ylfon Kingdom’s King Jven Teralhan?” Lance asked.

“Yes,” Gary replied.

“He died. With the loss of their king, it has shaken the alliance and the inner circle of the country, which means a civil war is probable, much worse than that if the other nations will see it as an opportunity to declare war.” Lance explained.

“But that’s impossible! Together with The Ylfon Kingdom, the six nations have formed a treaty to stop an unnecessary war.”

“You didn’t hear about the rumours?”

“Huh? What about him?” he grunted indifferently. His face looked perplexed, unable to grasp the information.

Lance’s eyes darkened for a moment. “He died three days after the hearing between the nations, at the state of Crohan where the chosen high nobles live. They declared the cause of his death to be natural, but there were doubts about. Neither of them can be trusted, thus, suspicion stained trust.”

“Now that’s alarming. He has no son to rule the kingdom; he has two daughters. I doubt that balance will remain unshaken for the next few months.”

“You might have thought that, but his first daughter is rather competent, unlike her sister,” Lance said.

“Are you saying they allowed a woman to rule a kingdom?”

“What’s wrong with a woman ruling a kingdom?” Ina asked, her spirited voice growing serious. Lance and Gary exchanged a glance, and Gary could feel the intensity radiating from Ina’s presence.

“Well, I guess it’s new for me to see one. Most of the time, the women I knew were a little bit emotional and unreliable,”

Ina’s brows met. “Are you saying I’m emotional and unreliable?”

“Did I mention your name? I said most. Are you sure you’re one of them?” Gary sardonically said.

“Well, I never saw you with another woman aside from me before, so…” Ina trailed off.

“I don’t know if I should be glad or be insulted, but fine,” Gary could hear the low tone of Ina’s chuckle as it wafted off along the breeze.

“You can guess, but the point is that it is not necessary for a ruler to have a partner or not. You are your own person, and you can be competent if you have the wits to withstand the odds. So, I think her credibility is not questionable. Other than that, she has the council to consult,” Ina said.

“I guess you’re right,” Gary conceded.

“Since the two of you are done arguing, I thought you might want to know that our fellow agents are on the move, and here is what is interesting,” Lance said, shooting them with a serious look. “This is supposed to be confidential, so don’t tell anyone.”

“Cross my heart,” Gary said.

“Reports from our fellow agents said they saw soldiers meeting secretly at Thebasas canyon, wearing the banner of each respective kingdom, Indine Nation, and Hayan Empire.”

“That’s impossible. They will never ally with that country, not after what they did thirty years ago. I am sure the Ark Renevaes and the other kingdoms and countries will not just be at standby if they know those sly foxes are plotting something,” Gary said.

“That is a question that has not yet been answered,” Lance said.

Gary’s eyes altered, noticed by the punks that were doing it. They walked through a dark passage under a bridge, taking many paths that led to an unknown part of the city. Gary showed a perplexed expression, disturbed, then he asked, “Where are we supposed to be going?”

“Meeting Ground of the scums,” Lance said.

“Meeting Ground? Care to elaborate?” Ina inquired, turning to see Lance’s well-known untethered composure.

“What are we supposed to do there, and what do you mean by Meeting Ground?” Gary asked.

“We’re going to pretend to be mercenaries,” Lance said briskly.

“Mercenaries?!” Gary snapped.

“What the hell?” Ina uttered in disbelief.

Gary breathed heavily, trying to calm down his racing heartbeat.

“I know this is a little crazy, but we have no choice.” Lance said.

“Anyway, how the hell did you find out about this place?” Gary asked.

“I put a tracer on one thug we met earlier.”

“Them? How did you know that they’re involved in this?” Ina asked.

“A hunch,” Lance said.

A gentle wind passed by as the sounds of birds chirping echoed in the air. Gary stiffened, lost in thought. Listening to their plan made him feel guilty, considering the principles they held as patrolmen of the Canary.

“I don’t know, dude. I think we might end up getting into trouble. Don’t you think so, Ina?” he asked.

Ina stopped in her tracks. “I agree. We don’t have a proper plan, and we have no idea what kind of people are in there.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“What do you think I just said right now? It’s an impromptu plan.”

“An impromptu is not an actual plan.” Gary responded.

“This is not the first time we’ve done a cover-up mission. This will be a cinch,” Lance confidently replied.

“Perhaps going in and pretending to be one of them would give us a clue about what’s happening in this city,” Ina agreed.

“Um, hello? Dude, if we get busted, dozens of hunters and mercenaries will come to kill us!” Gary said.

“Not if you shut your mouth,” Ina replied, annoyed.

“Relying on the police won’t do anything good for us. We must move on our own,” Lance said. Ina and Gary glanced back at each other, giving a nod as they agreed with his reasoning. “Who knows? Those pig heads might be working under bribes.”

“Alright, we’ll tag along.” Gary said.

As they entered the gloomy alleyway, they uncovered the revelries of outlaw deviants dwelling in perilous residences. Ahead of them, a luminous neon hue emitted by the fluorescent tube accelerated the excitement as people inside danced on the floor. The flashing lights inside the bar were visible through the higher windowpane.

“Is this the place?” Gary said.

“I think so. The tracer stopped blinking when they came inside,” Lance replied, looking at his radar.

The bar was a large one, bustling with crowds entering it. At first, Lance doubted that this was the place. He could have sworn that there was something wrong with it, its openness. As they passed a street filled with prostitutes, Gary observed his comrades. Ina’s eyes were filled with disgust at the women lining themselves up with no regard for their dignity, but gloom by a realization. The government could have done something for them, and as an asset of it, she felt that was also on her.

Gary tapped her shoulder, and she noticed, giving him a wry smile before looking straight ahead as if pretending not to see him. “Relax, we have to go inside if we want to know,” Lance tiredly replied.

“Oh man, something tells me that this isn’t going to end well,” Gary murmured.

The trio walked with a certain guise, trying to look like they belonged there. They stood in front of the bar, gazing up at the fluorescent tube forming the letters “Cassa Hal.”

A metallic door stood before them, its small grid carved into it. Lance knocked on it while the other two stood beside him, trying to look casual. The door’s peephole opened, giving them a glimpse of the revelries inside. As Gary leaned in closer, a pair of fierce eyes peeked out and grunted at him, causing him to shriek in surprise. Ina gave him a disapproving look, and Gary gathered his thoughts, pretending as though nothing had happened.

“What do you want?” a deep voice flared from behind the door as the loud music pounded in their ears.

“I heard this is the place for outlaws,” Lance replied.

The man behind the door eyed them suspiciously, “Hm, you don’t look like one.”

“Well, let’s just say that we came from far away. We want to make a name here and provide some services to the Hoarder,” Lance said, trying to sound confident.

The man continued to scrutinize them, intensifying their sense of suspicion. Lance noticed this and continued to make playful words, “You don’t want to lose an asset, do you? I heard that Hoarder is looking for a valuable ally?”

Giving in to his words, the thug gave them the last advice, “Fine, just don’t give us a headache.”

“Of course,” Lance replied.

The metallic door squealed as the bodyguard pulled the lever and lifted the lock. They entered the bar. The place was much more intense and provoking than outside as the jock’s music kept the audience grooving. Three disco balls hung tight, emitting different colours of lights dancing that seemed like exploding with wild throbbed of rhythm. The noise was deafening, and it was difficult to relay his words as they proceeded sideways, avoiding the bustle of dancing crowds.

“Hey! Where is this guy called Hoarder?!” Gary said through gritted teeth.

“Huh!? I couldn’t hear you!” Lance replied, his voice barely audible over the loud music.

Ina gripped Lance’s shoulders tightly, afraid to let go as the music lowered and the lights focused on a man walking onto a semi-circular podium above them. Two guards opened a closed red curtain, revealing the man of the show himself.

He was dressed in a dramatic red leather cape, resembling a king, with a trimmed beard and shaggy hair adorning his hat, tight red jeans, and white boots. As soon as the audience noticed his presence, they sat down on their benches, and the mixed lights switched to a single white light, marking the Hoarder.

“Well, it looks like we won’t be wasting our time finding him,” Gary murmured.

The microphone emitted a static sound that rang through their ears, deafened them by sharp noise for a moment before the Hoarder confirmed that it was working properly and announced, “It is a lively night, indeed. The food, the drinks, the freedom!” Applause and cheers filled the room for him. “Ladies and gentlemen, let us proceed to our main event and introduce the newest collections for sale!” he shouted.

Ina grumbled in disbelief as the Hoarder revealed the slaves that lined up on the stage, chained and illuminated by white light.

“What the hell?” Ina uttered in disgust.

“Now, I know that the police have been quite hectic about recent incidents, and because of that, of course, our operation had been delayed, with lots of delays, so fuck them,” the Hoarder continued. “But, with the help of my crew and colleagues, we could deliver you guys our lovely products, whose rarity is at its best!”

The Hoarder introduced some slaves, but one caught Lance’s attention. The elf wore dirty rag clothes, had pointy ears, silver eyes, and attractive auburn hair that fell over her eyes. Encored by light, they strained their eyes and had to cover themselves.

“I know that they would famish you all for the surprise that I will spill into you because their race is far beyond this region that we knew. Nonetheless, this precious being was found by my endearing hunters and presented to you, the magnificent being of nature, a part of the race we knew as Elves!” the Hoarder declared.

The audience gasped in astonishment. Right in front of them, a mystical being was being sold like a material possession. Not too long, several people from the crowd yelled their price. The Hoarder hushed them.

“Now, I know that you all want to get a grip on its magnificent existence, but now is not the right time, as others might not have yet readied their leverages. We will hold this meeting on Friday night! So, please be ready on that day, because things might go wild if you know what I mean. He-he-he.”

As he bent down, lowering his hat to his chest, showing courtesy to the audience, his thin smile widened, and the light slowly vanished with the clapping.

“Lance, this is…” Ina frantically tried to say something, but Lance interrupted her.

“I know what you were thinking, but we have our top priority. We would take care of that matter later,” Lance said as if he had no intention of letting it interfere with their main objective. Gary, on the other hand, was thinking of something different. Ina interrupted Gary by waving her hand, and Gary nodded and followed Lance.

As they slipped through the people to the edge of the corridor, they saw the thugs guarding the red door. They did not need to know what was inside, but they already had some ideas.

“Halt, this place is for VIPs only,” the thug blocked the way.

“We came here for the Hoarder,” Lance replied.

“You have insurance?”

It puzzled the three of them over what he said.

“Pardon?”

“Insurance...invitations, money, name on the list,” the thug elaborated.

“Let’s just say that we don’t have any of those, but we have something to offer him.”

The thug grunted and walked away with a suspicious glance. The trio noticed it, and Gary gulped in anxiousness, wiping his sweaty forehead using his hand. Ina was concerned about it and couldn’t help but whisper to Lance, “What are we going to do if things go south?”

“I have no such plan,” Lance said and stiffened, gulping at what he realized.

“What?” Ina said.

“Relax, we’ll just bust our way out of here,” Lance confidently replied.

“Oh, man,” Gary mumbled, putting his palms on his face.

He picked up the sudden change in the atmosphere. Lance gave a glance to his left and then to his back. Thugs holding guns came close to them. He cursed, “Damn.” And Lance muttered, “Prepare for the worst.”

The two picked up the pace and showed a sullen expression as they encircled them. “The boss wants to see you.”

“Lead the way,” Lance said.

The trio proceeded with the lead of the grunt in the narrow-wide space of the white platform with the white hue giving sight to their way. Turning to the southerly path, they observed each room they happened by, which was guarded, or if not, a grunt would freely assist them. A person came crashing into Ina as someone hurriedly came out of the room.

“Oh, do forgive me, miss,” he hissed. Ina covered her mouth as his breath stank of alcohol, and the man held her left hand. “Hey, have we met before?”

“Uh no, probably you mistook her for someone else, sir,” Gary interjected, creating a gap between Ina and him.

“Surely I met you somewhere before, and it wouldn’t be easy for me to forget such a beauty like you.”

Gary snapped and turned to wave his hand at those who were trying to catch Ina. “Seriously, you should go back to where you came from,” he said, his irritation escaping his breath.

The guy would dare to persist, however, the thug interjected and firmly clutched his hand.

“Please go back inside, sir,” the thug said.

“Okay, okay, no need to be so brash,” he muttered, throwing another flirty glance at Ina. “Call me if you’re bored.” Chuckling, he walked back into the room.

“What a creep,” Gary muttered in disgust. “Are you alright, Ina?” he asked, turning towards her.

“Yeah, I’m never bothered by that,” Ina replied calmly.

They continued to walk, and three guards joined them, with one walking ahead and guiding them to a room at the end of the corridor. The path had no windows or stairs, only a thick wall that limited their options for escape.

Once they reached the room, the thug who was leading them left them in front of the door, with two grunts guarding outside. Lance turned the doorknob, hearing the creaking sound, and they entered the room.

The Hoarder called out to them as they entered.

“If it isn’t our guests.”

Lance threw a conspicuous glance at him, wary of any danger.

“Now, now, don’t give me that look. It’s not like I’m going to do something bad to you guys, hee-hee, not if you don’t give me any reasons to do it. Now, come in, no need to be shy.”

Gary felt unreasonably chill that glided in his spine as he entered the room. The Hoarder’s words and intentions frightened him, and he could sense that Ina was worried too. However, their leader, Lance, showed no expression and cautiously observed the Hoarder.

“I know you were wondering why an important person like me would want something from you guys, but clearly, you’re the ones who want something from me,” the Hoarder said, smirking as he pulled away his red cape, threw it to a red cushion, and sat down on it. He tapped his hand on the cushion, implying for them to sit down too. They lounged at the opposite side of him.

“I have been in this kind of business for a few years, and each guest and businessman that comes here gets to know me first, so it wouldn’t be surprising to lead you guys to meet me here. Tell me, what do you want?” he questioned them forthrightly.

“We came from a very far place and just got here now in a hurry,” Lance said, tapping his feet rhythmically on the ground and crossing his arms, while the two beside him listened.

“Far away, eh? To where? Leaf region, Iziol?” the Hoarder asked.

“Not exactly. Somewhere in the Coastal Region,” Lance replied.

The Hoarder showed a surprised expression, but hid it. “Coastal, you say? Now, this is interesting. I know someone who wasn't able to get out of that savage region of tribes that is currently at war. Tell me, what brings you here?”

“The reason is quite complicated, and we can’t reveal it to you. It’s a matter of privacy,” Lance said.

“Oh dear, you must know that in business, one must trust their partner and open themselves up to create a strong bond. That’s the foundation on which I built my empire. Well, if you’re not willing to tell me, then I can’t trust you guys, which means you won’t get what you came looking for, no?” the Hoarder said, his tone turning cold.

Lance fixated his eyes, deep in thought about which words to choose. Ina and Gary could feel the tension growing. They were anticipating that the Hoarder might not fully trust them, and it confirmed their suspicions when one of his men reported back about them.

It seemed that he hit the right nerve.

“Cat got your tongue. Tsk, okay kiddo, getting straight to the point, do you have any leverage to compensate for my service?” The Hoarder asked.

Lance was still lost in his thoughts, trying to think of what they could offer in exchange. Gary noticed the change in the Hoarder’s demeanor and guessed that he must be getting angry due to Lance’s consecutive non-response. Gary decided to intervene, knowing it could get dirty.

“To be honest, we’re broke,” Gary said, cutting through the tension.

“Oh, that’s not nice to hear at all,” the Hoarder frowned.

“But we could offer you our service,” Lance replied confidently.

The Hoarder looked at them, judging them. “Kids, with white funny clothing, need to work on their interpersonal skills. I see no good in all of you.”

Gary hushed and changed his voice, saying “We bombed the state of Taronda, launched a bio-attack at the Iziol Region, and caused a civil war among the tribes in Leafol. Would you still neglect our accomplishments?”

The Hoarder showed a mocking smile, wanting to be impressed by their claims. “Well, there’s one way to find out.” He snapped his fingers, calling out the thugs hiding in the shadows.

Gary’s expression stiffened, and he looked at Lance, he returned with a nod, and they both threw a glance at Ina. Lance jumped out from behind, as if the thug was about to attack him, but Lance’s movements were quick, and he could guard himself with his left arm, then throw an uppercut punch into the thug’s chin, sending him flying. Lance then turned to face the grunt, and the two exchanged heavy punches.

Meanwhile, Gary and Ina were facing four other grunts. Gary delivered a right hook, but he missed as the grunt swayed his body and countered with a hook of his own. It wasn’t something Gary couldn’t withstand, but he might lose a tooth there. He spat blood. The grunt tried to grab him, but Ina came crashing down with her knee on his face.

The grunts closed in on them, holding batons. There were only four left, and they had no assurance of how things would turn out. Both Gary and Ina smirked as they pulled out sticks hidden in their coats. Gary wiped the blood dripping from his nose and rushed towards the enemies, as they parried and strengthened themselves with sheer force, gripping their weapons.

When Lance moved his head back, the enemy saw his feint and came much closer to deliver a quick blow on his face. Lance’s nose bled, and he took another blow from the enemy. Lance adjusted his dishevelled glasses and delivered another punch to the enemy’s gutter. The enemy grunted, and his eyes began to drift in a haze. The two of them were coughing hard, spitting out blood. Lance saw an opportunity and tried to pull the enemy up and prepare a stance to throw him at the enemies in the back, where Gary and Ina were facing, but it was futile. The enemy rose wobbling on his feet and held onto Lance’s neck, then threw him at Gary. Gary was taken aback, and stumbled at the two grunts on top of them.

“Oh, crap,” the two muttered.

“Get off on top of me, please.” Gary said and huffed.

Lance stood up, turning his attention to the enemy. Lance sheepishly said, “Screw it,” as he held his breath and hardened his fist.

When the enemy caught Ina’s arm, her knees slammed against his groin. The poor bastard was on his knees, screaming in pain. Gary, who was beginning to recover, used a metallic stick to slam it into the face of the stiffened enemy and punched the enemy on his left side. Ina used her heels to stomp the enemy’s feet, causing him to let go and crouch to his knees. She pirouetted and her feet landed on the enemy’s face.

The enemy swept his leg to Lance, but he caught it. Shoving it aside, a clenched fist devastatingly made contact to the enemy in the gut, causing him to cough up blood. With sheer force, he delivered another roundhouse kick. The man howled in pain as he dropped, his face first on the pavement.

The Hoarder was clapping at the side line. “Well-well, I thought y’all just talked, but I see you can fight as well.”

Lance glanced at him with a fiery look as he walked towards him. The Hoarder raised his brow as he stepped back, wary of the change in the guests’ attitude.

“I guess this is it. Tell me what you want, and in exchange, you’ll serve me,” the Hoarder said.

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind,” Lance said furiously as he pushed the Hoarder against the wall. “You’re going to tell us what’s happening in this city.”

“Oh, come on. We both know what will happen if you’re going to do something for me. Well, it’s not like mocking your abilities, but you could barely handle those goons. Imagine what would happen if all of my men gang the three of you?” he chuckled, mocking them.

“Don’t underestimate us,”

Lance gripped the Hoarder’s shoulder tightly.

“Don’t threaten me,” the Hoarder said as he shoved Lance’s hands aside and pushed him with his palm. The two caught him. Lance felt terrified by the sheer force the Hoarder performed.

“Before I started this business, they once knew me as a mercenary. An experienced man, if you would say, but I’m not into it anymore, well not directly,” the Hoarder said.

Lance was surprised and made a gap between them. “Tell me, you’re the agents of Canary, am I right?”

“How did you know?” Gary asked. He braced Ina’s shoulder.

“I don’t need to be psychic to know what’s inside your mind. Entering here with confidence and talking about being invited without knowing what’s inside tells a different tale. That’s right, your expressions when you first saw the auction,” the Hoarder explained. “I’m awfully mindful of my surroundings. You should have worn different colours to make you inconspicuous.”

“Well, congratulations, you’re a seer. Why not kill us now?” Ina said.

“Oh no, my dear. I’m not that idiotic to waste such an opportunity. You want something on me, right? Let me guess about the mysterious incidents happening for a couple of months?”

“Yes,” Lance replied as he softly huffed and crossed his arms. “It’s about the disappearance of people in this city.”

“About that, I can give you a clue.”

“Why?”

“Because first, there is something that I want you to do.”

“What is it?”

“You think we can trust him?” Ina asked.

“We have no choice.” Lance said.

The Hoarder chuckled and said, “Where were we again? All right, let’s talk about your plea.”

Gary nervously gulped and folded his hands.

“There is someone that I want you to take care of.” The Hoarder said.

“Who is it?”

The Hoarder’s face lit up with a cheerful smile, revealing his joyous eyes. He narrated everything that he wanted them to do, but the three had no choice but to accept his offer, unaware of his true intentions.