Chapter 23: The Criminals (Journey IX)

"I need to talk to your boss!"

The goon looked at me.

"Are you stupid? Go away before I hurt you, little bitch!"

Fenrir jumped at him in an instant, catching him off guard. My puppy ripped his arm straight off, leaving the goon screaming and writhing on the ground. The goon besides him quickly ran inside the building, with me following close behind.

After the entrance area came a bar, with some serving girls working as waitresses. The smell of alcohol and some sort of tobacco rose into my nose. I didn't want to look around this place of debauchery to much so I rushed after the goon. Instead of going upstairs we went into a sort of cellar.

He screamed for backup and 4 others joined him inside a hallway.

*Dumb...they cant surround me here...*

"What do ya want? Are ya dumb or something?"

"I just want to talk to your boss...I am not here to kill anyone, but if I don't get what I want, there will be deaths..."

I had an unsettling feeling, I was even a little frightened. But it wasn't an option to show it. They needed to think that I was absolutely confident.

The goons looked at each other, not really knowing what to do.

"Hey you stupid scoundrels go back to your posts and let her trough!"

It must have been some sort of higher ranking criminal, because as soon as they heard his commands, they followed them.

"Young lady, I am terribly sorry that my men were such a trouble for you. Please follow me, the Don wants to talk to you."

I nodded, but then I remembered the half dead guy outside.

"Hey...My warg may have accidentally ripped the arm off one of your goons..."

"You there, go and bring Jason to a healer, hes outside!"

"Yes Carl!"

*So his name is Carl...seems like a nice guy, but I shouldn't forget that he is a criminal...*

We walked through the corridor. Doors on every side could be seen every few meters. I wondered what was inside of them, but it would be better to ignore them for now. Who knows what this 'Don' was doing down here.

*I just hope that their boss doesn't have any problems with demons...well if things don't work out how I want them...but I need to be careful around Carl, he has much Mana in his veins so it would be better to go with the flow if push comes to shove...*

We arrived at the end of the hallway and Carl knocked on the door that was before us once. He then opened the door. Right in the middle of this office like room sat an older woman, she had short auburn hair, she had green eyes, but around her left eye was a huge burn mark. The rest of her face was quite pretty, but it shone through that she was something around 30 to 40yo.

"My Don."

"Come on in mysterious woman...Carl would you be so kind and leave us alone."

"Understood!"

Me and Fenrir walked into the room and Carl closed the door behind me. I didn't know if she trusted her underling enough to quickly kill me and Fenir if I attacked her, or if they were already willing to help me, no matter what I wanted.

"So you wanted to talk to me? But before you tell me what you want, I would like to know if you really killed the women?"

My Eyes went wide and I was momentarily shocked.

*How does she know who I am...I mean yes, I am also disguised but what?...I've changed my cloak and none of the people I talked to saw my face...*

"Will you answer or just keep standing there?"

"How do you know that it is me who is searched in the town...and no, I didn't kill them. I traveled with them for a few days before we were attacked by bandits..."

"I know who you are, because I have my men everywhere. What I don't know is how you got in but whatever...so it's like I thought...let me guess, the bandits weren't demons?"

"Yes they were humans. Me and Fenrir killed 4 of them before the rest of them fled...then came a few soldiers and I retreated..."

The woman was quiet for a moment, probably contemplating what to do with the confirmation of her assumptions.

"I guess you want to get out of Ulria, but seeing that you entered it without problem you should be able to leave it the same way. So why are you here?"

"I need a citizenship for the Kingdom of Sarien, and seeing that I have no option to get it legally, I need the help of someone like you..."

She smiled.

"Ah, I see...but Sarien is taking many demon refugees in, you know? Why not just go with that?"

*She knew it...*

"I want to cross the border in disguise, as just a human girl that, I don't know, worked in Grimveil or something...I cant tell you who I am, but I believe it is important that I hide myself for now..."

"Girl, you should really learn how to keep yourself from spilling to many beans..."

*Did I say to much?*

"But it doesn't matter who you are for the moment...listen...I have a proposal for you. You work for me for 2 years, don't worry not in here but on the streets of the whole town...I can see that you are stronger than average people, so I want you to use that talent..."

*Working for her...and 2 years?...I don't really know what she is after but...*

"I know it sounds suspicious but don't worry, I can help you. It is rather expensive to have someone faking a citizenship, and a good one at that, aside from that, you definitely need to lay low for a while and I can give you a good hideout for the time being. I will have one of my men spread rumors around the south of Grimveil that they sighted the masked demon..."

I wasn't sure what to make of that proposal but she was right. I needed her help, so she could make a profit of this situation.

"Ok...I accept your proposal. But! I will not do any work around this establishment..."

She once again smiled.

"Good!...so my first order for you is: 'lay low for around 2 months'...Carl will guide you to a underground hideout. We will bring you food for the time and after these months you will start working."

"So...boss...what is your name?"

"It`s Don from now on!...My name is Annalucia."

"Yes...Don..."

*This is kinda awkward*

And so began my 2 long years in the criminal underworld of Ulria.

----

2 and a half years later...

----

I've finally done it, my work for Annalucia was finished. I stood in her office, as I had many times. After 2 years she gave me a document that showed my affiliation to the Kingdom of Sarien. But I continued to work for her to amass a small fortune. Most of my work was to 'remind' people around Ulria of their debts they've had. Sometimes I broke into houses or robbed richer citizens around the wealthy district. When I did this the Don allowed me to keep everything that she didn't want, she even introduced me to some of the fencers in the town, which made my income skyrocket.

*I have 4 gold and 23 silver coins now...this will be quite useful...*

In these years I rose through the criminal ranks quickly, becoming the left hand of Annalucia, with only Carl being on par with me.

"So you'll be leaving at dawn?"

"Yes..."

"Sad...I hoped you would stay here and if you weren't so strong, I would just force you to stay."

She let out a sigh and then smiled at me.

"If you ever need help in the kingdom, go to the mercenary guild in the royal capital, Sarissa, and ask for Tyler. He will have work for you and help you setting yourself up in Sarien."

"Thanks Don...really...I appreciate what you have done for me..."

"I hope you never forget it...but I have one last request...tell me your real name."

...

...

"It`s Lilith...I hope to see you again sometime in the future."

"Goodbye Lilith..."

----World POV----

When Lilith left the room, Annalucia had a large grin on her face.

"This will be getting really interesting."

She set up a letter for her ex-husband and then continued her work.

----Lilith POV----

We went through an underground tunnel to leave Ulria, it ended with a small ladder. Climbing it up I've found myself in the mill outside of the town. Stepping out of it, I was finally in the fields again.

"Time to leave this wretched empire...come on Fenrir..."