The night fell on the red light district of Shizuoka prefecture. It was much more of a crowd than during the day. The number of people coming to this place as the time moved to midnight, increased exponentially.
It is the entertainment district of this prefecture, these streets would be greeted with many clients' feet.
These include dangerous people like the Yakuza or other gang members, drug addicts, prostitutes and small-time criminals. Well, the Yakuza has a chunk of this territory so no small issue will arise from petty crooks.
Around these streets consisting of a variety of people, Yemon walked while still in disguise. He was pretending to be a gangster to lure one of his targets.
This target that Yemon was trying to bait out, was one of the infamous serial killers.
"Another serial killer... What the hell is going on with Zaizen-sama?"
The serial killer was nicknamed the Crazy Succubus, 'Mara'.
Not that Yemon liked it. Besides, that is how the media named her based on her method and choice of killing.
The reason that this serial killer was assigned the nickname of a Succubus was logical in terms of mythology
First of all, a succubus is a female demon. As foretold from detectives that were trying to unravel the identity of 'Mara', they were able to deduce that Mara is a female.
From eyewitnesses that got the unlucky chance to see the result of Mara's killings, they all reached the same conclusion when it concerned about the serial killer's gender.
A succubus will only target men with their seductive look and charming skills to, in the end, kill them. That is how it is with Mara.
Mara, so far, has only killed men.
The victims themselves were evidence of that.
Well, the 'Crazy' part of the 'Crazy Succubus' was the manner the victims were killed. The way they were murdered was as if they were done by the hands of a mental patient.
It was just horrible and agonising for whom suffered the atrocious torture.
Mutilated into many pieces and multiple cuts were also spotted on what remained of the bodies. As a result, the police also concluded that Mara's preferred tool is a knife or a meat cleaver.
The latter was more in favour amongst the thoughts of the detectives.
The identity remains a mystery but the authorities believed a theory. It concerns the motives of Mara.
They are certain that she harbours hatred against his victims. The way she kills and the choice of her targets were pointing at that possibility.
In the end, there was a crucial factor that confirmed the police's theory.
All the victims had a major similarity.
That's why Yemon was dressed like a gangster and walked around this part of the prefecture. Potentially, he will be able to encounter Mara in an attempt to kill him.
So far, he walked for 3 hours and still not a single thing happened. One thing was for sure that the crowd would stray a little bit away from Yemon's path.
His tattoo was giving this effect. It was a good sign for Yemon as it showed how real it looked to other people.
He walked leisurely around the streets until one woman approached Yemon.
"Hey, Mr Handsome. Want to do some sexy stuff with me?"
A prostitute came and offered Yemon her services. She had short black hair and a beautiful round face. Guessing by her looks, Yemon thought about how business was flourishing for her.
She clung onto him sexually as she pressed her big breasts to his arms. She tangled her arms around his, enticing him nicely.
A pretty common move that will make people difficult to escape from her bewitching trap.
This prostitute's behaviour was somewhat unusual to Yemon. It is because he passed many of such working girls but no one approached him.
Except for this one.
That's why Yemon's suspicions raised. He squinted his eyes behind the shades as he hoped for a desirous result.
Yemon accepted, "I cannot refuse such a beautiful woman now, can I?".
He smirked to make it more believable that he was trapped. The woman also smiled at him and pulled his arm, leading him to a more secluded place.
Yemon was on guard with the prostitute. There was a possibility that this woman who grabbed his arm beside him, could be very well his objective. However, he wasn't keeping his hopes high.
He remembered Hoga as he was delighted to hear that Hoga saw the target 'Lumen'.
But in the end, it all was a big misunderstanding, or so to speak, Hoga's failure even though he did not accept that.
Now, Yemon went along the flow and was led to a dark alleyway. There was no garbages littered or any bad odour that lingered so it was a good place for the prostitute to offer her services.
She gently put Yemon against the wall and started to kiss him in the neck then proceeded to take off his shades.
"Oh, mister. You are more handsome without those shades."
Yemon smiled lewdly, further making the impression of being seduced by this woman.
The prostitute proceeded to lift Yemon's black stylish shirt and was in awe. She ran her hand slowly through his abs and chest.
She was fascinated by his well-structured body.
"Mister, your body is looking delicious."
She brought her face near and licked his abs. She kissed then licked again as her hands were sexually rummaging Yemon's upper body.
Yemon put up with it to see if she does anything suspicious. At the moment, he does not see anything wrong.
However, if nothing still doesn't happen, then he will have to stop this charade.
After the woman stopped playing with him, she stepped back and started to undress.
Inside Yemon's mind, he sighed with irritation. He just wanted to know if the woman in front him is Mara or not. Seems that it will take him some time.
*Whoosh!*
*Splitch!*
Yemon's eyes widened with surprise.
A blade in the form of a scythe pierced through the back of the prostitute but it did not stop right away.
The blade continued its trajectory at an astonishing speed, exiting through the stomach. Its destination was right into Yemon's chest.
At first, he was caught unguarded for a moment as he was getting irritated at his little charades with the prostitute. Now, he regretted doing that.
With the aid of his instinct and fast reflex, he kicked the prostitute at the right side of her stomach as hard as he could.
As a result, the body of the prostitute as well as the blade's path was diverted. The pointed end of the blade did not end up in the stomach of Yemon, instead, it hit the alleyway's brick wall.
"Gah!"
The injured prostitute coughed blood as it splattered on Yemon's cheeks. He did not flinch from the red liquid being splashed on his face.
He did not even felt remorse for hitting the prostitute since his life was in danger. There was nothing wrong with putting his life in top priority.
Besides, there was someone that mattered more to him right now.
"Good evening, Mara."
Before Yemon, was a figure driven to kill.
Without a doubt, it was a woman. Her lower part of her face was covered by a mask, commonly used by doctors and nurses.
Black long hair was tied to make it shorter with the use of an ordinary-looking hair clip. The brown eyes looked at Yemon with intense murderous intent.
The blade was pulled away and left a hole in the prostitute's stomach. She clung onto Yemon but this time, it was for help.
'Tsk! I wanted no casualty."
All that is done was done. Now, was for the problem at hand. He ignored the prostitute's desperate call for help and focused on Mara.
*Whoosh!*
The velocity of the blade was staggering but Yemon was able to dodge that by ducking and rolled away from the bloodthirsty predator.
Mara herself was shocked at the display of skills.
Yemon stabilised himself as he observed the figure of Mara. The weapon she was holding was about half a metre so Yemon thought it to be a long dagger.
More so, it was like she had two of them on each hand.
A dual wielder as a serial killer? This was taking a toll for Yemon. Now, he had to be more cautious with her.
Since they were in a dark alleyway, he could not exactly discern. Also, that's why he could only scan what he can see.
He tried to call out to her.
"Mara! I'm not an enemy! Hear me out f-"
Mara ignored his calls, leapt forward and slashed at Yemon. He clicked his tongue and dodged her attacks.
'Shit!'
It was a narrow space so Yemon had it hard to avoid all Mara's attacks.
"Mara! I have come to help you! Hear me out!"
It was as if nothing was entering her ears. Yemon had no choice but to counter-attack. He kept backing away and thought for ways to attack.
'Dammit, isn't there something that I can use as a weapon?'
He kept retreating while avoiding Mara, who kept getting closer and more intense with her dangerous blades.
'A rusty pipe! It will do.'
At the corner, there was a potential weapon just laying there. Yemon waited for a chance for Mara to strike him.
When she barely missed Yemon again, he immediately picked up the rusty pipe and proceeded to parry the next attack.
As soon as Mara swung the long dagger with her right hand, it met with the rusty old pipe.
*Clang!*
The pipe got cut in half smoothly like a knife through butter.
"-!?"
Yemon was extremely shocked at the blade's capabilities. Was it really a dagger? Even though it was a rusty pipe, it should be able to withstand such an attack. At least, a bent was as far as it would go.
But no, it was more fatal.
Anyway, Yemon had no time to think about that. Thanks to the pipe, it disrupted the rhythm of the attacks which gave an opportunity to Yemon.
He closed in before Mara could strike with her left hand. Yemon used his forearm on her throat and pinned Mara to the wall.
He restrained her hands too by pinning it to the wall. But something was off.
Now that he took a closer look, Mara's weapon was not actually in her hands.
'-!!'
A scythe-like blade was coming out on the outside of her forearms!
"You are a Magic-User!?"
On the other hand that was not restrained, the blade vanished and appeared on the inside of her left forearm. It was much easier now to stab Yemon in the back.
He felt a chill down his spine as Mara glanced at her other hand to attack. It gave away that she was trying something.
So Yemon looked back quickly and caught on to her actions. He dodged and backed away from Mara.
Unfortunately, his back was not unscathed. A long graze ran along diagonally on his back, tearing his black shirt.
Mara was tired as she was gasping for air. It was also difficult for her to attack in this alleyway.
The familiar tingling and burning sensation crept up in Yemon's brain. The blood oozed from his back. Still, he was calm, just like he dealt with the other 'recruits'.
"Mara. This tattoo is fake."
Mara squinted her eyes, not believing a word he said. So Yemon immediately took it off and showed to Mara.
It was like a custom made picture that was glued on a transparent plastic. It can be used temporarily and can be taken off easily without any pain.
"...?".
She was baffled but still wary of him.
"Listen to me carefully Mara. I am not your enemy instead, I am your benefactor. My name is Yemon."
Still silent, Mara was on guard. Yemon continued to talk as he thought she was at least hearing him out.
"I can provide you with what you need. Or more specifically, my master will provide you."
"....."
"........*Sigh*......' The Purging Swords', I can help you with that."
Mara lost her concentration as she heard that. Her bloodlust became stronger.
That's right, all of her victims had similarities. And that is they were members of the 'Purging Swords'.
A gang that was on par with the Yakuza in terms of power, territory and wealth.
Dealing with drugs, women, weapons, assassinations, the 'Purging Swords' was just more than a gang. It was a goddamn organisation.
She must have harboured hatred against this gang that instilled fear in the civilians.
"I can get you closer to anyone you want. Think well."
Yemon saw that her figure was not moving. So he contemplated and saw the rusty half pipe that he used earlier. He tried to pick it up slowly but Mara was prepared to launch an attack.
So Yemon slowly put his hand forward, gesturing that he did not have any intention to attack. Mara was still prudent so her stance remained.
He picked up the pipe and turned around to the brick wall behind him.
"If you still don't trust me, you can see for yourself if I'm capable of fulfilling your wish."
Yemon wrote on the wall with the edge of the pipe. Clearly, something important was on the wall.
"One month from now on, I will wait for you at this address. If I don't see you, then I'll understand that you will never meet me again. Again, think well."
After Mara took a good look, she still remained silent. Yemon too stared at her.
Suddenly, the blades in Mara's forearms regressed and was nowhere to be seen. As if it entered into her arms.
Then after some time, she ran into the obscure alleyway and disappeared from his sight.
Yemon waited for a while because he was making sure that Mara left.
"Shit!.....My back!"
Now that the adrenaline rush started to die down in Yemon's body, he really knew the extent of his pain.
He had to return to Hoga's house to recover, and that too without getting discovered. At the moment, his injured back is making him stand out.
Another bad thing he noticed was that his wound on his hand reopened. His impaled hand that was caused by Gui oozed blood again, seeping from his bandage.
"....*Gasp*........I'm.....tired..."
He leaned on the wall and slowly sat down. He glanced at the lifeless prostitute's body, just laying a bit afar from where he was.
He looked at the starry sky and closed his eyes. He did not know for how long he was like this, nonetheless, it didn't matter.
He inhaled and exhaled leisurely, just before he complained about his mission.
"Am I even going to survive before I could make all of these psychopaths gather?"
He looked at his wound on his hand and clenched it, embracing his pain.
His determination was reinstated.
He stood up with the pain he endured and looked at the wall where he wrote the address.
"I need to erase this."
Well, he had another idea as he picked up the rusty old pipe again. Then, he made scribble over the address written. He continued making countless marking until the address was completely overwritten.
He threw the pipe aimlessly, then he slowly walked into the darkness.
Deeper into the alleyway, he too disappeared just like Mara, leaving the body of one innocent beautiful woman. just laying on the concrete bloodstained floor.