These guys were part of Bloody Knuckle's hit squad, one of the toughest group of enforcers they had. And this man—this one man—took them out just like that?! My mind raced to comprehend what I'd just seen. How is that possible? Even someone from a Major Clan would struggle against them, and he handled it with frightening ease! I stared at him, stunned by his overwhelming power. He stood there, calm and composed, like a predator who had already forgotten its prey. The look in his eyes, the way he carried himself—content and egotistical about his strength—made it clear. This wasn’t just raw talent. He was on a different level. We needed his help, desperately. Yet how could we possibly ask after the way we disrespected him earlier? The pit in my stomach grew heavier as I clenched my fists tight. Damn it! Of all the people to mess with, it had to be the one guy capable of taking down five men in a single blow! What were we thinking? His expression shifted then, and for a moment, he seemed almost upset about something. Confusion tugged at my mind until he looked at me with a strange sincerity and said, "Sorry, I destroyed that wall."

Wait—that's what he’s upset about? The absurdity of it left me momentarily speechless. After all that, his concern was over a wall? I hurried to ease his worries, shaking my head, "No, no, it's fine. Don’t worry about it." He turned away, already beginning to move back toward the stairs, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a minor inconvenience in his day. Panic surged in my chest. We need his help! We don’t stand a chance without him! Without thinking, I lunged forward and tapped his shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t just brush me off. For a moment, I saw the corner of his lips twitch. Was he... smiling? He glanced back at me, his tone relaxed, "What's up?" My pride shattered. I collapsed to my knees, desperation in my voice as I pleaded, "Please, help us! Those guys... they're invading our territory. They'll wipe us out if we don't stop them..."

Jackpot! This is exactly what I’d been waiting for. Everything was falling into place. I leaned back, feigning nonchalance, and stated casually, "Why should I help you? You were pretty mean to me earlier, and I’ve already helped out quite a bit." She continued begging, desperation dripping from her voice, "Please, we can make it worth your while!" As she said those words, time seemed to slow. The possibilities began to unfold in my mind. Make it worth my while? That didn’t sound too bad. I tilted my head, a small grin forming as I responded, "Make it worth my while? That doesn’t sound half bad. How about... some money?" Her eyes lit up immediately, hope flaring to life as if I’d just thrown her a lifeline. "Yeah, we’ve got tons!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with urgency. The receptionist, who had been watching nervously from the sidelines, suddenly chimed in, nodding vigorously. "She's right! We do!"

I rubbed my fingers together slowly, considering the offer, letting the tension build for a moment longer. "Alright," I said, finally breaking the silence. "Where can we discuss this further?" She stood up quickly, eager to seize the opportunity, her voice rushing with excitement. "I'll take you to our main building, Jiambex. It's further west, and our leader is there. You can discuss everything with her." I smiled. "Well then," I said, standing up and motioning her to lead the way, "lead the way." I could rest later. This opportunity had to take priority.

She led me out of the hotel, and we stepped into the warm afternoon air. The streets were quieter than I expected for a city in the midst of a clan war, but there was a strange calmness to it all. We passed by a few people here and there, walking with purpose but without urgency, and the buildings we walked past were surprisingly well-kept—some with freshly painted walls, others with neatly arranged flower beds. The contrast of serenity against the backdrop of conflict felt surreal.

Further along, the landscape began to shift. The open farmlands gave way to more densely packed streets, and the air grew heavier with the scent of street food and city life. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves on a street that had a much different vibe. The urban sprawl here was raw and unapologetic. Bright neon lights flashed above shop windows, and the sidewalks were lined with women—beautiful, scantily dressed, each of them eyeing us as we passed. These must be... well, the prostitutes. One of them, bolder than the rest, called out with a mischievous grin, “Jane, is that your new boyfriend?!” Her voice was loud and playful, cutting through the murmur of the street. Jane’s cheeks flushed a deep red, but she kept walking, refusing to engage. I shook my head and answered firmly, "No, I am not."

Out of nowhere, Jane whipped her arm towards me in a playful but sharp motion—clearly annoyed by my denial—but I blocked it before she could make contact. Her face softened, a mix of frustration and amusement playing in her eyes. Without another word, we continued walking. Finally, we reached our destination. It was another large building, similar in design to the Tsai Hotel, but bigger and better maintained. The stone walls gleamed in the sunlight, and the entryway was framed by polished pillars that gave it an air of importance. “This is it.” Jane said, her voice steady as she pushed open the heavy door. She held it open for me, glancing over with a faint smirk. I nodded as I stepped inside, saying, “Thanks.” That’s how you do it, right?

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The lobby was filled with women again—everywhere I looked, there they were. The thought crossed my mind: Do they not recruit men here? Their eyes locked on me as soon as I entered, and I could feel the weight of their stares. They sized me up, their gazes full of suspicion and maybe a hint of annoyance, as though I didn’t belong. And to be fair, technically, I didn’t. Jane, sensing the tension, stepped forward to ease their doubts. "Calm down, everyone. This is someone who's going to help us against Bloody Knuckle." The room remained thick with skepticism. One of the women lounging on a couch nearby paused mid-action, sharpening a knife. She glanced at me with narrowed eyes, then sneered. "Bullshit. This guy looks weak." Her voice dripped with disdain, and it seemed like she was ready to challenge me on the spot. Jane began to protest, her voice rising to defend me, but I quickly swiped my arm in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. "Let me prove myself to these people." I said calmly, locking eyes with the woman who had insulted me.

She stood up slowly, her stance predatory. "Brave," she said with a smirk. "you ready?" Apparently, people like this aren't just in books. Before I could reply, she lunged forward, her knife aimed directly at me. I sidestepped effortlessly to the left, the blade slicing through the air where I’d been just a moment before. She followed up with another thrust, quicker this time, but I dodged it again, as if it were nothing more than a game. "That all you got?" I taunted, watching her movements become frantic. She gritted her teeth and switched the knife to her left hand. Her movements became even more frantic, and she came at me with a barrage of quick, slicing motions. But even as the attacks sped up, I wove through them with ease, my body flowing out of the way with each swing. I could see the sweat starting to bead on her forehead as her breathing grew heavier. She was tiring, and her strikes began to slow, more out of desperation than precision.

The other women had gathered around, watching the exchange closely. They knew, as well as she did, that she was losing. I saw her wind up for a horizontal slice and in one swift motion, I sidestepped and kicked the knife out of her hand. The blade spun through the air before I caught it, gripping the handle firmly. I held it up and examined the blade for a moment, then looked her dead in the eyes, smirking. "Good knife," I said casually. "Too bad you can't cut anything with it, though." Her face twisted in pure anger, her pride clearly shattered. But before she could react, a voice echoed from the back of the room. "Mine, stop it. For the man out there, come inside." The voice was calm but authoritative, cutting through the tension like a blade. I turned towards the sound, coming from a doorway leading to a back room. Jane, still standing behind me, leaned in and whispered, "That's our leader." I let the knife fall from my hand, its metallic clatter on the floor breaking the silence. Without another word, I headed towards the back room, ready to meet this so-called leader.

I stepped into the room, but I barely had time to register my surroundings before someone came at me, foot aimed right for my head. Instinct took over, and I caught the kick with ease, the sole of her boot stopping mere inches from my ear. I held her foot in place, and with a calm but pointed tone, I asked, "What was that for?" Everyone is testing me today. The woman withdrew her leg quickly and bowed her head slightly, an apology in her voice. "It was a test. I apologize. You've already proved yourself—I shouldn't have done that." She took a seat on the table in the middle of the room, her posture relaxing slightly now that the tension had passed. "Sit, if you please." she offered. I glanced around the room, taking in the details. The dim purple neon lights gave the space a strange, almost ethereal glow, the kind you’d expect more from a nightclub than an office. To my right, shelves lined the wall, filled with old books and small trinkets, but I wasn’t here for decor. My attention snapped back to the woman. "No thanks." I replied curtly, remaining standing. She didn’t seem offended, simply nodding and getting straight to business. "Well then, what do you want in return for helping us?"

I crossed my arms, letting my words hang heavy in the air. "You seem to misunderstand something," I said, watching her eyes sharpen with focus. "I’m not merely helping you. I’m going to eradicate Bloody Knuckle for you." Her mouth fell open, shock washing over her expression before she caught herself. She blinked, then scratched her head, clearly trying to process the gravity of what I’d just said. "You... you can do that?" she asked hesitantly, disbelief laced in her voice. I stared directly into her eyes, unwavering. "Without a shadow of a doubt." She scratched her head again, a nervous tick that betrayed her uncertainty. "I don’t trust you... not yet," she admitted. "but still, we need to discuss your price. What do you want?"

I leaned forward slightly, my tone serious. "I want ten gold," I said simply. "and I'll be nice—I’ll accept payment after the job is done." She sighed deeply, clearly relieved the price wasn’t higher. "Sure, sure. We can afford that." she agreed. I extended my hand towards her, a gesture of goodwill. "Pleasure doing business with you. My name is Vellin." I said firmly. She grasped my hand, and we shook, her grip firm despite her earlier hesitations. "Likewise. my name is Mary. If you accomplish this," she said, her tone more respectful now, "we will not forget it."