1

The first meal of the day went well. Kilian devoured his stacked plate of rice and pork. Within five minutes he had already finished the meal including the baijiu. When he put his plate down, ready to pay the bill, he noticed everyone was quiet watching him like he committed atrocious acts.

"What?" he asked. His eyes glow blue, lighting beyond his table.

Everyone shook their heads and resumed their business. The restaurant’s maid walks up picking up the plate and as Kilian gets his tab, a loud bang from the entrance door opens. The whole floor went quiet. A group of men wearing bright red robes filled with decorative dragon patterns. “Don’t Move!” The one at the front of the crowd yelled. Everyone went standstill and the group walked in.

Kilian, facing towards the entrance and the main counter, directed his eyes at the group while his right hand, hidden under the table, gripped at the hilt. That emblem is not mistaken. The front guy went up to the counter and ordered a frail guy in a ragged white robe, assuming to be the manager of the eatery, demanding payment.

The manager, nervous, walked up to the counter, “It’s not enough,” he said and showed the earnings jar. “WHAT?!” The guy slammed the counter. “ That’s only half, we gave you an extra month to catch up! And this is what you got?!” He scorns and pulls the manager’s robe close to his face, and jerks his finger right close to his eye. “Maybe I should take your eye instead.”

The manager's mouth opened and his eyebrows raised. His facial expression signaling panic got everyone else’s attention but nothing they could do. “No please!!” He yelled and sparkles generated from the front guy’s finger. Kilian observes the crowd swiftly before getting interrupted in his head. Ow. What the hell was that spaz? He thought while the effect in his head dissipated.

<< Can you read me? >>

Oh, great, that's just more troublesome.

<>

Is this some invasion of privacy you are trying to pull because this ain’t going anywhere?

<>

Go on. Better hurry because these goons are about to assault this manager.

<< I figured that we could collaborate in situations like this. Make sure, you can use swords right?>>

I think so. Innately it seems. Remember the wine bottle. That was naturally instinctive.

<< Then get ready…>>

Hello? Shit…

Attention redirects to the front guy pulling his left arm preparing to thrust into the manager’s eye. Everyone at the table clenches their teeth, covering their eyes.

Schwing!

Gusts swirled across the lobby. Sounds of glass shatter coming from the shelf behind the main counter.

“Ugh.” one of the customers groaned, succumbing to the table after being in the back from a solid lid, coming from one of the jars on the shelf.

A customer nearest to Kilian’s table uncovered his eyes, astounded, and tapped others at their table. They all uncovered their eyes only to find the counter in a total mess with Kilian fully drawing out his sword with the tip of the blade directly aligned at the side of the front guy’s eye. While other red robes in position with their fingers up, pointed directly at his head.

“How much does he owe you?” Kilian asked, while keeping focus on the other red robes just positioned around him with their fingers out. Should I cut all their fingers or hold my patience?

He thought while the familiar urge was starting to ignite.

<>

“Fuck off!” The front guy responded with a swift turn and switched to targeting Kilian with his finger on his left hand still active. At the next millisecond, Kilian’s eyes turned purple, instinctively drawing up his conical hat, twisting his footwork in a circular motion. A Loud echo blasted through the eatery, stunning everyone in the vicinity.

SLICE!

Blood spurted across the wooden floor of the eatery. “GAHHH!” The front guy wails while gripping his left hand, spurting blood, as he slumps to the floor. Another screeching echo and with the others in red lost focus, he then sliced all of their fingers too. All collapsed to the floor in pain as blood leaked from their hollow wounds.

Ok, look at the mess you made. Not that I care.

<>

Sure.

Kilian’s eyes switched off, running to the unoccupied tables, and grabbing a stash of napkins. He tossed towards the wounded goons. “Good riddance," he muttered and turned to the counter, looking at the earnings jar before pulling one gold coin and placing it on the table. “Here’s a gold for your trouble. Along with the food fees.”

The manager was grateful and didn’t forbid Kilian from entering the eatery but allowed him future visits with free hospitality. He thanked the manager and took off the conical hat, leaving it hanging on his back. Sounds of the door moved, and Kilian ran out to find the front guy and his goons had run away. Looking down there are blood trails left along the town’s main street. He got outside, the sun blasting through the openings, where the blood trail went abruptly to the left. They were running madly downhill.

As he considered following them, a commotion came from behind. A gathering towards the church. The whole street above is packed and loud, seemingly wanting to enter. Oh boy. The people are gonna speculate what’s going on when they see nobody in the casket. Kilian stood briefly.

Looking back he sees the goons have turned left once more, meaning they are heading back to the Hong An area. Ultimately decided not to even bother and went up to the crowd gathering.

Klaus is seriously popular. Maybe I can get some intel about myself.

He lifts his conical hat over his head, blocking the outside visibility of most of his face. From afar, he can see the church’s duo doors flat open with a line of crowd piling in. It was beyond imaginable like a standstill. The roundabout was fully occupied, and Kilian remembered it was wide for a town, so this was baffling. Shifting through the crowd one by one, the sounds of nervously breathing all around him. All ahead noticed him walking through and didn’t hesitate to move as he could hear vocals signaling them to back away.

“Hey guys, back up, one of the conical hats,” said the crowd. “Does he know Klaus?!”

A couple of heavy breaths blew into his face, and he redirected his breathing towards his mouth. A minute felt like half an hour with all this crowd, he eventually reached the casket area where a group was up on the platform, distraught with nobody in the casket.

Some sat down at the benches, and Kilian went up to the front row, where it was empty. He sat down, listening to the attendees and observing the ones on the platform. He leaned back on the benches and eavesdropped on ongoing conversations.

“It has to be at least one of the five involved. They treat him like shit,” A lady said from the line. That sounds fucked to his mind all over a dead body being stolen. Similar conversations all involve [the five]. He got jolted from the following vulgar phrases inflicted on them, leading a whole chant within the line of the crowd, ramming his eardrums. Public opinion towards them is brutally negative without a doubt. Well, Mei’s experience is no outlier.

Kilian sat for a little longer when nothing had changed, and he turned his attention towards the people at the platform. He pulled out the sketch from his inner pockets, simultaneously glancing at the facial features.

Damn. One big family. All relatives it seems but no parents. The eyes and nose of the ladies are related while the brothers have similar jaws. He quickly puts the sketch back into his inner pocket.

“Sir?” Someone from behind tapped Kilian’s shoulders, unintentionally withdrawing his katana halfway. He jolted up and looked behind him to see a couple. “Sorry. We didn’t mean to provoke you.”

“Nah. It’s fine. My mind was briefly blank,” Kilian said, tilting his conical hat, making him less hidden.

“What brings you here to the church?” the man questioned.

“Happened to be in the crowd as I exited the eatery.”

“You new here?”

Kilian nodded, “Yeah maybe.” The man’s face feels punchable. The way he talks looks disturbing.

<< Oh god, those two. What are they doing here?>>

Can’t you just randomly pop up like that? That’s twice in a row.

<< Apologies, but you gonna get used to not getting provoked like earlier.>>

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Nice trying to call me out. That’s not the issue here. What are you here for?

<< Finding out these two to be here is tipping me to the edge. I’m gonna listen while you go at it.>>

The couple introduced themselves as Reginald and Yin Huang. During childhood years following school, the two meet with Klaus at the church or Jinsu Hong An Sect. Reginald stated he was Klaus’s best friend. Oh lord. The best friend statement. Ain’t that the irony? Kilian thought. Reginald, a bastard, is not sincere between the words of his lips coming out. The charm is minimally boring.

Kilian's attention slid back to the crowd, staring at the two in disgust. He then notices the emblem on her arms, recognizing the flames and dragon pattern. The conversation is going nowhere as Reginald further continues. He has the guts to brag about how he got Yin as his partner while Yin intentionally exerted her qi, partially reaching his feet.

She didn’t like that one bit. He could have said something like this to his relatives or family before. However, that emblem. No doubt. So she is one of them. Kilian, while internally processing the antagonistic words coming all out, sees the faint frown lines between Yin’s eyebrows. She introduced herself as being born into the Junsu Hong An sect. Her outfit was dark red, not as bright, but had the same patterns as the guys at the Eatery.

Reginald doesn’t have that robe. It doesn’t matter though, he is affiliated with one of the [five groups] no matter how minimal or significant. If he is in a romantic relationship with her, Reginald has to have some affiliation with the Hong An Sect. Mei Zhan was betrayed by the Hong An. The reputation of any of the five groups, including Hong An should be treated with such cautiousness or distrust, at least that’s what Kilian could gather currently. He didn’t forget the tone Reginald imputed through his words. Total disrespect to Klaus.

Kilian’s smiling expression transitions as his lips close together, and his eyebrows push down to the center of his nose. His eyes grew thinner, causing the two to look at each other.

Ok, I think I have enough of this. Kilian internally expresses in such fumes.

<< I was out. Unbelievable bastards. Still the same as ever years ago. Do what you will.>> Mei brushed off.

“I’m gonna stop you right there. This conversation is going nowhere,” Kilian said, raising his voice, and pointing the emblem on Yin’s arm. “No mistake, you are from Hong An aren’t you?” His eyes glow blue beneath the shades. Yin visibly panics and switches topics. Kilian immediately cut her off mentioning the qi earlier. “Even his bragging doesn’t distract me from your faint qi, scratching my feet. What’s your true relation to the sect? Not gonna ask again,” he bluntly said.

Reginald jumped up from the bench.

“Ow!” Reginald fell back to his bench, holding his nose. A Drip of blood leaked through the spaces between his fingers.

“You thought,” Kilian said, already standing.

The line in the crowd all stared and stood silent focusing on the confrontation. The ones on the platform turned to view the matter, with one speaking through the mic on the podium. “Ones at the seat, please calm down,” a male voice said.

The crowd gestured non-verbally, some waving their hands to not do anything.

Kilian draws his katana directly above Yin. Reginald reacted and he sliced a wound on his wrists. He yelled in pain while everyone was just standing non-reacting. Kilian’s eyes staggered between purple and blue while staring directly at Yin.

Yin took a deep breath and hesitantly nodded, “Yes. What do you want?” Her right hand fidgeted and tried to hold her grip.

“I think we should go,” Reginald slurred, attempting to stand up, prompting Kilian to kick the benches right up to the two, preventing them from leaving. Reginald got knocked back, gripping over his legs. Got his legs strained.

“You ain’t going nowhere,” Kilian said, pushing him back down to his bench. He redirected back to Yin. “Does North Jinsu Eatery owe a debt to your sect?”

“No.” She spoke shakenly.

“Then why are there five goons who dress in bright red robes with the exact emblems?” Kilian pulled the emblem drawing from his pocket. “I’m not bullshitting either. That emblem on your arm is very clear.” He popped the drawing at both of their faces.

“Those guys are the low ranks and are debt hunters. They hunt any businesses who took loans or affiliated with our sect, and their dependence comes in payment to contain that trust of the alliance.”

“Only you?”

She shook her head. She explained the majority of the business in town depended on the [five groups]. Only a few made it out of the debt quickly enough while most are struggling under their grasp while keeping the vibe as positive as possible to their customers. North Jinsu Eatery is in debt with Hong An. Fucking hell. Kilian bites his lips.

“You will see me again. I’ll get straight to the point. When you leave, you're gonna tell your superiors or the leader exactly as I say.” Kilian stood up, pulled the bench away, and walked right in front of the two, standing over them. “Kilian has offered to pay the Eatery’s debt. He has asked the debt hunters for the price, but the hunters reacted stupidly and went offensive. So, I sabotaged their fingers. We can meet sometime to negotiate the debt.”

“Ok…Ok,” She said expeditiously, nodding and nudging Reginald’s leg, signaling to leave. Reginald’s hand hovers away from his nose, revealing blood stains beneath his nostrils. He struggles to stand, gripping on the bench, helping himself up.

“I suggest you do it now,” Kilian said, giving her a blank blue stare. Both turned their backs a couple of times while leaving through the crowd, all gave them disgusted stares.

Kilian holds the katana firmly, keeping his eyes on them till can’t be seen in the crowd. He then turns back, figured to be noticed by the group up on the platform, assumingly watching the whole scene.

“I’m sorry did I disturb you?” He lifted off his conical hat, his blue eyes dim.

They all shook their heads as one of them walked down from the platform. The boy looks young. Probably in his early twenties or post-teenage years. He has light hair and black pupil-less eyes. The person went up to Kilian and shook his hand, “Names Hugo. Nice to meet you. All of us were watching the whole commotion. You are an insane bastard. Everyone would say the same. ”

“Likewise, Kilian, nice to meet you, and I assume this is your family?”

“Right. All of us are brothers and sisters of Klaus,” Hugo said while holding his hand out introducing all the members. Starting from the left. “This is Markus, Ronja, Vivien, Dirk, Konstantin, Marina, and me, Hugo.” Hugo directed Kilian up on the platform. All greeted him and offered their gratitude for dissing the couple, prompting him to ask.

“All of you have a history with the two?”

“Klaus loathed the two and always told us the stories of the two. Especially Yin is with the sect and Reginald being an asshole so-called friend to Klaus,” Dirk said while holding Klaus’s diary. “It’s all in here too.”

“I guess we all have the same first impressions. Reginald already gave off red flags with the punchable face and weak charm.”

Before continuing, Dirk walked up to the podium, issuing the crowd to leave. One of the people in the crowd asked for the conical hat wielder’s name. Kilian replied, leaving his name in their memories. They all depart through the traffic, satisfied, leaving the others outside bewildered with no choice but to leave.

“I offer my condolences for your loss, and unfortunate to see that his body somehow disappeared,” Kilian said while awkwardly staring at the casket that he was in just a couple of hours earlier.

“Thanks. It means a lot. Klaus was always there guiding us, protecting our backs. The Jianke sect killed our parents. All because they wanted to leave the sect to raise us. They denied it. When our parents revolted, they obliterated them.” Vivien said while wiping her tears.

Jianke sect. Is this the other one? Great.

<< What a bother. >>

Are they worse?

<< Much more>>

Kilian sighed. The[sects] gradually annoys his soul. “Wish I met him. Seems like a great guy.”

“You would love the gathering with all of us when he’s around,” Vivien replied.

Kilian walked up to the casket, and Hugo asked what if the Jianke sect took the body, and he could only respond with uncertainty without revealing the whole truth, keeping the chaos minimal. He then added that he might have the potential to enter one of the sects due to his internal strength. Dirk tried to prove it by punching his side, only to immensely bruise his knuckles.

Oh crap. “You alright?” Kilian asked, instinctively his eyes went blue again.

“FUCK! Your body is like fucking bricks, oi!” Dirk slumped while Ronja and Marina grabbed a set towel from the podium’s reservoir wrapping it around his knuckles. Marina went off to the back.

She then came back with some bottle of substance, unwrapped the towel, and poured it onto the bandage then they put the damp side of the bandage onto his right knuckle. He clenched his teeth as they were wrapping the bandage around, covering his whole right hand. Kilian assisted him back up and was confused as to why he did that.

“I think the vibe of insanity goes with everyone here isn’t it?”

“Not me,” Ronja said.

Others kept silent with Dirk reluctantly nodding, trying to smile, ignoring the pain.

Kilian smiled, “It will heal in no time.”

2

The crowd within the church took almost an hour to be cleared. With all these people slowly crashing through the traffic, luckily not many horses came by during this period.

Hours pass with the sun setting on the horizon. Kilian helped the siblings clean up the church after the bodiless funeral event, concluding the day was supposed to be a walking funeral and be buried at the cemetery nearby. Now with nothing present, the church insisted on keeping the vacant casket for cleaning.

“It really was something. I’m not gonna lie, I don't ever recall interacting this much.”

“Oh, really?”

Kilian shrugged, sitting down on the edge of the platform, and drinking a sip of water. “Makes interactions more interesting per se.”

“Very interesting output,” Markus said. “I forgot to mention. What are those blue and purple eyes from earlier?”

Man out of all things.

<< You got carried out a bit earlier>>

Oh please, I didn’t go that off. Besides, their interactions are like a party. You can’t deny that ever.

<>

‘I was-”

“Oh, ignore him. He sometimes goes beyond.” Hugo interrupted.

“It was just a question,” Markus said.

“Speaking of, how about joining us for dinner?” Vivien asked, finishing the last parts of the cleanup.

I guess I’ll take that generosity. He finishes the remainder of the water bottle, “I wouldn’t mind as long as there is rice and meat.”

“There is one we always wanted to go to but never got the opportunity to. Since you helped and kept us in the mood, I think you should join us. And no it’s not the North Eatery. It’s the opposite.”

“South?”

“Yea, south. Heading downwards closer to the shore will direct us to it,” Vivien said walking down the platform. All headed out of the church. “Good meat from what I heard from residents in town who go during the sunset.”

“Got my attention. Let’s go then.”

The eight walked out of the church, with Vivien behind locking the doors, clenching the locks and chains together. Outside grew a little chilly with sudden winds coming from below the hill, blowing towards them.

“Ah shucks, another gulf winds. Should’ve brought my covers,” Konstantin said.

Kilian lifted his conical hat, effectively blocking the majority of the gusting winds. “Shall we?” His eyes for a second glow again.

“Seriously, you need to tell me.” Markus insisted

“Not happening now, buddy. Patience till it’s time.”

They all passed the roundabout heading downhill in the direction of the gulf, famished.