PRELUDE TO ENTERING THE EMPIRE

The man moved slowly over the grasslands in the moonless, summer night. His black clothes, aided him in blending into the darkness. Even if he ran, an observer would find it difficult to discern him from the surroundings. Back in the Capital, he had achieved the greatest compliment from his Guild.

'One with the night.'

He paused scanning his intended target. The farm located in the near distance.

The powerhouse he usually dealt with through the Guild, had made a simple request, for a large sum. Investigate and infiltrate a merchant family and steal the usual documents. Most of the larger Houses, Clans and Nobles in the Capital dished out these assignments instead of those straightforward assassination ones.

His investigations into the case eventually lead him to this place. When the rich and powerful eyed something, they carried out a three-pronged attack. Steal the subject matter, Intimidate the opponent while Negotiating with a smile.

"These unlucky paupers are in for a world of hurt."

He had muttered on receiving the contract. That mindset had remained through Karst, up until he eyed the farm in front.

'What the heck is this.'

The building in front had no semblance to a farm, but a small fort. He had journeyed across the grasslands from the small village and scouted out two large entrances--one on the east and west. Looking at the small closed-door facing the north, he decided to scale the wall furthest from it.

He crouched and stealthy moved towards the wall, conscious of the tower. At this distance, the watch would be hard pressed to spot him.

About three hundred feet away from the wall however, disaster struck.

The sudden loud screaming pierced the night, startling the smaller animals and sleeping birds in the bushes.

In the top floor of the barn, sitting and writing on a desk lit by a candle, a boy raised his head.

"Another one is it?"

"Seems like it, will you deal with them tomorrow? Dyna had begun complaining, she wants her shed back."

The older girl sitting close by, placed the abacus on the desk as she then brushed her golden curls to the side.

"Might as well get over it soon, we do lack information anyway."

Chu replied as he stretched.

Out in the open plain, a grown man cried tears as he tried to pry open the toothed jaw of a closed trap. The pain coupled with the heavy weight of the bear-trap, made it unbearable to move. He eventually lay on his back exhausted, moaning intermittently.

The sound of steady footsteps placed him on defense, while praying for some sort of respite. His hand though, slid down his waist, gripping a concealed dagger out of pure reflex.

"I told Old Hodge the tension needed adjusting. See... this time, it responded fast, while not forceful enough to break the bone."

Rugol spoke over the man, conducting a conversation with another man, both like two doctors discussing the ailments of a patient in pain.

"This thing is nothing short of amazing, Hey kid, open your hands slowly before we help you. That piece of crap won't help you against that there monster."

Bon chattered as he raised the oil lamp towards the latest victim.

The man nearly pissed his pants when he followed the gaze of the speaker, turning his head around.

About four feet away behind him, a giant of a wolf, watched him intently in silence.

The Capital had its share of nobles that loved to use exotic animals as pets to flaunt their status. However, none there could hold a candle to this beast. Forget pissing his pants, he nearly emptied his bowels. The useless knife in his hands dropped freely to the ground.

It did not take Rugol and Bon long, so as to bound the man and disarm the trap. After resetting and hiding it, they placed a bag over the captive and then escorted the hobbling man towards the farm. Near the south side entrance, they pushed the prisoner into a cabin and hung him up by his hands with a rope.

With his feet barely supporting his weight, they removed the bag before leaving and locking the door. Under a dimly lit candle left in the room, the man soon realized he had company.

"Bob?!"

He said, recognizing one of the prisoners and calling out in shock.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Tull."

Replied the calm man whose foot presently had been wrapped and splintered for support.

Tull looked around, nearly leaping in astonishment, at finding two more familiar faces.

"Warren? What the... Jill, you too?"

The second thing that caught Tull's attention-- they all sported a broken foot.

Chu sat down on a stool inside the shed near the butchering station. He looked at the group pegged like clothes on a line near the wall. Lucy and Mr Thomas stood on each side, glancing every now and again at those broken feet. They had witnessed first hand the effectiveness of these traps during the testing in the forest.

"So, who is going to talk first. I won't bother threatening you, because I respect you guys too much. When I count to five, the big guy out there is going to walk in and chew of a leg of his choice.

Don't worry, I have enough healing potions to keep you folks alive. There are four of you, so that gives you what, eight chances to talk. If not, we will move on to the arms next."

Chu smiled as he spoke. Looking at each of them squarely in their faces he began

"One... Two... Three..."

"Brat, I don't believe you wi..."

"Four... Five."

Chu stopped and looked coldly at the guy who disrupted him.

"Lykos."

He said, never removing his gaze at Bob.

A large shadow walked into the shed, promptly making a beeline towards the guy who retorted. Before the famished man could defend his body, the wolf already had his good foot in its mouth, firmly held between its jaws. One snap and the man would become a cripple for life.

The beast moved its jaws as if it wanted to slowly chew the man's foot off, its face contented, as if savoring the taste. A thin line of blood slowly dripped down a pearl white tooth, while all four prisoners looked on in horror. The beast seem to lock their gaze within its vindictive eyes.

"Stop, stop, By the heaven's stop! I'll talk, I'll talk."

The scream first came from Bob, then from the others. They were all members of the Thief's Guild, not bound by an oath of loyalty, to their contractor.

'Why should they have to die in this gruesome manner, in the middle of no man's land, and also for an employer who did not give a damn.'

"Excellent choice. Then let's begin. Lucy, if you please, share the healing potions..."

Chu clapped his hands as the wolf released the foot, spitting out the blood, as if in disgust.

Soon the four members of the Thief's Guild found themselves seated by a long table placed outside the shed. Under the summer morning sky, they held back their hunger as trays of strange food graced the table. Chu placed some food on a plate, giving some brief explanation on its source.

Witnessing the boy eat from the table, the captives then helped themselves. Some of them like Bob had been held prisoner since nearly a week ago. This sumptuous meal tasted like heaven, the smell intoxicating, far different from the previous cold rock bread and water. Indulging themselves in the feast, Chu struck up a typical breakfast meeting.

"So where are you guys from..."

In the evening, Chu gathered his core members, including Bon, Halter, Hodge, Finn and Sherry. The rest of the residents continued on with their evening classes at the dormitory building under the care of Sakura and Shine. Seated together at the back, the four members of the Thief's Guild looked on in amazement.

Lucy stood by these unfettered members, so Chu had no worry of them planning any underhanded attacks. Besides, after the morning talk, they had struck up a cordial relationship. Since then, they had been under the company of Ming and Lucy. With that recognized befriender, the group spilled everything.

"A bunch of Bast*rds, taking us for some simple pushovers."

Chu cursed as he paced slowly up and down in front. He maintained a calm front, like a manager sharing the news of an impending takeover, to his peers. The others seated at the long table nodded, since they heard the news.

"Three pronged attack my a**. Want to devour me, wait for it."

After the morning talks, Chu had a good idea on what occurred in the Capital.

Griz and Kim apparently scored a success, and obtained certain goals. However, the nature of this invention, coupled with its boundless implementations caused the larger noble houses and clans to rear their greedy heads. Hot on the trail of Griz and Kim's return, a contingent representing the six largest factions of the Capital, followed behind.

Their individual goal--the tried and true, three-pronged attack. First they would use the elements like the Thief's Guild to steal the blueprints and any other future plans. If this did not work, then they would resort to all out bullying. Barring this treatment, the last would entail negotiating.

Since these actions would obviously raise the ire of the Emperor and the Merchant's Guild, these groups had sent out their representatives under the guise of training out in the world. By sheer coincidence, they would arrive in Karst, collect the information from the hired thief, and proceed from there.

"Bob, how come there are only four of you, should we expect the remaining two houses to send some thieves?"

Chu asked.

Bob stiffened as he became the center of attention. This bunch, did not seem like your everyday simple farmers.

"Am... Boss, the next two groups probably are from the Church's Union and the Grand Vizier. One represents the collection of religious sects, while the other is the Grand Vizier's own House. Both of those usually operate above-board."

Bob replied.

Jill on the side cut in with a helpful explanation

"Boss, very few people are aware that the Church's Union are actually funded in secret by the Tower Mages. Similarly, few are aware that the Grand Vizier House, is backed by the Emperor himself. Only our Master knows this information, since he maintains a cordial relation with both of them."

Jill added. Her face bore a smug, knowing that she just provided some real top-notch information.

Chu sat down at the head table, drumming his fingers.

"Tell me something, will those guys pay you for any plans you manage to steal?"

"Boss you, can't be serious, I would rather die than give up your work."

Old Hodge was the first to jump up. The other Artisans followed, but Chu waved them back to their seats.

"Tull, the gear blueprint can just be a single one with some scribbles. But what if you manage to steal something more important, something that looks like it has the potential to change the world?"

Tull mused before answering.

"I think all of us in the Thief's Guild would then ask for more money, its standard practice, as for what happens next, it's not our problem."

He answered. A thought suddenly hit him

"You..."

"Yess..."

Chu smirked.

Since these guys decided to launch an attack, he would do the same. As for who would take advantage of who, that would remain to be seen.

As your average man on the street, he could whip up lots of failed designs for inventions, even in his sleep.

He looked at the group of thieves sitting in the corner, his mouth curled up.

"Tell me all about this big six from the Capital, I want to know what each of them does..."