"Ah, an enforcer?! You should've told me earlier." Orcsbane bellowed, lighting a cigar with a match. The items in his massive hands looked small, and the part-giant had to handle them with great care. "You can't just stroll in here without notice, you know. Thought you was some sort of assassin."

"I received no response when I knocked, so I let myself in."

"You couldn't have sent a message through Oliver? He's the one we always deal with. Keep it in mind next time, okay?"

A plume of smoke escaped the bearded man's nostrils and he let out a large exhale. He was quite calm considering someone had broken and entered his home. He sat in an upright position and lazily crossed his legs. His brother, Rotfoot, was still sound asleep and dead to the world.

"I will. But I need some information." Damien gave him a rundown of his brother's appearance. He tried to think of an appropriate reason to search for his brother without implicating him in some kind of crime. "The boss is quite interested in recruiting him and we've heard rumors of him in Strofil. Know anything about it?"

Orcsbane finished his cigar quickly and squinted his eyes trying to remember. He pulled on his beard while Damien watched impassively.

The vampire tiptoed the line between false statements and half-truths. Vague statements and specific details worked in tandem to create a reliable disguise. If there's one thing he learned from Chester, confidence was key. A foolproof identity wasn't needed. He didn't have the experience nor did he have the shapeshifting abilities that the illusionist wielded, but seeing him in action provided Damien with enough know-how to act on his own.

"...Come to think of it, I remember a guy like that coming up in rumors. Was he..." The bearded giant snapped his fingers trying to recall a near-forgotten memory. Every snap was the equivalent of a human clapping their hands as hard as they could. "...the one who was in hiding? He killed a buncha' people?"

Damien's expression remained calm, but his chest rose slightly upon gaining traction on his brother's whereabouts. "Yes, that one."

"He caused a bit of ruckus not too far from here, somewhere along the neutral zone. I wasn't there when it happened, but I heard he scared the piss out of our enforcers! Screwed with the wrong guy, I tell ya!" He laughed uproariously.

"Where is he now? When did this happen?" The vampire teen pressed, unable to contain the slight urgency he held in his voice.

Orcsbane shrugged his broad shoulders and got up slowly. "I dunno. Couldn't tell ya' myself. That was a few years back and I haven't heard of him since. Either laid low or got out of here. Oi! Wake up!"

The part-giant slapped the slumbering man on the other mattress. The light blow would've seriously injured another person, but Rotfoot simply got up with a disoriented look on his face. He looked back and forth between his bulkier sibling and the unfamiliar youth standing behind him with no small amount of confusion.

"Who's the midget?"

"Enforcer. Came looking for a missing person. Come to think of it, I didn't catch your name...?"

The vampire thought back on everything he had received from this point and wanted to keep the giant brothers as a point of contact for more information. Despite their nasty reputations and unkempt look, Orcsbane volunteered the information without any hassle. Although it meant keeping up his front as an enforcer, Damien had no doubt he could gather more information about the group and their inner workings to prevent getting caught.

"'I'm Chester. Here, gold for the trouble. And for the hole I made in your door."

He rustled through his bag and tossed the heavy-set man a gold coin for giving him some more clues on where Braham could be.

'Overpaying? Sure, but whatever it takes to get more information like that.'

"Ho, don't mind if I do! Do you want some Highland Cannabis before you go? We got the best stuff on the market!"

Orcsbane's attitude improved and he began treating Damien like an esteemed guest. The vampire shook his head politely and decided to keep things short and simple. All he hoped for in exchange was that they didn't ask questions and provided him with information when needed.

They led him down and chattered amicably. Damien tried his best to avoid looking at Rotfoot's toes, but their length and grisly appearance made it difficult. Any personal questions they asked Damien were deflected politely or answered with half-truths and vague statements. As a group, they descended to the second floor and the giants began to eat. They held enormous quantities of food in their pantry, quite literally enough to feed an army.

Everything he learned about the giants didn't point them out to be evil. Aside from the initial clash he had with Orcsbane, nothing indicated nefarious intentions which further lowered Damien's willingness to exploit them for his gain. Rotfoot, the second giant, settled down on the table with a plate of food enough to feed a small family. It made him that much more willing to deal with the gangsters peacefully.

"So just to clarify, nobody else in your territory would have more clues on where Braham Rose is hiding?"

The noise of silverware clinking stopped momentarily as the giant brothers ate like pigs. Even the way they handled their cutlery was rough; grasping the handles using their whole fists like uneducated cavemen. The loud chewing and swallowing noises elicited a mild look of disgust from the black-haired knight.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"...Give Franky a shot. We have him deal with all the minor shit going around here. And if you haven't already, try the Seer from the neutral zone."

"The Seer?"

"Yeah, y'know...the crazy ol' bastard with the crystal ball? Pretty sure he's got some weird magic to help with divination. Can find people when they're on the low trying to avoid debt collectors and all that. Weird. Thought you would've gone to him first."

"Ah. Yeah, of course. Slipped my mind, I'll go look for the Seer as well." Damien coughed in his fist, trying to make it seem as though he knew who Orcsbane was talking about. "I'll be headed down now, thanks for the help."

Before the giants could say goodbye, Damien felt two presences on the floor underneath.

Someone had entered the building.

Utilizing his mana-sensing ability, he could tell one of the entrants wasn't inferior to the giant brothers standing before him. They didn't seem to notice or care, focused solely on the food on their plate.

The boy's heart rate spiked for a brief moment. He didn't expect such a development to occur. Fighting to keep the anxiety off his face, he turned away from the giants and headed for the staircase leading up to the third floor.

"Where ya' going?"

"I'll be leaving through the window. Just a preference of mine."

"Uh, that one doesn't have a latch...It's a sealed window."

The vampire cursed. Unable to think of anything, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He thought back on Chester and remembered how he'd deal with such a situation.

'Confidence is key. Don't let the facade slip, and bullshit your way out by any means necessary.'

The sound of footsteps ascending the staircase alerted the giants as well, and they stopped eating to watch who dared enter their abode. Damien could feel the other, weaker mana signature remain on the bottom floor. Orcsbane picked up a pair of metal gauntlets and Rotfoot placed his hand on an oversized battle axe nearly the size of Damien himself. A hooded figure entered the second floor and made himself known.

It was a human male. Neither exceptionally handsome nor ugly. A round face, with shaggy dark hair covering his forehead. A small, inquisitive smile revealed he had a gold front tooth. His robe had a similar design to the one Damien stole, but the insignia of the Twilight Bandits was a solid black instead of purple.

"Nice seeing you two. Who's the kid?"

Almost immediately, the brothers let their weapons down and grinned. They recognized the man immediately.

"Olly! This one 'ere is Enforcer Chester! Stopped by looking for someone."

"Enforcer?" The newcomer looked genuinely intrigued. He stepped towards Damien and the vampire couldn't help but step backward.

Oliver didn't stand out in terms of strength. He wasn't intimidating. But his gait and demeanor made the vampire think of only one word.

'Evil.'

Malevolence. He had experienced cruel people before, and they always had an eeriness that made his skin tingle. Elson, the poison master who invaded Welton stood out in particular. He lacked remorse even when allies were caught in his range of effect. Delont, the mad vampire that slaughtered dozens. They were all powerful people who could commit murder in the blink of an eye.

The vampire felt itchy staring at the man. He fought down the disgust welling from within his body.

Damien couldn't help but raise his guard as Oliver approached, sensing something more malicious in the man than anything he'd seen before. His sensitive nose caught the scent of blood and accidentally whet his appetite.

"Hey, where's your badge? I've never seen you before."

"Don't have one. Didn't know I was supposed to get one."

There was a brief moment of tense silence as the real enforcer stared at him with an expressionless look. Damien didn't avert his eyes, and maintained some tension in his shoulders.

Oliver broke out into a smile and laughed it off.

"Gahaha! I'm fucking with you. We don't actually have one. Nice meeting you."

The enforcer slapped him on the back and Damien looked on uncomfortably. He wanted to get out of the situation as fast as possible but was unsure of the person down below on the first floor.

Oliver returned his attention to the giants and began chatting amicably. The enforcer had been sent on a mission as well, similar to Damien's own. The gold-toothed man's ragged robe opened up slightly and revealed several blades of varying sizes lined up on his hip. Some were jagged, others were sharp and precise.

'A melee class. Some sort of assassin? Doesn't seem to suspect me too much, but I shouldn't take it for granted.'

"-But I left him downstairs for a bit. He's all banged up even after the healing potion I gave him, so he couldn't even escape if he wanted to. The chains fucked up the way his limbs went into place."

"Crikey. Wouldn't wish that on anybody." Rotfoot exclaimed. "I grabbed some infused treats from my dealer. You want some?"

The enforcer smirked. "When do I ever say no?"

Damien took his chance to interject himself into the conversation. "It's nice meeting you all, but I do have matters to attend to. I will return if I need more information."

The three bade him farewell, although the teen couldn't help but notice Oliver's gaze linger on him for a little longer than normally expected. The man's voice remained slow and deliberate as he said goodbye.

"...Yeah. I'll be seeing you then."

Damien raised his hood and began to leave. He maintained his vigilance, almost sure that the enforcer would strike him while his back was turned. But nothing occurred. The discussion renewed amongst the three gangsters and their voices faded slowly as the vampire exited the building.

His footsteps were paced and even, but the boy intentionally turned his head and body away from the rest of the room. The less he saw of the captive, the better. Damien only had eyes for the exit.

"Stranger, stranger...Won't you help me out?" A quiet voice begged. It was a male voice, although it sounded hoarse and weak.

The teen froze momentarily but continued his walk at the same speed without saying anything.

"Just loosen the chains, they've broken my arms and legs. I'm in pain with every move I make..."

Damien felt guilt rising within him. He was abandoning a person fully knowing they'd end up in the enforcer's company. Although he wasn't able to discern what the man was captured for, what the boy knew for sure was it wouldn't end happily.

'Leave? Or set him free?'

The vampire's steps crawled to a halt. Only three steps away from the door and accomplished his mission with little trouble. He closed his eyes, in turmoil over what to do next. The kidnapped man's voice didn't stop, and became increasingly desperate as Damien slowed.

'Let me see what he looks like first.'

The Shadow Knight turned his head to see what the man looked like before doing anything rash. It was a tall, bearded man wrapped in chains. Gaunt face and sunken eyes. He possessed scars along his neck. Damien couldn't help but wonder if he'd seen the man before.

But as the boy tried to recollect where he'd seen the kidnapped man, the gaunt and pleading face turned into one of shock and horror. His eyes held a glimmer of recognition.

"HIM! IT'S-IT'S FUCKING HIM!" The man shook violently in his chains. "YOU! YOU-! I HAD TO EAT COZBI BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Damien took a step back from the sheer intensity of the man's anger. It finally clicked in his mind. The kidnappers Chester had dealt with weren't dead. He turned on his heel and ran for the door.

Damien's armored boots thudded on the floor as he made a break for it. Past the crowds and into the streets. His mind went on overdrive while thinking about what to do next.

'Back to the base? No. I can't. They'll find me. I need to lay low first. Maybe even get out of their territory. Damn it all!'

He ran without pause, knowing it would take a bit of time before the gangsters responded to his disappearance. If they realized he was related to the kidnapper, it wouldn't bode well for Damien and the others.

The vampire vanished into the streets of Strofil South, leaving a broken door and a half-insane man in his wake.