The raid

Their impromptu hideout wasn't the most fortified building, but with its inconspicuous looks and multiple lookouts it provided everyone inside a much needed sense of security.

Even at night with no stars, like this one, the surroundings were brightly lit by the torches, leaving no way for any hostels to ambush the group that took over it.

And it was something necessary for the group.

After all, they believed they had taken over Startinton and properly established their very own base of operations, only for another group to cut their number in half within a week.

Actually, they were extremely lucky that they decided to run away, as it seemed that the other group intended to get rid of them for good with such ferocity as if they held a grudge!

Even though lying low and licking their wounds would have been justified in their situations, the youngsters who mainly comprised the runaway group decided to act and build themselves up from scratch.

The hostage held within their hideout was the cornerstone of their plan.

Well, not him, but rather the ransom they would get for him.

The problem was that they were acting on foreign turf without the local boss's knowledge, making the whole operation at least twice as stressful.

"..."

Kyle, one of the lookouts, furrowed his brows and silently cursed the ill luck of his group.

It felt like they had everything, but then lost it all and had to start from the ground up.

It was infuriating.

It was definitely the last straw for Kyle too, if this time the plan would fail too, their boss would have a hell to p…

"!?!?"

All of a sudden, one of the torches at the corner of the neighboring building went off without any sign of burning out, causing Kyle to tense up and focus.

He didn't call out just yet, awaiting the reaction of the lookout stationed at that very spot…

"...!"

Kyle's eyes widened as he noticed a movement and could swear that he spotted something being dragged into the darkness.

That was more than enough reason to raise an alarm!

"HURGH…!"

Kyle opened his mouth to call out, only for a hook of a noose to fall over his head and instantly tighten around his neck, strangling his neck.

The next moment, Kyle was being pulled up by the rope like a hooked fish.

WIth his eyes building out of their sockets, Kyle managed to see something before the torch lighting up his area was put down - another of his group members on the lookout was being taken down, or rather up, in the same way he was…!

It was an attack!

No…

A full-blown raid on their hideout!

****

The dark-brown-haired Theodore was sitting across their bound hostage, staring at him with cold fury while one of his underlings was pacing restlessly between back and forth crossing his line of sight again and again.

"The message was delivered, our messenger wasn't caught or trailed, but those fuckers failed to show up or even attempt contact! This whole thing is a bust!"

The pacing man stopped in place and called out in anger.

"You said that it will work! That the noble who bought off his debt would go along without causing trouble, but he was clearly abandoned!"

He roared at Theodore, who merely moved his infuriated gaze from the hostage to him.

"Young Lady Zorivia isn't like that. She saved me, and she would definitely do the same for him… No contact from her means she doesn't know."

"Sure. Definitely."

Theo gritted his teeth and declared, making his underling lean back with a distrust all over his face.

"Shut up. Young Lady Zorivia isn't like the rest of them… but if our intel is true, Medea wormed his way to the position of her personal assistant… It's his fault… He must have hidden our message from her…!"

The dark-brown-haired youth declared, clenching his fists and trembling from the surge of aggression.

"Tsk! Again with that guy?! He scared you when you were a kid, but then you said that when you met him again, he was acting all docile and confused. You made him your personal nightmare, but I bet he is just some wimpy fucker."

"Fuck off! Medea is scarier than anything you can imagine!"

The other man clicked his tongue and scoffed, shaking his head at his boss, who started his back and growled back at him, clenching his fists so hard that his fingernails pierced the skin and drew blood.

"FUCK!"

Theo cursed, lowering his head, unable to stop himself from trembling.

"I don't understand…! I wasn't like that before… But now, whenever I think of Medea, my body just…"

He leaned down and muttered, clenching his arms around his stomach protectively, as if fearing his insides would spill out at any moment.

"...tsk… you. Stay put, alright? We have all those kids from your orphanage and their safety depends solely on your cooperation."

"..."

Theodor's underling scoffed again before turning to the hostage and threatening him while pointing his finger right into his face, and the gagged reddish-brown-haired man couldn't even respond beyond giving him a disgusted glare.

"...wait a second… wouldn't that guy be able to tell us something about that Medea guy? If…"

"SHUT UP ALREADY! If we speak about him so much he will show up like the fucking demon he is!"

The thug flinched and gasped in realization, only to get screamed at by Theo, who was clearly on the verge of breaking down from his own delusions.

"Psh! Year right! Medea, Medea, Medea! See? Nothing happ…"

*click* *screech*

"What the…?"

The underling mocked his panicked boss, but then, without any warning or explanation, one of the two doors of the room opened with an eerie sound, but no one entered.

The confused criminals looked at each other before Theo stood up and stepped in front of the door…