Dread arrived back at the Barco mansion where he was greeted by a dozen of his men.

“Is Zeke back?” asked Dread.

“No, boss. He hasn’t come back.”

A scowl dawned on Dread’s face.

What the hell is that bastard doing? He just likes going on his own. Could he be planting spies? Considering the fact that I failed my mission, it wouldn’t be a scratch if he was ordered to spy on me. Was it ‘his’ idea?

As Dread was pondering, he wasn’t aware that he was releasing his bloodlust everywhere, choking his men.

“Boss…” said Dread’s men weakly.

Noticing his mistake, he dispersed his bloodlust and asked.

“Are the women in the room I told you about?”

“Y-yes boss.”

“And that bastard baron?”

“W-we placed him in one of the cells in the dungeon under the mansion.”

“Good. I guess it’s time for me to release some stress.” Said Dread as he stretched his neck.

“U-um boss. Could you please leave some for us?”

Dread glared at them as they swallow back their words.

***

Zeke finally arrived at the mansion. Cries and mourns were heard throughout the mansion. A look of disgust filled Zeke’s face as he went to his room followed by Naomi. He went by the balcony and felt the midnight breeze as he contemplated his life.

“Do you want me to kill him?” asked Maeve sensing the displeasure in Zeke’s eyes.

“Would you win?”

“If I used my ‘it’ and my higher-level magic bullets then yes, I could kill him. But of course, that only applies if you ordered me.”

Zeke chuckled as he rested his arms on the railing of the balcony. “You always creep me out when you talk like that you know.”

“By talking about killing Dread?”

“No, by saying that you would do it if I ordered it.”

“What’s so shocking about that?”

“Sigh, never mind. Actually, it doesn’t matter what that meathead does. Even this ‘slavery’ business isn’t sitting right with me.”

“Then why do it? If it’s because of ‘him’ then the only thing you need to do is order me and-“

“You wouldn’t make it out alive. He’s strong. Or should I say the thing he summons is strong.” Zeke then pauses, “And that’s not the reason why I’m doing this.”

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“…”

A look of disbelief appeared on Maeve’s face.

“Remember the promise I made to you?” asks Zeke.

“The promise…”

“Yeah, it was when we were still young.”

Maeve could almost see the memory as if it had happened yesterday. She could only hear the words Zeke said to her. “Hear this Maeve. From now on, as long as you protect me, I promise you a life where you’ll eat as much as you want. A life where you won’t have to look over your shoulder anymore. A life of pure bliss.”

Zeke’s words snapped her out of her thoughts as he spoke.

“I meant every single word I said that day.” Zeke turned and looked at Maeve. “A life of pure bliss. It’s only a matter of time before we get to it, Maeve. So, please continue protecting me until I fulfil my promise to you.”

Maeve looked at the smiling Zeke as she slightly smiled herself.

“Of course, I’ll protect you. Always.”

“D-did you just smile a second ago?”

The smile disappeared like it never existed as she went back to her stern face.

“No, it was your imagination.”

“You definitely did, didn’t you.”

“Nope.”

“Come on, smile for me again.”

“If you don’t stop, I swear to the Goddess, I’ll punch you.”

“Please just once.”

***

Zeke was descending the staircase that led to the underground dungeon of the Barco mansion. He was rubbing his head as a small bump seemed to have sprouted there.

Did she really have to punch me that hard. Anyways, it’s time to take care of loose ends. And by loose ends I mean him.

Zeke thought as he looked at baron Barco locked up in his cell.

“Hello there, baron Barco.” Said Zeke as he stood next to the cell of Barco.

Barco squealed like a pig as he dragged his injured body to the corner of the cell.

“You don’t need to worry, baron. I’m not going to do anything to you. I just wanted to have a chat with you.”

“W-what is it you want?”

“You caused a lot of problems and now you’re going to fix them. We are going to give your post back and you’ll continue acting as the baron. Of course, you’ll ignore the activities of the West Alley gang.”

Barco looked at Zeke as his heart slowed down.

He doesn’t seem threatening like the other. Maybe he is just an underling. Though Barco.

I can already tell what this idiot is thinking. Thought Zeke as he scratched his head.

“I have to commend you though, baron. It was pretty ballzy of you not to run away. I mean, most people would have run. But I guess you had the plan of bargaining with the information you had about us thanks to the letters and the communication crystal ball.”

A look of shock appeared on Barco’s face.

“Oh, you seem surprised. Yeah, I know about the letters and crystal ball you hid in your office on your safe under your desk. I swear, you nobles always hide your shit in the same place no matter how many times I look.”

Barco started shivering in fear as he realised that the very thing he was counting on saving his life was found out. But how? How could a person who’d only arrived a few hours ago already figured out his plan?

“I’m going to give you some time to think. I hope when I come back tomorrow, you’ll be talkative.”

Zeke turned around and walked towards the exit. Before he could reach it, he realised that he forgot something.

“Oh, here.” Said Zeke as he threw a small bag towards Barco, who opens it. “I believe you take your pills around this time every day to help with the anxiety, right.”

That was when Barco realised something. He had no chance of escaping since the very beginning. Because the person who was in front of him had already been watching his movements.

Did he plant spies? When? How long have they been watching me? Does that mean he knew my movements since the very beginning?

Zeke then exited the dungeon with a smile on his face.

I think he’ll be more corporative from now on since he now knows he has nowhere he can hide. With this, I think I’ve done everything I needed to do here.

Zeke the Analyst. A bandit who had terrorized many nobles by using his wits. Of course, he didn’t consider himself as a bandit. More of a businessman. Because of his superb information gathering skills, he had brought down many noble houses by using their most secretive, their most dark information to increase his influence.

Thanks to that, many nobles of the Slavia kingdom work under him due to the fear that their darkest secrets could come to light. And this was all possible because he was always one step ahead of everyone else. Three steps ahead to be exact.

After all, I don’t need to be the strongest person in the room. I just need to be the smartest one.