The steel gates suddenly creaked opened. The bloody mess either fell to the ground or remained glued to the weapon of murder.

But that did not obstructed the crazy and terrified crowd to rush out of the door, adding to the body count in the process.

Soon, the lower floor was completely barren. The benches were in a mess. Only about a dozen of bodies lied on the marbled ground, footsteps printed all over them.

Along with the crowd, the voice disappeared. No matter how much the head priest shouted, there was nobody to answer back.

The bishop was sitting at one corner of the hall, still drenched in sweat. No matter how much he tried to get the experience out of his mind, it only etched further and further into his memories.

A sigh escaped his lips.

Tonight, he stared right into the eyes of death itself.

The party of four returned to the lower marketplace.

Adrian craved his neck up, just as they reached the tavern- their base- Adrian craned his neck up. ‘Jolly Elixers’ that was what was engraved on the wooden board.

Anyone who even gave it a glance would never suspect that two of the most dangerous entities in the city cuddled each other to bed in one of the upper floors.

The four passed through the bickering crowd and the loud music to the room at the other end- where the syndicate meetings take place.

The moment the door behind closed, Elise stepped forward to remove the heavy hood off Adrian, to which Adrian gladly complied.

Irene, the ever-observer, followed her teacher and threw back her arms- assuming a suitable pose for someone to take off her leather shelling.

The scar faced Halseed was taken off guard, but just like a good butler, he did his job.

The room was arranged like it was. There were two ‘thrones’ at the other side of the wooden ‘court’.

Both the ‘King’ and the ‘Queen’ took their respective seats.

Halseed had a submissive pose, with his back mildly arched forward and eyes on the flat wood below.

Elise, who had seen the duo in action for the first time, bent her spine a few degrees forwards as well. She was one of the only two in the entire hall to sense his superhuman speed and what he did with the powerful bishop, how he played with him.

But what baffled her was exactly this. He only ‘played’ with the bishop, that’s all. Neither did he threaten him, nor did he even try to pry out any information. So what was all that for?

“Sa- boss.” She uttered out. “About today-“

“The thing you are looking for- it’s not here in Edenshield.” Adrian interrupted.

“What?!” Both Elise and Halseed cried out in chorus.

“How is that possible?!” Elise continued. “Are you sure-“

“So, you are doubting me now?” Adrian’s voice turned cold as he looked into her eyes.

Cold sweat trickled through her skin as she gulped.

“Not at all, sa- boss.” She aggressively shook her head. “It’s just that every clues we got led us here.”

“Then you fell perfectly into their trap.” Adrian’s answer was direct.

Both the young woman and the middle aged man scowled.

“I am quite impressed actually.” His lips curved to a slight smile as he rubbed his chins. “It seems that even the high priest does not know that the thing is not here. Their plans were foolproof, with no scopes of failure- until they met me that is.”

Halseed turned to Elise. She nodded and turned to Adrian. “But boss, why would they need to put such a trap? They aren’t even aware of our existence.”

“Yes, they aren’t aware of your existence.” He arched forward, putting his elbows on his thighs and clasping his hands together. He looked into her eyes. “But they are aware of the importance of the artefact to your master’s family.”

She gasped. “Impossible!”

Halseed knitted his brows further. The only thing they knew of their real leader- ‘The One Above’- was that the being was Elise’s master, and of course- the fact that she was extremely powerful and influential. This conversation was now out of his league.

Elise continued. “How can they…” Her body began to shake.

“Or else, why would they not use such a precious thing for themselves and leak out the fact that it’s in their hands?”

“But master… she…”

“Relax. She had already suspected this and thus, sent such a small force. Else, she might have come to Edenshield herself.” Adrian arched back and rested against the sofa.

Elise nodded. “Now… what should we do?”

Adrian gave Halseed a glance.

The middle aged man, despite not being a part of the underworld for long, understood. He bowed one last time before leaving room.

Now, only one devilishly handsome young man and two beautiful maids were left in the room.

“What do you think?” He smiled.

Elise bit her lips. “I know you have other priorities. And your mission might be even harder than the one we have. Can you…”

“Nope.” Adrian shook his head. He turned to Irene. “How many factions are there in this city?”

“Three.” She did not even have to think.

“To accomplish our mission, how many of them do we have to make our enemies?”

“Three.” Her answer was same as before, without even an iota of difference.

He turned back to the other woman in the room. “See? Our hands are tied right now.” He put his hands in the air and wriggled them.

Her teeth bit harder into her lips. “I can assure you!” She took a step forward. “If we can take that thing from the hands of the Church. We, at least me, will put our lives on the mine to help you to your goal.”

“So you are saying that lest I don’t help you, you are not helping me?” He raised his brows.

She gulped and shook her head.

“I think I have a solution.” A smile crept up on his face.

“What?” She found a ray of hope.

“Why don’t we make a deal?”