The thug I followed led me deeper into the hideout as a number of the other members of the gang glared in my direction. As usual, my presence was hardly welcoming, and I never bothered to notice their stares. After a few more steps, we walked down a hall that led to their boss's office.

Despite the torn, rotting red wallpaper, the office itself was like an imitation of someone who was actually important. This was just a laughable charade.

Their boss sat up on his chair with a smug look on his face. As usual, he was accompanied by two thugs at his side.

“Is that Kazu? Well, you look the same as last I saw you. You’re actually really disgusting to look at. Some of my boys said you were causing them trouble again… why did you take more than your fair share of the take?” He asked with his ugly grin as I looked over him with disinterest.

“… Interest. Nothing more, nothing less. You can’t seriously expect me to work for you with your half-baked jobs,” I retorted with no interest in dealing with this imbecile any longer than I needed. “… and yet here I am again, here to do your work. So what do you want me to do this time?" I huffed with an air of mockery.

The thugs at his side began to step toward me, but the boss raised his hand, instantly silencing them. While he chuckled with amusement as his grin grew wider before continuing.

"Hehe... well, yeah, I have another job, and I think it will be a pretty sweet deal for both of us. It will be pretty simple for you and your... abilities,” He chuckled, pulling out his serrated dagger and began to spin it around like some entertainer.

My gaze remained fixed on him with an air of annoyance, “I'd rather not spend a second longer in this place. Give me the details,” I said after a moment of silence.

“Oh?! That’s right, you never refuse work. That’s why I like you, Kazu,” he stated, bringing the dagger to a quick stop as he flashed me with that repulsively smug smile. “There’s this caravan that just arrived in the city. They recently just completed a Clan Raid from a dungeon… so why don’t we relieve them of some of those treasures, huh? Those guys are hauling all kinds of valuables from the dungeon.” He stated with a sickening glee.

My mind pondered the information as I mulled over the possible loot the Caravan would have. It was an easy way to earn a quick payday without working too hard, it was simple, but then again, this was probably a last-minute request from this idiot.

“Where’s this caravan located in this dump? Surely someone as simple as you could tell me proper details?” I bluntly remarked.

The thug on his left scowled at me and spat at my feet as their boss once again silenced him with a wave of his hand.

I returned the thug's glare with a bored expression as I waited for their boss's answer.

“Heh. Kazu…” was all he said with hesitation toward my mocking of his gang, “They’ll be staying at one of the inns in the eastern part of Carith. You won’t miss their caravan since it's a huge deal. Most people won't even dare to mess with them. Apparently, they are an A-ranking clan from this domain. They are probably here to gift Graced Clan Corvus with some of their spoils. We can’t pass it up. I already have the buyer lined up, so the payout will be very generous for your help," He said with glee while looking at me expectantly.

My gaze fixed itself on him, "an A ranking clan… hmm,” I mused, considering this, even I knew how valuable the items that an A ranking dungeon raid would hold, and if they were making offerings to the Graced Clan in this City then it would be more than just valuable. Still, A-ranking Clans held some degree of power. It’s been a while since I had a proper challenge. This would be interesting. I hummed to myself with a sense of amusement at my thoughts.

I smirked before I answered, "... fine, but sixty percent of the take is mine,” I said, clearly offending him, but he swallowed that remark as he knew that arguing with me would be pointless. He was desperate for my help.

"… ahem! sixty percent... it is then. Have fun, Kazu,” their boss remarked while I merely rolled my eyes and left the room, then made my way out of the rundown hideout and into the street again.

The sun was still high in the sky. I had plenty of time to prepare myself, and from what I gathered, this specific job needed to be done tonight. If they were here, then that meant their caravan was probably only here for the night before gifting that Clan Corvus their spoils and then leaving.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the proper information or know how many people were part of their caravan and, more importantly, if they would be difficult to deal with. That left me with only one option to go check out the caravan myself and then plan accordingly.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I left for the eastern quarter of the city. Like most Capitals, Carith was so large it felt like I had walked for miles, all while I ignored the typical stares from the meaningless faces of Diversity.

That consisted of Humans, elves, horned and fluffy-eared beastmen, and even short dwarves. Although many of these races tended to collectively serve separate Monarchs of this continent, that didn’t mean clans of other domains couldn’t travel, buy, or sell in another domain. In fact, the seven Graced Clans had some common ground, for the most part.

But even so, many still saw me as some sort of abomination. It wasn’t long before I found myself walking into the eastern side of the city. Then, with some thought, I speculated which Inn they would be staying at by simply how defensive the street seemed. And as much as I complained about this city, I knew it rather well.

My unbothered steps took me further to this particular street. As expected, three carriages sat outside a building, taking up the entrance, with a few clan members in front of them who were obviously serving as guards.

I observed them from a distance, taking in every detail, how many there were and their positions. I could sense a few from inside the building as well.

After a few moments, I had all the information I needed. There were a dozen of them altogether, a pair that guarded each Carriage and the remaining clan members that indulged in what the Inn had to offer.

Regardless, the best time for me to rob them was at night. I expected their mouths to be drunk on wine or ale, and their senses would be dulled. With that in mind, I had wrapped up my planning for now, with my observations over.

However, my instincts pulled my Gaze to my side as a girl in fitted armor and purple hair appeared. She seemed to have a slight scowl as she looked at me. Unfortunately for her, I had no interest in her words as I simply stared at her for a moment with nothing but boredom, “... what do you want?" I remarked without interest as my gaze bore onto her.

She merely eyed me up with both curiosity and a tint of hostility. “... why is a Cursed Clan walking around this area?” She asked, clearly having her wits about her, yet I stood examining this preppy girl who looked just as naive as she sounded.

“Huh? Oh, I see. you must be one of the Clan members that went on the raid to the dungeon… yeah I see it now.” I mused as I examined her. “… well, the better question is... why are you talking to me? Clan members tend to avoid me completely, in case you didn’t already know,” I said with a rather indifferent remark, then started to walk past her.

It was a bit comical that she tried to keep up with me. I simply ignored the attempts as she trailed behind me, "Exactly! It’s just suspicious that someone like you is just walking around here.” She huffed, clearly annoyed by my demeanor.

I finally stopped with a scoff. My gaze shifted to the purple-haired girl with no sense of care or interest in her accusations. "Someone like me? Mmm, at least you know exactly what I am, but someone like you would be better off not standing in my way,” I said bluntly, carrying on as if nothing happened. I could sense her growing anger from behind me, but I still left her in my shadow.

My footsteps continued through the crowd of people who merely brushed past me. After all, I was done with my business here. The only thing left was to wait till later tonight when the caravan was celebrating their haul, and everyone was too drunk to notice me robbing them. However, that girl was still a concern, and she would likely be the only sober person among them.

Regardless, the Job would be done in a matter of time. All I had to do was wait, and there was no reason for me to walk all the way back to the lower district, mostly just because I didn't have the energy for it.

After some time passed, I found myself sitting on a bench, just on the outskirts of the eastern side of the city, with the sea of people going about their business. Like many capitals, Carith was a major trade center, with all kinds of races and goods entering the city.

These items consisted of an Energy called Mana, which practically flowed all over the world. It was used in nearly everything from medicine to crafting, even weapons and armor, and it was a necessary energy source in this world.

Even those who lived in Aterius gathered it within their bodies or rather in their Mana core. The more someone could hold in their core determined their rank and overall strength of their body and power.

I wasn't sure of my rank since I had no reason to know, but I had more than just the size of my core to judge. In truth, my body itself had some degree of natural strength and agility, and add that to my wits and fast reaction time, I was practically untouchable.

Honestly, I wasn’t complaining either. It’s just how it always was.

I sat on the bench, with the occasional passerby scowling at me, but no one ever bothered me, and I didn’t feel that girl’s presence from earlier since we parted ways. Eventually, Night fell, and the light of the moon began to fill the streets of this city. The hour was late, the caravan would be partying through the night, and their guards would be too drunk to care about their own surroundings.

It was really their own fault, but regardless, the time was now. I casually strolled into the streets of the eastern district as the lights of the lanterns lit up the path. The streets were much less populated now, aside from the staggering drunks leaving the Inn, but that would only benefit my approach. As for the caravan itself, many of them were inside the inn, but the pairs guarding the carriages still sat there, happily guzzling down their own share of wine. At the same time, I simply observed once more from the shadows, taking in their positions, and I certainly didn’t miss the absent member of their Clan. Presumably, that was the girl that was in front of me earlier.

A mere scoff of humor welled in my throat as a smile of amusement played on my lips, "…Good for her. I was looking for a bit of fun anyway,” I mused before I made my move.