Chapter 1.1- Slums

"Fucking bitch! Thief!" The drunk man who wears an expensive suit shouts after a small body of a girl steals his money. 

A baron guy was drinking in the Capital's famous Pub because he was celebrating a successful deal in his business. He sells a hundred sacks of salt to the eastern guild. The deal is simple and he is worried because his business was failing because of the border tax and the expensive expedition budgets. He needs to hire more people but it's all worth it since the trade happened quickly. He earns more than he thought. 

He is sleepy but he manages to leave the Pub and go home. He is about to call the coach but some kid steals his money!

"That brat! I will kill you once-." The baron stops running when he realizes he was already in the slums. 

The empire's slums are dirty and notorious for criminal acts. The streets are narrowed and there are no street lights unlike in the main street. The houses of the commoners are also disgusting for him to walk through. 

He sobers up after reaching the bridge that connects the lake and the gate. He wanted to find the kid who arrogantly steals money from a noble but he was scared of getting caught in slums. 

The knights that patrol are on the main street. The empire abandoned the slums and the people. He believes that these dirty poor are no longer part of the emperor's people. He is mad at the thoughts and wants to kill any person who is on his way. 

A shadow appears watching the man's angry expression. He tried to come closer but he felt the gaze of the people living in the slums. They were silent watching the man cursing. His mission is to kill the man who sells hundreds of sacks to the eastern guild but he knows that it's dangerous in this area. 

"I will kill you!" He shouted, veins pop out on his stiff neck as he continues gritting his teeth because of anger.

"Thud."

The shadow who's watching in the distance widens his eyes. The man was taken by 3 men wearing a black outfit. The baron was unconscious and was dragged to the ground. He isn't sure if he's dead or not. 

He is about to follow them but he froze after someone in his back quickly slit his throat. The corpse of a man was taken away by a person who's wearing a black outfit. 

There's a pair of blue eyes like a wolf whispering a foreign language. The corpse burns itself until only ashes are left. 

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"Report." A shadow appeared in the dark and a pink-haired woman appeared. 

"The target has been taken, My Lord." She said, bowing her head. 

"You know what to do." She grins and the pink woman quickly disappears. 

***

The baron wakes up in a small room. He was still in a slum and he was startled after checking his surroundings. He wasn't sure what happened last night because he was drunk but he remembered chasing a blonde kid after stealing his money. He gets angry and about to run but deep nausea attacks him after smelling a foreign perfume. It smells like a flower but he didn't know what kind of flower it was. 

Thud

The door opens and a girl who has pink hair enters the room. She is beautiful and in her back is a person who is wearing an all-black outfit commonly for assassins. The face is covered beside the eyes. He can't find out if it's a man or a woman. 

"Baro Estepan." The girl who has pink hair called his name. 

"Who are you?! Why did you kidnap me?! I will kill-" His mouth automatically shut up and he's having a hard time making a sound. 

"Hmmmppp... Huff." His face becomes red because of the annoyance of treating him like this! A noble of the empire!

"You are not held captive here. Your life was in danger because of an assassin. He was taken care of. Now, you need to pay for compensation." The pink hair coldly speaks not minding the confusion and struggles of the baron. 

"The Zodiac guild hired an assassin to kill you... After your successful business with easterners. She continued gazing coldly. 

"Hmmph!!!!" They wanted to respond but he can't since something like a barrier is stopping him from opening his mouth. 

"I-I..... What nonsense are you saying, you dirty commoners!" The baron shouted, making the pink-haired girl grin viciously. 

"Baron Estepan... You need to watched what you speak. I can just forget the offered deal and cut your throat so you can't talk forever." She taunted, not afraid of the threat she just said to the baron. The heavy atmosphere made the baron quiver. He frowns and breathes heavily. He is an ordinary person but he can feel the killing intent. 

"You hire slaves and use them to transport your products in the east. Not minding that purchasing or renting slaves is forbidden by the Empire. You also traded with them without paying tax and forge documents for you not to pay in exporting sacks. Do you still want me to continue?" Her lips rose and a smirk escaped from her lips. 

"You son of- ." Baron Estepan stopped after seeing the warning gaze from the pink-haired girl.

"How much?." He asked after making up his mind. He thinks that after he leaves this place he will hire assassins and kill these people. 

"100 thousand gold." The pink-haired girl smirks after saying the price.

"Are you out of your mind?! That's 50% of my profit!" Baron Estepan widens his eyes and the veins in his head are showing. 

"I added an extra since we will let you leave the slums." She said and started to form a smile. 

This bitch! Baron Estepan's fury is showing and his greedy blood isn't happy because it is a lot of money! He sweats because he's been enduring his shameful situation but he had no choice... He needs to get out of this dirty place. 

He glared at them showing how dare a low commoner try to have a deal with a noble. The pink girl who met his gaze did not waiver instead she smiled showing how much confidence she had in this situation. The baron's eyes blinked after and his mouth started to tremble. He jerked his stares to the other person who never speaks yet has an intense dangerous aura around them. 

"I…. Fuck! Fine!." He closes his eyes and curses on his mind.