Edenshield.

The city, no matter how peaceful it seemed- undercurrents swept beneath the concrete roads and behind the fortified walls. After all, the city was home to the nobles, the church, and the underworld- three separate parties with different ideals and goals.

But no matter how much tension there was between the factions, peace prevailed in the community- at least on the surface. Nothing major happened in the recent years that incited the public.

But today, a news swept through the whole city- a news that stirred up the whole region.

*Neigh*

A carriage wheeled through the bricked and wide streets of the central district. The lavish coach was decorated with gold. Even the insignia was made of pure gold. It depicted a sun with a hollow centre. Anyone would be able to recognise the carriage with just a glance. The vehicle belonged to none other than the Church, the Church of Ervil.

Soon, another carriage came out on the street. The coach was khaki in colour and it was waving the flags of the Raymond household, the Duke family in charge of the ever standing city.

As soon as the khaki carriage caught up with the gold embroidered one, the coachman affiliated with the church gave the other coach a glance and paced the vehicle up. The one on the other coach followed.

Hence, a race started, a race to their destination- the red light district.

The Red Light District.

The area which would generally be crowded at night, was crowded in the day. People from all over the city, and even outside, had come all the way to this place; not to get any services of sorts, but to confirm the shocking news they have had heard this morning

The street at a certain spot was filled to the brim.

*Neigh. Neigh*

The sounds of steeds’ calls and rolling wheels grabbed the crowds’ attention. Everyone could tell at a glance to whom those speeding carriages belonged to. They wasted no time and gave the newcomers way.

Both of the horse driven vehicles came to a stop just where the greatest concentration of the crowds were a few seconds ago.

The doors opened, two feet touched the ground at the same time. From the golden carriage, a man who looked as if he were in his late twenties stepped out. His golden robe fluttered as he walked to the scene of the event. His brown eyes were locked on the nothingness ahead.

Soon, a middle aged man with short facial hairs joined him. He was wearing a khaki coat. He darted his eyes from the void ahead to the ashes below.

“Heh.” The middle aged man smirked. “The Black Skulls should be out of their minds now.”

The gold robes man was silent.

“Why are you even here?” The middle aged man snorted at the young looking man. “It’s a habit of your church to butt in the way of our jurisdiction. But you never interfered with the red light district at least.”

“Even these rotten souls are the descendants of the Saint.” The young man’s eyes were fixed ahead. His voice was pleasant.

“Tsk.” The man turned away. “You. Come here.” The man beckoned just as he spotted the guard captain in charge of the district.

“Sir!” The captain, who was wearing a light orange military uniform, saluted.

“At ease.”

The officer bowed and relaxed.

“I want everything. Leave nothing out.”

The man from the church peaked his ears, his eyes still staring ahead.

“Sir. Everything was fine till midnight.” The captain began to speak. “But later, screams were heard by the passers by. Many witnesses reported that people ran out of the Grand Pearl in panic.” His eyes gave the ashes beside a glance.

“But there were only prostitutes and guests among them. As for the members of the Black Skulls, however, we found no signs of them.”

“That’s strange.” The middle aged man from the Raymonds family frowned. “There should have been at least a dozen guards inside. But I sensed not a single piece of bone among the ashes. It’s as if they…”

The envoys from the Church and the Duke house said in chorus. “Disappeared.”

Both of them looked at each other. Hostility glinted in their eyes for a moment before they looked away.

“Was there anything special about the fire?” The short bearded man asked.

“Negative.” The officer answered. “Though it was a bit difficult to extinguish, it was only because of the magnitude of the flames. Neither the water circler, nor the fire circlers detected any abnormalities.”

“Strange.” The man knitted his brows as he rubbed his rough chin. “Have you interrogated Jack the Gypsy?” He asked the captain. “He should be the one in charge of the Black Skulls in this district.”

The military officer forced a smile. “Sir…”

“Speak.”

“He was in the brothel last night.”

“What?!” Both the representatives cried out in unison.

“He is… was a level 7 circler.” The middle aged man looked at the young man. “How come we did not sense a battle at that level?”

“Something’s terribly wrong here.” The one from the Church replied. “Can it be the Flying Bulls?”

“Hmph.” The bearded man mocked. “You might be the youngest Bishop of the Church. But you a newbie in this field. If they attacked, the whole city would have been in war now. After all, neither of them are hidden from each other’s eyes.”

The Bishop looked at the officer. “You have detection circles prepared all over the city and could not spot a single running Black Skull? Useless.”

“Aren’t you ‘Churchies’ proud of your divination magic?” The middle aged man retorted. “Why don’t you ‘divine’ the perpetrator?”

Both of them glared into each other’s eyes.

“It’s because of you fools running the city that we can live peacefully here.” A third voice joined. It was masculine and eerie.

Both the representatives stepped back in alert.

“It’s the kingpin!” Many in the crowd shouted and ran away.

The once filled are was now empty. Only five remained- the coachmen, the representatives and the newcomer- a giant bald man, someone capable of sneaking in without a notice even with that stature.

“Your forces are not capable of hurting me.” His white eyes looked down at the two with contempt before darting them to the sea of ashes. A side of lips arched to a smirk.

“The game has a new player.”

Keep calm and write something…