"Why are you keeping me waiting, it's not complicated what I'm asking." Red said, shaking Ludwig hard by the shoulders.

"I don't think he's listening to you anymore." Frank said, stepping closer.

It had indeed been several minutes since Ludwig passed out, drool running down the corner of his mouth. Red let go of him and let him fall to the ground without remorse. He took a deep breath to put his thoughts in place. The demon glanced at Yannis' corpse; a black mark had formed on his forehead. This happened every time a deviant died and his power was stolen from him. Red turned to Frank and asked politely:

"You can bring me a guinea pig, preferably with heels, please Frank."

The pub owner was taken aback by what Rouge was saying. Realizing this, Red recovered, coughing into her clenched fist.

"I just want to test something, it's safe."

Frank hesitated a little because his trust in Red had limits. He ends up calling a certain Julie to come down the street. The young woman who had been dancing on the tables earlier arrived on the doorstep. She wore the same red dress as Jessica Rabbit, her hair was brown and her eyes were hazel. Julie walked delicately with her stiletto heels so as not to fall.

"What is it, darling?" Julie asked looking at the corpse without surprise because it could happen often in the black district.

"Be careful, she's my only waitress right now." Frank added.

"Don't move." Red ordered Julie.

The boy froze and concentrated. Small black roots, like hands, rose along Julie's pumps, but too little to reach the skin.

"Take your foot off one shoe." Red asked, still unkindly.

Julie did what Red told her; she had known for several years now to know that it was not necessary to annoy him. She easily removed her right foot from the shoe and stood perfectly straight with her left foot. This proved incredible root resistance.

"Good, that power seems useful. On the other hand, I cannot summon roots to my feet... I advise you to quickly put your foot back in your shoe."

As soon as Red had warned Julie, he moved, which had the effect of making the roots disappear. Julie, who could not stand on one heel, fell to the side.

"How long has it been, Harlequin, about six months?"

"You know, a spy must restrict his relationships."

"So, what's your identity right now?"

"I am here as a member of Roadstar, Niko Rollard, that I killed last month, the bounty hunter famous for capturing the hard-headed Pit. I was told to protect a certain Cain; he must be important to them. But also, for you, otherwise you would not have shown yourself so obviously, mister red demon."

"And how did you find me?" sneered Red.

"I knew you'd be here right away." Harlequin replied, looking at Frank.

"We can't hide anything from you."

"I am a professional I remind you, call me from time to time. Here is my new number."

Harlequin held up a slip of paper which he handed to Red. He looked at the two delinquents who belonged to Roadstar sprawled on the floor.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"You can't stop yourself from killing."

"It was the best solution."

"But it does not make your four seasons now?"

It was an expression used for black souls in connection with the rumour that above four stolen powers the body overflows and the individual in question is supposed to simply die. This is why Red had tried to scare away his opponents, unfortunately he is unable to do in half measures.

"I'll let you take the first one and explain the second's situation to his clan." Red said, as if he did not want to broach the subject.

Harlequin shook his head negatively.

"Out of the question. No one can come out alive from a fight with the red demon, and I narrowly managed to save Cain. Am I not the best part of Roadstar after that?"

Harlequin pulled a gat from his pocket and quickly shot the unconscious man in the head. Ludwig's skull exploded into several small bits of brain.

"You know well that firearms cancel the transfer of power."

"I don't really like that sort of thing."

"By the way, I wanted to warn you that there was a bounty on your head. You should be careful when you go out."

"Why? I'm the strongest here everyone knows."

"Have you finished?" said a voice from nowhere.

Red and Harlequin looked up. An individual dressed in an albescent costume and wearing a white mask covering his entire face was watching them from the balcony of a building. He pirouetted and landed on the ground safely, he saluted like a gentleman. He was an angel from WHITE, a mysterious organization that deals with the disposal of dead bodies and dealing with issues involving deviants on behalf of the government. A kind of power police if you prefer.

"Was it WHITE who put a price on my head?" Red asked, addressing the angel.

"Don't be ridiculous. They are the rulers of the black market. Without wanting to give too much information, it seems established that they are precisely grouped in the southern zone."

“It would be more accurate to say that they control the entire black district.” Harlequin pointed out.

Harlequin saw that the WHITE employee approached the two corpses. He opposed himself between the angel and the inert body on the ground.

"Just let me take this object," said Harlequin, seizing the cap of the man he had killed.

"Do it, he won't need it anymore."

WHITE's angel leaned over the first corpse, and he put his right hand on it. Immediately, the body disappeared as if it had been teleported. The angel did the same with the second. Only blood remained on the ground. It is said that members of WHITE are recruited for the usefulness of their powers, and what could be more practical than teleportation.

"With that, gentlemen, I wish you a good evening."

The angel snapped his fingers as he raised his gloved right hand and disappeared at the speed of sound. Red and Harlequin, and Frank and Julie who had witnessed the scene from afar, suddenly found themselves in absolute calm.

"I'm going too then!" Red said to break the silence.

Red went back to get his pack of beer and took one last bite of his meal. He was already a cold dish. Red waved once again Harlequin, Frank and Julie and stalked off. He rounded the corner and stopped with his back against a red brick wall. He put his hand to his mouth and when he pulled it back, he saw that it was covered in blood. The aftermath of his fifth season? Red put the problem aside and continued his way. He hurried up the street which made the transition between the South zone and the West zone. It was the last street where you could still see trees in the black district. In the West Zone, there are fewer gangs than in the North Zone, fewer bars than in the South Zone, and fewer brothels than in the East Zone; but there was a famous religious institution called the Church of Samael. Samael being for certain considered as the god who offered the powers to men. The Church mainly gave meals to the poor and served as an orphanage. The West Zone was the most hated of the black district, due to its appalling amount of homelessness which made the area itself a slum. Red passed by a group of beggars with blank stares and gaunt faces. A poor child had approached Red and tugged at his coat. He put his hand in position to receive a gift. Red gave him a beer. Other curious children approached like zombies. Red then handed out three more beers, stroking the heads of the poor youths.

After a few minutes, Red left the beggars. He walked towards the church. The building was not so big, only the central stained-glass window with incandescent colours stood out from the rest. Red entered the sacred place out of habit, not even glancing at the large statue of Samael at the entrance. A sister of the Church, dressed in black as was customary, approached him. She greeted him politely.

"How are you, Father?"

Red the dismissed of the hand.

"I am going to rest, ask Faz to join me in the confessional."

"As you order, Father."

– INFORMATION: The black district is just one of thirteen districts in Lashmore. Located between the pearl district and the Dante district.

BONUS