Chapter 12

Somewhere in a slum area, it was so dark that nothing could be seen by the human eyes. The peace of the night was disturbed by the sounds of howling dogs. Suddenly, the very same dogs started to bark at something. It appears that someone had trespassed the area. Someone with a dull and dark coloured cloak with a beam of light that illuminated the dark night walked down the alley to avoid the dogs. But those animals never got tired of making noises. This particular night was not once calm but filled with all sorts of sounds of disturbances. However, the residents never complained about it, either because they were used to it or afraid of getting involved.

There was an old and empty house at the end of the alley. That house was the only one built in that area hence most people were unlikely to walk there. The man just kept walking straight to the house. The door was closed but unlocked and there were some broken parts of that house which made it easy to see the inside of the house. He took step by step towards the door. Before he opened the door, he looked at his surroundings first to make sure that there was nobody following him. After he confirmed that, he opened the door in a gentle manner, aware of how old and fragile that house was.

When the door opened, a loud creaking noise overtook the area and brought moonlight to the house. After he had entered the house, he closed the door shut and darkness took over the house. There was a table in front of him that looked rather round but it was in very bad shape. He threw something on that table, it appeared to be something like a device, but no one knew what it was. This was followed by two unknown hands picking up the thrown items. After he threw those things on the table, he himself took out the same thing and placed it in his ear. It was a device that could hear the voice inside someone's head like telepathy.

He gave a sign to the two other people to wear this item on their ears. Then he tested his inner voice and it worked for him but the two strangers did not understand how the device worked. Because the two strangers were too frightened of the device, they started to search from where that voice came from in a manner that was as determined as their killer instinct. "Please calm down, that's my voice inside your head from using these devices." He said by using an outer voice. After that, they slowly calmed down and took those items to inspect them carefully. When they looked closely, they were mesmerized by the beauty of it as this is the first time they had ever seen such items. "Please be careful and please put it back in your ear." They listened to him and wore it as told.

"Our plans were exposed." He started talking. "How come we were exposed?" A second trembling voice of a girl emerged. "Maybe someone leaked our information." He tried to trigger them. "Pwease believe us, we won't do anything like that, and we were always loyal to you." She accidentally spoke using the folk slang of beasts because she was too scared. "Me not betrayed, me ish a good boy" another voice came up. It seemed like that voice was from a big guy. "But don't worry, this time our plan will succeed by using these items." He presented these items to them. They were both amazed by receiving this item.

"Me shmell something fishy." The big guy's nose was detected. "Are you sure, or do you just want to eat fish?" He mocked. "No fish, me smells something shtrange." He spoke word by word. "Me smell blood." He continued. They were surprised by what they heard. By the way, we are all robbers and neither of us are murderers. "I can feel it too." The beast girl started to sniff around, while she tried to find where the smell of blood came from. After a few moments, they found it and locked down that area. "Did you guys find it? Just act as if nothing happened." He said.

"Yes." Both of them gave the same answer at the same time. "Fine if you wish for the fish, next time I will bring to you some." He said by using his outer voice. He gave them a nod as a sign of approval to them while they were preparing their weapons. They became silent; steadily opening their own stance waiting for the right time to attack. Only the sound of dripping water droplets from the broken roof dripping down to the floor took over the house. They waited for the right time to attack together. When the next water droplet falls to the ground, they started their attack by throwing the dagger.

They heard the sound of a knife stab but yet they still don't know if their throwing had hit the target. He ordered the big guy to check up that place. After a few moments, "me shaw nothing." He responded. "Isn't it rude to attack a person without any warning beforehand?" They were shocked. That strange person suddenly shifted and appeared at their backs. "Who is the rude one here, stalker?" They draw their weapons and started swinging them at him. Unfortunately, every single swing can be dodged easily. After that, he took one step back. "Please, I'm not here to fight." He raised both of his hands. "So, you are the one here to sabotage our plans." The three of them prepared their stance.

"I'm not that kind." He laughed. "I would say we have the same plans but a different task. So, how about we share those plans together?" The strange man gave an offer but they absolutely rejected his offer. "Why?" "I'm not sharing your money; I'm just doing my job." He tried to convince. "We are clever enough to say no because you want to use us as bait." She already knew his intention. "So, there is no space for me to negotiate with you?" He tried to discuss but for them, it came across as a provocation. "Of course, there is no such negotiation with this." He gave his answer by drawing his sword to directly attack that man but alas, that man still managed to dodge it.

"We will not team up with an evil like you." Beast girl answered. "But we're still a criminal." The strange man said with a smirk on his face. "I was a leader would like to say something to you. We work for our freedom unlike you who slaved yourself doing their dirty jobs." After he heard that, the strange man became pissed off. "Now, you have the guts to challenge me" He came forward and he draws his sword. "I already have it; I'm just waiting for it." He had confidence in himself. "You made a serious mistake." The strange man gave a warning. "The three of us? No, you are the one who made a serious mistake." He responded.

"Now!" They started charging but every single time they can't reach him. That strange man easily dodged and blocked their attack. He was not easily defeated. The big man attacked the front, but he was easily thrown away and as a result, landed on the table. The table shattered into pieces. The beast girl sneakily attacked from behind, but he easily countered it and sent her flying causing her to land on the body of her friend. The both of them grunted. Only after the leader left, they started to fight. Their fighting style was so epic. Unfortunately, the leader didn't realize that he had let his guard down and at that moment the strange man took a chance by giving a blow of his fist to the leader. The leader kneeled as he could not take the blow and was exhausted at this point. He also ran out of breath.

"How's that?" "You want to go again, a bloody nobleman?" He provoked. "How did you know I'm a noble?" His identity was exposed. "Your sword, your scent, and all of those items, only the nobles can own." He showed proof. He walked in closer. "Let me take a look at your face, maybe you are on my list." He said. "I'm a fan of exterminating people like you." He tried to reach the leader's cloak. "Not a chance." He suddenly brought out a bomb. "Damn it." This was the last word that came out of the strange man's mouth before the bomb exploded. Nobody knew what happened to them.

"I think we're done here, it's just a waste to stay any longer." The strange man jumped on the window still in perfect shape. "It's too sad that we're not in a team." He continued." From the very beginning until the very end we were never a team." The leader responded with a smile. Both of them survived the bomb. "I'm sure you will be leaving without following through with our plans." He fixed up his stance. "Never mind, it doesn't matter what plan is it but the important thing is how we execute it." The strange man smiled. "So long." The strange man left the house without any trace.

After the explosion occurred, a few guards came rushing in and raided the scene. There was nobody there, only pieces of shattered items. A few miles from the incident, the three of them were watching it from the other building's roof "So, what should we do now?" The beast girl asked the leader. "Don't worry; I always have a plan." He gave words of comfort to encourage them. "The most important thing is that he can't touch us." He continued smirking his face. "But right now, we need to retreat first, or else our identity may be revealed." He said. After that, they leaving without any trace.