The night was calm, the moon casting a soft, silvery glow over the small hideout. The sky was clear, the stars twinkling like tiny gems, but it was the moon that dominated the scene, illuminating the few scattered cottages where most of the men were sleeping. A peaceful quiet settled over the area, the gentle rustling of leaves and distant night calls the only sounds that broke the silence.

The boss stood outside, his gaze fixed on the moon. He wore a light grey shirt, his tanned skin visible beneath the fabric, and black trousers. His posture was one of contemplation as he stared at the moonlight, his mind wandering to the troubling thoughts that weighed on him. His brow furrowed as he thought about the robbers and the situation with Raphael. It had been three days since he had last seen Toru, Gregory, and Angelo, and a feeling of unease gnawed at him.

“I hope nothing’s happened to them,” he muttered under his breath. His mind then drifted to Angelo, a bloodthirsty man, unpredictable and dangerous. The boss feared what would happen if Angelo ever left their group. Without a leash to hold him, Angelo could become a brutal force, caring for no one but himself. A shiver ran down the boss’s spine as he pondered whether he could still control him.

His thoughts shifted to the conflict between Raphael and Angelo. Perhaps he should have handled the situation differently. As he was lost in thought, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.

“Boss,” a familiar voice called.

The boss turned to see Stubby, his loyal companion. Stubby had a stocky build, wearing a blue shirt, brown trousers, and brown sandals. A noticeable scar ran down his cheek, a remnant of battles fought long ago. As Stubby approached, the boss couldn’t help but smirk.

“I thought you’d be with Elara,” the boss teased.

Stubby scratched the back of his head, a shy smile forming on his face. “I thought you didn’t know.”

The boss chuckled. “It’s not hard to notice when two lovers are sneaking around.”

Stubby laughed awkwardly before asking, “You’re not mad about it, are you? I know you care about Elara like a daughter.”

The boss waved his hand dismissively. “I raised that girl when she was just this tall,” he said, gesturing with his hand to show Elara’s height as a child. “I trust her. Just don’t mess it up.”

Stubby laughed again, the tension easing. “Thanks, Boss.”

For a moment, silence fell between them, until the boss asked, “So, when are you and Elara planning to leave? You know something’s bound to happen soon.”

Stubby sat down on the ground, sighing deeply. “I haven’t thought that far yet. I want what’s best for her, but leaving now… it doesn’t feel right.”

The boss nodded, staring up at the moon. “You know, Stubby, a man with no regrets walks forward with conviction, leaving no shadows behind.”

Stubby looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean by that?”

The boss turned to face him, his expression serious. “I hope that even if you have regrets later, you’ll still find a way to keep moving forward.”

Stubby smiled, bowing his head. “Sometimes I think you’re the old man here, not me.”

The boss chuckled. “I am the boss, after all.”

Before Stubby could reply, they heard voices in the distance. Turning, they saw Toru and Gregory walking toward them, followed closely by Angelo, who was dragging two knights tied up by a rope. The knights, bruised and battered, were being pulled along the ground as Angelo strode forward with a grin.

One of the knights, still wearing his helmet, pleaded, “Please, can’t you let us walk? We won’t run away, I swear!”

The other knight chimed in, his voice shaky. “Yes, we promise!”

Angelo, not even sparing them a glance, replied coldly, “Shut up, or you won’t live to see another day.”

The knights’ faces paled with terror as they were dragged along helplessly. When the boss saw them, he frowned.

“Angelo,” the boss called, “I see you’ve brought your baggage.”

Angelo grinned, walking past him. “These are just logs. Don’t worry about them.”

The boss watched him pass before turning to Toru and Gregory. “What’s this about? Why are these knights tied up? You know this could bring trouble down on us.”

Stubby added, “He’s right. You should know better than to bring knights here.”

Gregory spoke first. “We’ve got it under control, Boss.”

The boss raised an eyebrow, looking to Toru for an explanation.

Toru sighed. “We found out the captain of the knights has been paying a gang to do his dirty work. He was planning to pin the robberies on us.”

Stubby, shocked, cut in. “Wait, wait, hold on. The captain of the knights paid a gang to commit robberies?”

Toru nodded. “Yes, and he’s been trying to cover his tracks.”

Stubby shook his head, disgusted. “Those bastards are rotten to the core.”

The boss narrowed his eyes. “Anything else?”

Before Toru could respond, Gregory spoke up. “We think the captain and the gang will be meeting in two days. We’re not sure where yet, but we’ll be ready.”

The boss thought for a moment. “We’ll need a plan…”

Just then, Angelo appeared from the back, grinning mischievously. “I’ve got the perfect plan.”

Everyone turned to look at Angelo, who was smiling like a predator about to pounce.

The moon shone brightly through the thick canopy of the forest, casting silver beams that danced on the surface of the nearby river, its current flowing steadily. Not far from the Balmount Kingdom, three knights stood by their horses. Their armor, though not as polished as it once was, still bore the insignia of their kingdom: steel breastplates over navy blue tunics, with dark leather belts securing their swords at their sides. The captain, a man with a thin frame, curled mustache, and piercing gray eyes, stood still, eyes scanning the shadows, waiting.

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One of the knights, the same who had once dared to face the boss, glanced at his captain nervously. "Captain, I don’t think we should be trusting these people with our work," he muttered, voice filled with doubt.

The other knight, with light red eyes, stood silent, his gaze focused forward, unreadable.

The captain’s sharp eyes darted toward the anxious knight. "Are you questioning my authority?" he asked, his voice cold, cutting through the tension.

The knight stiffened, immediately regretting his words. "No, sir. Sorry, sir."

From the shadowy depths of the bushes, four figures emerged. Three of them wore dark, hooded cloaks that concealed their faces and bodies, resembling the attire of mages often seen in the underworld. Their robes were tattered yet carried an air of mystery, the fabric lined with small pouches that likely held enchanted items or potions. The fourth figure, however, walked ahead, his face uncovered. Dark green hair framed his stern face, and his gold eyes glinted coldly under the moonlight. Though he wore the same hooded cloak as the others, his presence marked him as their leader.

The captain straightened, his demeanor calm but commanding. "Let me do the talking," he whispered to his knights, his voice low but firm. "And keep your tempers in check, no matter what they say."

The figures approached, stopping a few paces away. The captain raised his chin and addressed the leader, "Zephyr, I see you’re well."

Zephyr’s eyes narrowed, his expression stern. "Skip the pleasantries, Captain. Do you have it?"

Without a word, the captain turned to the knight with light red eyes. The knight nodded and reached into his saddlebag, pulling out a long object wrapped in brown cloth. The cloth-covered object revealed its shape—a scythe, its curved blade hidden but ominous, and the pole, though still concealed, showed through the wrapping as pitch-black.

The knight handed the weapon to the captain, who presented it to Zephyr. "This is it," the captain said, his voice laced with satisfaction. "Now, do you have what I asked for?"

One of Zephyr's men stepped forward, chanting softly. His voice was low, filled with arcane power. "From void to hand, by will I claim, object of mine appear by name." A swirling void appeared at their feet, dark and foreboding. From the depths of this void, a chest materialized, filled with gold coins, emeralds, and jewels that sparkled even in the dim light. As quickly as it appeared, the void vanished, leaving the chest behind.

The captain’s eyes gleamed with greed as a smile crept across his face. Zephyr, however, remained unmoved. "Hand over the weapon," Zephyr demanded, his voice cold.

"You know how I do things," the captain replied, smirking. "First, the chest."

Zephyr’s expression didn’t change as he gave a curt nod. The captain signaled to his knights to retrieve the chest, but before they could move, two more knights, bruised and limping, stumbled from the bushes. These were the same knights Angelo had punished earlier.

Everyone turned, tension immediately rising. Zephyr’s gold eyes flicked toward the captain, suspicion clear in his gaze. "What are you planning, Captain?" he growled.

The captain smiled, but there was a trace of unease in his eyes. "Nothing you need to worry about."

He turned to the two new arrivals, still holding the scythe tightly in his hands. His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "What are you doing here?"

The two knights, clearly shaken, stammered, "We’re sorry, Captain."

Zephyr’s eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening. Without hesitation, a rope shot from the shadows, wrapping around the captain’s legs, pulling him to the ground with a thud. The scythe slipped from his grasp, clattering to the forest floor.

"What’s the meaning of this?!" the captain roared, glaring at the two knights, his face twisted with anger.

From behind the trees, the boss appeared, flanked by Angelo and Stubby. The boss wore a red shirt tucked into black trousers, a sword strapped to his side, while Stubby walked beside him, dressed in a grey shirt with a sash across his chest, two weapons strapped to his back, and green trousers tucked into brown boots. Angelo followed with his usual grin, his loose-sleeved linen tunic billowing slightly in the night breeze. His fitted black trousers were tucked into sturdy boots, and his twin daggers gleamed from their sheaths at his sides.

The captain’s eyes widened as he recognized the boss. "You!" he spat.

"Yes, it’s me," the boss said with a smirk, watching as Stubby casually bent down to pick up the scythe from the ground.

The captain struggled to his feet. "Don’t you dare touch that! Do you know how hard it was for me to get that?"

Stubby shrugged, smirking. "Uhm… no."

Angelo chuckled, turning to the two knights who had just arrived. "You can leave now."

The knights hesitated, fear evident in their eyes.

"What are you still standing there for?" Angelo’s voice dropped, cold and menacing.

The two knights stammered thanks and bolted into the forest. The captain, furious, shouted after them, "You bastards, come back here!"

Meanwhile, the two remaining knights moved toward the chest, intending to lift it. Zephyr watched them with disgust. "Disgusting," he muttered, his golden eyes flashing dangerously.

In an instant, the knights’ heads exploded, and the chest tumbled to the ground, spilling its contents of gold and jewels across the grass.

The captain, shocked, turned to Zephyr. "What’s wrong with you? We had a deal!"

The boss, growing tired of the conversation, delivered a swift kick to the captain’s head, knocking him unconscious.

Zephyr looked to the boss and nodded slightly. "Thank you," he said before turning his gaze to Stubby, who still held the scythe. "Hand over the weapon, and we’ll leave. You can keep the chest."

The boss shook his head. "No, I don’t think I can do that. I came here for the weapon."

Flashback to a day earlier...

The boss sat on a simple couch across from a woman with vibrant cherry-pink hair and striking amber-gold eyes. Her attire reflected her noble status—an elegant gown with intricate designs, perfectly tailored to fit the fashion of the fantasy world’s aristocracy. Seated beside her was her butler, Mr. Kaito, whose jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes complemented his perfectly tailored butler’s uniform. Between them were three cups of tea, steam gently rising from the delicate porcelain as Mr. Kaito had just served them.

The lady smiled warmly. "To what do I owe the pleasure, my saviors?" she asked, her voice filled with gratitude. "And where are the other two?"

Angelo, seated beside the boss in his usual casual attire—fitted black trousers, a simple shirt, and boots—smiled. "They couldn’t join us today," he said before gesturing to the boss. "This is the boss."

The lady’s eyes flickered with interest as she regarded him. "A pleasure to meet you, my saviors," she said softly.

The boss returned the greeting with a nod. "We’re always happy to help those in need."

Angelo leaned forward slightly. "I wasn’t sure you’d recognize me without my mask, my lady."

She chuckled. "Your voice and your eyes gave you away."

Her gaze shifted back to the boss. "What do you need from me?"

The boss’s expression turned serious. "There’s a matter involving the captain. He’s trying to shift blame onto us."

Before the lady could respond, Mr. Kaito leaned down and whispered something into her ear. She nodded, her expression growing more thoughtful.

"We also have an issue concerning the captain," she said, glancing at Angelo. "Since you seem to know who I am…"

Angelo smiled. "If I might know your name, my lady?"

She smiled back. "Seraphina Mariposa, Countess Councilor."

Angelo raised an eyebrow. "Well, I suppose it’s an honor, my lady."

The boss leaned forward, his expression serious. "What kind of issue?"

Seraphina’s face darkened. "The captain has been involved in the theft of a dangerous artifact."

Angelo’s eyes narrowed. "Artifact?"

Seraphina nodded. "More like a deadly weapon. I can’t publicly accuse him, not with the power backing him. But I need your help to recover it."

Angelo’s interest piques. "What kind of artifact are we talking about?"

Serphina explains, "It’s a scythe. It’s crucial that this weapon doesn’t fall into the wrong hands."

The Boss considers this for a moment. "And if we accidentally break or destroy it during the job, would that be considered a completed mission?"

Serphina nods solemnly. "Yes, if you can achieve that, it will be considered mission accomplished."

The Boss then inquires about the reward. "What will our payment be?"

"Thirty thousand gold coins," Serphina replies.

The Boss’s eyes narrow. "Make it a hundred."

Mr. Kaito starts to protest, but Serphina silences him with a wave. "Why such a high price?" she asks, turning to the Boss.

The Boss explains, "We don’t know much about the weapon, and we can’t risk our lives without proper compensation. We’re here for your help in interrogating and imprisoning the captain. If you want us to retrieve or destroy the weapon, you need to sweeten the deal."

Serphina laughs, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. "I like men who know their worth. Very well, you have a deal. My butler will provide you with funds for weapons."

The Boss nods in appreciation. "Thank you."

As Angelo watches the exchange, the Boss stands, preparing to leave. "Since we’ve come to an agreement, we’ll be on our way."

Serphina instructs Mr. Kaito to escort them. "My butler will see you out. And if you’re ever in need of work, consider my offer."

The Boss declines with a polite smile. "I can’t serve anyone, but I’ll think about your proposal."

With that, the Boss and Angelo depart, Mr. Kaito following closely behind.