HUFF! HUFF!

The majestic tiger looked completely disheveled. He looked more like a stray cat than a prideful tiger. Regardless of its size.

And you can't blame it either. It had swam across the river, and immediately started running to get as far away from the scary lady. Ramming through thorny bushes and rough twigs and branches, no wonder its beautiful fur was in disarray.

It was worth it, though.

A delicious smell suddenly filled the forest. The tiger, having just finished its triathlon, was now hungry. The fish it ate was completely digested and turned to energy already.

The tiger turned on its stealth mode. Crouching low to the ground, the tiger now looked more like a lizard. Getting closer and closer to the source of the mouth watering smell.

It stopped and hid inside a bush near the clearing. If it was a human, it would be smiling right now.

On the clearing, five people sat circling the fire. Cooking their dinner.

The tiger licked its lips. It lost the chance to dine on human flesh before. And thanks to its good luck, fate has given him five larger meals for it.

The tiger began waiting for the chance to pounce.

Little did it know, somebody else was waiting to pounce on the tiger as well.

###

The best food when going for a mission, was good old American chilli.

Kem smiled as he spooned a mouthful of white rice coated with minced beef and bean chilli. His old boss used to always say that every time they had to camp out for prolonged tasks. Now that his boss is dead, Kem held on to those words tight.

“Wow, your chilli is almost on par with old man Wen. Hahaha!” Peyr chuckled, along with three other comrades of his.

Kem smiled bitterly. “Hahaha, eat up guys. Plenty of time left to digest all of it.”

All of them burst out laughing. They were mercenaries. There's not a lot of merriment in their lives. Good chilli, and good beer, there's nothing better.

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“Haiz, if only boss Wen was still alive…” One of them suddenly sighed.

That one sentence turned the mood down in an instant. Everyone hung their heads in bitterness. Thinking of their old leader.

Kem and the others were a part of a well sought after group of soldiers-for-hire called the Ati Itam. Those who entered will go through a blood oath that binds their loyalty to the organization. Those that betray the organization will find their blood drained by the malevolent spirit owned by Ati Itam.

Problem arise, when the malevolent spirit was taken. Who knew what sort of magic the new leader had, but the spirit got a new master now. Thus, Ati Itam also have a new master.

What's worse is that the old owner boss Wen, the one who originally inherited the malevolent spirit, died a violent death. The result of a forced break of the contract with the spirit. When Kem and the others found Wen's body, he looked like the corpse of a cat squished by a car on the road.

Kem clenched his fist tight. “If I could, I would've skin that bastard alive. Fucking traitor!”

The rest also have an enraged expression on their faces. Boss Wen treated them well. Although with the possession of the malevolent spirit he could order them to do anything he wanted, Wen has never abused his power.

But now, Ati Itam’s headquarters had turned into that coward's personal castle. Their comrades, his own servants.

“You know, maybe we should find a way to take that spirit from him.” Peyr suggested through his gritted teeth.

“Hmph! As if that's possible.”

Peyr was unrelenting. “Well that bastard did it. Why can't we? I mean, who the hell even is he? He's just an outsider. If anyone deserved to be a leader, it wouldn't be him.”

Silence. Yet everybody nodded. For a while, they had these thoughts. Unfortunately, the mirror gave then a brutal face slap to reality. They are weak, and they cannot break the blood oath.

But now, Peyr’s words ignited the thirst for revenge they had buried. It sounded logical too. That bastard did it, why can't we?

Suddenly…

ROAR!!

All five of them looked towards where the sound came from, and immediately recognized the yellow and black fur.

Only, it might've been a little too late. For the tiger was already in the air, about this sink its teeth into one of them. They don't even have the time to grab the hilt of their dagger.

BAMMM!

Just as sudden as it appeared, the tiger disappeared from the air. And appeared moments later under a tree. Dead!

Poor tiger. It thought it had escaped death before. If it only knew how dangerous humans are, it would scold at its desire for human's flesh and chase it away. Now, it did not have the chance to even be a carpet.

“Wow, a tiger. This is good stuff!” A mocking tone could be heard.

All five of the mercenaries turned apprehensive. They have mixed feelings when they hear the voice. On one hand, they are grateful to be saved. On the other hand, they are afraid if the person hears their fiery discussion.

“Hey, why are you suddenly quiet? I thought you wanted to take this spirit from me? What are you waiting for?” The man continued to tease.

The face of the five turned even paler than when the tiger attacked. He heard us, they screamed in their hearts. All of them shuddered thinking of the probable punishments waiting for them.

“Oh relax. I won't do anything. I know boss Wen is a great leader. It is natural for you to want revenge for your dead master. Even I can understand that.”

Buds of relief began to sprout in their hearts. Yet, they still did not put down their guard. They are not stupid.

“Hahahaha, it's good that you are this careful. Don't worry, as long as the spirit hold the leash to your necks, I won't do anything whatever it is you say.”

All of them nodded. It is indeed logical. This new boss does not have to worry about betrayal. The malevolent spirit would instantly attacked and drank their blood in its entirety.

“Now listen up. This old Shir only care for money. As long as this old Shir had money, I don't care about anything else. Naturally, as long as I had enough, I won't care what you do.” He said with a laugh.

“How about this, after this mission is over, I will not interfere with Ati Itam's daily affairs. Feel free to do anything. Use the money in the coffer to do anything you want. Just don't touch my part of it. How about that?”

Kem was enlightened. If that's true, his brothers and sisters no longer had to be his personal slaves. Only the bullets for him to kill his enemies. And that's something they could easily live with. “We agreed. And will be eternally grateful for your arrangements.”

“Hahaha good. Then, as for my last few orders, skin this tiger good. I want the pelt for a new coat, and the meat to be roasted for all of us. Let us dine for this new wonderful symbiosis between us.”

Everybody raised their beer bottles. They don't want to. But for the sake of their brothers and sisters in the headquarters, they had to.

After all, better to be a live dog than a dead tiger