"That kid sure does know how to do his job."
A man who was driving his red car spoke to himself as he viewed at his top mirror.
A traditional fox mask was laying in the passenger seat. The steering wheel moved to the left and so did the car. The man was driving fast as he needed to get to a location as quickly as possible.
After turning to another corner of the road, he stopped driving for another mile then turned off his engine.
The car was parked at the side of a busy road. The man picked his fox mask and put it on his face. He also took a small cardboard box with a mysterious content inside that fitted in his black jean's pocket.
He got out of the car and started sprinting. He ran through the crowd of civilians at an amazing speed.
Those citizens that got bumped lightly due to the running man could only get angry at no one since the masked man had already gone away from their sights.
"Do you still have visual on him?"
".....Hah?.....Hmm, I guess...?"
"Why do you sound so unsure!? For god's sake, are you playing that fucking game!!?"
In a dark room, the flickering lights of a monitor flashed towards Hoga's face as he snapped back to his displeased face.
"Maybe not..."
"Tell me where the hell he is!!!"
He hesitantly stopped playing for a moment and checked something else.
On his monitor, there were multiple views that supervised an area of the streets. Cameras that were installed to many different building that viewed the outside of their establishments.
"Hmm....."
"...Hurry up!!"
".....Found him. He is just 2 blocks away straight from where you are."
"Keep an eye on him."
The fox masked man put more strength in his leg muscles and dashed forward to the designated place. In just a matter of a minute, he reached there and waited for Hoga's update on his location.
"He is near the barbershop. He just passed it."
The fox masked man was near the barbershop, so he scanned the area. All of the running and Hoga's searching skills, the fox mask masqueraded the man's relieved face.
There was an inconspicuous white-hooded man with fashionable tattered grey jeans. He was walking slowly with his head a bit low, resulting in only showing his face below the eye level.
He looked to be around 180 cm. He was not slim and slender. He definitely has some muscles around all body parts.
Seeing the visual of the mysterious tall guy, it put a sneer behind the fox mask. The masked man followed him while not alerting the civilians of his odd sight. He hid from both the civilians and his target.
It was a difficult job but he managed to cover a decent distance between the target and himself.
Then abruptly, the white-hooded man turned into an alleyway. To that action, the fox masked man squinted his eyes in doubt.
'...A trap?' He thought to himself as he hesitated to sneak into that dark passage.
Momentarily after, he made his resolve as he mocked himself in his mind.
"I arrived this far and now I have become a scaredy-cat? What a joke."
He entered the alleyway carefully as he scanned for any danger that could be bestowed upon him. However, his feet moved quickly because he does not want to lose sight of his objective.
He delved deeper into the dark alleyway. His fox mask became more obscure as he dived further through the concrete passage, but still no sight of the hooded man.
*Swoosh!*
The fox masked man felt a presence behind him. Alas, he did not react fast enough as the slithering arm got tangled around his neck.
The choking sound exited the assailed man's mouth.
"Kuk!!"
And the second after his last groan, a knife that was filled with bloodlust, appeared from the corner of his eyes and aimed at his vulnerable neck.
Contrary to the first time, in this instant, the fox masked man responded faster and stopped the attack. He used the palm of his hand as to get in the way of the knife's path.
*Splitch!*
The knife pierced through the flesh but not a single pained groan was heard. The pointy blade transversed the whole way to the back of the fox masked man's palm.
The pierced hand grabbed the assailant's same hand that held the knife, then he twisted it violently.
"Gah!"
This time, it was the white-hooded man that got injured. The grip around the fox masked man's neck lessened a tad bit. Both of them noticed it but the fox masked man made the first move.
He ducked down swiftly while taking the knife with him since the white hooded man also loosened his grip on the knife
He then kicked the white hooded man in the stomach, which resulted in the tumbling of the white-hooded man. He landed on his butt and the hood came off his head.
It revealed brown hair flapping violently as he was thrown down. The black eyes of the man were agitated from the sudden counter-attack from the fox masked man.
He was prepared to receive another attack, but nothing came in his way. He saw the fox masked man just standing still and looked down on his fallen state.
That impaled hand of his was not wavering due to the pain. He was completely immobile, except for the fact that the only thing moving on him, was the blood that dripped off his hand.
He gave the brown-haired man the time to stand up and pat the dust off his jeans.
"Who are you?"
A coarse voice coated his sentence of inquiry.
"Heh! I guess that you are the type of guy to kill first and then ask questions later."
He lifted his impaled hand and glanced at it. The dribbling of the red liquid did not stop but that fact did not affect the fox masked man.
He was not planning to remove the knife since it may result in him dying due to blood loss. Instead, he casually talked with the assailant.
"Would you spare a minute for what I have to say?"
"Who are you."
The serious tone from the brown-haired man was blatant. He implemented the seriousness to his face too.
Seeing that the man would not budge from his initial purpose to identify him, the fox masked man replied to him nonchalantly
"My name is Yemon."
There was a pause of silence between the two individual.
"...Your real name?" The brown-haired man responded dubiously.
"I don't know."
"What exactly do you want from me?"
Getting down to the actual business, the brown-haired man put his hands on his pocket but he still was staying vigilante.
"Your acceptance of my recruitment."
"Recruitment?"
The brown-haired guy momentarily sighed with disappointment.
"Look, I think that you have got the wrong information about me. So stop with this shenanigans."
"Shenanigans? Wrong information? Haha!"
The fox masked man proclaimed as Yemon, chuckled at the words of the brown-haired man. He thought of the ridicule that Yemon is emitting towards him.
"This."
Yemon showed his injury that the brown-haired man has recently given it to him.
"This is part of the information. You can't deny that."
"....."
The pain was tingling in Yemon's brain but he endured it and kept a confident face in front of the man. He had to do it if he wanted to make his target get even a tad bit disturbed in the face-off.
"Currently on the run. Authorities from major cities of Japan are searching for you but still no luck."
The brown-haired man's face deepened with killing intent as he stared at Yemon with high hostility.
"Sole survivor of the Byayuki plane crash incident."
The expression of the brown-haired guy became somber. He got his hands off his pockets as he focused on Yemon.
"Your nickname that the media gave you is Gui."
".....Tch!"
He clenched his fists and readied to pounce on Yemon. The confident Yemon noticed the subtle stance that the man, nicknamed Gui, was in.
"Now tell me. Have I got the wrong information? Should I also clarify for what crime the officials are doing a search for you? Or should I just straight out spell your real name too?"
The pain on Yemon's hand dissipated very slowly but that did not mean that it was okay. He adapted to the anguish, making it less bothersome for him.
After all, he wanted to have the upper ground in this conversation. No matter what, he wanted him.
The murderous aura just spiked and Yemon could sense that Gui would attack him in an instant. He did not step back, instead, Yemon played it off.
"Well well. I'm not here to arrest you or to kill you or do any sort of action that would be bad for you. Rather, I'm here to help you,...if you help me that is."
Gui retracted his bloodlust and continued arguing with Yemon.
"Help me? What can possibly intrigue me?"
A genuine confused Gui posed an extremely significant question. This was what Yemon wanted the negotiation to go through but he has to be cautious on how to present his answer.
This was one of the major turning point recruiting him.
"I can guarantee that I can provide you with 2 things that you would find difficult turning down."
"2 things? I don't think there is even 1."
His unsuppressed snicker did not affect Yemon since he has not even stated his two things.
"First thing. I can provide you with shelter. Shelter from the police, the SMF, even from the Heroes."
Gui was definitely interested in what Yemon just said. But he still had his doubts.
A place that would stay out of the radar of the SMF and Heroes? That did not sound plausible to Gui.
"That sound like total bullshit to me. Is there even a place like this?"
"There is. A hideout that was built for that purpose was costly. I guarantee that you would also agree with me if you saw the place."
The confidence wafted around Yemon, enhancing the veracity of his statement.
"Where is it?"
"I need your consent for joining my crew. Otherwise, it's a shame that you won't be able to see it."
"Hmph. As if something like that would fascinate me."
Yemon detected a tinge of curiosity that still lingered on Gui's decent looking face. Nevertheless, he continued.
"Oh well, there is always the second thing."
Yemon's atmosphere suddenly changed. His tone became deeper and meaningful as he squinted his eyes towards Gui.
"You will have free meals. And you know what I really mean, right?"
For a moment, Gui did not know what he was talking about. But all of the things that Yemon hinted at, Gui immediately understood the message he was conveying.
"Are you.....serious...? Gui's perturbed yet aroused voice took control of his verbal display.
Yemon took advantage and advanced.
"Yes. All types of meal are available. One word and you will get what you want."
A mischievous smile shadowed over Gui. Yemon took control of the situation and was prepared for another convincing.
Gui snapped back from his intrigued state of mind and questioned Yemon again. But this time, the stubbornness mixed with doubtfulness wrapped Gui's whole body.
He sighed and asked with a 'can't be bothered' attitude.
*Sigh*
"Is this the part where I am supposed to be like 'Yea!! I'm going to join you!!'. Sorry, but I have trust issues. I can't seem to find any way to trust you."
He refuses to believe Yemon. But even when Gui declared his extreme dubiousness, Yemon still retained the crescent moon smile which nagged Gui.
"I knew you would not trust me, so I got a really good bargaining chip."
He reached down his pocket which made Gui put up his guard. Yemon paused and beckoned Gui that he was not planning to attack.
He took out a small cardboard box. He then presented it to Gui. Gui's one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Yemon threw the small box delicately at Gui which formed a smooth arc upon reaching Gui's hand. Gui caught it perfectly in his palm.
"Check it out."
Gui hesitantly obeyed to Yemon's word. He opened the small box and found a white cloth that was tied around, hiding another content.
It did not seem like anything extravagant since from the outside, it is just an oilcloth.
But when Gui opened the tied white cloth, the astonishment was blatantly engraved in his facial expression.
"...!!!"
"Now, would you reconsider my offer?"
Smirking confidently while the blood oozed and coloured the knife red, Yemon concluded the negotiation in his mind.
Gui stared at the content and then to Yemon with a thin smile.
"What did I get myself into?"
This time, Gui's tone was more friendly-like, confirming his participation. Yemon's atmosphere too lightened.
"Let's just say that you will contribute to the well-being of our country."
"Hah? Am I going to be a saviour or what?"
"Well, something like that."
*Sigh*
"Really, what did I get myself into?"
"Don't worry, there will be others that will share the same feelings.....maybe."
The white cloth, still in Gui's hand, was tied and kept in the box. Gui kept it in his pocket and put on his white hoodie.
"This better be worth it."